SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9678, 30 December 1909, Page 2

SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

CHAPTEK XVlll.—Continued

Silence fell upon them, and they gazed at the glorious scenery. The peak of Snowden glistened in the sunlight, and, as the carriage wound out of a wild p j .ss. they beheld, beyond a mile of wood and stream and bracken, the valley of Nant Glaslyn, where Victor's millions of "black diamonds" were hidden. '•'Did we say that everything had gone wrong, darling?" he whispered into Hilda'a ear. "No—not everything;: in one shore month that peaceful valley will be like a busy hive. There will be th.3 sound of machinery in the moss-grown engine house, and the green earth will soon bd blackened by the output of the two great shafts which are row marked by rotting frames and rusty pulleys." He grew enthusiastic. "i!ou see what monay will do!" The carriage came to a standstill within a i\w hundred yards of the future coal fields, and Victor's eyes became moist. "j'he scene," he murmured, "of my poor father's only hopes and fears, the bugbaar of his life, and 1 the ruin of his old age!" I " But you have good news for him, Victor?" ! "Yes. But the problem is not solved yet. little woman." "And it was that hateful debt that came between us?" "Only for a little while. Pray Heaven that nothing worse may come between us, Hilda!" "Nothing shall—nothing ever can! You are thinking of my father. Why should I be burdened with such a father? Ah, you cannct deceive me! There is some impending disaster." 1 She clenched her hands, and her eyes flashed,,in their old way. Victor soothed her with tender words. He knew that he was not speaking the truth, and Hilda knew it, too. I The carriage was turned in the direction of Carnarvon. It was a long drive, but the horses were young and fresh, ! At Carnarvon there was a rest of 1 two hours. Trie lovers lunched in the town, and Victor purchased copies of ! the latent books for mhla to read. I "I ahull lie sj busy for tne next few weens," he said, "though I shall write to you every day. And ; don't want, to visit the Cas>tie very often until that despicable East In- : dian has gone and taken your father i with him. The man raises all of the old Adam that is in my nature, and I feel that I should like to fling hun t into the lake !" | "The rajah leaves to-morrow," Hilda mentally decukd, ..hough she did not mter nor thoughts aloud, "even if he has to be ejecttd by my servants!" The sun was setting reJly over the ,< hills when the carriage rolled up to the Castle gates. Victor had been left at Llanberis, as it was possible that Mr Growcott would be waiting for him at his lodgings, and his heart and mind were full of tne new undertaking. "Good-by for the present, my darling!" he had whispered passionately. "I shall write vbu a long letter to-inorrow. And you will let me know by telegraph if—if anything i goes wrong al the Castle? I will arrange tnat all messages shall be promptly delivered at the works." "Yes, dear"--Hilda's eyes were moist, but she smiled through her tears—"and your black sheep shall go to-morrow." "I atri afraid not, 1 ' he answered equivocally; "but Bartlet will take care ihat no harm befals you." Hilda thought of the speech afterward with strange misgivings, but she steJed herself against them. "We will see to morrow," she muttered to herself.

CHAPTER XIX. "HE HOLDS ABOVE ME THE OLD THREAT!" Hilda went to her boudoir at once, with a view to avoiding her father and Ali Narain. As for the Indian prince, she did not wish to see him again; his softly modulated voice and the glitter of his eyes had filled her with disgunt, not unmingled with an indefinable fear And Victor's vague warning recurred to her with uncomfortable persistency. Her chaperon, suave and Biniling, was in prompt attendance. On a table were the cards of several callers; but these were of no interest to Hilda. She decided that a cup of tea would be all that-she would require that evening. "My dear Miss Carrington," Mrs Staples-Lambert miloly protested, during a conversation after tea, "the visit of the Badens really ought to be returned! Then there are the Montagues Mr Montague is first cousin of an earl; and so much depends upon one's popularity in the county!" "I have no dtsire to be popular with people who are nothing to me!" was the indifferent rejoinder. "But you can't afford to offend the Badens and the Montagues!" "I have not their friendship." "This is where my experience shojlc! be of urn to jou," persisted the chaperon, "Of course your life hitherto has been one of positive se-

BY P. L. DACEE, Author of "A Loveless Marriage," "A Change of Heart," •'Trenholme'3 Trust," "A Case for the Court," Etc, etc.

