HELD IN BONDAGE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10497, 7 December 1911, Page 2

HELD IN BONDAGE.

OUR SERIAL

BY L. F. DAGRE. Author of "Sinfaad's Valley," A Phantom of the Past," "The Shadow of Shame " "Sir John's- Heamess," "A Daughter of Mystery," etc.

CHAPTIER lll—Continued

Tho retired station master and the rate collector accepted tho verger's ■hospitality," and the well-dressed man looked over the top of his paper. While the landlord was dispensing the refreshments, he casually refered to Mr Aston's flying visit. "I never saw him in the village; on j a week dav before. He's a hard man j to reckon 'up. He came in here one , Sunday night, and it gave mo the nn- i prossion that the house v. is invaded | Ho mav bo clever, amd he may be j rich, but ho isn't a gentleman. I was brought up among decent people, and I never met a well-bred man who was so oaten up with vanity and ostentation. The moment he opens his mouth 'his flamboyant language gives him away." "You appear te he a man of some education, Mr Lansdowne," the rate collector observed patronizingly. "I'm an old Cambridge man, sir, even if I do keep a public house." Tho stranger jumped up, and advancing to the counter, held out • his hand. • "I thought it was you, Tom Lausdowiie, and now I know if. Have you forgotten Harry Danks?" "Good heavens!" the landlord said with emotion. His eyes were travelling swiftly over the stranger s face. "Fancy meeting like this after thirty years!* Come round to my sitting room." "Presently. I am interested in the talk about Mr George Aston, as I have some business to transact with him. I'v? got the feeling that he is a colossa: irmid; and as for his inventions, there must be a powerful brain at the back of him somewhere." And then Potts, the verger, could keep back his news no longer. It just bubbled from fliis lips, and thus the whole of the Castle Clay-ford was made dizzy with amazement and speculation. "Upon my word," Harry Danks remarked to' Tom Lansdowne, when they were alone in the sitting room 'behind the bar, "this George Aston is a remarkably interesting personality. I may want your help, and I'm going to tell vou a very big secret by and by."

Maragret went home from tfce church a married woman, with a thick gold band on the third finger of her left hand. Silent and grim, Emma Jones walked beside her, and neither spoke a word until they were inside the vicarage sitting room. Aunt Ellen was there her usual tranquillity rather, disturbed. Margaret flung herself upon a couch, and- the three women looked at each other in turn.

"Well, Mrs Aston," the housekeeper broke the silence, "how do you feel about it?"

"How do I feel? Not a bit real," She held up her left hand. ."But that's real enough, isn't it? What a •huge ring! And tlhis, too." She displayed a Bank of for fifty pounds. "Ho says that I must go to Birmingham or London, or wherever I choose and buy some clothes. I'have-a week <to'do " it v ''iri/ .and then ihe is coming to fetch me away. We are to have a Jioney-moon on the Atlantic —a flying trip to New )York, business and'pleasure combined."

"Most extraordinary, my dear? but I suppose you are satisfied?" sighed Aunt Ellen. "I am deliriously happy." scoffed Margaret. "Why shouldn't I be? See. what ;; beautiful wedding I've had!"

"You'll rue it," said the housekeeper. "As much as your father wi';l /ue his marriage. You're as mad as he is. I don't like George Aston any more titan I like .the n&w vicaress. You' ?o got my notice, Mrs Benson." "AH this is very painful," Aunt Ellen murmured plaintively. "Will you go with me, Emma?" Margaret asked.

"No, thank you, miss. I shall stay in the village, with my "mother. She's got- the old-ag-V pension now, and I can find plenty I , f you'll never blame me for '.being'a-' party to this affair.^ "Nonsense!" "Margaret shiver>!.' ■'"Anything is better than having o stay'horo. Wo -will go to Birmingham to-morrow, Emma, spend ibis mon •">>', *nd enjoy ourselves. Mr Aston is go,ing to Paris jjonie. ineetinfi: of aviators —he is inventing som»tliing in connection "nth flying machines—and won't be back for a week. Then it will bo good-bye to the vicarage for me. I wonder 1 how my father will take it?" "A dose of bis own medicine. I'll get my work forward ready for the Birmingham business.' "Thank you so much, Emma. My •head is in a whirl. 1 think I will lie down for an ho»™ or two. There will he ,%mo talk among our people about me and father. What an agony of shame I should endure if I were not going abroad." The ihoxisekeeper tu raed and left the room, muttering:

"The poor thing dcesn'e yet know what she's done, and the judgment of God will fall on her father for it. Now what does Mr Aston want with a wife like her? Another pretty ornament for his fine house. I've heard from the servants that his place at Edgbaslon is overloaded with wonderful things, and that none of them match ono another. It's certain that my poor young mistress won't match him."

