A Tardy Wooing.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8144, 19 May 1906, Page 2

A Tardy Wooing.

CHAPTEK XXVl.—Continued. "Why dooa she wish to leave me?" she asked. "The girl that Pauline is a mere machine, to whom I could never speak of poor mamma. It ia not kind of you, Linda, to try and tempt her away from me, just, too, as 1 am totally uuflt to undertake the worry or the household." "You can have n housekeeper." "Wo have had half a dozen, and they all studied their own interests instead of papa's, and were so con--Bequental that, at the first word of disapproval, away they went. Now, Miss Moyle knows her place, and is really trustworthy." "I am sure she would decline to undertake tho management of a bouse in which tho whims of'tho mistress would be continually upsetting her arrangements." "As for that," was the peevish reply, "one could not permit one's snn-nntH to have it all their c*n way; and I dare say wo should have a few contests, for Miss Moyle haß a temper, placid though she looks ; hut mamma liked her; she takes a great deal of trouble off my gtmnds with napa; and I really cannot be honored with the trouble of engaging and broakioc in some ono else." "As your reasons are auob purely selfl-m ones, I may advance mine also," retorted Linda, "i like Miss Moylo better than you do, and shall, treat her bettor, for she will live with' me on terms of equ&lity. I ne«d her more tbau you do, for 1 cannot afford to keep n secretary, needlewoman, or comp'aniou, and ahe will fulfil all the duties. By my uncle she will be missed I know; but it is his daughter, not a stranger, who ougbt to assist him to regain his cheerfulness and overcome his regrets.' Cyrilla pouted; to whom was contradiction as intolerable as it was to her? She resumed the novel she had thrown down, and Liuda rose to return to her chamber, where Wynuie was doing some patching for her; but, ere she reached the door, she was recalled and coaxed Into compliance. "There must be no more talk of going away cousin mine. I can as ill spare you as Miss Moyle. I must nave a chaperon, and you shall undertuke the office; so send for your easel, and decide in whioh room you will set it up. Now, don't harass me with objections; you can have uo reasonable ones to offer. You are too young and too goodlooking to live alone. The fact of your residing with us will cast a halo of respectability around your career; and when I marry—as i shall do as soon as 1 have cast aside my first mourning—you will continue to take care of pgpa £and be quite your own mistress 1"

Tlr-re was much in these arguments that Linda could not gainsay. In spite of his- vulgarity, Sir Jasper had oontrived to make the acquaintance of many persons who were worth knowing; and Cyrilla spoke traely when she asserted that the rising artist would gather her Iburels more rapidly when known to he a. member of the Knight's family than while struggling Upward ia humble lodgings. "1 have consented to stay here as long as Miss Dartison observes the rules of good breeding," she told Wynuie on rejoining bar; "so those handkerchiefs and collars that you have taken such pains in packing may go back in their drawers." "Aa<3 I?" queried Wynnie, growing pale as she put the query. I

"i'ou will remain here too. Of course I should not have stayed under; any other arrangement. In fact',' nud Linda smiled as she admitted it, "1 only owe Cyrilla's invitation to her reluctance to part with you, now, that you have made yourself so very useful." "But I wanted to get away froir. Cbislehurst" was the troubled reply. "I am in a false position here. I hoped that in a few hours I should soy good-bye to Miss Dartison forever." 'Tou are quite justified in complaining," said Linda. "I] felt quite iudgnant with my couian when 1 learned that she has never paid you a • proper snlary. This shall be altered direotly." "I do not want Miss Dartison'a money. I shall refuse to accept it 1 nether crave her patronage 'nor her esteem, I pitied her mother; I am very sorry for the poor old man, who knows, when it is too late, that he was often unkind to his ailing wife; but 1 would raiher do anything than stop here!" "My dear Wynnie, it's not like you to take suoh a violent aversion to anyone," Lioda remonstrated, "and Cyrilla, if not faultless, is —well—is not so utterly intolerable as you are insinuating. Don't you think you can put up with her for a few weeks longer, especially as I shall be here to defend you if she becomea tryannioal?" "A few weeks, and then -?" "Her marriage will take place, and my uncle will need you and me more than over. "[ would rather go away, Wynnie persisted; and she thought, as she said so, that, as soon as she had quitted Cbislebuuet, she would send the ring and the marriage cerHfloate to Harold Outram, and, with one fervent* "Heaven bless and keep yon always" press a kiss on the paper his fingers would touch, and never think of him more., Linda did not understand this reluctance to romain at the villa, and was beginning to feel, half offended at it, when Wynnie, who waa kneeling by the t«'unk she was filling, suddenly wrapped her arms about her, sobbing: "What have 1 been saying? 1 could not leave you I JNo, no! 1 should be ungrateful, indeed, if I did that! If you stay, I must Btpy also." The question might be considered settled; and then the young girl, conquering her -emotion ran away

By Charles W. Hathaway. Author of " WLarjorie's'Sweetheart,." "A Long Martyrdom," "A Hash Vow," "Joseph Dane's Diplomacy," etc., etc.

