ONE IMPASSIONED HOUR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9047, 13 March 1908, Page 2

ONE IMPASSIONED HOUR.

By OWEN MASTERS.

Author of "Nina's Repentance," " Clyda's Love Dream," " Her Soldier Lover," " For Love of Marjorie," " The Mystery of Woodcraft," etc.

CHAPTER Vlll.—Continued.

have little or nothing to do with personal feeling here, sir, and bagman and millionaire are treated alike. Your—er —wife bears a very unenviable reputation, and I wouldn't believe a word she said on oath. If we state our case to the New York authorities we can get at our man. If he is willing to be deported on conditions, we may be able to have him here within at month. Now you think it all over, and come here again." "I will," Eastwood answered feebly. "Proceed with caution. You don't want to be mixed up with a murder charge''" | Eastwood gasped, and his face became livid. "Heavens, no! What do you mean 0 " "The late count had powerful friends, and this confession," he touched Vipont's letter, "may be investigated." "Faugh!" Eastwood ejaculated scornfully, but he was losing faith in both himself and Stella. "You will leave the original document with us' 7' suggested the chief. "No!" He snatched it up, and, with a curt "Good day!" left the office. His brain seethed and hummed, and a clammy moisture clung to his face and neck. He was jostled by scores of men who had never owned a ten-pound note; some were shabbily dressed, and were going dinnerless that day, and yut there was not one so unhappy as he. A touch on the shoulder caused him to start round. It was the cabman who had driven him from Euston. "Beg pardon, sir, but you said you wanted to go to the Cecil, arter bein' druv to the Yard. I foilered you, sir, but, seein' as you're goin' to Piccadilly,' thought that you was makin' a mistake.."

"How can ycu say so, papa? You know that it is untrue." Miriam was stung with the injustice of her father's speech. "I think it .sinful for a man to marry a second time; 1 regard it as an insult to the dead." "Rubbish! You live in a very tiny world of your own. I won't say that you are selfish, or jealous, or —- Now, what did Berrington tell you?" "That the marriage with the countess was impossible." "I was married yesterday," he scoffed; then it seemed that a hand of ice was gripping his heart. "But if there is any"truth in this thing, Miriam, your sway here will not be disputed." He held up Vipont's confession. "That was Berrington's parting shot—his trump card, and how he extorted it from the rogue who wrote it remains to he discovered. I am not the blundering fool that you and Mr berrington imagine." "Papa, how can you be so unkind?" vMiriam quavered. He pushed back his chair, his breakfast untouched, and left the room. His nerves jarred at every sound a tinkling bell—a closing door, and the voices of the servants. A footman was standing at his elbow, and he started round. "A lady to see you, sir. She is waiting in the south room." A lady ! His heart stood still. He took the card, and scowled. "Miss Linley!" he exclaimed. "Now, if it had been Stella." He went to the south room and greeted Katherine Linley in an offhand, ungracious manner. Her pale face—her wild eyes, and obvious distress did not affect him in the smallest degree. "Mr Berrington left here at ten o'clock last night," he said coldly, "and I know nothing further of his movements. I'm very busy, Miss Lin- ' ley—pray excuse me; my daughter i »;

"Oh —I quite forgot you," confessed Eastwood. "How much'" "Six bob, sir—with bavin' to wait." "Here's half a sovereign. Keep the change." "I wish I'd a kep' on a-follerin' at that price," thought cabby cheerfully, "but I was afraid he was doin' the bilkin' act." Eastwood turned into a tea-room to rest. For a full hour he sat over a solitary cup of tea; then his mind was decided, apparently, for he rose and, quitting the room, walked thoughtfully to the Hotel Cecil. He well knew, now that it was 100 late, that hj« was playing a losing game — that the one great mistake of his life was hurrying him into the human maelstrom of ruin and despair. He went straight to Stella's apartments, and she welcomed him with a glad cry, twining her arms about his neck and pressing her soft lips to his face. "Oh, Charlie, I have been so frightened! It is six o'clock and you promised to be here at three. No teleeram, no message " Her eyes were searching his, as though she would read him through and through. One hand sought her heart, and she was trembling in every limb.

