HELD IN BONDAGE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10504, 16 December 1911, Page 2

HELD IN BONDAGE.

OUR SERIAL.

BY L. F. DACRE. Author of "Sinhad'a Valley," A Phantom of the Past," "The Shadow of Shame," "Six John's. Heiress," "A Daughter of Mystery," etc.

CHAPTER Vlll—Continued.

Work was begun early next morn- i ing, and an hour before Mr Patrick Ward was due, an elaborate little story of his career was in type. It was written in the crisp, gossipy style which attracts the jaded newspaper reader, and Margaret was rather surprised that so eminent a man should seek notoriety of the kind. That he did seek it was certain, for had he nob outlined the article liinuself, dwelling particularly on the essential personal part of it? Cleverly niad Edith Janson coloured and embellished it, introducing her own impressions with rare ; skill. She indicated rather than doscribed his persona! charm and magnetism ; she told of his long wanderings abroad, his life in America, where his genius first obtained .recognition ; she described his wife, and little daughter, and liis litWe home on the •East 'Coast, to which he and his family were returning for gocd and all. rlis last invention was an. aeroplane for | riuvel -warfare. A demonstration of its practicability was soon to be given. The aeroplane was designed to fly over the -waiter, and to descend as lightly as a seagull anywhere and everywhere. There was tremendous excitement abortt it in naval circles. "I really havn't much opinion of any man who can be so conceited," ..Margaret said. "I was under the icpression that these laudatory notices were honest criticisms by competent people. " "Am I not competent?" laughed Edith. "My dear innocent child, do you imagine for one moment that newspaper folk ere omniscient? How could we publish anything about anybody unless the backbone of the stuff were supplied by themselves? The mighty people mentioned in the Court news not only send the items themselves, but pay for them at the rate of ten shillings a line."

Soon after eleven o'clock tihe caretaker'brought up Mr "Ward's card and with him close upon her heels. She had been instructed what to do with the expected caller. He came into the room quietly and shook bands with Edith. Then Edith introduced Margaret calling her Miss Thornton. The name slipped out mechanically. Ward acknowledged the intr>Juction with a slight inclination of the head. He was not interested in Margaret. He took the typewritten.: sheet over to the window and read;ifc;standr ing. The "interview" appeared to satisfy him. He nodded approvingly. "I should like you to say that my wife is an American* lady, and that ws were married in New York 6 years or so ago. She is very delicate," he added pathetically. "Anything else?" Edith asked., "Can I see the printers' proofs?" "Oh, yes; I wilil see to that." "Thank you. Now for the picture. I am not a photographer, so order mi •about as you like." Edith snapped two positions, and when it was over Patrick Ward sighed reiievedly. "Now, Miss Janson," he said, "as hiyou have gone so,farinto my confidence, perhaps you friend, v MLss Thornton can help* me out of a little difficulty." For the first time he turned his dark eyes on Margaret's face, and they lingered there with an expression of ii'Jfsurprise and pleasure. A ray of sunlight hlad changed her hair from'.deep bronze to gold, and here eyes were ishining back at him seriously—quizzically. She thought hiim a remarkable man and he thought her a. One young woman of wonderful beauty. It was a. rare thing to meet two such young women living together in bis way.

"You have done a great deal more for me, Mr Ward," said Edith imuplsively, " than 1 for ymi." He smilingly shook his head. "I have a very good reason for emerging from.my shell," he said. '"I chose tlie paper you represent on account of its 'influence and wide circulation. I am glad that it lias turned out as it has, Miss Jfohsqix, because fcbe good fortune is yours, too. You- know from that," pointing to the typewritten interview, "partly how I nm sit uated an. a domesetic sense. I am practically a, stranger in my own country, and am godng hack to a home .that has l>een deserted for years. The two people left in diktrge are old servants—very old, and I am' afraid to face the desolation. My wife is delicate—worse. She is not to be trusted alone at times; fancies, hallucinations and so on, the result of & terribly shock. T must get some responsible persons about me, Miss Janson, rind you may be able to put me on the trail of tbem. I want a. thoroughly reliable housekeeper,<and a refined young lady to act as companion to my daughter. She has a nurse —an Indian woman ; but the child needs a different care now that she is growing in observation and knowledge."

