THE CURESS OF HER LIFE OR A DARK SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3095, 19 January 1909, Page 2

THE CURESS OF HER LIFE OR A DARK SECRET.

CHAPTER XX.—Continued. j As she went slowly up the walk to the house, leaning on her lover's arm, her beautiful face lit with such a glory as he had never <seen en it before, Edith's small hand was clasped passionately among the folds of her dress, and she was saving in her heart: "Woe to those why try to separate us now I" It was over at last, that long waiting and suspense, and up to the very last moment, when he held her in his arms, Frank Disbro hail feared the coraine of Randal Heathcote to dash from his lips the rap of expected bliss.' Something told him that if Heathcote lived, and Edith knew it, she would never marry him, let the * alternative be what it might. But Heathcote did not come, and Edith was here beside him, her hand in his, the light of her dark eyes and splendid smile upon his face. He had only to hurry the marriage now, and nothing could take her from him again. Perhaps Edith was full as eager m her secret heart as he. She, too, dreaded \et the return, the sudden hnd unexpected appearance of Heath-. cote, like an unlucky, woe-bringing ghost. That he would be fearfully enraged at her marriage if he were alive to know it, she knew with far surer prescience than Frank Disbro. All this time Rose Altman had never suspected what was going on. But she had to know it new, though poor Edith and Frank would gladly have concealed it from her still, had that been possible. Secure as they felt in their new happiness, and powerless as they believed her to be to harm them, they both felt vaguely apprehensive of that dark spirit of hatred and envy which they knew dwelt in her. Rose received the news in silence. Amazement had'stricken her dumb. She felt herself, a deceived, betrayed and deluded young woman. Words tould not do justice to the rage that tore her 3oul at thought of this detested marriage. Oh, if she only knew where to find James Rial now! She should almost be ready to agree to his horrible conditions, for the sake of preventing thjs abominable marriage and seeing Edith's proud and beautiful headmore beautiful than ever now—laid in the dust

CHAPTER XXI. t TWO YEARS OF HAPPIFESS. The marriage was appointed for the fourth of September, little more than a month lattr, and preparations when forward more rapidly than ever preparations did before for sn grand and splendid a match, Money was plenty, and what will not money do? The bridal trousseau was ordered, regardless of expense, direct from Paris, and the French milliners and dressmakers promised, everything in time. Lord Disbro ?perd nearly the whole month in Loudon, spurring up dilatory lawyers and. speeding mattere in the way of settlement and the like by every possible incentive. The Disbro family jewels were reset magnificently, and a spark of happiness planted in Rose's envious heart by the bestowal of that casket of precious ornaments which Captain Fairfax Tyrrell had presented to bis young and idolized bride on her wedding day. Rose couid not let this opportunity • pass, however, for planting a sting. She was not grateful for the gift. She showed them to Frank the first time he came to Elackmere afterwaud. "So good of Edith." she said in simpering, half-whining way. -"But, then, she never wears them now. She never has since grandpa's murder, and she liked them so much before." ' Frank Disbro turned suddenly and looked Rose squarely in the face.. "I want to give you a word cf advice," he said, "and you will do well to remember it, Cousin Rose. You are to make your home with us, I believe. It suits yoo to do it, , and Edith has asked you, contrary to my advice. 1 don't want you, because, while I know you are powerless to " harm her, I know that you hate ber, and would injure her if you could. Don't let me ever hear of you pursuing the hostile, spying, backbiting course toward my wife that you have towards my uncle's widow. You are welcome to a home with us,' and all the pleasures it can give you; but you cannot talk about Lady Disbro as your have about Edith Tyrrell 1" Rose heard him through without interruption. But she looked back at him with every bit as angry a light in her pale-green eyes as was in hi 3. To do her justice, she was not afraid of bun. It would'take something more than a few stern words from Frank Tyrrell Disbro to cow the shallow, but far from timid naiure of Rose Altman. When he ceased speaking, she made him a haughty, mocking bow, atd left him without a word. She hfd made no promises. "I don't ha'f-like having Rose with us, darling," Lord Disbro said to Edith presently. "Don't you think it would be better to tell her plainly but kindly that'we prefer she should take up her abode somewhere else?" Edith locked up at him with a half-sad, half-thoughtful light in the dark, bright eyes tha£ bad shone so . happily pi' late. "Perhaps," sno said, "but. I con t • think she would do it without a struggle, and 1 don't know where she would go, even if she was willing. Her father's relatives are poor, commonplace people. I think, and her another's relatives were all too muxii

By HELEN COBWEff PIERCE, •Ut'itr o£ "At His Own Gnu:e," "Carrie Emerson' Wilde," "Badly M itched," "Tie Cheated Bride," Etc.

displeased at her marriage to receive her daughter cordially. What has made you think of Rose now?" Frank knit is brevs irritably. "To tell the truth, Edith, she has always talked about you unpleasantly. "Yes," said Edith calmly, "I presume she has. She never liked me, and I thing she has an idea that she will make me out her grandfather's murderer yet." She smiled in a cold, mechanical way, and her pale face grew a little whiter, as it always did when she referred to her dead husband. Frank clenched his teeth. "I have just told her she can't go on railing about Lady Disbro as she has about Edith Tyrrell." "Have you?" Edith turned her head and touched with her velvet lips the hand that lay upon her shoulder. "It is very pleasant to feel I have some one to stand up for me," she said softly. The hand slipped to her waist. "My darling, I can hardly believe yet I have won you," he said, as he | kissed her tenderly. "But about Rose. She is almost certain to keep on at this sort of thing." "Yes. dear, lam afraid so. But she is more likely to talk if we turn her away than if we keep her here with us. She cannot, in reason, say quite such shameful things while she is my guest. Neither will they bavd the weight they otherwise would." "She ought to be shut up in a madhouse," grumbled Frank. A week after, he and Edith were married. They made no bridal-trip, but went straight to Disbro Castle, which had not even been refitted for them.'' There had not ieen time. Rose went with them. Before Rose Altman came to Blackmere to live she had spent some years in the poverty in which her father had been born. Her mother, in marrying below her station, had sunk to the level that she married into. Perhaps it was the bitter experience of those years of poverty and suffering, pinching and slight, which had marie Rose so malicious, sn envious and hateful. Here at Disbro Castle she was given a suite of rooms beside which her appartments at Blackmere, handsome as they v»ere, paied into significance. Disbro Castle was as much beyond Blackmere in the costly splendour of itself and appointments as Blackmere was beyond a cottage. Life at Disbro Castle, too, was very different from what it had been at Blackmere. Situated in the very. centre of a wealthy inland country," surrounded by an affluent and pleasure-loving gentry, within easy distance of London, Rose found none of the dullness she had complained of at Blackmere. Edith, too, loved pleasure and gaiety, and it was offered to her now in plenteous drafts. ✓ (To be continued).

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