FIGHTING HER WAY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9713, 8 February 1910, Page 2

FIGHTING HER WAY.

CHAPTER XIII. —Continued. : Assisted by the man he conveyed her to one of the couches in tie waiting room, where he hastened o unwrap the veil from her face that was white as a corpse, and damp wkn the cold sweat of her great agony. With the aid ot the coloured w<sman in charge of the waiting room, Roland succeeded after some time m reviving the patient. She had but just opened her eyes when Doct r Howard, with the chief, to whom he had been making a report of the ease outside of the waiting roms, entered. The instant that Christine saw him, the old wild of terror and hatred came into the face, ar.d she quiveicd and shook as if a strong convulsu n had seized her. With a frantic movement sha clasped her hands round Roland's arm, and tried to shrink away behind him to hide herself from the sight of her tormentor. Doctor Howard made a sicnificar.t gesture to the chief, as if to say, 'You see how it is with her.' 'Becalm, my poor child; he shall not come near you, nor barm you in any way,' murmured Roland, who had once more slipped his arm about the shivering girl, and was bending over her to screen her from the others. She seemed unable to utter a word or cry, but only cluDg to him. shaken with low, dry sobs that issued from her breast in stifled sounds. After a little she seemed to gather strength from his strong, quiet presence, and the sustaining clasp of his arm. Something like calmness settled over her features, and the hard, rending sobs were but low sighs. 'Are you able to return home now r asked Roland, loud enough for all to hear. •Oh yes; take me home —do take me home, Mr Marlow!' 'Come then!' And, raising her from the sofa, Roland prepared to take her away. 'Am I to conclude that you take the responsibility of this case out of my hands, sir?' demanded Doctor Howard of the chief, in voice of combined protest and indignation. 'I will be responsible, doctor,' replied the officer, in a cool way that sorely perplexed and disturbed the doctor. He was too shrewd not to divine that some important reason for this proceeding lay concealed under the chill reticence of the chief, and the quiet, contempt of the young lawyer, but was far from guessing the truth. With lofty disdain, he said: 'ln that event, I decline all further connection with the affair, sir. You must answer for the consequences of your interference with a professional duty.' 'You are at liberty to withdraw from (he case until your testimony is required by the proper authorities for the investigation of such remarkable proceedings.' It was Roland who spoke, in a low but clear tone, that went like a keen lance point to Doctor Howard's guilty heart. He turned away, sick with doubt, from the cold stare that Roland's bold eye had fixed on him. Assisted by the chief, Koland placed Miss Castlebar in the carriage that had brought her to the depot, and accompanied her back to her store.

'You are too much unnerved for the discussion of your affair* to-day, Miss Castlebar.' said Roland gently, as he stood beside Christine, after the carriage had been dismissed, and she was seated in her store, so pale an i tremulous that she seemed ready to fall from her chair, 'But maice your mind perfectly easy. With the insight given me of them by your letter, which some providential impulse caused you to send me this morning, I perfectly comprehend the nature of your embarrassing situ-' ation, and shall take measures to insure you against the least interruption hereafter. Meantime you are j]]: you require a physician and a nurse. Perrnit pie to find both for you at once ' 'Oh! no, no. You are so good fa wish it, but I'd rather you leave me alone now. I can manage for myself. I have some friends who will take care of me.' Poor things! sLo was thinking with a cold dread if the hideous insinuation made by Doctor Howard concerning Roland's attention to her. Might not others have noticed his late visit, and attached u shi'ili itsignificance to it.? His presence I here in the broad of day might be equnlty damaging to her reputatieih that she had held to be pure and stainless as a lily's cup. It was this thought that made her shrink away from him now, and uitreat him to leave her alone. He did not, of course, understand it, 'and said sadly: "Why do you refuse to let me be a friend to you, and help you a little if Ica i? Are you still angry with me for those foolish words the the first nighi I saw you.' s 'No, indeed, lam not, Mr Marlow, and oh! I am so grateful to you today, but—but Ah! do leave me now. I will be stronger to say what

BY ROSE ASHLEIGK. Author of "Eleanor's Luc -:,'' "The Widow's Wager "Fiu.! Gold," Etc , pie.

