SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9696, 21 January 1910, Page 2

SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

CHAPTER XXXlll.—Continued

Later the same day she found uetself laughing; immoderately at a recitation which one of the guests was giving m the public parlour. tut her heart was breaking the while! 'We leave to-morrow,' she said to Mrs Maxwell tne next morning; 'but 1 have not yet decided where to km. To-day we will have a last walk in Central Park. Oh, I pine so for the country!' The morning was beautifully fine, and the birds twittered gayly in the budding trees. Hundreds of people were out enjoying the sweetness of spring. * As 'Miss Stansfield' and her compranion were turning in the direction of the lake, a tall man came from behind a statue of the Belvedere. For a moment his features became convulsed, and he passed his slender fingers through a mass of jet-nlaek hair. Then he followed them, and a deep, quivering sigh passed his lips as with a swiff, swinging step he strode by the ladies. They paused to gaze at the lake. He stopped also. Then he turned, and, fixing his eyes upon 'Miss StanstieldV pale face, whispered one word: 'Hilda!'

CHAPTER XXXIV,

A HOPE-RESTORING LETTER. 'Hilda!' repeated the stranger who had followed 'Miss Stansfield' and her companion. He held out his hands to Hilda appealingly. 'My daughter!' 'Your she said contemptuously, 'And who are you, pray?' The girl's face blanched, and she shook in every limb. Wore her senses leaving her? She clutched at Mrs Maxwell's arm, and Mrs Maxwell gazed wonder-stricken at the man. He ignored her question. 'Yes, my child, it is I—Vane Carrington—in the flesh! Look into my eyes,—you must know that I speak the truth! Madam' -he turned to Mrs Maxwell—lam placing my life and liberty in your hands! I Know you, and you will be faithful to my child —you will not betray me, for my child's sake. But we must not talk here. Come—l have learned to know this place!' He drew one of Hilda's arms within his own, and she did not resist him. Had he risen from the dead? 'You are trembling, my child; but you have nothing to fear. And I have news for you—glorious news!' He laughed like a schoolboy. 'I have been watching you for days and days, and you have not known it. 1 do not look like the Vane Camngton who came to lord it at Woodcroft. My mustache is gone, my skin is stained, my hair is dyed—that is all.' He walked into a refreshment room, and, having chosen a quiet corner, ordered tea for the ladies. Mrs Maxwell sat a little apart from them. 'You are sure that I am Vane Cairington, Hilda?' he asked, half jestingly. He could jest now. 'I know it,' she answered simply. 'Bat 1 am completely mystified. I saw you struck; I heard you plunge into that terrible lake!' 'Yes; and you believed my assailant to be your lover! How could you, Hilda?' 'How could I? Why, you had threatened each other ' 'lt was the Indian—my evil genius!' he interrupted. 'But I was not dead —only half stunned —and i escaped. I am here —free, hopeful, and happy! Happy, because I shall be the means of restoring you to Victor Linton! J escaped, though hemmed in almost at every point by the police. You wonder how? Well, fortune favoured me —and Victor Linton. I worked as a collier in the mine at Nant Glaslyn for many weeks?; then Victor provided me with money; and I am here, but not without having had adventures which would fill a book—l cannot relate them now. I shall start anew when my wife knows where to find me. And now 1 ask my daughter's forgiveness.' The tears were streaming from Hilda's eyes. 'My poor father!' she murmured. 'I am satisfied— I am a new man ! And now for more eood news! The mine is making a fortune for everybody concerned. But, unless you go back to England at once, Victor will die fo a broken heart. It is hard upon him —bitterly hard!' Carrington told his daughter manythings, and she listaned with charmed ears. 'I laughed last night,' she thought, while my heart was breaking. lam happy now, and my eyes are filled with tears.' 'The hand of Providence is in this/ resumed Captain Carringon, 'or why should 1 have come to New York and found you? For weeks t have been wandering from State to State, with the haunting dread that 1 was being shadowed by the police;

3? F. L. DACRE, Author of "A Lossless Marriage," "A Change of Heart," •'TreiiMolmtt's t'ruat,"' "A Case for the Court," Etc, etc

and I have not yet had the courage to write to Victor Linton, for him to communicate with my wife. The greatest danger lies in Mrs Carrington's following me ' He spoke gloomily for a moment. 'I am an outcast—and I deserve it. But it is hard —very hard! Still, I had never dreamed of such happiness as this. Heaven knows that it was my dearest wish to see ycu again, to hear you say that you forgave me! And now for the immediate future.' he added, cheerfully. 'Will you leave the arrangements to me? I want- to send Victor the good news; I want him to associate something pleasant with me.' TO BE CONTINUED