Hugh Gretton's Secret.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8487, 15 July 1907, Page 2

Hugh Gretton's Secret.

By EFFIE ABEr»AI3SE ROWLANDS. Author of "Selinas Lore Story," "A SptemlUl Heart," "Brave Barbara," "The Temptation of Mary Bar," if lhe Interloperetc.. etc.

CHAPTER XVl.—Continued. The nervousness went from her, however, as she answered him: "I mean, Johnnie, that your ward's heaith lies'to a great extent in your hands, and yours alone. In plainer words —-and it is the moment for plain words —I mean tnat Ivlilheent is in love with yon, and that she is unhaypy because of her love!" John Bynge turned ashen white. •"Ob, Heavens!" he said to himself. almost audibly, ''not that not that!" He made no open response to his sister's words, and as Mrs Langtone saw that white, set look steal, over his face, she felt that the best thing she could do perhaps would be to leave him to himself. With some murmured words, therefore, she touched her mare, tightened her rein, and trotted out of sight, little dreaming as she rode through the chill February morning of the sudden awful havoc her practical words had worked in her brother's heart. Sigrid's vague yearning to brought into contact with Lady Yelvertoun was granted to her suddenly. On the day following that brief confidence with her nephew, Mrs Harlowe received a note sent by hand, and directed in the firm, told writing Sigrid knew so well. They were sitting reading cozily when the note came. , Mrs Harlowe knew instantly, by the girl's silence, that something was wrong; a jarring note had been suddenly struck. "What is it, Sigrid," she quickly asked, her hand going out unconsciously toward the girl. "A note has come for you. There is an answer wanted. I think,' Sigrid said hurriedly—"l think it comes from Lady Yelvertoun." "I do not think— now," Mrs Harlowe instantly responded. "I can always smell Althea's letters a mile away; they are veritable scentshops. Open it, my dear; let us see what she has to say. Something about Nigel, I suppose." Sigrid opened the note, and read it aloud. She had a strange fluttering feeling as she did so. "My Dear Philippa," the note ran, "I am in town for a couple of days. I hear, much to my astonishment, that you have staying with you a niece of my maid Hannah Carleton, and I write to say it is my desire to speak to this girl and, to ask you to be so good as to send her to me tomorrow morning before eleven o'clock. If she can come this evening so much the better. I hope you are feeling fairly well in this detestible weather. I am much annoyed with Nigel, and must come and see you on the matter. Will tomorrow afternoon be convenient for you? Please let me know by beared "With love, yours affectionately, £ "ALTHEA YELVERTOUN." Mrs Harlowe gave a little laugh as Sigrid's not too steady voice ceased. "You must seni an answer, my dear," she said; and Sigrid, with a beating heart and a troubled mind, sat down to obey this command. At the first sentence dictated to her she turned and looked across at the speaker. Mrs Harlowe smiled as though she saw that look. _ "Go on, child," she said, quietly. "Write what I say, and express no surprise till the letter is done. CHAPTER XVII. "IT WAS HORRIBLE-IT WAS A LIVING ACCUSATION!" There was a curious sound of deliberation m Mrs Harlowe's soft voice as she dictated the few words with which she answered Lady Yelvertoun's note. "My Dear Althea"—was what Sigrid had to write—"l it is quite impossible for Miss Carleton to call upon you either this evening or to-morrow morning or, indeed, at any hour. She is here as my dear guest, and is so good as to devote all her time to me, and to study ail my wishes. Your letter, curiously enough has, forestalled one from myself to you, in which I was about to write and ask you to enlighten me on several matters touching both Miss Carleton and Nigel, respectively. Pray come and soe me tomorrow, and, if you will be so good. I shall be glad if you will bring with you your maid, Hannah Carleton. Her testimony being required in a most important matter I have on hand, it is just possible she may prefer to answer such questions as I intend to nut to her quietly and privately. Yours, always affectionately, "PHILIPPA HARLOWE." There was a long moment of silence between them when Sigrid's task was done. She had written the note obediently, had folded it, and addressed it long before Mrs Harlowe spoke. Then the invalid called the girl to her. "Ring and give orders that this letter be given to Lady Yelvertoun's messenger, and then come and sit close beside me, dear child," she said gently.'^ Sigrid's heart was beating very, very fast as she found herself back in lier chair close to tnat crippled fonn, there was a tumultj m her head, a si range, breathless feeling in hei heart. It was :-;he who spoke first. " You do not believe that I belong to Hannah Carleton," she said, eagerly hs to b6 tilrnost inaudible. Mrs Huilowe smiled, turning her blind brown eyes upon the girl with real love. "No, Ido not believe it. I knew the first moment that you spoke of ail that had been told you, that this at least was not true." Sigrid caught her breath sharply.

