THE LADY IN BLACK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8445, 18 May 1907, Page 2

THE LADY IN BLACK.

CHAPTER XlV.—Continued. Mabin seated herself, as she spoke, on the garden sent which was placed most charmingly as far as picturesque effect was concerned, but most inconveniently, if one considered earwigs and green flies, under a tall lime tree and against a dark hedge of yew. Rudolph was intensely relieved to find that her j-jalous and angry mood of the evening before had passed away; and although he was puzzled by her new manner, which was easy, friendly, but not affectionate, he thought it better to fall in with her mood and not to risk the pleasure of the moment by asking for explanations just yet. Mabin, on her part, felt a curiously pleasant sense of present enjoyment - and irresponsibility. It was happiness to be with Rudolph, without any dispute to trouble their intercourse. And she found that by turning his attention and her own away from themselves to the subject of Mrs Dale and her troubles, she got, not only the full delight of Rudolph's attention, but t'.ie satisfaction that she was stifling, if not conquering, her own weakness. Rudolphwas charmed by the new and undofinable change to greater frankness, to less shyness in her manner. "Well," said he, pulling down the bough of a guelder rose tree and i beginning with great precision to strip off the leaves, "I couldn't help myself, could I? I couldn't tell you somebody else's secrets without permission. And you see you haven't had-to wait very long to know all about it." "Oh, I'm not thinking about that," said Mabin superbly., "It was annoying at the time not to know what you were all talking about; but I soon got over that. What I am thinking about now is the best thing to bo done for Mrs Dale. You know who this Mr Banks is, I suppose?" Her assumption of a lofty standr point of deep knowledge combined with great indifference amused Rudolph. "Do you?" retorted'he. "I suppose," she answered, almost in a whisper, and looking down on the ground as she spoke, "that he is Lady Mallyan's son Willie." Rudolph looked astonished. "You do know something, then?" said he, at last. "Yes, I suppose he is."

"And Mrs Dale knows it?—knew it yesterday, I suppose?—-when she heard his voice? "Yes, I think so, I'suppose so. But 1 must tell you that she was so much upset that I didn't attempt to ask her any questions about it. I only tried to quiet J her, and offer, when she said she must Bee Lady Mallyan, t) send off the telegram." Mabin, too much excited to sit still, sprang to her feet on the gravel path beside him. £ " Isn't it hard? Oh, isn't it hard for her. She does exactly what is right, what is best. She ought not to be persecuted by either of them, by mother or son." But, instead of answering her fervent outbreak in the same tone, or, at least, with sympathy, she saw, to her indignation, that Rudolph had difficulty in suppressing a smile. "The persecution won't last long," said he. Then, noting the revulsion

of feeling expressed in Mabin's face, >. he added quickly: "When Lady Mallyan and Mr Banks meet, they will have to come to an understanding; and I can answer fir it that after that, Mrs Dale will be left in peace." ( "That's what Mr Banks himself seems to think," said Mabin ingenuously. "Bfit Lady Mallyan was shocked when she heard he .lived so near, and she doesn't want to see him." Rudolph was in an instant on fire with excitement. "Oh, doesn't she, though. Then I'll take jolly good care that she shall." He took three or four rapid steps away from her and came back again. His face was glowing with excitement. "Look here, Mabin, ,1 want you to mount guard over the house, and see that the old lady doesn't get away before I get back with Mr Banks. Mind, it is very important. You must do anything rather . than let her go. It's just possible that she may get an idea of something of the kind, and may try t'> get away." "All right," said Mabin very quietly, but none the less showing in the firm set of her lips and the steadiness of her eyes that she would prove a firm ally. "But don't be long gone; for I am afraid of what may be going on between that cruel woman and poor little Mrs Dale." "I'll be as quick as I can. You may trust me." And then, taking her entirely by surprise, he flung his arms round her,' pressed upon her startled lips a long kisa, and ran off before she had breath to utter a word. She had just sense enough to remember her promise, to stagger round to the front of the house, and to take her place as sentinel under the dining-room wall. There was no window on this side, the space where one had originally been having been blocked up and filled with a painted imitation of one. It was impossible, therefore, for Mabin to tell, in this position, whether tho interview between the two ladies was over or not. So she went into the hall, where it was now so dark that she felt the way, stumbling, in the direction of the dining-room door. She was close to it before she was assured, so low was tho voice speaking within the room, that the ladies were still there. But the piteous, subdued tones of Mrs Dale, which met her ear as sho camo near, old her that the little lady in black was still pleading to her tyrant.

