CHAPTER X.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 311, 27 October 1888, Page 3

CHAPTER X.

bassantyne's demands. The guardians of the young Lady of Kildare remained for an hour or more in close conversation with Mr VTedburn, Sir Russel's lawyer, but the result of the private conference differed in no way from the other. The three gentlemen were equally convinced of the justice of Redmond Kil dare's claims, but determined to proceed with the investigation as agreed upon, but merely for form's sake. The proofs which the new earl had submitted in support of his claims were deemed incontrovertible. The two guardians were united in thinkin sf Nora's engagement to Lord O'Neil a wild follj', from the consummation of which the girl must be rescued, at whatever cost. Sir Russel, grim and stern as he was, was honest to the core, and he believed Nora would thank him at some future day for preventing the sacrifice of herself to n man who was not only poor, but burdened with debts. Michael Kiidare expressed a similar sentiment. The two also agreed that a marriage with Redmond Kiidare was desirable for the Lady Nora, and resolved to use all their influence and authority to further such alliance. These views the guardians imparted to the young heiress in a private interview, held with her in the pretty sea-parlour after their own conference had ended They then repeated their promise that she should not be disturbed in her possession of the castle for the next fortnight, at the end of which period they would return, hoping to hear that she had decided to accept her new suitor. Subsequently Mr Michael Kiidare saw the young kinswoman alone, and in broken tones assured her of his love and sympathy, and of his care and protection in the future. . The poor young Lady Nora clung to him in her storm of sorrows as to a firm support. 'I have no reason to complain, Michael,' she said, smiling up to him through her tears. 'If I have lost a fortune, I have learned how true and steadfast are my friends. You and Kathleen are 'Mends in need,' and ' friends indeed !' ' Michael Kiidare kissed her sweet brows softly and tenderly, as the seal of his promises of devotion. c You know how clannish I am, Nora !' he said. ' The old saying's true : ' Blood is thicker than water.' And so it's through thick and thin I'll stick to you, my darling, my Lady Nora ! But I could wish that you would look kindly on the young earl. He has a good heart, and he'll make you a happy and a rich woman.' But Nora shook her little head wilfully, while her young face grew grave and almost stern in its expression. ' Think it over during the next two weeks. You may change your mind, Nora. I won't bother you now while your trouble is new to you.' He kept his word, saying not another word about Redmond Kiidare, or the desired marriage. The guests remained to dinner, which was served at five o'clock. Directly after dinner their horses were brought to the door, and they mounted and rode away on their journey to Dunloy, whence they were to proceed by rail to Belfast. Redmond Kiidare made one of the party, and Kiidare Castle was left to the peace and quietness that usually enveloped it. The step-sisters drew a great breath of relief when they found themselves once more alone. They watched the departing horsemen until they had disappeared down the elm-arched avenue, and they then tied on their broad-brimmed hats and went out upon the rocks, where they remained a long time in conversation and reverie. The sun was setting at last when they reentered the castle. They went up to the small sea-parlour and sat upon the balcony, and watched the lurid glow of the sunset upon the waves while they strove to plan their future. They were thus engaged when old Shane intruded upon their solitude, bearing a visitor's card upon a small salver. 'A gentleman to see the Lady Kathleen,' he said, presenting to her the card. The Lady Kathleen's face changed as she took up the bit of pasteboard. It bore upon its surface, written in a bold and regular hand, the name of her deadly foe — Bassantyne ! 'You may show the gentleman up, Shane,' she said, calmly. ' Stay ! Take him into the drawing-room — ' At this juncture the door v/as pushed open widely, and the visitor stood revealed on the threshold. 'Pardon my boldness,' he said, coming forward and bowing and smiling. 'You can excuse ray impatience, I know, Kathleen. ' He fixed his bold gaze on Lady Nora. The Lady Kathleen made a gesture to Shane to withdraw, and the old servitor obeyed. ' And this is my young step-sister-in-law, I suppose?' exclaimed Bassantyne, his gaze deepening into admiration as he surveyed the lovely, saucy little face. ' She i rakes you look to your laurels, does she not, my Sroud Kathleen ? Be so good as to introuce me ?' ' Nora, darling,' said Lady Kathleen, * be kind enough to leave us. This man is no associate for you.' Bassantyne scowled like a demon, but Nora, paying no heed to him, went out into thecorridor, taking care, however, toremain within call, though beyond earshot of ordinary conversation. 