A TERRIBLE MISTAKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10038, 7 May 1910, Page 2

A TERRIBLE MISTAKE

I BY I'. L. DACRE, J z I w Author of—l he Doctor's Secret, A Case for the Court, Is Q & I Sir John's Heiress, A Loveless Marriage, *£ si S / Trenholme's Trust, Etc. /

CHAPTER II

"THE CARDS ARE IN MY HaNDS, AND I PLAY TO WIN."

'I hardly know how to begin,' Clifford said, after a brief siltnee. It is impossible for you, hard-hearted cynic that you are, to sympathise with my thoughts and feelings. I have fancied in love before —I have honestly believed that my affection for Constance Clinton was deep and sincere—that it was beyond the limit of man's powtr to love woman more than I loved her; but I was mistaken.'

'1 am sorry to hear \ou say so,' gravely observed Daventry. 'Why should you brf sorry?' demanded Uifford. His voice betrayed strong irritation. 'Jtfecause I see danger lights ahead. Nay—listen to me? I know that it is next to useless to attempt to argue with a man who believes that he is in love, but duty—friendshipprompts me to utter a pictest.' He glanced at the flushed face of his companion—tbe moonlight snone full upon it.

'Goon!' said Percy impatiently. 'I know what you are going to say; but your words will not affect me in the leaßt.'

'I can only repeat that I am sorry. One of your father's pet deaires is-a union between yourself and his ward, Miss Glinton. Not only is Miss Clinton a beauty and an heiress, but she belongs to a noble and ancient family. Besides, I believe that bhe is sincerely attached to you, Percy. 'She is a perfect woman,' Clifford said warmly,' and passionately fond of my father! She has tried hard to care fnr me, for the mere sake of gratifying him; but she does not love me, and, if J married her, we should be wretched for life.' Daventry shook his head.

'You must remember that Lord Manthorpe's health is very uncertain,' he said. 'He has not been the same man since his hunting accident in Scotland two years ago, and a shock at any time might prove fatal. His lordship will not be Ivppy until Constance is your wife. He regards the event now as a certainty. You are pledged to each other, and, if you break your pledge you do so at the price of your honor -the honor of one of the oldest names in England!' 'Silence!' cried Percy Clifford angrily.

'No; I will not be silent!' lam your kinsman, and, in after years, if this folly is persisted in, you shall acquit me of all blame. You shall not throw it in my face, that I did not warn you!' There was a ring of earnestness in Daventry's voice which deceived the younger man. t 'You do not understand,' Clifford gently said. 'How can you? Wait until you have seea Hildred Dudley!' 'ls that the name of the rustic i beauty' was the sarcastic query. 'I cannot quarrel with you, Daven- j try; I feel that you are my friend, and my conscience reproaches me. Do you know, old fellow, that I have sometimes doubted you? I have fancied that you toadied to my father, and I am glad to be undeceived. I have often been, rude to you, and I ask you to forgive me. You have warned me against a danger, that does not exist. Constance Giinton cares for me as a dear sister cares for an only brother. She is n rt ordinary girl. Look into her clear eyes, and you see the soul of a good and clever woman. Believe me, Daventry, Constance will be glad to hear that I am happy in a love that is boundless as faie itself. I shall go to her, and tell her the whole story; I have no fear,' Daventry listened, a strange smile lurking about the corners of his mouth. 'And what of your father? he 'He will be disappointed, naturally,' Percy said, sighing; 'but we must break it to him gently.' * 'He will never give his consent,' Daventry declared. 'And. now that, you are pleased to believe in my friendship, perhaps you will listen to my advice?' He paused, and looked into Clifford's bright, animated face. *I think that I shall obey you in most things after this night,' was the reply. '1 don't ask ycu to obey me, and do not expect you to obey me, but I think you will see the wisdom of letting things go on, as they are for a time. You have been seized by a fever that is called love. You know what Ruskin says about it—a miserable confusion of moonlight and limelight which ofcen leads to the losing of all the honour of life for a folly, and all the joy of it by i an accident. In a week or two the scales will fell from your eyes ' 1 # Never!' interrupted Percy quietly. I 'ln a week or two, let us hope the ' glamour will have vanished,' coni linued Daventry grandiloquently; therefore it would be unwise to prei cipitate matters-it would be unwise I to pain those who love you best. In f any event, trust me to unravel the tangle. Ths women who have ruled i at Manthorpe Park have always

been noble and proud, without blot or blemish. The Cliffords of Ma;ithorpe have ever been noted for their pride of race. I cannot believe that it will ever be otherwise; therefore I regard this infatuation as a more dream '

Clifford was looking thoughtfully at the, shining sea, a deep glow in his blue eyea. 'You have finished, Daventiy?' he said at last. 'Yes; I have finished.'

