RIVEN ASUNDER. OR, BERYL GRAYSON'S ORDEAL,

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8389, 28 March 1907, Page 2

RIVEN ASUNDER. OR, BERYL GRAYSON'S ORDEAL,

A KOMAN<3E OF THE SAN FRANCISCO oJlsAbliiat.

CHAPTER XXll.—Continued. I "You have pursued my son for: -nunths," proceeded Mrs Preston, .. with a supercilious air mcc gulling . to Beryl's pride, "and you ovoii per-' suaded him to go to Alaska, where he ; almost met his death; not 0.-y that, j but you have estranged him from his motner and brother, and from all his relatives. Your coi;scien..v should , prick you for this; yet, instead, you, have the audacity to come here, to the home of his cousin, and ask about him. It is well that Inm here. I have long desired to talk to you, and •my opportunity has come." She had not asked the girls to be seated; indeed, she did not take a j seat herself, out stood during the interview. Even her stony heart was impressed with Beryl's wonderful beauty; for the girl, in spite of her poor clothes, looked a very queen in " her injured dignity. But' Mrs' Preston saw only evil in the girl's loveliness —the ravishing charm that had beguiled her son and played havoc with his relatives' plans for his future, i All the affairs- of life in San Francicso at that time went forward against a background of sullen smoke and livid flame, amid resounding crashes of dynamite, and of a human misery that made night doubly hideous. The most trivial events thrilled with an intensity almost tragic. The . good minister had said that the city's blight had brought pride to its knees everywhere; but, alas! he did not know the imperious Mrs Preston. Heaven itself might fall, but she would still cling to the prerogatives of wealth and power. "I will not remain longei*," said Beryl, with a pride that matched Mrs Preston's own, "and have you accuse me falsely. I'.cannot forget, madam, that you are Neil's mother!" "Stay!" cried Mrs Preston.. "You ' are seeking to make a good match for yourself; no doubt you desire money, in order that you may] be freed from a life of toil. I will give you money if you will " "Stop!" cried Beryl, her voice shrill with the anguish aroused by what the other's offer implied. "God knows my heart is not for sale; even if it were, Mrs Preston, it is too late to talk of such an unholy bargain." "Too late?" echoed the other woman. "What do you mean? Speak! What is there between you and my son that " "I am his wife!" interrupted Beryl. "It is false!" Mrs Preston almost screamed. Prom her br>3om Beryl drew her marriage certificate, opened it, and held it before Mrs Preston's eyes, although not permitting her to take * it in her hands. "There is the proof that I speak the truth. The ceremony was performed thjs morning, and since then my darling and I have been separated and seeking each other in this stricken city. I ask no favours of you, Mrs Preston, nor of any of Neil's people; but to him 1 will prove, by a lifetime of devotion, that he did not do wrong when he clung to me in spite iof you. You talk of money, and God pity and forgive you for doing so." Mrs Preston was dazed by the re velation Beryl had made. "If what you say is really tjrue," said she, goaded to a misstatement by her proud, tortured heart, "you I will have a hard time finding your J husoand. He was here, but he left' for Oakland, on his way back to Denver. Before you can possibly reach Denver he will be across the continent, ready to embark for Europe." ..Despair, for the moment, was aroused by these words,'yet Beryl hid her breaking heart as best she could.: - "Come, Toiiita," she murmured, stretching out her hand; "I knew how it would be if I came here. Come, let us go." . Flashing fierce looks at Mrs Preston, Tonita placed a gentle, supporting arm about Beryl's waist, and they left the room and the house. And in that rear chamber, watched vigilantly by Arthur Preston, Neil still slept, ignorant of all that took place in the drawing room; slept on, with a packet at his breast which proved Beryl's right to vast wealth —and that high station which wealth alone seems able to bestow. Yet "Can gold calm passion, or make reason shine? Can we dig peace, or wisdom, from the mine. Wisdom to gold prefer; for 'tis much less To make our fortunes than our happiness."

