A Tardy Wooing.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8148, 24 May 1906, Page 2

A Tardy Wooing.

CHAPTER XXIX.— Continued. Who had over been as strangely situated as she was? A wife, yet no wife—witnessing daily her bridegroom's devotion to another, yet awaro that ho did her no wrong by that devotion—willing if it would add to bis happiness to keep secret their extraordinary marriage yet unable to do so if Chris Kennott discovered and compelled her to speak' Only the law conld break the chain that a vindictive man bad forged for them. . So said Mr Leyland, who was a lawyer, and must know. Should she take the young lawyer into ber confluence, and, under a pledge of secrooy, tell tun all? He would tell her how to act, or assist Air Outram' in extricating himself from the awkward position in which he stood toward her. Onoe resolved to do this, Wynnie felt more composed, and could wait with patience till an opportunity presented Itself. Eustace Leyland, nffcor listening to all of Sir Jasper's prolix deeails, and advising him what measures to take with his refractory tenant, oontrivod, ere he went away, to get a few minutes conversation with Linda. "That little friend uf yours—Miss Movie, I think you call ner—is she married or single?" "Married! Why, she was a mere child, a timid, ignorant child when she came to us!" was the wondering reply "I did not mean to astonish you bo much, Mrs Shirley!" she was told, with a smile. "Will you be surprised at another question I am going to put to your If not married has she been the heroine of some domestic tragedy?" "Good gracious, no! At least —" and Linda began to recall Wynnie's long reveries, as well as odd questons and half sentences that bad occasionally escaped her. Also she remembered how little she knew of the girl's earlier life." "Frankly," she said, "I am afraid I have been too muoh abcorbod in ray own anxieties even to ask myself if my faithful little friend bad any. Perhaps she has and 1 nm ashamed not to have discovered it. But what makes you put suoh strange queries to rr.e?" "I must tell you some other time," was the evasive response; and, with his Anger on his lip, Eustace Leyland left her. { CHAPTER XXX. AN IGNORANT PRETENDER. Chris Konnett was not seen at Cbisloharst for so many days that Sir Jasper began bemoaning himself, declaring that all old friends were •forsalci-g him. Oyrilla prayed that he miR-'t "over cross her path again; and Harold Outram, who made a point of calling at the address with whioh Sir Jasper supplied him, daily received the same reply to hia enquiries: Mr Kennett had gone away, and no one knew where. When Oyrilla hoard this, her eyes sparkled, and her blood coursed

more freely through her veins. I! it were but possible to be marriec and out of England eve he returned Why Bhould it not bo possible? At first Harold would be scandal ized at the idea of a wedding following so quickly on a funeral; but she could make her failing health a Dretext for it Some obliging physician should be induced to order her abroad without delay, and bow could she consent to leave poor papa unless it were at the entreaty of her bridegroom?

Id furtherance of bor pinna, sb refused to see Mr Outram when he pairl his next visit. Mademoiselle was too ill to admit him, Pauline said, with grave face and many sighs and shrugs. Mademoiselle did not sleep well; she had lost her appetite; she fretted muoh in secret; she would die if she were not removed, and that speedily, from the scene of iniladi's death. Ho went away sufficiently impressed, as Oyrilla, peeping at bim from her chamber window, had the satifaotion of discovering. When he came on the morrow as he was certain to do, she would reoeive him with such a woe-begone expression that his alarm would render him plastic in her hands. Once hia wife, and beyond reach of her persecutor, what signified Chris Kennett's threats or wild, and improbable stories? Accordingly Cyrilla's toilot was made nn the morrow with a view to deceiving both the physioian Sir Japser had sent for and her botrothed. Pearl powdor toned down the too brilliant colouring of her complexion; Pauline had artfully contrived that shore should be dark rings under her fine eyes, and in the morning gown of an invalid she lay : araoog her pillows on a couch in tbo drawing room about the hour Harold Outram generally arrived. J Linda, too penetrating not to divine her cousin's tactics, though ignorant of her reasons for them, 'told her bluntly that on an honourable man they were worse than throwu away, and then retired to her studio. But Wynnie was compelled by' the ynnng lady's mandate to remain in the mom. Oyrilla had reflected that her ciharaotor as a pensive sufferer v.o.ild be jeopardized if there were m one near to bund her salt or her fan, or administer the rostoutivea she was supposed to require.

