TO THE UTTERMOST FARTHING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10413, 6 September 1911, Page 2

TO THE UTTERMOST FARTHING.

CHAPTER IX—Continued

"More.than ever sin'oe last weak, perhaps?" . „ "iNo, I expected l't. Lomain.6 spoko without turning; she- had not stirred siitoe her foster sLsfcr's first words 'had aroused bar. The mighlt was so warm that the window of the Hi! Street parlor was open, and she lay baok m a. tang low ohiair, with her eyes fixed upon a strip of star-flecked sky. Her white serge gown wias cut with ttihe. simplicity characteristic of her, land she had d black, sulk girdAe knotted about the waist., As usual, her facie was aoiiourtlesis.; her large, somlbre eyes seamed to lie in. sihadow under her dark brows. '.Her ouly mioveanc-cit wa,s the' slow motaom oi her left hand, passing softly over the head of the eld pointer as it crouched against hsr knee. jClare, glancing across at her, put down hsr coffee cup and rose from tlhe table. She, too, wore white —a silky, filmy dress which suited her delicate, piquant beauty. It had a dozen dainty black ribbons and bows about it. Mourning for Sir Bernard WiMoughiby had not yet been thrown aside. "I believe you are tired, Loraine. Your-voice sounds dreary. I don't quite know how to express it, but I'm sure you know what I mean." She bent over the back of the others chair and put her lips to her cheek. "Out of spirits, darling? I fancy you are." "I am as usual or I should be." Loraine's hand genily caressed the pretty chin. "Have you not yet become used to my fits of silence?" "Not quite, I think— because, you see, you never used to have them. You are quite sure that there .is ' nothing wrong?" 'Quite sure." "And you are not sorry to be in Lon don for a little while?"

'Tnio." Lorraine'® gaze was fixed. upon tine fair face so near her own. Her eyes now bad the look of passionate, concentrated affection which was their normal look when they rested upon Clare. "You know.l was glad to come. Am I not looking forward to seeing .that amy- dearest is> fthe loveliest and the most admired wherever she goes?" "What noiDsanse, diear!" Clare, iaaighiiing lamd hiludbimg, was prettier tQnan .ever. "As Ho that," she* said, i with & lliibtle grimace, "I tbhink that I know what us in store. Blow about | yourself, madami? How many do | you dintand tto set raving, as you did j itttilat uailuioky Mr Oreswiok, wtho wanted io paint you? ' My 'brown, hair against your Tli'tiam looks, miy blaze! eyes against your blue—isudn blueT WlblLcth way will (the bidding go, do you think P" Sine turned .to the. mirinoir, anakihg a little curtsy to the dha riming n-efleotion it ishlowied. her. "Oh, lit as all very well! I won't disparage myself. 1 aim a very pretty and very nice girl. But you—well, ■you'ire, mot, you see!',' Lorraine aid auot answer. A auiraous oomitaaotion affected. !her lips; itihe hand that Jay upon her knee olancthed suddenly. CUialre tamed, aind took up the cofree cup from itlh© standi at her side. "Drink your doffee, diariihg. You isaid you wene thirsty, land dt will brighten! you up—it always doesi me. right." Sh© xeplaioed tfhie cup, ' puiled forward la dow. chair,' and sank dowin c into it. • "And mow, let in© aete—wihat 'were we. talking about? Oh, Mr Severance! You said, you expected it? . Idon't quote understand what youi meamt. -Not. itih/at Que would win the verdict in rijbat tiresome aa&e, purely?" . -♦" No, mot isio .much that, although, alt did mot ismrprisie ane. It was; his siuociess I .meant," Lorraine quietly answered. ' "Oh, rtJhlatt, you expected it? Sail, plenty of mien las 1 poor las. ihie is do fail an tlhlat profesaion, : l l'm afraid." "Not mien Ikke Bernard Severance." ' ■ You think Ihe is. clever ?" "Clever? Yes, he is. that. But there aire many failures whio are equally ais ■clever." "So—.so resolute, ithen. Will that do." "Yea, that i® better." "I suppose it is." GLaire pressed her pretty chin upon her hand in a IflmiiglMuil .way. ,-"Yeia,. .'he is the sort of miam to get anything that, he toad, siiii himself to get, I think. He gives one that impression.. He is>— miaatarfiul, and I .think he could be (hard, Lorraine."' ■-. ;- fc • . - ' - -

"IJinforgiviLnig, don'it-. you. think ?" , 'ypiy ishbuS hie (Jtergiye-if he is wraiaged?" tasked sternly. TJhie toine.iof iheii- vioiioe,. normally so .wsds isflMtetenly fhjairsih, and the eyes', of Olafe -expressed surprise. "How loddily ; y<m.said- that, Lor-: rain l ©. Severance be wt-onged, as-yon call it?" "Why, indeed. He :• haiS' been wronged enough, Mis he not?" ask- j ed Lorraine bitterly. ' "Oh, you mean. " Glare broke off, and iber foiae flushed uneasily, j "I understand. You mean ithiat dt wlas dreadful Ihlard iipon hiim to lose Redbourne?* I am siure lie ihas borne* it moblv." "He as ia .miaai." "Ylou .mean a brave one So hie lis." Oaire ihad taken up the end of itfoe isoarf round ttihie othier?s waist, .and was lingering it© Ifiringe, her head bowed a. OUttle. "You Jiave always seeoiiied to dislike rix> (talk of it, darling," she said, "but I suppose you thiaiv<e oflten (thought about it, hlaven't you?". . ■ ... "Yes, I (have thought about! it." "Didn't you tlhlioik it very strange •iihiaifc Mr Severance niade no effort to discover who Ihad stolen the will?" •'1 it wise. He nrasifc have ■ knowm—he did) know—(the einitare ttnopetessaiesisi of iany isiuofo effort. Th& ■wdull was stolen, to 'be' destroyed. Of tfehiait tlhiere can't foe any doubt. It ■wlais wielil ifor him thiat he wia® brave enough and (sitirong enough to let the wfolole itJhirig go>. A weaker man I would ihlave let it embitter and tor-

(OUR NEW SERIAL.)