CHAPTER XXIII. "GO! AND NEVER LET ME SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN!" "Neil! Wake up, c6usin. The fire will soon be upon' us, and 1 we must leave." It was dawn, Thursday morning, twenty-four hours after the shattering earthquake. Neil had slept the night through soundly, dreamlessly. It was only when Arthur Preston roused him that he started up in his bed with a reproachful cry. "Wha(; is the hour, Arthur?"' he asked. ~ r "Thursday morning," replied Arthur, "and this house is doomed. All Nob Hill is going to destruction. However,'" he added, "I have saved my automobile for this emergency. The soldiers have been confiscating every car they can find, so I ran mine out of the garage and into the back yard, where it has been covered with rugs and things, and completely hidden. I have saved it for my own use, and I think we are going to need it."j Bfflfj

By Julia Edwards, M,r of -The L,-«l/llM«.r,» "Sadia, iWtaM" of All," . "Hielld Sterling," "Latir.i Jinn/ton," etv..

To Neil this ruse appeared like heartlesness. Arthur had denied his automobile to the soldiers, who would have used it to save lives and carry the sick and helpless to the hospitals. Then Neil thought of his mother. Her safety was dear to him, and he condoned his cousin's selfishness. "I have wasted hours," murmured Neil, "precious hours, while the one I love batter than all the world is drifting helplessly about this stricken city." Arthur had started 'to leave the room, but he halted and gave Neil a queer look. j "You will go with your mother and me to Mount "Tamalpais?" he asked. "No, no! There is work for me here." A sudden remembrance of the packet of papers crossed Neil's mind. "Arthur, I have something here I wish to leave in your fireproof vault." "I shall have to disappoint you, Neil," said Arthur. "The earthquake undermined the foundations of the vault and jambed the door in'such a way that it can't be opened. Keep your valuables; they would be safer with you, anyway, than in the safe. I have laid out some of my own linen and clothes for you. Get into them while I am bringing theautomobile around to the door." Neil saw the value of the suggestion His own garments were little better than rags. When ■he had donned his cousin's apparel, he changed his personal property to the clothing he wore, securing the valuable packet as best he could in the breast pocket of the coat. The sight of the ring, taken by force from the miserable Gorsline, brought his heart into his throat. He pressed the glittering circlet to his lips ere he put it away. "I shall place it on your dear hand once more, my lost sweetheart," he •said to himself. "Patience, patience! Yet, ah! it is hard to be patient when my heart cries so loud for you, and I "feel myself so helpless." As soon as he had had dreased he went out into the diningroom, expecting to find his mother. ' But she was not there. ,It was his duty to inform her of what had happened, and he should not shirk it, be the consequences what they might. Had not his wound and his exhaustion overcome him on the previous evening, he would have declared his' secret then-and. here. Food had been placed on the table, and Neil snatched a few mouthfuls of it .to fortify his strength against the trials he knew he must face. Then he passed into the hall, into the drawing room; and out upon the verandah m front. He could see nothing of his mother; no. doubt she was in ' her own room packing her possesj sions for flight. The hot breath of the fire was in his face. To the east and south two walls of flame were approaching Nob Hill at right. angles. In the street the refugees had' folded their miserable tents, and were stealing away to points of greater security. Coolies, in blue, blouses, their chattels suspended from a pole across their shoulders, went, past at a curious steady dog-trot. Japanese, Italians, negroes, were likewise •in that fleeing procession; and over all was the scrape, scrape, scrape of trunks as their owners dragged them westI ward.

There were"!ho complaints, no wailing against this heavy visitation of misfortunes every face was set with resignation and every form laboured manfully onward. For Neil there was something pitiful in the sight. And, asusual, the dogged spirit of the fugitives inspired him to similar ■effort.

"Neil!"' It was his mother's voice calling him sharply. He turned back into the drawing room, and met her there. She had two satchels, and he sprang forward to carry, them for her. She repulsed him.

"So," said his mother sternly, "you were married to your low-born beauty yesterday. At one stroke you severed the ties that bound you to your family. Answer, and tell me whether I speak the truth. I hope I have been deceived, yet I have a conviction to the contrary." Neil was astounded by his mother's words. Where had she learned of his marriage? He started with a'wild hope. Had she, by some wonderful play of chance, met Beryl? And had Beryl told her? "Mother, have you seen my wife? Where is she? Oh, tell me where!"'

She parried his eagerness with merciless eyes. A sigh of bitter disappointment burst from her lips. (To be Continued.)