TO THE UTTERMOST FARTHING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10415, 8 September 1911, Page 2

TO THE UTTERMOST FARTHING.

CHAPTER X—Continued

Lorraine sank back in her chair. There was no change in her expression of utter wonder. That she had indeed never heard mention of the anonymous letter was plain. What did it say if Had he it still ? What led him to suspect Mrs Vassell ? she asked him ; and then, after his replies, oame a fourth question. Against whom did it warn him ? Was thero no clue ? Severance shook .his head, his smile as grim as has laugh had been. "Had there been even the slightest one I should hot have taken the course I did," he.said. "I .should not have inactively submitted to the loss of the will —I should have made some effort. But there was no clue." Lorraine was still looking fixedly at him, revolving what he had said, it seemed. She spoke slowly, her hand pressed against her forehead. "You still think she wrote the letter?" 'I must,admit that I do.' ' "That would mean that she must have known that the will was in danger?" 'Yes; undoubtedly." "And that she would have suspicion of the person who took it?" "That follows, too." "Did you speak to her of it?" "I spoke to her in Mr BethelPs presence before I left Redbounre. She strongly denied all knowledge of the letter." • ■■ : "She seemed surprised?" "She seemed (bewildered, but I fear I am somewhat skeptical as to the genuineness of that." "In short, you think she know.s >» "Who was.the thief ? I won't go so far as to say that, but I think that she wrote the letter." Lorraine did not reply. She slowly withdrew her gaze from his, and, turning her head toward the window, as she 'had done earlier in the evening, sat looking out at the sky. She was musing over what he had told her, he supposed, looking at the grave lines of her profile. It was certainly odd that she had never heard of the anonymous letter, although, it merely meant that Mr Befchell had elected to exercise his usual discretion, and hold his tongue. Was Clare ignorant of it, too ? Probably, or she would have told her foster sister. The thought of Clare naturally turned his yes towards her, and he found himself growing irritable again. Young Seton was all very well, and personally he liked the lad, but all this devotion was really a little toq much. It was so open, sc palpable, so blunderingly ardent and candid that it would have been amusing had it not been annoying. And it became the more annoying because it was obvious that Clare did not welcome it. A most unwonted frown was upon her face; her replies were short to snappiness. She turned away with an impatient gesture from the eager eyes whioh seemed to be imploring her. Was the young man venturing into overt lovemaking? Or perhaps that had been done long ago. He was not of the kind to mind one rebuff or two. However at'might be, Severance determined that he would interrupt the tete-a-tete of which Clare was plainly more than tired. She even shot a helpless little glance in his direction, which made him resolve that the sooner young Seton was taught how things were the .better. In the act of rising he felt fthiat Lorraine's gaze was upon him, and he turned to meet it. "Yes"—with one swift glance she took in the two figures of Clare and Harry, and nodded as though his look had been a verbal question—"you J are quite right, Mr Severance; it is I so. . "You mean-—" He paused, uncertain how her assertion was meant to go. "'"''. i "That Harry is in love with Clare. I wonder you have not seen it before. He does not hide it—does not try—would not if he could. He has loved her since we were little childrehf almost. I saw/it even then, poor fellow!" "•• "Poor?"::He caught;at the word with.reviving courage. VThen, Miss: Throckmorton ——" ■ ''The.question waW"understood; Lorraine shook- iher head.. . .""No; she".does not care for him," she said quietly J 'He has asked her to marry him, and she has Tefused—twice, I think. He will ask her again, and she will refuse again. He is stubbornly faithful. He will give up all hope of her only when she marries some other man." "She may relent." "She will not do that. Have you ever been in love, Mr Severance?" Both had risen, and both were watching the two figures at the other end of the long room. Harry was holding Clare's hand and was bidding her good night, it seemed. Glancing at Severance as she put the question, Lorraine saw his expression. With a sudden flash of her eyes she touched his arm. "I gave you a word of advice once," she said, in a rapid"ttihisper, "and you thanked me for it. Take another word that I give you now, and you will once more thank me. You have lost your fortune —don't lose your happiness, too. Don't do what you are on -the brink of fall in love with \ Clare!" j Ten minutes later the visitors were ! gone, and Mrs-Throclcmotron had de- I parted, leaning on the arnrof her maid

(OUR NEW SERIAL.)

