TO THE UTTERMOST FARTHING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10407, 30 August 1911, Page 2

TO THE UTTERMOST FARTHING.

CHAPTER Vl.—Continued

"That all right. lam glad to hear it, ana much ouligad to you tor telling me. lam glad T met you, Mr Severance." Harry raised his arm from the gats. "Well, I won't keep you —you must have a let of business on. hand. YouHl give my sympathy,, and all that, won't you, and say how glad I should be if there should be anything I could do?" , ' "'' "With great pleasure! I won't ..fail to do it at the first opportunity."* "Thanks—much obliged. Good-bye for the present 1 We-shall see something of each other before long, I hope." Once more Severance returned th* hearty handgrip with an equal cordiality, but there was a, peculiar sniile upon his face' as he . watched the young man stride away. "I natter myself I'm pretty shrewd" he said, "and, without disparagement I don't fancy my young friend possesses any special amount of that quality. But he has been too much' for me, nevertheless. I don't know now which is his divinity."

The subject occupied him on the way back to the, house, but he came no nearer .to solving the puzzle which amused rather than annoyed him. , A handsome, good-humoured, idle, young fellow such as Harry. Seton was bound to be in love—or to fancy himself in , love—about ,four-fifths of his. time, and ) if he had followed', the usual rule of mell' "Oi .fei' s age*.and chosen an. entirely unsuitable woman, his choice was probably Lorraine Lstpuche. , Severance breakfasted -alone, pa h$ had expected to do'. Mrs Throckmoi'ton was far from Veil, he was told in answer bo his enquiries, and Miss Clare and Miss Lorraine had taken breakfast together in their own sitting room. He noted that evidently no difference had been made in the house bet-ween the girl who had been practically its master's adopted, daughter, and the girl who .was merely her humbly born foster sister. '.-."•

*>'. ,H-e,haid, not; expected, to ; see either befbf©■'luncheon;* I^^4t as ; ■io whether they Wotild appear at all; • and on crossing the hall toward the library when his breakfast was finished, he was surprised to find Lorraine there waiting for him. When he appeared ehe made a movement as if to rise from the couch upon which which she was sitting. The dog was at her side and her hand lay upon her dark head. Seeing, her gesture, Severance hastily advanced. -" "Pray do not move, Miss Latonehel I—l fear you not rested-very well." He "said this with a halt'j recaHihg what the vivid moonlight and the gray dawn had shown him, but even without that memory he must have noticed her exceeding pallor. Against the black of her drers and tie ruddy hue of her hair her face looked colourless in the gloom of the great, darkened pace. She seemed to be worn and exhausted, and there was dark cfcclcs under'her splendid eyes. She sank back into her former attitude.

"Thank you!" she said quietly. ,'I am toot Jll——l never I did not ■sleep guite as well 'as T. vmlght have slept."i He -thought again, of her aa he had seen her, crouched against" the door, the dog's head pressed closely to her: "I waited here with a; message from Glare." .."•■■ - "I hope Miss Throckmorton is better than yesterday?" ' 'l' am- sorry to : say that se is -nob. That is what I wanted to tell you Sho hopes you will not think, her rude Jf. you do "not 6ee her to-day." *' "By no means!, I should be distressed if she troubled herself on my t d.?>>Wt »n any way;' lam sincerely sorry to EoflV tfcat;|?J9 k not well. Want of res?, p , er&a*pß?' , », .'.. ' 'No, scarcely £hat—«Ke slept fairly well." Miss'...' Lafouche hesitated ; something of the satrical bitterness which had repelled him. on the previous day.darkened &er face. "Her mother has upset her,", she abruptly' said. "The truth is, Mr Severance, there is a ; certain subject on whicr ,they are, not agreed, and, as you will £oori. discover, Mrs Throckmorton- • isnot a woman to be silent upon any grievance,-real or fancied. Glare 'is too amiable and patient with hfer, iind the consequence is that she •••'s incessantly tormented. You will find but that Mrs Throckmorton is very tiresome, though she'/is a very good woman.": '"'"'■■"" '•'

She rose, -gently dislodging the > dog, but. slipping her 1 hand to its collar. As she Spoke, Severance stooped ] and patted the animal's head. "I am glad to see that you have fm-n able to coax this poor brute away, Miss Latouche! I ■ saw him at Sir; Bernard's door last might." \. "Indeed?" Her eyes flashed a swift glance of suspicion, but his face was imperturbable. "He did not disturb, you. I hope?" she said indifferently. "Not, in the least." ; "Thiat is well." She looked downward at the dog. . "He was very fond M. Sir' Bernard,?; .she said.: ■ ."It was impossiblei j,door yesterjday, bu^ll/managed to do jso this morning. Bogs'must love some'tbpg; you know,, and.this one-seeins jiinclined to attach himself. to me;"

.Severance was more puzzled now .than he hiad been. Which was the real woman in the curious complex personality of this strange creature? t '. "You have.at least the commendable quality of loving animals," he said. "I confess that in general I perfer them to human beings," she 'coldly answered. "Excuse me, Mr Severence. I must go back to Clare now."