By FLORENCE WARDEN. Author of "An Infamous Fraud," "A Terrible Family,*'' "For Love of Jack," "The House on the Marsh," etc., etc.

Withdrawing quickly, her heart throbbing in sympathy with the unfortunate woman, Mabin returned to the garden, and waited near the garden gate. She now had leisure to dwell on that intoxicating kiss, which had for the moment thrown her back into the world of happiness into which Rudolph's avowal of love had introducediher, and from which more recent events had teemed to combine to thrust her out. Could it be that he was still the same in spite of her jealous fears, of her quixotic imaginings? Mabin's brain seemed to be set on fire at the thought. She began to look out at the treeless fields which lay between "The Towers" and the sea, with eyes which saw nothing. Though mechanically, from time to time, she turned to glance at the front door of the house, she had forgotten for whom she was watching.

Suddenly she was startled by the sound of light footsteps on the gravel behind her, and, looking round, she saw the parlour-maid running toward the gate. "The cab, miss—have you seen the cab? The lady wants to go now, and, of course, the stupid man is out of sight." "It is at the corner of the road," answered Mabin, waking up to the realities of life with a start. "But don't go for it yet. Mr Bonnington wants to speak to Lady Mallyan first." The girl was evidently startled, and impressed by the discovery that Mabin kew the visitor's name. She hesitated. "But she wants to catch a train, miss," she protested at last. As Mabin was about to answer, a figure in the road outside caught her eye. The maid saw it, too. "Who—who was that?" Mabin asked quickly. The maid, who looked rather scared, hesitated, stammered. "Was it Mrs Dale?" pursued Mabin, almost in a whisper. As she spoke her heart sickened with a vague fear. Quickly as the form had passed by, and disappeared from sight in the deep shadows of the trees at the bend of the road below, there had been something about its rapid and noiseless flight, in the very bend of the head and flutter of the dress, which alarmed the young girl. Besides, if it was Mrs Dale, what was she doing, at this late hour of the evening, on the' road which led down to the cliff, to the sea? She must have gone out by the door at the back of the house, too —surely a strange thing to do." But even as these thoughts crowded into her mind there came another and less disquieting one. The road she had taken passed the front of "Stone House;" perhaps she had gone to seek herself an interview with "Mr Banks."

Even as she made this suggestion to herself, and while the voice of the maid still murmured that she must go and fetch the cab, Mabin heard men's voices in the road below.

Recognising that of Rudolph, she stepped outside the gates,Jand waited with anxiety for his appearance. But he came slowly; perhaps, thoughi Mabin, he was talking to Mrs Dale. She listened more intently, but as the voices came gradually nearer she was able to assure herself that they were only those of Rudolph and "Mr Banks." Scarcely able to control her anxiety, she stepped out through the gates into the road, at he very moment that Lady Mallyan's harsh voice sounded behind her, speaking to the parlor-maid: "Where is my cab?"

Rudolph'heard these words, and he hurried forward with his companion. It was now almost dark. Mabin saw Who the man was beside him, but she could not distinguish his face. "1 beg your pardon, madam," said Rudolph, raising his hat and walking quickly after the old lady, who had passed through the gate and was hurrying down the road. "Your son wishes to speak to you. He cannot walk so fast as you, but he has sent me with this message." She stopped short, appeared to hesitate, and then turned back without a word.

It was close to where Mabin stood stupidly, not knowing exactly what was going to happen, or what she ought to do on behalf of Mrs Dale, that mother and son met.

Dark as it was out there, with only a line of pale yellow light left in the horizon, shading off through sea.green into the blue above, Mabin saw enough to know that the meeting was one of deep import. (To be Continued.)