A TERRIBLE MISTAKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10058, 1 June 1910, Page 2

A TERRIBLE MISTAKE

JJ BY IT. [L. DACRE, L Author of—The Doctor's Secret, A Case for tha Court, * Sir John's Heiress, A Loveless Marriage, / ■ • . Trenholme's Trust, Etc.

CH APTER XVI. ■•■ Continued

Ellesmere was an old-tashioned country town, with narrow winding streets and irregular brick buildings. It was one of those picturesque places that are never seen out of England It was only a small town—hardly worthy perhaps of that (listinction— "village" would havfi been a more appropriate designation. Private residences ami shops stood side by side; there wa3 a church at one end. and a hotel at the other. The church was grey with age; tha hotel gleamed brightly in a cost of yellow paint over its concrete wallv, a gaudy representation of a crown swung to and fro on a creaking signboard, and the landlord waited in the doorway for his expected guests. It was almost an event in the history of the Crown Hotel. Half a dczen rooms had been asked for by telegraph, and the news had spread from one end of the town to the other. When the party arrived, the landlord and the tenants were disappointed. A much larger one had been expected. What did three people want with bo many rooms? Still it did not matter so long as the. apartments were paid for. Clifford 'took them for a week, and handed a ten pound Bank of England note to the landlord. He ordered everything to be of the best—no expense was to be spared; and Hildred saw and heard with feelings of dismay. "Is this where you propose to settle down, sir?" Mr Dudley aeked doubtfully. "Why, there is no business doing in the place! I can't sell my plants here. And, as for your music " He broke off with a weary sigh, and bearan to wonrie* how much of his "stuff" would be damaged in transit from Llanthorne. After dinner Clifford contrived to see his young wife.alone in the sitting room. He took her in his arms, and kissed the pale face passionately. "You are tired, my darling ! This excitement is too much for ycu," he whispered. "Yes, dear-1 am tirod-very tired! Oh, my love!" She burst into tears, and for a little while was unable to speak. '"Whatis, it, darline? What is the trouble, little wom^n?" "Nothing, Percy—nothing!" Then she added contradictorily: "I am only a weak and fooMsh girl; until now 1 Have always believed myself to bo strong and self-reliant, /since I have known you and lov. d you, my dearest wish has been to help you, darling—to work with you. This day is our wedding day, and already there is a frown upon your face." "Hildred! Hildred!" "If your love grows cold, I shall die!" she sobbed. "You are talking nonsense now!" he said, » little angrily. 'I admit; having suffered some annoyance. When people are married, they want to enjoy each other's society without interference. sfour grandfather does not appear to understand that his constant grumbling is also particularly unpleasant to me. I want neither his

I assistance nor his advice." He toned to the wii;daw, and Hildred regarded him with eyes full -of surprise and wonder. She remembered Owen Daventry's last scoffing words. Her brain whirled, her senses became dazed. He came back to her impulsively, and gathered the ehrinking, tender torm to his breast. "Look into my'eyes, dear one. and say that you forgive mo if I spoke unkindly!" he pleaded. "Let there *be no shadow upon this blessed day. You are mine, darliDg, .for ever and ever! To-raorrow we will look at our new house. It is two or three miles from here, and in the heart of the

(loveliest scenery in England. You ' shall have an ideal home, an ideal I husband. My love shall ever encircle your way with warmth, with light, with beauty! Kiss me, darling, my first, my last, my only love!" ! She responded, but not with the I passionate warmth- for which his , heart hungered. She could not forget that he disliked, her grandfather, \ that his cousin had called him an "old man of the sea." The next morning the slight cloud I seemed to have vanished. Percy had risen early, and, halving satisfied himself that there were no letters, and consequently no bad news, he felt in high spirits. Hildred came down to breakfast with a loving smile upon her fresh, sweet face. She looked charming in a white cambric dress, with a bunch of cornflowers at her throat, and the happy young husband kissed the red pouting lips rapturously. "I have already seen the house agent," Percy said, displaying a bunch of keys, "and I have ordered Sa fly for eleven o'clock to drive up to the Woodlands. That is the name of the place. The description is charming, and, if it pleases you, darling, : I think that we may reasonably ■jf hope to begin housekeeping in a 8 week. The Woodlands has recently 6 been thoroughly overhauled, and is in E ) perfect condition." B "If it pleases you, Percy, it will ■ please me!" she replied, "Is the | rent very high?"

