SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9688, 12 January 1910, Page 2

SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

CHAPTER XXVl.—Continued

Soon the town of Llanberis came into view, and Hilda decided to cal-1 firat upon Miss Lewis. When the carriage swept into the quiet little town the shopkeepers came to their doors and watched h.er curiously, l'hen she noted that they gathereo together in groups, and she knew that she was being discussed. The carriage stopped before Miss Lewis' shop, and that lady herself ran out, her kindly lace sympathetic but curious.

Hilda took her hand. 'I am going away,' she said briefly : 'and I have called to say good-by to you, and to thank you for your kindness to me.' Her eyes darkened with teais. 'No—I won't come in; J leave by the twelve-o'clock train for London." . . , 'lam so sorry, Miss Carrington. Are you sure that there is nothing I can do for you?' 'Quite sure'.' . 'I wish that you had come in. Miss Lewis glanced angrily at a group of inquisitive men and women standing on the other side of the street 'These people are all agog with curiosity. I know how galling it must be to your sensitive nature. 'I am past caring, I think. tiut I have always been more or less of a pariah! And I love the wild beauty of Llanberis., although . I hate it. Paradoxical, isn't it?" She smiled wanly. 'I have only discovered it this morning/ 'But you will noc be gone for long 1 'Forever!' Miss Lewis snatched at her hand impulsively. . 'I am so sorry!' She did not think for one moment that Hilda's words were true. 'You are anxious to be gone; this terrible been too much for you. I shall see Mr Linton before he follows you, I am She waved her hand as the carriage rolled away, and her eyes were moist. 'Poor child!' she murmured. 'And just when happiness appeared to be within reach!' The people on the opposite aide of the'way stared after Miss Garrington, and then the group began to disperse. By way of showing her detestation of such heartless gossips, Miss Lewis slammed her shop door behind her as she went in.

jjj Hilda soon reached the rectory. How often she had sought consolation there from the honest-hearted clergyman ! He had always been her friend, though r at times he had severely reproved her. The slattenly mai,d-of-all-work opened the door, and she stared with wide-apen eyes at Miss Carrington. 'La, Miss Carrington, for sure! Is it the rector you be wanting to see? Come into his study, please—'cause he's got a visitor in the parlor.' The maid grinned from ear to ear. 'An' the missis is there as well. And that's the reason I have to answer the door while I'm peeling the 'taters with hands like these!' Hilda hesitated. 'I have no time to spare,' she began thoughtfully. •Neither has the rector for the party he's got there,' the girl returned with a sly wink. 'He won't be two minutes, miss. Now there's them brats up to mischief —'things has been so quiet!' The maid-01-all-work shambled away, and Hilda sat down in the study, the door being left slightly ajar. The indistinct murmur of voices reached her ears; then there was the sound of an opening door, and she heard the voice of the rector, speaking angrily. 'I don't care, Miss Morgan—l utterly refuse to discuss malicious gossip with you and Mrs Jarvis; I quite appreciate the fact that I am a mere figurehead in my own household—l am a meek and enduring man for the sake of peace —but I will not hear another word about that poor girl! You both appear to rejoice in her misfortunes." 'She was always a perfect little vixen, and deserves all that she will get!' snapped Miss Morgan. 'When under my ears she used to defy me. And as for Mr Linton, the man who has turi.ed her silly head, he is the sort s of creature I most abhor—a male flirt!' , 'Andrew,' Mrs Jarvis chimed in icily, 'you have insulted me in the presence of Miss Morgan! Is that wicked creature to cause trouble between husband and wife? I told you long ago what she was —an impudent, ugly, saucy vixen! I hope that she will be sent to prison with her thief of a father! We can do without such creatures in Llanberis. And, if the truth were known, oid Sir John Garrington was no better than he should have been?' 1 'This is moat unseemly!' Hilda noted that there was a tremor in the rector's voice. •Yes—you go against your own wife to defend that hateful girl! They are bad, root and branch!' 'I am afraid that the fact of Miss

