SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9695, 20 January 1910, Page 2

SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

CHAPTER XXII. -Continued

'lt may be for the last time, Carrington,' Victor, answevud with einotino. 'I am going back to London to continue my search for Hilda; my i'uher will remain here.' An hour or so later, Victor was driven away. He looked hack once and saw that Harrington was waving his hand to him. There were many of the workmen about, and such familiarity between the miner. 'Bii! Dodgson/and one of his employers might have been commented upon but for the fact that 'Dodgson' was the man who had brought down the first lump of coal. Victor went to Woodcroft Castle and saw Mrs Carrington. A detective was still stationed there —a fact which the young man viewed with strong disapprobation; but if Molson did not protest, it was not in his power to interfere. No doubt the detective would stay as long as Mrs Carrington made Woodcroft her home. His interview with the captain's wife was brief. 'I knew the poor dear would beat them—he's so clever!' she said, when Victor had told her about her husband. 'You say he's well, sir?' 'Quite well. But if it is possible that you may not hear from him again for some weeks. Whenever the news comes to you I shall be the bearer of it. I should advise you to leave Woodcroft in a day or two, and eo to London; it will be safer for all concerned.' Mrs Carrington considered for a moment. 'l'll do as you say, sir. But I must tell Mr Molson. because of the money he allows me.' 'Not a word to Molson!' Victor said. 'That man is our enemy! I will supply you with all the money you need.' Soon after the interview, was over Victor was speeding back to town. He could no rest away from home, where the first news of Hilda was sure to be received. Advertisements were appearing in all the leading foreign newspapers, and she must see them sooner or later. So two months more dragged wearily by. 'lhe new year had seen a continuation of their prosperity, and it was now an accepted fact that the great coal mine in Nant Glaslyn Valley was one oc the most valuable in the world. Already Victor had paid a substantial portion of what was due to General Mayhew, and a reconciliation all round had followed. 'Bill Dodgson' had disappeared, after an apparently sharp quarrel with Reuben Growcott. To the miners this was a mere incident, and in a week he was forgotten by them. He had lingered about Llanberis for a day or two, and then tramped off to find work elsewhere, and not a word had been heard of him since. Winter merged into spring. The trees were bursting into leaf, the winds were soft and mild, the skies were blue, and the birds sang their songs of glorious promise. Then it was that Victor Linton received a letter from abroad, and his spirit was attuned to their music and gladness.

CH APTER XXXIII.

HILDA IN NEW YORK.

Mr Molson had been right when be said that two ladiss,„could travel the length and breadth of the United States without attracting any particular attention. The ship on which "Miss Stansfield" and her companion had embarked made a delightful passage out. New friendships were formed by the ladies which were destined to be lifelong. On the very first day of the voyage an American clergyman, having noticed 'Miss Stansfield's' preoccupied air and mournful look, addressed her with the courteous freedom characteristic of bis countrymen. 'You are going to New York, Miss Stansfield?' ne said respectfully. 'Are you going to remain there vex-y long? Oh, I heard the stewardess call you by name, and \ve dispense with formalities on board ship! I don't see your lady .friend this morning. Sick, is she? lam really sorry to hear that! If I can be of any use to you I shall be pleased.' 'Thank you—no!' 'Miss Stansfield' answered rather coldly. She was suspicious of everybody. 'I am travelling for pleasure.' 'Pleasure? I shouldn't have believed it if you hadn't said so! Well, I suppose we shall have you in New York fur a while, if that is the case, and I may be able to see you find at a good hotel, and to direct you generally as regards the sights of our city. My name is Halstead, and I'm minister of an Episcopal church in Jersey City. I've heeri to Europe on my holiday, and I think I've done it pretty thoroughly in a month, but I got so homesick I came baok before my holidays had expired, intending to stay for a while in New York!' 'Done Europe in a month?' murmured Miss Stansfield.' 'You must hav<2 seen very little!'

V BY F. L. DACRE, 1 b Author of "A Marriage," "A Change of Heart," *) Etc, t'to.

