CHAPTER XVI. THE INAUGURATION OF WAR.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 313, 3 November 1888, Page 4

CHAPTER XVI. THE INAUGURATION OF WAR.

Ihe utter consternation of the Lady Nora's guardian and suitor at her unexpected appearance, and at the revelation that she had been a listener to their confidential interview, can be moreoasily imagined than described. Lord Kildare uttered an oath. The lawyer became deadly pale, and leaned, trembling and appalled, against the closed dooi\, A strange look came over his face — a look of terror, anguish and awful dread. His small, slight figure seemed to shrink within itself, and to contract into smaller space. His' thin hands worked, nervously together, * You — you have been in the alcove all the time, Nora?' he asked, in a quivering voice. *

' I have,' the young girl answered. ' You have heard all we have said ?' ' All, Michael ! I know that you have intercepted my letters to Lord O'Nei), and his to me. I know that you have opened those letters and read them. I know vow that you are without honour, that you are talse and cruel and treacherous. And 1 loved you so, Michael ! T gave you a | daughter's reverence and affection. I thought your gentle ways, your meek and quiet manner, the expression of a retined soul. And I find them the cloak of a bold and scheming nature. Oh, Michael ! Michael !' The big brown o\es were hidden now with tears. The swoeb young face, pale and grave, was convulsed with anguish. The scarlet mouth quivered with an infinite pain. The false guardian reeled under her words as if she had struck him a deadly blow. ' I know now,' said Nora, ' that I ought to have contested this man's claims to Point Kildaro. .Sir Russel and Mr Wedburn have been milled by you, Michael. But my error is not irreparable. Sir Russel is in England. I shall start for England to-night, within the houi, and tell him all 1 have oveihe ad. 1 shall go back to Caslle Kildare as its mistress. The tenants you, Redmond Kildaro, have ill - treated, will defend me in my occupation oi the caslle until the law proclaims my rights. Justice shall bo done. My father's inheiitance shall not go to one who has no right to j if.' She spoke proudly and firmly, but with a stern madness that looked terrible on a face so young and lovely, bo formed for joyous expressions. 'By Heaven! she wi'l luin u& !' cried Redmond Kildare, in wild alarm. These words were like a trumpet call to the old lawyer. He lifted his anguished face and drooping h'guie, and strove to command himself. ' Spare me, Nora,' he pleaded. ' What good can it do you to expose me ? You can i never prove the truth of your assertions. I shall deny them. You will lose by acousinj; me. There's not a man in Dublin who has a botter reputation for probity than I. No one will believe you — ' ' Sir Rupsel will. But I shall seek, not to expose your trcacherv, but to regain my rights,' the Lady Nora, half contemptuously. ' I intend to submit this question to a jury —who shall be the owner of Kildare '?' ' Redmond uttered an ojaculation of alarm. The lawyer succeeded in gaining his pelfcommand. He locked the door quietly, and put the key in his pocket. A desperate look gleamed from his eyes. His face grew stern and rigid in its expression, losing all its softness, meekness and gentleness. ' You throw down the gauntlet, Nora ?'he said. ' You mean war ?' ' I mean to recover my inheritance,' said the L'idy Nora, firmly. ' Stand aside, Michael Kildare. 