A GIRL TO LOVE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9100, 28 May 1908, Page 2

A GIRL TO LOVE.

By BERTHA M. CLAY. Author oi! " Thrown on the World," " Her Mother's Sin," Beyond Pardon,"! " The Lost Lady of Haddon," " Dora Thorne," "An Ideal Love," etc.

CHAPTER XXXI. FOR NATHALIE. The work, the worry, and the wild automobile vide from Birmingham to Worcester, ended in Mrs Craig'3 complete prostration. A violent attack of sick headache confined her to hexroom, and from experience Isla knew that her mother's indisposition would last for three or four days. At first the prospect was rather disconcerting, but Mr Trenwith sent up to her his expressions of sympathy, id ling that he wished to see her just tor a few minutes. Would she come to the library within half an hour? Isla went, and Trenwith greeted her gently and kindly. His face was paler than she had ever seen it before, and there were worried lines about his eyes. "I shall be here, there, and everywhere, for the remainder of the day, until midnight probably," he said, taking her hand. "I know that you won't mind when I tell you that every moment of the time is being given to Victor Pelham. The case is entering upon an entirely new phase. I have detectives sifting it thoroughly, and other people have detectives watching me!" He spoke bitterly. "You are not quite so hopeful!" Isla ssked, breathlessly, painfully. "I am completely befogged, Miss Craig. Two young and -powerful men have disappeared, without leaving a shadow of a trace behind them, and there are people ready to believe that I have had a hand in their removal! I may be arrested on suspicion yet." He paced the carpet. "I wished to tell you that you will see no more of me to-day, and that Jhe house is entirely at your service. A sarvant has been specially detailed to attend upon you and Mrs Craig. You mother's illness is only of a temporary nature, I hope?" "She has been subject to these attacks for a long time," Isla answered tremulously. There was a miserable feeling of depression at her | heart. "There is nothing I can do, Mr Trenwith?" "Absolutely nothing to-day. Tomorrow it may be different." He was regarding her intently. "I think your head is evenly ballanced, Miss Craig, and it will be a kindness psrhaps, if I tell you my real fears. Pelham and his manager, Owen, met at the colliery. We have independent proof of that. They may have quarrelled and tumbled into the canal —or into one of the shafts. A careful investigation i 3 being made on. the spot at this moment.His words sounded like a knell of in Isla's ears. Her eyes dilated with terror, arid then her faculties became benumbed. Jasper Trenwith's voice was far away, and Trenwith himself a mere black spot in the light of the window. By a tremendous effort she recovered herself in part, and discovered that he was solicitously bending over her. "All this cuts me to the heart," he said sorrowfully, "because I am morally responsible for it all. You are a brave, true girl. I have told you the worst that can possibly be. Now let us hope for the best. I have some faith in the mercy and the justice of Heaven, and that faith is growing stronger* every day. Excessive pain or grief sometimes induces forgetfulness, but we will yet emerge triumphant from the black doubt that surrounds us, and in a little while it shall seem but a direful dream." His manner changed swiftly. "Tomorrow, Miss Craig, you may he able to help me a little." " "Oh, if I can!" "Now go, and be as patient as ycu can, and don't lose hope. The entire house—the garden—all is at your disposal."

He walked with her to tha staircase, and then Went in quest of Sam Price. "My favourite flower," he said, almost gayly. "The most beautiful you can find, Price. Sam regarded hig master sorrowfully.

"A camellia, sir? Why don't you change it for luck?" Ha swept his hand in the direction of a small fountain of bloom, tier upon tier. "No," Jasper Trenwith said, with a longdrawn breath. "I have heard, sir, that you never ■cared for camellias until you took to .going to Pendinas." His master's Drow contracted, and an angry light blazed in his eyes, but only for an instant. Sam was a privileged and a devoted servant. "Quite true." His voice was strained. "Who talks of my affairs?" "You see, I was head gardener at Pendinas sfr, and the camellia is Miss Leighton's choice." "Of course, I forgot. But don't let your dislike of Sir Charles extend to his daughter." "But she's your enemy, sir, and I ;hate any enemy of yours. What you'vo done," he whispsrjd, "you did in self-defense. If you .hadn't done it, they'd have killed you." "Great Heaven, Price, what are ;y"' talking about?" "I've been talking a great (let 1 lit ly, sir.," Sam answered sad!}. "They're at trie all round, but they won't get nie to Mao a word, I listened the other night, sir, and I heard you and Mr Pelham say''that you were going to Dudley. So I wen: in front of you by train; I

<liu 't mean for him to hurt you, and 1 wuin't; iar off when I saw you walking to the colliery by yourself- — "But I did not go, Sam." "All right,-sir; that's just what I've told the police, and I'll stick to it. They've got to find the men, dear! or alive, before they can do wry .wing. Then they've got to prove

it afterwards." "Sam ! Sam! What sort of maggot have you in your head? Confound it, man, you have cornered me completely. This meddling of yours " He turned away, amazed and bewildered. He was amused and angry at the same moment.' Sam looked after him and shook his head determinedly. "He helped me out of prison once, and now it's my turn to help him," he muttered. Jasper Trenwith trranged the camellia in the lapel of his coat, and walked slowly up the drive. He was going to Pendinas. Sir Charles Leighton had sent an urgent message. Sir Charles was laid up with gout, and could not put a foot to the ground. At ■ first Trenwith had hesitated, but his hesitation was only momentary. The discovery that Nathalie was against him had been the bitterest blow of his life. It was like a stab through his heart, but he was not the man to be utterly dimsayed. He was reaping as he had sown, and he had very little real pity for himself. It was a long walk to Pendinas, but he felt that it would help to restore his shattered nerves. The day ■ was cooling, and the birds were singing lullaby songs in the trees. In the dark woods there was a sense of peace and rest, and he avoided the frequented ways wherever he could. Sir Charles was in his own particular room, nursing a foot swathed in bandages, but he cordially held out his hand to Trenwith. "Don't shake me, for the world. A nice thing this in summer weather! Came on without notice, the worst turn I remember. I haven't seen you for a week." "As long as that? My days are crowded with work —and a too late repentance, Leighton," he added softly. Sir Charles' eyes became moist, and his hearty voice quavered. "1 wanted to thank you, Trenwith, for your unexampled generosity, i can't accept it as it stands; myself respect won't let me do it. You say that you wilfully misled me for purposes of your own, but more fool I to be misled.""The restitution is not unconditional, Sir Charles." "But Nathalie will have none of you. She positively abhors you, Trenwith. She would put the halter round your neck if she could. To her you are the very acme of all that is vile. This trouble about Pelham has completely upset her mental balance. I wonder what has really become of , the poor wretch? I believe that she [ has driven him away, pitching herj self at his head as she has done! He isn't a lady's man, and I sha'n't be I surprised to hear that he has retired ! to art uninhabited island, or some- | thing equally absurd." Jasper Trenwith listened, his ' countenance unmoved. "I have restored Pendinas," he said softly. "Unfettered, for Nathalie!" "You must be a saint, man!" Trenwith's lips whitened, and his j eyes were fuli of pain. I "Don't, my dear Leighton. lam leagues below Judas, but lam being purified by my love for a woman —for Nathalie!" There was a short silence, which was at last broken by Sir Charle3. Jasper Trenwith was looking out of the window. 1 (To be continued.)