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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10065, 10 June 1910, Page 2

•o <o (A TERBIBLTS MISTAKE \ BY EL. DACKE, C Author of—The Doctor's Secret, A Case for the Court, f 5 . ' h Sir John's 13eiress, A Loveless Marriage, j* Trei.holme's Trust, Ffc. i C«S5* G 2-: «***»,» gjl CHAPTER XXII.- Continued. Still, his wife's words stung him, and the bitterness rankle:! in his heart. His was a sunny temperament, which was quickly overcast, and at a touch became a blaze of wrath ; but the wrath was always short-lived, and he laughed at hi 3 o vn folly. That day John Pitt, the head gardener, tendered his resignation; and Percy listened to his complaint in an angry and irritable moocl. "It's like tearing soul from body for nr.e to leave the Woodlands, sir," Pitt taid sorrowfully. "But I can abide Mr Dudley 1.0 logger. With all d''>e respect to ycu, sir, and to the missis, sir the old man's mad! "Tell ir.e what is the matter!" Clifford impatiently inlerrupted.They were standing under the puitico of the hall door. "Well, it's the chrysanthemums this time, sir—them I [lanted myself and looked after a3 thogh they were babies. I've p'lt up with lit If the young trees being stilled in the ground?, and nearly all of 'em ruined: but when he cuts the chrysanthemums that I wants for the annual show—well, I've done!" "1 am sorry to hear this, Pitt," Percy said; "but I cannot accept your resignation. It is not.fair to you or to me. I will speak seriously to Mr Dudley. He shall cot interfile with you again." The gardtner was only half satisfied, hut he thanktd his master, and went away. Percy stood in an" thought for a minute; then he cki his light hand fiercely and exchimed: "Davenlry was rigl t i\hen he called my wife's grandfather an old man of the sea! He has been the cause of hours of misery, and I shall know no real peace until he is out 0' way!" Hestrtlkd towa.d the lawn, little dreaming that Hilclied had listened in horrified silence to his savage words. Exactly three week 3 had passed since Lord Clifford took his beautiful young wife to the Woodlands. Jn that brief time, he seemed to have lived as many months. He had lasted of exquisite happiness, l.e had experienced the keenest of misery. Hildred wa3 the same as ever, and yet not the same. He never doubted her love for him, but tbere were tiraeß when he caught her regarding him with an intentness that filled him with a sense of uneasiness. He missed the light, happy laughter, the endearing, almost childlike ways that he loved so well. The burden of her responsibilities had crushed much of the sweebness out of her young life. The effort tu prepare herself for the exalted position which would inevitably be hers was stifiirg hsr natural simplicity and tenderness. Once Percy took the fair face between his hands, and looked down into the blue eyes. "Hildred, my darling," he said his low tones were full of yearning—"are you happy?'' "Why do you ask, Percy?" She laughed; but there was no mirth ia her laughter. "Do I look ilke an unhappy wife?" "I do not know. There is a change somewhere; I cannot describe it. I only know you are not the same little darling aa of old." "I have no wish to be the same, Percy. Am 1 not striving to become an accomplished woman? The babyish ways which pleased jyou a3 a lover would be laughed at, by your aristocratic friends." "But I want you to please me, and not my friends!" he cried. "I must please society when I become Lady Manthorpe. If the verdict of socie:y went agains* roe, you would be tne first to suffer " "You do not understand, my darling !'' ha said distressfully. "I value your love and tenderness more than all elsj on eafth ! What has society to do with that?" Z "My love fcr you, Percy," she said earnedtly, "will never chanee, will never diminish. You are my (over, my hsio. lam no longer a simple 1 / girl; within the last few weeks I feel j that I have aged years. lam not in- I sensible to all that you have done for I me- to all that you have sacricficed for me. I confess that I might have been happier had you been poor and of lowly birth, if we could have laboured side by side, but that is a dream that is dsad, and it is my duty to fit myself for the position wherein I shall be called upon to uphold the splendid tradition of your name. You forget how often, of late, you have dwelt upon that." Her eyes were shining brightly, and her lips were •quivering. "I have r.ot done so with any thought of repioaching you, my wife. You are too sensitive," he said, with infinite tenderness. "I would rather give up my wealth—-my title, even —than lose one jot of your love!" "You shall give up nothing more for me," the said decidedly. "Ar>d you shall never have cause to be ashamed of your wife." He- turned away half petulantly. "You hurt me whm yoa talk in lhafc way —if you know how muet), I think such words would never pass ycur lips again." She looked out of the window at the garish autumn sunshine. A robin was chirping shrilly in a bush of stunted holly ; the leaves were dropping from the trees with a mournful, rustling sound. The noise of the rushing stream, to which the lawn slop d down, seemed like a requiem. "You hurt me more than you will ever know," Percy went on. "fo m?, the remembrance of our brief past will ever be sweet; but lit it not be leavened with the bitterness of disappjintment." Hildred's e.ve- were wet with fears. feiiu .... u iAm convulsively. "You do not know what bitterness it is to me, my darling," she murmured brokenly; "the knowledge that I havu not you unallojed ~-ss! 1 have seen gloom upon yo.rbrow; I have heard impatience in your voice." "But my anxieties are not caused by you, little wife," he hastened to say. "It is my father's horrible, lingering deatb which is ever before me. I welcome, yet dread, the sound of the postman's knock. I.am growing as nervous as a little child." "You had news this morning?" He started slightly. "Yes." He could not show her the letter. It was but a brief one, couched in affectionate terras. Constance Glinton always addressed him so, and he writhed within himself. "Yes," he repeated; "the end must be very near. The physician is at Manthorpe Park again, and my presence is urgently desired. I must leave you for a few day?, darling." She grew pale, and clung to his arm. "It will not be for long—a week, at most —and I shall be glad when it is all over!" His face lighted up for a moment. He was thinking of the happy time when there would be no need lor one woiJ, one action apart from his wife. "A week Itsc-ems eo long, Percy!" Hildred said. He felt her shudder. "You will not think me foolhb, dear, wiil you? I have dreamed such strange dreams of late, and I dread the hour when we must part. Percy, my husband, we may never meet again in this life! That is always the character of my dreams. The misty form of death stands between us." TO BE CONTINUED Mothers ! PHOSPHOL will make weak children, from birth onwards, rob' st and healthy. Sold everywhere 'll large bottles. Everybsdy knows how difficult a matter it is to keep warm in winter. How much lees sickness there would be if our bodies were kept aglow with warmth and life. Our bodies need vitality to fight diseasegerms, and that is jast what a good lIOT WATER BOTTLE gives to us. To thone who suffer with cold feet thay act like a charm, and ensure a good night's rest. In cases of sickness the Hot Water Bottle proves itself most useful, it relieves any pain instantly, and brings speody relief and comfort to the sufferer. Baby's Food may bo kept warm all night, in fact no home should be without one. J. V. 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