For Honour's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7986, 15 March 1906, Page 2

For Honour's Sake.

By Beriiia If. Clay. Author of " Wife in Name Only," " Wedded and Farted" "Dora Thome," " A Queen Amour/ Women," A True Mar/drdene," etc., ele..

CHAPTER XLlV.—Continued. f Stewart led Claude outside, and lest Daveaaut should chance to overhohr anything gave Mao lan the direction in Gaelic. Then ho entered the carriage with Claude and lan went to the horso's head, leading him till they were clear of the wood, on account of the darkness aad the roughues: of the road. Claude lay in her lover's arms, quite silent, with her eyes closed till they were out of the wood, and Maoiau had mounted the box and was driving at a tolerable pace. [CHAPTER XLV.

"HOW SILVER SWEET SOUND LjVERS' TONGUES BY NIGHT!" Presently, through the darkness, loomed a tall, shadowy tower; and Mac-lan. drawing rein, asked if that was his destination. Stewart got out. and looked. "That's right," he said. "The difficulty -vill bo to rousn the old caretaker; and I wonder if there are any provisions iu the house?" "He'll have bread and tea, perhacs," said Mac lan. "I'll forage." In a few more minutes thecarriage passed undor a widegaioh way into a sort of courtyard, and halte.l before a building which seemed to consist of a tower, and a small irregular block, gauled nns buttressed. Stewart stood by the carriage dcor, while Mac-lan proceeded to "rouse the caretaker," «u old man, as likely as not, half deaf. lau made a dean-tone, \ ball clang through the house for nearly ■■ five minutes, with a noise thai might have startled the very stones into animation, aud at tbo" end of five minute: an upper window oneued, aad a querulous voice called out: "Who's there? What's the matter?" "It's Captain Stewart," called the

Scotchman. "Come down quickly, .and onen the door!" "By Heaven, the master!" The window was shut hastily, and in a few minutes there was a clatter of chains and bolts, the door was opened, and there stood a startled looking old man. with a flaring oandle'iu his hand, a shawl wrapped about him. "I didn't hear, Bir," he began. «'I_I .» "Never mind," said Stewart; "give me the candle. You have a lantern, lan; you can take the horse round to the stable, and And out what there is in the house; and then pack this old man off to bed again." Mao-lan lighted a fire in the kitchen, and made tea and cooked eggs, and so was able to provide quite au enjoyable feast; and he laid out everything as neatly and deftly as if he had been a footman; but Mao-lan, iu his and his chief's wanderings, and campaigns, had played many parts. "It will be all ready, sir," said he putting a finishing touch. "Thanks; and when you've had your own snpper, lan, turn in, and get some sleep. I'll wake you in time." n „, When Mac-lan had retired, Stewart made Claude eat and drink, waiting on her tenderly, and not allowing her to move from the chair in which he had placed her; and afterward he told her she must lie down and take some rest. "i can wait," he said, "to ask ' many things I want to know. There will be time presently. She rose obediently, and ( put her hand in his. •

"And won't you try and sleep a little?" she asked, wistfully. He shook his head. "No, dearest; there is no rest in me; my heart aud braiu must be quieted first; t«t I am an old ■campaigner, you a fragile girl." "But I can't sleep," she said. "Esric," with tremulous pleading, "let me remain with you?" "My darling! if you wish it." She made him sit down in the chair from which she had risen, and seated berelf on a low stool at his feet, and he drew her within his arms. "Are you happy now," he said, softly. "I'es, Esric; this is rest."

For somo little time both were silent; then Stewart began to question the girl more particularly about the events of the previous night and day. She told him everything, not even keeping back Tollemache's cowardly insults, though her face flushed, and she bowed it low. Stewnrt's brow grew black as night, and he sot his teeth like a viae as he listened. "He shall pay heavily for every offensive word," he said, in a deep tone, •"if he lives for further punishmout." "Tomorrow," be added, "or rather, to-day, lan must go to Morton Grange with a message from 'me, aud get Maida to come with a carriage and fetch you. Lan can drive her here aud back. He:- servants do not know bim, so tbey need not know whore Maida found you. I could not set a carriage here, even if one were to be had from Daffnel, without causing gossip." "But, Esric, think of the future. ! Ah! don't look so. I oan't bear to compromise Maida in any way; and you know—yoa know——" "That Maida Westmore," he said, laying his hand on her head, "Is the ' last' woman to desert an innocent girl who needs ner friendship. Maida will stand by yoa .through all, darling—keep you with hei." Claude" bowed her face down on his knee. "She is so good and noble," she said, huskily. "But bow can 1 stay with her? I have no claim on her?" Stewart's hand clasped hers almost convulsively. He pressed it to his heart, to his lips. "For the present you must letlior aweetneart," he said, with forded quietness. "Tou have uo home."

Claude's heart smote her that she had spoken 'so impulsively. How sorry she had tried him. She lifted her face peniteutly. "Esric I waß wrong. I ought not to have spoken." "It was a generous impulse that made you speak," he answered, softly, his lip quivering a little. Her eyes said, "But 1 pained you," he added, under his breath. "Is nottho rain always there?" Then his tone changed a little, as her head droopod again. "It is broad daylight, sweetheart, though s,till very early. Ts there not even'an hour's rest for that throbbing brain of yours?" "Must 1 try and sleep, Esric?" "1 think you must, sweetheart—you have been terribly tried. Lean your head against me—so! One kiss darling, and I will keep faithful watch and ward." A long, tender kiss he pressed on the sweet lips, and then Claude's dark eyes closed obediently, and by and by sleep fell on them, and on the tender rrouth lay a soft smile, as if, even in slumber, she felt her lover's presence, knew that she rested on his heart, sheltered by his clasp. (To be Continued).