'I have listened to you patiently because you are my friend. You advise that matters be allowed to go on as they are for a little time. I consent with reluctance, but it may be owing to my lack of prudence or tact. I always like to go to the point at once. In love and war lam the same. You are an old campaigner I am a raw recruit.'

He smiled and a wicked gleam came into the black eyes of Owen Daventiy. An old campaigner? He remembered that he had declared eternal love to many trustful girls in his younger days. 'I shall marry Hildred Dudley,' continued Percy calmly, quietly; 'and lam sure that my wife will never disgrace the name of Clifford. She is poor, unknown, and lacks the frivoioub accomplishments of the women of fashion.'

'You mean that she cannot paint or sing, and that she speaks in happy ignorance of all grammatical rules' 'I mean nothing of the kind,' Percy replied, reddeninj/. 'Miss Dudley is lairly well educated. She teaches in the village school; and the grandfather, with whom she lives, Is a gardener, or, more correctly, a florist, since he is an enthusiast upon the subject of rare flowers. When his granddaughter was a little child he called her *Sweetbrier,'and Sweetbrier she will always be to me.' His voice, his eyes were iuil of passion. 'When you have seen ner, Daventry, you will not wonder that I love her. Even jour cynical heart must admit that she is as beautiful as a vision, as simple and trustful aa a little child.'

'How charming!' thought Daventry, with a sneer. 'Simplicity very often means artfulness.' 'You surprise me,'.he said. 'And lam annoyed it my own blindness. How long has this been going on?' 'i was here in April,' Percy replied quietly; 'only for two or three days. It was one of those accidents which the widest of men will never understand. Lord Manfchoipe and you were in Paris,, and I was en my way to join you.'

'Dees; I remember your luggage arriving in advance.'

'I got into the wrong 1 train at Cannon street, and, instead of being taken to Dover, I was landed here at, midnight. Ltenthorne was deadly dull at the time, and there was no train back to London until late on the following morning. I went to the ueach Hotel, and the next day walked through the village. Then it wa3 that I first beheld Hildred Dudley. She was entering the schoolhouse, and the half curious glance she cast toward me I can never forget. I could not tear myself away from the ptece, and began making inquiries about the beautiful school teacher. I heard that she and her grandfather lived alone in a cottage surrounded by a wealth of flowers—flowers in the garden on the walls, in glass houses, everywhere. That liight, I dreamed of an angel face, with ringlets of shining yellow hair, and pansy-blue eyes. The next morning I sent Lord Manthorpe a telegam, and strolled to the gardener's cottage. I was assured that lie would be delighted to show me his flowers., even if I made no purchase; I went early, hoping to see his sweet granddaughter, and I was not disappointed. I walked into the shop, and a vision of exquisite loveliness appeared from the sitting room beyond. I had not been mistaken; she was simply angelic. The pansy eyes were raised to mine, and tne glance of recognition was followed by a swift blush. Strangers are so noticeable here in the early spring! My heart seemed to throb .in my throat, and I knew that I had met my fate. I hardly remember what I said, but I was soon talking to her her grandfather, who occasionally appealed to Sweetbrier to 2ssist hinfin making a costly bouquet. Sweetbrier! What music, what iragrance was in the very name I I remained here as long as I dared, Daventry—you remember how my father scolded me?' •Yes; I remember perfectly well,' said Daventry. 'And now I call to mind that you were an extremely dull companion!' '1 could think of nothing but Hildred !' Percy murmured rapturously. 'I heard her name in che wind—l saw her face in my dreams! At the very first opportunity I turned to Llantliorne.' TO BE CONTINUED