A GIRL TO LOVE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9083, 7 May 1908, Page 2

A GIRL TO LOVE.

By BERTHA M. CLAY. Author of " Thrown on the World," " Her Mother's Sin," Beyond Pardon," " The Lost Lady of Hjddon," " Dora Thome," XZ-l:'",. " An Ideal Love," etc.

CHAPTER XV.

NATHALIE LEIGHTON'S PLAIN TALK.

From eight o'clock in the morning until two in the afternoon /the m.U summer rain had been falling suavity; the skiea were gray, the bir s voiceless, and the trees were dipping monotonously. Yet the earth was delightfully fragrant, and if tr.e flowers drooped under the wei ht of the rain, it was only to rise agair, refreshed, and sweeter than before. Jasper Trenwith was standing in his library window, his hands fold, d behind him, a smile upon his face and in bis sunny eyes. His secretary was busy with u pile of shorthand notes, and, when a typewriter began to click, Mr Trenwith swung round. ''Not now, Walker," he Said pleasantly. "I am sure that we ha\ e earned our lurich. Take a couple of hours olf duty, and transcribe those notes afterwards. The clicking of the machine disturbs me, An excellent morning's* worn, thanks to the rain!"

The sscretary knew his master well. He locked his notes away in a private drawer, and silently withdrew, with a meek "Good worv.'.n*, air."

When Mr Walker was gone, Jssper Trenwith took/ri letter from his cuaf pocket, and for the twentieth tima that day his eyes devoured word of it, page after page, until the .eighth disclosed the , signature of Harry Owen. "I can read you like a book, blackhearted pcoundrel that you are!" was the concluding paragraph, "and in the event of certain happenings, I will shoot you as I.would a dog with the rabies; so you know what your end is likely to be. lam quite aware that this letter may be construed into one of intimidation, but you are at liberty to take whatever action you like." Jasper, Trenwith replaced- the letter in his pocket, and again walked over to the window. His white fingers drummed a tattoo m the glass, and his brow was lined with thought. ;"Mad! mad!" he reflected. '|Stiil it is very annoying, and my intentions are so different. I must treat him with the contempt he diservep. He says (hat I ruthlessly rnb the rich man, the poor man, the widov, and the fatherless, and then pay a tribute of ten per cent to the devil. Dreadful! draadful!" His facfl Heared like magic, and at the same time a tiny ray of sunshine pierced the gray clouds. A shaf- o( galden light trembled in the falling mist, then deepened and broadened, until the mist was gone, and thp dividing clouds revealed a glimpse of blue heaven. And soon the ' hires were on the wing again, and in the air and in the trees, were singinsr. "And thus the future lies bqfore .. me," Jasper Trenwith said.

There was a knock at the door, and he turned to find the butler regarding him apologetically. "Luncheon?" Trenwith anticipated indulgently. "Too late now. Pel ea. If Igo past the regular hour my appetite goes, too. Besides, I have an engagement at Pendinas. Order the automobile for twenty minutes to three."

The butler retired, and Jasper Trenwith unlocked a cupboard containing some old wine. He selected a bottle of port, and, r having filled n took a copious draft. He smacked bis lips, and breathed a long sigh of satisfaction. • * . "It is only in very recent years that! have occasionally stood in need of a stimulant.," •he murmured. "One needs a constitution of iron to endure the constant strain. This feeling of nausea is new to me. But I am better how." He paced the room. "I am wenlthy beyond th« dreams Of avarice; I am the iron kin , r.ndl the coal king, the financial king, the king of everything but a certain woman's heart! Why will men measure their strength against mine? One more masterly stroke—only one more, *and I have done!" ,He plucked Harry Owen's letter from his pocket and carefully consumed it in the flame of a match. His brow was' care-lined and dark again. He looked older than his years. A clock chimed the half-hour after two, and he opened wide the French window. The earth lay now in a blaze of sunshine, and with a sense of exceeding joy he inhaled the scented summer air. He left the room for the verandah, and from the verandah went into the conservatory, still muttering his thoughts aloud.

