A Tardy Wooing.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8139, 14 May 1906, Page 2

A Tardy Wooing.

CHAPTER XXII Continued. Wynnie's arm was stiff and painful to suob an extent that she could not drees very quickly, and she was still straggling with the sleeves of her jacket when Mrs Penibury's middle aged maid tapped at nor door to know if she "were ready. The woman acoompauied her downstairs, helping her into the carriage and wrapping a large rug round her feet as soon as she was seated. She wondered a little that Wynnie should tremble so and lean baok on the cushions as if she were faint. She did not know how completely the poor girl had lost all self-pos- • session when she discorered that the hand held out to assist her in climbing to the seat beside him was that of Harold Outram. The spirited hors#s darted away at such a speed that for some minutes they kept their master fully employed; and by the time a steep asoent oompellerl them to adopt a steadier paoe, Wynnie bad succeeded in calming herself, and coald blusb and smile very prettily when she answered her companion's polite inquiries. But it was difficult to retain that calm demeanour when be lowered his tone and proceeded to thank her, both gratefully and earnestly, for her interposition on the night lie was attacked. "I believe 1 owe you my life, Miss Moyle, for, had the fellow's bludgeon desoonded on my head, 1 sbonld have* been at his mercy, and perhaps perished ignobly in the sight of my own dwelling. But I am making you loos paler than you did before. Forgive me; lam very thoughtless, or I should have remembered that your nerves have been severely tried already." Then he talked of the charming country which they were passing, pointed oat objects of interest, and was surprised to find how little Wynnie knew of the history of her own country. When he spoke of n Roman villa having been found in the neighbourhood, be discovered that she was somewhat perplexed; and as the odd volumns of "lvanhoe" had taught her the very little she knew of the Norman oonquest, she mixed up Rebeooa and Front-de-Boeuf with the stern truths oS tbat stormy epoch. Yet she was so eager for information, and retained so well all she beard , that he liked playing the instructor to such a willing pupil, and promised to look out some books for her to study. Linda's teaching had prepared the ground, and Wynnie if terribly iguorant, compared with other girls of her age, had the great advantage of knowing it, and being eager to improve.

Oyrilla, who had been shut up with Pauline Biuce luncheon, studying effects for e costume to be worn at a fancy ball to be given by a military magistrate of the counfv, had but jaat descended to the hall, when Harold drove up, and assisted Wynuie to alight. The haughty beauty stood by, surveying the girl superciliously while she faltered her thanks. But thanks. But when Wynnie. had run into the bouse Harold was sharply taken to task. "Where have you been?" "As far as Oarston Hill, and back through the woods. Had you been with me it would have been a thoroughly enjoyable drive." "Yes?" queried the young lady, doubtfully. "This place ia charming, but it must be horribly dull in the winter. Of ouiirae, you'll never..stay here after the shooting is over?" "Are you serious?" be questioned, in some dismay. "I assure you I have never found the Towers dull." "Is it possible!" Oryilla exclaimed. "But where did yon pick up Miss Wnyle? Really, mamma lets her stroll about just as she likes! Are you in the habit of driving with the servants of your guests?" This flippant speech gated on the hearer, who gravely replied that he bad taken Miss Moyle with him at the suggestion of Mrs Pembury, who thought her health must suffer frum so inuob confinement to the house.

"Oh! but this ia nonsense, Harold. I'm sure mamma gives her exercise enough. Besides, I don't ohoose you to take so much trouble about anyone but me!" Harold laughed, but he was annoyed, too, nor was the annoyance lessened by Oyrilla saying, imperiously : "Yon are not to do it again, sir, or I shall send her away!" "Don't say such things, my dearest, even in jest! They have an ugly sound. Miss Moyle seems to be a weil-meaning little thing, and she has u double claim on your gratitude. She saved me from a tap on the head, and she serves you faithfully."'

"For which you have thanked ber and mamma has paid her. I don't choose that anyone should have the seat beside you except myself. Promise me this!" And tne gratified lover pledged himself to do nothing of which she disapproved; but still he did not lose his calm, friendly interest in Wynnie Moyle. He took the first opportunity to ieleot some useful books for her, and he also suggested privately to bie cousin that one should share with Mra Fembury'a little daughters the lessons they received frum a daily governess engaged for the term of their stay at the Towers. This, however, proved impracticable. Lady Dartison bad grown so nervous since she heard that a man of bad oharaoter bad been seen so near the house, that she refused to be left alone, even for half an hour; so Wynnie had to be content with devouring the volumes Mr Outram lent her, and such occasional walks as she owed to Mrs Fembury'a good nature in taking ber place whenever she had leisure to do so.

