HER SILENCE JUSTIFIED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3189, 14 May 1909, Page 2

HER SILENCE JUSTIFIED.

CHAPTER Vlll.—Continued. "Ha! that provoking woman is basing a claim upon the fact that it outlived its mother! I thought as much! . Is she very extortionate in her demands? Do you think she can be silenced with five or ten pounds? I would give double sum to free myself from annoyance. " "You seem to be begging the question," said Wilfred Stuart coldly. "If the woman spoke the truth, your wife, maddened by the discovery that you had deserted her, committed suicide." "I'll not believe it!" cried Laurence, wiping his forehead. "She was too—too sensible. Besides, the blame of the seperation rested on her, not on me. I promised to return to her, and should have done so, if she had not taken umbrage at being left so suddenly, and refused all further assistance from me. That wretched old woman—how unfortunate that we encountered her yester-

day!" "Why?" queried his friend, so bluntly that he stamped his foot in his irritation. "I told you that you are coldblooded! Can't you understand what torture it is to me to have all these miserable events revived? At such a moment, too! With happiness inviting me in the shape of Ambra Neville, I am dragged back by a fury in the shape of a hideous old hag who hisses in my ear the name f Daisy." "I don't think you have any annoyance to dread from Mr 3 Wakely," raid Mr Stuart. "Your encounter yesterday was, I believe, as unwelccme to her as to you, and she made no demands upon your pocket." "3ut she may turn up again at any moment. She always disliked me, and was always inclined to be saucy. I suppose," and he heaved a sigh—"l supose she must be conciliated. Such women have their price, and it generally an exorbitant one." Mr Stuart folded up some letters that lay on his table, but did not speak; while the other, incapable of comprehending how much such speeches jarred upon his finer nature, walked to the window and back again, eying him impatiently. At last Laurence came to his companion's side. "Won't you help me out of the bog, old chum? I'll do anything yc u suggest; make any atonement you think light." Wilfred Stuart sighed. Alas, it was not remorse for the fate of the trusting girl who had loved him so well that prompted what he was saying. It was tQ rid himself of a dreaded encumberance that he was offering to requite Daisy's humble and only friend. "Have I not told you that Mrs Wakely rejects with scorn any attempt to bribe her!" "That means she will not be content with anything less than an annuity. Weil, she must have it, I suppose; but the terms will have to be made binding upon her, so that there will be no clanger of hex turning up again. You'll see to it fcr me?" Wilfred turned upon him inv

patiently. "You think of the woman, and lof the babe, whom she could not name without her voice growing moist. Laurence, have you no natural affection within you? Do you not understand that it is of yotir child j we are speaking?" "I tell you it died!" was the sullen > reply. "I do not believe that it did.' I feel convinced, from Mrs Wakely's manner, that she has reared your offspring from its birth up to the present time; and that, so far from' seeking vou, she will avoid you, lest you should take the little one from her." Laurence recoiled in dismay. "But this complicates matters horribly, dreadfully! Yet no; why should it? I cannot be expected to feel any parental affection for a child I have never 'seen. And, if I settle a sufficient income upon her fostermother, I do not see that I need do more!" "How old is your daughter?" asked Wilfred. A frown and an angry gesture accompanied the response. "I am not so sure as you appear to be that I have ore. H>r age? Well, really, the years fleet by so fast that—that : ' s A start and an ag hated pause. "Mericful powers, Stuart, it is twenty years this very month since I sailed for India to join my father! But no,.no—nonsense! Daisy's child is dead —it must have died. I cannot be the father of a grown-up daughter!" "A daughter who is legally the grandchild and heiress of General Havdon!" said Mr Stuart, emphatically. And Laurence, white, shamestricken, and miserable, knew that, however he might stifle the voice of conscience, the rights of Daisy's child were in safe keeping—in the keeping of Wilfred Stuart. He might shuffle and equivocate, and even deny his paternity; but one who was the soul of honour would defend the right.

BY HENRIETTA B. RUTHVEN. Author of "His Second Love," " Corydon's Infatuation," " Daring Doia," " An Unlucky Legacy," Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER IX. THE GENERAL AROUSED. Ambra Neville waited in vain that afternoon for her walk to the park ; and the general, after keeping the rarraige at the door for an hour, sent it away and testily inveighed against the want of punctually of the young men of the present day. Lady Marcia found consolation in Laurence's non-appearance in going to sleep; and Miss Braysby amused herself and drove Ambra nearly to distraction by predicting that Laurence's spirited mare had thrown him and relating every melancholy accident she could remember. Yet everyone listened smilingly to Laurence's apologies when he did turn up, which was not till they were just commencing dinner without him. He did not come alone, having dragged the reluctant W Hired Stuart hither, and also makine Wilfred his excuse for his tardiness.

father, if you ask what has kept me away," he cried, with forced gaiety, "I answer business; and it you say how could I neglect you and Miss Neville even for that reason, I must bid you go to Stuart for an explanation. It was he who insisted that, if there were a good deed to be dune, it were well it wu-e done quickly, and that you—so punctilious yourself—would rather eat cold soup and spoiled fish than know that I had neglected a duty." "Mr Stuart judges me correctly; but still I don't know why you left us in the dark," grumbled his father,. "You might have sent us a message or a telegram. Ambra has lost that walk, and I may fail to secure that house, and all through your heedlessness." "Miss Neville will foigive me when she hears that it was a case Stuart brought under my notice that 'would admit of no delay." "Some one in distress? Not an old soldier surely? You should have sent him to me."

"Thanks, sir; but Stuart has promised to give what further held may be needed," "Dear me," exlaimed Miss Braysby, leaning forward to study the changing features of Laurence, "was it that old woman who was so rude at the palace? I peeped at her two or three times when she was talking to xMr Stuart, and I could see that si e did" not mean to be shaken off. What did she want?" "That woman, Miss Braysby," said Laurence composedly, and meeting her inquisitive look with the greatest "sang-froid"—"that woman was an impo3ter. She assured my friend Stuart that she resided at Horncharch. He has been there, and ascertained that it was a false address she gave him. No such person is known in the neigbourhjod.'' [to be continued."!