A DEEP GAME. OR THE HONOUR OF THE TREVELLANS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10552, 7 February 1912, Page 2

A DEEP GAME. OR THE HONOUR OF THE TREVELLANS.

ODE SERIAL.

By Mrs De Winter Bakor, Author of "The Sin of Carina," "Sir Blandford's Protegee," "For Weal or Woe," eto.

CHAPTER XX—Continued. . "I am afraid I don't understand, sir —if you wcro engaged to be marriei why should Miss Lascelles have to go away suddenly to London P Of course, I congratulate you, sir. I was forgetting myself. But the news is most unexpected. It has taken me quite by surprise." 'I don't want it to ho talked about, Omcr. if I confide in you, I must ask you to keep what I say secret. Miss Lascelles has, to "a certain extent, put you in possession of our secret. You had better know everything. Can 1 trust you to keep your mouth shut?" Sir Eric looked closely at liis mother's attendant. He hated even having to mention Lett ice's name to this detestable woman, but he saw that .unless he made a confidant of her she would spread all sorts of rumours about the castle —rumours thai would lose nothing in the repetition. "Of course, you can !" Gnace Omer spoke indignantly, as thoMgh the doubting of her word were a heineous insult. "Her ladyship would not have reposed her trust in me all these years had she not been sure that I could keep a secret, or hold my tongue when it was considered necessary,' 'she added tartly. Sir Eric appeared to be satisfied with her answer. Little did he guess .thai: the woman was lying all the time —lying with, the utmost suavity and calmness of demeanour —lying as she had lied almost from the time.she could first speak. "Well —listen." Sir Erie came closer to her and lowered his voice. ,"I asked Miss Lascelles yesterday to marry me. and she consented. Unfortunately when I informed my mother of what I had done, she objected. . Her reasons for objecting were obviously inadequate, to my mind —but we need not discuss that matter. I told Miss Lascelles of, my mother's objection, and..she consented to leave Trevellan Castle and return home. As I have already- told you I was to meet her and drive her to the station for. the .seven-thirty train this morning. Now, from what you'tell "rate, a.nd from this letter , she has written;; ! understand that she caught the six train instead. Naturaly, I wanted to know why she changed her plans." ■"Surely she explains everything in the letter?" queried Grace Ome-\ darting a keen glance 'at the; .young man, and then at the envelop#that he held in his hand. Sir Eric extracted the letter again and his brows knitted as ho read it again. i: 'She. only sayssshe not care for the idea of saying good-bye," he observed. ,

"Isn't that natural, if I may say so, sir. Very likely Miss Lascelles was very much upset at Lady Treveilan's objection. She would be thinking a lot about it during the night, perhaps, and would get nervous and want to slip'off without even seeing you. Perhaps she feared that Lady Trevellan would send for"her in the morning, and thought.it .best to tal-.v no risk, and get away while she had the chance."

Eric seemed to brighten at. the suggestion. s , . > '' "True,' he exclaimed. "That woui 1 certainly explain tilings a little better than her letter. Miss Lascelles was very much upset at my mother's objection, I know." ■ ' ,

"Yes, sir—and most likely ymiwill get a letter or telegram from Miss Lascelles shortly to put you at your eflse." Grace Omer's voice took 01: a wheedling, sympathetic tone. With diabolical cleverness slie acted her pfrrt. ■"

Sir Eric nodded his head thoughtfully. He was about to turn away when a fresh idea seemed to strikf him suddenly.

"By the way, Miss Lascelles mentioned that she was uncertain a'buut returning to her home. I suppose sh--didn't tell you anything about wh'-te .sihe was going when she reached London?" . .

"No sir—.all she said was that I was to send on her boxes, as I have told you. 1 tried to get out of her why she was: running off like" this, but she would not say anything. Of course;-T had no power to stop her, otherwise I would havo done so. But then again, it was five o'clock in the morning, and how could I disturb you or her ladyship?" ' '

"I expect she will go to a hotel," Sir Eric mused, half to himself. "Oh* about her boxes, you needn't trouble, .Mrs Omer, I will take them to the station and see them dispatched myself." The prospect of being able to do even this small service for his sweetheart thrilled Eric- with delight, and softened the blow of her sudden departure. In his pleasure,' he failed to liotiee the minatory flicker' 011 Grace Omer's eyelids,' or the 100k 1 of alarm that flashed across her sallow face. 'I don't know whether you will be able to do that or not, Sir Eric," she said, and there was a trace of nervousness in her voice—the first she had yet shown.

