THE DOUBLE SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9645, 10 November 1909, Page 2

THE DOUBLE SECRET.

CHAPfER XIII. —Continued

"All bandits are in the popular idea—be a bandit and a demigod of romance!" exclaimed (he contessa. "I should dearly love to know how lie looks," said Lady Lina. "My brother him to me," said the contessa, "and it is a pity that so lovely a creature could not abide in civiiised life. His face bright and smiling:, his teeth white as pearls, his eyea like stars, his hair black and curly, checks like pomegranates—lie is like a young Pan in the woods, his naughty profession being the objectionable hoofs of the dear creature."

"Oh, you seer," said the marchessa, "but what is a man to do? He gets into a little tmublt', and knows if he is at all liberal that he will get no justice fom I he Rovtrnment -they will be o. ly too glad to send him to the galley?. He cannot sell his property nor trade, as he is at once outlawed. If lie tries to make a living out of the contraband trade the authorities sirj upon him; he has absolutely no resource but to take to the hills and rob Peter to pay Paul I don't blame them."

And so the grand fete at the Castle Viir?igliate came to an end at last, and both Lady Lina and her cuiisin Dugald went home wiser than they came. Lina had found for her Granitto a local habitation and a name, and Dugald's mil d had welded Persia Ormesby and Pauline Percy into one; not that Dugald came any nearer to Pauline thereby, or that Lina was true to fact in her local habitation for Granitto. He was, indeed, now a man of violence, with Medzo's blood on his hands, and she pictured him in the chilly night or the stormy day?, unsnelttred on the hills, a price on his head, the hunger of hia follower compelling him to tax paesersby; a man fojever shut out from honorable life. Perhaps he might havt proved that his errand to Villa Pazzi was harmless, and that he killed Medzo by accident, only that the Tuscan government was hostile to him.

The Harcourt family returned to Palazzo Ridolfi, and here Lady Lina's melancholy redoubled, for the place was filled with memories of Granitto, from whom she must sever her heart as their lives were severed. The last sun of October was settling as they entered Florence, and though JNovembtr by the Arno has no chill or gloom, Lina seemed at once to live in a "winter of discontent." Lady Astra'a feared that the girl was going Into a decline. Lord Harcourt was unhappy in the child's misery. Dugald Pr. byn began to guess that some secret sorrow was gnawing, like a worm in the mid, his young cousin's heart. He found her one day, reclining in a large chair near one of the balcony windows of the great salon. She was dressed in black, with not a vesttige of bright colour about her; her hands lay idly in her lap, her eyes were dreamilv clrsed, the face hnd lost so much of it- joyousnes3 and piquancy that Dugald's heart was deeply touched, and he resolved to find out, the cause of her sorrow.

He drew a chair close beside her, but she made no movement. "Are .vou not glad that I am come to sit with you?" he he asked. "I am not glad about anything anymore," replied Lma. "That is dreadful," said Dugald, "but sorrow, like a burden, is lighter for being shared—divide your sorrow with me. little cousin, and I will help you carry it." "No one can do that," replied Lina. "Try it and see. Tell me all this trouble." "I will tell you," said Lina, "but you will be shocked, and hate me- I know you will—no one cares really for me." "Try me and see," pleaded Dugald, taking her hand. Lina diew her hand away, covered her face, and, sobbing, told him her story. Dugald was perfectly dumb with astonishment. "Jt is not," continued Lina, still weeping, "that I want Arriano to come back; he has killed poor Medzo, and 1 could not like to see a man who has killed people; but I do not wish him to be driven to the hills, and hunted like a wild beast, and made a robber—all because of me! I think of him all the time, and imagine him wounded or dying on those horrible hills. Oh, Dugald, can't you do something; cannot he be got out of this dreadful country, sent to America or somewhere to be safe and hapny, and can't I go back to Harcourt Towers, and be let alone in quiet?" "My dear child," said Dugald, "I never expected to hear Euch a story as this; it will take me some little time to make it all clear to my mind, and see what to do, for be sure I shall do something to relieve your unliappiness." Lina rose, patted her cousin caressingly on the head, and left the apartment. Dugald bent forward, his elbows en his knees, his hands clasped, his head down; he seemed to be intently studying the mosaics of

BY DUNCAN McQEEGOR Author of "Kennedy's Foe," '-Ishinael Eeforme "A. Game of Three," "Edna's Peril." Etc, etc.

the floor, but he was studying the problem of Lady Lina's love.

