The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8267, 22 October 1906, Page 2

The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Bv OWEN MASTERS. Author of " Clyda's Love Dream," " Nina's Repentance/' "Her Soldier Lover,'' "The Mystery of Woodcroft," " For Love of Marjorie," etc.

["The Ironmaster's Dauc.htkh " was? commenced on Oetobor 17th.]

CHAPTER IV. Continued. He left the room, and his father -followed him. Diok heard angry words, and he readied for Pauline's hand. He Baw tears in her eyes, and Bhe was tryng hard tc k«ep back her sobs. '1 shall kill him yet!' she said. 'He alwayß talks to me like tnat. Bnt I Bhall not be here for very long, Diok, shall I? 1 will come to you to England when you are ready. I am not a child, DioU; 1 am nearly as old as yon are; I am twenty-five.' How tender, how softly caressing, how womanly, how beautifnl she was now! Dick put a«vay from his thouahts the vision of a few minutes before. He had been mistaken —his imagination had played him a triok. It was impossible for Pauline to look like that. ' 'I know that Prank was insulting -you,' she whispered. 'And yon are miue, Dipk, miue! 1 She imprinted a horning kiss on his bond. 'How eballl endure life when you are gone? Thousand of miles of ocean between us? Dick, it must not be for long!" 'Bat only a short journey, Pauline. A week, at most I'll write to you tha day 1 reach home, and 1 will tell you junt how 1 am placed.' •All that I have is yours, Dick.*

The areat eyes beamed upon him •« wealth of love, and in her soft tranquility the fascination of her subtle and wonderou? beauty was almost insupportable. And be had likened her to a cruel and volupt•uous beast—a panther! * # # * / * Only two hours later, and Dick Tressidy was saying good-bye to Chester Stark and Pauline. They ■were standing oo the crowded dock, a little apart Jxom the rush, the whirl,,the roar, of men, horses, carriages, and luggage. [Shrill whistles, hoarse cries, clanging bells, and a furious hissing of steam. Suddenly the Campania's siren sounded a savage, warning blast, and Chester Stark Rripped Dick's hand. 'Good-bye, but only for a short time, Tressidy,* tie said meaningly. *You understand.' , Diok'nodded. 'I will get to the"botfom of things. You o?.n trust tne'now. 1 feel that u devil is waking witbin me!' ' Chester Stark smiled his approval. 'There are some things one cannot forgive,' he said. / 'Paulinel' _ ' Sne faced round, and embraced ,tbe man she loved—swiftly—passionately, then sobbed: 'Uh, Dink, it must not be for longl' ' •

CHAPTER V. CIJAIiLIE MOSIYN. From Saturday to Saturday—a mere dream. i<rom New Fork to Liverpool—a period-of rest and playtime for snores of busy brains whose business schemes and business interests were on both sides ot the Atlantio. The Campania was waiting to cross the bar, and Dick was regretfully saying farewell to many people whose friendship he had made on board. Some of the man who bad l)aen the soul of thet merry time of crossing, were now stern of visage; taaitum, eager for a continuance of the strenuous life. The leviathan's smoke stacks belohed, her siren boomed, and 6he glided up the Mersey, -Lev deeks crowded with life and colour., . 'Humanity is not really bad, after .all,* remarked a young American to Diofc Tressidy. '.Everi body here 'seems to wish everybody wel\ If we could only do away with childish Jealousies and petty misunderstandings!'' "Ihe bitterness one meets with in life,' Dick answered, 'is oausea by the small —very small, percentage. One bad man ruins the peace of many through mere force of circumstances.' \ 1' believe that is so,' theAmerioan said, thoughtfully, 'and sn long as men s interests clash I'm afraid that it will continue. Yon, sir, appear to be one of the lucky ones on earth.' Dick's face saddened. 'Why do you think so?' 'Ob, your sunny disposition has been infeotious throughout the voyage I I, for one, am sorry to see land so soon. Just when we have got to know and to like eßch other, we must part—never to meet agaiu. An incident—yes, but one that will live with me for ever.' Dick was almost scowling now. 'My sunny disposition!' he muttered hoarsely. 'Do you know, air, that I am about as fine a .sample of the bad man as you can possibly see?' The American laughed; then he saw the other's darkened brow and baneful eyes. Too are jesting—you are an accomplished HCtnr!' '£ am a man who has been wronged by those in whom implicit confidence has been placed. 1 am going homo for—revenge!' He strode away, but returned to the American almpst immediately. 'Good morning, sir.' '1 hey shook bands. 'We may meet again some day. '1 hope sc,' the American answerad. And mind that you punish the traitors! Such are the men who make hell upon God's fair earth, • The Campania glided to her dock, and the tumult deepened. Hundred uf friends were waiting for friends, and there was one for Dick Iressidy. 'Dick! Dick." hallooed a toll joung fellow, standing at the shore

