HER SILENCE JUSTIFIED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3211, 10 June 1909, Page 2

HER SILENCE JUSTIFIED.

CHAPTER XXII.-Continued, "Nothing directly, perhaps. But if the general saw you attaching yourself to your father, and reconciling them to one aiiother by your loving attentions to both ; tnat one mistake of the past now estranging them would be forgiven and for gotten, and I should be at once recalled, to be happy with them'" "Am I the cause of that mistake?" asked Lois bluntly. "I must confess that I was alluding to Mr Haydon's marriage with your mother." "She wasn't a bad woman." "She could not have been a good one," responded Am bra. very gravely, "or she would not have tempted Mr Haydon to marry her with out the knowledge of his father." Lois put her thumb under her chin, and meditated. "If my mother was the Mrs Laurence granny talks about, she was as good as you are, every bit, and I won't hear her abused!" Ambra instantly apologised for her incautious speech. "Forgive me, dear! I should not have said what I did, but while you defend the memory of your j dead mother don't be unmindful of the claims upon your love and respect of your living father." n "ril make granny tell ma the whole truth about it," said Lois, drawing a long breath; "but, all the same, for what's past and over, I'm, glad you are going awav; yes, glad, glad, glad .'—for nothing you've said has persuaded me to think that I should be content to see you give yourself away to—you know who!" She ran off; but her remarks spoiled Ambra's rest that night. She was too staunch in her attachments to be influenced by them. Laurence Was all the dearer to her because others did him injustice; but she began to comprehend that the effects of that ugly secret marriage were likely to prove abiding ones; and as long as Lois was always near | to keep him in rembrance of it, the general would stubbornly adhere to his refusal to sanction the union that had once been the dearest wish of his heart. Before starting for Maidstone under the escort of Mrs Elston's elderly maid, sent at an early hour for ithe purpose, Ambra contrived to obtain in interview with her lover, who, until now, had been kept in ignorance of the arrangement. Ac first Laurence was so furious as to terrify her, and wag-for going to the general, and remonstrating with him on the needless crueliy of such a separation. But his wrath was evanescent, for he promptly reminded himself that Ambra. as the eueat of comparative strangers, would be more come-at-able than while residing in the house from which his father's mandate has partially, and might at any moment entirely', banish him. He had beer reflecting on his tion, and taken a very sanguine view of it. What if Daisy were still living? He could have nothing to fear from her' She had allowed him to believe her dead all these long years, and doubtless their marriage could be easily invalidated, especially »« oh " v " t ...< «<• *•■ . - . —' was a minor c. me time it was solemnized. His father, with his too rigid notions of light and wrong might refuse to agree to this; but, once wedded to Ambra, and in hiding with her on the Continent, what would the general's scruples avail him? He could not withhold Ambra's fortune except while. she was under age, and he loved his son too fondly to be implacable. Laurence's creditors would wait patiently enough as soon as they learned that he had secured the heiress, and all would ba well. These thoughts were in his mind \ when he kissed the trembling hands of his betrothed, and begged her to excuse his burst of rage. "Thinking of you, driven from here by. my father's Puritanical fancies, almost rr.addened me; but I take consolation in the knowledge that these relatives of yours will make no such unkindly attempts to keep us apart " "Laurence"—and Ambra's sighing voice was almost too low to reach his ear—"you must not come to Maidstone. We dare not meet again until the general sanctions it." "But, with or without leave, I intend to see you, and that frequently, no matter when 1 you go," he promptly responded. "Remember, my beloved, I am no boy to be restricted in my actions by the caprices of a very good but obstinate old man. Don't look so shocked, my Ambra. I revere my father, and will submit to him in reason; but, all the same, I shall not let him deprive me of the pleasure of seeing you." "I promised to obey him" cried she agitatedly; "and I cannot, even for your sake, break my word. Ah ' Laurence, be your own brave, honourable self, and do not tempt me'" "My love, I will not. You shall keep all your promises to my father, and to me also. I only ask you to be neutral, and leave the rest to me When I go to Maidstone it shall hot be at your invitation; you shall not even know the day or the hour at which I may be expected. Will that satisfy your too tender conscience, darling? You will greet me with a kiss, no

JTO BE CONTINUED.]

2* BY HENRIETTA B. KUTHVEN. *> Author of "His Second Love," " Corydon's Infatuation, %» C 5 * " Daring Doia," " An Unlucky Legacy,' Jf / Etc., Etc. /

matter when or how I coite, will you not?"

Ambra was not satisfied by such specious sophistry. She had imbibed from her father as well as the general a deep and abiding sense of honour, to which, unfortunately for himself, Laurence was a stranger. She could find excuses for him, but she would have made none for herself, had she been prevailed upon to act contrary to the firm though simple code by which there were but two courses—the right and the wrong. The middle one of expediency, into which Laurence was always straying, was, to her pure mind, an impossible one. She tried to argue with him—to make him see with her the degradation of stuoping to a paltry deception; but he only laughed at her scruples, kissing her tears away, and bidding her be guided by him. How could she be, if this whither his guidance was to lead her? Plow could she bid the general farewell, receive his blessing, and listen to his assurances that he only sent her from him in his earnest desire to do right by her, without feeling miserable and ashamed? Not so much for herself, alas! as for Laurence. " You will endeavour to make yourself contented with your friends, my little Ambra?" the general said anxiously, as she clung to him. "You see, my dear, we all have something to live for besides pleasing ourselves. Doing one's duty may sound cold, but it leads upward." "I will do mine, Heaven helping me," murmured Ambra, and she went away—not to safety, as her guardian fondly imaie;ned, but to a struggle in which it was doubtlful whether she would come off victor. CHAPTER XXIII. LOIS RECOGNISES A LONGFAMILIAR FACE. And so Lois was left to the companionship of Lady Marcia and Miss Braysby, both of whom were eager to ingratiate +hemselves with the general and his son by their atten tions to her. But neither of these ladies succeeded in winning Lois' goodwill. She liked Lady Marcia best, because she made no attempt to disguise her selfish indolence, nor her designs upon Laurence, but the hypocritical Lollie Braysby she detested; and that amiable spinster's efforts to convert her into a fashionable young lady met with many a rebuff.

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