The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8269, 24 October 1906, Page 2

The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Bv OWEN MASTERS. e Ve,, .• »•' ■• Clyda's Love Dream," " Nina's Kepentance," "Her Soldier Lover," "The Mystery of Woodcroft," "For Love of Marjorie," etc.

["The Iboxmasteb's Daughter" was commenced on October 17th.]

CHAPTER Vl.—Oontnoed. | 'S-Sh!' he whisperei, 'it is Mostyn —I know his step. 1 have deceived him—l have deceived them all;. They want our secret Pick,--oars—yours and mine?' Charlie Mostyn entered the room, very anxious. •It is all right,' Dick said. My fathei is getting well again, God be thanked l' Charlie looked from one to the other, puzzled beyond expression. 'Marvellous!' he exolaimed. Mr Tressidy, your recuperative powers are almost inhuman. We shall have you downstairs yet.' He feared that he might be intruding, and left the room again. •You see how I have deceived him, laughed Mr Trossidy. 'lt has been a battle , f wits, and the giant has won! They have hero in snores to try and discover what I am doing. Kindly words, and cunning looks, bat I have told them to wait—wait, until Dick oame home!' There were tears in the young fellow's eyes, and he sat beside bis father until he fell into tranquil slumber. , 'And I have only just come home in time,' thought Dink, as he stepped softly down-stairs. 'The diamonds have to be made, but, not after poor old dad's fashion! jbio called the upper servants rtoeether, and spoke to them kindly and cheerfully. •Ihere appears tD be an epidemic of the doldrums here,' he said. 'We have met with reveraee, but none of you , need anticipate further trouble. The sheriff's men will be gone within a very few days. lam glad that they are respectable men, and have Dretended to be workmen. Its an easy rol* to play, doubtless, with no work to do, and plenty of good food!' ' That same evening be mounted a horse and rode lo Birmingham. He went directly to the general postoffice, and asked for a toreißD telegraph form. Then be spread it out before him, and wrote with a firm hand, bia face betraying no sign of emotion, as follows: 'MISS PAULINE REITZ, Care of Chester Stark, Esq., Fifth Avenue, York, U.S.A. 'Send me a hundred thousand pounds by cable. Urgent. I am writing this mail for you to come to Englßnd - 'DICK TBESSim' Having affixed the" necessary stamps to the cablegram he saw it despatched, and uttered a deepdrawn sigh. His face was now as white as paper, and there was a curious hopeless expreesion in his ©yes. ,' 'The die is cast!' he muttered, as he mounted his horse. 'and 1 have not an atom of affection for the woman I must marry!' He galloped home at a furious pace, only stopping for a moment to speak to his sister, who was just about to enter Ue gateway; then, after giving his steed in charge of the hostler, he went direot to the library. The first thing he saw was a letter lying on the table before him. It was postmarked 'New York,' and he recognized Chester Stark's handwriting. He opened it curiously, and read: •MY DEAR TRESSIDY: This letter will travel by the same boat as yourself, and contains a few things which are easier to write than to give verbal expression to. I wish to tell you how very pleased 1 am about Pauline and yourself. You are a worthy fellow, and she is nigh souled, passionate and good, through and through, I love her perhaps batter that L should have loved a daughter of my own—because she is the child of the best friend 1 ever had. 1 would nbt consent to the marriage of Paulino and my sou—even bad she been willing —for the simple .reason that he knows of a certain mystery surrounding her birtb. and he has a spiteful tongue. This mystery Pauline is Innocent of, and now as her home is to be in England, I rejoice to think that it will never overshadow her sweet young life. It is nothing disgraceful, Tressidy, bat it is best lett to oblivion. Yours, with great affection, CHESTER STARK.' Diok eat still for some minutes, with the open letter in his hand. 'A mystery surrounding her birth!' he muttered vaguely. 'And we Tressidys have always prided ourselves- upon • But, there, the die is cast!'

'1 hoped to have been here in time for the service,' be said, 'but I 1 have beeu busy. 1 suppose I may lunob with you at Birchdene?' 'You have been doing it pretty frequently of lute,' Dick remarked, bis eyes twinkling. He liked to see Charlie blush, and was amused by bis sister's sweet serenity. 'Yes, Charlie, I jwaut to have a long talk with you.'* At that moment the vioai oame up with tbero, panting and smiling. He shook hands all round, saying: 'I had to make a daah of it, Tress idy. lam giad to see you home again, and looking so well.' The vicar was a strong man, past middle life, strong of body, materialistic. 'I am extremely well,' Dick anawered enigmatically. «l believe it,' the vicar said succinotly, his eyes roving over Tressidy's face. 'And you are womierinp, Mr Delamere?' The vicar reddened sightly. Everybody is wondering, Tress«dy,' he said quietly, 'it's an awful shook to me.' (To b8 Continued.)

CHAPTER VI J. CHARLIE MOSTYN DISAFPEOVES. auuday though it was, the next day was a busy day for Dick Tressidy. He eaaorted bin sister to church in fbe morning, and smiled within himself when he saw that to the congregation, he was an object of interested scrutiny. There whs pity in some of the eyBB tamed upon the Tressidy pew, aud condemnation in others. The 'lressidys were of no account now—uad he had been spending his substance abroad, when his duty lay at home. Enys was blissfully unconscious of it all. She was hapcy in the knowledge that her father was recovering, and that her brother wa* home again. Charlie Mostyn met them at the gate of the church grounds. He was so much in love with Enya that the whole world saw it, and he did not care.