FICTION IN BRIEF.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2508, 27 May 1893, Page 4

FICTION IN BRIEF.

FOR HER! BY MARY ANGELA DICKENS. ( Grand-daughter of the late Charles Dickens. Author of “ A social success, " Margery,” &c [All rights reserved] CHAPTER I. •• Katherine you really are a terrible person ! Do you know that you've nearly walked me to death ?” It was late in the afternoon of a dul November day, not a pleasant time for walking, certainly in London or anywhere else for that matter. Nor are those Londor streets which consist of “ good” houses particularly cheerful spots to walk in after dark, since passers-by are few and far between, and the lighting arrangements of the most feeble description. On this particular evening the pavement was muddy, the air raw and disagreeable, and altogether the twe ladies who were walking along at a brisk pace would have seemed more in then proper place in a hansom cab. They were both of them well and handsomely dressed, and had a general air about them of belonging to that class which does go about in ha°nsom cabs on the smallest provocation. The lady who was addressed Katherine, who was walking with a curious air of satisfaction in the sense of movement and oi oblivion other surroundings, started as her companion spoke. ” Nonsense Eleanor, she said, " you can't be really tired. We have ni.'t done so very much.” It was a strange voice, rather deeper than most women's, with a ring about it that seemed to indicate an unusual strength of character, accustomed, unconsciously per haps, to dominate wherever it touched - But it was not a hard voice, very far from that ;it was wonderlully musical and sympathetic, and the impulsive way in which she spoke deprived her words of any touch of harshness. ” Not done much,” echoed her companion, ■■ not done much! my dear Katherine, are you absolutely untirable ? We've only been out since one o’clock, and we’ve not sat down at all except in shops. I never knew anyone so restless." They were curiously restless eyes intc which the speaker was looking, though the rest of the face was steady enough, and Miss Grahame’s voice as she answered was very gentle. “ I am sorry Eleanor. Have I really knocked you up ? Well, here we are, and some tea will do you good, won t it ? We'll have it ” 13he stopped abruptly. They were just going up the steps of a well-kept house, and - IS she sp: ke the door was opened suddenly and a n-n came out —a tall man, with a sen i 1 i ve, haggard face and deep black eyes, w, ich might have been very fine if it had not been h r a certain strange expression of desperate craving which seemed to lurk in them. As he saw the two ladies he too started vi• ■1 < ntly, and his lips whitened and contracted suddenly and very curiously. He came quickly down the steps towards them. “ Miss Grahame," he began, in a voice widen was at mice eager and restrained, " 1 was a I raid I should miss you altogether. I called about an hour ago, and I—l thought I might wait. How do you do, Mrs AdderIcy, ’"this to the other lady, whose manner and countenance had changed, apparently at the sight of him, from its expression o I plaintive amiability to one of uneasy and indefinite dislike. " How do yon do, Mr. Leigh” she said coldly, and he turned again to Miss Grahame. ■■ May I—may I come back later on,” he said, " in about an hour ?” " Won’t you come in now ?” The deep voice was low and very sweet, and Mrs Adderley's face as she heard it grew colder and colder still. “Mrs. Adderley and I have been shopping together, and now she has come back with me to have some tea : won’t you come in again and have some too ?" “Not now, thank you,” he said, always with that strange undertone in his voice “ I have an appointment, but if I may come hack ?” I shall be very glad,” she hesitated a second,and then gave him her hand and •oassed on into the house. It was not a large house ; as Miss Grahame had no near relations, and lived there alone, ther - e was no reason why it should be. But it was beautifully furnished and the drawing-room, in ah ich '.ms waiting for (he two ladies, presented u i-'-. mre of dainty comfort, at the '.i ht ul which Airs. Adderley gave a heavy A-h of relief. It was delightfully lighted by several softly shaded lamps, and a sweei mint smell of flowers filled the wann air. But a strange shadow seemed to have fallen between Miss Grahame and her visitor For some minutes neither ol them spoke Miss Grahame had given her hat and cloak to her maid, and was standing by the teatable, pouring out the tea, with a curiously preoccupied expression in those restless eyes of hers. Wonderful eyes they were—large and deep and changing, not only in expression, but absolutely in colour, almost with thought that passed through her mind For the rest, her face could hardly be cadeo beautiful, the features were not sufficient!; regular. But no one who looked at it once could fail to look again and again. It was always very pale, not with the pallor of if health, but with a natural whiteness, against which the dark delicately pencilled eyebrows, and long-curling eyelashes, showed even darker than they really were. The lips were full and firm, and about the whole face, even in repose, there was a curious suggestion of latent passion and power, She was a woman of perhaps two or three and thirty. She roused herself at last, and turning suddenly to Mrs. Adderley, almost as though she had forgotten her presence, made some trivial remark about their afternoon's work. But Mrs. Adderley did not answer her. She was sipping her tea, with a serious and rather doubtful expression of countenance, " Katherine,” she began tentatively—- " Katherine, I want to say something to you." iulo Miss Grahame's eyes there [lashed a quick look of anticipation, but she did not turn away her head as she answered apparently' carelessly enough—- “ Why not say it then, Eleanor ?" Mrs. Adderley hesitated; "I—l—am rather—Katherine I don't know how it is, when we’re such old friends, and 1 am married and you are not, but—l’m afraid of you. Will you promise not to be annoyed ?” Miss Grahame laughed- “ Poor Eleanor,” she. said, " I did not know I was so alarming Suppose we talk of something that isn’t likely to rouse my evil passions?” There was an under-current of meaning n the voice, and Mrs. Adderley paused. Then sire went on with, for her, quite un-u.-mal determination—- “ I must say it Katherine, I can’t help it not beat to see you encourage Gallon Leigh !” There was a silence. One of those beautiful lithe white hands of Miss Grahame's tightened round the carved arm of her chair until the pressure must have b.eep absolute pain, "Do I—encourage—Calton Leigh." “ Katherine ! You know you do ! And I cannot bear to see it." " Why not ?” Mrs. Adderley apparently did not find r particularly easy to answer this question bhe flushed faintly and stole a glance at the