HELD IN BONDAGE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10502, 14 December 1911, Page 2

HELD IN BONDAGE.

OUR SERIAL.

BY L. F. DACRE. Author of "Suuhod's Valley," A Phaaitom of the Past," "The Shadow of Sham©," "Sir John's Heiress," "A Daughter of Mystery," etc.

CHAPTER VII —Continued. "Elder and Wilkins," she explained, "the big Regent Street people, want me at once. That means a full day's work, making sketches of new goods from Paris, so I must leave you to your own devices, Meg. There axe plenty of books to read." "Read! I am iin no mood for reading. Just .show me how to use the typewriter, and I'll put in a few hours practice. Father promised over and over again to get one for me to make legible copies of his sermons, but the promise was never fulfilled—'worse luck)!" An hour later Edith went about her business to Regent Street, and for several hours Margaret thumped tho typewriter. She was so well pleased with the result that she wrote an amended letter to her father in type, boinK careful not to implicate Alf Maxwell in the smallest degree. It ran in this way: "DEAR FATHER: I think the news you sent to me about that marriage must- have driven me stark mad. The very unexpectedness of it was horrifying and'the poor little vicarage would not hold two young women such as your wife and daughter. Dazed by the shock, I listened to the tempting talk of Mr Aston, and consented to marry him at once —merely to get away from the home wivic.li was to be usurped by one whom 1 dislike and de-. spise. Mr Aston secured a special license, and we married at our own church in the presence of two witnesses only. Tit for tat! "But I soon suffered for my wicked folly, and the tragedy began. Mr Aston and I had a difference of opinion, and he showed the hand of the master. He abused me with a torrent of blasphemous language, and I could read murder in his cruel eyes. 1 was so terrified -fbhat I left Castle Clayford in the nitfhfc, and I am in London; my own jjyiing. Op no account make any effort to fijid me, or worse will follow. . "Your pnliappy daughter, ... "MARGARET,"

Before sending the letter, she showed it to Edith who oame lio-me at teatime. ■ "Well, you haven't minced matters, Meg." "Why should 1? It isn't ray,way." "Is filial respect out . of fashion? Your father lias only done what thousands of other men have been guilty of, and women, too." Margaret flung hack her liwwl angrily. She oould 'never forget hei" outraged pride,, ■ You woiuc not say so if you knew tihe sort of creature he has married," she said scornfully : "Vulgar, coarse, and scheming. No young man was safe from Iher at Castle Clayford. Her oonduot was so abominable that I ha J to reprimand her at choir practice. '"Oh!" Edith sighed. "Then % letter goes. I'll drop it into the ma'i"; box before I take off my things. I am tired, and don't want- to go out again to-night," , ; '. After tea Edith took the day's work from her portfolio. There were eight .sketches, cleverly outlined for the purpose of deluding into the belie: that it was.;possi!jl<i (d? ' them to become bea-utifultuid'grac&fui'' if bedecked in tbfe creations of an art- ■ ist.' I ' ''l will put the finishing touches to these tilings to-morrow," Edith deeicl-. Ed, "and we wilt get on with the text this evening. I've promised that the | lot shall be delivered the day after to-morrow. Perhaps you can help me, I Meg.. You. will master the typewriter in a few days." "I cai Avrite shorthand, slowly. I taught myself so that I oould take down dad's sermons. He never could preach extempore kept repeating himself and for getting 4iis-irgument. "Famous!" cried Edith. "I'll dictate the matter, and- to-morrow you can make copies on the typewriter. And so the work began, and the two.girls were busy untill supper was served. After - supper they talked ' hopefully—almost- happily, of the future prospects. " 1 "I ani pretty good at black and white'drawing, too," "'Margaret said. ! "Not original; work, but copying, or finishing the sketches after you have I outlined them. If you have other commissions and there is any pressure you shall see what I ca>n do. It seemed that th<# suggestion was almost prophetic, for the inext . morning's mail brought an urgent message from an editor of a fashionable weekly ■ paper lor whom Edith did a great deai ' of important interviewing. She had 1 a knack of wheedling interesting facts from the most bearish celebrities, for few could withstand the diarm of her I presence. A splendid woman, every movoment suggestive of power, yet diguified and quiet; a soft voice, and ; ,beautiful pleading eyes; a fair lin-. ™ guist', any amount of tactful persist-: . ence, and ;in every fibre of, 'her being. Tiiis was Edith Janson's stock-in-trade. She ..read tin? editor's message, and her eyes glistened. "Something after my own heart," she told Margaret. "And it means lilieral payment if I am successful. Mr Patrick Ward, the great /inventor, arrives at Southampton this morning from New York, and it appears that ho is quite inaccessible to the usual reporter. H is coming to the Rupert ■ Hotel, accompanied by his wife and child. I am to have lidm for my paper, by hook or by crook —a- nice interview, und a photograph. More typing for you, Meg! What a pity I haven't the telephone installed. It

