ONE IMPASSIONED HOUR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9058, 6 April 1908, Page 2

ONE IMPASSIONED HOUR.

By OWEN MASTERS. or of " Nina's Repentance," " Clyda's Love Dream," " Her Soldier Lover," " For Lovo of Marjorie," " The Mystery of Woodcroft," etc.

CHAPTER XXVl.—Continued. There was a short pause. Charlie Eastwood moistened his lips with his tongue. "I became infatuated with a very handsome woman.—that is, 1 thought she was handsome. No doubt she is a 9 ugly as sin in the eyes of sensible men. Never mind, I believed in her and was ready to forfeit the friendship of the truest man that ever breathed, because he could not see any angelic qualities in my enchantress. She begged me to marry her, and I did, by special license; then my friend discovered that she had a previous husband living; but she denied it, tooth and nail. I had hot words with my friend, and we parted one night at the entrance to the chapel. I've never seen him since, but, if anything has happened to him, it's that woman. I was in a rage with him, for he had given me some ugly proofs in black and white. I know I flung his proofs in his face."' " There was a half-sob in his throat. "Poor old Jack! Then I arranged with that woman to go to America, and prick the bubble. That woman was so certain of it! And she led me by the nose. By Jingo! I feel like kicking myself, when I reflect upon it. She took me for a drive, and chloroformed me, and left me for dead in a Whitechapel slum. Fortunately for me, one of her accomplices fought shy of actual murder, and he seemed to repent ail along the line. Well, he pulled me through, and I had to consent to lay up until he could get clear away. He satisfied me that his life wouldn't be worth a moment's purchase if that woman discovered how she had been tricked. I shall keep my word. And now," he laughed ferociously. "I have other reasons for remaining in hiding; I want to watch the game—that woman's game. Then there fc the other Charlie Eastwood on his way from America. It a warrant was issued, they would arrest me if they knew I was here, and perhaps let the other Charlie Eastwood go. There, I've done. Allan Berrington, are you afraid to take my hand?" Allan sprang forward, and the two men gazed into each other's misty eyes. "I'm satisfied," Eastwood said. "" You are a son of your father, and that's the highest praise you'll ever get. A tine lot of misery I have caused! You'll bring me the news. He's down there; I know it; I feel it in my blood. I left the trapdoor open, never dreaming that anybody would come to harm." "Just one question, Mr Eastwood. "Did you enter the chapel at all that night?" t ~ "No; I hurried that way to get rid of Jack; I was angry with him. I went up to the door, and scooted round the chapel in the shadows. In my rage I threw his papers and my stick after him. They were both in the same hand. Well, I'm pretty tired, awfully tired, and I see the bed is made. Good night you fellows." Me looked at his daughter fondly. "Kiss ire, my darling. Oh, I shall be snug enough here, and you must contrive to see me to-morrow. In the evening I can take my walks abroad. Simmonds will look after me. Simmonds, come here." The secretary obeyed, and Eastwood whispered: "Keep a very strict watch upon that woman. She's capable of anything. I'm afraid for my daughter." He chuckled. "Wait a while; I've got my own scheme brewing." Again Allan shook him heartily, feelingly, by the hand. Again Miriam .kissed his face a score of times, and .then he was left alone. CHAPTER XXVII. THE NEXT MORNING. Next morning Miriam was up with the lark, and there was a song in her ■heart—the first for days and days. The vocal rapture of the birds held the same old meaning for her once more; the golden radiance of the sun *was again reflected in her shining eyes. Long before six o'clock she went down-stairs and out into the sweetness of the new-born day. The dew lay on the grass, and flowers in myriads of tiny drops, lustrous aa the purest gems. The air was exhilarating as wine; the mold and all growing things breathed a fragrance unknown to the hours of middle clay. Miriam walked to the tower, passed and re-passcd it several times, and, after a swift glance at the upper windows of the Priory, knocked smartly on the door. Then she waited, with bated breath, but there was no sound from within. "Good morning, Mis" Eastwood," said a grumbling voice. "Surely you remember that, the master didn't get to bed until one o'clock, after a most tiring day, and two or three sleepless night's! I want an interview with him as soon as he is stirring, as I must get back to London. I don't reckon this among my duties, and I sorely feel the responsibility." The tower door glided open at the moment, and Mr Eastwood was smiling good-naturedly at the London manager. "Oh, bangfyour responsibility. Wilson! Come in. You are the best grumbler I ever came across, and the most faithful of fellows, too." He embraced Miriam with a warmth that was delightful to her, then asked'for 3immonds. "Oh, he's tinkering at the automobile, and scouting like a Texas trapper." Mr Wilson said. "Very fortunately for this quixotic fun of yours, none of the windows overlook

he door. If the advice of a Scotchman is worth anything, you will go into the house now, turn the woman out, und assert yourself." "I want proof that Hobday is alive first; secondly, I am going to keep my promise to Rosenberg; thirdly, I have other reasons; and, fourthly, you mind your own business, Wilson. Come upstairs. Don't you think I am mending fast; I'm as fit as a fiddle!" "You're looking fine, sir!" "I've been out of bed since four o'clock, cleared up the room a bit, let in the sunshine and the glorious morning air, and am ready for my breakfast." "I am going to prepare it, papa," Miriam said joyously. "Then away you go up to the kitchen, while I talk to Mr Wilson. I've had a look round, and don't think much has escaped, Simmonds' domestic mind." Miriam was gone in a flash. But, oh, the kitchen was in a frightful muddle, and it was evident that Simmonds' ideas of domesticity were of the most primitive order —or he had been unable to find many things needful in the hurry-scurry of the moment. There was a small oil-stove for boiling the water; there was a kettle big enough for a family of ten, a cup without a saucer, and dessort-spcons for teaspoons. "Eight plates!" exclaimed Miriam. "And one of them must do duty for the missing saucer. Condensed milk and potted meat!—what a combination! she shuddered. "Poor papa!" With swift, deft hands she tried to make order out of chaos, but was a long way from being satisfied the result. Everything felt gritty; and the fumes from the oil-stove were very disagreeable. "How are you getting on up there" her father's voice inquired at last. ( "Famously!" his daughter retorted.

"Wilson and Simmonds have gone. You must breakfast with me, Miriam."

"I should like to, but there is only one cup, papa." "A jug, or a basin, will do for me. I fared worse at Whitechapel." "Ready," she announced. "Coffee, bread and butter, sandwiches, and boiled eggs. Remove your hat from the table, papa." Then she paused in dismay. "I haven't seen a table-cloth yet. Oh, well, we must do without one."

"Easily," her father said gaily. "If we had one we should be certain to upset th 9 coffee over it, and Ido dislike a white cloth besprinkled with coffee-stains. What an enchanting domestic you would make, Miriam?"

So the breakfast was prepared and eaten amid chatter and laughter, and Charlie Eastwood was sure that he had never enjoyed a meal so much in the whole course of his life.

"Don't bother about clearing wav,"hesaid. "I want you here until you must go. It will find me a bit of occupation—this putting things straight. When I was a young man I spent a year in South Africa, dia-mond-digging, so I know how to rough it. What a long day this is going to be, Miriam.!" "Poor papa!" "Can you manage to smuggle in a newspaper?" "I will try." "Good girl. What time does she appear in the morning?" "Rather late. She thinks eight o'clock an unearthly hour." "People of her kidney always do," he growled contemptuously. "She sleeps after luncheon." "Then I shall expect you to tea," he said. "It seems an age until then." (To be continued.)