end of the gangway. 'lt's ;,all right!' The words were balm to his feverish, anxious heart. His eye bright ened, and the blood sprang into his face. His muscles relaxed, his movements beoajne electric. Down the gangway he struggled and jostled, at last reaching over the shoulders of several men to grip Charlie Mostyn's hand. 'lt is awfully good of you to come,' be said. 'I knew bow yon would feel about it, Dick—the uncertainty, I mef n.' 'Ves, the final stages of the journey have haunted me like a nightmare.' 'Well, wo can have it all out between bere and Birmingham. Your father ie fairly well, and will live.' Thank God, Charlie! That's all 1 really care for.' 'Now get your luggage through, while I secure two corner seats in the railway oar. Hope we have the luck to left to ourseivee.' For half-an-bour pandemonium reianed. Passengers were flying hither and thither, talking, gesticulating, arguing; porters were dash tag along with truck-loads of impedimenta yelling 'By yer leave,' and upsetting people at the same moment; customs officers were div< ing into the heartß of trunks and bags, and the oar, doors slamelaromed with the snappy reports, of artillery; the flags were waved, and the sinuous monster glided swiftly away.

Dick Tressidy and Charlie Mostyn were comfortably settled in ooruer seats, and Charlie chuckled over their good luck, for they were the only occupants of the compartment. He was gazing now almost wistfully into Dick's gray eyes—hating to have to say so much that must be as bitter as gall and wormwood. A fine fellow was Charlie Mostyn, dark-eyed, earnest, truthful. He was one of those oontradiotions that one sometimes meets with, who are good-looking without having a single correct feature, His hair, moustaohe, and eyes were dark his brow large, aDd overshadowed the lower part of his face; his nose was short, his mouth tou wide, and yet the first remark that strangers made, if they commented upon his appearance at all, was 'That's a nice looking mam' b»'uch was Charlie Mostyn outwardly, if the fact is added' that be was tall, with a slight stoop in bis shonlders. But if there were flaws in Charlie's composition, his heart, his soul, his mind, were as neHr perfect as we poor humans can estimate. As a physician he was phenomenally clever: as a man be was charitable towards, the whole world. •You have not mentioned my sister Enys,' Dick said, f A faint wave of colour passed over Charlie's face. 'Sh> ih bearing up remarkably well. He hesitated. 'But of course, j she only knows of her fathers illness yet.. No use bothering a girl with what she can . "not help, or properly understand.' 'Now tell me just what ails dad,' Dick said. 'Don't you imagine j that I'm the cfareless nonentity who left England a year since, and don't you think that anything in the top of thiß earth is going to scare Dick Tresaidy.'

■Something has been the making of you,' Charlie answered. 'You look five [years older, and ten years more wicked 1' There was a tr>uob of banter in Charlie's tone, but there was sadnesß in his eyes.

'Light up, old chap, and go ahead. Father is alive, and getting better; Enys is all right, and the rest may go to the deuce! ~ These cigars Were given to me by at; old rival of the firm's—Chester Stark —and are ripping. 1 oontrived to smuggle a couple of hundred through.' , '.'•■■ 'They are good.' Charlie waved bis lighted cigar until the blue smoke was oirciing around him; then he sniffed at it with the air of a judge. 'You appear to have become excellent friends, you and the American.'

'Lifelong friends.' Dick w,as tbinking of Pauline, and he remembered that Pauline had hardly eutered bis thoughts for a full week. 'Now go ahead, Charlie. Tressidy's Iron works are in a bad way—jeopardized—l know it. The scandal is the talk of the commercial world.' • (To be Continued.) (