PRIMROSE DELORAINE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10290, 19 July 1911, Page 2

PRIMROSE DELORAINE

OUR SERIAL.

THE MISER'S DAUGHTER.

By MAISIE PENDENNIS,

Author of "Sir Reginald's Whim," "The Forgotten Heir," "Rival Beauties,' 'etc.

CHAPTER Xll.—Continued.

and pitiful

Eve knew that\ he hated her, for women's instincts are very swift and keen, but the knowledge made no difference to her own feelings. It seems strange that any woman should love Poker Bill, stranger still that Eve, to refined and sensitive by nature, should iove him. But love is a strange thing, and there is no accountng for it. Presently Poker Bill opened Iris eyes again. "Come here," he said sullenly. And Eve went and stood by hi§ side no;ain, "What is it?" she asked tenderly. "What do you want?" His eyes still glowed with sullen, Implacable animosity. "I want brandy," he said, "and I want Primrose. I don't want you." Eve's face changed and hardened a little, and her mouth set in rigid lines. "I have told you I have no brandy," she said, "and if I lidd I daren't give it to you. It isn't as if you would be satisfied with a little, and it is as much as your life is worth to let you have it in the quantities you like. And it is no good talking about Primrose, for you ean'fc have her. She has gone. I am afraid you will have to put up with me, whether you want me or not, unless you would rather die."

"My dear," she said, soothingly, "the secret isn't my secret, and it would do you no good to hear it. Cat you not try to forget Primrose, and bo content with, me?'.'

Poker Bill's eyes were'still fixed o* her face, and he took no notice of iter pleading words.

"Primrose is in England," he 'Muttered, "and Captain Jack's in E lgland, and I shall be in England, too, as soon as I can get there. I'll go to England if I die for it, and when I get to England I'll nnd some way of keeping Primrose and Captain Jack apart. As for you, you fool, I dare say you think it very clever to keep a secret from me, and triumph over my helplessness, but you won't always think so. I'll never ask you again to tell me what you had to say to Captain Jack, and if you tried to tell me now I wouldn't listen; but the day will come when you will wish you nad told me of your own free will!"

Poker Bill moved restlessly on his rough bed. "I suppose Primrose is in England by I his time," he said. "I wonder how she likes it, and I wonder what Captain Jack is doing. Look here, Eve, you must find out where Captain Jack is now, and what he is doing. Do- you hear ? I want to know, and you must find out;" •• • :', "There's no need for me to find out," Eve answered quietly. "I know. Captain Jack sailed for England about six weeks ago.; I should think tlhat he is there by this time." Poker Bill raised himself on his elbow and stared at her in blank "amazement. • "How do you know that?" he demanded. "How do you know ? Have you seen him again since tlhat night when you played the fool? If it had not been for you and your nonsense I should have killed him that night, as he deserve! to be killed, and Primrose wouH have been miae.' But as it is

secret from me, and triumph over my helplessness, but you won't always think so. I'll never ask you again to tell me what you had to say to Captain Jack, and if you tried to tell me now I wouldn't listen; but the day will come when you will wish you nad told me of your own free will!" Then he fell back on bis rough bed, ' quite exhausted by his outbreak of rage and passion. Eve's pale face changed a little, and her mouthquivered. "Why do you ihate me so?" she asked, in. a low, pained tone. "Why do you talk to me in such a way? You know I don't want to hurt or annoy you. Why can't you forget Primrose now that she has gone ? Why can't you be friends with me, as you used w> be in the old days, before—before you took it into your head to be infatuated with her pretty face? She doesn't love you, you know, Bill. I think she hates you—and I—and I——" She broke off, and Poker Bill grunted savagely again. . "Perhaps it's just because s!he hates me that I want her," he said. "A man never wants what can be had for the asking. Fool as you are, you ought to know that. I don't want you I tell you again. lam sick of you — sick to death—and as soon as I am well enough I shall be off to England, ' and you can do what you like. I do not care a hang what you do!" For a moment Eve looked at him in silence, and then she knelt slowly down by his side, and put her hand on his.

He paused and muttered savagely to himself. "How do you know?" he asked again, presently "When did you see him?" "The night before he sailed," Ev<j ansjvered, in the same quiet way. - Poker Bill gave her a.quick,' su£ picious look. "Why aid you see. him P". he asked "Why did you want xo see 'him?'B3to T i had some motive,'l'll be.bound. Tell mo what it was. I'll have it out of you, somehow." He: lips tightened a little. "I wanted to-see him;" she answered, "because I had something to say to him. That is all I can tell you now." Poker Bill's face darkened. "But you will have to tell me more than that," he snarled. "You will have to tell me what you had to say to Hm. What on earth could you have to say to Captain, Jack?" , u "I can't tell you," eadd Eve, "but it was nothing that concerns you • iu any way." , V Poker Bill laughed brutally * ( ,-.... :"Tl\at won't wash/ he said. "You will have to tell, me sooner or later, Eve. I will-hive it out of you somehoy, as! said-'before.'' •■/•■ du eyes burned into hers, and she looked steadily.back at him. "What I had to say to Captain Jack concerned Mm,., alone," she said quietly, "and Twopt't tell you.what it.was, so it's no good'askihg me." Then she bent over him, and her face softened again as she pushed back the loose, black his brow. "Try to sleep, Bill/' she said gently. "Try to sleep." But Poker Bill caught her wrist ;n his hot han<d, and his .fingers closed, on it as strongly as was possible in his weakness. "If I were well ■■ and trong," he said darkly, "you wouldn't dare to defy me. / It is only because I'm lyinghere and can't help myself that you dare to talk to me like that. Any fool and coward can hit a man when he is down, but perhaps I shan't be down always, and then you'll see." She was still looking down at him, and her eyes were very soft and tender

"Won't you forgive me for what .1 did that night," she pleaded- "You might forgive me. Indeed, Bill, dear, it was no wrong I did you; I only -saved you yourself. Won't you forgive me?'' Poker Bill shook off her hand roughly, and turned over on his side. "I will never forgive you," he said, "and I wish you would give me five minutes' peace. I am tired, and I want to go to sleep." And Eye meekly rose from her knees and went back to her work.

She sat by the solitary candle, and stitched away diligently at tlhe shirt that she v/as making for Poker Bill; and Poker Bill lay on his -rough aed of leaves and ferns and watched her, a sullen, savage hatred glowing in his sunken eyes. If only he could revenge himself jn her, he thought—and there seemed to be room for no other thought in his mind. S'ha had saved the mail he haoed from his vengeance, and rescuel the girl he loved irom his power,..aa-J he felt that he could know no rest until he' had paid her back in his own .fashion for what shehaddon.e

There was no pity in his heart i,for the woman who, loved him as passionately and madly as she himself love'di Primrose--no trace ,of tenderness or gratitude. Nothing but implacable resentment and hatred, and that longing for revenge that was as iron entering into his soul. Anlas he lay there and watched her I he made plans for the future with fien- \ dish, pitiless cruelty—plans as black j and evil as his own pitiless heart. I (To be Continued).