HELD IN BONDAGE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10511, 28 December 1911, Page 2

HELD IN BONDAGE.

OUR SERIAL.

BY L. F. DACRE, Author of "Smbad's VaKiey," A Phantom of the Part," "The Shadow of Shame," "Sir John's Heiress," "A Daughter of Mystery," eto.

• : CHAPTER XlV—Cbn*An«ed,

''Why, Mr Ward?" "I hardly know." He became serious all at once. "Unless I am jealous of her ascendency over you. lam «,•'« raid that she will whisk you off, am then I will be in a pretty hobble."

"There is not much fear of that, i know on wSiich side my bread is bat. tered. And you are mistaken about any ascendency. We are mereiy old clhuins wiho regard each, other with more sha;i ordinary affection."

"Bare between women. 1 have been half afraid that your father —oir someone —would want you home agdin." "Somebody!' she Juddered', pud it was only vith a strong effort thA". she controlled her voice. "You forget that my father has married a young wife, and that he is very poor. I only want to hear definite and reliable news.''

"Then you will have a whole holiday to-morrow, and the pony trap ana Mark Jordan are at your service." • 'Thank you, Mr Ward."

"I shall meet Miss Janson myself at Dea-1 Station and bring her home m the motor."

"You are very kind." "I would do anything to welcome a friend of yours, Miss Thornton." His eyes lingered upon her flushed face.

'•'Bat Miss J&nson is my friend aJsc. I am anxious to do the right thing tvall men and women to-day, because I am happier and more hopeful than I have been for many a long year. Thefoundry is progressing finely, and I believe that I sihlaJl bowl out my old man of the sea, yclept Mr George Asifcon, by bringing home to bira some low down business, almost amounting to fraud. The lawyers and accountants are wrangling, while my mind's eye pictures the couclhant form of my partner ready to spring." .j;;'Ho^t£e.msn v !" shivered Margaret. ; ?• ';'Qnce„:agaih : ,* let his name be fel>- : 'opeduntil we we obliged .to speak' it. something to show.you;•. wn '. .jauitograpE' letter 'from the kaiser >,' of interested my aeroplane'fop. military and'naval' warfare; but'he will get no hearer io it than tSiat so far as I am concerned:"' Margaret's prayer for a fine day for Editfli's visit was fulfilled. The morning dawned with a mist over land and eea. 'Hie sun struggled through, aid soon iflie Uuest of blue skies was re- j treated, and al' living things reoioed. |

At- nine o'dlock tlhe motor car tfn* ■buzssmg at the door, and Patrick Ward w|as pacing up and down beside it. Now and then he popped Jhs head in the hallway and gUnced I, P tlhe stairs.

I. '-Look alive, Miss Thornton," he nailed at last, ''The train is due at and we don't want Migs 'Jipwn find m one t* meet her."

. "We are going up lo my nest in fche cliffs and shall be absent till lunoh time," Margaret said,

Even afer this it was fully five mia rates before Margaret appeared, carry, ing' Polly in her arms. ' "I am sorry," she said, "but f .could not Tielp it." Her eyes were .burning resentfully. "At the last n.o* meat Mrs Ward objected toDolly going will me, and I have been rude to her. I expect you will hear of it, and 1 will hiave to go. She said harsh things to me." Patrick Ward frowned.

''Get into tlhe car," he sairl.brusqiie. Ty. He picked Dolly *tp, and bundled her in after Margaret. He then shut tlhe door will a ano the driver's sefaib. 'iPhen -Ihey were off. Ward appeared ijo be itt a very bad temper, and foe &b»iSe\l the motor abominably. 'He shot along the drive, wheeled, into the main road, and the» tore away like one possessed. . Tliey arrived at Deal station long before tlhe train was due, and he dropped from Lis seat to help Margaret aad Dolly down. He was smiling oheerfu'. ly noW;

'I 'hope you are not angry," Margaret said defiantly. "Not a lit. I wias at first—not with you, bu with Mrs Ward. Her cranks and fancies are enough to drive a man to destruction. Now forget all about it. The day is yours. Go onto tho platform. Iwill be at hand when I nan needed."