But Katherine had swept past him, and was gone. He stood irresolute for a few moments; then he shrugged his shoulders, and proceeded to the library. He was gradually cooling to an icicle. He talked business-with his colliery manager through the telephone, and then summoned his secretary. "No one hurt last evening, Mr Simmons'" "Nothing to speak of; I was afraid for you, sir." His master laughed. "Steady as a rock now, Simmonds. I am going to London, but am unable to say at the moment how long I shall be from home. I will send my instructions from the Cecil. Have the automobile ready at ten o'clock. Oh, by the way, an expert is coming to repair the chapel, and understand that he has carte blanche. The old workings of No 4 have caved in and taken part of the foundations with them, it is a lucky thing that the chapel has been affected so little." A half-hour later the automobile took him to Castle Stanford Station. And he had not said one kind word to Miriam.

"I was delayed, Stella —and I didn't want to alarm you with telegrams. I know that most women associate with them all sorts of terrors. I'm sorry to have upset you, but I'm terribly upset myself. Yesterday my heart was as light as a feather, but to-day it is like lead." The woman drew his head to her shoulder, and murmured: "Poor Charlie! Tell me all about it. It is a wife's duty and pleasure to comfort the one she loves." "1 hardly know how to tell you, Stella, and it was an evil day for you when you set eyes upon me. I reproach myself bitterly." "Charlie, my darling, do you wish to kill me?" He felt her hot tears dronping on his hand, and threw discretion to the winds. "I don't care, Stella; the die is cast, and the world may say and do as it will. If I am satisfied, what else matters?" (To be Continued).

CHAPTER IX. TO-MORROW. In the heat of the blazing June day Charlie Eastwood was driven from Euston to Scotland Yard. A courteous official having elicited the nature of his business, he was conducted to the office of one of the chiefs.

"I really represent Mr John Berrington," he said, "and you have here the original of the document given to you. To come down to facts. I am the man supposed to have been victimised. I have recently married the lady whom it is alleged was Stella White. Of course, I give the wicked story no credence whatever, and these inquiries were instituted without my knowledge, by Mr Berrington." The chief raised his heavy-lidded, expressionless eyes and quietly surveyed Mr Eastwood. "What is it you want, sir 9"

"Mr Benington has dropped the matter, and I may as well know how you have proceeded. I am the individual principally concerned." "I see."

The chief rose and left the office. Eastwood heard him talking in an undertone to another man just beyond the door. Within three minutes he was back at his desk again, and once more consulting the book before him. "We have examined the registers of Oxley Parish Church," he said, in slow, ponderous tones, "and a man named George Hobday was married to a woman named Stella White on June the tenth, 1887. Hobday was a naval man, but received his dismissal from the service very soon after the marriage for some breach •of discipline—probably the marriage was the cause of it. We lose sight of him for a period, then find him in .the American Navy, on account of his efficiency in gunnery. And at the present time he is in Sing Sing Jail, .New York, on a charge of burglary. 'We understand that he is safe for a .year at least." Mr Eastwood broke in with some ;remark, but the chief waved himkito .-silence.and continued: ■".There is no doubt that George Hobday deserted his wife, Stella, .within a year of their marriage, but •what became of her is not clear. I ipresume that you have every desire ..to prove that vour marriage is legal, iMr Eastwood"" ■"<[ shall be satisfied with my wife's .•acknowledgment or denial." The chief shook his head. '"George Hobday is the man to vsettle it. I don't for one moment i suppose that he has forgotten the nvoman he married and deserted. A ;sum of money may unloosen his ■■tongue, and uucloud his memory, and he will be able to produce witnesses. 'The period of these important hapjpenings is, fortunately, recent. We