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

ture Mm—xuiai Ms lldfe, perhaps. He is imot of that mould." ; 'Yes, I suppose 'hie was wiser," Qare murmured. "Do you 'think, Lorraine, that ihe had .any hopes or the will ever ibeing found?" t "No." ' 'itLe has never tspoken to you of I iit?" "Never." "Do you really think hie cared a great deal, dear?" "Everylthiimg he mre® about at all he cares" for a. great deal, Clare." "You speak as if you knew him thoroughly. You oitltan speak so, you know." Sflne paused, the iscarf was twisted nesttoasiyi. "Lorraiine!" "I am (Jdstemiiing, Hove." "You don't think, do you, after so doing, that there is any chance of ;the wail coming to {Light agaitn?" The .scarf wias ctlroppied, the hands idkusped with a giaature (Suggestive of supplication. Lornaiuie turned slowly in her chair, and 'looked at her companion.. "No!" isihe Biaidi . "I know it is very unlikely, but— I—l wondered " Hr voice (faltered, into silence. In the pause that ensued' Lorraine put out iheir (hand and closed dit firmly upon the unsteady fingers* that were twisting the scarf again. Clare 'spoke piresieintiy. ' 'Lorraine, 1 ,hiave often, wondered who could possibly have dome it?" "Done w'thiat?" "Stolen the wil." "Have you?" "Yes. And—don't laugh ait me— I-have somtetdimesi beem silly enough to. think rtibJat of I liked to turn deteabiive I should know .where to look for the person." "Cliare! You?" Lorraiine started to 'her feet. Astonished at the rapidity of the moveimeut and the look turned upon her, Oare rose, too. "Don't look .so startled, dear! It is only a ftancy, and I dare say a foolish one, too. But I can't help suspecting " 1 . "Hush!" iwlhispered Lorraine. _ Her hand pressed upon the otter's fliipjis. The door opened as she made [ the ■movement, and Severance was '•shown into (the iroam.

CeAPTMI X. If Bernard Severance, in his character of undeclared lover, had ihoped iflor a cordial greeting from hisilady,, he musts have been, critical and fastidious dndeted had hie not felt fully satisfied.- with the welcome she ' accorded hiiim.. dare's manner had never been more 'chaamiingly spontaneous- and cordial; isbe had mi&ver sandled more brightly,, nor given- her hand more wairanlly. That she was a; little flut(beredj a ttattle "bremjulcras, that she certainly iblusbsd, only flattered him. The fact was apparent that she was pleased to 'see him. Sibe wasi prettier than evetr. ' The white gowm was charming—also, it Was 1 ' the .first be had iseen her 'Wear. _ ' He (thought, as he often did, when (be saw; them together*, Ibow utterly different sibe was-from ber foster sister. Lorraine'ia cold fingers dropped iiudoiffereintly tfirom His after he had clasped them; she scarcely glanced at iham; sbe turned ber bead, carelessly toward the window again, as (though he were molt, there. A. monosyflDlaibfle or two was all that she found to. isay 'to 'ham. Judgjiing.by her manner bar '• thought- was-that he was- a .bore, land she did not think it necessary to hide it. She repelled,' annoyed him, but not the first trimue by many; she bad ■never heen- gracious when he went to Redbaume. 'But it piqued him somehow to-night. He spoke to her presently (when dare came )\m a pause- in her (bright, eager talk, full of 'girlftsh anticipation of the pleasure ber fore her, and gay little commands' to him to keep has" promise and uiifcnc}duoe all the nicest people he kneW. When she paused Severance, addressd the motionless* white figure in', the distant- chair; .

"Miss Latouohe, I'm afraid," he said, "iSeehiß scarcely herself tofoigjhlt," "Thank you—l. am, quite well," Lorraine cpldJy answered. "But tired, darling," diare interposed auickly. "Now, you know you ane. I was rmarking 'it, Mr Severance, jiuisit before you came im. She So' so very quiet <and pale, don't; you think?- I 'hope Londoali will . agree .with iher. If it does not you know whaifc.-wtill happen-,;-dear. We sfeaM iuist pack up: and go back to Kedt>oua"ni6." v _'••-. "Thia.t 4 indeed tto wrili not,"- Lorf irairiie said quietly. • - \ : "Won't vie-? Very "Well, we will stay and do juslfc l .wlhat ; :you like. Is it mewis .to you, Mr Severance, that my sister is a, terrible tyrant ? It is a fact. Since vw were little tots together /shie iftta led the way, and I (blame followed meekly—amto shocking niilsicihief .sometimes, for she- wias a (terrible little rfxaniboy in those dajra! I But you .always took the Mamie, didn't you, librraime ? I Wonder how miaaiy sooMoegsi and you lhave token for any .sake, Lorraine? I was always afraid. You never were, amd nothing -would make you cry. But never mSmd ithlat." Aciciepting the cheek of a sMgjbt frown and an inrpiaftSent movement, she chainged the i&uhjeot. "Did you hear what Mr Severance says, dear ? Mr and Mrs Moorfieid are' in town, a,nd hie promises' ui& an* introduotioh whieinever we like. I am so pleased, for I am sure Mrs MoorfieM is a most charming woman. Now, is she not? ''l .must lea.ve you ito' answer that question, later on," Severance isaid /simiMing.

(To be continued.)