HELD IN BONDAGE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10512, 29 December 1911, Page 2

HELD IN BONDAGE.

OUE SERIAL.

BY L. P. DACRE. Author of "Sinibad'a Vaßey," A Phantom of the Past," "The Shadow of Sham©," "Sir John's Heineae," "A Daughter of Mystery," ©to.

CHAPTER XVI—-Continued. "jP don't caro a fig for tlhe world. It's memory is short-lived in these d'ays, anyway Now, tell me about Castle Claylord, and my father and aunt." "I have brought a letter to you from Mrs Benson. Here it is. Castle Olayford is in dliaos. Your father couldn't endure tilie continuous scandal, and he resigned his living." "Good heavens! "What is he going to do mow P Not live on Aunt Ellens pittance, I hope."' "No. He is sure that he. can earn a living by writing for the religious papers, and selling sermons to parsons who are unable to write their own. He lis dn London now, in one of the cheap suburbs, and your aunt has taken a little cottiage for herself in a Surrey villa-ge. But she tells you all about it in. her letter, and wishes you to go and live witihilier." Marga.reD was crying v n«ow —sobbing convuilsivcly. She leaned her head on Editih's shoulder. "My courage was all a sham," she said, "and I feel that my heart is broken."

CHAPTER XV

THE ONE TOO MANY

"For goodness' sake, Meg, don t make filings' worse than they really are," Edith said crossly. "I have got quite enough to contend with, and it interferes with my work. You can see now why I had not written; I had not the heart to write. Your' father has called at my flat at least a dozen times to bemoan his fate ; detectives, process servers, and private inquiry agents ,ali have banged the knocker —and such terrific knocks! Young Maxwell comes in at all hours,, smelling like a spirit vault, .and swearing tihiat he is going to the dogs; and I come here for a day's relief.and-gettihis!.">V';-, -.' - _ ; V "over a final sob, and wiped her eyes. 1' m .'as hayd'as flint im>w; : a 11 sorts of pleasiiresy and Svbn'it be; -deprived of them. (Mr Ward will drive us into the country, if you would like to see it; he wants to. He proposed it himself."

'Delightful man! You are happy enouglh here, Meg?" 'I was; hut Mrs Ward has suddenly taken a dislike to me. We had worls tfois morning." 'Jealousy ? Impossible where a man like Mr Ward is concerned."

• 'Not saying much for me!" "You know what I mean. A vain, , (Shallow-minded man might pay you little compliments, or, to be plain, make eyes at you, and miany married men are greater adepts at the game -tihra the single one?, Mi?!® I &upip6ss. I k'iiow wJiat lam talking about, for I have had some experience. I run across all sorts of prigs and fools in my business. And you are a very handsome girl, Meg!" 'And so are you, Edith!" Ediith flushed guiltily, j "So I have been told by an irresponsible junior clerk, who would like tc ' sfliare the income I earn. But that is not quite relevant. Wihat on earth :ias Mrs Ward to be jealous of? The woman luas a kink in her brain." "Well, Dolly has become fond of me, for one tfeing, and this morning Mrs Ward told me, ir fnont of that Indian woman, that I went about with Ward far to much,"

"Fool were tihe first to remark upon tihe sadness in his eyes, and the fate of his sister seems, very muclh like ray, oavii, except the final act."

" 'Wicked woiiarit I hate womenmost of tihem. I suppose you will have to request Mr Ward never to look at you, or speak to you."

' 'Then I shan't have a thing to do in. the house. She intends to make it impossible for mo to stay here. Dolly is to be taken away from my pern^j joUi influence; I rrnwt 110b to' the Ulo . and I must not t o'MvWard. The fact is, J <n tihe one too many here, as e else."

"Go on. Take everything cheerfully. Now, open your aunt's letter, and see what, she says. I helped her to move into her new house, and a most -teligjhtful place it is. Just a four-room-ed cottage in an acre of old flower gwi~ den. At the back tfliere are chicken runs and a paddock. She is going to make no end of money out of cihiCkens and eggs, and she wants you io assist in the new business."