Not knowing the real cause of her agitation—for Kennett had disappeared as quickly as he camo—-Mr j Outran* replaced ber on the couch and wopld have gone to Gug, Linda ami restoratives; but her fears lest he should enoounter her foe, made Oyrilla insist that she was quite well again, and was already free from the stitch in her side that bad caused her to cry out. Sbe even chattered more flippantly than before. Rushing into the first subject that presented itself she talked about the handsome military gentlemen she had met at Mrs Maolnnis', and the compliments they had paid'her, till, with something very like disgust rising within him, Harold prepared to bring his visit to a close. V"By tbe way you have not given me tbe information I was about to ask when you were seized with tbat paiu. Who and what is tbe man who boars the name of Chris Kennett?" "Why do you ask?" and her lips became white and unsteady in spite of her attempt to appear unconcerned. "I suppose I might answer like the child in the story—because i want to know; but, if you oan bear the name of Lady Dartison, 1 will be more explicit." "Go on," she said, catching up a fan and appearing absorbed in pulling to pieoes the beautiful feathers of which it was composed. "I have learned from my servants tbat on the last day you spent at the Towers, a rather tough looking man, who gave the name of Kennett, oanse to the house and, on learning that Sir Jasper was out, asked for her ladyship, who consented to see him. He was closeted with her for some time, and immediately on his departure she began to betray the excessive agitution that fled ber [to insist un being brought home." Oyrilla put her haudkorcbief to her eyes. "Dr Edvrardson says nothing could have prolanged her lit«. It was a weak heart."

"Dear love J, am ashamed to rrnke you unhappy, but do not know how to avoid it. This man, whoever he may be, must be found 'and interrogated." "Harold you do not accuse him of having administered poison to mamma?' "Certainly not; pray be calm, I bring no accusation against him of any kind. He may be a very i worthy man, for aught I know to i the contrary, although 1 hope to be able to prove that be is a mistaken one." i "What do you mean?" asked Oyrilla, fretfully. "Why do you persist in troubling yourself about a person who is—-who is very well ajble to take care of himself" "I rejoice to hear it. Then you do know him." A chill orept over her. Know him! Alas I she knew him but too well. She would have given worlds to have been able to deny that she knew or bad ever seen him; but, with Harold's searching eyes resting upon her, she dared not utter a direct falsehood. With all the indifference of manner she could assume, she made her carefully worded response. "Of course I know there is such a person as Chris or Christopher Keunett. He.lies under some obligations to papa that date bock—ab, I cannot tell you how far!—and, being a clumsy, stolid sort of fellow, fancies he proves his gratitude by respectfully adoring me, and turning up repeatedly to ascertain whether his friends are in good health and spirits." (To be continued,)

to bathe ber eyes, Linda deso Q nded to the drawing room, in which she had left Cyrilla to insist that services ho honestly rendered as Wynnie'a should be more justly requited) than they had been bitberto. But she drew back without entering the room, for Harold Outram was seated boeide the couch on which his betrothed was reclining. She had been only to glad to admit him, for she was heartily sick of being condemned to the sooiety of her father and cousin, and was lunging to re-enter the gay world. In stead of speaking of her mother, snd perhaps shedding a few tears, to be wiped away by his hand, she had a Boore of questions to ask Mrs Maolnnis and her gay acquaintanoes. Had they been very much con- | cerned at her sudden departure from the Towers? Had they held their private theatricals? And, if so, who took the character whioh was to have been hers, and which ber flatterers all declared she rehearsed to perfection? To the best of his ability Harold answeed all she asked; and, if be marveled that she could testify euoh interest in persons whom she knew so little, he did not eay so, nor would he permit himself to attribute her frivoliiy to aught but the natural rebound from gloom and sorrow to the brighter thoughts his presenoo must have inspired. But seeing Cyrilla quite capable of discussing ordinary top ! .os,.he did not hesitate to put to her a question that had been perplexing him. "Shall I take you for a drive tomorrow? Certainly, if your medical man does not forbid it. But toll me, Oyrilla.who is Chris Kenuett?" Was it by one of those strange freaks of fate we call ohauce that the person Harold Oatrara was naming passed thw window at that moment and looked in, scowling at hia nnoonsoioua rival so malevolent Jy that Cyrilla, whose face was turned in that direction, gave a faint shriek and clung to her lover? CHAPTER XXVII. A LOVER'S INTENSE CURIOSITY.