NEIL MALLOW'S SIN.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10142, 12 November 1910, Page 2

NEIL MALLOW'S SIN.

(OUR SERIALS

BY JOHN A. PETERS. Author of "Married at Midnight," "Two Odd Girls," etc., etc., etc.

CMAPTEE IV.—Concluded. "It is far from being a perfect rt-ork," lie replied evasively answering her, "but its author is not devoid of genius, and it has much in it to recommend it to the cavilling public, I trust Pardon me, I cannot speak of its merits, Miss Marsh, I wrote thai book." "i know it," she quietly returned. "I recognized you at once as Neil Mallow. Two years ago I saw your photograph at Mrs Linlcy's. Sir, let me give you my unbiased opinion of it. It is, so far as I have read, a grand work, inculcating its lessons of humility and forgiveness on its reader, faithfully and well. In ouo thing only has its author erred." "And that?" he slowly, his eyes fastened magnetically upon her. "J u sketching the heroine. You have invested her with charms that no earthly woman possesses. An ideal creature who cannot, who does not exist. Perhaps you saw her in a dream." "Nay, she is drawn from real Ife. , J have not even done her justice." She incredulously shook her head. "Unless you care to keep her name a secret, reveal it. I am a true daughter of Eve, almost devoiu-ed with curiosity. "Who is this perfect woman?" Should he tell her? He had described her character and personal appearance. so perfectly that she must be utterly devoid of vanity if she did not recognize in the heroine her own self. "You bid me toll you," he said, "but I am afraid you will be mortally offended at my presumption. You are better acquainted with the heroine than any living person. It is yourself I have so imperfectly pourtrayed." The rich blood rushed to her face and dyed it crimson. Why had she been so persistent? And she fanned herself vigorously with her hat to cover her confusion, but said no-, thing. He rose and moved towards her. "Have I offended you as I feared?" he asked, looking down at the black-tressed head, the white slow moving hand "Then do I humbly beg your pardon." . "Nay, I am not offended. I should feel hghly flattered at the compliment you have paid me. But you have idealized toe, transformed into a perfect woman a most faulty one. One consolation," and she smiled mischievously, "not a single acquaintance of mine will comprehend the honour you have done me."/' "You know oetter," he said emphatically. "I could not be so mean as to flatter you v Have you no idea, Miss Marsh, who I am? I cannot deceive you; I am " It seemed as though further speech . were denied him, or. as if he dared not proceed for fear of incurring her r displeasure. He stood silent, his J eyes fixed imploringly on her fair, t Upturned face.

How keenly he still suffered for what he had done in the past? Would his conscience never cease to upbraid him? Oh, if she could only help him to forget!

"Neil Mallow," she said gently as she raised herself to her feet and faced him, "you need not have hesitated because you feared I would turn distrustfully from you. Even when I awoke that never-to-be-for-gotten night and found you at my couch, I knew who you were. I listened to the interview between you and Randal Drake. I pitied you then; I esteem you now more than anyone I know. Nobly you have tried to redeem the past, and I could not be prouder of you if vou were my brother."

"If I have followed the straight and narrow path, and not deviated far enough to the right or the left to lose my way, it was because you showed it to me and bade me travel it. Christine Marsh,l owe it to you that I can hold up my head among men. Would to God that my life was not full of reproaches for weaknesses and failure, for high impulses not crystallized into earnest performances,and then "

He checked himself and turned to the door, conscious that he was about to make a blunder. He could not look upon the girl's face and not tell her he loved her. He could not control the passion rising within him. The- slight shower was over, and the sun had emerged from his bed of clouds, and was smiling down radiantly upon the wet earth. "It rains no longer," ho said in a voice that sounded cold and unnatural to the girl who had followed him to the door. "Shall we go on our way? I am staying at the Empire, situated at the foot of the hill, instead of being on the top, as is the. Mountain House."'

Was it an unwomanly thing to do ? She detected the passion he struggled to conceal, and she loved him with all her heart, but knew that, without much encouragement, he would forever remain silent, believing that his sin, deeply as he had

repented it, had made him imworthy of her.

"Do not let us go just yet," she said. "'The ground is wet, and tho trees are covered with raindrops that, with every passing breeze, fall from the bronchos. See! a ray of sunlight has fallen upon your head. It it an omen of good. But what were you going to remark when you checked yourself so abruptly ? Had yo;i lived a different life, what tiikn?"

Was she tempting him to confess his love? Or did she suppose he had no heart, and simply wanted to solicit a favour? The brilliancy of his eyes dazzled her, and his words seemed on fire as they rushed in a torrent from his lips. No longer could he quell the mighty passion rising in him. He must make it known.

"Christine Marsh,' 'he cried, "I love you, i,ove you! I have strugled against the passion, but its useless. With my whole soul I love you! Now,' order me from your presence; tell me to go out into the darkness that no light can make bright." He expected to see the radiant face darken with anger; to see her draw up her lissome figure and move, away from him. Instead, a passion equal to his own leaped into her eyes. She took a step nearer to him as she said: "Neil Mallow, are you blind! Can't you see that I love you, and that it fills my soul with joy ,to hear the words you litter? Ah, Neil, never mention your sin again to me It is forgiven—forgotten!"He clasped her in his arms, and rained kisses upon her face. The happiness he had not even dared to pray for was his at last! How long they stayed in the old hut neither could tell When they emerged from it the rain drops on the trees were dried up, the clouds had disappeared from the sky, and the sim was shining brightly. Christine never regretted in the happy days that came to her the important step she had taken that day. As Neil's wife she has nothing to wish for. In the society in which she reigns as queen, she often meets Randal Drake, but he never approaches her or Neil. He cannot forget his treatment of Neil, and he still loves, the fair young wife. j THE END. !