CHECKMATED.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2370, 16 June 1892, Page 4

CHECKMATED.

bf the head office, now. perhaps you'll sec yoar way," and he smiled a smile which died in his birth.

M'Leod laughed again, and shook his head.

Having produced a large array of bangles of »!! sorts, shapes, and sizes, without re sealing exactly what his customer desired, the jeweller made yet another dive into the window.

" Yes, it's a lot of money," he said, as he vainly endeavoured to claw hold of something beyond his reach, and addressing M'Leod, who still held the costly-mounted bangles in his hand, " but bless ye, sir," he continued, turning round, " I've customers who think as little of such a purchase as that gentleman there" (pointing to Slade) "of the price of the watch-key he's jisi selected. here," he added, placing v. case on the counter, " here is a stone valued, unmounted, jnst as it is, at /500 But I'm afraidl can't suit yor with the bangles you're wishing," he con tfluded, " without, maybe, I've the article 11 j hero," and he passed as he spoke to tlv upper end of the shop. M'Leod moved a step or two after him and Slade sang out, " You'll find me out Side, M'Le.< 1," walking, as he spoke, to u-ards the r. >r.

After much rummaging and pulling out o drawers, the jeweller produced bangles 1-: Kilda's taste.

" Much obliged, and thank you, sir," saic the former, as he handed his parcel, together with the change, over to his customei actoss the counter, and proceeded to return ■'!;■• stork to iis proper place. ' • : ord m ing," said Kilda, as he turned

; :--r.-e ihe p. "Good r iring, sir," replied the other, iih a, bow, > Kilda stepped out into the

sticei'. " Look he v, M'Leod," exclaimed Slade, who was standing on the pavement, "did you ever in -.11 your life see such value offered for yciir money ?" Kilda looked in the direction indicated, and was warm in his praise of some jewelled dirks, which glittered and flashed again in the morning sun. " And now," said Slade, " crf&ring you my warmest congratulations On to-morrow's event, I must say good-bye," And, as he spoke, he extended his hand, which M'Leod, touched by his less fortunate rival's unselfishness, cordially grasped, and in another moment Slade had gone. Kilda M'Leod's wedding-day dawned bright and fair. Early morning as it was, he was already active; indeed, if the truth must be told, he had never been to bed. Soon after six there was a knock at his door.

- "If you please, sir," said the landlady, with face as white as marble, as he opened it, "if you please, sir, you're wanted for a minute below." Kilda hastened downstairs.

A man was standing, hat in one hand, and some papers in the other, in the hall " Good morning, sir," said the individual, loudly and cheerily, as Kilda descended the stairs, but whispering in his ear as he reached the foot, he continued, "Very sorry, my man, but it's all up, and you'll have tc come along \vi' me." Kilda stared at the speaker as if he was jnad. " 'Taint no good, sir," explained the representative of the law ; " I've searched youi sitting-room, and I've found the swag," and as he spoke he displayed the identical bangle which Kilda M'Leod had held foi the space of a few minutes in his hand a( the jeweller's the day before, " Heavens !" he cried, as he recognised the trinket; " what have I done ?" "There! there! take it quiet," said the police officer ; " come with me, and whatever you do, hold yer tongue !" Dumfounded, Kilda mechanically obeyed. In due course Kilda M'Leod was placed upon his trial for theft. In vain he had endeavoured to call tc mind precisely what had taken place al Crouch's shop subsequent to his visit to the " Golden Lion" upon that unhappy day, Foremost amongst sympathisers was Arthur Gordon Slade. He remembered everything. Could call to mind seeing Kilda M'Leod with the trinket in his hand, but considered it impossible that he could Lc.ve put it into his pocket without his (Slade's) knowledge, unless, indeed, he had done so after he himself had quitted the shop. Absurd as it may sound, Kilda was totally nnable to meet the charge brought against him. **■•

Appearances were anything but in his favour, and on the very best advice he pleaded guilty, was strongly recommended to mercy, but sent to prison. As the sentence was pronounced and the unhappy convict was led away, one of his warmest sympathisers present in Court hissed through his close-set teeth, so defiantly as to rouse the speculation of some of those surrounding him—" Check." ; - Fain would we spare the reader Cecilia's ■agonies when the blow fell, and she knew the worst. Her life was despaired of, and she s,iifiered more than words can tell.' But Ti-.!e, which is credited with power to work miracles, did in her case effect what passed, at anv rate, for a cure.

L.idcr the loving care of an affectionate family, and the unobtrusive attentions of Arthur Gordon Slade, who never tired of pVading Kilda M'Leod's innocence, she steadily revived. IS ever had Slade stood so high in her estimation before. A man who, in the face of facts, could plead so untiringly on behalf of perhaps the only person in the world who had ever done him harm, was a hero indeed.

. The time for Kilda's liberation had come round, and Slade stood in the very position towards Cecilia Carmichael that Kilda once had occupied. C-..\Vith the day that brought his freedom the 1 latter sought out Slade, and begged to be allowed to grasp his hand, for he had heard of this man's persistent pleas on his behalf, and was anxious to return his heartfelt thanks.

Sincerely, but with aching heart and eyes filled with tears, he congratulated him, as he himself had been once congratulated, upon his impending bliss, and then he went his way, resolved to visit Redfold nevermore, Kilda M'Leod had a brother in London—an engineer—and to him he now repaired. ' By reason of his inestimable loss and the disgrace which he had brought upon his family, he became a prey to blank despair. As a forlorn hope, he determined to go abroad and live down his sad experience in pastures new. Some days before the date for which his departure was fixed he found himself at his brother's chambers. No matter where he went now, so that he was never alone.

% Unable to see his brother, who was busily engaged, he amused himself as best he could.

Seating himself at a desk, and turning dejectedly over a series of volumes of photographs, he came across one which was labelled " Gasometers."

Idle curiosity induced him to open it

As he did so his eyes fell upon a word, the sight of which will cause him strange emotions for many years to come, namely, *• Redfold," at once the scene of his greatest misery and his purest joy. i. Instinctively he examined the photograph. ?' It was marked " New Gasometer, Redfold Gasworks, June 14th, '71." L Suddenly the blood rushed to his cheeks., (lo bo continued.)