A SECRET FOE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10132, 10 January 1911, Page 2

A SECRET FOE

( y uERTRUDE WARDEN. Author of "Scoundrel or Saint?" "The Secret of a Letter," 'A Bold iWntiou," "The Wooing of a Hairy," "The Crime o» Monte Carlo," etc.

CHAPTER XXV.—Continued. A feeling of scorn for her brilliant uncle's simplicity swept over Dagmar's mind, and sho marvelled that a man so suspicious, and so learned in the ways of women, should let himself be so easily hoodwinked. "Even now," sho said gently, "you may bo deceiving yourself. Will you let me speak to "Jris—appeal to her?" "I absolutely forbid you to let her know one word of this conversation. Neither she nor Gordon must he put on their guard." •"Sho is so ill this morning," pleaded Dagmar," she will not even see me. Will yon not speak to her yourself?" ' : ,

this morning, as I have promised Hetlmouth to proceed to Sevenoaks by the eight-fifteen train. I shall return in a few days' time, and we can then discuss the business of which you speak." In all that lie did that day Lord Mallyon was moved by a strange dread lest the sword which for so many year:- !.::d hung :.ver his head, should suddenly fall snapping the fine thread of life before he had accomplished his intentions. Emotions were extremely bad for himj as he well knew, and the strong passions' which had alternately swayed him during the past twenty-four hours i*ad tried him to the utmost.-

"1 shall see her before I leave the house, and she shall have no intimation from my manner that I suspect her. You know my wishes. Now leave me, Dagmar. I expect Wilcox at any moment."

He did not, thei-efore, wish for a discussion with Drogo, whose very" presence agitated him; and, leaving the secretary in the library, Lord Mallyon proceeded upstairs to the suite of rooms which he had occupied on the preceding night, and, unlocks ing the desk, he was engaged in. destroying certain letters, mostly in feminine handwriting, when there came a knock at the door, and Dagmar, pale and excited,, already in readiness for dinner, stood before •him.

The interview with the lawyer was protracted, and ended in Mr Wilcox seeking two witnesses, neither of whom belonged to Mallyon Court, to affix their signatures to the document, the contents of which greatly perturbed the lawyer, who urged upon his distinguished client the desirability of a little delay before drawing up the will. , ; . , 'You may change your mind, Lord Mallyon,'' he said. "Other facts may come to light which will prove your suspicions against certain persons utterly unfounded. Why not wait at least until the case is tried, if you are bent on bringing it before the courts?"

"I thought I ought to tell you," she whispered, "although it seems mean of me. My maid has just now overheard Mr Gordon ask Iris' maid to beg her mistre s for a few minutes' interview in the library at once, and Iris has just gone down in a tea-gown to see him there." , A deep flush spread over Lord Mallyon's face. The openness of the arrangement, the cnsployment of his own servant.' to, .carry, messages, seemed to him in the highest ■'.. degree impudent aiMi callous. "You did right' i.i telling me," J3 said laconically'; and passing n .} : once down the smaller staircase into the little hall, he -.let, himself, a3 before, noiselessly into ' the'■ Smokingroom, prepared to be a hidden wit-, ness at the interview between Liswife And hit' lovar.

"No waiting is possible for me now," Lord Mallyon answered, with si' weary smuo.. "Here," and he held his hand upon his heart, "is a monitor telling me that what I have to do must, be done quickly." - AH : that day Lady Mallyon kept, to her'room. The discovery of Dagmar's perfidy was so terrible a 'blow to her that she felt that she could not meet the girl, could not for one moment endure her presence in tlie room. A creature of lofty ideals, Iris suffered proportionately when the persons she idealised fell from their eminences. She had dearly j loved Dagmar; and the shock of | finding that, instead of a devoted friend, she had taken to her heart a malignant enemy, was terrible to j one of her sensitive nature. Solitude was her only possible resource. She dared not confide her grief to Drogo, nor could she bear the idea of exposing Dagmar's wickedness to ! Lord Mallyon. She spent the day, j "therefore, in her own room, too Avretched to rise or to oat, and feel- J ing acutely the need of isome human J soul in whom to .confide her grief. Toward Drogo Lord Mallyon show- \ ed himself more than usually benignant; and he easily explained that his sudden visit to Lord Hedmoufh —a retired judge of great wisdom—by stating that he wished to consult; him on a case which at present oc-1 cupied his thoughts and energies. ■ ''l have been thinking over your , wish to leave me during the past few days, Gordon," he said kindly, "and I have blamed myself for opposing you. Your services are so useful, and your honour and integrity so valuable to me, that I fear I may have been putting my own convenience in the way of your natural desire to rise. Well, I M-ithdraw my opposition. You are free to leave my service whenever it suits you to' do so. I only ask that you will first put my papers in order, in the interests of your successor. At the same time I am deeply sorry to part with you, and fully conscious that I shall not be able to adequately replace you." The young man flushed deeply, and for a few moments remained silent. Lord Mallyon's apparent kindness touched him, and stirred him to remorse in that on more than one occasion he had momentarily allowed his love for Iris to betray itself to her. The only wish in his mind at present was to leave Lord Mallyci. and his wife as happy as it. was possible for May and December to be together, after putting in his employer's hands the evidence he had collected against Dagraar. He hed not the slightest of Lord Mallyon's jealousy, and hatred, or of the cunning trap he was laying for his secretary's ultimate destruction. 'Thank you,'. Lord Mallyon," he said, after a short pause. "It is kind generous of you. I should be glad, )": ?i; will not inconvenience you, : Tr-.y.-,} as soon as possible. But bet'orj I go I dm very anxious to have an interview with you on important—very important—business." 'That can wait," returned Lord j Mallyon. "I shall be dining early

CHAPTER XXVI

'TO MY NIECE DAGMAR."

Quito unlike lovers. Iris and Drogo looked as they stood facing each other, each fully armed with selfcontrol, and a determination to keep their intercourse on a footing of a mere acquaintanceship. . "You sent for mo, Mr Gordon?" Iris began, in cold tones of surprise. "I am ill to-day, and surely you could have -waited until'you met me| in the ordinaly course of things?'.' "Not one hour, Lady Mallyon. I ani deeply sorry that the terrible; news I communicated to you last, night' had the effect of making you faint. After your maid had led you; to 'Your room I could not sufficiently reproach myself for not breaking; the intelligence' to you more gently. But it is imperative that I should, speak to you now. For one thing Lord Mallyon has given me the permission which he formerly witheld to resign my secretaryship." Just one little shiver of regret passed over Iris. Then she said, gently but coldly: "I think you are right, Mr Gordon, but Lord Mallyon will,.have a difficulty in replacing you." (To be Continued.)