For Honour's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7945, 22 January 1906, Page 2

For Honour's Sake.

CHAPTER Xll.—Continued

Fancourt clasped his thin hands round his knee, and began: "I won't be prolix, and I'll mention no names; you can All them in for yourself. There was a man, well born, but in character rather dodiry, who was, as we say fh the States, 'on the make.' He catne to New York. Thßte he livod by his wits—honestly, as things go. Hut, by and by, he met his fate in the shape of a lady, not young, but handsome, and showy—the sort of woman to get ou. She was an English lady, not an American, but. alas! she had a Dast. You follow toe?" Davenant, who had turned his face aside a little, made an iuvoluatary movement; a curious, gray ahadow had come over his rosy face. Fancourt smiled again, and went on: "She had been the wife of an English chaplain, in the company of a eood-lookiug Spaniard, and came to America; there she mnrried ner frieud, before a justice of the peace, in California. She afterwards di Torced bim acccording to the easy laws of .that State, and went to New York, where she flourished as the widow of an American gentleman. The hero of my story married this dubious personage, being made fully aware by the Spaniard aforesaid, who came across hira hy chance, of the history of Mrs Three Stars. But the Spaniard who had married again was content to keep dark;. and my hero married the ladx with a past, and came to Europe, finally establishing himself in London, where be reckons to get on in society, marry his ward—l omitted to mention her before—to a rich swell, etc., etc. Now, if tue truth about my hero's—wife, shall 1 call her—where to leak out, it would be a little awkward for all concernedwouldn't H?" Davenant sprang up, livid and trembling. . "How did you learn/all this," he cried, hoarsely. "What proof have you?" "An! I thought my story woulJ interest you," said Fancourt, perfectly unmoved by the other's agitation. "How did I learn it all? Well, that is a longer and more pro•flaio story than what 1 have just told you." Isn't it enough .that I do know it? As for proofs—well, since we have dropped parables and come to facts, I may mention that the Kev. Robert Kyrle is now in South Africa, in charge of a church at Natal, and can be produced if required, that the Spaniard Jose Miguelas, is at Los Angeles, and can also be produced. Shall we •atop the case' at this point, or do you want any more?" " "No," said Davenant, dropping into the chair again. There was a moment's pause Davenant sat with his head bent. Fanoourt regarded him with a quiet, ■ sirisster smile. At length Chris looked up, and said slowly: "Of coursh, 1 have no choice; but I might as well throw up every thing, aa have you in the family circle. My ward wouldn't stand it at any price." ' Fancourt did not at all resent the oruel bluntuess of this speech. He replied composedly: "1 told you I shouldn't obtrude myself, and I'll beep my word. I don't want to see any of your swell friend*. Just give me a room to myself, and you won't often see me. I'll take all my meals by myself, and you can give out that I'm a ne'er-do-well relation or friend, on whom you have taken pity. That will look charitable and do you credit. Even when I'm drunk I'm not noisy; I just lie down and go to sleep, and probably I shan't trouble you long. I'm a mere weak wreck now." Davenant scanned the degraded speaker with an eye to his own future release. Yes, Fancourt did not look as if ho would last long. His sothotirae boon companion rose. "Very vtrell," he said; "your terms, so long as you hold your tongue." !,,"0f courao; if I blab, the game's up, and you may as well kick me out at onoe. Thai being settled," said Fanoourt, rising, "I won't keep you any longer at present. Expect' me to-morrow morning; meanwhile you can explain matters any way you choose to your ward and your wife. Aurevoirt" Davenant made no response and Fancourt walked to the door, bowed politely, and went out. To hia wife, Chris told the truth; to his ward, u story of a ne'er-do-woll old friend and distant relative 'down in his luok." Claude asked no questions, but ctidn't even pretend to believe tho story. Chris wasn't the person to do a kindness, even to a man who hadisaved hia life. Of course, this Fancourt had been able to put the ecretvs on in some way; but it could not' matter much to her whether Fancourt were in \the house or out of it. Would it not? How littlo wo can breast tho future. CHAPTER XIII. "YOU KNOW THE PENALTYINCUR IT JF YOU DAKE!" The day following Lady Alister s ball, Captain Stewart and his wife did not meet until dinner time, and then there were other people present, so she bad no chance to broach the subject that was uppermost in her mind; but in the drawing-room afterward, she contrived to draw near to him. aa he stood a little apart. , Bending over some music to select a song, she said, carelessly: "So that was Chris Davenant who was talking to you last night?" Stewart let bia eyeß rest with a quiet, half-contemptuous glance on tho lovely face, and answered, .briefly: \

By Bertha M. Clay. Author of " Wife in Xante Only," >( Wedded and Parted," "Dora Thome," "A Queen Among Women," " A True Magdalene," etc., etc.,

"Yea." "Why didn't you introduoe bim to me?" continued Pan line. "Tbeio was no .necpssity, just then, Anothei time will do," said hi',- rather coldly. "You aught ask Lira here to dinner," she said, taking up a song. "I don't care tor the Davenants to have a footing in my house," said Stewart quietly. "No?" She lifted her blue eyes now, with an innocent stare. '"But they are in society." "So are a good many people one doea not wish to cultivate." Just then h gentleman came up eagerly to Pauline, begging for a song, and she was-- ob!igocl to relinquish her warfare. Stewart turned away, compressing his teeth. Trio contest would haveto come, and ho did not caie how soon. Pauline, be knew, had been inquiring all about the Davenanta, was perfectly aware that Claude Vernor was the woman her husband loved, and intended to make an effort at interference with his freedom of action. He could have laughed at such folly but that it was all so heartrending. But for Claude's sake, even more than hia own, he must crush with a ruthless hand any such attempt on his wife's nart. He would sm Claude as often as he chose, and he would not suffer her to be insulted by so much as a look. And the contest came the next day. About twelve o'clock Stewart entered the drawing room to get a letter which he had loft there the previous night. Pauline was sitting by a. small table, arranging some flowers in a bowl; it was a pretty occupation, which was the reason for it, not the love of flowers. (To be Continued).