"Why not?" asked Eric un.suspeetingl.V. "Wait a moment, sir, and I will inquire,' was the woman's response. She hurried away forthwith and mounted the stairs, leaving Eric in some wonder as to what she was going to do. Omer passed out of his sight atid turned down into the east wing corridor till she came to Lettice's bedroom.

The door was locked but Omer produced a key from her pocket and opened the door with a grim smile. Carefully she closed and locked the door behind her. Lettice's trunks—a leather port-

manteau, and a dress basket—stood in the window recess all ready strapped and packed. Exerting all her strength Omer now pudied and pulled them toward a capacious wardrobe built into the wall of the room. With a final effort she bundled the dress basket inside and put tho portmanteau on t'ho top of it." Closing the wardrobe door she locked it and took the key out and put it in her pocket Breatihless from 'her exertion, yet smiling triumphantly, she once more locked the bedroom door and hurried down into the Lp)'. Eric wai restlessly pacing up nnd •down tihe f>oli.shr d floor. "Well," ho queried, as he heard her footsteps. "Miss Lascelles' baggiago has gone on. The carrier was here an hour ago, and took it away," was Omer's cool retort. CHAPTER XXI. THREAT AND COUNTERTHREAT. Setting himself to wait patiently for a telegram from his loved one to say that she had arrived safe in London, land to give him her London, address, Eric now' returned to the stable yard, ordered the mare to be unharnessed, as lie now had 110 use for the dogcart. He wandered in forlorn fashion around the garden till breakfast time, and was much relieved to find that neither his mother 'or Jason put in an appearance at* this meal. Having finished his breakfast, he lit'his pipb and pondered deeply. Then once more , lie mounted to his mother's turret room.

Lady Trevellan was seated alone and w|a.s gazing out over the' bay. She started nervously as her son entered. Absently he noticed that his mother looked very pale aijd ill—but he proffered no words, of '.'sympathy..; Without even, ary greeting, he at..once plunged -into the "subject that had brought him here. "I have come to tell you that I have arranged to marry Lettiee Lascelles as soon as she is ready for me. She left the castle thi's morning for London ,at my suggestion; ; If you wish m« to help you to secure another secretary I. am ready ito do so, since I am 1 esponsible for Lettice's departure." He spoke in passionless, cold tones. "Left the castle this morning?" Lady 1 levellan looked up in sheer amazement. A keener, more observant man than Eric was at that • moment, might hare noticed that there was a certain <amount of pleasure in her tone of surprise. But Eric's thoughts were far away, centred only in the girl he loved. At that moment he was picturing her to himself a:s she sat in the railway carriage speeding Londonwards. :

"Yes,' lie answered. "I expect a telegram from, her any miinute to announce her safe arrival. Later on, I expect to receive a summons to join her in London. I propose to stay on (here till she sends for me. Have you tany objection?"

"lou aro sure sho has gone, Eric! 3 You saw her off yourself?" Lady Trevellan spoke in curious inquisitive fashion.

\ 'Gone ? Of course she's gone. She left a letter for me.' Sir Eric wore a piizzled a.ii-, despite the conviction with which ho answered his mother's question.

"Letter ? May I see it?' asked the dowager anxiously. Eric handed if over .and the old ladv peered curiously at the writing. 'This fs the very first letter you ha ve ever had from her, is it not* Eric?" she asked, her eyes still fixed on the writing.

\es -but what the dickens has that got to do with what I am asking you?"

"Oh, nothing— nothing. Yes— of course, you must stay 011 hero till—till and handed the, letter back with a ■deep.sigh. .''lf you 'are determined to marry this girl, I can't stop you!" Sir Eric: sprang forward—'a joyous smile 011 his handsome face.

"Then—von relent, mother—you're going to congratulate* me—you are *o•ing to say— —" "

Lady Trevellan held up her hand. "That subject cannot be reopened " she said.

Sir Eric pulled himself up short " "Oh. very well," lie retorted sharply. ' But there is one thing I wish to say before I go. 1 don't understand vour attitude in this matter at all. You yourself, brought Lettiee and hie together. You even took tho trouble ! to write to tell me to look out for her ' on the journey down from Paddington. You asked me to make myself pleasant to her, and you were kind enough to inform "me that she /was an heiress. After taking all this tremendous interest in the girl, when' .1. tell you'that 1 want to marry her,. you calmly turn round and say that you do not approve of her —that she is not good enough for me. I don't pretend to understand what has made you change your mind like this. But I know this —that' it is most unreasonable and —er —unmotherly. You bury yourself alive in this room —I hardly ever see anything of von—and I have to grovel to Omer or Jason before I can get near you." (To be Continued.)