"Oh this mystery," she said, almost with a cry; "it—it is so terrible !" Mrs Harlowe put her hand out and touched the beautiful young face. "I have such a longing to see you, Sigrid," she said wistfully. The words acted on the girl as by magic. Overwrought, agitated as she was, Sigrid was instantly touched to the quick by the remembrance of the world of silent resignation this stricken woman's life signified. It made her own trouble, her impatience, her desire to question, to know, seem suddently almost a sin/ She drew the thin small hand to her Hps. "I wish 1 could be your eyes," she said, all the warmth of her passionate heart rushing out in her voice. She felt unequal to say more for the moment. "This matter of your birth —will you leave it in my hands, Sigrid?" Mrs Harlowe asked, a moment later. As the girl's lips pressed another kiss on the woman's frail fingers, she laughed, half badly. "My poor husband used to tease me, in days gone by; he always said I had the heart of a lawyer, and that I loved nothing so much as meeting and conquering difficulties. Oh, if he were only alive now!" i She paused. j Sigrid could feel a thrill in the hand she held. She herself learned enough of the bapDiness of Mrs Harlowe's short married life, from Lord Yelvertoun, to realize with a pang of sympathy, what a lasting grief the husband's sudden death had been, even though the years that stretched between the present and then had been so many. When Mrs Harlowe spoke again, she changed the subject. "Althea is much vexed with Nigel, I can see that; but in this I more or less agree with her. Nigel's greatest failing is his extravagance. It is in my power, as you know, to make him a rich man now, but I will not do this—not, at least, till he has a better understanding of the sacred responsibility of wealth." She led the conversation after this to many other subjects; she wanted Sigrid to become calm by degrees. The immediate future, if all went as she imagined, might possibly be ! fraught with a great mental strain I for the girl. She must ease the excitement and agitation as much as possible, but.she sighed a little as she reflected upon the wisdom' of this step to herself. "If things are indeed as I imagine them to be. I must be prepared for a sudden attack. Althea will not support that letter unquestioned for an hour longer than is necessary!" In fact, the afternoon had barely deepened into approaching evening, a clear, early spring twilight, when Mrs Harlowe's maid came into the room, and, bending over her mistress, murmured a name and a message. Sigrid was at the piano, playing softly; she ceased as the maid came and went, and her heart, that had grown still, beat once again with a wild, painful flutter. "It is Althea. You will remain, ] child," Mrs Harlowe, said, no longer weak or low-voiced, but speaking authoritatively. Sigrid rose and stood by the fire. How well she knew the' sound of those silken garments rustling over the carpet! How familiar was the wafted influence of the violet perfume that announced the approach of those same silken garments, of that tall, queenly form! She trembled as Lady Yelvertoun entered the room; and then the same old cold, hopeless feeling seemed to encompass her once again. Lady Yelvertoun bestuwed no no- 1 tice whatever upon the girl; she moved with that extraordinary grace of hers up to Mrs Harlowe's couch, and stood there, tall and imperious. "I wish to speak to you alone, . Philippa," she said, very, very coldly. It seemed to the girl as if the voice were more icy than before. Mrs Harlowe answered her in'j directly. "Sigrid, dear one, will you leave us for a moment, uo into the drawing l'oom, where there is a fire," she said, putting all the tenderness of which she was capable into the words, as though to mark the contrast of that other voice. The door closing upon the girl should have been the signal for one of the two women to speak, yet something held them both silent. (To be Continued.)