For Honour's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7999, 20 March 1906, Page 2

For Honour's Sake.

By Bertha 1. Clay.. Author of " Wife in Name Only," 44 Wedded and Parted," "Dora Thome," " A Queen Antony Women," I" A True Mac/dalene," etc., etc.,

CIIAFTEB XLlX.—Continued. "I was tola Lady Meldune was calling here," Stewart said, "and I wished to see her." "She is not very likely, 1 should think," said Pauline, tossing the paper on a table near her, "to come to this house. When a husband BGorua and iueults hia wife, the rest uf the world scorns her. also. You cannot pretend to ignore what is said of you in this paragraph. Do you admit, or deny it?" "To you," said Stowart, with ominous quietness, "I do neither. I don't even stoop to defend Claude Verner to you. Bolieve what you please; but be silent." "I have been silent too long!" she cried. "No one, at least can breath a word against, my name! Yet 1 am not to utter, in your hearing, the name of the girl whom all the world knows now to be your " His grip was like sleel on her wrist, changing the word she would have uttered into a cry of pain and almost terror. Never before had she seen such terrible passion in his face, ashen white; never bafore had h 8 showed her any personal violence. He was scarcely conscious now of bis grasp; he was half nfrmd of himself; yet no knew that he hurt her—her cry was no simulation—but he did nos for that relax his hold. "Will you ruske rne forget that you are woman?" he said, his voice hoarse and quivering. "Are you witless as well as soulless, toat you dare so much? What! I hurt you? I know it! Physical pain is all the pain you are capable of feeling!" He flung her off, and turned to the door. He saw her, as be loft the room, crouch down in the chair sobbing hysterically over her bruised wrist, and no wave of compunction crossed him. CHAPTER L. PREPARING TO MEET THE TROUBLE. Captain Stewart wont to bis study; be must be alone for a little while, to get himself together after what bad happened. It is the misfortune of strong natures that, not easily roused, the passion, when it cornea, shakes them to the centre. He felt that he must see Claude to-day, as onoe before, after some suob cruel scene with Pauline, he had sought the woman he loved, needing her so sorely! His beart was wounded and lacerated; and their was no help or soothing but in Claude's presenoe. , Stewart, hailing a cab, drove down to Lexham Gardens, and Claude was at home and alone. She sprang to meet her lover with trembling and her violet eyes aglow. When be first spokn, it was not to himself or what was in the paper, but only to ask where Maida was. "She was gone to a ball at Lady Shannon's at Richmond," Claude answered. "She was to aress there, so she went early. I don't suppose she will be home before six in the moaning." •'I am very fond of Maida," said Stewart, caressing the curly bead laid against him, "tut 1 would ratber have you alone, heart's dearest; but I suppose I must not stop very long." She looked up at him wistfully; then ber colour rose, her eyes sank. "Esric— you are not troubling about what was in the paper* today." "You saw it?" he said, under his breath. "Yes." "Could i help troubling about it, darling? I must speak to you presently about that. But it was not the paper only." "May I know what else, Esrio?" said the soft, tender voice. "I am only so grieved—ob, so grieved for you!" ' _ _ "And so," he whispered, lifting bis bead at last, "I came to you. Nothing could still the aching of my beart but to l'eel the throb of yours. Even if that was denied me, I should be in your presence; but Maida, unwittingly tfiis time, has been very good to me." Presently he told her of au interview with Lady Meldune, and what bad been decided upon.- To-morrow or next day, Davenant and Tollemauhe would be under arrest. Claude could not but shrink with intense dread from the ordeal but she knew it was the only possible course to be taken, and she would be brave; besides, she was anxious that hor lover 1 ? name should be cleared from the vile imputation of treason cast upon it. "I met one of the servants at The Ferns, yesterday," Claude said, as they talked. "You remember Benson —she was always so fond of me—and she told me that Fancourt was very ill, keeping his bed, and had beon iiko that for more than a week. He has no doctor, and Mrs Davenant does scarcely anything for him. Benson does a little. It seems terrible for him to bo loft like that!" "1 can't feel much pity for him, darling: ho had none for you. The wonder ia not that he is dyiug now, but that ho has lived so long. "And now," for the time was drawing on, "I suppose I must leave you. It is very hard, sweetheart, especially as yois will be all alone; but I om afraid I have already/ trespassed on propriety." He stood up, folding her in his arni3. "My darling, good-bv." CHAPTER LI. 4'o A DYING BED. Claude started at the loud ringing of the door-bell. She had been for a long time so deHply buried in thought that she bad no idea how paeaed, aad, glancing at the clock,"was astonished to find it was near eleven. Wlio in the world,

then, coud it be coming to the house so late? She rose up and waited, listening. If no servant was up, she would go to iiho door herself. But in a minute or two sho heard the hall door open, and almost immediately a footman came to the drawing room. "Miss Verner, a person named Benson is in the hall. Sha wants to see you at once. Sho says yon know her." "Benson!" exclaimed Claude, and she ran down quickly to the hall. Benson came forwar.l, eagerly. "Miss Claude," she said, "it's Mr Fancourt wants to see you! I'm al'raid he's dying, miss. 1 wouldn't come at first, but be took on dreadful, miss, and said it was life and death, and wouldn't rest till I came!" "Yes—yes; I wish you had come at once, Benson. I'll be with you in a minuto." She ran up to her dressing-room for her hat and a wrap, and hastily scribbled a line to Maida: "Dear Maida: Fancourt is dying —sent for me; it's all right—Benson came. She's trustwortny; and no harm could happen, anyhow. CLAUDE." This she put in an envelope, and laid, addressed to Maida, in a conspicuous place ou the hall table, and without more ado, went out with Benson. "We'll have a cab," she said. "Hero's one." She hailed it; they got in, arid drove off. On the way Claude asked for same particulars. (To be Continued).