elusion; but, now that you are somebody, with a position to maintain, it is my duty to correct, your wrong impressions. I am sure that Captain Oarrington wi'l f.illv indorse " "Captain Currin»ion has no voice in the regulation of my affairs!" inerrupted Hilda haughtily. Mrs Staples-Lambert flushed. "Hitherto my services have been appreciated, and my advice to young girls has never been questioned; but you trt'at me as you would your cook, Miss Carrington!" "I wish you gave as little trouble! You are dissatisfied, and I request you to resign! It will ba an incalculable relief to me." "I pity your inexperience and your ignorance, Misß Carrington!" retorted the chaperon, deeply mortified. "And I would hava you remember that I am a lady by birth and education '" "It is not I who forget it. I shall be glad if you can make it convenient to go to-morrow, or the next day at latest. I will instruct ,Mr Molson to pay what money is due to you in lieu of notice." 5 1rs Staples-Lambert became wrathful. She had always hated Hilda from the bottom of her heart; her dreams of completely swaying the motherless, friendless young mistress | of a great house had been crushed at the vary beginning. She gave vent to her disappointment as only a vindictive woman cin. "And no doubt you will try to injure me with Mr Molson, who is making up to ynu? But he is only doing it for the sak«» of what he can get out of you; he knows you quite well enough—knows your murderous lemper! A nice life you led the poor schoolmistress —Miss Morgan! Your reputation is a most enviable one! Yes, I will leave the Castle to-mor-row, or the next day, or next week, it it suits me!" Hilda sprang to her feet, her eyes aflame. "Leave my rcom. woman!" A deathly whiteness overspread her face, and she glanced about her as though in search of something. The chaperon saw the glance, and interpreted it, then quickly withdrew, laughing hysterically. The girl locked the door, her heart rasing within her, but no tearsjeame to her relief: it was so long since she had cried—except when something had intervened between her and her lover! She seemed to be surrounded by enemiei; and yet she had a heart so capable of loving! An hour had passcl away, and Hilda was gazing fro r the window in the direction of the lake and the ruired tower. The sun had sunk behind the hills, and, the ruin looked like a black shadow. In the darkness the thicket surrounding it appeared to be impenetrable. A miit was rising from the hidden lake. There was a knock at ihe dn'r, nut Hilda did not heed it. The s 11111110ns was repeite" l , at first uently, t'ien peremptrily, and a voicrf (lem>»"d*d: "Hilda, are you there?" It wa3 Captain Carnngt?n. "Yes: what do you wariU!.' "A few wordd with yo i." She rose and opened t'.e door, and her father walked in. Hi? f?.?c was paler than usual, and Mm? were deep linas under his ejes. Hj ■ ee-r.cd to have aged years i-i a single day. There was little pity for i im, however, in Hilda's heart. "The rajah is asking for yu," he said. "He fears that he has unwittingly given you ofTenc. These Eastern people are s; irrrgir.ative! Will you come d .wnitaicr, if only for a short time, and give us some music? I kn-.iw thit you plav exquisitely—y..u inherit, that talent from your mother." "My rrothi'r?" ricitol Hilda, W'th a pang at her heart. "Ah, my mother" Carrington glanced at. her swiftly, and continued simplv: "I loved your m-.ther in my selfish, careless way." "I have heard that you broke her heart. And you have put another woman in her pl«ca," "I have been a fool all nrw life," he said despondently; "but, when all is said and done, Hilda, lam your father, and at least I ask for your forgiveness if not your Imve. I have been weak, but it is not for you to jud»e me. It I can make amendsShe turried to him impulsively. "Father, if the pi.st could be blotted out! Bjt it cannot —it cannot! You must see that I am unhappy about you and the mystery that surrounds you ! Why did you come here at all?/' "Because I believed that Woodcroft was mine by right," he truthfully answered. "But shall we talk of these things at another time? The prince is my guc-sr, and I must not leave him too much to bis own devices." "Or his highness might purloin the silver!" the girl said scornfully. "Your guest, father? Is he not your master? And I want you to understand ihat the man must leave the Castle to-morrow. If he refuses my servants r-diall turn him out! I am rot going downstairs tc entertain him because I loathe the creature!" TO HE CONTINUED.