TO THE UTTERMOST FARTHING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10443, 7 October 1911, Page 2

TO THE UTTERMOST FARTHING.

CHAPTER XXlV—Continued

"Wondering and doubting too_, love. That is not vei-y surprising, is it? Wondering what, you ask? Well, in plain words, this: The mother on her own confession, wrote me that letter, and no doubt for the reason given. 1 confess I feel by no means assured that the daughter did not steal tlw will."

"No, no! Oh, no? She could not! It is impossible!" "Is it impossible? Why?" "You would have recognised her!" "Should I? I don't think ■that follows. Let us look at the matter for a moment. To begin with, my suspicion has always beenthat it was taken to benefit Whloughby. You know that?"

"Yes, you told me so once." "Did I? Well, next, the figure and height of the woman wfho undoubtedly did steal ib would answer very well for this girl's, mnd her voice, as I recall it, was not unlike. As for the face, this girl had been an actress, and . to make up hers sufficiently to disguije it would be easy to her. Altogether it strikes m'e as looking rather suspicious. I'll mention it to Mr. Bethell when he comes presently." "No, no! Oh, don't do that! Don't rake up all the misery again!" She threw her arms round his neck, drew> j his head down to hers, and kissed him. "Don't, dearest!" she said. "Only yesterday you told me that you had quite got over the loss of Redbourne. ' "That's true enough. But if there should be any chance of my being able to make you mistress of it you don't think I will let it go do you? The chance is small enough, I know —the will is most likely dust and ashes long ago—hut if there should be such a chance I'll take it for your sake, sweetheart. As for hurting the girl,' if that is ■w'hat you are fearing, I promise you I won't do that. How pale vou are still, ,love! We had better leave the pictures for another occasion. Why, that is Bethell, isn't it?" " Yes, I think so—it sounds like his gig." She glanced from the window. "Yes, it is he, Bernard, you won't speak about this yet, will you ? Wait until I am with you." "You shall hear every word I say. But not now Are you not coming, then?" "Not for a few minutes: I have been upset with all this. I want to be alone for a little while. Go and receive Mr. Bethel!,' and I will follow vou presently." "If you do not I shall come for you." He hurried away and; Lorraine remained on the settee where he had placed her, her head leaning backward smiling vaguely with half-closed eyes. Her breast rose and fell, her whole I posture relaxed languidly, with her ! deepening smile. Then a sound broke the stillness, a sound which brought her to her feet in an instant with a cry. She turned toward the open window sure of what she would see, knowing perfectly fmm whom that derisive laugh must have come. It was still upon the face of Sir Derek Wil- | loughby as he bowed to her with his I usual ready grace and stepped into i the room.

CHAPTER XXV. Lorraine stood immovable, her hand grasping the back of tiie settee, her head thrown up, and her defiant gaze meeting Sir Derek's. He "was pale in spite of his dark richness of coloring, and she saw and entirely understood the rage beneath his mocking smile. He had seen her parting with her lover. And, most fraleful arid unendurable to her of all, there was in his look tihe same passionate, half-sav-age admiration which his face had borne when he had astounded her with the avowal of 'his love. "Very pretty, upon my word." he said. "Delighltfully dramatic, realistic and intense. Really, .when I dhanced to stroll this way I had no idea that I should happen upon so charming a little tableau." He stopped with a laugh. He drawled in his usual cool, deliberate way, but his voice had-a hoarse note of rage in it. She neither changed her attitude nor spoke. "It is so entirely by accident, too!"• he said in a tone of airy explanation. "But for a mere oversight I should have Wired from town for a carriage to meet me, and so should not have walked from the station. And, having walked, I can't in the least; say what induced me to wander round by the terrace instead of going straight imto the house. . Being near the open window you can understand how irresistibly the sound of your voice attracted me. I have been ihesr'e some two or three minutes, and I say again, witnessed a most charming tableau. But I fear I want some enlightenment. May I ask you to take pity on my curiosity and supply it?" He paused, and she did not speak. She maintained her lofty attitude and her dauntless look, though, in spite of her high, courage and her hatred of him, helpless terror was gripping at her heart and turning lier dizzy. He slightly shrugged his shoulders. "On the surface it is all very plain," he, said smiling. "You have found Redbourne dull, and have very naturally essayed to amuse yourself. I must congratulate you on tlhe result. You are evidently more irresistible than I have always considered you, for it is plain that you have succeeded in melting the iceberg entirely. You've carried the experiment a little farther than I like, perhaps—you appeared so emphatically Tesponsive. But we will.

