SERIAL STORY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 325, 26 February 1910, Page 6

SERIAL STORY

A ROYAL WARD.

Bv PERCY BREBNER,

(Published by Social Arrangement.)

CHAPTER XI. (continued).

Deborah Cowper was not angry exactly, nor hurt, but she felt rather irritated. Somehow the idea that she was Betty's ehaperone had become slightly distasteful to her. London had impressed upon her the fact that she was far too young to imagine hers/elf old. She certainly was not ill-looking, and in half an hour a dozen worse figures might be met with, she argued. Hor opportunities had come a little late perhaps, but not too "ate to be taken advantage of. She had had proof of this surely, and it was rather impudent of Betty to laugh at her ribbons, by which term she had evidently indicated a good many changes which had occurred in her dress lately. The changes'became lier wonderfully; she had been told s'o by 110 mean critic, and he had expressed his opinion in terms which made the fair Deborah ■blush to remember. Betty was not the only person who could deal in confidences. Under the circumstances it was perhaps only natural that Deboiali should experience a certain pleasuie that three o'clock came, and four, and five, bringing no gentleman to the house in Pall Mall.

!t would not "be true to say that Jjaciy Betty bore this fact patiently. She liad given this Mr. Victor Dulmisson an apipointment; she had not done so mtich to any other man; and she felt fissured that there was no other man of her acquaintance who would not have pre* sen ted himself punctually at her door. The favor, the immense favor, had been lightly regarded, and there was nothing in the world that could excuse the failure to keep sucTi an appointment. She was' angry; slie even declared to herself that she was outraged by such conduct, but she would not admit there was any disappointment. She had merely 'been gracious to a friendless individual, and her graciousness had been thrown away. It did occur to her that Victor Dubuisson might be deceiving her, that she ought to have' delivered him to the soldiers when they came to Abbots Chase, but she dismissed the idea immediately. He was an honest man, for she had looked into his eyes and been certain of that. So it was evident that Lady Betty was ratiier inconsistent in her reflections concerning this man.

"You were disappointed, after all, Betty." Deborah said, very softly and verv innocently. "I am so sorry."

"Perhaps Bettv detected the faint glimmer of r. smile upon Deborah's face, or heard the ghost of a laugh underneath the condolence. "I almost fancy I must have been mistaken; the • affair was settled so hastily. Naturally, he would imagine that I should welcome no visitor on the day after the ball. He meant tomorrow, and T have wasted an afternoon to no purpose. YVe might have gone to 1507 id Street. Dei.orah. and ■searched the-- shops fe"' ri'jbons and laces."

•Deborah was not deceived by this explanation. ;'."d laughed to herself at Uett.v's determination to waste the fol-

iovin:r nf''er:ic:on for pride's sake. She "•"s porKiriersiblv surprised, therefore, when a visitor did make his appearance, and curiously enough at precisely three I (celyek. Being ongaged in somewhat' I elal orate toiiet operations at the time ■' —an occupation -be had acquired since I coming to London —the visitor had been I ushered into Betty's presence before ' Deborah, was able to hurry down and : sic who he might be. When a servant ! informed her that a "Mr. Walter Evert- ; sen was with his mistress, Deborah's I lijjurc siiii'i ned n- though slit- had received a shock, and she entered a room v hirh the visitor must pass on leaving, fuliy determined not to vac-ate her post until she had seen him.

"I believe Betiy sent for him on purpose to deceive me." she said to herself; and there was no doubt that , Deborah t'owper was verv angry. i Lady Betty, however, .had done noi thing of the kind. She did not expect that Victor Dubuisson would have the j effrontery to come a day behind his : time, and she was very surprised when Walter Evertsen was announced. She was quick to perceive, nevertheless, that the position had been saved, that Deborah's supercilious smile was discounted, and she gave Evertsen a wel--1 come for which he was hardly prepared. | '"Your kindness overwhelms me, Lady Betty," he said, reconstructing his in- ' tended behaviour to suit the occasion. , ".Still, believe me. I should not have i ventured to come without your express sanction were I not another's messenger." "Then he. could not come himself," > Betty said, quickly. I "I could see no reason why he should I not," Evertsen replied, without noticing her eagerness. ,; To visit you would ' confer distinction ,-on even the most j highly placed. However, he deemed it wiser to make me his messenger, and j you may guess how very willingly I undertook the mission."

