CHAPTER II.—(Continued.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 408, 5 October 1889, Page 4

CHAPTER ll.— (Continued.)

fO win or lose ib all!' repeated Peter Dangertield f stroking his feeble colourless mouBta eh c. 'By George ! I will try. Sho can but say no.' There was a call for M r Dantree on the instant — Mr Dantree was wanted to sing. Mr Dangerfield stood where he was, and saw the dark-eyed tenor emerge leisurely from the Conservatory, and — alone. He sat down at the piano ; his , slender, shapely hands flew over the keys in a brilliant prelude. Everybody was listening — now was his time. Katherino was in the conservatory yet. He made his way slowly down the long vista of rooms to where, at the extreme end, the green brightness of tropic plants gleamed in the lamplight. She still stood where her late companion had left her, in fcbe recess of a window, her robe of pink tissue shining rosily, her jewels glancing softly. Tall tropic plants spread their fan-like leaves about her ; the air was rich and faint with exotic odours ; and over all the soft, abundant light poured down. Gaston Dan tree's song floated in — an Irish song, half gay, half sad, wholly sweet — and a brooding tenderness lay on the girl's face — a great happiness, new and sweet — and made it almost beautiful. The rain lashed the windows, the wind of the October night blew in long, lamentable blasts through the rocking trees ; but the storm and darkness without only made the contrasf within the more brilliant. ' Katherine !' She neither saw nor heard until he was close at her side. She lifted up her dreamy eyes, her trance of bliss over. ' Oh, you, Peter ! What an odious habit you have of stealing in upon one like a cat. I never heard you.' 4 You never heard me, Miss Dangerfield ? You need hardly tell me that. You were listening far too intently to Mr Gaston Dantree to hear anything else.' * Was I?' retorted Katherine. They rarely met, those two, except to quarrel. ' Well, all I can say is that Mr Gaston Dantree is veiy well worth listening to, which i« more than I can say for you, Cousin Peter.' 1 You mean I'm not a singing man, I suppose, Kafchie ? Well, I admit my brains do not lie in my throat and lungs." ' Nor anywhere else, Mr Dangorfield.' ■ And when is it to be, Katie ?' Mr Dangerfield demanded, folding his arms ; • when are we all to offer our congratulations ? Such a flirtation as yours, my dear cousin, with this Appollo Belvidere from the Southern States* can hare but one ending. 1 • And such a flirtation as yours with this pretty Mrs Vavasor, from nobody knows where, can. have but one ending, too, I suppose,' responded Katherino, coming up to time bravely. ' She is some five or six years your senior, I should think ; but where love exists, what does a little disparity of years signify ? A case of love at sight ; was it not, cousin ?' ' You might have spared me that taunt ; you know very well who it is I am so unfortunate as to love.' ' Upon my word, I don't. My little cousin Poter, his loves, and hates, are subjects that trouble me very slightly There ! Mr Dan tree's song is done, and they are playing the Lancers. Suppose we leave off quarrelling and go and have a cousinly quadrille V 'Not yet, Kathie. I can endure this suspense no longer. No, you shall not go ; I mill be heard ! To watch yon as I have watched you to-night with that man would simply drive me mad !' 1 Would it ? Then why on earth do you do it ? I don't want to be watched, and I don't suppose Mr Dantree does, either. You mean Mr Dantree, don't you ? And, Peter,don't put on that tragic face ; it isn't your style, dear. You're too fair complexioned. and what business is it of yours, and why should it drive you mad ?' ' Little need to ask, Katherine. You know only too well — because I love you. Kathie, don't look like that ! I love you, and you know it well. I haven't had thoughts or eyes for any living creature but you since you first came here. Ah, Kathie ! Listen to me. Don't laugh, as I sec you are going to do. I lore you with all my heart — better than ever that fellow can do — and I ask you to be my wife. Katberine, don't laugh ab me, for Heaven's sake !' N But the warning came too late. Katherine broke out into a ringing peal of laughter, that the music happily drowned. Peter Dangerfield, looking desperately in earnest, very, very yellow, and with folded arms, stood glaring at her in an uncommonly savage way for so tender a declaration. ' I bey your pardon, Peter, but I can't help it. The idea of marrying you — only five feet five inches, and an attorney, and my first cousin ! First cousins should never „ marry, you know. What would papa say, you silly little boy, if he could hear this V •My uncle knows,' the young man answered, with sullen anger ; ' I spoke to him a month ago.' Miss Dangerfield opened her big, gray \ eyes. 1 Oh, you did ? That's what he meant, then, that morning after the concert. 1 remember ; he tried to plead your cause. And you spoke to him first ; and you're a lawyer, and knew no better than that ! No, Peter ; it ia not possible. You're a nice little fellow, and I think a great deal of you ; and I'd do almost anything you wanted me, except — marry you. That's a little too much, oven for such good nature as mine.' • Then I'm to consider myself rejected ?' 'Now, Peter, don't pub on that illtempered face ; it quite spoils your good looks, and you know you have none to spoil — spare, I mean. Well, yes, then ; I am afraid you must consider yourself rejected. I really should like to oblige you in this matter, bub you perceive 1 can't. Come, let us make ib up — I'm nob angry — and take me back to the drawing-room for my dance. Ib is a sin bo lose such music as bhat.' 'In one moment, Katherine. Will you answer me this, please? Is ib for Gaston Dantree I am refused ?' ' Cousin Peter, I shall lose my temper if you keep on. If there were no Mr Dantree in the case I should reject you, all the same. You're very well as a first cousin ; as a husband — excuse me ! I wouldn'b marry you if you were the only man left in the world, and bhe penalby of refusing you be to go to my grave an old maid. Is that answer decisive enough ?' ' Very nearly ! Thank you for your plain speaking, Kathie.' Ho was white with suppressed anger. 'Bufc lest we should misunderstand each other in the least, won't you te.ll we whether or no Mr Dantree is to

