Mary's Great Mistake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3067, 11 December 1908, Page 2

Mary's Great Mistake.

By EFFIE ADELAIDE ROWLANDS.

Author of Selina s Love Story "An Inherited Feucl," " Brave Barbara," "A Splendid Heart," etc., etc.

CHAPTER XXlX.—Continued. "I did nothing of the sort, my darling." "Then " Laurie was bewildered. ' "But 1 happen to have a good idea of Mrs Ballaston's generous nature. The instant she learns she has wronged Paul ever so little, she will not rest till she has rectified that wrong. She will come to you instantly, just as quickly as she can come." "Of course —of course! How clever you are, and how good!" Laurie's eyes spoke all - and more than her lover's heart could desire, and then she started from the window; "but, George, the train will be in now; let us go and- " "Not at all!" Doctor Cartwright answered imperturbably; "we should be decidedly in the way. By this time Paul will have found out why I asked him to go to the station at twelve o'clock to-day, and " Laurie embraced her lover in her enthusiastic delight.

"why, you are the cleverest person in the whole wide world!" she cried, and then once again fear- and doubt clouded the brilliancy of her joy; "but suppose she should not come, suppose she should be ill?" "Suppose, instead," laughed Doctor CartwrigU, holding her clasped in his arms, "suppose, instead, you give me another kiss, and have a little more confidence in my knowledge of human nature."

Overcome by his coolness, Laurie tound there was really nothing to do but to obey; but it must be confessed she gave her obedience with a right good will, and found it exceedingly sweet and easy to give.

Mary got out of the carriage at Birchdale very nervously. She was pale, and tiembled with excitement. Her first thought had been exactly as George Cartwright had said. When her uncle came to her the night before, and put [sobel's curt but most comprehensively clear letter into her hands, together with the epistle Doctor Cartwright had. written, she overwhelmed herself with reproach. "Oh, 1 have been cruel! I have been wrong! I have doubted him. What shall I do? He must not go away without a word."

Clever Doctor Cartwright, you did not make mention of that proposed hurried trip to India without a very good purpose in your mind. Mary's face had blanched to the lips as she -aread this news.

"No, no. He must not go away till I have spoken. What shall I do! Will he come if I ask him? No." And then with a sudden rush of excitement, of intense longing, she said to herself, "It is I who must go to him. I have wronged him; I must make, amends. There is no time to Jose. I will go to Laurie. I will tell hex and I will ask her to help me, and " and then the anguish of restrained love gave way. "Oh, Paul Paul J I want to see you. I want to hold your hands, to look into your eyes once again, before you —you Jeave me, perhaps, forever!" No wonder she was pale, and that she trembled. She had not slept all night, and then Laurie had been so angry with her. She was a little afraid to meet Paul's sister, and the news that had ccme about Isobel had been so sudden, so very unexpected. Mary had felt none of her uncle's wrath and contempt for the girl svho hftd done her so much injury. Her heart held only one nesire—to see Paul, to confess her sorrowful wrong: to ask liim to forgive her before he went away to those fardistant lands. Ah! cruel lands, to take him from her; to hold him out of her sight! She grew more nervous as the train drew near Birch dale. She had left so hurriedly, had eaten nothing, scarcely knew how she had dressed. She got out in a trembling way. Suppose Laurie refused to see her, refused to help her. What— — All at once thought ceased, violently her hands were grasped by the two strong .)nes that were still strong, although they trembled as much ass her own. Some one was speaking, not very ,distinctly; hurriedly, in a voice choked with astonishment r.nd with intense joy "Mary!" Just that one word, and then, after a moment's pause, "Mary—it is you?" Htr eyes cleared, her trembling ceased. "I have come to see you," she said. Neither of them questioned or asked for explanation. She spoke out the burden of her heart as a child might have done. "I—l—want you to forgive me before " and then she gave a little cry. and the tears came in a passionate rush. "Oh, JPaul! Paul! Paul! You will not gj

away? My darling, my love! You will not go! I—l cannot spare you, Paul—l "

He drew her into the tiny waitingroom. Tne station was empty now; there would not be another train for two hours. They were quite alone, with only the murmuring lines of telegraph wires to whisper to the wind the secret of their love and of their happiness. It was quite one o'clock before the clang of the gate in the distance anno uncea to Laurie that they were cume, but one single glance at their two eloquent and radiant was absolutely satisfactory to her. "You are the cleverest man in the world, George." she said solemnly; and then she flew out to kiss jfaul, and to entwine her loving arms about the slender, lovely figure of the girl who, having fought so long and so bravely against the most depressing trials, had at last found a welcome haven in Paul's heart. She felt that she was destined to experience in the future such unalloyei joy that it would blunt the sting of remembrance when she recalled the protracted unhappiness caused by MARY'S GREAT MISTAKE. THE END.