Betty was puzzled. The friendship between this man and Victor Dubuisson must be very close. "I almost wonder that Mr. Evertsen deigns to be another man's messenger," she said archly; and her manner con-

vinced the soldier and dandy that hie star was indeed in the ascedant. "For one man, «ud only for one, would I do such service," he returned. ■'Though he honors me with his friendship, his wishes must ever be in the ■nature of commands'. I am commissioned by His Highness the Prince Regent to deliver this letter into your hands."

Betty took the letter, and had Evertsen not been quite so satisfied with himself he might have noticed an air of disappointment about Irer.

• '"A command to Carltftn House," she said.

"I hardly think s'o; from remarks the Prince let fall, I believe the letter is of a more private nature. I am not in the Prince's confidence to the extent of knowing what - the letter contains, but he was insistent on one point: that the letter was to be delivered into your own hands and opened by you in private."

"Then, knowing the fatal curiosity of a- woman, Mr. Evertsen, you will "

"Pardon me if I do not withdraw immediately," he said. "Opportunity is responsible for most of the succe&'s ia life, and it is seldom that so humble a person as myself is favored with Lady Betty Walmisley's company apart from a host of admirers."

"You are very courteous, sir, and do yourself an injustice," she returned, with a low curtsey.

"Even if your words are but a phrase and have no depth of meaning, they give me courage," said Evertsen earnestly. "And if I seem importunate, you must forgive me, since the prize that every man covets must be striven for early, or lost. In time, no long period has elapsed since you gave me wine at Abbots Chase. Lady Betty, but in that wine there lurked no such intoxication as came to me through your eyes and your gracious presence. 1 entered your doors a whole-hearted man who 'had never given more than a careless thought to any woman; I went out your slave for all time." "Indeed, sir, I " "Nay, sweet lady, let me make full confesston. I am as a man looking towards a brilliant star, worshipping, loving. I love you, Lady Betty, humbly yet devotedly. I am not worthy of the happiness II seek, yet the offering I lay at your feet is not altogether un worthy. In time I cannot fail to bear a title which has been borne by many who are not unknown to history; one which even Lady Betty Walmisley could not think unworthy to grace. For the manj for myself, I am at your mercy." "I am honored, greatly, honored, Mr. Evertsen,'' and she curtsied low again; "but I have no thought of marrying, no wish to marry—yet." ''The future comes quickly; it must come very speedily in your case." "And in marriage such as I may presently desire there mast be love," said Lady Betty; ''and at present I have no knowledge of love." ''May I not try and teach you?" ''Can it be taught*''" she asked. 'Will you,not let me try?" "It would be useless, I fear- indeed, I am sure of it. That love can- be taught is' a pleasant fiction, Mr. Evertsen. When love comes, it comes unsought, anil no barriers can keep it out. You lionor me greatiy, but love' lias- nmt touched me. I am sorry." She looked radiant in her sorrow., a sparkle in her eyes, her cheeks- aglow. Never had a woman looked more civ sirable. She was more beautiful' than, •Evertsen had even believed! "I love you." he whispered", and never perhaps had he spoken more truly; "and surely you cannot hate me, or I could hardly have failed to discover it." "Certainly I do not hate you; but then there is no man I hate," she answered. I

"I refuse to let go of my hope," he said. "My passion would be unworthy the name were I so easily discouraged." "But you must believe me—please," said Betty, leaning towards him in a petitioning attitude for a moment, wholly unconscious- that the action only served to make her appear more desirable.

"[ only know that T love you; that, life and love are to me the same, and both impossible without you."

"How can I make you understand?" she said, with a little desperate gesture. She was not the woman to rejoice in her power when it brought suffering to others. "You say you love me. Tell me. is there laughter in your heart — careless laughter that needs repression?"

"Yes, yes; it is there, ready to break forth the moment vou are kind to me."

"I do not mean that laughter—happy laughter, with joy in it," , she said quickly. "I mean just—just laughter, as one may laugh at the play or at a wit's sally, at something that appeals to us as —as ridiculous.'." "Ridiculous!" he exclaimed. "Yes; don't you understand? I feel now, at this very moment, as though I could laugh like that. I should, I am sure T should laugh, if you were not here." "I do not understand. I " "I hurt you; 1 am sorry," she said, "but I do so want you to understand. I am different to others, perhaps, and very foolish, possibly, but I am very sure there can be no love when there is such a desire to laugh in this fashion." "I will not believe that some day we may not laugh together, Lady Betty." ' "Often. I hope," she said quickly—"as friends'." Protesting that he was always her humble slave and worshipper, Walter Evertsen bowed himself out of the room.

