Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

HELD IN BONDAGE.

BY L. F. DACRE. Author of "Sin&ad's Vafoey," A Phantom of the Past," "The Shadow of Shame," "Sir John's Heiress," "A Daughter of Mystery, etc.

OUB SERIAL.

CHAPTER XXII —Continued

Margaret went' upstairs, and spent an hour or two laying out her Ithings and Dolly's ready for packing. It was her resolve to take away every one of her belongings. She would have no further use S6r anything at Cliff House. Occupation., definite action, gave her tremendous relief, and she instructed -Mark Jordan to have the pony carriage at the door alt eleven o'clock- next morning. There were letters to write —one to aunt Ellen, and one to Edith Janson. There was a long talk with tho housekeeper, and stories to >tell Dolly of the wonderful journey in ii'iore. Sho was up with tho sun on the following morning, and after an early breakfast tho packing began in earnest At ten everything was _ ready, and there was an 'hour in which to say her good-bye to 'the sea, and the garden, and the spots that had l>ecome endeared Ito her.

"What a beautiful world it would be if the people in it were beautiful, too," she thought. "No, Dolly darling, we won't go up the cliff." She shivered. "We haven't time. Jordan "will be hero with tllie carriage soon." While she wias speaking she heard (tho distant hum of an automobile. Was Patrick Ward home much sooner than ho expected ? If so he would not have received her letter, as it could not be delivered at Walsall till that morning. Sho listened anxiously, and when the car slackened speed at the lodge, her brows contracted with disappointment. She had welcomed' the opportunity of getting away without seeing him again; it was so much easier, so much more pleasant. And perliaps lie would have good reason to change his mind. The ear whirled along the drive and up to the house, and to Margaret's unutterable dismay and horror, the occupant was George Aston. He came to a halt within a few paces of where she was standing, and cere- | moniously raised 'his hat.

CHAPTER XXIII

AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE

If you touch me I will call the servants to my help! The foundry 1? full of men who would kill you if I even screamed."

George Aston slipped down from the car, .and held out his hland to Margaret | but she liastnly drew hack, her'face, ex- | pressive of loathing and disgust. - His j hand dropped to his side; and his face . flushed. ' "You knew that I was coming, Margaret?" "No!" "That's strange!" He was gazing at her critically. "Oh, I see how it is; I am a day too early. I had a leititer last night from Ward,, and his .bereavement appears to have softened hi 9 hard heart toward all men —including my,self. He told jne of his wife's sudden 'death ,and asked me to come here. I took his letter to be the olive branch "of peace. We are business partners, and litigation is to be deplored. I .have faithfully observed my part of the oontract, and although I did not succeed in obtaining an injunction to restrain the building of a nival concern, I s'hall beat,him if the case goes ,to trial, if I show that he is actually , building the aeroplanes." : Margaret just caugliit the drift of the words. There was a great, buzzing jS turned to wilted*. Ail, that hateful ;■ voice.! i.. "Ho ftViuNitlv realises it tat the elevI &nUi Mur. Ah 1 is this Mr Ward s lrttlo j daughter?" . t , i : He patted Dolly's curly head. , His I tone was kind, his manner/propitiat- I t i n >?- i cu i I "Yes!" Margaret answered, tene felt that s'he must, say something. : "Wiliat's the matter? Sore throat? j : You are not- looking well—no colour. ] Margaret," his voice softened, and there was real pleading in his eyes, "oan't you fm-give me, and let us make 1 "After what you have done?" Her astonishment was beyond mere words. "My action 'has been mild compared with iny wrongs, i I never meant to push things over the edge; _ 1 only wanted to'frighten, to punish you, Margaret; I wanted to humiliate that purse-proud brewer of Castle Clayrord by holding that cub of 'his up to popular scorn and ridicule. Do you think that it was the right tiling that you—my wife—should allow any man to take you away in the middle of the night? I 'have known where to find you most of the time,but I wanted to break your rebellious spirit— to give you time to reflect. You are my wife, and it jchose, I could compel you to go home with me." , , "You could not! she panted. "The law is on my side." "But tiho divorce ?" Ho shrugged Ms vshoatldav.s, and a. I sudden fire sprang into Iris eyes. "You don't wish that?" I «x do _j do!" she cried vehemently. "I've been hoping for it—praying for it. or anything t'lrat would set aside that awful marriage!" . . "Poor thing!" he said pitynigiy. I "You do not understand." He pitted I the gravel with the toe of lus boot, his I brow lowered, his face gloomy. > wondered if von really wished it till 1 <rot Ward's letter, and then I was mad enough to think that you wanted to coine back to me. Have you changed your mind since lie has become . a widower?" he asked sneenngly. J swear that there sliall be no divorce, Margaret Aston ; I will have the whole of tilie ! proceedings withdrawn to-morrow. I coveted you months since ; I laid little traps to "win you; I won you, 'and I am going to keep you. You are a desirable woman. Margaret, and I admire.voui snlendid spirit. You are not one of those wishv-washv creatures to be broken into subjection, and lihave learned enough to never again measure your will in antagonism. Margaret, there may bo happy years in store for us yet .—evon yet." He made a. stop t'orwa.rd, but she waved liim off with, a gesture of defiance. with you! Go and get your divorce! "No, I will have nothing more to do