I mean after a while. I will send for you when I need you again. Won't you please go?' Her eyes were full of tears, her broken voice full of pleadings, tier beautiful, white face so woeful that it made his heart ache bitterly. 'Yen, I will go. I would do anything to give you ease or comfort; but let me send some one to you.' 'Very well; if you wont't mind calling at number thirty-seven Street, and taking my case to Mrs Goodley, she will come to me, I know. She is my friend, and very kind always.' 'And what doctor will you have?' "None, please. I only need rest and quieteness now. I shall soon ba over this miserable nervousness. Good-by, Mr Marlow How, oh, how can I thank you !' 'By trusting me, and letting me befriend you as your own brother would do,' said Roland earnestly, as he pressed one of her cold hands between both of his warm ones. He did not wait for her to speak again, but hastened away. UHA PTE R XIV. MISS CARROL ARRAIGNS HER BETRO IBIED. 'lnsist on bringing her ho;ne with you, Mrs Goodley; she must not remain there alone, ohe is not fit to be by herself an hour now.' Roland delivered this injunction to the cheery-faced matron at whose small, but cozy heme he had called to leave Christine's message. 'That I will, sir, and glad of the chance, if she'll let me. But Christine's that proud she'd rather die than be a trouble, as she says, to anybody. As if I ain't always as glad to have her, an' serve her, as though she was my own! And to think I shouldn't have heard a word of all this before '.'

'Never mind to lament about that now, Mrs Goodley; get hold of her first, and cry over her afterward,' urged Roland, when the good soul lifted her white apron to her overflowing eyes at tha tnought of the poor girl's distress. She curtsied and hurried away to get her bonnet and shawl. 'l'll step in this evening to hear about Miss Castebar, Mrs Goodley,' said Roland, moving to the door. 'Do, sir; you seem a frtend to Christine, and any friend of hers is heartily welcome here.' 'I am her lawyer as well as her friend, madam,' explained Roland, and immediately lefc the house, sincerely glad of so safe and pleasant a refuge for the lonely girl, who surely required just the motherly care that Mrs Goodley was so willing and able to give her. ******

Once more we enter Miss Carrol's boudoir, whose voluptuous splendor almost oppresses healthy American senses, as we leave the frosty starlit air after crossing Madison Square to find ourselves half buried in rich wine-coloured chairs, exhaling warm odours of Oriental scents; Miss Carrol has paid enormously to have a decorative artist design and furnish this sumptuous apartemnt. Not or.e of its details is the suggestion of her own fancy; she was not brought up to luxury and elegance—knows nothing about bric-a-brac, pottery or marble?; therefore she very sensibly leaves all to Mons. Langueur, whose trade it is to find out what a wealthy young lady ought to like in her boudoir. It is true that Mons. Langueur has placed suine things there that no young lady, wealthy or otherwise, should have in her boudoir, no matter how much she might like it; but Miss Carrol has never discovered the fact that some of her group of bronze and marble are better suited to a blase bachelor's rooms than to the temple of a virgin woman's fancy. However, since she does not know this, we must not blame her for the mistake of her upholsterer and decorator 1 ."

She Is evidently prepared for a visitor this morning, for she has poised herself grandly in the corner I of a sofa among a pile of cushions, i and the drapery- of h<si' ruby-coloured morning rolk? rails artistically about her hgu'vy, handsome limbs. She Is Working on a piece of crochet whoss dark shade vnalu;; : er jewelled hands look white, acid .t the same times gives her a gracei'Jl occupation. When the doorbell sounds, nhe smiles contentedly, and sinks a trifle farther back on her cushions; but as sbe hears a step she knows approaching her, shj bii.'igs over her smiling face quite another expression. She looks wounded and altogether unhappy by the time Mr Marlow enta-s her presence. One could almost fanry her eyes had in them so humid they are as she lifts thmn in mute reproach to her fiance's face. I He seems to understand their j language, foi ht says kindly, as he takes her hand: TO iifi CONTINUED