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AFTER RELEASE.

OUR SERIAL.

By VIOLET M. FLINN, Author of "The Master Passion. "What Shall It ProhtP" "Verena." "By Devious Paths," Etc.

CHAPTER I

"Hullo! There's Ludworth, I thought he was in America." There were only two people in the big, handsome elu'b room overlooking the Green Park, and these two wortsea ted at the window, one watching with the interest of a newcomer the ceaseless stream of Immunity and vehicles pasing ap and down Piccadilly, the other regarding lit with bleared old eyes that only brightened into lifo when a familiar face or well-known carriage dndivid'aulised itselif from the common mass. His running comments on his friends ;had hitherto left his companion unmoved, and now ho stirred and looked with some interest into the crowd. "Do you mean the Duke of Ludworth?'* ho abruptly asked. "Which is he?"

Sir George Cassidy gazed, at him with as much dignity as his bleared old" face could assume, but it was discounted by. his love of gossip and his curiosity as to his fellow clubsman's identity.

"That's Ludworth —in the yellow in the yellow motor car —beastly thing Look at Ludworth! Does he look like the head of one of the oldest families in the country, or is he a cross between a stoker and a bus conductor? Well, there's one thing certain.- He's the first Marcham that has ever succeeded in defying the old duchess. The grandson does what the sons would never dare venture." "Is the duchess still alive?" "She will live to a hundred," growled Sir George. "She's as masterful to-day as she was firty years ago, when she hurried her husband into his grave and ruled the house with a rod of iron. I have seen her husband stand like a whipped child before her, and as to her daughters, there was only one •who dared to have a mind of her own, and that was this man's mother.' '

"Honora, the youngest, who married Geoffrey Ma rch'am. I remember.'' Sir George's eyes blinked, curiously. "You know the family, eh?"

"I know of them. 'Geoffrey was my friend; we were in Parliament together. Whata clever fellow he was!" "And broke his neck over a Leicestershire fence. He was never the same man after Honora's detath. I daresay yon knew the duchess oposed the marriage. He was a pauper and no prospects wontli mentioning in those days. She locked Honora in her rooms, so I have heard, but it was useless, and the young folk held their own and bolted. The duchess hiad to eat humble pie when Geoffrey became the heir." "It was curious haw that large family became extinguished."

"The' duchess held the reins too tight. She eith— them or they bolted. It doesn't do to hold the. bit on the young ones too tigtot—spoils their mouths and makes tihem run crooked. Look at the Marchams! Ludworth was clever enough in his way, but a fool under his mother, absolutely under her thumb. Then Charles, nice fellow, too —lie.was drowned on his'way to India. Mnrmaduke waß a. rank bad 'un. Then there were the girls, Honora, Alicia and Fiona.. Alicia died, for the sake of some peace, I should imagine; Flora—well, Flora is Blagg's wife now, but -" The other moved abruptly 7 . "The duke is coming in," lie said with a little note of warning .

Sir George twisted round on his cliair. ,

'Come .after Blags, I suppose. Ho is often here in the afternoon."

The duke did not apqpar to have come after anyone when he came into tho room. He nodded to Sir George Gassidy and abused the weaklier as he unbuttoned bis leather coat. "You smell of gasoline," George growled. "It's worse t'ha.u a. beastly mac'liino shop." "It's in the air then," the duke answered good-temperedly . "My car is an electric.' ' "I thought you were in America." "So I was; I returned last night." He gave brief details of his visit, to which Sir Geoi'ge listened with the avidity of a newsmonger. "You didn't pick up an American heiress, evidently." The duke laughed "You forget, I am already booked." "I hadn't forgotten. You'd go far I to beat Ladv Hcrmione's beauty and f birth."

"Yes, I should," agreed the young man heartily, but witli no lover's warmth. It appeared to #0 man who listened «nd w-atolfed that the Duke of Ludworth was philosophically inclined in •many ways, and took his engagement ■as a matter of course. Sir George now found himself very interested in the voting man. His father had boon his dearest friend in his college days, :t man for whom, in a somewhat; chequered and stormy youth, he had the keen, esft admiration. He had always regarded him as the cleverest man ho had ever known. He sorrowed uufeignedly when a horse's false step terminated ■a career that had been full of brilliant

promise. iCverythiing had been in Marchan. .s ■favour— -a firio appearance, a charming manucr, a brilliant brain, but it did not appear at first glance that any <v" these qualities had been transmitted ■to liis onlv child. TRc present duke, at the age of five and twenty, possessed neither the ptrikiug personality nor beauty of feature that had distinguished his father. He was moulded after the pattern of tho day—a wellgroomed, good-natured and well-man-norcd voungman. Who had no .striking characteristics that differed in one w'lnt