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

CHAPTER XI

(To be continued.)

and scattering about her as she went voluble complaints of the heat of the room, the chilliness of the night, the steepness of the stairs, her own terrible fatigue, and the utter impossibility of over going to sleep. Left alone with her foster sister Lorraine put her arm fondly about her waist. Clare was standing by tftie fender, her foot upon it, as though she forgot there was no fire there, and her eyes cast musingly down. ' 'You have 'had a ipleasant evening, love?" "Yes, very nice, all things considered!" Smiling, she slipped a responsive arm about the other. "I like Mr Severance, you know, although I must say he talked the most to you. Quito right —he would be instanteously hateful if he didn't like my Lorraine. Did you hear him promise that he would especially call upon Mrs Moorfield tomorrow ? And, oh, dear—fancy that absurd boy Harry turning up!" "Don't be hard upon him, Clare. Poor fellow! You know why." Clare noted a pleading tone in Lorraine's voice that she seldom adopted. 'Oh, yes, I know why!" Clare pouted and gave a little shrug. "And I am sure I am very sorry —you know I am, Lorraine. I've cried about it a dozen times. And Harry is ia dear fellow! I hate to snub him and make him unhappy, but I had to dp so tonight ; it has made me quite miserable. And before he came—oh, I was in the clouds!" "The clouds!" Lorraine repeated. With a quick movement she drew back "Why?" 'Why? With happiness, darling, with happiness!" Clare clasped her arms exultantly above her head, and then clasped them round the other's neck. "I wouldn't tell you just at first —not even you —I couldn't. I wa,nted to hug up the delight of it all to mytseflf. Shall I show you my letter? No, that is only for me. Fancy! There is just one thing in the world which I won't give to Lorraine!" Her head sank with the tightening of her clasping arms; she laid it on Lorraine's 'breast. "Oh, kiss me, dearest, and be happy with me! I could die with joy! Derek is coming home!"

I Although it was only the first of ■; May, the day was so hot in the dull, I close court where Bernard Severance had his chambers that the windows i were thrown wide open. Severance i was covered with papers. But he was j not working. In an adjoining room, however, two clerks were busy. His great success against odds was barely three weeks old, and the influx of briefs which it had brought him had not yet ceased. His pen would not have been idle now, but for the presence of a visitor —Tom Moorfield. The success of his ,-friend had given this honest fellow more than -satisfaction; no achievement of his own could possibly have delighted him more —probably not so much. His eager congratulations for what had been done already'were even exceeded by his flattering prophecies of what would be done in the future. He was full of them now, inspired by the sight of an especial brief upon his friend's table, and undeterred by the quiet amusement with which his friend regarded him. "Pooh!" cried Tom, with vigors "you're too modest, Bernard—that's where it is, my boy! Always knew that you had it in you. And you've got your chance. Why, look at this" — slapping his hand upon the brief—"is it a fact, or isn't it, that there's tsoarcely.a man at the bar who wouldn't have been glad to take, it ? You lead, I don't you?" I

"Yes. Westcott is my junior." "A fellow twenty years older, who I was just where he is now ten years ago I and will be in the same position ten years hence. But you—you'll.dp anything." "Prophecy is easy! We shall see!" said Severance. "Yes, we shall, but not more than I. shall expect to have my eyesight gratified with!" Tom replied. "And, by : George, old fellow, after the dastardly trick you've had played on you, you will deserve itif ever a man did!" Severance made;no answer. The subject of the stolen will had been discussed threadbare between them long ago, and he made no effort to disguise the fact that the subject was distasteful to him—that he preferred it to be ignored. Moorfield, knowing ' this thoroughly, coloured a little; he had not meant to let the allusion slip, so he changed the subject. "You'll be looking after a fresh abiding place before long, Bernard, I suppose? As things are, this is scarcely the place for you, now." "I suppose I shall make a change shortly. But not until after August —too busy."