THE CURSE OF HER LIFE OR A DARK SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3087, 8 January 1909, Page 2

THE CURSE OF HER LIFE OR A DARK SECRET.

CHAPTER Xlll.—Continued.

"I tell you—for the sake of old times, and because I love you yet; I worship the very air you breath, Edith! You have grown a million times more beautiful than you ever were." \ He drew nearer to her as he spoke. Possibly he flattered himself that the old, absorbing love for him might not be quite dead in her heart. She had seemed to worship him once. But Edith recoiled with a gesture of positive abhorrence. "Theday is over for that," she said; "it has been over a Jong time. But since you ask, instead of demanding, I will answer your question. I do not intend to marry any man, for two reasons. One, that I would not marry one from whom I must forever keep su:h a secret as yours; another, that I have had enough of married life to last me. Are you satisfied!" "I am answered," he said gloomily. "One more question: Why are you so bent upon keeping Lois with you?" "Because lam afraid, if I trust her with you, there will be in time, another dark and guilty secret to keep." Heathcote shuddered. "That is not your reason." "It is. v ou have been cruel to her. She is in your way, and you hate and fear her. Some day, if she is solely in vour power, you will lose control of yourself, and serve her as you did him." Heathcote's only answer to this , was a dark look, which Edith met in her proud, cool way. The two separated soon after. They were not very pleasant company for each other, Edith would rather be anywhere than in her cousin's society; and Randal Heathcote, in spite of his pretense of being as much in love with her as ever, was too much afraid of her now t> find her an agreeable companion. Besides, he must have seen that she shrank from him.

CHAPTER XIV. "THE LAW CALLS YOU AN ACCOMPLICE!" Towards evening Heathcote and Rose Altman were alone upon the terrace together. Both Edith and Frank Tyrrell had been with them, bui. Tyrrell- had gone to the town on some business, and Edith had retired to her room with a severe headache. There were pretty, rustic seats scattered over the terrace, and large pots of hovering palms. Rose was sitting down; Heathcote was too restless' to sit. He paced slowly to and fro, while Rose watched him and thought of various matters.

"He is a very handsome man, and a good match," she mused, in her vanity and conceat. "If I were sure I could not secure Frank, and I don't believe I can, I'd try for Heathcote. I shall be an old maid yet, if I'm not careful. I wish I knew how matters stand between him and Edith."

"I hope you and Edith will give one warning in time to get a new dress for the wedding," she bluntly said. ! Heathcote stopped short. ! "What?" he exclaimed. "Edith has'as much idea of marrying me as I have of marrying you." Kose winc.d. "Then she does like Frank? I suspected it," she said iiritably. "I here's 1.0 danger of her marry-! ing him, anyway," said Randal ; angrily. "You think so? I don't. He's sure to be Lord Disbro some day. She means to marry him; I've seen it ever since he came, and before." "I don't believe it. If I did " He clenched his teeth disagreeably." ' . "It can't be hindered. He's infatuated with her just as my poor g!d murdered grandpa was." "Heathcote's cbuiuienancc changed lividly. "It's more than she is with him, then," he said in a low voice. "I kno"' my cousin too well to believe, that.'"!"* Rose tossed her head. "Do you, indeed? Dd you know her secrets; Mr Heathcote?" Heathcote started, and looked at Rose anxiously. "What makes you think she has secrets?"

"I know she has one." '"Has she ever said so?" he asked, coming nearer. "Do you think I would tell you if she had?" "Give me a hint of one." "What do you say to one beginning with L?" To Rose's amazement, an ashy whiteness suddenly overspread Heathcote's features. "She—Edith—did she tell you? he gasped. Though intensely . curious as to what this mystery could be in which both Edith and Heathcote could be concerned, and which seemed to have Lois in it 100, Rose maintained her careless manner. .... T "You ask me to only hint it. 1 don't believe you know it yourself. Heathcote bit his lip and recalled his shattered self-possession. "What do you mean, anyhow, Miss Altman? I give you my word of honour, 1 don't understand you. Rose reflected a moment. Suddenly it flashed over her that Whispering Lois had disappeared about the ?ame time that Fairfax Tyrrell was murWhat was the complication? What , on. ected these three? Could Lois h«ve had anything to do with the murder? She resolved to hazard a LUe c S She looked up abruptly. htathcote was watching her darkly from ur.der his heavy brows.

By HELEN COEWIN PIERCE; Aitfnr of "At His Own Game," "Carrie Emerson Wilde," ''Badly Jklatched,' ? "Tie Cheated Bride,." Etc^

"Perhaps you think I don't know the secret of Edith's interest in Whispering Lois?" she said "Tush ' She hasn't any. But his lips were colourless, his voice sounded hoarse and unnatural. Rose was not quick or clever, bne was only malicious and suspicious. But it waa not hard to read such signs as these m Heathcote's face. _ "If Edith is not interested in Lois, you are. Indeed, I think I Could guess which of you is most interested in the lovely whisperer!" she said, with a forced laugh. The next instant she almost screamed aloud in her fear. Such a change, such a deadly, awful, terror-inspiring change came into Randal Heathcote's fair, delicate face. It looked like the face of a corpse, only for the blaze of rage in the two eyes. He was so angry he could not speak. -As he. bent toward her, his shaking lips formed words, but uttered no sound. Miss AJtman rose from her seat. "I—l beg your pardon, Mr Heathcote," she stammered. "I didn't mean anything. I assure you 1 did not." As she spoke she retreated slowly before him, till she reached the door which was but three or four steps away. "I beg your pardon; I didn't mean anything," she repeated; "and if you'll excuse me now, I'll go and send Mis Tyrrell to you. I know you'd rather havener than me." Heathcote bowed stiffly, smiling in a ghastly way, and Miss Altman ran away. Half-way to Edith's room, she stopped, reflected a moment, and turned back. "If I tell her what has happened, thev'll get together and make it all up." If I say nothing, he'll grow worse and worse, and I may find out sjmetlvng that I'd give a year of my I life to know." An evil glitter came into Miss Altman's small, greenish eyes, and she crept away to her own chamber with a look in her face of mingled meanness and fear. Heathcote was in a frenzy to see Edith. He waited some moments, almost gnashing his teeth at the delay, and then, peeing Frank Tyrrell coming back from town through the trees, ran to the end of the terrace, jumped over the low wall, and strode fiercely I away, anywhere to avoid a man I whom he hated even more intensely ' than Frank hated him.

When he finally lifted his scowling eyes he was in the neighbourhood of the east wing of the house. There it was, straight before him, a gray, oblong pile, the lower rooms in complete darkness. They were antique guest-chambers that had not been used since long before Fairfax Tyrrell's death, and were not likely to be soon. The upper portion was divided into two suites of handsome apartments. The one most remote from the main dwelling had been occupied by Captain Tyrrell in his life; me other was still occupied by Edith, his widow. The one suite consisted of three rooms; the other of four.

Two of Captain Tyrrell's rooms were occupied now by Dorcas Lynn and her mysterious charge. They used the middle room and the one nearest Mrs Tyrrell's apartments. . Lois was never allowed to leave the middle room, (To be continued).