The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8299, 30 November 1906, Page 2

The Ironmaster's Daughter.

CHAPTER XXVl.—Continued. "Dick! Dick!" she cried, in her old impulsive way—the way he had learned to love so well. "You are in " • i.i She was sobbing on his breast, and he kissed her passionately madly. . "Let's be married to-morrow, Pauline—will you? Will you? Don't say no. Oh, my darling, you can't think how much I want you. All this farce about not kissing is just killing inc." She gazed at him morn fully—earnestly. "She hold one hand to her heart. Oh, how it pained her ! "To-morrow, Dick? I wish that we could be married to-morrow." Her eyelashes were wet, with tears —her voice was choking'. Suddenly he took one of her hands between his own and looked at the fingers. "It's a lie," he said, "The coward !" He hugged her again. "I don't care if it's the truth! We might get a special license, Pauline." "But my guardian —dear old papa!" "We'll cable to him." Again he embraced her passion- , y, and she whispered ; i . I,you've heard from Frank Stark. Why didn't he write to me? Why didn't he answer me ?" "Hang Frank Stark!" "That's no answer to my question, Dick. Show the letter to me, if it concerns me.". She was trembling, and her voice quavered. "It doesn't; I've burned it! I don't keep such drivel lying about. He's jealous of the works, of you, of me —of everybody. He's a cad, a cur. I'd like to shoot him!" / "Dick! Dick! You frighten me. What's the matter with you .dear one ?" He laughed savagely, and strained her to him. He kissed her liair, her eyes, her mouth. "My Pauline—my beautiful Pauline ! Vivacious, capricious, stormy, tender, womanly, Mid loving—my beautiful Paulino." He stared at one of her hands again, then he kissed the finger- ' tips. "There's nothing the matter with them, Pauline. Ho has lied to me! " Dick was raving, Pauline was cryincr softly. What was in Frank Stark's letter? She must knowmust—must! Charlie pushed open the door, and peeped into the room. He was worried and anxious "Am I intruding?" He looked at Pauline appealingly. "You're always intruding; you're a nuisance. Here, Charlie, take me off to bed. My limbs ache, and my brain is all awhirl. I'm going to be good, and obey the doctor. I want to be fit and well in two days, Charlie. Pauline and I have arranged it all—and we are going to be married by special license. Eh, little woman?" He kissed- her fondly, and she clung to him ; then Charlie led him away,' talking and threatening. "The constant strain lias been too much for him,' Charlie Mostyn said, an hour later, to the two girls. ''And he's in for a mild attack of . brain fever. What with the worry about the works, and his father, and——" ' "And me," interrupted Pauline. ? 'oh, I*have acted like a 1 fool, too Woman are horribly unreasonable and selfish." "Oh, it's some letter," said Charlie hastily, "that finished him oil. Nc there's no danger, ladies. Dick lias strong as a lion. Just a littli patience and careful nursing. B; the way, here are the keys of tin safe. "He has locked away tin worrysome letter, and he may tr; to get at it again, so I removed tli keys. The vagaries that seize upoi fever patients are remarkable, ;ua • they're as cunning as foxes. Yo: arc sleeping at Birehdene, Mis licit z?" • "Yes," Pauline faltered. "I,am glad of that. 'KeejVan ey upon Enys, please. She is not Mir strong, and the constant turmoil! shal! be here again at midnight, an we luckily have the nurses still i: the house. Obeying one of those mysteriou .signals which lovers alone can Iran; late, Enys followed Charlie Mosty into another room to say goc< night.. In a. flash Paulino snatched u the keys of tin. 1 small steel sal who rem Dick kept his privai papers. With deft lingers the hi;, gest was inserted in the lock, an the heavy door gently swung open. For an instant her eyes swam i a mist. Oh, the terror of being d< tected; and yet she was doing ii ■ real wrong, She fingered the small keys i open the inside drawers; then sir that the coveted, letter had bee crammed into the safe. There i was on the top of some old aecoui books, crushed and crumpled. Pauline's trembling lingers close upon it, the door of the sate wr shut and locked, and she looked lit a lioness at bay. She had heard step behind her—or was it fancy Charlie w.a.s talking to Enys in th hall, and the library door wassligh ly open.

Bv OWEN MASTERS. Ji1l( r of "Clyda's Love Dream," " Nina's Repentance," " Her Soldier Lover » «•The Mystery of IVoodcroit," (t For Love ofMarjorie," etc. \ T" The Ironmaster's Dauoiiteu " was commenced on October 17th.]

Pauline replaced the keys on the sideboard, and Charlie came in almost immediately afterward, followed by Enys. He looked rather fixedly at' Pauline. "How pale you are, Miss Reitz ! Confound all the bothers, I say! Oh here are the keys. Take care of them, Enys, though I know that Dick doesn't keep anything valuable in the grimcrack safe, I don't want him to get that letter again, whatever it may be. Fever . patients ai'e fanciful and erratic. I had one recently who evaded the nurses, crept down-stairs without being seen or heard, and was discovered in a cornfield two miles distant. I tell you this because Dick is one of those mentally energetic fellows who may be up to all sorts of pranks unless strictly guarded." A few cheery words, and he went off to look after another patient, promising to be back again at midnight. ' ' ' "I'll have Dick all serene again m no time!" [to be continued.]