( (To be Continued.) I

He was disappomtd and alarmed ; his face and manner showed it "I have made a mistake and it is all my own fault," he said. ' Patrick Ward told me to come here to-morirow, but the anxiety and suspense were more than I could stand. But what is the enormous difference that twentyfour hours could miake? You musthave agreed that he Should send for me. Ho wouldn't have done the tiling on ,his own initiative —unless he wanted to get rid of you." "She drew a quick, deep breath. 1 "I agreed? He sent for you on my account ? I know notihing of it. You laro lying again." j "I will show you his letter. You may [abuse me as much as you like ;I shan't j resent it. Here, I will read it to you, and you can then, satisfy yourself. You see the date and address. A hot-el in Walsall, and I got it in Birmingham last night. There (is a lot of stuff that won't interest you, and so I'll bluemark the vital part; Listen: If you will run down to Cliff House on Thursday I think 'that I iliave the means to bring all bur differences of opinion' to an end. Your wife is there, and you might be glad to see her, as sihe is leaving. Cliff House altogether in the course of a few days. He underlined tilie writing, and handed it to Margaret. Oh, yes, it was Patrick Ward s scrawly writing. How well she knew it! The letter had been written about the same time as 'the one he had sent to her, and she read it with doubt, wonder, consternation. Had ho taken leave of his senses? She remembered the difference in his manner sitico. hifj wife's death

' "Ave you satisfied, Margaret ?" "Qiiite. Mi" Ward is out of his mind —or else ho is making furi of you, and yet tlhis is no time for jokes."

j "Fun? Rubbish!" "He knows that I am going away from Cliff House to-day, and lie telld you not to come till to-morrow. He wants you to meet- (him here for something to-morrow, and he uses me as , the bait to insure your coming." Aston's face became livid, but he restrained the fury that was raging within him.. I "Then you do not wish to make friends*, Margaret?" he asked. "No!" "Then why did you ma-Fry me?" "You know all about it J you trapped' me; you trapped ttiy father. 1 i was in desperate stiviits, or so I b»_ lieved, and the keynote of my-, tea- is impulse, You read nv d through tod throu#, "advantage of your strength. Y°fu wanted me a f new suppose — and I was i darted bv golden promises you danJ gled in of. me. lam glad to be able to tell you this face to face.' i She gave a short laugh—hard- and*

hitter. • "My visit- has not been altogether fruitless," Aston said, with a slight sneer "But I haven't much cause for gratification. What Ward's little, game is I cannot comprehend, but 1 shall know to-morrow." Ho swung round. "J am going hack to London now. Haven't you on© kind word for | me, Margaret?" ' She shuddered. j "I don't fear your enmity, but your friendship is poison." I With a bitter smile and darkening brow ho stepped into his car. "You will discover that you are making' a sad mistake," he called. I wil think over the situation between now and to-morrow." | Soon after he was gone Mark Jordan pulled up .at the'hall door with the pony carriage. Ho glanced at Mai garet suspiciously. She was pale, agitated and trembling. I "Quito ready, miss?" Ho looked the wav that Aston's car had gone, and thought: "So you know Mr Aston, rai ss -" , ~, ■, L r "Don't waste time; wo shall 'be Late

as it is." . ■ . "Certainly." Jordan shouldered tlho luggage, and stowed it in the most convenient places-two trunks on the driver's seat l>esido him, the third ono nt. the back. "Not built to carry a lot of stuif like thus," he mumbled. "Are

you ready, miss?" I Margaret lifted Dolly in, and then followed herself. While she was ar- , ranging the nigs, Jordan doubled the i reins on his knee, looked over Iris I shoulder, and observed : ' "Of course I must toll the niaste.r ' that you and Mr Aston are, prettyjvell acquainted with ono another. Then ho flicked the pony with his ' whip, and tlio journey to Deal station

began. sisuq t! uoaq sui[ q.ioifX \hh>ij pimo.iSJ

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAG19120111.2.3

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10523, 11 January 1912, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,795

HELD IN BONDAGE. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10523, 11 January 1912, Page 2

HELD IN BONDAGE. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10523, 11 January 1912, Page 2

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert