A TERRIBLE MISTAKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10080, 28 June 1910, Page 2

A TERRIBLE MISTAKE

CHAPTER XXX. -Continued,

"I am awaitug jour commands, my lord," the lawyer b'andly remarked. ''lf there is nothing of pressing urgency, Sir Charles and I wish to return to town by the mail train to-night." Then he added parenthetically, "I have cxplair.ed your position to Sir Charles." The physician regarded the young man with an expression of strong commiseration. To him the young lord's conduct savoured of madness—the madness of irresponsible youth. "1 have no commands for you, sir," Lord Manthorpe haughtily replied. "I believe ihat I understand my position clearly enough, ar,d 1 shall leave Manthorpe Paik early to-morrow morning, probably for ever." "My lord," Mr Sparks respectfully. said, "you are master here for a ; year, even if the provisions of the will are not observed. Much may happen in a year!" 1 "I have expressed my intentions, I Mr Spark?," Lord Manthorpe coldly retorter', "and there is an ind of the matter."

"Perhaps I shall hear from you in a week cr two?" was the anxious ques-' tion. "But there, I will not press ycu further jiut now. Your mind must be in a state of chaos." The earl turned away impatiently; then, with usual impulsiveness, he held out one band, which the lawyer warmly grasped. "Mr Spurke,'' he said, "I shall go back to my wife to-morrow—l shall go back to the Woodlands. I am perfectly content with my lot. With all my misfortunes there are few men with a future so bright ar.d harpy as mine. Until Daveniry lakes possession here, I leave all arrangements j in your hands. I will not touch a single thing which is not absolutely : my own. He may enforce his claim much earlier than you anticipate, and I leave him to the joy cf his villainy. That is all I have to say. In a few days I will eommur.icale wHh you. Until then I wish to be left in peace." igj For'the moment the lawjer stood jrretolule; thtn boJi gei.tlen.en bade the earl adieu and took tl.tir leave. But tie worst idtal viaaio come. Percy's heart was full of pity, full of love for Constance—Constance who had been so true, so to him. Again and again ha told himsilf that the afftcliun bhe had wasted upon him had bien founded upon her desire to be dutiful to the wishes of her beloved guardian. Ic w:.s not the fond, enduring love tnat a woman should fed for the man she wa3 to marry. In a little while she would forget him and perhaps bs thankful that h.r eyes had not been opei.ed too late.

He retired to his room, but not to sleep, Ihere was so much to think about —so much 10 do. Stoner was assiduous in his attention?, and spent part of the night in packing his young roaster's trunks. "For a little while, Stoner," Lord Manthorpe said early the next morning, "I shall leave you at the Park to carry out any instructions which I or Mr Sparks may give you> As to jour conduct toward Mr Daventry, I have nothing to do with that. lam disposed to believe that if you ever committi d any wrong you are sorry for it—that it is your earnest wish to atane. Ultimately, I will help you to go fa abroad; you shall have a sum of money large enough to you a start in a foreign country, and you have my sincere wishes for your prosperity. No; I don't want any thanks. Let your future conduct speak for itself. I am leaving the Park immediately after breakfast. See that my luggage follows me during the day.", "And there is nothing more thai I can do, my lord?" the valet anxiously asked.

"Nothing," his master replied. "1 Will breakfast in my own room, Stoner. You will attend to that?" A liit.e later he went downstairs and cut into the beauty of another breaking morn. He looked up at the glory of the heavens, at the smiling, peaceful world arjtind; he heard the rapturous music of the birds, and a groan escaped him He realised how much he loved the old home from which he was being thrust by an unjust will. Returning to the house, he wandered through the familiar rooms, and paused in the great picture gallery before the portrait of his father. "Good-by," he- murmured, "to home-to ail!" He breakfasted alone, then sent a message to Miss Glinton, in a few brief lines, which ran:j "My Dear Constance: 1 am leaving the Paik this morning—forever. You heard the will rend,'therefore, it would be supeifiuous for me to offer explanations. The power invest* td in Daventry in connection with yourself is the cruellest part of all. But that sort of thing can be appealed against, Mr Sparks saye, if your new guardian attempts to enforce his authority. [1 know how you hate the man. I must see you for a little while, Constance, before I !eave. I will wait in the library for you. I