i be bho future lord of Scai'swood Park ? Because in bhab case, for bhe honour of bhe family I should endeavour to discover the genbleman's anbecedenbs. A classic profile and a fine voice for singing may be aufficienr virtues in the eyes of a young lady of seventeen, but I'm afraid they will hardly satisfy the world or Sir John.' 4 For the world I don't care that ! For Sir John, whatever makes me happy will sabisfy him. I am brying to keep my temper, Peter, but don't provoke me too far — ib isn'b safe. Will you, or will you nob, take me out for a dance ? I am not accustomed to ask favours twice.' • How queenly she says it— the heiress of Scar3wood '' His passion was not to be restrained now. 'And ib is for this Yankee singing man — this needy adventurer — this negro minstrel in his own land, that I am cast off? 1 She whirled round upon him in a storm of sudden fury, and made a stop toward him. But rage lent him courage ; and he stood his ground. ' You little wretch !' cried Miss Dangerfield, • how daro you stand there and say such things to me ? How dare you call Gaston Dan tree an adventurer? You, who would nob presume to call your soul your own in his presence ! Negro minstrel, indeed ! You wretched little attorney ! One should be a gentleman to judge gentlemen. That's why Mr Dantree's beyond your judgment ! Don't ever speak to me again. You're very offer is an insult. To think that I — / would ever marry you, a little rickety dwarf !' And then a dead silence fell. I don't uphold this heroine of mme — her temper is abominable, I allow ; but the moment the last words passed her lips her heart smote her. Peter Dangertield stood before her white as death, and trembling so that he was forced to grasp a gilded flower atand for support. ' Oh, Peter, I am sorry !' she cried out•l didn't mean that !— l didn't ! I didn't — forgive it — forgive it —my temper is horrible — I'm a wretch, but you know,' suffering a slight relapse, ' ib was all your own faulb. Shake hands, cousin ; and oh, do — do — do forget my wicked words !' Bub he drew back from the outstretched hands, smiling a ghastly smile enough. * Forget them ? Certainly, Cousin Katherine ! I'm not the sort of fellow to bear spite. You're very good and all that, bub if it's the same to you, I'll nob shake hands. And I won't keep you from dancing that quadrille any* longer. I'll not be your partner — I don't dance as well as Mr Dantree, and I see him coming this way now. Excuse me for having broubled you aboub this presumptuous love of mine ; I won't do it again.' t **' Then he turned away, and Gaston Dantree, looking like a picbur3 in a frame, stood in the rose-wreathed entrance arch. ' I am sorry, and I have apologised,' Kabherine said coldly. ' I can do no more.' 'No more is needed. Pray don't keep Mr Dantree waiting, And I would rather he did not come in here just now.' 1 Come, Kathie,' Mr Danbreo called softly. 'Ib had come to that then ; ib was ' Kathie ' and • Gaston.' He saw him draw her hand under his arm as one having the right, whisper something in her ear that lit her face with sun?hine, and lead her away. Petor Dangerfield stood alone. He watched them quite oub of sight — his teebh sob, his face perfectly colourless, and a look in his small eyes bad bo see. ' I have read of men who sold bheir souls bo bhe devil for a price,' he said, between his seb teeth. ' I suppose the days for such bargains are over, and souls are plentiful enowgh in the kingdom of his dark majesty, without paying a farthing. But if those days could come again, and Saban stood beside me, I would sell my soul now for revenge on you V 1 Are you sure you have one to sell ?' a clear, sharp voice close beside him said. I never thought lawyers were troubled with such inconvenient appendages— hearts and souls. Well, if you have, keep ib ; it's of no use bo me. And I m not Satan either, and yet I bhink for a fair price / can give you your revenge.' He whirled around with a stifled ex5 clamation, and saw at his elbow — Mrs I Vavasor.