HELD IN BONDAGE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10507, 20 December 1911, Page 2

HELD IN BONDAGE.

OUR SERIAL.

BY L. F. DACRE. Author of "Siabad's VaJHey," A Ehafitom of the Part," "Th« Shadow of Shame," "Bar John'* Daugjbfor of Mystery," etc.

CHAPTER X—Coaitanued. Margaret's heart stood still for an iastffljnifc. Mrs Ward was seated in tihe embrasured. window, watching the sea. She turned) sloiwly, her ©yes dilating, her dedicatctly chiseled nostrils distended, and a quivering breach parsed her lips. Margaret was amazed, and a wave of pleoaurablo feeling swelled within her. Mtb Ward was a lovely wwman —a perfectly formed face, luminous dark eyes, dark hair, and a#kiirt •f dazzling whiteness. Th« was regarding Margaret jealously; Uttl* Daft? forward, and greeted tike gjiirl joyous cries. "I like yon, Mi as Mrs Ward, said gently. "I always dread 'iiavang fresh people «albout t-Ke house; one never knows who they are, or whiere they came fr«m. Mr Ward has .told me ail about you. You have had troublle yourself and you will Know how to sympathise with me/' Margaret was at a less for words, and merely, inclined her head. Patrick Word had warned her to be careful of her Mrs Ward waited, her eyes rov.ng over the girl's perplexed face, then she said : "Let mo hear your voice, Miss Thornton." And Margaret laughed and spoke. "Oh, you have a sweet voice. And you are very young, Miss Thornton, and very beautiful too beautiful! Why, Dolly loves you already." "Yes, we are immensely fond of each other this early." Patrick Ward's l face was alight now a<nd he was smiling. "Weill, that's over,"he said. >"Dinner is waiting and Misa Thornton ainxl I wiM. go downstairs. Louise, have you forgotten your dfuties?'* lIS adkJed sharply. "Your mistress is hnifigry after the long journey and yf : Hj& kissed mS wife's foreß.eaul derly—caressingly, than left : .tlie room, and Margaret followed him.

yioumg, Miss Thornton l , but I feci tlhat you are capable, and the servants are entirely under your control. I hope that your friend, Miss Jamison, will succeed in sending a suitable housekeeper. The others we can get from Deal. Njow, as regards my litrfA© daughter, I want you to begin her education in your own way —an hour or two daily; a little music, a littfie reading; -something simplie; BonuetSung amusing. She i* too young to be bothered, and your comptnioarfurji b tk» fckinj «a»«wtiai P2«nty of wailtef «rer th» downs and along the ooaist, you know." Margaret inclined b** head. Her ayes were shl»i«g :.««. It was ali after her own utstw .—a siie thought herself a lucky gif' "It seems,' . "that I am piling a lot t. ? shoulders." "Not at aJI. 1 . f used to a busy life. I did mo*k «f mgi father's parish work fo* yeaafe, aad walked males and mile* most daya. I copied bis sermons, and—and w "I haven't any senmone to copy," he said, nllomg m tihe silence. "But you'may nave other things, aaid I can use a typewriter." "Tihe very clicking of the thing is torture!" Then* He stopped' and wirinklied his brows. "It wouldn't be a bad idea," be added, half to himself. "I have to make several copies of many of my letters and specifie-art-ions, and 1 w-iriite an execrable hand. You could: keep the typewriter away in. your own. room, and r'o the work there."

• ye,*." • "Then I wiii buy on© at once. I'll send a. cheque off to-day. Let me bare..;^^^a^iou3airs v Mark Jbrdan is,■ goingt'to tDeoill this evening to get a few odds and' end's thuit" ti 'we kdvfl. jovafiJookecl'." ~ Margaret; was more than satisfied:' She felt that her tature was 'define itely planned mow, and her eyes shone with, gratification. just follow, your own "u----cfeaiAdns', Miss Thornton," Patrick Ward caadiided with an air o." finality. "Nobody wants you to do anything to-day, and i am going to my study. See that 1 am not disturbed ait all." straightening tilings up to her own. room, and for an hour -was busily at work putting away her clothes amd stmaoghtiening things up to hdr own satisfaction. By the time she had finished, it was almost dark, smd sSi© pulled down the blinds, and switched on the eletotiric Hgfolfc, unbending to > write a (long tetter to Edd<th Janson. But the roar of the isea, disturbed her thoughts and the letter wa* deferred bill the next day. Even then titer© wasVnot much to write about and she;.dared no* commit to paper the few little confidences tho-t she felt belonged to.;herse;l£ albne. Mr and Mms Ward were both nice people and: the plac exoctly Biiited one who was placed' in her peculiar position. There was not the remotest chance of G<eorge Aston diisciovering her now. .But Edith must take advantage of Mi* Ward's invitation, and pay Cliff House visit.