"You must advertise, Mr Ward," Edith suggested. She glanced at Margaret, the colour gradually leaving her face. "Yes, yes." He shrugged his shoulders. "I was you «oul:l help me in tihis. • I snudder at the oiv dotal of arranging with these people And then I should he sure to mat.' l a mastlake." '•; "I think I understand. ■ You would like me to make the first arrange meiitsi." "Yes," he answered eagerly. "'I feel that I can. trust to your judgmert for you are so eminently practical and calm. T am ready to pay high wages,' for the life will he quiet and lonely. The ftousp itself is forbidding in appearance, and situation, and is two

miles from any other habitation. And, double the usual wages Miss Janson." Edith, 'bit one of 'ber trembling lips before speaking. Then she said : "It won't be hard to And a housekeeper. There are plenty of middleaged women —widows particularly—who would be gllad of a good home anywhere. Such women as these h:»v© done with the foolish and unsatisfying things of life, and Eettle down easrly. But with the younger women it nay be different. What do you expect her to do, Mr Ward ? I mean besides l.eing a sort of governess." "Nothing that I dan tihink of just now. The life will be pleasant enouirh for anyone \dio likes solitude! Jhore's a decent library at Cliff House and new books shall be added as published. Music and all that cort of thing. Then there are the gardens, and the woods, and iibeijrolling and the jlorious sea!" Edith turned to Margaret. .. Her lips trembled, but she spoke firmly. i "Here's your chance, Meg. .It will I be a-wrench, but you must-go. Tak-v I it, Meg!" The tears rushed into her I eyes. "Mr Ward, do you think t/iat Mis® Thornton would suit" you. She is accomplished, and could help you in mlany ways. Wait a bit, Meg, till I have had my say." Margaret hail risen to her feet, but subsided again. "I know that we may trust you, Mr Ward. The truth is, Miss Thornton 'has recently feffc home for very good reasons, and objectionable persons are trying to And her. If—if " "We all have-our skeletons hidden away," said Patrick Ward gently, "and I am notihe man "to pry into the secrets of any man or woman.''., His eyes darkened with pain. "My cupboard is well stocked. If you accept my offer, Miss Thornton, this trouble of yours will only strengthen the bond between us. I had &n idea when I came into the room what itwould 'lead to, and I am pleased leyond expression." Margaret's brain was torn with perplexity. She stared at Edith, ;■ d there was a look of anguish and reI sentment in her eyes.

'Why did you delude me with the idea that I was going to be of use to you f " she exclaime 1 ''Delude you? Never! Don't maU* the inevitable parting more painful tlhlan need be, Meg." "So you lhad decided before Mr Ward's offer- wais I most go?" Her voice quavered." "For your own sake, dear, yes. A strange man was here yesterday, and he asked for you. I did not dare to tell you before." Margaret's eyes dilated with sudden den fear. Her husband might (vo>i; theriibe waiting 'to waylay 'her in trie street below. The mere possibilty of it was--horrible! She made an effort to speak, but the words strangled in lier throat. She slid to the floor in \ state of collapse.

CHAPTER IX. -' *■• ' THE CLIFF BOISE. Margaret was (heartily ashamed of her weakness when, she returned and her senses revealed the anxious face of Edith bending over her. Patrick Ward was standing a little way off, •his eyes filled with sympathy. "Poor old Meg!. It was all through my blundering. My anxiety made me cruel. The man who called is a frion.l of ours, and only advised .me that. it would be best if you went away from here in the next day or two." Margaret was helped to 'her feet, looking very foolish and feeling very dizzy. "I, am so sony,' she apologised to Patrick Ward. lam not of Ihe hysterical, fainting sort, and this is enly the second time dn all my life." "You are young —too joung to bo burdened,' he said kindly. "And don[t imagine for one moment that this bit of womanly naturalness will lessen :ny confidence in you Miss Thornton. Now don't yoU think-you had-/better go H to your room and lie down for a little while ? Miss Janson says there 'is no immediate cause for anxiety, ' and 1; •want.-you-to- leave London as one of ray family to-morrow morning. ! am tired of the noise, and the foul-smell-ing air." "But you. will want to know everything about me," Margaret said faintly. "Not at all. Miss Janson has whispered quite enough. Your father is Septimus Thornton, of Castle Clay--ford, and the foolish old man has mar-ried-a girl of your own age. You have very rightly decided.to shift for your- • self, and have no wish to be interfered with. I happen to ':' now Castle Cl:iy- ! ford; .1 once went through the place, i ] won't listen to another word, Mi*s j Thornton. If I know anything of character reading, you are good, honest as God's sunshine, and impulsive.. ■ The colour was creeping back t.j the girl's face now, and she looked up into his face with a half-shy smile "Don't say that I am good, for I Mn not. Edith knows that I he a vixen if anything upsets mo. Yes, I think I will lie down, my head f?eb queer." ~! "That's right." He pressed her hand warmly. "And meanwhile, l will settle the details with Miss Janson. Away you go." With all her lovable qualities rldiih was a business woman to her finger tips, and she discussed Margaret's future employment on hard and fasv lines. The nature of the work expected of her. the. hours and the payment. Patrick Ward was clearly ainu.sed. I (To be Continued.)