1 desire to leave this room.' ' That you cannot do,' declared her guardian* 5 ' You cannot go out from here until we have come to some settlement of this business. Seeing that matters have been forced to an issue, you will have to eri7e me your word of honour that you will marry Redmond Kildare — ' ' If I am kept a prisoner here till I make such a promise, I shall die here,' said Nora, with passionate emphasis. ' I will arouse the household.' •She made a swift movement toward the bell-pull. Redmond Kildare, in obedience to a sign from the lawyer, was ahead of her, and quickly knotted the rope beyond her reach. Nora ran to the windows. They were shuttered and fastened. Before her slender finger could unlatch the iron fastening?. Redmond Kildare was at her elbow. The fact was evident enough. She was a prisoner, without a chance of escape. Realising the fact, theyounggirl was wise enon 211 to cease her resistance. She pushed a chair toward tho fire and sat down quietly, looking at her two enemies, her brown e^es burning with defiant fire. ' [ am your prisoner, Mr Michael Kil- ' dare,' she paid, nodding her little spirited head. ' I yield to superior strength. And now, having achieved your brilliant victory, whit do you intend to do ?' The lawyer had cast aside all his weakness and indecision. He seemed to feel that great inteiests were at stako, and that he must rise in villainy to the needs of the occasion. Redmond Kildare began to feel that he < wis in safe hands. ' I intend,' said the lawyer, quietly, c to obtain your promise to marry Redmond.' ' You ought to know me better than this, Michael,' said the young girl g»avely. ' 1 ram not afraid of you, or your ally. And J am no coward, to yield to foar and importunities what I cannot give of my own free will.' And thus it proved. The guardian argued, coaxed and threatened. All in vain. His ward smiled wearily, scornfulty, or contemptuously, by turns, but she was not to be driven or coerced. More than an hour passed thus. Redmond Kildare began to suffer all the agonies of dread and terror. The lawyer began to harden. Opposition always angered him. ' Well, what are we to do?' cried Redmond, at last, impatiently. ' She won't gfive in. We shall have to let her go to Sir Rus-el with her cock-and-bull story — ' ' You don't know Sir Russel Ryan," leturned the lawyer. 'Once let the girl go to him with this story of what she has overheard, and he'll move heaven and earth co find out how much truth there is in it. I have no fears of a jury. The facts will decide the case. And the tacts, a& you well know, are all on our side. But what I do dread is, that Sir Russel, in his strict ideas of justice, and his hatred of oppression, will remove Nora beyond our reach, and so for ever pi*event your union with her. That, in my opinion, and frotn my point of view, would be nearly as bad as to see you turned adrift, Redmond.' ' 1 can't see what is to be done,' said Lord Kildare. ' She won't promise.' 'No,' said the young Lady Nora, composedly, ' she certainly won't promise what you want.' c Then,' said the lawyer, desperately, ' we must hold you a prisoner until you will. Sir Russel Ryan is in England. You have few acquaintances in Dublin. No one will miss you. It will be easy to say, if you are inquired for, that you have gone down into Wicklow to visit the Lady Kathleen. And, meanwhile, you will be shut up in your upper chamber, my Lady Nora, until your proud spirit bends.' The young girl smiled. ' How long do you suppose I should be a prisoner with those three windows in my room ?' she demanded, coolly. ' True. A back room — ' Then, light still in hand, he approached the alcove. A sudden terror seized upon Lady Nora lest she should be compelled to meet her rival claimant to Point Kildare -this man whom she justly regarded as her enemy. She looked around her wildly for some avenue of escape. There was none, save through bhe library, With the -quickness of a flash, in a sudden panic, without stopping to reason, she stood up against the window, and drew over her the heavy folds of the damask curtains,

