The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8313, 17 December 1906, Page 2

The Ironmaster's Daughter.

(""The Ironmaster's Daughter" was commenced on October 17th.]

CHAPTER XXXlll.—Continued. "So time rolled on and you were born, Pauline. We were both very proud and very happy. Now it was my duty to make my marriage known to the folks in my set. It was a pressing—a natural duty toward wife and child, and it should be done without delay. "I went to New York with this in my mind, and after consulting with my lawyer—a bosom friend—my plans were 'made. The marriage should be announced, with the date, and some of the circumstances. My lawyer undertook to work up the whole thing with the newspaper men, and to pay them well. I wanted to allay their inquisitiveness. There was to be no mention of the circus. "Joyfully I returned to my cottage in the Smith—the casket which held so much that was dear to me—only to find my wife dead," Chester Stark dashed a tear from his eye. "A fellow who had admired her in her circus days discovered who I really was. He collected ample truth, to which he added certain foul untruths. This was his revepge upon—both." His voice shook, until speech failed him. Mutely he pointed to a letter among the papers, then quavered : "Read it, Pauline. That finishes my story." The letter was yellow with age, the ink dim and faded, and it read thus:

"BEAR ONE: I have beheld you in this world for the last time, for I will be a burden upon you no longer. I have discovered that ray Chester Stark is the great iron magnate of New York, and not the humble travelling salesman, not the cousin of the great man, as you told me you were. No matter how it has been revealed to mo, but I know all. Your other wife-—your other family, your wealth, your beautiful home. What, then, did you want with poor Pauline Reitz, the circus girl—the wild'beast tamer? My heart is broken utterly, and I cannot endure life any longer., Will you care for our child, our little Pauline? I had decided that she should die; too, but I hadn't the heart to take her innocent life. I charge you to bring her up in ignorance of the fate of her unhappy mother. I have a brother in Doctor Reitz; Pauline can bear his name, and if she is in the Avay of your other family, he will adopt my child. Good-bye, my darling. My last thoughts are of the many happy weeks we have spent together—my last thoughts are full of love for the man who has betrayed me. Think of me sometimes. » PAULINE."

Hot tears were streaming down the girl's face. . * "Oh, father!" she whispered chokingly. "That is the bitter story of my life," Chester Stark said. "Your mother died, believing me to be a villian! She was impetuous, passionate, just as you are, Pauline, and I hope this will be a warning to you. Believe nothing that you hear, and only half thattyou see. If you shoot a man dead, there is an end of him; if you lie about him, that lie multiplies and multiplies. A liar and slanderer killed your mother, and the curse has followed to this day. Keep the papers, my darling; they are yours now—all except the letter. That I hope to have buried with me." •'I have had my lesson, too," said Frank. For the first time in his life he kissed Pauline with real, honest warmth.

CHAPTER XXXV. BREAKING THE NEWS. "Sun yourself to your heart's content, Dick. Here, let me wheel your chair to the other side of the verandah." "Oh, get out of the way, Charlie! You fuss about like a hen with one chicken. I'm well enough—only a bit r;haky What a grand morning! If it's like this next Wednesday, I shall meet Pauline and Mr Stark at Liverpool" " "Perhaps,'' said Charlie dubiously. "Still, with a constitution like yours, and favoured' by such perfect weather as this, a week will workwonders." That morning's mail had brought Dick a letter from Pauline, and he was as jubilant as a sick man could be. Every line of the letter breathed quiet happiness and passionate love. "Oh, Dick! Dick! The clouds are gone, and heaven is near. I have an amazing story to tell you, a story of sorrow and suffering, that ends in love—wonderful love. And you must forgive Frank, as I have done; ■he confessed his fault, and was broken down with grief and humiliation. Forgive him, Dick, because he is my brother. "I am coining back to England and to you. My father and I will sail next Wednesday, and until our marriage papa will live at my little home with me. Afterwards he may take Passaic off our handsaltogether. He wishes to divide his time between England and America. And I want him to take charge of Aunt Nelly,

Bv OWEIM MASTERS. viler of "Clyda's Love Dream," "Nina's Uepentance," "Her Soldier Lover," "The Mystery of Woodci'oft," " For Love of Marjorie," etc.

and Peter, too, because they have known my mother from babyhood. But I will tell you all about this when I am with you again." Tto be continued.]