BY If. L. DACRE, Author o£—The Doctor's Secret, A Case for ths Court, Sir John's Heiress, A Loveless Marriage, Trenholrno's Trust, Etc.

shall be busy there for an hour.— Yours affectionately, "Percy." He did not doubt that Constance would come to him, and his heait heat painfully. He dreaded the meeting—and parting. But his fears were ill-founded. Miss Glinton entered the room wherein he waited her, a faint flush upon her face. Her manner was perfectly composed, at once tender and dignified. "Constance!" he murmured, clasping one of her white hands. "Is it good-by, Percy?" she quietly asked. "Have you quite forgiven me, Constance?" "Forgiven you!" Her tone was almost haughty. "I have nothing to forgive, Lord Manthorpe. Pray do not again refer to the past." Then she smiled sadly; her eyes were fu 1 of pain. "I am so sorry for your misfortune, Percy! Papa never realiy meant it. But you will fight the matter out, will you not. I hit. is rightfully your house—it is the home of your ancestors."

"tie," he said sternly. "1 do not think that 1 shall disturb Mr Uaventry. I shrirk from the idea of endeavouring to piove to the whole world that my fattier was mad. I have my mothir'3 portion; I shall not starve. , I want to tain about you—not about mvself. What are you going to do, Constance?" She trailed at him brightly. "I am also leaving the Park, Percy. I could not endure it—after what has passed. My plans are very simple, and Mr Spaiks knows them all -and approve?." "MrSpaika?" he impatiently exclaimed. "Ptrcy, the lawyer is Mr Daventry's foe, and as such is our Lest protection," Constance said quickly. Her eyes spatkled, and she drew herseil up. "I snail defy Mr Owen Daventry and his authority, hoping that my contemptuous disregard of him may bring matters to a crisis. 11 shall know no lest until he is dislodged irom the position to which he has no moral or strictly legal right!" "You are a noble woman, Constance," the young lord returned; "and gome day " "And some day!" She interrupted him with a haughty gesture. She guessed that his wife's name was upon his lips, and she could not bear to hear that just yet. "Lady Locksley, wha was so friendly with papa, has asked me to make my home with her at the Grange. She has a beautiful placa in Sussex, and is almost without kith or kin. I shall be as happy there as t can ever hope to be in the world again. lam going tomorrow, Percy." "I am glad of that, Constance," he said slowly. "It will be a great relief to me to know that you are happy." Happy? A rush of tears came into the beautiful dark eyes, and her hand was preFsed. to her i heart. Ah, what a sense of desolation and misery vas there! She held out her hand to him, and whispered: "Good-by, Percy! I find it hard to leave the dear old home! My heart \ is breaking." He sprang forward; but she evaded him. "You must not touch me—l could not bear it. 1 am not well." she apologetically stammered. "The weary watching and wailing have complete ly unstrung my nerves." She was shaking in every limb, her lips quivered. "I shall soon recover when I am away from here and then I will write to you. Good-by!" She gave him one long look, a look that he never forgot, and passed swiftly out of the room. "Constance— Constance!" Percy called. - The only response was a sob. He loitered in the hall [.and upon the stairs, hoping to see her again —hoping for, yet dreading a second interview. At last Stoner came toward him,'

"The carriage has been waiting hulf an hour, my lord. If you miss the ten-thirty express, there will be a wait of two hours,"

For a minute the young earl looked dully at the man, then nodded, and then strode into the hall. The servants were gathered there in a body. The story of the late earl's unjust will t had spread, and some of them spoke with tears in their eyes. The young earl paused, and shook each in turn by the hand. TO BE CONTINUED