•Jh to tJL 'I believe there's nothin' worth that I haven't seen. It's a miserable place, after America !' 'Miss Stansfield' lelt that she disliked Mr Halstead, but she made no reply. 'You will say that there's nothing iu the old cou' try equal to New York,' he went on cheerfully. 'I shall say nothing of the kind!' she returned with some asperity. 'You have no natural scenery, and you buildings are ugly and squatty!' 'O, I can't agree with that' She had visions of the wild beauty of Llanberis. 'You just wait until you reach New York, Miss Stansfield. You are cold ■•■ Shall I get your wraps—or have you a waterproof? The wind brings a lot of spray along this morning.' She declined Mr Halstead's kindly offics, and went below, feeling that she detested Americans. The next day Mr Halatead sought ! er again, and she gradualy began to Imd amusement in his conversation, Mid to like the man. He told her of his early struggles, of his wife and little daughter, and she found • hat at heart he was an honest and chivalrous gentleman. Once she discovered herself laughing heartily at his exaggerated ideas of America and Americans, but this only pleased Mr Halstead. Upon reaching New York he assisted 'Miss Stansfield' and her companion to get their luggage expeditiously through the hands of the customs officials. He then suggested a hotel near Twenty-third Street. 'Very ha; dy for everyting!' he explained. 'Nice people and moderate charges! And I ain going to stay there myself a couple of weeks before going home —it the Indian summer lasts out the time. I might pilot you and Mrs Maxwell around, if you don't mind. At all events, you must not miss going to Central Park —it's as nig as all your public parks in England put together!' So they accompanied Mr Halstead to the Adelphi Hotel, close to Twenty-th'rd street, and 'Miss Stansfield' almost iorgot her misery in the novelty of the situation. 'Am I completely heartless?' she asked herself. 'How can I find pleasure in anything? But I must not think—l dare not!' The weather was perfect, the sunshine being brilliant, the sky a cloudless blue, and the softest of winds tempering the heat. The streets, too, were throngh with beauty and fashion. 'This is New York at its best,' Mr Halstead said. 'ln the summer months it is so hot that all the rich folk get out of it—to the mountains, or the seaside, or to Europe. Now what do you think of America, Miss Stansfield?' 'Oh, I (ike it' very much,' she answered, laughing. Mr Halstead smiled. 'I have sent for my wife and daughter,' he told her; 'the change will please them. You never saw such a girl as my Jean^ —too 'cute for anything!' r The hotel was so quiet and homelike that 'Miss Stansfield' and her companion lingered until the Indian summer was gone, and the winds of winter blew an icy blast. 'I think that it will be best to stay here until the spring,' Hilda said one day to her companion. 'We are thoroughly comfortable.' 'Just; as you like, my dear,' her mother answered. Then followed a long spell of weariness, for the snow lay deep on the ground, and people said that it was the most severe winter that had visited America since the year of the great blizzard, when nearly all of the great cities were snowbound for weeks. Letters came from Mr Molson regularly, but they were merely communications as between lawyer and client. He reported upon matters strictly relative to the estate of Woodcroft, and nothing more. Once 'Miss Stansfield" asked ior news of the mine at Nant Gaslyn, but Mr Molson apparently overlooked the question, as no reply was forthcoming. Christmas came and went, and a sorry Christmas it was! With the new year the weather improved, and 'Miss Stansfield,' and her companion accepted an invitation from Mr Halstead and his wife to spend a few weeks with them. Then the Halsteads came to New York, and the party went sleighing in Central Park, and flying to the tinkling of the bells along the magnificent drr i:s that run parallel to the beautiful Hudson river. At last the frost king vanished, j and 'Miss Stansfield' detemined to resume her tavels. 'I am tired of NewYorli,' she said to Mrs Maxwell—' I am, tired of everything now that spring is here. Oh, for the soft winds and the fragrant hedgerows of England! I dare not let my thoughts run back lest my heart should fail me. And I must have news of home —newsof the mine ■ —news of England! 1 shall cable to Mr Molson to-day—and then we will go anywhere.' TO BE CONTINUED