Hugh Gretton's Secret.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8471, 24 June 1907, Page 2

Hugh Gretton's Secret.

By EFFIE ADELAIDE &OWLAXVDS. Author of "ScUna* Love Story," " A Sptcntlid Heart," "llrave ISarhara," "The Temptation of Mara liar," "Ihe Interloper," etc., etc.

CHAPTER V.—Continued. "They arc very kind-hearted people," John Bynge said, but there was a thrill of love and pride in hi a voice as he spoke. "I think my mother ia one of the most beautiful women that was ever created. She ha 3 been so brave always, so dear, so good. I told you the story of my boyhood long ago, Grctton. You know I have roughed it as hard aa most people. Money and position are, in a uense, still new to me. The title came to me so unexpectedly, and my uncle's fortune was another startling surprise. Money has great charms, though," the young man said frankly. "I never knew how great a thing it was till the day came when I could lift the burden of respectable poverty from my mother's life and place her, in a home which was what I had always dreamed she should possess. I have a distinct yearning upon me in these days to see my .mother again," Bynge added, after a little pause. "I have been out of England now for nearly eighteen months, and a year I spent abroad before that, so I have neglected her. But I am tiring you, Gretton." , , Hugh Gretton shook his head feebly. "Every word you speak is a pleasure to ire. It takes me back so far —so far." John Bynge leaned forward a little eagerly. "I wanted to ask you," he said hurriedly, "are there none of your family in England to whom you would like me to take " , The sick man looked at him a long long, time in silence. "There should be many," he said, in a whisper; "but." he made a gesture with his worn white hand, and paused another long moment, "I died to all of these some twenty years ago," he added, with a smile that was more intently sorrowful than tears. *Bynge waited for more words, but none came. The story he had been promised, the secret of Hugh Gretton 'a life, had yet to be disclosed to him. He had no eagerness, no curiosity upon him to hear this story. Vaguely he found himself wishing that the sick man might never have the strength to unburden himself, for he knew without words that the telling of such a story could be nothing but pain, and might hasten the end. They had grown to know each other very well in these days spent together in the stateroom. The wonderful weather and smooth passage, the amusements, interests, and usual matters that made up the daily life to all the other travellers, had no place with John Bynge. He went to the saloon for his meals, and he was careful to be seen as much as possible by Miss Gretton, so that she might gather no hint or alarm from his continued companionship with her father; but Bynge was really never away a moment in thought from the sick man's side, and he felt more satisfied when he was sitting in his old place, ministering to the friend he' felt he loved now most warmly.

So day after day Went by, and the Columbia was near the end of the voyage. It had been a phenomenally good passage, everybody saidj that, and there were many regrets that the parting was at hand. Lady Yelvertoun was not one of those who were sorry to say good-bye to the"sea. "I have done with steamers and sea trips for some time to come!" she cried to Sir John, as he came out beside her, for his usual chat the day , before they were to land at Southampton. "Lmust really settle down now. It is high time I took Yelvertoun's future m hand too. I have done nothing but wander these last three years. Goodness knows what mischief the boy may have got into!" Then she was" most gracious about Miss Gretton. "A really charming girl, John," she said—she treated Bynge in a pretty, maternal way. "Most refined; not too intellectual. She will have a delightful future in England. I want her father and herself to come and stay with me at Storr. By the way, how is Mr Gretton? He has never once left his cabin, has he? This is worse than I am, as a rule. I hope your first fear of serious trouble is not likely to be realized?" John Bynge's handsome face was grave and overcast. "I hope not," he said slowly, and his tone was quite significant to the woman beside him. She shivered slightly; death was always so horrible. "It is very sad!" she said involuntarily; then she put out her hand and touched the young man. "but what will happen to the girl if--—» Sir John explained the situation. ."And, ns my ward, her home will be with my mother," he said. Lady Yelvertoun was conscious of being annoyed by this arrangement. Why, she could hardly have told, except that she was rather fond of making schemes for other people, and she had made a good many for and about. v Miss Gretton during the past few days. "You have undertaken a great responsibility," she said, and her tone waa almost cold; then, as he made no reply, she added, "and you are really too young to be the guardian of any girl." Sir John rose from his chair. "Responsibilities bring resources," he answered her, and his tone was as chilly as hers now; he resented her words. "And where I might fail, I shall rely upon my mother, you know." Millicent Gretton came, flitting up to them at this moment: she looked the picture ot health and enjoyment of life. She was, as usual, beauti'fully and most neatly dressed.

