A TERRIBLE MISTAKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10067, 13 June 1910, Page 2

A TERRIBLE MISTAKE

CHAPTER XXIIL-Continued. "Every stick goes to Daventry," continued the lawyer, "unless you and Constance Glinton marry within one year of his lordship's demise. In that event, your cousin receives only a small annuify. At the last moment, your father appears to have thrown off the influence of the schemer, though what actually passed between them may never be known. You can now understand his last wishes—you can now understand the meaning of what all believed to be a deathbed betrothal, when you swore before Heaven that you would maku ConstaDce Glinton your wife!" "Why has all this been kept from me until now?" Percy asked dully. "I ought not to have imparted one word to you—l should have waited until the reading of the will at the proper time. I have not told you all. Miss Glinton and her fortune fall under Daveotry'a control until she I is twenty-five years of age. It is i simply infamous! bhe ought to have been made a ward in chancery. Miss Glinton loathes>nd fears the man. This mad act of yours will cause endJess misery, and make you, yourself, a poor man, an outcast from ail that should be dearest to a Clifford of Manthorpe." The blow was terrible! Percy felt dazed. "What can be done?" he hoarsely said. "I would sacrifice half the savings of my lifetime to give Mr Daventry of his own medicine. If the truth were known, perhaps it might be found that you are hand and glove with him, even now!" "He was best man at my wedding," admitted Percy, the blood surging through his veins. The lawyer laughed ironically. "Very much the beat!" he sneered; and then he lowered his voice to a half whisper, but it was nuffieiently loud to reach the ears of Hildrad. "There is only one way out of the difficulty. Your marriage might be set aside!" Percy did not appear to hear him. There was a horrible singing in his ears. To the young wife he seemed to be listening eagerly—perhaps approvingly—tq the lawyer's cruel words. Emboldened by the young man's silence, Mr Sparks continued: "Your marriage misiht be set aside. Money will accomplish a great dealinfluence much more. Davaritry, your enemy, has connived at this marriage, conspired to bring it about. Your wif2 is only a simple country girl -the father a " At that point, the young wife's ssnses left her. She did not hear Percy's furious interruption or the lawyer's hasty apology. "I am sorry if I have erred." Mr Sparks said. "I am looking only at the most favourable aspect of the case. I wi3h to fight for my client—l want to be revenged upon Daventry for the wrong he has done my firm. Many young men form mad attachments." "Enough!" Percy haughtily replied. "My wi?e is [.dearer to mo than a kingdom. I can relinquish'everything cheerfully while I have her love, l am only hurt to think that my father should have had so little confidence in me. I never cared for I Miss Glinton, save as a dear, friend or as a sister; but I will protect h6r from Daventry with my life!" For a little while, he paced restlessly up and down. Then Mr Sparks spoke again, anajjwith strong emphasisa „ "We must contest the will. It will be a hard fight, but " There was a sharp knock at the door and the butler came in with a telegram for his master. It read: "Miss Glinton has sent short telegram Lord Manthorpe passed away early this morning. Am going direct to the Park, and hope to meet you there. Daventry." After reading the|telegrara, Percy • handed it to Mr Sparks. "My poor father is at rest!" he said brokenly, his eyea becoming moist. "I have the satisfaction of knowing that he believed in and trusted me at 'the last." "I mu3t go tOaManthoipe at once,"

V BY H:[L. DACEE, w Author of—The Doctor's Secret, A Case for the Court, f % Sir John's Heiress, A Loveless Marriage, / Treisholme's Trust, Etc.

' the lawyer announced, rising. "Your , lordship wjil fr.Jiow me later." I "To-night," Percy replied. "Say nothing to Miss Glinton, please. 1 prefer to make all explanations uiyIself." Mr Sparks bowed. ] The parting between the two men | was in no wise cordial. The lawyer could not quite forgive Lord Clifford for what he called his "harebrained folly." And Percy knew that he could never again like the man who had coolly hinted at the annulment of his marriage. | "Poor little Hildred!" he murmur--led tenderly. "It is you and I now against the worl.i!" CHAPTER XXIV. "MY LOVE HAS KUINED THE OBJECT OF ITS ADORATION!" How should he break the news to | !iis wife? Th'nfc wag Lord Clifford's j first thought. He was astonished at I himself for taking matters so calmly. He was conscious of a keen regret | when he reflected upon his father's i lack of confidence in him—ha was full of slumbering fury acrainat Owen Daventry for bis cunning and duplicity. He had not yet realised his other great Joss. , His thoughts were now of his'wife. He walked to the end of the drive, his hands thrust deep into his pockets. There seemed to ba sympathy in the almost noiseless patter of the falling leave?,'in the strange stillness of the ajtuujn afternoon. Away ovtr the fields and the trees, the sun was setting redly. A flock of rooks saikd past on slowly moving wings. He shivered, and turned toward the house again. A servant told him that "Mrs Clifford" was dressing for dinner. It was six o'clock ; he would not have long to wait. He beguiled the time by looking through a time table and deciding as to bis train.! There was one from Ellesmere at half-past nine. If he ordered the carj riage for nine o'clock, that would j give him ample time. There was no i bag packing needed, as the bulk of ; his wardrobe was at Manthorpe Park. I The unhappy pride did hot make hor appearance until the second ball rang. He did not notice the almost waxen pallor of her face. "Darling;" he said a little mournfully, "the end has come—my poor father is dead!" He held ihe telegram in his hand. "1 am dazed by j the news, although I have been ex- | pecting it for so long. It came j while I was talking to our family lawyer; and he hos gone at once to Ma thorpe Park. I must follow him this evening—at nine o'clock, so that we shall have only two hours to ourselves." He wondered why she did not speak, and he ghw her hand suddenly pressed close to her heart. The cruel words of Mr Sparks were ' ringing in her ears like the knell of i ■ ! doom: "Your marriage might be set j | aside. . . . Your wife is only a simple country girl!" She thought of his description of the deathbed betrothal, and the husband she loved seemed to be drifting away from her.. "Why do you not Percy a?ked, in alarm. My darling, you are not well?" He tsok a stsp forward, but she waved him back, "Do not touch me!" she cried. "I shall be better soon." TO BE CONTINUED