'So lam not good enough to beintroduced to my wife's step-sister !' ejaculated Bassantyne, insolently. ' Ah, well, go your own gait, Kathleen. ' It's a long lane that has no turn,' and I'll be even with you yet.' - What do you want here ?' demanded the Lady Kathleen, her blue eyes flashing. ' Ab, now you are your old lovely self ! exclaimed Bassantyne, flinging himself indolently into a chair. 'Do I need an excuse for coming to see my own wife ? Kathleen, I love you a thousand-fold more than I did in the old days. Your scornful, disdainful air is just what is needed to give life and spirit to your blonde beauty. What A dash I could make at the German baths with you at my. side ! Your beauty would bewilder men so that I could easily win from them their fortunes !' - ' You are still a gambler, then ?' asked the Lady Kathleen, scornfully. • Yes, I am a soldier of fortune, and the jade is fickle, you know. She don't always smile on her devotees, and the one day I'm rich and the next I'm poor, and so runs the world away ! Heigho !' ' But you told me last evening that you were rich !j '

• 'DicTl?, I must have been drawing on the futm;e, or possibly I meant to imply that' a man with such a wife as you is rich ! Bub pecuniarily and presently, I am not overburdened with money.' 'But you would sell yourself for it as readily as ever, I suppose ?' I ' How well you know me ! Yet I could desire a greater delicacy of expression, Kathleen. Anything that I have or am which is marketable, I should be glad to convert into money.' c No doubt. And besides being a gambler, what are you?' ' Anything you choose, 5 said Bassantyne airily. • I learned a variety of trades out in Australia—' 'To which you were sent for twenty years as a punishmont for counterfeiting ! You were gone but seven years. How came you to return before the expiration of your term of sentence ?' ' I ran away. I wrote an obituary notice of myself, last year, and had it put into a Melbourne paper, and sent to you. I fancied it might please you and the rest of niy friends. 1 was hired out to a farmer as his servant, and managed to escape into the bush with a confederate, and some months later we made our way to the coast, found at a small port an English trading vessel that was short of hands, and hired I out on board of her. We worked our passage back to England. Yon notice I wear a long beard, and have darkened my skin They make sufficient disguise I think !' ' They greatly change your appearance !' ' I thought so, and it is necessary they should. Tho police are looking for me in England, so I'm nob safe there. You see, before I left my 'master' in Australia I took the precaution to help myself to money out of his hordes. I lost a good deal of it at cards in London, while I was looking for you. I had haid work to lind you—' ' You must have had, considering the sort of people to whom you addressed your inquiries, 1 said Lady Kathleen, with haughty scorn. ' Gambler, counterfeiter and runaway convict — ' * And husband of proud Lady Kathleen Connor !' ' I wonder how you dare tell me all your story— ho\r you dare confess to me that the police are looking for you !' How do you know that I shall not betray you ?' ' You dare not! I don't trust bo your love, but Ido trust to your pride. If lam ever arrested, I shall proclaim myself your husband.' The Lady Kathleen's face fell. ' What has become of your confedeiate ?' she asked. 'He may betray you." ' Not so. I never lose sight of him. Be sides, he is in equal danger. The police want him also. He is at present acting as my valet over at Ballycastle. He's a rough fellow — not a gentleman like me.' 'So you are a gentleman ! The information surprises me !' exclaimed Lady Kathleen, ironically. ' I didn't know a man could be a gambler, a counterfeiter, a convict, and a gentleman all at once ?' Bassantyne's swarthy cheek flushed. ' I suppose Lord Tresham is your ideal of a gentleman,' he sneered. • He's in a fine frenzy, is bis lordship. He's been visiting these months at Glen O'Neil. I hear, and counterfeiting a great friendship for Wild Larry, as they call the beggarly young lord, as a cover to his courtship of you ; and today, no doubt he's off to see the lawyers. Much good will they do for him.' ' We won't discuss Lord Tresham — ' 'Bub we will, if I choose!' interrupted Bassantyne, scowling. 'If I wish to talk of my wife's lovers I shall do so !' The Lady Kathleen's face blanched. 'That is all over,' she said. ' Tresham may be a friend, bub no longer a lover — ' ' Unless the police will be kind enough to nab me and return me to Australia,' m-tei-posed Bassanbyne, grimly. 