THE CURSE OF HER LIFE OR A DARK SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3075, 21 December 1908, Page 2

THE CURSE OF HER LIFE OR A DARK SECRET.

CHAPTER V.—Continued. "My darling, will you promise me not to marry that man after I am dead?" Tyrrell asked in a husky voice. "Willing. I don't think I shall ever marry anyone after you, and him last of all ihen. I know him too well now." I Fairfax Tyrrell was out of the house in half an hour. His wife saw him go with the sama oppressive , sensation of forboding and misgiving as hai assailed her a', coming to Heathcote House. She parted from him with real tenderness. Never, perhaps, sinca his marriage, ' had Captain Tyrrell been so happy as ha was this night, though he was going t? the death-bed of § brother. , "I'm a changed man fforrt this , "hour," he swore to himsslf as he rode , away With the sweetness of his young ' wife's parting kiss on his lips. "May j I perish in my sins if I ever iet this , devil's temper of mine out at her : again." . Randal Hsathcote met Edith as she turned back from parting with her husband. ! The guests were all in the drawing room except Rose Altman, who was sauntering that way through the wide hall. . ! Heathcote stepped in front of his cousin and barred the way. "You'll be Lady Disbro when he comes back," he said. "Will you let me alone, Randal." H 6 laughed and offered her his arm. "You're not going to keep that up now that he's gone?" "I am not going to see any more of you now that my husband is gone than I did when he was here, if that is what you mean," she answered shortly, not looking at his extended arm. "I think you will." He shot her a curious glance, a glance she did not like. "You will find I mean what I say," she repeated. "I mean never to be alone with you a moment. You can see me in the presence of others all you like, but never alone. Let me, pass, Randal." ' "What nonsence, Edith! One would think there was some taint about me, some fearful contagion." There is for me, and you know it. I don't want to quarrell with you, Randal, but you know it won't do for me to be seen talking with you at all intimately. There is Rose watching us now. Before she sleeps she will write to Mr Tyrrell that we began a long and confidential conversation before he was out of sight of the

house." "Then I won't be seen talking wit you. Bat you must let me see j m privately, if you won't publi . By .[ 1 will see you!" "1 wouldn't swear about it. sse here, Cousin: If you forr & thing of this kind upon me* ck up and go back to Blacitmer "You dare not without hug _ band's permit sion. More< /War> jf y OU do, I'll have him inform where yoa where that night we w u os j. on mountain." "You ara quite car of it. But it would not harm r Then I would tell him the truth /nyself." "He would not to you after shearing the stor v?itla my embellishments. Besi es _ y OU h ave told so many lies on jj e subject, how can you expect t # jj e Sieved when .you ' tell the tru fo?" Edith's | ace paled. Her eyes shot angry r iys , "Yo are teaching me fast how I ought to be that the engag tfment between us was broken off*"

■""Good! Old Tyrrell may thank me lor so much.'' She stamped her foot. "You shall not speak of my husband in that manner!" "May 1 come to your rooms- tomorrow morning for an hour? I want to have some talk with you," he said, leaning forward to whisper in her ear. "No!" —indignantly. "But I will come." "I won't be there." "I will watch till you are there, and come then." "I will lock my door " "You know that will not keep me out." She gave him a startled glance. "Was there a secret door after all, and did he know of it," she asked herself. Heathcote smiled wickedly and nodded his head, as if he read her thoughts. Edith's eyes watched him sternly, darkly. "Beware, ftandal!" she exclaimed. "My love for you is dead. The road you have started on is a dangerous one. I have a presentiment that you will bestroy both me any yourself if you keep on." He shrugged his shoulders. "You have started a train tonight that may blow us both to destruction." She made an almost inpercepti ble gesture toward Rose Altman, who still stood in sight, affecting to be watching the mooiliglit—in reality watching them. He looked that way. "Do you call her the slow match that is to fire it?" "Yes." "I wish ahe would. ' I wish she would write a letter to your husband that would make him challenge me to fight him. Perhaps I should kill him, and then I could marry you." "Never," Edith ejaculated, with looks of horror, and, turning from him, abruptly hurried across the hall. As she came near Rose she stopped. "What are you thinking about, Rose?"she asked. Miss Altman changed countenance. She looked an if her thoughts were such as she feared to have read, aie for ed a smile. "I was wondering if you would wear the honours of a countess as

By HELEN CORWIN PIERCE, Author of "At His Own Game," "Carrie Emerson Wilde," "Badly Matched, "Ihe Cheated Bride," Etc.

| gracefully as you have those of ! madame." 1 Edith's lip curled. - "Really," she aaid, "are you very anxious to know?" Randal Heathcote looked after f Edith a moment, and then went out into the grounds with a savage stride. | His temples were throbbing, hid eyeshot. Edith's royal beauty, as she stood and warned him, haunted him. He was drank with love of her, ' now that she was another's?. "By the Eternal!" he muttered between his teeth, "she shall be mine!" ! He stayed an hour, pacing under the trees, wishing wicked wishes, and laying wild pla,ns that could only be accomplished through great wicked--1 11(253, Rosa watched him as he came in. 1 Edith had left the drawing room some time. 1 "Oh," thought Rose, "if 1 only i knew whether Edith has been with I him." I Mary Trryell had found Barbara. ' The former was on her knees, crying, ; with her Jace in Barbara's lap. To the startled woman's inquiries, she I sobb'ed out a recital of what had just g passed, Heathcote's threats and im- jj i impertinence, her own fears, and her f» doubt of Rose. i | "Let us go back to Blackmere, mistress," Barbara suggested, j "Rose would not consent, and Tyrrell would be angry; it wo «■ look so odd, and he don't 1 jf" 3 ; women to do anything to at >««« attention or make talk. Peopl •"»« i would be sure to say disag 3 ' things if I went off so s ,«»ablc and with only you." y " j "A good excuse could b ( , Mary Tyrrell shook her 1 "Besides, my cousir . ™® acL to tell my husbanr' '/ threatened night on the mountain // ; " bout ;that he would keep his w : sur ® : would never forgh lies I told about it ,? •»<>, after the ' "I was afraid' • ... them," SarUr.- Mgret telling ! "So was 1. 1 afraid of my . ® ut . l sas5 as ! though he ha /Itasband. am jet, of late I * seemed an altered man ! w him *** beginning to ; . A Barbara, and I believe he : A ,«i©al worthier of my love i \ .aSail is. Be would be kind I did me always if he thought 3 4-Uo,, mat«are more for my cousin c , fiorrhim." < L Nellieve he would, mistress." 3 1 'And now he has left me here to .bis enemy, and mine alone." ""Kot quite alone, mistress; I am e wiisbh you."

•Edith threw up her .head. She ilaid her beautiful cheek on her faithiul servant's motherly shoulder. "That is true, Barbara. What should Ido without you?" When Mrs Tyrrell finally retired to rest, she insisted on Ba*bara's bringing in a couch and sleeping begiide her bed. But she could not sleep herself. All night she tossed about, too nervous to close her eyes. Just as morning brake she fell asU'.ep, and Barbara, wJien she waked, was struck by the pallor and weariness of her face, and moved about noiselessly, not to disturb her. Ten o'clock came, and Edith was •still sleeping. Eleven, twelve. Barbara had not left her even for .her breakfast. Suddenly, as the faithful woman sat sewing, she heard a step in the room, and there was Randal Heathnote. (To be continual)..