' Row long "should I be shut up in any room against my will, when my faithful Alleen remains here? And you may rest assured, Michael, that Alleon will accept no dismissal that doos not como from my lips. She would never leave me without bidding me' good-bye. You had better open that door and permit me to walk out gui tly, thus saving yourself the discredit of a scandal.' 'Affairs ha^e gone too far for that,' declared fch#" lawyer. • I shall prevent the scandal, but not by giving you your freedom. Redmond, be kind enough to pull that bell. Three time?, please. That is my signal for my housekeeper.' Lord Kildave rang the bell. Presently stops were heard without. The lawyer unlocked the door, admitting his housekeeper. He then locked it t again, restoring the key to hie pocket. Mrs LiHey purveyed the group with wideopen eyes. It was evident, at a glance, that an unusual scene was in pi-o^re-.-. She regarded Redmond Kildare curiously, even anxiou&ly. 'A moment's interview with you, Mrs Liffoy, if you please,' said Michael Kildare, leading the way to the alcove. The prim, severe- faced, elderly housekeeper iollowed him without demur. They entered the dim alcove, and chopped the curtains. ' What is the matter, Michael V]M 1 3 Liffey then asked, uneasily. 'Who is that younf man ?' = Mrs Lifi'ey uttered an exclamation, ond betrayed great agitation. 'Is it impossible V' .^he \\ hi-pei ccl. * Mow handsome he is ! and that/ i 4.i 4 . Redmond ?' She peeped out bc-.w e°n the cvi tains with eager, hungry eyes idiao -cemed to devour I his every featuie. j ' Listen to me, Margaret,' said the lawyer. ' I need your help.' VVith this preface, he nai rated the particulars of his interview with Lord Kildare, and the one that had followed with Nora. I 'I need a woman's aid,' he wild, in conclusion. ' You know as well as Ido that Lord Kildare and Lady Nora must marry each other.' ' Yes, [ know,' said Mro Lilley. ' Help mo to bring about this maniige, Margaret,' said the lawyer, in an impic&sive whisper, ' and on the self-same day that they are married I will make you my w ife. You hive pleaded with me for years to do this justice. I will do it as a reward fur J your successful aid now.' The woman's eyes sparkler!. She ciuf/hl up the lawyer's hand, pressing :t lo her hp.s I in her delight. 'I will bring about (.hi 1 - niariiapo,' she assorted, full of self confidence. ' And you will make me your wife, Michael ? And I shall give parties, and wear diamonds, and visit; KiJdare Cattle '' Vow may depend upon me, I would rattier be Ahvs Michael Kildare than Queen of Enghnd.' ' Then come out and give me your advice.' * One moment. Does he know ''' ' Redmond ' The secret, you mean ? No, he doe^ not know, and he mu&fc never know. Be guarded.' He lifted the curtains, and they re-entered the library. The Lady Nora was still sitting by the hearth. Lord Kildare stood near her, pleading his suit in low, earnest, anxious tones. The girl did not seem to hear him, but she turned her bright eyes toward the lawyer and his housekeeper as they emerged from the alcove. But neither of the couple was looking at her now. Mrs Liffey had fixed her gaze in a strange intensity of expression upon Lord Kildare, and approached him with an agitated face. 'Lord Kildaro,' said the lawyer, hastily, 'this lady is Mrs Liffey, a reduced gentlewoman, who is serving at present as my hou«ekoeper. She is a most estimable and accomplished person, and will he a great help to us in thi^ business.' Mr? LifFev extended her hand to Lord Kildare, who took ib coldly, and with some surprise. To his increased surprise, she grasped his hand warmly, and he could feel her large bony fingers actually tremble in hi«. Before he could comment on this singular incident, if he had wished to, Mrs Liffey turned away, and faced the Lady Nova, with a grim and austere countenance, from which all traces of agitation had vanished. ' You still refuse co obey your guardian, my lady ?' she said, questioningly. The young girl did not reply. 'I think, Mr Kildare,' said the housekeeper, grimly, ' that this young lady's spirits need to be taken down. She ought to be shut up until she can act with proper submission. As you cannot shut her up in this hous<\ we mu«t take her elsewhere.' • ' Yes ; but where ?' ' There's the house my husband left me out of town a good bit,' said Mrs Liffey. ' It chances to be empty just now, owing to the late tenant running away, and it's been a bad season to re-let, and I have my sister occupy if. It is partly furnished, and is that lonely that people have taken to calling it ha'nfced. We can take the Lady Nora there, and my sister will take charge of her — ' ' It's just the place f cried the lawyer, '1 remembei. I wonder I didn't think of it before. But how are we to take the Lady Nora there ?' ' Leave that to me. We must have a cab at the door at half-past eleven. It will be that that's to catch the late train. 1 will send Alleen. her ladyship's maid, to bed, and also the housemaid.' She went out at once to execute these commissions. She was absent a long time, returning, at last, fully equipped for a journey. ' The maids have retired,' she announced, ' and I have ordered a cab. I have also packed her ladyship's box with necessary changes, and cairied it down to the door. It is nearly time. Are you ready, Lady Nora?' The young girl was still attired in street costume, and her hat hung on her arm. She arose, with a defiant look, exclaiming : ' Yes, lam ready. lam glad to get into the street. You do not comprehend the difficulty of this task you have undertaken. Your cabman has but to hear my appeal, and he will befriend me.' 'But ho won't hear it,' said Mrs Liffey. 'I am on my guard, my lady. You think a great deal of your word, no doubt, and you've got fco promise toe not to say a word to the cabby, and not to cry out for help, or 1 shall put the gag in your mouth before we leave leave this room.' She displayed a formidable wooden gag, and advanced a few steps near Nora. The young girl's face flushed indignantly. She looked from the lawyer to Redmond Kildare, but both were pitiless and merciless. To save herself the indignity and pain, therefore, of this alternative, the Lady Nora promised to keep silent. ' The cab is come,' said Mrs Liffey, listening. ' Hasten.' She went swiftly down the stairs to the front door. Michael Kildare and the new earl followed, bearing the slight form of the Lady Nora between them. {To be Continued.)

Hard to beat — A boy that you can't catch. Thero are upwards of 93,000 victims of leproay ia India.