For Honour's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7970, 22 February 1906, Page 2

For Honour's Sake.

'CHAPTER XXXlX.—Coutiuued. It is in such a crisis as this that a -man's whole soul rises up in rebellion agaiust the sooial oanons that were made for the sinner, and press .so heavily on the sinless. l r et even in the white heat Of passionat« protest he knows that the canons are just, that the world caunot judge betwixt tbo pcre and impure, and, in most cases, builds its canons on "the foundations of experience. and by Stewart almost regained his self-command. "It is such cruel pain!" he sjalri, in a suppressed voice. "Oh, darling ! shall you and 1 ettir in this life, earn the reward of suffering? For- * give ine, darling; we must not think of tbatl Let me SDeak to you ?tbout this matter. You are sure that Fanoourt holds some power over Mrs Davenant?" "Yes; she is too much afraid of me to apeak to me aa she did unless •she were really goaded to do so. I have thought for some time, too. that "he has not always been what -she is now." "I thought so the first night 1 met darling. 1 think that now she will try to temporize with E'anuourt. and tide over until it is too late for him to put his threat into execution. He is clearly drinking himself to death, and Chris Davenant will not hinder him in that. Don't louk so startled, sweetheart. Davenant is too cautious f6r actual murder, and perhaps not quite bad enough. There is no need to murder a drunkard; give him rope •enough, and ;he will commit suioide. And tjhia creature will drink, whether •he" is helped or hindered. But you must watch. I don't trust thfese Davenants in anything; and yon will tell mo everything—that I know. I,must see you more often, dearest, than I have dbne.' I hardly know whatd fear——■" He stopped, and compressed bin teeth. The girl looked up wistfully into bis face. "But what could they do to me?" she said, softly. "You need not fear for me, Eerie." "I cannot help it dearest. It maddens mo that you should be under this roof. Darling, will you promise me this: never to meet or see Basil Tollemache outside of this ijoase—never to join any party of which he is one?" "Whatever you tell me to, Esrlc, I will do." He smiled. "1 have no right to obedience, .sweetheart, yet give it to me < without limit—you who are ho independent." "But you have a liKht," she answered. "Besides, 1 could not have any will apart from yours. You know that, Esrio," smiling, too, as hfcr eyes met his for an in•staut. "Darling, yes I But 1 wanted to -make you say it; is that what you .mean? Forgive me! Then," after .a pause, "you will let me see you more often, sweetheart! I will be oareful for your sake; but aa for Davenant, it is as well perhaps, he should suppose that you are dear to roe. He will know then that for any wrong to you he must look to reckon with me; for his own interest he will guard his tongue, to you, or to anyone else. Nay, he mubt think already that 1 come here to see you, and care nothing what my attentions may be, since I can benefit him." "1 know that," said the girl, with quiet bitterness. "1 can do no more at present," said Esric; and how muob the confession cost him! "1 don't think the worst will come; but I shall know of myself,' or through you, if it threatens, and must leave action to the hour. And now, I suppose we •must part—but only for a little while dearest. 1 will see you again very 80on,thougb I dare not hope to have jrou all to myself. Some day, perhaps," very softly, "you will let me take you up the river—just once," as be felt her start a little, "that for one whole day we may be together —only you and I,—and try to forget everything but the sunshine of those hours. But if you think best not, darling, I will not ask it. You are too good to me already. One more kiss, my treasure, before I let you go!" It was a long kiss, and even then it was only by an effort be could loose his clasp; but he did at last, and Traised her up as he rose. "On Friday," he said, "J will try to see you again. Uoud-by till then, /ny darling!" CHAPTER XXX. SLANDER BY INNUENDO. "I told you how it would be," said Julia Davenant, when she related to her husband the result of her interview with Claude. "The girl won't yield an inch. She doesn't' oare whether we sink or swim. The only thing is to temporize with Fancourt, and keep him coing. He woa't say anything direot to Claude, and I'm not going to tell him she has refused point-blank. I shall make him believe that she wants 'plßying.'" Chris nodded gloomily. "If she were a different sort one could coerce her," he said, with sullen anger; "but there's no v bending or breaking her. And, another thing—" "Well?" "Well," said Davenant, "What do you suppose makes Captain Stewart oomea here at oil? We can't afford to auariel with him, and we should have tor if we persecuted Claude too much/' "I know," said Julia; "but there's no use in trying to threaten her. And, whether she cares for Captain Stewart or not, she wouldn't Bay a word to Tollemache. I can't wonder at it. He's got plenty of money; but a girl like (Jlaudo couldn't possibly think of bim as a lover. We

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

must keep Fancourt at bay as long aa we oan. It would be fatal to confess failure. A drunkard's m«rcy isn't worth an hour's purchase" Julia herein' was wise in her genera tion, and sho put her tactics into practice by at onco seeking Fancourt, and giving hirn her own aocouut of what had happened f He wasn't very sober at the' time, and said: "A!l right; girl 'llhave to give in. I want the money" And so for some little time matters went on, Fanoourt drinking more intoxicauts than ever, and Bometimes being for two or three days at a time without a lucid interval. The Daveenants took good care that Tollemache did not see him, for be might put up the reprobat* to the "little game" of which he was being made the victim; for Claude's demeanour to himself told the young squire plainly enough what her answer had been. He was not, too, without an afterthought regarding Stewart, who, at the very least would cut him dead if he insulted Claude, and bo make things unplea eant for bim in that society in which the Northamptonshire squiro aspired to ant a daßb. Claude also would refuse to see him, so his best course was to "bide his time," and see what the future might bring forth. (To be Continued).