For Her Sister's Sake; OR, THE LAVENDEN SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8363, 20 February 1907, Page 2

For Her Sister's Sake; OR, THE LAVENDEN SECRET.

"For Her Sister's Sake " was commenced on December 20th.]

CHAPTER XXXlV.—Continued. Even from his distant position in " the gallery, David Garth could see ■that his wife cast a swiftly inquiring glance at the young lawyer, as if she were endeavouring to fathom his purpose in putting the question. But Edward Agnew waited gravely. "The—the same night," she said. "In what way?" Again Julia Lavenden paused, irresolute and once more Agnew waited. "My—my husband told me," she answered. "Under what circumstances did you see your husband?" : A death-like silence followed the question. There was not a person in court who did not know that Garth, , the convict husband of the Viscountess Lavenden had been for some thifee months missing from the custody of the prison authorities, and that both the persecution and the defence had advertised rewards for any information which lead to his apprehension. David Garth, bearded, Well-dres-sed, un-English, listened with the rest for the answer. He was not thinking of himself; he was wondering what could be Edward Agnew's object. Julia Lavenden replied tremulously, but every syllable was distinct and clear. "He came to see me late that evening," "disguised as a hospital nurse. He —he had just escaped from Dartmoor prison." The stillness in the court became more profound. Edward Agnew went on steadily: "You have made no secret of these facts from the police authorities since they have had Miss Lavenden in custody'?' "No." "When your husband left Laven den House had,you any idea where he was going?" \ Julia started, and then drew her self up stiffly, almost convulsively. "I knew that he was going to his brother's flat," she said. "1 gave him some money and the address. It was the one chance of his getting, a change of clothes. He —he had only the nurse's cloak over his prison garments." The rapt absorption of the crowded court found vent in an involuntary tremor. Agnew waited for it to die away. I "Were your husband and his bro■ ther friends" he pursued. Julia's fingers gripped the edge of the witness-box, and from the distant gallery David Garth saw thatfher face became more drawn and white. "No," she said; "my felt that he had been left to suffer alone ; that his brother had treated him badly." Agnew sat down —then regained his feet. , "Was your husband accustomed to the use of firearms?" he asked. Julia answered him, eager, yet trembling. "He was a splendid shot," she said. Edward Agnew resumed his seat; his cross-examination was ended. Neither .of the prosecuting counsel rose to re-examine and Julia Lavenden stepped out of the witness-box. A sudden tumult broke out as the tension of the moment relaxed, and David Garth, rousing as from a wakig dream, pushed his way out of the gallery and began to descend the staircase. He had the look of a man in a trance.

CHAPTER XXXV. BETWEEN TWO DUTIES. "Jt'm afraid, sir, it would be no use my taking in your card; Lady Lavenden is not at home to any one. Our instructions are most emphatic, especially as regards newspaper men." "I am sorry, very sorry. Could I not have a little talk with some one of her ladyship's friends? I assure you that I am not a newspaper man, and my business is of the most importance: lam just from Paris, and have not long to stay in London." The speaker's manner and accent were foreign, his air politely insistent. The footman looked irresolutely at the card in his own hand—a card inscribed "M. Laurent." "I dare say," he said doubtfully, glancing back over his shoulder across the dimly lighted hall, "that the Baroness Istria or Mr Merivale will see you for a moment. All the same though, I may get into trouble for bothering them. We've had no end of worry with callers since—since } t The other held out a gloved finger and thumb; between them was a couple of half-crowns. "I understand," he answered, and his.finger and thumb dropped to the level of the footman's palm. The coins disappeared into it, and the servant closed the hall doors. He had been holding them ajar since his presistent visitor had stepped within. "Will you come this way, sir?" he asked, more respectfully, and " traversed the hall to usher the visitor into a deserted reception-room. "Can I say anything as to the nature of your business sir?" he 'ventured as he switched on the electric light. v "M. Laurent" shook his head. "That is what I must explain myself," he said. The servant and went away. "M. Laurent" did not sit down or move from the point where he had paused on entering the room. His head dropped as if in thought, and his eyes fixed on the ground, he waited. At last the door at his elbow was opened, and he turned to find himself face to face with a woman whose haughty features and masses of redgold hair were not unfamiliar to him.