would save me so much waiting about! if the hotel people could phone when Mr Ward arrived. They are always glad to assist me, for the sake of the advertisinent. Of course I have to mention the spacious and beautifully appointed apartments, the rich and soft carpets, the spotless cleanliness, and the restful calm, etc. It all goes down with the public. You shall be disguised in some way. We, will contrive it somehow. You can't be shutup within four walls for ever." So Edith Janson set out for. the Rupert Hotel to stalk her prey, armed with notebook and camera, and brimful of tricks and cajolery. But, to her infinite astonishment, none of the artifices of the trade were necessary to obtain an interview with Mr Patrick Ward. One of the hotel servants took her card up to Mr Ward's apartments and she was immediately accorded an interview. ohe was conducted to the drawing room, and bidden to wait, and while she waited .she tried to picture what the great inventor was like. An elderly person, certainly, for his name •had been before the public for so many years. But whether he was large or small, kind or fierce, .she had not the remotest idea. It had 'been his boasi. that he had never talked to a reporter, and that the so-called interviews were lies, root and branch. Now an I then a letter to this effect appeared over Jiis name in the reputable daily papers, English and American—scathing, vigorous and contemptuous. Undoubtedly 'he was a formidable person..age,-, . ~■> . Then Edith (heard a pleasant voica addressing her, and rose from ner chair.

1 'Don't move, Miss Janson. I won' t sit down myself, as I prefer to tramp around the room when talking. I aui Patrick Ward."

Edith gave a little gasp. This man could mot be more than five and thirty—not a day. And ho was not a bii dangerous to look at. The dark eyes | jvere deep-set, keen and kind—indeed, tlide W&9 sadness in their depth. He was an attractive looking man, too 1 ; not too tall, but strongly built.; a deep ana broad chest— none of your flat make-believes, upon which £he tailor has experimented. Tjie neck was muscular and tihick, almost too thick, the girl thought, and the luxuriant, dark hair that covered the massive head') was streaked with grey, lie wore a .close-cropped moustache, that peculiarly riveted Edith's attention. One half was almost white while the other was nearly black. Why on earth did -he not shave it off or dye the bleached part? ' "I had it letter from your editor this morning, 'MisS Janson," said Ward. "It was waiting here for me, and I have made up my ixiind to talk to you j for publication, the conditions Wng tliat I shall see proofs before the publication goes to press. There is no denying that you "represent ah influential paper, witih an enormous circulation, and it may be to our mutua.i advantage to grant you exclusive pri- | vileges." "That is very kind of you,"' Edith beamed. "Not at all. I have certain reasons for desiring a certain amount of publicity, and, it would be folly to encour- ! age a class of newspaper that I have H always condemned., No one would believe a word that they printed." 'Edith fingered her notebook, but he shook his head. , "What I twish to be printed, I have scribbled myself, and you may embroider it in reason. I see that you a camera , but I am not in the mood to be photographed now. lam not refusing, mind, but I am rather weary at the moment- as my wife and I have just reached he're from (Southampton. When can you have my notes transcribed and ready for the printer's hands?" ."This evening- I —quite easily."

"Oh j to-morrow will suit ine letter, —in the morning. Shall I call at the office of your paper?" "I would prefer to' carry the tiling through myself, »sir. T work at home." "Then I will come to your homo, if: you don't mind," saiid Patrick Ward quickly. "I am beseiged here." He pointed to-a corner table littered with cards. "I may want your assistance in another matter, Miss Janson, if you will be kind enough to help inc." (To bo Continued.)