A GIRL TO LOVE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9104, 2 June 1908, Page 2

A GIRL TO LOVE.

By BERTHA 51. CLAY.

CHAi'TKK XXXlV.—Continued. due turned toward the house, and this w;iM I.he signal which Jasper Trenwith had been waiting for. He opened).; window and stepping out upon a niazza, spoke rapidly to his chuuft'eur. and then approached the ladies. He felt satisfied that their friendship was established upon a iirm basis. "What are your arrangements, Nathalie'?' he asked. "Will you come home with us at lunch?" She hesitated. T'm afraid, I can't. Papa's gout is a little better, but he is grumpier than ever. My carriage is in the, lane, not far away." "Then send a message to Sir Charles by the coachman. He will be pleased to hear that we have made it up," he whispered in her ear. "And I will accompany you to Pendinas this evening, If you will permit me.<' This decided Miss Leighton; and within another ten minutes the auto was speeding homeward, Trenwith sitting beside the driver, and the two ladies at the back. It was impossible to talk, even if any one desired to, for Jasper Trenwith was a reckless autombpbilist. A stretch of open country with a decent road, and away he spun at forty miles an hour. His da&hing, daring spirit manifested itself alike in business and pleasure. Arrived at home, he walked straight into the library in quest of news. A telegram lay upon the table, ' and he remarked to his secretary : "Is this all. Walker?" "Yes sir." He opened the telegram and read: "Two men, answering the description of the missing, pailed yesterday per Lucania for New York. Am cabling toe New York police. "GERHARD." Jasper Trenwith shook his head. "I don't think there's much in that. Why should they sneak out of England?" he mused. "There is such a thing as complete loss of memory, and Owen may have taken advantage of it. There's the check and the diamonds. Well, we shall see if the detectives are right—but, oh! the time 1 of waitipg for that poor child!" The lunch-bell rang, and at the table he showed the telegram, » nd expounded the loss-of-memory theory. "There are cases in point every

week, and it would be to Owen's benefit to take Pelham away. He be- ' lieves all is lost, and I doubt it' he has heard of your existence, Miss Craig. There is a grain of comfort in this, though I must-admit that it is a very small one." " Luncheon over, Isla went up to her mother's room. Jasper Trenwith and Miss Leighton had a good deal to say to one another, and they strolled out upon the piazzas. He applied a light to a fragrant cigar, and puffed away for a few moments, his luminous eyes—now luminous with love and happiness—fixed upon Nathalie's proud,patrician face. "What do you think of little Isla now?" he asked softly. "A true-souled, adorable girl," Nathalie answered. "I am sure that I love her already. I have been so used to words without heart, smiles of deceit, and paltry intrigue, that it is good and beautiful to meet with one, at least, who is without * guile." "lam very glad," he said simply. •The figure of a man appeared round abend in the drive, and Trenwith frowned. "The lodge-keeper is very careless. What can the fellow be doing there. He is dodging from tree tb tree, like an Indian spy." Nathalie started, and became exceedingly pale. She laid a nervous hand upon Trenwith's arm. "It is that wretphed man, John Ireland," she whispered sharply. "The creature fills me with loathing and terror!"

CHAPTER XXXV J THE MYSTERY SOLVED. " You have sharp eyas, Nathalie," Jasper Trenwith said. "It is John Ireland. Now, what can his business be?? Money, I'll be bound." "He stepped from the verandah, and Ireland immediately marched into t'.ie middle of the drive to meet him. His narrow shoulders were now set square, and he regarded Tronwith with defiance. "What are you doing here, Ireland, skulking in the trees like a thief?" the financier sternly asked. "I am here to see you, and you are as difficult of access as a cabinet minister," sneered the ground bailiff. The man at the lodge turned me back because I refused my name, so I had to sneak through the park by a round about way." "Since I have pestered by so many callers, thanks to'ydurlie* and innuedoes, no stranger are admitted into the grounds without my permission." .; Jasper Tranwith eyed the man from head to foot. "You appear to bo wretched enough. lam sure I should have hardly known you had not Miss Leighton recognised you." "Thanks t-j you!" sneered Ireland. " Ycur personal remarks are altogether out of place, sir." Trenwith wavjil his hind appelating ly. "Now, what do you want.' It you are here to blackmail mo, abandon th-J scheme, because it is useless. I h ivc rnada full restitution to everybody concerni?d; and confessed rogue I have been. My conscience is dear." '".'onsclencu'" jeered Ireland, ' I like that! You've ruined me." • "Nothing of the kind. You were in prison for fraud twenty years since, and Ireland is not your real name. But I have the wish to rake up any manga past. I will not, how-

Author of " Thrown on the World," " Her Mother's Sin," Beyond I Pardon," " The Lost Lady of Haddon," " Dora Thome,"( " An Ideal Love," etc.

ever, be accused of tampering with the morals of a convict. I have been careful to fully acquaint myself with the antecedents of the creatures I have employed to do my dirty work." John Ireland cast a frightened, but malevolent, glance at his late master. "I have been long reflecting upon the power I hold over you.' Trenwith continued, "but I am never cruel to any man who is in a tight place. I like to give him a sporting chance; but, Ireland, or Walters, to give you your right name—well, you are a rat!" Ireland was thoroughly cowed now, and* his eyes became supplicating. "Yes, I know that the police still want John Walters for not reporting himself. But enough of that I'm in a forgiving mood. Now, then, Ireland, vour business'?" "Is'it quite safe here?" he glanced around. "Yes; I will not ba shut up in a room with jou. You would pollute the atmosphere. I am not thinking of myself now, but of Miss Leighton. "You could not let her alone." "Give me the sporting chance you promised. lam overburdened with a big family, and I love them, at any rate." "That is something in your favour," Jasper Trenwith said thought-' fully. "I know that you do, Ireland, and I honour you for it." The ground bailiff took heart of grace. A little colour came into his haggard fac?, and his voice was less hoarse. (To be continued.)