By R. Norman Silver, thor of "A Double Mask," "A. Daughter of My sitry u "HeldlApartf"The Golden Dtuarf," etc.

She swept into the apartment with impatient haste, and confronted him irritably. "You are M. Laurent?" she said. The other bowed by way of reply. "I am a Frenchman," he added, "and unknown personally to Lady Lavenden. But I believe that lam in position to give her important news of her husband, if I might be permitted a brief interview with her." Constance Istria shrugged her shoulders "What you ask is quite impossible," she said. "My cousin is unable to see any one. The strain of the last day or two " The other interruped. "Exactly so," he added; "but I was in court this afternoon, and it seems to me that, as a friend tp Lady Lavenden, you will realize how necessary it is she should grant a few moments to one who may be able to do her a great service." "Oh! as for that," he was told distantly, "you can speak quite frankly to me." "M. Laurent" looked into the great violet eyes of Constance Istria. "That is impossible," he declared; "I must speak with Lady Lavenden, and to-night. If not, I must go to her lawyers and ask them to arrange an interview. What I have to say I will say only to Lady Lavenden herself." Constance Istria bit her lips. "Am I to understand," she inquired languidly, "that this service which youv speak of doing Lady Lavenden has some connection with the trial of her sister?" * "M. Laurent" studied his questioner a moment, and then answered in the affirmative. Consance Istria knitted her brows, glancing at him the while from under her long lashes. At length she turned toward the door. "In that case," she said, "you had better follow me." "M. Laurent" assented mutely, and, as has guide passed out into the hall, followed her obediently. He held his hat in his hands; a close observer might have noticed. that they trembled. Otherwise his bearing was calm and his step firm. Up the thickly carpeted staircase and along a broad corridor, Constance Istria led him, and then, motioning to him to wait, passed in at the doorway by which she had checked him. Standing outside, "Mr Laurent" heard the murmur of voices. It ceased and his guide re-apeared, thrusting thejioor wider that he might enter. The apartment was that to which a certain figure in nurse's costume had been shown on the night that the* escaped convict, David Garth, sought refuge with his wife. It was Julia Lavenden's boudoir, and she herself sat in a lounge-chair near the fireless grate, a little figure in her arms, a gayly coloured picture-book upon her knees. From the tragic stress of the uncompleted trial she had turned to seek ajnoment's forgetfulness in her child. "This is Lady Lavenden," intimated Constance Istria abruptly; "she will hear what you have to say."

CHAPTER XXXVI. INTO THE DARK. The visitor advanced into the room, so that he stood between Constance Istria and the woman in the loungechair. "What I have to say," he declared, "must be said to Lady Lavenden alone." At the' sound of his voice Julia Lavenden started and rose from her seat. Her bosom heaved convulsively, and her -face had blanched to the hue of wax. Constance Istria flushed an angry crimson., Julia Lavenden did not see, or, if she saw, did not heed it. "I—l must hear what he has to say, Constance," she faltered pleadingly; "I—l ought. to. Will you please leave us for a little while — just a little while? It doesn't matter about Boysie." Constance Istria hesitated, resentment and curiosity, stamped upon her handsome features. But "M. Laurent" waited with such stern determination that she surrendered, and passed sullenly from the room. As she closed the door Julia started up, set down the child, and, gliding across the floor, drew the portiere noiselessly into position. "Speak low," she gasped, "speak low; that is a dangerous woman. Why—oh! why have you come here?" David Garth answered her deliberately. He had abandoned the French intonation of "M. Laurent." (To be Continued).