A Tardy Wooing.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8125, 26 April 1906, Page 2

A Tardy Wooing.

CHAPTER X.—Continued. "What au extraordinary question! You are amusing yourself at iry expense. You know that you have not given mo any ring.'' "And yet I could have sworn—but my memory has played me some odd tricks ainoe my accident, and 1 am very foolish to come teasing you with my faucien. Ouoe more farewell till to-morrow." This time he really quitted the house, hia s«at heside Cyrilla being 'immediately appropriated by Christopher Kennett. As soon as Sir Jasper settled down at Ohialeburst this black sheep turned up again, coming in «pite of rebuffs, and insisting on hia right as an old friend to be admitted, whether hia vißits were seasonable or not. What mattered it that Cyrilla purposely abstained from sending him invitations to her soirees, or that Sir Jasper took him aside, remonstrated with him, and tried the effect of another and larger check? There was no getting rid of him, and as a dread of what the servants would say or thiak compelled Sir .Jasper to appear civil to his troublesome visitor, Kennett bad his own way, and iu a 'badly fitting evening suit and b*ggy gloves, might be seen mingling with the more fashionable guests Oyrilla's beauty and brillianoy drew to the Dartiaou. reunions. _ It must be said in Chris Kennett s favour that he had ceased to persecute the young lady with his attentions, and rarely spoke to anyone but her mother. Lady Dartison was always glad to see him; she was not at home in fashionable society, and Chris was conneoted with those earlier days when, although she had been poorer, she had been happier; he never found fault with her if sho made lapses in her grammar; and, after being frowned at by Sir Janper, and telegraphed to by her daughter, and leoturod by both for her blunders, it was u relief to be as homely and vulgar as she pleased with an old acquaintance. particular he had arrived just after "Harold Outram so uuexpeotedly put iu an appearance. He had been one of the first to reoognisa Oyrilla's lover, and those who were nearest to him heard him say,' with a start: "What! is it he? But where's the girl?" After this he kept out of sight, though he did not fail to hover near enough to be able to watch Oyrilla's face in a mirror. He saw it flush jealous suspicions, and he •exulted in it; but he also aaw her distrust gradually melt away beneath the sunny spell sincerity. As be gazed, the malicious smile on his thick lips grew more ugly and more ferocious, but he kept his place quietly till the lovers separated, when he ooolly forestalled a young officer and dropped into Harold Outram's chair. "So this is the chap who has robbed me of your affections?" be observed. "Well, Vm bound to confess that he's got the advantage of me in looks and manners. He's quite the gentleman/' Cyrilla coloured with pleasure as she listened to Harold's praises, even though they were uttered by one whom she had good reason to dislike. "1 suppose he's quite his own master now? Ain't under the thumb of any of his friends and relations? Won't make the difference of a pin's point to him if they say, 'Now, this isn't a proper match for you, young man. Coming of good family and with a fine estate to back it, you ought not to stoop to the daughter of a jobbing carpenter, not even if be hBB worked his way up in the 'World.'" "Mr Outram i 3 hia own master," -was all the reply Cyrilla vouchsafed. "Ho will please himself, and neither bo nor I intend to concern ourselves as to the opinions of indifferent people." "And quite right—quite right, too?" exclaimed Chris, heartily. "What if he haa been having a bit of a lark about town before coming to you? It's only what these sprigs of fashion delight in. Don't you inquire into his comings and goipgs too closely, for it will be a first-rate matoh for you, if it ever comes to one." "What do you mean?" asked Cyrilla, quivering with passion for there was no ignoring the significance with which that lust sentence was spoken. "Only what I said. It will bo a good matoh for you—excellent, if it cornea to. one; and it mayn't you know. Beautiful though you are, there are other women in the world vvho are beautiful, too. Mr Outram's been enticed back to marry you, but who knows whether he mayn't be married already? What should we all say then?" And, laughtiug so loudly that Sir Jasper bustled after his noisy guest to bid hiin remember where ho was, and that there was a marchioness prosent, Chris Kennett backed out of the apartment, keeping hia eyes fixed on the white,angry face of Cyrilla till the closing of a •door hid her from hia view. CHAPTER XI. * f DOWN ON YOUR KNEES"AND CONFESS!" It was not till a gust of grain and wind beating in her face had roused Wynnie from her stupor that she be.gan to have some conception of the consequences to herself of Harold Outram's departure in the carriage of the surgeon. Thea it was that a thrill of fear ■ maae her tremble. The tumult and roar of. the great city, the olatter of the vehicles the size of the buildings, and, more than all else, her consciousness that there was not a creature in this strange place to

By Charles W. Hateiaway. Ihovof " Marjorie's Sweetheart," " A Long Martyrdom," "A Hash Vow,\ "Joseph Dane's Diplomacy," etc. f etc.

whom she could turn for a refuge, overwhelmed ber with terror. What should she do? Where should she go? "You'd batter step inside out of the wet, youug womau," a passing official observed, and iustinotively she retreated. It was now, and not till now, she made the discovery that a little hand was clasped in hers, and with a start she disoovorod that it was the hand of one of tho pale, delicate urohins who had travelled in the same car. The other was sitting shivermg and weeping on their little trunk on the platform. "I want to be put to bed," wailed the child, who clung to Wynnie as soon as he found that he had won her attention; "and Johnnie's hungry—drefful." How was it they were still here? Where were the persons who, if Wynnie had understood their nurse correctly, had agreed to be at the terminus to reoeive them? She locked around her, but the throng of passengers, the busy porters and cabmen, had drifted away; this part of the statiou was almost deserted, and tho children were as forlorn and forgotten as bereellf. Full of commisseration for the motherless little creatures, Wynnie drew both of them into her arms. She had comforted thw weeper and kissed the braver child before the same official, who had previously accosted ber, oamo by, and, descrying the wistful glances she continued to cast around ber, he postponed his official duties and drew nearer.

"Want a cab, miss? I'm afraid there isn't one left. Oh, I see, you're waiting for your friends. Wouldn't you be more comfortable in tho room over yonder, next to the refreshment bar? You could get some buns there for these little chaps. I'll carry the trunK." Ho hoisted it on hia shoulder, and Wyuuie leading the tired ohildren, gladly followed. It was delightful to know that she had a few shillings remaining from Chris Kennett's soveieign, and by a moderate outlay could supply the wants of her little companions. They were pretty, delicate children—the elder nti more th.>n six or eeven years of age—and were soon induced to forget their fatigue and the absence of their nurse. In a short time they were seated on either side of Wynnie, munching their cakes, aad listening to the songs and storias with whioh she had been wont to amuse the young Marbys. While they caressed and hung unou her she was too well pleased to aßk herself what would be the consequence if they were not claimed; or, if she thought of it at all, it was only to conclude that she and the little ones could sleep very comfortably on one of tbe covered benches around the room, if no objection was raised to their remaining. She was brushing some crqmbß off the velvet dress of the younger child, smoothing his fair hair, when a tall, thin,| severe looking female looked into the waiting room, caught sight of the group, and came slowly forward. (To be Continued).