CHAPTER XI. MAROABirs DUTIES. Patrick Ward said very little at the diriaier table, for the reason that -Mrs Jordlan insisted on hanging round, anxious that everything, was hi& liking. And, indeed, 'she merited praise. The white cloth, the shaming silver, the sparkling glass, atald floral ta<ble ornaments were all very pleasing.

v Was this right., and that right? Oil, yes, her master said, and finished up with a pretty .little eulogy. She was a wonderful old lady—not aaiotheff to equal l ner in the world. Be then told her that Mtb Ward would' very rarely coima downstairs for a liAffcle while—a month or two, perhaps—when; the sumimer came. This was a sop to her very natural ■curiosity.

Bo the dinner passed over, and, rising from' the table lie began to fill his. pipe. "We can let business severely alone until) to-morrow, Miss Thornton, you see," he suggested. '"I am going into my study to smoke ,and renew old friendships—my books and :pictures aaid things." "And what am I to do?" Margaret aeked ,her manner showing a shade of disappointment. "Aren't you. tired?" "Not in the least," " He hesitated a.' moment, lit his pipe, .and -guffed upward a cloud of smokei "So you would rather we had our talk now and be done with it? Well, there isn't yeally milch to talk about and if you dton't.agree with me on aaiy single point, speaik out. I am not iij, the ordinary position of an;em_ ipiHoyer, and peopitle who have to put up with tliei louelcoieSiS. and unsociability here are doing me a* very great favor." "Oh, Mi- Ward{" V ¥?UB, every word of it. My nearest neighbours aaxi mites away, and I shall encourage no caHfans. All the tradespeople here have, been instructed to keep away. Mark' Jordan will daivie dailiy to Deal ft>r the letters amd supplies'. I have bought a pony "and cart for that purpose. I have ad/so invested in a motor carj bo tli.lt if Mrs Wiard feels inclined she con go for a drive. I should like you to accompany us on such excursions if you will."

"I need not warn you," slie concluded, "to keep AM Maxwell absolutely in the dark. JFh? »§ sufficiently stupid to try and And me if •be- lite boil fa elianc© of Riiccecfii I think the foolish fellow believes that his exaggerated responsibility is with 119 e«d," In the meanwhile tilings began to hum at Cliff House. The lady liousekeeper engaged by Edith Janson arrived, and immediately set about get. ting the necessary Staiff of under-ser-vouit'S j half £ dozen men haired from Deal' attacked' the chaos a«ld disorder in the gardens and walks-; a. fine mo- j tor brougham, a sturdy cob, a pony chaise, and a spring cart wei-e lodged, in their proper quarters, and on the thii-d day Patrick Ward Sent a new typewric«r; up to Margaret's-'room. And Margaret was having a. pleasant time. Ihe) weather had become almost genial, and'she had walked mies over the '.breezy downs with Dolly—-mike along tJvs rugged coast where 1 the angry sea. crashed its -billows on- the- rocks, flanging upwards the glittering, spray. Once she went as far as'Siitent Bay, where the water was almost as - stiil3 ; 'as a mill pond, except for a. gentle ,eddying motion. The very silence of the bay was gruesome, with the booming sea so near. Sea wrack'of all kinds moved slowly in the- water; dead fish, clusters of seaweed .pieces of -wood-, aaid a man's tattered hat. So this was the dreadful place where '.Patrick Ward's unhappy sister had been discovered. Margaret shuddered and turned away, resolving that She would never look upon it again. [ ■ (To be Continued.)

"It is for .yoti to toll me what I am to do." "Well, if you 'will put it that way, ■wo will! pall it part of .your' duties h.ere. You already know tliat my JLfe is devoted to seion'ee, aaid I may dis-1 appear foa- days together. I cannot bear tib© least noise of distracftion A sta-ange figure passing my study I window would cxasjperate me to some deed of roily!" ."I am stune tihait I understand," said' Margaret. "And wtenl am away yau must keep a strict eye iroon the movements' c.f Mrs Waird—the sentinel to warn off amy intruders. Y<ra aire very