A SECRET FOE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10133, 11 January 1911, Page 2

A SECRET FOE

i y uERTRUDE WARDEN. Author of "Scoundrel or Saint?" "The Secret of a Letter," "A Bold TWentiou," "The Wooing of a Fairy," "The Crime ol Monte Carlo," etc.

CHAPTER XXVl.—Continued. "1 am sure I am right-/' ne returned earnestly. "Lord Mallyon spoke to me with great kindness. I owe him a great debt for all he has done for me, and I feel that I cannot repay it better than by putting him at once on his guard against his treacherous enemy;, who is trying to sap his domestic happiness." Iris sank into a chair, nervously clasping and unclasping her slender hands. "You want to tell him about Dagmar?" she murmured faintly. "You want to tell him that terrible tale I heard last night,?" "He must know," said Drogo, in a firm tone. "While.l remain in the -house,., during the few-dajs "that must pass before I ..put Lord Mallyon's papers in order and he engages another -secretary, Miss Mai-, lyon will ho' doubt continue, her detestable "pra-ctiee-'of ;forgihg-rroot-es ~io ■ me in your handwriting, similar to the one that took me to Richmond Park. But her mischief wiUltltiot stop there. She and her husßpKi ? Fitzalan, have been capable b#lssft deavouring to murder Lord Mallyon. by 'locking.* him in his cabin on a .sinking sliipj : and of throwing vitriol tit.a wonian .believed to be you, in prdsr to your marriage with Lord :Mallyon/ ,:What will, not such ~ d6f . Yourl life is not safe- in itheir •hattds/.and Lord? Mallyon h«.s the right: to protect you. "Before he leaves this house to--night Cor Sevehoaks, every detail of his niece's perfidy should be put into his hands. He should hear t|hJ3 testimony of Wheeler, the groom, and that of the detectives. He should see the missing portion of the sleeve-link left in his cabin, the copy of the certificate, of marriage between Miss Mallyon and Fitzalan, and, finally, Miss Mallyon's forged note and the paper on which she practised copying your handwriting. Once he knows these things, a man of Lord Mallyon's experience and ' wisdom will know how to act. You,, and he,will v be safe, and I can leaVe the house knowing that my duty is done."

Thank you, Mr Gordon, for the loyalty and kindness to my husband and myself that you have shown all through this dreadful business. ! Good-night.'' j "Good-night, Lady Mallyon." That was all. Not even a meeting of the hands, not even one glance interchanged, as he bowed and she bent her graceful head before she swept from the room in her trained gown.of mauve silk and filmy lace. Only when she had passed out of his sight, Drogo Gordon sank in a chair, and, burying his face in his hands, gave a long sigh that was akin to a groan. His will, his duty, had conquered, passion." He had been her friend and her husband's friend j and as truly as ever did his father before .him on the field of battle, so truly in this war of feelings good and bad n© had his duty. ~".." - A touch, upon his "shoulder..roused him.'; Lord Mallyon stood beside him liaggard, and old. "You wished to see me before I left," he said. "We will have the interview now." * #~ * * "-■--#■'•'■ * «. Half-an-hO'tr later, Daginar, on .descending the staircase for dinner, met her uncle, and peered curiously inr his-face. ', 'Well?" she whispered anxiously. "Well," he returned, "since you wish to please me in everything, I request you to return home to your mother before I leave for-Sevenoaks. I have already ordered the carriage to drive you back.'? 'You don't wish me to, stay with Iris while you are away?" she asked in astonishment. /; "On.no account. I have, learned a great deal to-night. It is better that you should be away. I will write to you froin Sevenoaks, telling you my reasons." '••■'■,

"You know I will do anything to please you " she began, when he interrupted her quickly.

✓ "I appreciate your love and devotion fully, Dagmar," he said. "You know how thoroughly I have trusted you, and how .\Yell.you have..deserv- : ed my confidence. I think we understand each other." In an access of vrliat appeared to be dutiful affection, Dagmar seized his hand and kissed it. It was icecold under her hot ; lips,, .and- her uncle's eyes, as they looked keenly down into hers, shone with unnatural brilliancy. Long, afterwards she remembered these details, but at the time she was too busy over speculation as to what her uncle had heard • at the interview between Drogo and Iris to pay much heed to them. : ■'." Finally, as, with her maid's assis-; , taatie, .„ she', put her things together for her ihiiri'ied departure, she arrived a the conclusion that Lord Mallyon had resolved to desert his wife without leaving her even the protection of his niece's companionship, | and in that belief , Dagmar drove . away happy. [ . (To be Continued.)

I "It is impossible!" exclaimed Iris, in great agitation, ' t 'you forget the weakness of my husband's heart. If yon or I were to unfold suddenly so terrible a tale the shock might kill him. He ha# not. looked well lately; he has been overworked, and. his mind is absorbed by the great case upon which he is engaged. Let me i write,to Dagmar, telling'her that .I. have learned all these things, and" f asking her to leave the house at pnce. .Then Lord' Mallyon 3ieed never todfr';'i;ile■ ; ■^vf«l• : st'oTy■■ of -Msniece' s wickedness." \ ."Why should she go unpunished after all the harm she has done?" "Planned, but riot done, except in the case of poor Lady Cazalet. But, Mr Gordon, I have been, thinking about Dagmar, and I am certain that her passion for her husband and her bitter disappointment, chiefly on his account, at losing Lord Mallyon'a fortune have turned her brain. She is mad, and so I forgive her quite freely; and I would not for the world try to have her punished for any harm she may have tried to do me. Think how she must have suf- j fered when, she found that on that.:| terrible night of the vitriol- throwing | her vengeance had left me tmhatrt. You remember that on the very next day she fell ill with bronchitis and! brain-fever, and that she has," since [ that illness, lost her glorious beauty. ! Wejl',l when I lay .awake ' ; all hist (' -night thinking of these things, I. grew to pity, her from the foojftom of my heart. Vengeance is not .mine, and.l could not . bear to see her: crashed, and .humbled...after ; all that she has suffered already." ■' Tears stood in her deep-blue eyes, the tears of a good woman for a bad one. All Drogo's heart went out to her at the sight, and ho, was forced to turn abruptly aside lest she should read in his, eyes the enthusiastic love her gentle womanliness had inspired in him.

"It shall be as you wish, Lady Mallyon," he said at last. "If you consider that Lord Mallyon's life would be endangered, and if you so strongly desire to shield this woman*, I' cannot oppose you, although 1 should be glad to know when I have left this house that Lord Mallyon would stand between you and your, secret foe. Only let me urge you to get rid of her at once; every moment of her -presence here may mean /fresh danger."

"I will write to her to-night," she said. "As soon as Lord Mallyon liar left for Sevenoaks she shall have the letter. I cannot seo her again—l hope and pray that I never may.