It was an unthankful task, and Wynnie felt that she was assisting at a deception, for that there ooald be anything amiss with the health of a person who hud stormed at the •oook for nearly twenty minutes that morning, and eaten a hearty breakfast, she did not believe. However, sho submitted., When Mr Outram appeared, sho would

By Charles W. Hathaway. Author of " Marjorie's Sweetheart*" " A Lony Martyrdom," "A Rash Vow," " Joseph Dane's Diplomacy," etc., etc.

; "I don't want to insult nor to offend yon," was the temperate I reply. refused to believe that Mr Ontram was married soon after ho landed at Dover, and I told yon I would prove the truth of my words by finding the girl who so infatuated him that he took her to ohuroh and made her his wife. If he repented it soon afterward and forsook her, is that any reason why everyone else should turn against her? Here she is—lawfully married—aren't you?" He appealed to Beooa, who answered pertily: "I should think I was! I should like to catch anyone saying that I'm not!" "It's false! false!" Wynnie was tempted to cry, but abe refrained, ans watobed the progress of this strange drama. "It cannot be! I'll not hear another syllable from your false, cruel tongue, "Oyrilla raved. "Take your confederate out of this house instantly, or I'll send for the police and give you both in charge for an attempt at extortion!" "I shouldn't advise you to try that game with mo,' said Kennetr, with auoh a threatening look that her fury was quelled by it. "If you send for anyone, let it be for your gentleman "and let bins deny this marriage if he can. 1 swear that what I tell you is true. 1 know it is, for I was present at the cere-, mony." Oyrilla retreated from him, half doubting, half belleveing his assertion. While she liatennd to him she was compelled by his earnestness to give some credence to the tale; when she looked at Becca, vulgar, ignorant, conceited Beooa her knowledge of Harold made her re- i jeot it as incredible. "I've got my certificate," said the so-caled Mrs Outram. "The young lady can see it if she chooses to be civil.' '"No, I will seo nothing, listen to nothing, till Mr Outram arrives,'' Oyrilla protested. "And papa shall bo present too. Papa! Papa! she s'jouted. (To bo continued).

contrive toslip away, for she would not inflict on boiself the pain of seeing him lavish endearments on one who was so unworthy of thero. There was the sound of footsteps in the hall. Oyrilla thrust out of eight the journal of fashions with wniohsfae had been amusing hersolf, and drew her features into the melancholy aspect they were to assume. The door opened, and a ory of mingled rage and despair escaped her lips. Her visitor was the hated and dreaded Konuett, and ho did not oome alone. Be led, or, it would be more correct to say, dragged, into the room, a short, stout, black-haired girl, whose really good looks were marred by an expression of low cunning. She was dressed in the I brightest crimson, with a bunch of yellow feathers and another of pink flowers in a hat so large that it was out of all proportion to her figure. She also wore [a pair of cotton gloves muoh too large for the stumpy fingers that were nervously swinging to and fro an embroidered haudkerohief and a faded pale blue parasol. "Who is this?" gasped Oyrilla, as the strange couple came forward, the girl ttfiring broadly and admiringly at the pictures, mirrors and handsome draperies with which the apartment was profusely adorned. No one made any direct reply, though Wyuuie could have told the name of tuo newoomer. She had recognised in ber directly the girl Becca who had been drudge-of-nll-work to Mrs Marby and with almost breathless interest sat like a statue in her corner, waiting to get a clue to Chris Kennett's reasons for bringing such a person hither. "You see J've done your bidding, beauty!" wns hia first remark. "Don'fc I always obey you if 1 can?" "1 do not understand," said Oyrilla, haughtily. "Do you bring me a new kitchen maid? Does this young woman"—and she eyed I Boooa with disfavour—"does she propose to fill the vaoanoy in our kitchen?" Becoa was quick to perceive and resent Miea Dartison's scorn. Shs was wont to declare, whenever she quarrelled with Mrs Marby, which was frequently, that she weren't going to be put upon by nobody,and Oyrilia's frowns, instead of daunting this truculent damsel, were irritating her into retorting in kind. "Who's th!«B?" she drawled, with a fairly good imitation of Oyrilia's manner. "Just you make her understand, Mr Kennett, that I dame here to oblige you and not to be insulted." Miss Dartisou forgot the role of the invalid, and, springing to her feet, flew towards the bell. "How dare you suoh a creature here!" she screamed, as Ohris Kennett, by one dexterous movement , threw himself in her way ana prevented her roanhing the bell. 'Take her away I You have always presumed upon papa's easy disposition, but he will detend his daughter if you carry your audaoity too far."