(OUR NEW SERIAL.)

By CARL SWERDNA, Author of "A Mere Ceremony."

CHAPTER Vn

She bowed and moved a pace away, but he detained her. "Miss Latouche, I remember that I am charged with a mesasge to you." "Tome?" "And also to Miss Throckmorton. From Mr Harry Seton." "Oh, Barry!" A faint smile lighted her face, but although he was on te watch it was.gone instantly, so that he could not say it told him anything whatever. "May I ask whore, you saw him? He has not been here ?" "Not to- the house. He did not, it seems, like.to come. I, saw him in the park. He begged me to say all 'that was possible for him, and to add how delighted he would be if he could assist you or Miss Throckmorton in any way.""He is kind, but there is nothing* he can do. Thank you—l will tefl Clare."

She made a second movement to go. He spokeagain. Was he disappointed •that he had seen no sign of emotion or consciousness in her calm face ? "Mr Seton seemed.an uncommonly pleasant sort of a fellow," lie said. "An old friend, I presume?" • "Yes/ Mr Seton and Sir Bernard were intimate. We have known him ever since we came to Redboume. He is very often here—nearly every day," Lorraine quietly answered. . "I" inferred as> much. There.is a large f&mily, I think P" "No-p-ia younger son and \ two daughters. ,^Mrs Seton has been dead some will make their acquaintance in due'tmnej- Mr Severau£S,'H».dtfablt'*-.". , There was & note of impatience _il her voice. Plainly she resented Irm detaining her there, and did not care to hide it. But, still keeping the dog at her side, she resolutely crossed to the door of the room which ho had entered with Mr Bethel! yesterday, and laid her hand on it, he spoke again. ' "Pardon me, Miss Latouche, -but perhaps you are not aware that Sir Derek 'had wired >bhe probable time of 4iis%rrivaW ljaa.v care to know that he may be expected about noon." • , : . • .' '.•,'■/• ■••'' "Clare? Why should The fiery flash in her eyes, whichraatohed instant, caught bpfck, as it were, 'i\> the moment of its flaming. "Thank you," she impassively said, as she opened the door. "I knew o'f the telegram ." j SAt~aloss.for something to do, Severance found the morning hours pass ! heavily and slowly. Weajry of the darkened, silent house, he would have strolled-, into *he park again but for his momentary expectation of Mr Bethall's arrival. Finally he compromised by lighting a cigar and going out on the terrace which ran round the western front and side, leaving instruction where he was to be found when the lawyer should make his appearance. He was at the extreme end of the terrace, entirely out. of sight Of tihe' drive, when the sound of approaching 1 wheels disturbed the silence, starting him into alertness. Mr. Bethell had arrived; be presumed, and with a sense of relief he hurrjed into the house. The the library, to which he almost darkness after the ,'cmtside light, and for a moment the figure which turned .towards him But a second it was not the lawyeft '• He stooped in his advance. ; fe Sir Derek, Willeughby, I think?" 'he said. '•,.>''

"Exactly I*' was the answer. > "Derek ,Willoug>hby, at your service, Mr Ssverarice!" '.'■--• - • ■.

/..Bernard Severance, in his of DerekWilloughby, which had been many and curious, had formed ho clear idea of his probable appearance arid oeirsonality beyond that be would probably be attracted by neffch6r\ Indeed, honest is he.was as he Md been of .influencing in any way the altering of the, dead man's will, ther6,had perhaps.been an unconfessed feeling in„ him ihjlt jt would be comfortable, ms, ; ,'dfeinheYlted: kinsman objectionable: , Now be found all his preconceive*! notions roughly dispelled as he looked at the other, for, beyond his youth, there "was nothing that he triad expected to see in Derek Willoughby.. ■ ■ ; He was strikingly nandsomej there was something, gypsylike in the bold yet delicate form of his features, in his brilliant dark eyes, his black hair, ( and in the tints of has olive skin. With the exception of the fact that it barely reached medium height, his figure was worthy of his face. His voice was a little too languid, hh manner a litt-le too inert, but the pleasantness of both J was not to be denied. i

Severance, involuntarily giving his hand, was struck with surprise and wonder. Gifted with good looks, with no sign upon him. of. bad habits or dissipation, wh&:feAadshis young felTvith the .frank; smile done that he §tbodjn" his present luckless position ? The ordinary composed readiness of tongue failed.Severance in.the puzzle, He,left Derek to speak first. >' "I fancy lam a little before the stated time,".Sir Derek said, "hutthe fact is, a piece of business which I had to get through this morning | took less time that I expected, and so ! I oaught an earlier train. You got my I wire? I addressed it to Bethell, not [feeling sure whether you would be here.'* 1. "I came yesterday." (To be continued.)