'But to come to business : I and my friend want shelter and hiding. There's no knowing at what minute the police will get on our track. I want you to receive me atKildare Castle as your guest. No one would look for two escaped convicts in this place.' ' It's impossible ' I can stay- here but a fortnight myself. A rival claimant has arisen, who will take the Kildare estates from Lady Nora. ' Whew ! What is she to do ?' ' Ishali provide for her. When Redmond Kildare comes into possession here, Nora will leave. I shall take her to my own house, unless her guardians should refuse — ' 1 Ay, yes ! Your own house ! What place so fitting a refuge for your fugitive husband ? I know your old house, Kathleen, and I must go there as your husband ! In that way I shall escape all discovery. Our marriage must be proclaimed. The name of Bassantyne has never been dragged into my troubles. In facb, I haven't used it in over ten years. It was only chance revealed it to you, Kathleen, as you remember. Bas«antyne is an honest, respectable name, and it won't hurt you to wear it. I'll have the notice of our marriage in bhe Belfast papers ac soon as possible !' * I can'b consent to this — ' ' I don't ask you to live with me on friendly terms,' said Bassantyne, doggedly. * Let Lord Tresham think and plan as he will, you and I know we are honestly married, do we not ?' ' Yes,' answered Kathleen, almost inaudi ibly. ' Then it is proper to live under the same I roof. Of course you feel bad about Tresham and all that, but this ie no time for sentiment. We have to face a hard necessity. If you refuse to shelter me, you give me up to the police, and yourself to ignominy and sorrow. Shelter me as I demand, and I solemnly promise not to obtrude my attentions upon you, or to molest you in any way. I know my promise isn't worth much, but I will keep this one. Will you make this bargain with me ?' ' It is worse than death !' 'I don't -doubt it cuts deep, Kathleen — you are so infernally proud ! But you'll have to come to it !' ' I cannot. The affair is hard to manage. ' ' Nob at all. lam an old lover that you knew in France. True enough that, Kathleen. We have loved each other for years. I came to see you at Kildare Castle ; we renewed our vows ; and made a moonlight flibting of ib over to Scotland. Simple and romantic. And we shall go to your pleasant country house for our honeymoon. How natural ! No one can wonder. No onr can cavil. We will have our separate rooms at your house, but the world will think iir the happiest couple the sun shines on. This has got to be done, Kathleen, and you have got to do your share in ib naturally.' Ib was a bitter draught to the Lady Kathleen. For some minutes she burned away her face and sat in silence. But apparently she noticed the fatal necessity for obedience, for at, last Bhe said, in a husky voice : ' Well, ib shall be as you say. Pub the notice in the Belfast papers, I will shelter you. But remember that though we seem friendly to each other, it is bub a dismal prttence. 1 And don't talk tome of llove.v y e. The word sickens me when it comes from your lips.' Bassantyne drew a sigh of relief as he thanked her, and promised to observe her commands. 'How soon will you be ready bo leave Kildare ?' lie asked.

'Nob under, a fortnight. You musb stay whor^e you are till then. I cannot have you ~heve. Thero will be danger for you here. Mr Wedburn is a keen lawyer, and may guess something of your secrets. Keep in hiding tilt we leave here.' ' And moan while I will visit you every day.' ' By the way,' said the Lady Kathleen, { what is the name under which you were transported ? That of Lord Kimsley V Bassantyne started, shooting a sudden glance of suspicion at the Lady Kathleen. She met his gaze unmoved. c It makes no difference what the name was,' he said, surlily. 'I don't care about your knowing too much, even if you don't dare to betray me. I think I'll be going. If you can spare me ten pounds, Kathleen, I think I'll borrow it.' The Lady Kathleen took outherpureeand extracted from it a bank-note of the required amount. He took it coolly, as a sorb of tribute due to him. A few minutes later he took his departure. 1 And I am tied to this man !' thought the Lady Kathleen, in horror, when ho had gone. ' God pity me ! JP oor, poor Barry !' Bnssanbyne went) down to the spot where he had left his small boat on the beach, and an evilly exultant smile lit up his swarthy face. ' So I have provided a safe retreat for myself,' he muttered. ' Kathleen fears me and it is well. The police may search the whole realm in vain, while 1 rule in her house as master, and control the strings of her purse. And as to making love to her — I'll see about that. I own, however, that I'd rather see her waste away and drop off, leaving me an interesting widower with plenty of money. By Jove ! — there's an idea. I wonder if I couldn't make it work.' TTe pushed off his boat, stepped in, and sailed away, a strange, deep thoughtfulness that was full of sinister meaning obscuring his features. ' It will be one of the two,' ho said to himself at last, in a whisper. ' She'll become loving and tender after a little, or she'll leave me a widower, and the heir to her fortune. 1 wonder which it will be ?'