"A |rifle— a hundred a year," he said lightly. "A hundred pounds is a great deal of money!" the bride cried in dismay. He laughed merrily , "Then to avoid paying rent, we will buy the Woodlands. I can purchase the freehold fur sixteen hundred pounds. But we can decide upon nothing until we have seen and approved." At that moment Mr Dudley, after fumbling at the door-knob, entered the room. He glanced round furtively, and then shambled to the window, where he stood with his hands behind him, until his granddaugter reminded him that the coffee was getting cold. During the meal Hildred was very thoughtful. If Percy could afford to buy a house, he had not fully confided in her. He did not appear to appreciate the value of money. A sovereign or a banknote aeemsd to be a trifle to him. At eleven o'clock the fly was announced. Percy bad not mentioned his plans to Mr Dudley, and the old man had gore for a walk. It was a lovely morning. The September sun was bright and warm; the sky-was of that intense stoely-blue seen only in the autumn; the air was fiesh and exhitiarating. "We will run up to town to-morrow! Percy said jjyously. "My little wife must have some new, pretty dresses My delight will be to cive her all that makes life pleasant." "Hildred did not speak. She valued his entire confidence above all else. He had ootyet givn her that! Between the town of Elleswere and the place known as the Woodlands there appeared to be nothing but dark woods and undulating meadow land. The road was narrow, without a footpath cf any kind, and gleamed in the sunlight like a white ribbon. Beautiful it was in fine wealthier, no. doubt; but the young wife I was already, looking at the practical sice of things.

At last the driver pulled up before a pair of ornamental wooden gate 3, ar.d upon the stone! columns which supported them was inscribed: "The Woodlands." Percy sprang out of ( the fly, and, having assisted his wife to alight, ordered the driver to be back in an hour. "Yes. sir," the man said, touching hig hat. "There's an ale house over the hi I!, and my horse wants watering." Percy took the hint, and gave the man half a crown. "Don't you think that sixpence would havo been sufficient, dear?" Sweelbrier remonstrated. The young husband laughed, and kissed the lair, sweet face. "I hate to be mean!" he lightly said. He threw open a wicket door in one of the large gates, and they passed through it into a winding way flanked on the right by magnificent lime trees; on the left was a high and continuous bank of velvety grass, flowering moss, and lovely ferns. About three hundred leet beyond nestled a picturesque oil house —a mansion in miniature, which was al-nost surrounded by a grand stretch of lawn, the borders of which were aflame with flowers. JLseycnd were a pleasure garden and a tiny park, which sloped gently to a murmuring river. The house itself was handsome from every point of view. There was not an angle or a nook that did not add to its beauty. Its architecture might have originated in a dozen different schools of design. There was ; nothing sufficiently pronounced to render it imposing. It was a mixture of simplicity and the reflection of I far-awaj grandeur, softened by huge sprays of ambitious creepers, the leaves of which flamed like fiery gold in the September sunshine. "How lovely!" murmrued Hildred. Percy was delighted. The interior of the house was in perfect order. It was a palace in miniature,, and now and again the young wife held her j breath. "It is dirt cheap," remarked Clifford; "and I will buy the place at once. lam simply entranced! It is like the ideal home of a poet. I consider that we are exceptionally foitunate,. darling!" "It is verygbeautifuj!" the girl said. "But I am afraid, Percy, that I am hardly capable of doing justice to so grand a house. We shall want a servant, dear, and her wages would almost absorb my poor earnings." TO BE CONTINUED