A Tardy Wooing.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8122, 19 April 1906, Page 2

A Tardy Wooing.

CHAPTER VlJ.—Continued

Never a placable dame, this loudvoiced, iniuonous matron waa atill under the influence of last night's wrangle with her haufl-maiilup, and she scolded and cuffed Wynnie and the children indiscriminately, till the latter escaped into the alloy, and the former was reduned to her normal oonditiou of trembling subjection. About an hour before uoud, aa Wynnie under her taskmaster's direotion, was folding some clothes, Chris Kennott stepped into the room, and the girl's hauda dropped nervelessly by her sides. There was an entry from thß back t>f the house, so cunningly hidden that few were acquainted with the fact that under the closely-built tenements of this alley, and those that brauohed from it, there ran a narrow passage that came out into a lane leading to the back. Of this passage Chris Kennett had availed himself; mid so great a change had bo effected in his appearance that even Mrs Mar by failed to recognize him immediately A flowing white beard and moustache hid the lower part of his heavy, unpleasant visage, and a wig of Mie same description converted nia into a venerable-looking old man. He made a warning gesture when Mrs Marby gave utterance to an •exclamation at bis sudden appearance, and then nodded, familiarly. "Hush! All's well, and he is wax in my bands. Where's Becca? We ;are ready ferher." Where was Becea? Wynnie had aeked herself this frequently during the morning; but when one of the little boyn made the inquiry his mother answered it with a slap that sent him whimpering away. Mrs Marby made a grimace. "Ay; where indeed! She's lost heart, J suppose, or she's got a sailor sweetheart, and can't bear to givebimup; auyhow, she's taken herself off and left me in the lurch.' '•you ahould uot have let her go!" retorted Kennetfc angrily. "Did you not know that I depended on her?" "How could I help it?" cried his sister, with equal warmth; "the fault was yours; you gave her money though 1 warned you not. Acd then nothing would do but she must go out and spend it, and treat herself and her friends to champagne, beoause as, she told them, •she was going to be made a lady. She must have worked early this morning, feeling out of so"ts, for •when I came down the door was open and she was gone—drat her!" Chris Kennett slipped his hands into his vest and gianoed around him uneasily. "If she's playing me false—"Not abe," Mrs Marby interposed; •"Becca will come back by and by, sorry enough for her folly. Only -wait till to morrow " Her exasperated hearer stamped and swore in his rage.

"Wait, when there isn't a moment to be lost! As soon as the plaguey dootora get held of him my power's gone. It must be now or never! Everything is ready, and why this aacursed girl has played me such a trick—l know not."

Be glared round the room, snorting and panting with rage; but suddenly bis face cleared, and he pounned upon Wynuie. She, always anxious to avoid him Ijad been edging toward the door, but, paying no heed to her struggles anti entreaties for mercy, he dragged her into the centre of the room.

"You'll do—l'll have you," he said. "Where's your hat, Where's her hat, Randa? Can't you put a decent shawl or jaoket on her, and a veil?"

Mrs Marby looked from one to the other irresolutely. She mas have beeu moved by the frightened and entreating looks Wyunie turned upon ber, for she exclaimed: "Oh no, Ghri3 not she"

"Woman, do you want to drive me wild with your objections?" he cried, furiously. "I tell you I haven't timo to listen to them. It must be now or not at all. Get the girl into trim; or, if you'll not do that, I must take her as she is, for 1 say again, I'll not be baulked—my revenge is in my power and I'll hate it!"

Mrs Marby rau her eye along the row of second-hand garments that hung just inside the shop, took down a decent gray ulster and toque to mactb, and flung them to Wynnie. saying, with a sigh: "It's not that I want to interfere with you, Chris; bat it would have been such a capital chance for Bocoa, and she h relation, too, and not a bad sort of girl when she's quiet. What Marby will say about it-——" But she was not allowed to finish what she was saying. Roughly pushing her aside, her brother snatched up *he wrap and urged Wynnie toward the passage; and, when, terrified at its darkness, she would have recoiled, he seized her by the arm, and, muttering curses on her stupidity, dragged her onward. JSIot till they were close to the rude gate that opened into the lane did he permit her to pause, and then his meuacing aspect made the poor child give herself up for lost. Ho began to see that such excessive terror would defeat his objeot, and he moderated his tone. "Onl7 obey me!" he said, "and you have nothing to fear. I will bring you safely back to Mrs Marby's in a couple of hours if you do nothing to displease me. Leave off trembling; smoothe your hair and your dress and come quickly wherever I bid you. Watch my lips and be guided by the signs I shall make to you. Disobey me and you shall pay for it dearly.'*. "Oh! sir, I can't do anything to barm Mr Outram!" she cried, wringing her hands and retreating from him. She was heard with a discordant laugh. "Idiot! if I wanted to put him

By Charles W. Hathaway. thor of i( Mavjorie's Sweethearts' " A Long 3lavt{jrtlom," li A Jiush Voir,'; "Joseph Dane's Diplomacy," etc., etc.

out of tho way should 1 want your feeble aid? Look hero," and be held up a soveroigu, "do as you are bid and ask no questions and this shall be yours; but, attempt any resistance to my will, and I shall be tempted to tie you hand and foot and drop you into the river." Whether ho did or did not mean to act upon his savage threats, Wynnie knew that any ,-further opposition on her pare would be in vain. Slipping on the ulster and drawing the veil of the toque over her white face, she permitted herself to be led into the lane. There was a but reck-less-looking young fellow lounging and smoking. He threw his cigar away as soon as he found that he was no longer alone, stared insolently at Wynnie and would have accosted her, but was prevented. "Keep your place," said Kennett sternly,* "you are here aa a witness, not as a principal. If you speak without ray permission you shall forfeit your hire." "By George! I am not acoustomed to be talked to as if I were a pig," was the angry response; but it ended in a low muttering, and not auothor word was spoken till a carriage that was waiting not far off was driven up, and Wynnie handed into it. Kennett took his place beside her, compelling hia associate to mount the box with the driver; but why she was being taken oa a journey was a question that soon ceas«d to perplex the young girl. All thoughts of her own extraordinary position had vanished as soon as she discovered that the carriage was already occupied. Harold Outram was seated in it, hia eyes fglassy and lusterless; his features almost corpselike in their hue: yet, by the ease of the attitude he had aasumed, and his repose of manner, preventing anyone who might look into the vehicle from suspecting that there was anything amiss. Wynnie joyfully ejaculated hia name, but he did not seem to hear her. In spite of the presence of Kennett she ventured to touoh bis nand timidly, and ask if he were better; but the inquiry bad to be repeated before he made any answer, and tnen hia courteous, "Thanks, very much; I had an excellent passage," was wholly irresponsive. "He does not understand me," she said, disconsolately. "So much the/ better; he will understand enough for our purpose. Let him be." "Will he ever get well again?" she faltered. "I hope so; well enough to be guided into the path I shall trace for him. My vengeanoe would be but half complete if Harold Outram were to die too soon." Kennett was talking to himself more than to Winnie, who could not follow tho train of evil thoughts that filled a mind diseased with brooding on fancied injuries. To her, the journey—though it did uofc last for more than half an hour—was a terrible one. Urged to push the horae to its utmost speed, the driver rattled the vehicle along the rough country lanes, and who but Wynnie knew or oared that every jolt inflicted torture on the bruised and inflamed brain of Harold? (To be Continued).