Margaret was brave enough and she. tried to carry a bold front,,but this interfcrencc between a man and his wife she could see but one end to. She felt horriblydiscouraged. Mr WarS'S Bymplaitlhy was all very »bx> 'would rather he hod hot given it "expression-. She ll&d her usual subtlety fii wo*nMt, and her-powers of intuitioi something deep down in her "heart that filled her with sorrow and dismay.

"You wail do just as you please." 'Hhen he slhook his head. "A dangwi OUS pJace that for anyone sufferia? from dizziness. There is a sheer descent of ißeventy or eighty feet. I wish you had dhosen a safer retreat for your mia/iden meditation Mks Thornton..)' "0!h, superb. ConiV along, EcuW* i Qnl#a few, words passed-; between A J&e|girjß until tflley were seated in the aerie side by sidef tihen the gates of speecih were iinJoqked. ''Why 'have you been so mean about your letter writing, Editib. Oh, tell \r\<>. everything—quick. I felt Kke screaming all 'trough that interminable breakfast."

'Don't you think that very tin kind* Meg?"

In the midst of these thoughts and Dolly dheerfxtl cluater tlhe train blustered into the station and Edith Ja'ison, gripping a hamlbag was the very first person to aligilnt. Long practice had given her tlhe agility of a man in limping from moving vehicles, -and bofore the train had come to a halt slv ■was gripping Margaret's hand and kissing her face. "Here I am, dear old Meg."

7i No, I don't. Please don't talk to me any more about Mi -Maxwell—-any-more tilian can be avoided."" t 'Then s.m to understand thai you will make no defence to tile charges tUilait Aston will bring against you?"

"And it is good to see you." Margaret's eyes moistened. "Well, don't cry about it, silly. And here's little Dolly too." She hugged the child and then turned to Margaret again, and looked at her critically. "You are not well, Meg?" "How can you expect me to be? 1 feel as old as Methusalah, and as haggard as tihe witdb. of Endor." "What is thiaA?" said the voice n? Plaitirick Ward. He was wiarmly shaking hands with Edith, "Hour do you do, Mis Janson? Where is your luggage?" "Here," Edith laughed. "I was hoping we might persuade you to stay a few days." "Impossible! We arc busy at the office arad somebody would step into my shoes. What a perfectly lovely morning 1"

"Grand! I have been looking up tllie last train back to London." 'I am forewarned. Somewhere atymt seven o'clock, so I shall beat-CJook's excursionists. Nearly ten hours at the seaside."

A few ptimntes and the car was taking them to Cliff House and the return journey was made at a more moderate pace. The girls toughed and talked, but the questions nearest both their hearts were not asked until they were entirely alone. There was breakfast for Edith, and she partook of it ravenously while Margaret was content wrih a cup of coffee.

'l % wias ouibof bed at hialf-past-four 'tlhis'■ ra6*juijg,-" an undertaking to.oadi lie firs- ram o Deal. But what a'delightful spot this" is! The simple life, far from the iniad- v should be, Mr Ward!" "Happiness is adeksion, Miss Janson—«elf delusion. We are all slave* to some folly. But I'm not going o utter any worm-ihankered homily. And flo^jou.,gi^ls,. you are .simply itching & tap'irJiere 'no third person can.in ■ trud©." ."-'

'But I Vilas voraciously hiiiigry Me-.'.. Well, iny dear girl, I haven't been reposing on a bed of roses by my means, and nave been.almost afiviid to .put pen to That man Aston is on tlhe rampage and is now determined to get rid of you by legal methods." "And a good job, too. I don't want to be tied for life to any such creature." * Edifcli; mado a grimace. "It's a most unsavoury ease, and I must appear at''court as a witness." "Oh," Margaret gasped,, "must it come totihiat?" "Of oouirse it wall. If the legal peo-, pie can find you, you will be served with a savage-looking document commanding you things, but if they can't fold' you they will take gome other legal, course. Maxwell intends fighting tooth and nafl^A 'I wish he would not. TJie yOuag ass is tlhe cause of all the bother."'

'Not.if I can be made a free 'wbYftia.*: bp playing possum," .Margaret answered. Her face was very white and she spoke with determination. "If ho fails to 'have the marriage set aside, I shall still belong to him, and that would be worse than fifty deaths! 1 would rather fling myself over the cliff here!" "But your good name in. the eyes of the world? Y ' (To bo Continued.)