"How grave you are looking!" she cried to John Bynge. And then she laughed, and put herself into the chair beside Lady Yelvertoun. "I always tell Sir John I used to be a little afraid of him when I first made his acquaintance. Are you going to see my father?" she queried, as Bynge turned away. "He is asleep. I have just peeped in. He is always asleep when IgV'Millicent added. "I told him yesterday I considered him a very lazy person, and I do think he ought to have made an effortjjto get up. It cost me a tremendous effort to leave my berth, but I did it,/ and I was better at once." Sir John made no reply, except by a faint smile, and as he turned and walked down the deck Millicent's eyes followed him half wistfully. "It is silly of me," she said to Lady Yelvertoun, the next moment, "but I am still just a little bit afraid of Sir John." "He is quite harmless," Lady Yelvertoun said, in her pleasant way; "but I fancy he is inclined to be a little dictatorial. You know he was a tutor before he came into the title. Oh! of course, he has always been a gentleman, but this branch of the family were as poor as church mice, and he had to work for his living. I knew him when he first left Oxford and started out a tutor. He had charge of a sort of connection of mine, an 'exceedingly objectionable boy. No one rejoiced more than I did," Lady Yelvertoun said, "when I heard that John Bynge was to inherit the old title. He will always hold his own in the world.'' "Oh, he is so clever!" Miilicent said eagerly, too eagerly to please Lady Yelvertoun. "iVTy father has a very high opinion of Sir John." Meanwhile, the subject under discussion had pushed his way out of sight. He went in search of the doctor; he wanted to hear what would be the be3t arrangement for moving Gretton off the ship on the morrow. He suddenly remembered Sigrid as he went. The girl and her loveliness had completely passed from his mind the last few days; but now she came back to his memory with a sort of reproachful jerk, and as he went down to the lower deck, still in quest of the doctor, he found himself marvelling how he could have forgotten her so quickly. It did not seem in the least strange that he should find her with the doctor. They were standing together talking very earnestly as Bynge joined them, and Sigrid gave him a faint smile as he cams up. She was looking more girlish to-day; her big ulster was discarded, and she had on a'blue serge gown, which fitted her slim figure closely. She willingly put her hand into John Bynge's when he stretched it toward her half shyly. The doctor had told her of all that the young man had done and was doing for Mr Gretton, and he had a differnet place in Sigrid's regard now. The doctor was called away at the very moment Sir John arrived. "J must go. I shall not be long." he said, as he went. Bynge stood and looked at Sigrid. She was very pale and sad-looking; but there was no suggestion of ill health about her. "No, I have not been ill, thank you," she answered his inquiry. "The weather has been beautiful, has it not? I have been busy," she added, a moment later. It seemed to Sigrid quite easy to speak with this pleasant, good-look-ing young Englishman, who she remembered had come to her rescue some months back when she had been so unfortunate as to lose a train by which Lady Yelvertoun and her suite were to travel. That past episode did not constitute an acquaintance, yet Sigrid was not shy with him. He noted quickly how each word, gesture, and intonation of her voice was the perfection of refinement, and. though this pleased him vaguely, it made her position quite inexplicable. In a strange way, too, Bynge seemed to catch little touches in her manner that had a sort of affinity to Lady Yelvertoun's peculiarly proud, graceful,. bearing, while in height alone Sigrid had a faint resemblance to her mistress. The beauty that had been the heritage of the Countess of Yelvertoun for many years was something that belonged to the girl also; but Sigrid's beauty was of a different kind to the older woman's. (To be Continued.)