PAOLINA, OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10160, 9 February 1911, Page 2

PAOLINA, OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

OUR SERIAL.

By MARIPOSA WEIR. Author of "Evadyne's Temptation," "A Chase Round the World," etc

CHAPTER XXlV—Continued, j it is a woman's i'aec, and a voice : that is not. a woman's, says:— j "Do not fear that yon will awake her. She is already awake, but she ( cannot stir or cry out.'' Then the woman wraps her in the bedclothes, and lifts her in her arms j as if she were a child. Paolina makes one more effort to speak, and finding it vain yields to a singular apathy that steals over her, and causes her to feel almost indifferent to her fate. Then she hears Hector's voice, and a thrill of hope Hashes through her, but the next instant she becomes aware that the hope has vanished. She hears the sound of the cruel blow that fells her champion. Then the the rattle of wheels and the jolting of the carriage over the stones, apprise her that she is being borne away —she knows not whither. She sinks into a deep, dreamless lethargy. When she recovers her consciousness there is a sound like the plash of water along the sides of a vessel. She opens her eyes, and there again is the tall woman wi'th the cruel face, in which there is something of a monkeyish cunning.

"So you're awake at last," says the tall woman, speaking witli a strongly marked French accent. "It is in good time,' she adds with a grimace, "for you have sleen long."

She offered Paolina sonic food, but she rejected it. "After so long sleep and fasting I should eemagine you would have hunger," said the woman, shrugging her shoulders.

"Will you tell me where 1 am, and how I came here?' asked the unfortunate* girl, confusedly round.

"With much pleasure,' returned the woman, in a mocking tone. "You are on board the charming pleasure ship of Milor Huntingdon, taking a little pleasure voyage into the country for the benefit of your health. We journey to Milor's chateau, where milor, who is your relative and curateur, is ready to receive us. That is where, you are, and whither you go. But you demand also how you came here. I shall delight to instruct you all zafc I know, for I am amiable of disposition, and like to converse. The good lady with whom you lived does not love Milor Huntingdon, your noble ,curateur--y6u call it guardian in leese—arid refused to give you up to him, and so he was oblige to resort to this little stratagem to take you from her. Mafoi! It was* a brilliant coup. We came at night into, the house next to that where you,are detained a prisoner by-this lady. There - is an aperture in the wall through which we pass into the apartment' where you lie reposing in sleep. We cause you to inhale a perfume, one that makes you sleep so sound that, when you open your - eyes and look upon my face, you cannot move —you cannot speak. I take you in my arms, I carry you through the aperture and. down the stair, X carry you like an infant, I place you in the car-

nage. "A young man, handsome and tall, comes arr.-l demands:*

'' 'What ija this ? Whom caVry you there? Let me see bar face!' speaks the young man: 'I forbid you to take her,'says the young man. "Then,,while, he yet speaks, comes a blow from behind, and'the young man falls upon the ground like an ox that has been struck by the butcher."

Paolina shudders ana turns pale. The Frenchwoman proceeds: "Do not be frightened; it is nothing. It is but a swoon. The young man will take no harm but such as may bo healed by & plaster. The carriage drives away to'the water, where the little ship awaits us. "VVe -embark, the sails are lifted, and we. begin our voyage. The day comes, and you still sleep. Comes another morning, and you open your eyes and look at me, and speak. Now, at last, you are really awake. "■'.

\Pfiolina remained silent some minutes, endeavouring to collect ■ her thoughts.

"Who is it you speak of," she asked,- "as my Lord Huntingdon? Do you mean my Uncle Sydney? 3 ' "I call him Milor," returned the Frenchwoman, "because he has the grand air, and because he must he very rich to make so great expense. I know not if he is your uncle. But he is your curateur, and has by law the right to have you in his charge until you come to full age, or have a

husband." Paolina had not yet recovered from her bewilderment. The doubt whether she was yet dreaming was not entirely disipated, and she closed her eyes, and heaved ' a profound sigh. The Frenchwoman ran on: "I am to be your companion. A maid has been engaged for you, and is already at Milor's country house, where we hope to arrive to-morrow. Meantime I am not too proud to offer ! you any offices you may need. And now I introduce myself to you, my dear. lam Madam Campan; but you may call me Therese, for I have hope that we shall be good friends." Paolina perceived that she was in the cabin of a small vessel. It was elegantly furnished, and fitted up, and contained everything calculated to' minister to comfort and taste that the limited space would alloAr. She found herself attired in a rich wrapper, which was not her own, and seemed perfectly liew. Madame Campan uttered a peculiar laugh as" she saw Paolina looking at the garment with an airof perplexity. '/Ah," she said, "everything was thought of and provided for, that the" time would permit. By and by, when . Milpr and the good lady with whom you have resided have come to an agreement, you can send for your trunks." . W.hen, after a slow and painful effort, Paolina had partially collected heir- thoughts, she asked the Frenchwoman some questions, to all of which the latter replied volubly and civilly enough,, but with a certain peculiarity of manner that conveyed a strong impression of insincerity and cunning. Paolina/ felt what the woman said was quite.,as likely: to be false as true, even if there were no motive for falsehood, i Towards evening Paolina asked to be allowed to go on deck, but was told that the weather was too unpleasant. It was evident that she was to be closely imprisoned 1 in the cabin , of the yacht, and that the Frenchwoman was the jailer. Sensible of the importance of taki ing care of her strength, she at lengthasked for some refreshments, and forced herself to eat although she had j little appetite. ' r At nine o'clock Madame . Campan began to make arrangements-to retire. She pointed^out' to Paolina a sort of* stateroom. whicn, she said, was designed -ipr her use. Then she locked the door, of her cabin, placed the key in lier pocket, and lay ; down on the loungeV covering herself with: a-heavy shavi't,; " ; •• •' » "The "stateroom" which-had been assigned to Paolina was lighted by. a small, circular" window., consisting, of a single plate of thick- glass . It was firmly secured, and resisted all her efforts to open it. She could see, however, by the clear moonlight, that the' vessel Avas navigating a narrow and_ crooked stream that wound its way through a vast swamplike expanse, with no vegetation but what seemed to be a species of coarse grass or gigantis rushes. While she was contemplating this prospect a sound attracted her atteiH tion, which gradually grew louder until she recognised it as the noise made by the paddles of an approaching steamboat. Immediately there was an unusual bustle on the yacht, and the sound of voices talking earnestly. One of the speakers seemed to be directly overhead, and she could hear him say: "We must push into the tules until she get's past. Here's a slough on the right where they'l novar see us." Then a couple of oars were got out and the yacht was rowed from the main channel into one of those little bayous, or "sloughs," as they are called in California, which, are so numerous on the Joaquin and Sacramento • rivers. Paolina was amazed to observe the height of the giant tule grab's, when the vesosl came into, the midst of it. It was tall enough, to conceal all but the masts of the vessel. (To 'Be. Contimtcd.)