A TERRIBLE MISTAKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10057, 31 May 1910, Page 2

A TERRIBLE MISTAKE

CHAPTER XlV.—Continued.

"Yon had better talk to u;e later on," Daventry said quietly. "No, sir; my business isn't with you,"' "I beg to differ. Mr Winters. Ah, here is Mr Clifford! Party, this gentleman has come to make you an apology, I believe." Djvenirv spoke with delightful nonchalance, a half sneering smile upon his inscrutable face. Percv faced the seaman, his blue eyes aflame, his brows knitted. " vVtil?" he den anded. "Oh, you needn't put on yonr line airs!" blustered Winters. "They may take with the women, but they have no effect upon me. My quar- ! r£l with you, Mr Clifford, is ended, j I don't blame the girl. I can't say t.ut what I wanted her bad enough; but then I'm no pretty gentleman! If it had been your intention to wrong; her, I'd have followed vou to the end's of the earth! I lo\e;l her earnestly <:iun;tfh for that! I'd follow you now if i ever bard that jou ill treat eel her! That's the sort of stnff Bob Winters is iv.aue of." Ho cinched his large, rough hands, and a ravage imprecation escaped his lips. "No it isn't you I mean to be revenged upon, but. the old mar. He fiaa misled me for months; he has made a tool of nvr, hv has cleverly fooled me, and I had no chance to learn toe truth from the jjirl herself. That's what I have come to tell you, and I'll have his life yet! I've been to the shop " "You cur!" thundered Clifford. "Don't mistake me!" Winters snarled, "i did not frighten her. 1 Km not ■a coward, and I loved her. You unerstand what lam now. Old Dudley has ruined my life, and I shall never rest until I get my fingers round hi 3 lying, whining throat! Good day to you!" tie reeled away, and Daventry placed a restraining hand upui Peicy's thonlder. "Let him go," he said. "He is drunk. Your name must not be mixed up in a squabble with a brute like that. Besides, he has spoken to vou, so far as concerns yourntlf, in an open, manly fashion. You have nothing to complain of. Thirk of your wife, and forget his empty threats against her grandfather. Come!" "You are right, Daventry—you always are. Lee us walk back to the shop. I want to mail my. ietur on the way. One of the hotu attendants can carry my satchel." "it is already sent on," Daventry replied. "1 litre is nothing to keep you here any longer." Neither of the men spoke again until Peicy paussd at the post office. He dropped his letter into the box, J and the fair face of Constance Glinj ton—loving, true, and tender—float-

!ed before his mental vision. A re- \ eretful pang shot through his heart. His actions were one round of cruel deception. , "I wish I could recall that letter! ;he said half ;;aloud. "I ought to tell I Constance the truth." ! "Would it be Wise?" Daventry • asked. "I think not. The news must ! be broken to her gradually. For the A present dismiss Constance Glinton ! from your mind. Your wife is waiti ing for you anxiously—and her grand father." "And her grandfather!" echoed Percy resentfully. "Why do you speak in that tone? I don't like it." £ "I was not aware of any change of tone," was the soothing rejoinder. "You have said already tc-oay thac one (cannot gather roses without . thorns. Your thorn is old Dudley. He will be a veritable old man of the sea about your neck unless you are j master in your own house. I speak Dlainiy, bluntly, because I sbuuld not be a true friend if I hid my real fed- ' ings-from you."., 1 Cliil'ord'd brovrs contracted, and an • | impatient exclamation left his lips. I His cousin had spoken truly. Old Dudley was a sharp thorn in his 1 side. ' Even Hildred had complained I of it; and the old man's grumbling tones were hateful to him. "It will be only for a short time," he presently said. "I can endure imuch for my wife's sake. After all, he is her grandfather. " Nevertheless, the poison did its work, and this was exactly what his cousin desired. Hildred met them at the door. Her face was pale and pitiful. Mrs King was ruffled and angry. I "Robert Winters has been here," she said, "and Mr Dudley hid himself upstairs. I threatened u the fellow with a policeman, and he went away. The rascal deserves punishment. I am glad that jou are leaving Llanttiorne, Mr Clifford." « "I have seen Winters," Percy_rej assurir.gly replied. "And there is - . nothing to fear. He has made me . an ample apology. There tne matter \ ends. Your kindness I shall never forIget, Mrs King " Then he turned brightly to Hildred, "Are you nearly ready to leave the old home, little woman. The carriage will be here soon. The new world lies before us, dear." His handsome boyish face was al-