from any 6f the young men of his ' standing. The man who bad been his ' father's friend was conscious of a growing disappointment as ho listened and watched. i "How's the duchess?" Sir George asked. j "She's ill," her grandson answered ' cheerily. "It sounds as improbable as a message from Mars. I never rememj bor herTTaving an ache or pain before. It appears she has not ben well for some time, but she wouldn't give in. H©wton sent her to Vienna to see that ' new man, and she has to stay in his [hospital for six months." J Sir George smiled in amusement as reflected on the time she would lead the doctors and nurses alike. It would be almost impossible to that the autocratic old duchess had at last to submit to being ruled. "How you will all miss her," he exclaimed, and an answering gleam of Jiumour came into the duke's eyes. "And what becomes of Lady Hermione?" "She will stay with Aunt Flora, 1 expect, but I don't know. lam going on now to LwJworth House." He glanced with same indecision at the stranger who was watching him, and the elder man guessed his thought. "No you have never met mo before/' he said, and the duke flushed ingenuously, "but I used to know your father well. My name ds Tresidder, but that will convey noThing to you." "If you happen to be John Tresidder," said the other in his frank, plea-saint voice, "I-was christened after you. You have been abroad, haven't you? My father often spoke of; ; you, and regretted losing touch, with you." He held out his hand as he spoke. Tresidder liked the warmth of tho grasp, tho smile in the open eyes. "You .must come and dine with me, and tell me all about the old days. Are you y homo for good?*

A shadow crossed Tresidder's Hand- j some grave old face. i "I cannot say yet. But I feel such a stranger here. I luave not been home for about tliirty years, anil where I left men I find only ghosts." Ludwonfch glanced quickly at him. It wa-s an alert, shrewd glance that might have told a closer observer that he was not as lacking in discernment as might have been supposed, but aloud he said : .. "That must be rather disheartening; but wo must all do what we can to make you'feel at home again. lam sorry my grandmother " Tresidder laughed. "The duchess showed me the door | thirty year's ago,' he said. "I don't suppose time has altered her opinion of me." '.'Ah!' said the duke. He looked at Tresidder whimsically. .. "Which of them did you fair in love with? My mother bolted, you know. Rope ladder and all tlie rest of it. And Flo—l hope it was not "Flora'—she married Tommy Blagg two years ago." Tresidder laughed a little sadly. "I never made any formal offer bo any of your aunts, but the one I most admired was the one who died—Lady Alicia."

. A little- change cajne over the duke's face;

"Sho was before .my time, you know. I knew very little of my mother's people. Father and the duchess never pulled together, and we very seldom met. I suppose tlhere's lots you could tell mo that I want to know, Yiou must certainly come and dine." He stayed a. few minutes longer, but presently a message was brought to him and he rose to go. "Are you fond of motoring, Mr Tre. sidder? It's the best remedy for ills of life that I've ever met."

"Do you know any of them;"' Ludworth s'brcigged his shoulders. "No doubt I should have known more if a dozen improbable things had not happened. Goodibyo Sir George." "Give my love to Lady Hermione." the old man said. Ho peered out of the window to see the motor start. "A nice enough lad, but nothing in him ! Isn't keen about .anything as far

•as I know. You would think that he would have some of his father's abii ity, and his mother was no fool eith-

"Who is Lady Henmione?" "His cousin. Her father was this chap's uncle—you must remember him! He married one of Millonrs daughter's, and they only had one girl. So the duchess did the best, thing she .could and made a match-of it between these two. They are to be. married in the spring, i believe, if this illness does not make any difference." "What is Lady Hermione like?" Trosiddcr inquired. "Oil, a nonentity. Tall, fair, and good-looking, and completely under her grand mother's tlnnnlj. The 1 tluches? won't lose any of her power when she is a dowager again." The short October day was drawing to a close. A grey mist hung over the leafless treet-ops; lights were glimmering her and there. The crowded street seemed more crowded than before; busses and motors, carts.and carriages were mixed up in apparently inextno'>a,l>le confusion, while above, all were the clamour of t!he passing traffic and the ceaseless tread of myriad feet. It : was the breath of London, the pulsa J tion of never-ceasing life. I (To be continued.)

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAG19120309.2.3

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10579, 9 March 1912, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,751

AFTER RELEASE. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10579, 9 March 1912, Page 2

AFTER RELEASE. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10579, 9 March 1912, Page 2

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