"Only one more triumph—only one more. I seem to stand-alone, my hand against every man. I wonder if I have a real friend in all the wide world?" "Yes, sir—rr.e," said the voice of Sam Price. The gardener appeared from behind a big palm, and touched his cap. His jaw was set square, hut there waa a steadfast light in his eyes.

£ Jasper Trenwith was startled; then he laughed.

"I want a ; Camellia, Price. Ah, tint is indeed a fine flower! You mu t not pay any attention when 1 am speaking my thoughts aloud. The habit is a bad one, but it affords me relief. Still, than!* you, Price, and \ believe that the words came from your heart." me, sir." Sam's voice was hoarse. "A gjod'maii like you'ought to have nothing but friends." "And yet I have so few! People talk, and talk, hut in their hearts they fear me, and fear breeds hatred. For one iru j friend I would give half my. fortune." ■ y

"There's one here, sir, free of charge," siid ?am sturdily, and his master shook him by the hand. "Thank you, Price," he said simply, but there was' a catch in his voice, and his eyes were moist. He arranged the camellia to his liking. "Yes, I 1 a/e enemies," he laughed, "and my life is threatened. Fancy tl.at, in these enlightened days! I am one of the most envied of men, because I am the master of millions. I s a d upon a pinnacle—aloee. And sometimes the loneliness and coldness of death seems to' overwhelm me. You, with some rne to love, and some one to love you, can never understand the desolation which is mine. If my enemy were to bludgeon me — or shoot n e -who wcu d care? Who would shed a single tear?" Price clenched Hs mighty hand?, and the*v. ins swe 1 din his arms like knotted cords. "Master," he quavered, "I would kill the man who injured a hair of your head! Tell me—tell "' "Nonsense!" Jasper Trenwith laughed aloud. "My automobile is waiting; I am going to Pendinas." The machine throbbed away, and soon Jasper Trenwith was smiling into Nathalie Leighton's cold blue eyes. "I have obeyed my lady's behest," he said lightly. "Now, what is her pleasure?" Nathalie made a gesture of impatience. "An understanding between us upon a purely business basis, Mr Trenwith. My father is in London to-day, and I am at home to no one, so there will be'no interruption." "Yas." He noilded, but his eyes were becoming serious almost mournful. "What do you intend doing?" She looked him squarely in the face. You hold us in the hollow of your hand. Will you give us a chance to redeem Pendinas, or is the crash to come soon? I want you to know that marriage between us is an utter impossibility. The very idea of it is revoltiug. -I am sure that I hate you because I fear you!" His face whitened, and he looked away. He thought of his conversation with Sam Price. There was real ancuish in his eyes. "You are honest, at any rate, Miss Lciehton." "A,nd 1 wish you to be honest with me." The carmine sprang into her cheeks. "Mr Pelham will be home soon —I heard from him yesterday—and some arrangement can be'made with yon about the mortgage, unless you are determined to turn us out of Pendinas, lr>m r raolives of revenge." "Ravnge!" he repeated sadly. "How can you associate revenge with me —and w»th you?" She shivered violently. "(j|h, don't! lam always terrified when you purr like a great cat." His face reddened with resentment and anger. He jumped up, and walked towards the window. The landscape was blurred to his burning orbs.

"Yon apeak.,of Pelham and the mortgage in a breath," he said, without looking round. Are- -are matters settled between you, then?"

"You are treading upon delicate ground." "I am sorry." He continued to look out of the window for some minutes longer, and the silence seemed intense to Nathalie.

"I can'c bear this," she whispered, at last.

"Forgive me. I have been thinking it all out, and my decision is made. You shall not ho turned out of Pendinas, Nathalie." He spoke softly, and came back to his seat. She felt that his-Wminous eyes were hurning into her very soul. "If I have ever coveted Pendinas, it has been for the jewel it contains. I have loved you unselfishly, but T have been too sure of the prize. Without you, Pendinas would be hateful to me. When you name revenge in the same breath with a love like mine, you do not understand, that is all. Nathalie, Pendinas shall be my wedding gift to you, nnj matter whom you may marry." He rose and eadly took her hand. "Good-bye." (To be continued.)