The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8279, 5 November 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 Daughtek" was commenced on October 17th.]

CHAHTER Xlll.—Continued

"I reaLly do, Pauline. My love is of slower growth than yours, but it is sure. I have been thinking about you a great deal these latter days, and I [have wondered at my good fortune. Why should you care for me when there are so many others —so many men {who would appreciate you at your true worth ? I have not done this till now." "Oh" Dick—Dick—l am so happy ! As for others —tfcey have all seemed alike to me. But you are so different—you are the man that I love—the only man that I could ever love. Isn't it strange how we came together? Can you doubt that the finger of Providence is in it? I told Frank this, and he laughed, and said it was the doings of Satan." " I believe Frank is jealous of me, Pauline." Her face darkened, and her black eyes flamed. "Of my money, perhaps," she said. " But Frank has been very kind to me for a long time. I don't want to say one word against him." Her old brightness and vivacity came back, and she talked happily as they paced the station platform. Sultana was coming on a freightboat, and P_eter, her attendant was travelling with her. And the two rooms of American furniture, also. " I have a nice little home ready for you, Pauline, though your rightful place Avill soon be at Birchdene. And I have given it an American name—the name of Passaic. I believe that this is the Indian word for ' Happy Valley,' and I hope that you are entering on a period of new happiness, which will completely outshine the joys of the past." " The past ? Oh, Dick, the past is dun and gray, when compared with now !" Frank Stark joined them, and, as usual, his mind was full of business. He wanted to talk about the new works, and the part he and his father had taken in providing machinery. " I hear that you have success all along the line, Tressidy," he said. "I know that we've lost a big Canadian contract to you. It's a bit short-sighted to arm one's enemy, eh?' " The arming was not at your instance, Frank," Dick said quietly, albeii he was nettled. " And you have furnished but a tithe of the new machinery. The plans are all my own, built upon yours,, and I think vastly improved." "Oh, thanks!" laughed Frank. " I guess I shall annex a few notions before I go home. But you're doing well old man—remarkably well. What sort of a lunch can we have aboard your train ? I rather like the gangway from end to end of the train. Makes a nice promenade." During the run to Birmingham, the immediate future was discussed, and it was decided that the Starks should make their headquarters at Birchdene. There was to be no ceremony; they were out for pleasure, and could please themselves in in all things. It was Frank's first visit to Europe, and he wished to do it in his own way. His father preferred a quieter time, and would spend it principally between Birchdene and Pauline's house. " If you can put up with us for three months, Tressidy," Chester Stark said. " Three years if you wish," Dick answered quickly. " We are quiet people now—very few visitors; I have discarded ms evil ways," Then he looked at Pauline- "If you stay three months, there shall be a wedding, if Pauline is agreeable. I should like both of you to be present, and I am sure that nothing would please-Pauline so much." The girl blushed, and her heart throbbed tumultuously. She couldn't doubt the deep earnestness in the eyes of the man she loved. • Chester Stark glanced fondly from one to the other. " The arrangements rests between you two. I shall be at the wedding) whenever ann wherever it takes place. Eh. Frank?" ; But Frank jumped up, and said that the car was stifling. " I'm going into the corridor. Don't see much of your boasted green fields and. shady woods," he said. " I suppose they only exist in poetry books, with the tales of King Arthur." He laughed disagreeable, and went out. His father looked after him, jind frowned, " Frank's never happy unless he'sup to his neck in figures. This vacation's going to be a spell of torture to him." But, when the train reached Birmingham, there was plenty of goodhumored chattering. The luggage cart from Birchdene wasn't capable of holding a tithe of the luggage, and a railway four-wheeled van had to be chartered. At last the party left the station in two carriages, and to Pauline and Dick the world felt very young that day. CHAPTER XIV. A SERPENT IN THE GARDEN. An English June in the heart of English country was a revalation to Pauline Reitz. She knew that June (

was a pleasant month in America, before the summer heat came upon the land. There were mild and balmy days there, and the scent of flowers, and the song of birds; the garden mold had a pleasant smell, and just then the morning-glory would be peeping in at her windows, even in New York. But June in England! It was like a prelude of paradise—and June at Birchdene was the most perfect June cf all. The tiny village nestled in a valley, the irregular streets were dotted with quaint cottages, each with a garden in front, and a garden at the back, And such gardens! They were not weedy little pstches, but reached away to the fields beyond, and were one mass of delightful, growing things. the front gardens were one tangle of picturesque disorder. Flowers everywhere, flowers of every kind, and every hue, and the fragrance and colour were bewildering to the sense of the stranger. At the end of the village were the houses of the doctor and the clergyman, and on the hill stood the old gray church—at least, the little that one could see of it was gray, for the walls were robed with ivy. Surrounding the village were the homes of a dozen gentry of the old school, whose cultivated grounds made of Birchdene a perpetual garden. And beyond the dark woods, a mile up the winding white road to the hills, was the mansion from which the village took its name—the home of the Tressidys. Pauline saw all theso things, and at last believed in the beauty of England. Her eyes sparkled, and pleased exclamations now and again passed her lips. [to be continued.]