The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8285, 13 November 1906, Page 2

The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Bv OWEN MASTERS. Avtlu r of i( Clyda's Love Dream," " Nina's Repentance "Her Soldier Lover," "The Mystery of Woodcroft, "* 1 For Love of Marjorie," etc.

("The Ironmasters Daugiitek" was commenced on October 17tli.]

CHAPTER XVl.—Continued,

"She is guilty and I must discover why. A remarkably beautiful and lovable woman. I don't think I am mistaken. Poor Benson!" ; As he neared home his thoughts became centered upon Pauline, and his first speech to Enys was of the woman he loved. "I've heard nothing to-day, Dick, and didn't expect to. Our proposed outing was simply impossible.' Dick then ran up-stairs to see his father before dressing for dinner. Mr Tressidy had been much weaker for some time, but his mind was clear and alert. Ho was satisfied that the Tressidy fortune mm being restored, and he loved his son with an idolatrous love. Several of his brother scientists paid him frequent visits, and he was happy enough now. After dinner Dick lighted his pipe? and struck oft in the direction of Pauline's home. Surely her temper would have evaporated by this time? He had not meant half what he said, and he was quite justified in making a complaint, Pauline was too "touchy"—too sensative. Life wasn't-a bed of roses, but women moved in such a tiny circle that they were unable to appreciate a man's colossal worries and vexations. ' There were now only a few feeble echoes of the storm, rumbling away somewhere in the north. The sky was blue and serene, and the sun was dipping homeward in a great billowy white cloud, tinged witli fire and gold. And the fragrance of the earth, of the grass and trees, and all growing things, was pleasant to the senses. Dick walked up the steps of the piazza, through the open door into the entrance hall, and thence into the parlour. He heard a light, quick step almost immediately, and his heart gave a great leap. "Pauline!" he whispered, and he wondered why she was taking so large a place in his heart all at once. She entered the room, and regarded her lover almost mournfully. The change in her within a few hours was remarkable. Dick's heart smote him, and he embraced her with a passion that he had never betrayed before. "Paulina, my darling, what have I done or said ? Look at Bespeak to me in the old way. My soul has awakened at last, and the love you craved is yours—a hundredfold greater." There was a sob ill her throat, but her eyes were dry. "You hurt me yesterday, Dick; you hurt my pride." "I could bite out my tongue. I am a fool!" "Oh, but I can't blame you. That is the bitterness of it. I feel that I am an imposter—a fraud; I have bought you with that hateful money, and I am ashamed —so dreadfully ashamed." He hardly knew how to answer this, but pressed tender kisses on her brow. "Let us forget all about it, Pauline." "It is impossible now, Dick. I won't marry you with these doubts and innuendoes in the air. I won't let you kiss me after to-day, until I can look into yotfr eyes and say that my past—my origin—is as good as yours. And, if I can't say it honestly, I will never marry you at all, but I will go on loving you until I die." "Good heavens, Pauline ! What folly has taken possession of you ? You surely won't listen to the talk, of Peter ? I know that he dislikes me, and perhaps I deserve it, for speaking ill of him.". "Peter knows something; and Aunt Nelly knows something—but they are dumb," Pauline whispered hoarsely. The palour of her face was unearthly. "And I have written to Frank Stark, demanding the truth. If he withholds it, then I wijl write to papa—to his father. And oh, Dick! my darling—my lover—upon his reply my happiness—my life depends," Dick was wild. He talked, he stamped, he caressed, but Paulino was resolved. "It is only fair to both, Dick. If anything came between us after marriage it would be fatal." "Oh, rubbish! I don't care what comes. I will take you in rags, and with a past as black as Hades, jf such were possible." "You talk at random, Dick. But, .oh, it is so nice to know that you really love me for. myself. Frank said that I had thrown myself at your head, and, when I reflect, my conduct does seem bad." "I should enjoy kicking Frank. He is almost womanish in his spite —I mean the vitriol-slingingwoman that one hears of sometimes. Men oughtn't to stoop to such meanness. Oh damn it all!" He raised hife clenched hands in the air. "And, even if Frank chooses to answer, we must wait three weeks at least. How am I to endure it?" "lam going away to the coast for awhile. I. think the sea air will be nice now that it is so hot. I didn't know the summers were warm in England, like—like New York." She almost broke down,, and Dick felt a lump in his throat. "I will take the servants with me, too; and, Dick " "I am listening, Pauline." ' "I haye sold Sultana." J

"And this is my fault also." he said sorrowfully. "No, Dick; she was sulky this morning, and sprang at Peter —she bit at me, too. So I telegraphed to a dealer, and he will remove her tomorrow. In one way I am sorry, but such pets are unwomanly. I have a liking for animals; my father was a great hunter and tamer, and it is but natural. I was a girl when the fancy seized me—boyish, independent and heart-free. I am now a woman, and so different " Her tears fell. "Go, Dick, and tell Enys that I will write to her. I could not bear to meet her—now." He looked at her with gloomy eyes. "Three weeks," he said. "I have to go moaning and groaning about, and what then ? My fate depends upon what Frank chooses to write," "And mine, too, Dick. Oh—go —go ! Can't you see that this is killing me "All right. Trust a woman for being the silliest and stupidist thing on God's earth. But, Pauline, I give you fair warning that Frank Stark is out of this as far as I am concerned. I shall wait three weeks and then I shall fetch you home and marry you, if the heavens fally!" She laughed hysterically, and clung to him. "I'll tell Enys that you are upset about Sultana's fall from grace, and have gone away to recuperate. Then you can write to my sister and to me." [to be continued.]