ONE IMPASSIONED HOUR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9061, 9 April 1908, Page 2

ONE IMPASSIONED HOUR.

By OWEN MASTERS. i or of " Nina's Repentance," '* Clyda's Love Dream/' " Her Soldier Lover," " For Love of Marjorie," " The Mystery of Woodcraft," etc.

" CHAPTER XXlX.—Continued. She attempted to sip her tea, but sat down the tup and saucer with :i c!..:tt,.'V. livery nerve wap,a trembling. "Tfif I'.i'.'i; is, Miss Linley- -amUvc mu4 !oo!c facts very hard in the face —Mr ,Allan Berrington has, from first to i;i.;t, been throwing dust in the eyes >n justice." "Yon are wandering," Kate pro- i tested. "1 won't listen to a word again-it Allan Berrington." "Bui., my dear Miss Linlcy, his motive his motive " Ho waved ona bund dramatically. "Allan Berringtori loved the daughter—madly, passionately, irrevocably—and for that re:v:«»n would shield the father. I have watched them when together, and from experience, delightful, tantalizimr, mortifying, I know " "You are exasperating! Do you mean to assert that Allan Berrington would love—would marry the daughter of his father's murderer? It is too horrible to contemplate." "It is true, nevertheless. Love •will go to any length, any breadth, any depth; love is ?e1 [-sacrificing." Kate was angry—dismayed. Her basoni rose and fell'in a tumult. "I wont' believe it," she said. "And she?" "Will not marry Allan Berrington when her father's criminality is shouted from the house-tops. She will go through life alone, sad of face, Bumberiy clad, and dispensing charities." , Kate's eyes kindled. A wild hope had sprung into her heart. "When Charlie Eastwood's criminality is proven," she murmured, and shivered again. That meant her guardian's death. Oh, thuse icy, despairing little shivers! "Not necessarily," he said. She glanced up, starred, unaware that she had breathed her thoughts aloud. "The very fact of attempting to kill | his fr/ond will be enough. But I have j no faith that any good will result from this frantic searching of the mines. Those who know are positive that Mr Berrington is past Having." She glared at him. "Is this what you came foi? You have told me nothing yet—nothing." "And I came to tell you everything, but it must be told in my own way, You have made it so much harder. Miss Linley, because you are lovlier to-day than ever before. Your dress, the pearls at your throat, the scarlet flower in your hair! No—no, listen to me, I pray you. You know what I am working for—you know why I am your slave; and, although I must burn my boats, I am not altogether without hope. I have worked twenty hours of each twenty-four for nearly two weeks, physically and mentally. I have suffered rebuff, insult, and personal violence. The Priory gamekeepers are brutal fellows. This very day I have walked many miles under the blazingjsun, with one hope, one desire—your smile, your kind words, because I love ynu~l love you!" The blood rushed to her face, and her right hand was clenched. Furious words rose to her lips, but were not uttered. She had known all along why this man was obeying her slightest behest, and she could not be quite insensible to his remarkable devotion. She was putting that devotion - to a use which would defeat its 1 own object; at least, no she hoped. Then her heart inclined to pity, and she heaved a tremulous sigh. "I knew all this," she said. "You did—you did!" His voice was hoarse, but there was a ring of joyousness in it. "Oh, KateKate!" He attempted to take her hand; he was delirious. She waved him back sternly. "I have never encouraged you to talk to me in. this way, Mr Forrest." "Oh, but you have!" He sat down again, and wiped his hot face. "I am getting a bit out of hand. Please forgive me. 1 have succeeded in doing all that I pledged myself to do, and 1 now hesitate to burn my boats." "Speak; I don't understand." She leaned forward, anxious, breathless. "I have brought home the crime to Mr Charlie Eastwood, and he shall be arrested to-morrow." "That you know to be impossible. He is still on the Atlantic." Mr Forrest laughed wildy, triumphantly. "No, he is at the Priory in hiding. He is in the tower; I have seen him twice. Now, are you satisfied?" Kate felt that the house and the garden were whirling around her. There was incredulity in her startled "It is true," he laughed. "Allan Berrington knows that it is true. For love he would marry the daughter of his father's assassin; for love you »'ould separato them at any cost; for .love I am denying the Master, and -am willing to sacrifice my immortal . soul!" Kate looked up, half-dazed. "Please go away now," she said faintly. "And is that all?" he asked savagely. "No- not quite. Go on with your ■work, and-comt again to-morrow." CHAPTER XXX. "OH, CHARLIE! CHARLIE!" In his prison Charlie Eastwood was -counting the days and the hours. He rose with the lark, and hoard its first glad song, ar.d he waited at an open window for the bird-choir in the deep-green woods to chant their matins to the glorious sun. But the singing wavs all 100 short; the blackbirds mid the thrush sped away to the

orchards and the gardens, and the lesser choristers dropped to the earth to drink of the sparkling dew. Then Charlie busied himself about the rooms, enjoyed his bath, and ventured downstairs, and into the cool sweet air. "At six o'oclck Sirnmonds will be here," he said to hirmelf; "and perhaps Miriam will breakfast with me again. Then the day—the terribly long day until tea time!" He went as far as the lake, dodged from *ree to tree; he smoked a cigar while the sun cast quivering lances over the face of the pellucid water. A cigar was always so much sweeter when smoked in the open air. He was startled by the striking of clock. It was the clock over the stables, and there were six resonant peals; then other clocks chimed insistently and he heard the booming of the siren at Berrington's iron-works miles and miles away. Charlie scooted back to the tower, ike a rabbit seeking cover, and found that his secretary was standing in the open doorway. "Good morning, Sirnmonds. I've been out for a stroll." "You are very daring, sir." "Daring! I shall never again be astonished ' when I read of a convict breaking gaol. I'm glad to see you; it's so lonely here. What have you in that basket?" "Ob, I've only burgled the larder again, sir!" Sirnmonds cheerfully answered. "I'm afraid there will be awkward scenes in the kitchen soon. This parcel contains clean linen." "What a ministering angel you are, Sirnmonds!" They went up-stairs and talked. There was absolutely nothing new to talk about. The well-sinkers would be at work in force in a few hours. Charlie Eastwood sighed, and looked gloomy. "You are going to the colliery now?" "Yes, and I telephone to Miss Eastwood." "Good! Away with you. I've a mind to break gaol and face matters. This is sheer waste of time." He had no real intention of doing anything so foolish, and when Sirnmonds was gone he waited with feverish impatience for the next event of the day. That was a visit from Miriam, with the morning paper, and whatever else she chose to bring. Her bright presence was better than a whole Hood of sunlight, and then he had to live in anticipation of the afternoon, and a repetition • of the previous day's lingering tea-hour, and news —news; he was thirsting for happenings. Later he was gladdened by the hoarse voices of workmen, by the noise of winch, and crank, and wheel. The well-sinkers were at work, and in longed to be with them to watch and supervise. Thirty feet! Pshaw! it was a light enough task. Let come what may, he would join them in the search. He had known every foot of the workings twenty years ago. It was nearly five o'clock when Miriam came, her face flushed, her eyes shining and eager. She kissed her father, and very promptly dropped into a chair. (To be continued.)