For Honor's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7943, 18 January 1906, Page 2

For Honor's Sake.

CHAPTER X.—Continued. "You look quizzical! You Scotchmen are very romantic, I fear; at any rate, you are. But whore's tho difficulty of loving a man like Count Zamnlyi—a brave, good looking fellow, and desperately in earnest." Stewart shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows?" he said. "Who knows a woman's heart? She doesn't always know it hovself. Pray remember mo to Miss Veruer." He bowed and moved away, to talk to some one else. His own heart was madly questioning—dallying with the hope th«t was so "blinding sweet," yet which, after all, was selfish. Did Ciaude retain some momory of him, which, all unknown to herself, maybe, made her indifferent to other men's love? What her husband said to Chris Daveuant, Pauline could not hear across the buzz of talk around her; but the loud tone 3 of Duvonaut reached her oar di.-i! mcily, and into her blue eyes, at his last words, leaped suddenly a flash of evil light. as instantly veiled under the drooping lasbeu. When the two men turned away, she said, with languid ouriosity to a man next her—Sir James Feltam: "Who is that who was talking to my husband?" "That's Chris Daveuant," he said; "talks for the wnole room to hear bim—doesn't he?" "1 don't know the name," said Pauline; "and Claude— be spoke as if Claude were a woman -" "Yes; she'Bhis ward: haif Frencn, I believe, and—well, Mrs Stewart," bowing, "1 may say it to you safely —a lovely girl; pretty isn't the word; she's a blue rose!" "You are enthusiastic," said Pauline, smiling serenely. "Are you smitten?" "Oh, I have uever spoken to her; but I saw her in Paris once, at a .concert." "They come from Paris, then?" "I dont' know; they were living in Paris at that time—about two years ago." "What is your paragon's name?" said Pauline, still with that sccilo on her rosy lips. "Veruer." "An Irish nane. I suppose there's not much money, and this Daveuant wants to marry his ward to a rich man." "No doubt. She'll be extremely popular this season, Mrs Stewart—after you." "lint 1 am out of the marriage market," said Pauline, purposely misunderstanding him. "1 meant in beauty," said he gallantly. "Don't talk nonsense! I am quite anxious to see—-my rival," with a roguish, upward glance. "You're sure to meet her, if you don't call. There's a Mrs Davenant, you know." "Ob, indeed! Is she here? Point her out to me." Sir James looked about, and pre« sently said: "She is close to the window yonder, in red satin, talking to Squire Tollemacbe." Pauline gazed steadily, then said "Do you call him 'Squire' Tollemauhe because he is square-built and broad-shonldered?" "No; he is Squire Tollemacbe, of - East Danford, in Northamptonshire —cuts it as a town man now, but doesn't look the part, does he? He's very rich, though." "lhey want him for Claude, perhaps?" "Very likely." Pauline had heard enough for the present, so she dismissed her cavalier for an ice, an 1 was, for a few moments, actually alone. She did not mind 'it just now; she was chewing the end of reflection at once bitter and triumphant. "So this is the girl you love, Esric" she said, inwardly, while she sat smiling, and waving her fan gracefully to and fro; "the girl for whose sake ypu wanted to throw me over. I have your secret now, and I shall make use of it. Was it your will or her guardian's that kspt you so long away from her side? If his, he seems to have changed his mind; if yours —well, I know bow it will be now that the girl is in town—men always return to their first loves. 1 won't stand that! You shallflnd that if I can't love 1 can hate —and if 1 am not olever, I have wit enough for mischief. Ah! Sir James—thanks so much! Are they forming? This is your waltz, isn't it? I shall leave after, that." When Pauline and her husband reached home, he simply bade her good-night, as usual, without caress or even handclasp, and went straight to his own rooms; and she while her sleepy maid was unrobing her, was saying, savagely, to herself: "He will riave words enough for Claude Verner, no doubt, though never a word for me; he will have a thousand kisses for her, though he has never had one for me. I don't covet his caresses, but if they are not for me, they are for no one else; and I'll make her, understand that—somehow—if 1 daren't make him." Bat even jealousy and anger did not suffice to keep Pauline awake. Like most people of hor temperament, she could always sleep, and as soon as her fair head touohed the pillow, she slept tho sleep of :the healthy and selfish. , CHAPTER XI. AFTER TWO YEARS. The April sun was shining brightly on the garden of a pretty Villa house in South Kensington, and a girl was leaning against the side of the open French window, and gazing out over the trees lost in dreamy thought. A beautful creature she was, more beautiful than stmhad been two years years ago; buu there was an everlatent pain in the violet eyes, that' toey had not kuown when Esric Stewart first saw heaven reflected in them; more than a touch of the bitterness of suffering the linos of

By Bertha M. Clay. Author of et IFife in Name Only," u Wedded and Parted," "Dora Thome," "A (hieeu Among Women," " J. True Maydalene," etc., etc.,

tho Bweet, firm mouth: but the whole face had gained in depth of expression, and had lost nothing of that wonderful charm of ehildliko purity, an intrinsic purity of soul, that had rosistod all the evil influences of life which taught her much cynical wisdom; a life she hated and despised, yot saw no moans of escaniug. Yea, Claude Veruor had learned many thing 3 since thoso days; learnod what maimer of people they were to whom her father had ignorautly consigned her; what she was to he to them and do for them. Well born adventureis, making their way in the world, between whom and heraelf there could not be ouo idea in common, and on her they rucKoned as the means of their ultimate and permaneut success. Her Deauty was to gain a rich husband, and to that end she was Hoated through the sajonaxof European capitals, and might a dozeu times and more have married woalthy men; but, alas! for ber guaridaus, Claude was not made of malleable materials, and refused every suitor that cima. When reproved or remons 'raied with, she was haughty and defiant, and showed, herself generally so independent, that they feared she might run away, or take it into her head to marry some "useless" individual, and they reproved her no more. She was always an attraction to their home, and even in this capacity fully repaid the expense of her clothes and her keep. If she could not be driven, they argued, she might be led; there was plenty of time, after all, for even now Claude was only twenty. (To ba Continued.)