* BY *'. : L. DACRE, £ 1 «• Autb-.r o£ — r J ho Doctor's Secret, A Case for tha Court, 5* '' & £ Sir John's Heiress, A Loveless Marriage, $ Treiiholine's Trust, ICtc. J m *»,

most glorified by his great love, and \ Mrs King marvelled when she saw ii. j "After all," she thought, "Mrs j Clifford is a lucky girl. He is at gentleman, and he worships the very ground she walks on!" The old gardener came downstairs nervous and iretful. The appearance of Winters had given him a great fright. He was as anxious now to l<?ave Llanthurne as he had boon reluctant to do so before. "Practically, I am being driven out of my own home!" he grumbled. "1 know that I shall become a nuisance to everybody in my edd age. I don't quite see why this should have becm." A cart called for the luggage, and Daventry superintended its removal. Twenty minutes later a fly stopped at the dcor, and Hildred took an affectionate leave of Mva King. gj "I hope that you will be happy, i dear," the good woman tearfully whisperrd. "I think that you will, for if ever wife was lovrri I am sure that you arc! Mr Clifford is a line gentleman, and he will make a fine lady of you; but if you must not forget your humble friends at Llar;thorne." : .'..^^^ "Never!" the girl whispered. "I never knew how happy I was here until now. We shwll not be great people at all, Mrs King." The jeweller's wife smiled. "I know a gentleman when 1 see one," she raid. "I hopu that Mr 1 Ducley will control his fretful, ternoer. He is really a wet blanket today." Pccy overheard the last remark, when he came forward to shake hands, and he thought: "I have gathered the rose, and the thorn ia with me!" A dozen neighbours gathered about the door when the little party stepped into the carriage. Percy and Hildrtd occupied one side, Daventry and Mr Dudley the other. A faint cheer went up when the vehicle moved away, and the old L man became nervous again. "I hope that Winters won't be at the station!" ho remarked. "This has bten the most terrible day of my life." No one replied to him; but Hildred glanced appealirglj toward Percy, while a half sneer played about Davetitry's mouth. . j The train was waiting when they reached the station, and there were a few minutea of sharp bustling, uaventry purchased the tickets, while Percy secured a reserved firstclass car. This proceeding was not unobserved by Hildred, and she remembered Mrs King's words, "j. know a gentleman when I see one!" ;; At last the three were seated, and Owen Daventry was standing at the window. Hia baleful eyes seemed to lest continuously upon the trembling young bride. She shivered. Until now she had never really disliked him.

"You will remember your promise, Daventry?" Percy said. "I shall remember everything!" was the reply. "It is so much to ask of you! By the way, old man *' Percy bent forward and whispered something rapidly. His dark face flushed a dusky red, and a strange gleam came into his eyes. j "Oh, that is all right!" he uaid. i "You are very kind; butj wait-—, wait!" ' Percy looked at him in amazement. ! „ "You did not understand me, Daventry!" he exclaimed. "1 " But further explanation was cut short by the of a whistle. | I "I will write to you!" Percy cried. J The train began to move, and Daventry ran with it. I "Beware of your old man of the j sea!" he laughed. Hildred heard the weeds, and they struck a chill into her heart. CHAPTER XIX. '"T HAVE~A ''RIGHT"TO' KNOW i&sa ..THE TRUTH !" It was a long ride to Ellesmere, but it was not a happy one. Percy and Hildred sat side by side, and her grandfather dozed in the opposite corner. The slightest movement caused him to open his eyes and utter snme fretful remark He had no sympathy with the youthful bride., .and bridegroom, At last the iourney came to an end. It should have been one of the pleasantest in their lives; instead, it had been disappointing, and Clifford was thoroughly out, of temper. TO BE CONTINUED