THE DOUBLE SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9626, 19 October 1909, Page 2

THE DOUBLE SECRET.

CHAPTER Vll.—Continued. "My dear lady." said the puzzled old gentleman, who in all his pursuits of scientific theories had nevt>r met a proposition so astounding as this, "I am sure there would be many to mourn for you." "For ten minutes," said Mrs Hooper, contemptuously. "Just you wait until you are dead and see who cares very much." Meanwhile in her own room the Widow Bemis was discussing wiih herself whether she should give up her situation and return to London, or should risk further reminiscences of the old rector. She was still cided when she wdnt down to dinner. "I don't see why the rector should think I looked like any of his former acquaintances," said she, glancing curiously at Pauline; "but after all, such idejs of resemblance are common. Did he say anything further about the person that I looked like?" "Yes; he gave me quite a history." "How interesting!" said Mrs Bemis, and by dint of close questioning she succeeded in learning the substance of the tale.

"But," said Pauline, as sbe concluded the history, "you are not eating any dinner. You are very pale." "I feel ill," said Mrs Bemis. "I wonder if this castle here by the Medway i 3 not malarious. I fear I must return to Lundon; this part of the country does not agree with rae."

She excused herself, and retired to her own room, and was there on her knees, packing her trunk, about ten in the evening, when Lucy ran in excited, and with little ceremony.

"Won't you come to Miss Percy, please? She is very ill, and I don't know what to do." Mrs Bemis went to tauline's dressing-room, and found her reclining in a half-sitting posture on a couch. She was nearly ready for bed. her hair was falling ov«r the arm of the couch and sweeping to the floor; her night-dress was open at the throat, her arm thrown up as she strove for breath.

"She is caugnt with a fearful pain in her chest," said Lucy. "Oh. dear, I ought to call for u doctor." "I think not," Baid, Mrs Bemis, calm and collected, as one used to illness. "I will bring a lotion I have and rub her ct;est, and do you wrap that blanket around her, and then'run for a bottle of hot water for her feet. Do not be alarmed." Mrs Bemis went for the lotion, while Lucy spread the Llanket about and over her rnisr.ress; returning, she sent the girl to the kitchen for wattr, ana kneeling by Pauline, whose eyes vtie Hosef 1 , she began to rub her chest.

Suddenly Mrs Bemi s gave a quick cry, and sprang to her feet. Pauline opened her eyes, and saw the widow standing pale and trembling, as one shaken in an ague fit; her face looked perfectly ghastly in the light of the candles on the dress-ine-table. Pauline endeavoured to motion her to sit down, but she once more sank on her knees and began to rub her carefully and skilfully in spite of her agitation. When Lu<>y returned she asked her to go and bring her a glass of wine, and seeming gradually to recover herself, she aided the little maid in putting Miss Percy to bed; and then, telling Lucy to renew the fire and bring her an easy chair,she insisted on sitting up with the young lady all night. Again and again, as the girl slept profoundly, the widow stole softly to her bedside, shading her candle with her hand, and closely searching her face; then standing by thejfire in the dressing-room, she would look toward the bed in the next apartment, where this fair sleeper lay, and sighing deeply, would whisper: "Ah, me! is it thus that Heaven rights human wrongs, and brings our crimes upon our heads? Oh, who can fight with fate and conquer?" Then again she would approach the bed, and gentle and painful memories would seem to contend in her soul. When Pauline awoke next morning she found Mrs Bemis sitting on the foot of her bed. "Oh!'' she exclaimed; "have you been up all night? What a pity! I am quite well." "It h no trouble to me to sit up; I am a trained nurse; I am accustomed tojwatching the sick; and now I want you to stay in bed for a day or two, and let me mind you." "But there is no need. lam quite well now; and you are ill yourself ill, and thinking of leaving." "I am better," replied Mrs Bemis; "I have thought it all over, and 1 do not care to go back to London; I will stay with you if you like. But last night, as 1 sat here, I thought this was a lonely place for a young lady. What a pity you have no young friend to come and be with you." "I want none," said Pauline, turning away. She never entered into conversation about herself. However, she was very glad Mrs Bemis chose to stay. She liked the widow's society; there was a subtle charm in her manner, and she had read and thought much. After Lucy had made her young lady's toilet, and had brought her her breakfast, Mrs Bemis came up with her letters. Until now these

BY DUNCAN McQREGOR Author of "Kennedy's Foe," ••Ishmael Keforme "A Game of Three," "Edna's Peril," Etc., etc.

r had been scrupulously given fir3t to Pauline. As the widow came up the stairs with three letters in her hands, she studied the superscriptions. "Pauline Fercy," she said to herself; "Pauline—yes, I see.'* Then turning the letters so that the addressed sides were hidden, she entered Pauline's room and nanded them to her. As she did so, she sat down by the bed. "The oid lady with whom I lived so long, used to amuse herself by making me and describe to her characters from their penmanship as skilfully as a gipsy reads bands." Pauline smiled at the fancy, looked at her letters, and turning the face of one envelope toward Airs Bemis, said: "Well, try that." "That," said the widow, "is from an elderly professional man, possibly a doctor; but I should think rather from a lawyer—a prompt, abrupt, reticent man." "Yes,'" said Pauline, "you are right, it is from Allan Bird, my trustee." She turned another envelope toward Mrs Bemis. "From an old lady; one ot the old school"—she watched Pauline's face furtively as she spoke —"a very stately lady, but honest and just; one that many fear and few really understand." "Yes, exactly," said Pauline; "it is from Lady Atsraea Harcourt; now try this"-—she held out the third. "Let me study it closer,'' said Mrs Bemis, "the script is fine and deli> cate."

She took it. but her hand shook so that ahe laid upon the bed the envelope, satin-finished, geraniutnscented, and marked with a crest. "That," she said, "is from a young lady; a brilliant beauty; selfwilled, but. I am sure, very loving and lovely." "Yes," said Pauline, "it is from Lord Harcourt'a daughter, the belle of London; she is, indeed, very charming." "I wonder that she is not already married," said Mrs Bemis.

"What need?" said Pauline, "she is very happy as she is. and she has a surfeit of lovers. Who could choose among so many?" No" attendant could be more attentive than Mrs Bemis; she read to her patient in a voice,} almost as weak as Pauline's own; she chatted with her and told anecdotes. Datne Hooper came and slumbered peacefully by che fire, and Lucy was sent to do up Pauline's laces, and Mrs Bemis chatted pleasantly *or. She said she had Heard,while in London, of the Harcourt family, and she appeared to linger over a chat about them, and questioned about Lady Lina; was she like her father, like her mother, were they fond of her? was she likely to marry her cousin, the heir-at law?

On these subjects Pauline had little to say. Finally, at bedtime, Mr« Bemis asserted that Pauline was cold and her pulse low; she /really must take a cup of coffee that would be prepared by Mrs Bemis herself, with a taste of brandy in it. This decoction Pauline declined, hut Mrs Bemis urged it pertinaciously, and Mrs Hooper so warmly approved it, that finally she yielded. I TO BE CONTINUED.]