Margaret and Emma went to Birmingham the next day, and they were careful to have a closed carriage direct from the vicarage gate. The cab-

Affectionately yours • "George Ast-on."

man was all oars and eyes, and when the cab wheezed and creaked through the village the way that necks were craned i\"j windows and doorways threatened to make business for tha coroner. "As everything is all right at home," Margaret said, "wo will make a day of it Emma. After the shopping we'll go to the concert at BangIcy Hall." "You mean, you don't want to go homo in the daylight, Mrs Aston." "Not t'hat name, Emma, please! I want to be Margaret Thornton one week longer." "But you are Mrs Aston now. My poor child, I'd give ton years of my life to ihave this thing undone." They drove all the way to Birmingham, and the business of choosing the I needful (things was begun. Now Street, Bull Street, Corporation Street had to be thoroughly explored, and thus several hours were occupied Then there was .tea in a fashionable frestaurant, to the dreamful music of a hidden band, and Margaret remembered, witih a little gulp, that she and her father had enjoyed themselves in ;fcho selfsame way only a few months before. It seemed like years and years since. What a gulf there was between then and now! Margaet spent her money recklessly. There was plenty more where the first fifty pounds had come from, and George Aston had told her to deny herself nothing. The mere mention of his name' would be sufficient—the" sesame to the treasure stores of the ■»-'• t establishments whose doors she had -lever before dreamed of entering. /After tea in the restaurant she I and Emma were driven to Bingley Hall in a smart taxicab. The concert was a magnificent affair, eminent musicians, singers of world-wide fame and the vast building was crowded with weallth and fashion. At last the girl woke up, as though aroused from a dream. Emma was 'speaking. . "The people are all standing, Miss Margaret. They are singing 'God Save the King.' " . Soon the audience was thronging into the street. The night air was very oold, and big drops of rain were falling. Margaret shivered. "Ask the policeman to call a taxicab.Emma, I feel chilled tothe bone." "March winds and too much excitement," commented Emma. Margaret was very quiet during the drive home. To Eirana's questdons she answered hesitatingly—vaguely. She was bewildered; so much had been crowded aiirto her life in a few short hours. She supposed that she ought to eonsider herself a girl of some importance, but there was an unaccountable bitterness in her heart, and she almost envied the rhuman derelicts wandering homeless ,in the dark ways. By tlie nejet morning's mail came a tiny box for Margaret—a brooch and a ring, both resplendent with precious stones. Anda>tter, too, which sent the colour U ■!?.<* face for a' minute 01 W "DEAR LITTLE WIFE: I am sending yoaij something with this letter which t hope will please you. \\t; were in such a desperate hurry to gei mawied that there was no time tor 'the customary engagment nng. lam making amends. I expect to be im ■ Paris .to-night; and shall rush th« 3 "business; as I am anxious for o\ir hon-ey-moon to begin.

Margaret sHipped the ring on one oti her Inigures, held it out at arm's' length, and flashed it around. In cer-i tain lights it glowed with' iridescent fires. . .

In -the afternoon the first of her purchases arrived from Birmingham, and two, days later -the vicarage parlour was littered with cardboard boxes, brown paper parcels,and the many things .which, the girl had thought necessary to the replenishment of her wrrdrobe. It was fast growing dark, and now she was sitting in the conservatory, her hands clasped over her knees.. The blinds had not been drawn, and,she could just see ill© trees waving drearily, and hear the spiteful hiss of the rain.. Then she know that the door had been opened by the current of cold air that played over her neck, and turned her head.' She was on her feet instantly, and gave a low cry. I (To bo Continued.)