BY P. L. DACKE, Author of "A Loveless Marriage," "A Change of Heart," ■'Trenholme'a Trust," "A Case for the Court," Etc, etc.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Carrington's having -lived at Harlech School will do me an ■ irreparable injury. Several of my girls have already given notice; and the scandal is not i?alf out yet." Miss Morgan 'spoke iji a plaiutive one. '1 hope that she will not settle in this neighbourhood—l have a wholesome horror of the creature—she is really uncanny!' With glowing cheeks and flashing eyes, Hilda rose silently from her seat. Should she face tier traducer on the spot? 'I will not sell the castle now/' she determined—l- will not gratify >my enemies! I will come back to Llanberis some day, and they shall feel my power! The dear old rector defends me—l shall not forget his disinterested kindness. ... I can't see him after all—the time is and I will not meet these women—l think that I should do something desperate if I did!' The voices in the parlour were lower again, but Hilda heard Miss Morgan saying 'good morning' to Mrs Jarvis. i .'I will drop in to tea this afternoon if you are disengaged.' the schoolmistress said i 'Yes, do, my dear! It is a belief to have somebody to speak to after a day of worry aiid toil witn the children; and Mr Jarvij haj no sympathy with me. Don't forget to bring all the news!' Hilda came tut of the study, and let herself out at the front door. She wondered if they could get away unnoticed. Of course the mald-of-all-work would inform her master and mistress of her visit, but Hilda sprang into the carriage. 'The railway station!' was her order to the coachman.

'THE NAME I BEAR WILL SOON BE A BYWORD.'

There was nearly half an hour toi spare when Hilda Carrington and Mrs Maxwell reached the railway station, and to Hilda it seemsd endless. She mailed her. letter to Victor Linton, and when it dropped into the box she bade farewell to every hope. ihe loiterers on the platform stared at her curiously; and she was quite sure that a policeman was standing at her elbow when she purchased two first-class tickets to London. But it did not matter; Perrin had made her some vague promise, and she had an, idea that he was her friend. At last the train steamed away, and then Hilda's only care was that they would have to change at Carnarvon It was possible that she would attract notice there also. 'Don't trouble about anything, Mips Carrington,' Mrs Maxwell advised as the train rolled slowly into Carnarvon station. 'I will see that the luggage is transferred to the London van, and arrange with the <Euard to give us a compartment to ourselves.' 'Thank you!' Hilda answered. She waß already planning her future movements. It- would not be wise to stay in London one hour longer than was absolutely necessary, as Victor would perhaps.follow her there. They had not long to wait at Carnarvon before the London express thundered in. Hilda took the precaution, while they were waiting, to telegraph to Mr Molson as follows:--'I shall arrive at Huston about eight o'clock this evening. Can you send some one to meet me? If possible, engage rooms at hotel for myself and lady companion. I must consult you upon matters of vital importance. 'HILDA CARRINGTON.' When the train rolled into Euston Hilda had fully decided,upon a course of action with which Mrs Maxwell also was well pleased. 'I care fpr Mr Linton too well to consent to drag him down to my own level,' was the girl's explanation, 'arid I cannot lace the world after the exposure of my father's career. Therefore I intend travelling for a few years, until lam forgotten; and, to make my identification the less likely, I may assume another name." Mrs Maxwell acquiesced, but there was a meaning smile on her kindly face. Mr Victor Linton was not the man to take matters calmly, and Miss Carrington would alter her mind by and by. When they alighted from the train a gentleman pushed his way through the crowd and spoke to Miss Carrington. It was Mr Molson. He regarded the girl with mingled pity and concern. 'I have obeyed your instructions,' he said, his keen eyes never leaving her face, 'though they are of a rather surprising nature. If you are not too tired, I should like to have a long talk with you to-night.' 'That is my wish, too,' Hilda responded. TO BE CONTINUED