A shadow falling through the open winrlow roused him; it was Lord Harcourt, who dropped into the chair which Li ia had deserted. He sighed heavily several times. "Dugald, mv hoy," he said, "[ happened to be on the balcony and to hear what JLina said to you. Ihis is a terrible affair, her loving that Italian! I begin to fancy my sister Vilihorpe was right, and that my mother is too old, a d I am ho l.eodless to chaperon Una. I think I must send for Mrs Vilthorpe to return; all this might not have happened if she had remained, liut Mrs Vilthorpe and I had a serious quarrel about Miss Percy. My sister is suspicious and has always a bugbear before her imagination about my second marriage. The truth is, Proby/i, I have never once thought of marrying since my wife 'died. I cannot see what lightness ot mind I have displayed (hat Mrs Vilthorpe supposed I was making inve to a girl of the age of my daughter. I do regard Miss Percy highly; often I think I care as much for lur as f.,r Lina. If it were not for the injustice to my child I should care more for her always in a fatherly way. Still Mrs Vilthorpe judged wrongly, and I quarrelled with her." Probyn's heart beat so fast he could not speak, lest he should betray his agitation. What! was Lord Harcourt not in love with Pauline; dare he believe that the way was open to his own suit? How mad he had been not to press it before! As he continued silent, Lord Thomas spoke on: "As to love, Dugald, you cannot fail to know that I should have preferred you of all men for my daughter's husband."

"I think," replied Dugald, striv ing to be calm, "that the only condition on which I have held Lady Lina's confidence and friendship has been that I did not trouble her with courtship. Our cousinly relation seemed capable of growing into a lraternal affection, but into nothing warmer. No one admires Lady Lina more tl an I do, or would more highly esteem the honour of being your son-in-law. Ihe very fact of the suit ability of this match to oth r minds, probably, w.,uld have been fatal to my love-making in Lady Lina's view. And so, my lord, while 1 know that my fair cousin would never admit my claim to be a lover—even before I was aware -I found my heart in another's keeping, but of one to whom I have tot dared speak Miss Ptrcy." Lord Harcourt started violently." This was his heir, the future Lord Harcourt, and this girl whom he loved was portionless and nameless. Lord Harcourt had immense f.imly pride. "But, my dear Dugald, this admirable young lady is entirely without a fortune such as joa have a right to expect." "And such as Ido not need. She has no fortune, but she is a fortune in herself in her virtue, beauty and wisdom.'"

"And, my dear Doy, she has not even " Lord Haroourt paused; a secret had been intruste i to him which he could not betray. j "Sir, whatever she has or lacks, she is herself my highest ideal of a woman."* Lord Harcourt smiled a little. "You are, indeed, in love, Dugald, and what can I do for you?" "My lord, you stand as Miss Percy's guardian and protector; I present my suit to you, and request your good offices with her." "I wiil make known your suit to my mother and Miss Percy,"' Lord Harcourt said. "You do Miss Percy an honour, and I do not see why, with your advantages, \ou need fear an adverse answer " He found the girl in his mother's room, reading to htr. They were alone. "You look melancholy my son," said Lady Astraea. "I should not. I come on what is usually considered a festal errand. As a messenger of Don Cupid I s+iould look merry." "Of Cupid!" said Lady Astraea; "has, then, our Lina " Lord Harcourt hastened to interrupt. "It ia not Lina," he said; and as Pauline had risen to withdraw, he held out hii hand to her. "Do not go, Miss. Percy; this errand concerns yourself. 1 am sent by a loving swain to offer you heart and hand." "To me, my lurd!" cried Pauline, flushing and trembling; "but I do not intend to marry; I have chosen to remain single." "You will reconsider when you find out the good qualities of the suitor who presents himself. I can heartily commend him as the most praiseworthy of all my acquaintances. Miss Percy, you will allow me to congratulate you on the suitor whom you have won—my cousin and heir, Dugald Probyn." Pauline had grown pale; she grasped the back of a chair to steady herself and struggled for a calm tone of reply. She spoke slowly: I TO BE CONTINUED, i