(OUR NEW SERIAL.)

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

let that go. I have not much affection for my beloved cousin, but isn't it rather hard upon the poor beggar, Loraine?" •'Not even you," she said scornfully "can lie well enough to make a pretense of believing that what you are saying is true. You understand perfectly the full meaning of what you saw. You do not need my word to tell you that Bernard Severance is my lover. But you shall have it. He loves me and I love'him!" "Most charmingly obvious from what I saw!" His rage burst out now; he t-ook a step toward her. "I am to congratulate him upon being your chosen husband, perhaps? Or does that stall remain to be arranged, Miss Latoudhe?" "No; you might guess that it does not." "You think you will marry him?" "I have promised to marry him." "Ha, ha!" he laughed." A rich joke that, upon my word ! I had thought it had about reached the climax when I first saw that he was in love with you, but it's an added point that you should love him. The crown of the wfliole thing is when it comes to marriage. Marriage between you two!" She did not answer. "I have always hated my clever cousin," he weoiit on tranquilly, ''but I never knew quite how much, until I saw you in his artms just now. On second thoughts I'm glad it happened. I don't wish for a more complete way of getting even with him. He is likely to remember those kisses of youra, I should say— the last he will ever get! Faith, I wouldn't deprive 'him of that unemory, Lorraine! And you had seriously promised to marry him! It is a compliment to my amiability. Did you for an instant imagine that I would let you give me the slip in thait fashion? You must, I think, do me the (honor to bear in mind our last talk together." She made a step towards him, her hand falling, her breast heaving high, tottering blindly, and almost fell. He caught her hands and held them. "Lorraine, I -will never give you up! All that I said ito you the other day I say to you again. Hate me as much as you like—and I can guess how that is now —it makes no difference. Hate me or love me, you shall be my wife!' I've a pretty good right to say it, I think. I&m going .to leave England—there are reasons why it is best. You shafll come with -me. HeI member what your position is. Think of all that I can give you, and come." Lorraine had not moved'; although his arms were about her she had stood stone still. Now, as 'his lips toudhed her cheek, she uttered a cry of rage and horror, and thrust him from her with such a passionate strength that in an insitant she stood free. There was such desperation in her look and attitude that it checked even him. He stood biting his lip, looking at her.

"Don't come near me!"" she said. . "I warn you, Sir Derek, don't touch' me again!" "Oh, as you like!" He said it witfh a shrug, but the flashing of her eyes, the loathing of her look not even His resolution and audacity could meet quite unmoved. "As you like," 'lie repeated. "I can wait a little; it will not be for long. In the meantime will you come with me?" i "Not if :fc were to pave me from death!" she answered. '*You know your position?" "I know my position." "You know that —and you know all that I can give you if yoxi are my wife?" "All that you can give me!" Sho laughed. "You refuse it?'! "Refuse it? 'I robbed you of it once!" « "Yon did?" lie cried. .Astonished bewilderment for the Moment conquered every other feeling in him. "What do you mean?" "I 'mean that I told Sir Bernard or your treatment of Rose Lamont. That is what I mean." "You did?" ,ihe cried, and made a stride towards her. "It was you at first that I had to thank ?" "Yes, it was." Her eyes met his wide and dauntless, , and she was smiling now.' "I did not know or realise ; how base the vile story was, but I told Sir Bernard what I knew, and he 'guessed thevrestj I suppose,^knowing» you so well. Yes, it was I you had to thank. Uer mother would never have dared to speak, although she hated you. I made you suffer a little, 1 | hope. I thought I hated you then. It is only to-day I know how much I hate ■ you." (To be Continued.)