She was indeed different from other women, not to be won easily or at the first attempt, and it Evertsen's selfcomplacency was ruffled a little, he was too good a soldier to accept a repulse as a defeat, and understood women too well to take her answer as final.

Deborah Cowper had grown impatient with waiting. Each minute dragged out a weary leugth, and it was with the utmost difficulty that she refrained from joining Betty. Indeed, she might presently have been unable to resist the temptation, had not iier mind been diverted by another visitor. She was at the head of the stairs' in time to catch sight of a woman's cloak as she entered a waiting-room. The man who followed paused on the threshold.

"Please do not take the note to your mistress until she is disengaged. She is expecting it, and will give me an answer."

Deborah went back to her room perplexed. She forgot to he impatient for a few minutes', so thoughtful had she become.

"I know:" she exclaimed, with sudden excitement "Oh, how useful a little knowledge may be."' Then she heard steps descending the stairs, and went to the door of the room.

"Ah, you adorable person. I was' going slowly with the hope that I might catch a glimpse of you," said Evertsen; but he spoke in a low tone lest by chance his voice should sarry to the ears of the lady he had just left. "The adorable person is almost tired of waiting for you," answered Deborah. "Did Lady Betty send for you?" "Jfo. 1! am, as it were, on duty. I was the bearer of a letter from the Prince Regent."

"She did not send for you? I wonder with whom her appointment was, then." "Appointment!" Evertsen exclaimed; and then, foaring, perhaps, that his 1 meaning might be too apparent, he went on: "Could she keep such a secret from you?" j

''She not only can, but she did. Still, I think I can tell you with whom the appoiiitment was made, unless your duty is too urgent," and Deborah stood hack into the room, inviting him to enter. —■ - *

"You tempt m6j but Lady Betty's secrets can hardly be of much interest to me," said Evcrtsen, entering the •room and closing the door. Although Betty iliad declared with truth that she wanted to laugh, she did not do so when Evertsen had left her. She even sighed, fbr she thought she had hurt him, and she was tenderhearted. Besides, she was honored—a man loved her, would make her his wife; and no young girl can listen to such a declaration, with the ring of honesty in it, unmoved. She would not be a nice girl if she could. Betty argued, to account to herself for her sudden seriousness. Then she opened the letter which Evertsen had delivered.

I It was somewhat lengthy, and, as she read, the color came into Betty's cheeks. "Could he have knownV" she exclaimed; and then she read a sentence in the letter again: "The bearer of this is entirely ignorant, of the subject of this letter. I would rather that he did not know, for tii« 'present at least, > but I leave the matter to your dis- ; cretion." Yes, it was signed by the ' Prince. Evertsen qouM not have ' known. The letter' was' full of compliments which hardly appealed to Bett/ ' just now, for there was much weightier i matter in it. She was reminded that she was the King's ward, and therefore, since the King was incapacitated, the Prince's ward. She was told that many dangers must lie' in wait for so charming a person as herself, and that, to protect her from the unworthy and mere fortune-hunter, an early and desirable marriage was expedient. There was much concerning the difficulty of the choice and the liisiny hours of careful consideration which the writer had given to the matter, and now, with his ! own hand, he wrote to her.as'king her [ to treat Mr. Walter Evertsen, on whom I his choice had fallen, with consideration. "Since I perceive," the letter coneluded, "that he is in love with you I already, I have not conveyed my wishes ,to him. You will, therefore, know that : whatever protestations he may make, 1 they are spontaneous and not dictated by me in any way." Then Betty laughed, not gaily, but indignantly. ', "If I wanted any Assurance that I could never love Walter Evertsen, here it is iu this letter. I wouldn't marry any man I was commanded to marry, not if lie !>ad all the advantages' of—of—an archangel." Betty experienced the sensation of uttering a little blasphemy, and felt that there was absolute finality in it. She started as .the door opened and a servant came in with a note. "The messenger said you were expecting it, my lady, aud he is waiting for an answer." Betty tore open the letter. "Show him in here," she said. "Beg ipardon, my lady, there is a female person as well. Do you wish to see them both?" Betty glanced at the letter again as though she had not quite mastered its contents. "No; the man—alone," she answered. (To be continued in next Wednesday's issue.)