SERIAL STORY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 334, 9 March 1910, Page 6

SERIAL STORY

A ROYAL WARD. By PERCY BREBNER. (Published by Special Arrangement.) CHAPTER XIII. (Continued). "Ah, my lady, don't you understand I couldn't betray Mm? He will be found out some day, and pay. Perhaps he is not so guilty as others, but I could not say the word wihch might bring him to his death. I loved the man he might have been, I cannot forget that, and 1 will say nothing to ruin him! Don't you understand, my lady? Don't you know that you would do the same, however big a scoundrel your husband might be?" ''l wonder how many men have escaped punishment because a woman loved them," said Betty. "Keep your secret—be Mary Rowarth. Are you willing to come into my service?" "Oh, my lady!" "It will not be easy always. I have moods and vile tempers, and then " "I am not afraid," said Mary. The housekeeper was sent for, and Mary was given into her charge for the present. "I will see you again presently," Betty said, "and we will talk over your duties." Mary turned to Dubulsson. "Thank you, sir," she said, curseying to him. "I have only partly repaid a great debt; the thanks must come from me," he answered. As the door closed, Betty crossed to the fire and stood looking down into the blaze. Dubuisson waited to take his leave, but would not disturb her. She had looked at him for a moment when she had spoken of her moods and tempers. "I have behaved badly to you this afternoon," she said, turning towards him suddenly. "I am sorry." "If I was hurt', I have forgotten it now," he answered. "It wasn't just a mood," she welit oil. "I had a reason for being ill-tempered —a very good reason, but it was hateful for me to visit it upon you." "I was not the cause, then?" "No—no, except quite indirectly. I was angry that you did not come yesterday. I am spoilt, and am learning to set too much value upon my favors. I was angry because 1 thought you bad allowed something to prevent your coming." "Now you know the truth," he said.

"It was absurd of me," she went on. "Of course, a man might have a hundred things of more "Importance than visiting me." "Only such a thing as has happened to me could have prevented my coming," said Dubuisson. "You shall tell me now what it was you wanted to say to me." "One thing first, Lady Betty. Yon say that you had reason for your illhumor, a reason not directly concerned with me. Is it concerned with any matter in which T can help you?" She looked at him and remembered Evertsen, remembered the Prince Regent's letter which she had thrust into tho Tiosom of her dress. "I wonder if you could?" she said, a sniil° roon her lies at the sudden long flights her thoughts had taken. "Tfiere is no task you could put upon me which I would not try to perform." "T think I know that, Mr. Dubuisson, and to believe if makes a woman feel wonderfully secure. I cannot tell you now, 1 do not promise that I shall ever tell vou, what it is that has put me out of humor; but I shall know that you are readv to help me. Will it please .yon if I say that the knowledge makes my diffieultv less?"

"Nothing could make me happier." "Now tell me what it was you could not explain at Petersham House the other night. There was something about a man calling himself Captain Hyde." "You must not mind if I repeat what I have already told you. I want you to understand my position fully." And T)ubnisson' told her the whole story of his mission and his father's death. "So you see I was perfectly honest when you sheltered me at Abbot's Chase.' he went on;, "but recent events have suggested that there mav be another meaning underlying this broken cross. When my lodgings were turned upside down, nothing was missing, and I have no doubt that my captors were in search of the same thine as those who ransacked my room. Finley Baxter is of opinion that the man I am looking for does not wish to be found, possibly because he believes I have sinister intentions: and therefore he is doing all in his power to rob me of the one clue I have to his identity. If he understood how poor a clue it really was to me. he would hardly trouble so much."

