THE STUDENT'S SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8451, 31 May 1907, Page 2

THE STUDENT'S SECRET.

CHAPTER VII.--Continued. "Rosalie, I swear I will never wrong ymi!" "Then nim vy me. Let there be a secret marriage—juat a formal affair -—as a pledge" of your sincerity. It need never be published._ I will never ;i«k vr.u to recognize it till you are ready-no, not to my dying day/' "Rosalie, my word, my oath, is as good ay such a mariiago.' She swerved away from him. "I thought," she said with sccxn, you were a man of honour!" "I am." "If your word is worth anything, endorse it by a secret marriage—a marriage that shall never be known till you reveal it. Am I unreasonable?" The conditional ceremony was performed.,' . Little did either Max or Rosalie realize how or when its conditions would be removed. Up to the time that Julian Grey was buried, they both remained ignorant of the astounding change which had taken place in Luke Jastrum's fortunes. " . Max learned the news from his father as they were driven to the funeral. It was the first intimation he had had of the connection existing between Luke Jastrum and Julian Grey. , It was between daylight and dark this same day, as Rosalia mused upon measures for bringing about the publicity of her marriage at an early date that a note was handed to her. This note was in Charteris' handwriting, and it ran: "It is necessary for me to see you tD-night. but impossible for me to come to you. At seven o'clock a close carriage will be sent to your door. Prepare for a long ride. Come alone. Tne driver, who knows where he in to bring you, may be trusted. MAX."

"Tc 13 a mere device to see me. He cannot live a day without seeing me," was Rosalie's triupmhant retlection as she prepared for her somewhat mys-erious expedition.

CHAPTER VIII. MISSING. At about the same hour that Rosalie was preparing—as tho note bade her—for a long drive. Mr Charteris and bis son sat in their hotel parlour, awaiting dinner. Max was reflecting, as he had not ceased to do for several hours, upon his situation. The change in Rosalie's fortunes would necessitate the immediate acknowledgment of their marriage. He already knew the girl'too well to doubt that she would use her power. In this state of affairs, had he not better confess all to his father? Two considerations restrained him: First, the condition that the marriage was not to be revealed without the consent of both parties; and, second, the hope that Rosalie's altered prospects might make her also anxious to dissolve the contract, and that it need never be disclosed. Mr Charteris broke the somewhat lepgthv silence. "I have just had an interview," he said, "with the fellow who stands in"poor Grey's shoes." "Ah." said MtX, with an inward shudder, remembering that the "fellow" was the father of his wife. "A low sort of person, is he not?" "I .have always supposed he was an irreclaimable loafer. But sometimes peopl j turn out better than one expects them to." "What was the nature of your interview, sir?" , "Oh, I felt bound to find out what sort of position Sybil was in, now that the funeral is over. Jastrum has a daughter of his own, and I didn't know but they might make things very uncomfortable for her. I was quite relieved to find that such is not likely to be the case." "Indeed!" "Jastrum actually shows considerable delicacy. I inquired for Sybil, of course, but was told she had had several fainting fits, and was not able to see anyone. Jastrum presented himself, and I stated frankly that, if Miss Grey was in his way, I desired to offer her a home, to which she was at liberty to come at once. Well the fellow actually showed feeling. He said everything wa3 being done for Miss Grey's comfort, and that he hoped she would consider his house her home." Once more Max ejaculated, "Indeed !" "Then I grew bold," Mr Charteris continued, "and asked if he would not be willing to set aside the pic- ( tures, books and bric-a-brac for Miss ' 'Grey, who had been so suddenly and seriously afflicted. He replied that it 'was rather sot n to discuss details, but that Ini proposed to dc liberal. I •explained that my abruptness was rendered necessary by my departure for yan Francisco to-morrow, for an .absence oi' sevonU weeks. He took the explanation in goud part, and said that on my return in/ would be prepared to arrange for 'Miss Grey's future." "And that i.-i inoro than you expectad of: him?" remarked Max. "Decidedly. I didn't know but he would be base enough to turn her into the street." "And now you feel that Miss Grey will be cared for during your abSCJMCe: HOffEM-uNtom "I hope ho." But I must guard against tricktry. Jujinn despised Luke Ja.'ti'Ußi; he must have had reason. Therefore, during my absence, I want you to look after Miss Grey. She must not feel that her father's friends have forsaken her." Max waa silent. Into his silence

By MRS W. H. PALMER.

his father's next remark fell like a bomb. "Max," he said, "you are heart whole and fancy free, I take it?" And, without waiting for an answer, he added: "As far as 1 am concerned, I have never seen a girl whom it would suit me so well to see you marry as Sybil Grey. She has lost her fortune, to be sure, but she nas a noble mind, is extremely amiable and is in every respect charming." "She is very lovely," was the son's faint admissom "Ah, she is more than that. She is a loyal, unselfish, pure-minded girl. A perfect woman, nobly planned, and just the sort you need. Max, to inspire you with 1 ambition and steady you. Your future, my boy, is going to be shaped by the woman you marry. Don't disappoint me by making an unworthy selection." Clearly, Max could not confess now. Shortly afterward dinner was announced. Subsequently Mr Charteris had to meet some business men for consultation respecting his Western trip. i Left to his own devices, Max buttoned himself in his fur-lined coat, pulled his sealskin cap over his brow and started uptown. It was a cold night, but he did not take a car nor yet hasten his steps. He was evolving a scheme. Since fate had turned a somersault, he didn't know why he should not take advantage of it. His scheme was that the imDrudent, clandestine marriage which he had entered into with Rosalie should be at once dissolved.

If she would consent, it might eas ly be done, and why should sle not consent?

The world into which she would now be introduced would make no troublesome inquiries concerning her past. With her beauty and a fortune, she need not cling to an unwilling lover.

Max felt instinctively that she had been prompted by ambition more than by love. He did not take into account that Rosalie perhaps loved him too well to surrender her claim to him.

He walked on and finally reached the apartment house where the young girl had been located.

The lady installed as her governess and companion met him at the door. She evinced surprise at seeing him. In response to his inquiry, she informed him. with a very unpleasant air of suspicion, that Miss Jastrum had gone to keep an appointment with himself. She added that it was against her judgment. She did not consider it proper for a young lady to go off alone in a hack after nightfall.

"But I made no appointment with Miss Jastrum," said Max, bewildered.

The companion compressed her lips into an incredulous smile, and said she should dislike being mixed up with any mysterious plots. "Perhaps, sir, you made the appointment some time since and have forgotten it." "I never made sucl> an appointment."

"Miss Jastrum, as you know, saw no one but yourself and the French woman, Serpolette. Probably no one else knew of her residence here."

"It is very strange," muttered Max Charteris.

"It has, indeed, a very peculiar look," said the companion, primly.

"I am inclined to think that Rosalie deceived you about the note. She wished to go out alone, and so deceived you,." "I saw the note, Mr Charteris—signed by you." "I am all in the dark/' said the young man. "However, it is now nine o'clock. Rosalie will doubtless be at home by ten. I will wait for her." Miss Dyke, tho. companion, took a book and wheeled her chair up to the centre table. The book proved to be a French dictionary, which she held,, upside down. > Her inquisitive eyes did not leave, young Charteris' disturbed face. The little ormolu clock finally announced ten. Not a word had been spoken. Miss Dyke continued to hold the dictionary reversed. Max stared into the fire, which was growing gray. Another hour went by. The clock announced eleven. Rosalie had not come. Max got upon his feet like a man in a dream. "Miss Hyke," he said, "if you know where Rosalie Jastrum has gone, I beseech you to tell me. It is more important than you may suspect." (To be continued.)