For Honour's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7958, 8 February 1906, Page 2

For Honour's Sake.

By Bertha M. Clay. Author of i( Wife in Name Oithf," u U"cd<led<ind Parted,-' "Dora Thome," " A Queen Amon</ Women," "A True Maydalene," etc., etc.,

CHA PT Ell X Xll.—C ontin ue d. Stewart shi; u the door and advanced a little way into tho room. Ill's wife did not turn round, but she looked at him in tho mirror before her. Bad he been at tho Ferns? No he was too early home lor that. Ho would not so soon tear himsolf Bivay from Claudo Vomer's siao. "I wanted to ask you something," she said, her lace still turned to the mirror. She was only courteous to her husband before tho world. Since she dared uot sot hiiu at dofiance, she sought revengo in things too small nud mean for him to notice. "Why did you Bay it was a pity I asked MrTollemacho here?" "Is that all? .Never mind that to night, Pauline. I will speak to you of it at another tirao." "Why not now? If there is any thing against him I should like lo know it before 1 meet, hku again." She turned round new, with an aggrieved air. Stewart half smiled; her tricks ■were so patent to him. "It sounds plausible enough," ho said, "but you need not havo been quite so hnsty, in the tirst instance, to ask Tollemache hero." "I met him in good society," said Pauliue. "If be is a fit associate for. Miss Vomer, 1 suppose ho is for ire." "I don't consider him a fit associate for said her husband, rather sternly. "Chris Davenant's standards are uot mine. Since you have aslced him to call it cannot, so far, be helped; but let it stop there." "You might give me your reasons for such arbitrary conduct" exclaimed Pauline. "What 1 said last night must be sufficient reason, Fuuliue. I know Tollemache; you do not. If you have no faith in my judgment, you must obey niy will." "Do you intend," said Pauline, with a sneer, "to put an embargo ou every man who is a suitor of Claude Vomer's." Stewart's face became so white at the coarse taunt that she was almost frightened. He went up to her and laid bis hand heavily on her shoulder. "1 thimr." be said, in a suppressed way, "that you will do wisely to omit all mention of Miss Verner'a name when you are speaking to me. Do you imagine 1 don't know why you want to cultivate this Tolleinache's acquaintance? You have not forgotten my warning; but you think there may be some means of secretly thwarting me. JJon't *ry me too far, even by words; learn in future to rule your tongue batter, as well as your aota. Good-night." He removed his hand, and went straight out of the room to his own, leaving her quivering and weepiug, with tLe surface anger that is quiok to tears, but leaves no inward scarS. For her episode was of comparatively small moment; even her auger was leavened with the satisfaction of having wounded him—stung him to ■wrath. She was having revenge for bis autocratic overruliug of her actions, bis devotion to Claude Verner. JBut, for him, the very pettishness -of the occurrence made it more especially in hid present state of feverish uurest, Alone in his dressing room he flung himself down covering his face in something very like despair—that most fearful form of despair which loses all grip' of divine help of moral good. Honour ■was but a byword that left life parched and arid. What was the end of striving? Only defeat. Was there not a "divine rigbt" in passion. Did not love, in its very essence, sanctify? Honour and dishonour in sucii cases were but shibboleths; there wub no sin in a tie that love and faith blessed. Sin. What was sin? Who should dare to jndge? So for hours he mused; and then it seemed ot a sudden the soul swung back to its balance, and the man fell on liia knees with choking sob; "Oh, Heaven!" ho whispered. "I am mad, mad. Claude, my love, forgive—forgivo. Your love—yes, yes, J must have it! I have no more strength. JBut not shame! 'lhat thought was not mine! it was a demon's voice that tempted. I could not think to shame you, my love—my saint—my only good." Love that is without sin, yet always in its shadow—could this be salvation. Better, far better, at least than the moral shipwreck of soul flung back on despair.

CIIAPTEK XXIIL • ON PERIL'S VEKUE. With only the thought of seeiug Claude, with nothing but tho blind, passionate need of her, Captain Stewart went on Monday afternoon, colled a hansom, and drove down to The Ferns. He should not see Claude alone, but he should be with her: for a moment he would have her hand in his; he would look on her face, hear her voice. To be only in tho same room with her was to know so iuuoh of happiness. But what if she wore out? lie tortured himself with that fear; well, then bo must wait, with what patience ho could, until to-morrow. Tho man-servant opened the door to him. "Mrs Daveuaut is out, sir," he said, iu anweor to his formal inquiry, for the mistress of the ho'.ae, "Miss Veruer is at home." Claude at home—alone. But he would not draw back if he could; he could not if he would. "Thanks," he said, qufetly. The servant opened the drawing room door, and announced "Captain Stewart." Olaude, sitting near one pf the windows, concealM from without by the curtain had seen him drive up, and so was not startled by his entrance. With a stern effort she nerved herself to meet him, though

every fibre was quivering with the woman's terror, for she was blind no longer. She came forward, smiling, holding out her hand and Stewart clasped that little hand in his close, clinging clasp, and, bending his head, ki3sed it with trembling lips. Strive as he would, he could not banish from that kiss all the passion that burned in his heart—filled it with a tremulous joy, vague, nameless tear; yoc the very teuaion of that moment gavo her strength to be outwardly mistress of herself again. Mere gossamer was the barrier betvveon them; if she failed, the man's selt'-comuiaud must give way Her cheek Hushed crimson lor an i.istant; but, trying gently to draw her little hand away, she said, a little hurriedly--her fluttering breath would not lot her speak otherwise: "I am sorry Uncle Chris and Mrs Davenant have just gone out. 1 almost wonder you did not pass them." Stewart had dropped her band the moment she ti ied t<"> release it, and perhaps that action, hie own consciousness too, of self betrayal, enabled him to pull himself together. He could answer her now almost in bis usual he could uot have spoken at all at first. '.To be Continued).