Margaret's smile was half tolerant, half scornful. "Poor, dear old aunty. I don't believe anything in the world would disturb her placidity. I am only astonished that she has energy enough to bo interested in dhicken raising. She drew Mrs Benson's letter from the envelope, and read the following: "Woodlea, Surrey. "Dearest Margaret: We had quite an upset at the vicarage when your foolish old father brought Ms wife to her home. Her people were most abusive and rattled tin cans and old saucepans'batih night and" day in the front of the 'house. I don't know what they meant by this,'but Septimus became ill, and his wife was sobbing and crying. The whole village was either ■lamenting or jeering. Then your father sent in his resignation, and I thought it best to take away my belongings, and set up housekeeping for myself. I ibave a nice little cottage for fifteen pounds a year, and your friend, Mis Janson, helped me to put tilings stnaigjht. I a,m so pleiased that you 'have a good home ; but I want you to come to me, and we Iks so happy together. Your father and lus wife have removed to London, and f am very sorry for both of them. Your grandfather always said that Septimus wias the fool of tlhe family.

"I am amazed tlhat he told you such stuff."

"Be sure to write to me soon, and say when I may expeot you. Your affectionate aunt, I ELLEN BENSON. For a little while Margaret gazed dreamily at tlho sea, the letter lying idly in her lap. It was hard to realise the change that had oome so swiftly over all their lives. The story of Castle Olayford was finished —tho book was closed. Slhe had loved tihe old vicarage and tihe dburdh, and had spent many golden hours with tihe people wfliom silie loved. And now tlHe past appeared to be like a dream. "You are surprised!" said Edith; "but the surprise is not an unpleasant one, as far as your au.u is concerned, at any rate. If you couild see her fluttering about .the gr.rcji :i! And sue!) a garden! The real old-fashioned sort, wfhere you lose yourself a dozen tair.es in fxsi miaaiy minutes. What a picture it will be in June! A blaze of colour, an ocean of perfume! I have promise d to spend a part of my summer holidays tihe re." "I don't tlhink tlliat I dare forecast so far . ahead,'' sJiivered Marga re t. ' shall have been dejad for ' weeks!" ! "Oh, you morbid creature. Do you take no interest in the deeper things of life ? Have you lost your faith—yiou, who have spon/t so much time in counselling others? I suppose you go to church?" 'You know that I darea'it sihow my face anywhere. And there is not much comfort to be derived from tihe ordinary pulpit drone. I feel wicked enough : for -anything U'/She drew dramatically j jumped - to her feet, and [ suggested a walk along tihe coast I' ; A pathway led them. down, to 1 the the-gii'is -wenfr'hi/Jfibe. I direction of Silent Bay. Margaret had no intention of breaking confidences, but she told Edittti of the .tragedy in Patrick Ward's life." '

did not. I heard it first from tihe old woman at the lodge. He admitted it tSaoiigh.^'* Editih Yvia& ratiher thoUgJliihiT on Hie ■way back to Cliff House, but at every point slie met Margaret's complain'iig wittti open soorti. "You call yourself as hard as granite! My dear girl; you are as soft as pap. Thegd*fs no trouble on tihis earth dlhiat oajinot be overcome."

"J\alk is aheap. Wait till you are siaitftian by tho Siand of Fate, as I've been. 1 lam in no mood for bfeing lectured.:" She stamped; ijier foot. ' 'You xwuM say that I kve only myself I<s tihank, and should be glad that matters are no worse. They could not le worse, and fate and hope and all that sort of thing ftre only the fools- Vr dhiance." cfl. Waa completely nonplussed. • She looked searchingly iixto her friend's face. "I believe you are hiding something; from me!" 'I wish I could hide myself,' was the cryptic answer. Patrick Ward kid thrown open ms. study window, a big French window that loked out- upon tthe lawn, so that -the sweet, fresh air and sunlight might j lhave free play. He stepped out and advanced to meet the girls, liis smile almost eager .when it dwelt on Margaret's face. • "Yo\t are both, looting tired," lie -.said. "I have been having a lazy time -myself—smoking and indulging in Jfiy dreams. Quite an unusual occupation for me, but the spirit- of the newly awakened spring has got into my bones. I have not known the delight of an English spring for years. What are I you going to do this afternoon P My car and I are at your service. I have begun the day lazily, and may as wall finish it in the same, way." Edith laughed but only with her lips. "Surely a man of your profou:i 1 mind can find something better to do than go galivanting round the country with two chattering girls! For my part I prefer to laze about rather than go for a'motor drive for pleasure, and Meg and I are not half with our talk yet, and we may not have another opportunity-for a long time." His face reddened a litlle and a shade of disappointment passed over it. k (To be Continued.)