"You believe they are looking for this broken cross?" said Betty. "When the man's hand went into my pocket, I felt certain of it, and fought desperately to save it. They did not find it. I keep it in a hidden pocket. There it is, Lady Betty," and he laid the cross in the hand she held out to receive it. "These are the papers which relate to my mother, and are practically meaningless to me, but may signify much to the man I am seeking." Betty held the broken cross close to a candle and examined it carefully. "You see the ring which it had to suspend by has been torn off." "Or is it on the other half?" said Dubuisson. "No: it has been broken off, and entirely, it seems to me." "I had not noticed that, but I think you are right." "Tt was n cross attached to a rosary, perhaps" said Betty; "and the fact

that it has been broken in half might certainly have anything but a peaceful meaning.'' "It shall never urge me to anything else." Dubuisson was bending over her. She had sat down by a table, and her anus were spread upon it as she held the cross near to the candles. As she turned to look up at him her hair touched his cheek. , "But there might be grave reasons "None that can appeal to me. I gave you a promise. I intend to keep it at all costs," and Dubuisson was thinking far more of the woman than his mission then. Betty examined the cross carefully again, perhaps to hide the color which she felt warming her cheeks. "And this man Hyde said that 1 might know something of this?" "He suggested that you might know people who had helped French prisoners in the past, and expressed a belief that, although you could not possibly know of my affairs, you had given help yourself." "It is not true," said Betty. "But you understand what it may mean, don't you?" said Dubuisson. "It is possible that I did not leave Abbots Chase unseen." "I was helping an innocent man, not a French spy or prisoner," she said. "True; but, with their own ends to serve, these men may put an evil construction upon it. Unfortunately, I am a man who may bring trouble upon you." "Or I am a woman who may help you," she said, .standing before him with a smile upon her lips. "There is your cross. A revenge for past injury might bo just, and I might absolve you from your promise to me. I have some power, Mr. Dubuisson, and I doubt whether much suspicion will fall upon a man I claim as a friend." "Lady Betty, 1 am happier than I ever remember to have been, but I cannot let you run any risk for me. This man Hyde's suggestion may have been mere idle words, guess-woxk; your name mentioned because your home is in Devonshire, where the people appear to be restless and inclined to revolt, Your coming to town has naturally 'been talked of; you are Me toast of so many a worthier fellow that has never set eyea on you, simply becau§e-~because yoti are' beautiful. All the world ac J knowledges that, and beauty must pay the price of receiving homage even from half-drunken swaggerers in a tavern. Hyde may have thought it sensational to mention your name. I shall find out, but until then you shall see little of me." "Would vou pass me in the Mall, sir?"

"If it were for your good, I would never look upon your face again." "I do not conceive, that my ease requires! so desperate a remedy," said Betty. "Make your enquiries, Mr. Dubuisson, find out all you can, and report to me, please." "You tempt me to be reckless." "I want to be sure that I am in touch with the man who has promised to try and periorm the most difficult task for me. Indeed, I mav need your help suddenly ami surely." "Yon have but to command," he answered. "Men may laugh at women's commands sometimes, but mine must be obeyed, and you must not let me see you laugh. 'You are not to return to your lodgings alone, ft is ovident that in some way you have made deperate enemies." "I must needs go at once for less ragged clothes, but Finley Baxter shall bear me company.' "You may compel him in the form of a message from me. if you will. Tell 'him that I am trusting him with a great friend of mine." will accept the trust, and become a, nuisance by hardly letting me out of his sight. You do not know the gaoler you are giving me." "If- he does his duty, I shall look forward to knowing him," said Betty. "And then, sir. you will claim my friendship whenever w« meet, and a fortnight irom to-day you shall ask me to dance at Almacks." "Lady Betty, do you know wnat you are doing?" "Protecting a friend of mine from'suspicion," she answered. "You are doing far more than that. Tint 'f dare not tell you what. Perhaps I may never dar c to tell you, but " "But perhaps you will," she said. Did she understand what he meant., and could sne understand, and not be angry? There was a smile upon her lips, a color in her cheeks, and there was a look in eyes that he had never seen before. Was there a man in all the world who would not have bartered half his possessions to stand where he stood? Her arm was stretched n little, almost as though she had just issued a- command: and. after a moment's silence, Dubuisson dropped upon his "knee and raised her hand revently to his lips. "If I ever have the courage," he whispered. "Then, be merciful." (To be continued next Saturday). - i