By Charles W. Hathaway. Author of i( Marjorie's Sweetheart*" "A Long Martyrdom," (< A Rash Vow," t( Joseph Dane's Diplomacy," etc., etc.

CHAPTER XXIII. INTENT ON TREACHERY. There was a lull in the life of Wynnie Moyle. an ominous lull, for around those calm days dark clouds were gathering; a storm was brewing, though neither she nor others suspected it. Cyrilla very soon grew tired of the Towers, At first she had exulted in the thought tbat all its art treasures, its costly marbles, and valuable antiques would soon be hers; and she planned alterations and sooalled improvements tuat made Harold gasp and pray -devoutly tbat be should be able to improve her taste ere she had it in her power to effect them. But this amusement soon palled upon her especially aa her lover showed no inclination to commence the said alterations. And then her mornings became a weariaess to her. She liked riding or driving in the London parks wbf>r-> admiriDg glances always followed her; but to canter along muddy laues in which she oo;;ld see no beauty or drive to the quiet country town with Mrs Pern bury, was extremely monotonous. For a little while she had been pleasantly excited by the calls of Mr Outram's neighbours and the incitatioa tbey sent, but after she bad attended a few formal dinner parties with Mrs Pembury for her chaperon, Ftae found these social re-unions brought her core annoyance than pleasure. She saw stately dames whisper together or glance significantly at each other, when she laughed her loud, shrill lauah, and too openly prefeired to theirs the sooiety of the gentlemen, with whom she talked much more freely than their own carefully reared daughters would have done. For every fancied slight or look of disapproval she intended to revenge herself by and by; but live at the Towers, as Harold evidently intended doing, she neither could nor would.

She was becoming very eager to get back to Ohislehurst, when a douse not far from Mr Outram's waß taken for a term by a gay widow with three or four fast daughters. With these damsels Oyrilla immediately struck up a friendship, in spite of Harold's gentle hint that they were not persons with whom he could permit hia wife to associate. Mrs Macinnis had quickly filled her house with kindred spirits; the officers of the regiment quartered at the town lounged in and out as often as they pleased. Men from London dashed down in their tandems to lunch, and flirt, and join in impromptu dances; anrt Miss Dartison's charms received so much incense that it intoxicated her. When Mrs Pembury declined the invitation sent" for her and her young guest, Oyrilla first pouted, then complained to Harold of his cousin's prudish scruples; and when she found that he sided with her chaperon she took the matter into her own hands and went withoat one.

Her father's escort, she argued, bad always been sufficient for her when she was at kome, and why not now?

Harold expostulated and entreated, but to no purpose, "The Maolnnises were a charming family," was all his betrothed uaid in reply "and she valued their acquaintance too highly to renounce itsolely to gratify Mrs Pembury's prejudices." Eustace Leyland, whom his kinsman had pressed so earnestly to come down and have a few days' shooting that be could not refuse, smiled sarcastically when he heard the beauty's decision. "Of course, you think me in the wrong," she said to him, when Harold, seeing the uselessness of remonstrating, had walked away. "Impossible! How should I dare to differ in opinion with you?" he queried, with mook gravity., "Am I not aware that you never permit it?" • "But you do differ!" she persisted "You are thinking—teJl me what you are thinking. I insist on it!" "Then, you must be obeyed. I was wondering whether the pleasure of having your own way is worth the price you may have to pay for it. Harold Outram is not infallible "

"What do you mean?" "Simply that he has a temper as well aa the rest of us, and it may be roused if it encounters too strong an opposition." "And if it were to be, what then?" "I cannot say," was the careless reply. "Only the Outram diamonds would become you so well that it would be a thousand pities to lose the obanoe of wearing them." Gyrilla drew herself up. "sfour couuln, s'r, would despise me if he thought I could be influenced by such an ignoble reason as you are suggesting. It is plain that you do not know either of us."

Nevertheless the beauty debated for nearly half an bour whether or not to send an excuse to Mrs Maolnnis that afternoon, and have a quiet drive with her lover instead. But the thought that Eustace Leyland would triumph over ber made ber dress with ber usual care, and walk across the grounds to where a gay party of ohattering girls and thoughtless young men were sure to be awaiting ber. (To be continued.)