AFTER RELEASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10580, 11 March 1912, Page 2

AFTER RELEASE.

OUR SERIAL.

| By VIOLET M. FLINN, I Author of "The Master Passion. "What Shall It Profit?" "Verena." J "By Devious Paths," Etc.

CHAPTER I—Continued. "I don't wonder anarchy and socialism grow apace!" Tresidder said abruptly. "I have never seen such sharp contrast before. Look at that wretch begging from the duke now. Compare the two men! Surely such i-nicl extremes of bare existence and luxury are not justifiable!" "hiey deserve it!" Sir .George looked askance at Tresidder. "That fellow lias no right to be tagging there. The police arc never where they arc wanted. The country is going to the dogs!"

For a moment they watched the two by' the motor oar. Never was there a greater contrast. The duke wrapped in furs, eager to bo gone, yet held

ick by the good nature that would not let him be ungracious even to a beggar: the other, one of the- Green Park habitues, unkempt, unwashed,

•ireely human in his physical wretchedness, cringing and, fawning for a coin :nt meant nothing to its donor. They saw it drop into the eager, grasping band, then the duke was gone, and the man stood alone on the pavement, •looking down at what he held. It disappeared in his rags and he turned to make his way to his destination. But as he went he turned and loked up at the handsome building before which ho had been standing. The light fell on his face, grimed, wolfish, evil, and yet marked with individuality. He saw the two men at the window, and

-i blank-stare changed into one of rec. ogrwtion as his gaze met that of Sir George Casidy's. With a flaunting smile lie took off liis battered headgear sweeping it with a low bow, that, exaggerated as it was,yet held some style in it, as he disappeared again into the orbit from which he had come.

Sir George stared and stammered in rage and disgust, and looked at Tresiclder as if ho were to blame.

"Disgraceful! Infamous! You seem to know a good deal of the Mairchain family history Mr Tresidder. Perhaps you recognise their evil genius in that man." "Yes, sir" —outraged dignity still smarting— "that villain was Stanton Neal, as I am alive.'' CHAPTER 11. Ludworth House had been built when the tide of fashion surged round Oarlton House. It dominated the dull, dreary square aggressively, yet it only presented a high, blank wiall, and a few chimney pots to the-public inspection. Stray sightseers hung in vain round its heavy forbidding gates. , Fashion had ebbed from the square, ' but the Duches of Ludworth kept her state within her gates. She had 1 en-1 tered the house as a bride, and had kept possession of it during the long years of her son's minority and the brief period of his married life. There were those who said that the youngduchess would have lived longer had •she not resided with her mother-in-law, but neither then'.nor at any time h'.ad there been any puestion of the abdication of the dowager duchess.

j girl, and something' in her restrained, attitude, somo: hint of emotion m her face, suddenly roused a compassionate pity for iier in his heart. She did not seem to mind living with her grandmother in the narrow rigid circle that had been laid down for her, and yet what did other life?

How ebuld'sho make a'choice ->•' what liad never been offered to her? The duke was very good-natural a) id liked everybody to be as happy as he w«s himself and he covld not froget Herxaione's attitude when he entered the room. She was ieaning forward ft the open window as if she were listening of watching very intently.,, And yet, what was there to see or hear with that great barrier between her *id the world that lived' and loved ajid was happy or sad? , "I'll'he hanged-if you shall put hi

I ■■• The. sightseer would have \ been disappointed had he been able to see behind the wall. The house wa.s very big and hideous, with nvuch stucco, a heavy portice, and" rows of long' narrow windows placed with mathematical accuracy. The gardens were still laid out as the architect had planned them. Grimy statues of Roman worthies and Grecian dieties faced each other at the rectangles of the paths. The very trees and shrubs seemed to grow to pattern. All was dull, dreary and correct to a degree. It was impossible to imagine that anything natural could be found in house or inhabitants. "Beastly place!' Ludworth observed cheerfully to his chaffeur. "I'd like to smash those statues. They always did give me a pain." The groat doors parted in the middlo as the car stopped before them. A vista of powdered and plushed foot- | men appeared in the vault-like hall, -with, a sanctimonious looking butler and a portly groom of the chambers in. the far perspective. Ludworth hated the ceremony. with which his grandmother surrounvied herself. His -essentially modcr:) r.-and* revolted from the formality with which ho himself was always received. "It was, as ho remembered, the first time that ho had ever visited Hermione herself, p just as the note she had written, asking him to call was the only one she had not written at her grandmother's dictation. "Her Grace the Duchess of Ludworth is not home, your-grace!" was the announcement, as Ludworth answered by flinging his gloves on a table and his coat over the arm of a footman. "I am quite aware of that! Where is Lady Herm ione ? " A perceptible flutter ran through the ranks. . "Fnuileiu Bunner has gone away for the afternoon, your grace,' was the remonstrant warning. "I called to see Lady Hermione!" There was a touch of sharpness in the pleasant voice, and, though the butler looked up as if he expected the descent of the ieilng, the groom of tho chamber obeyed the authority that sounded in his ears. "Her ladyship is in the wliite drawing room, your grace,' ho said, and led him thither as one who went to his ■his doom. "His grace the Duke of Ludworth, your ladyship!" The sonorous tones rang through the lofty room. Lady Hermione turned with a little start from one of the i windows to met her fiancee. <

(six months with, Gertrude!" he Said j suddenly," and Hterihaone shot a swift {glance at him from under her Jong ] dark eyelashes. "I'm the head of the family. Grandmother likes to forget <tihat. We are engaged, so I.have a right to have a say in the matter. Look (here, my dear girl, she shan't come. For these six blessed' months you shall do as you like and'be hanged to grand- : mother's wishes!' "•Oh, Ludworth!" I He did not understand what pro'.fip. ted :Uhe exclamation, and she raised her ' eyes and looked at him, and for the first time he wondered if she were as really happy with her grandmother as -she appeared to be. ' I'm going to look on these six norths as a holiday, though I n.u. not under her commands as you are," lie I continued heartily, "and so shall you. When the cat's away, the mice are : going to play. She won't knot/ anything about it till it's all over, and my back "is broad enough to bear her wrath on it!' He leaned froward, smiling in i-he pleasant manner that had.. made him so popular. "Don't you think vou'd like, a good time, Henmone? IW* you feel you have' bee-i r.ei ncd up 'ong enough?" "Oh, Ludworth!" she said, and he saw tears well up into .Jie lovely eyes. He was profoundly tousued. His oarscience pricked him this he had been neglectful to this s"l to whom, Ly reason of family expediency, he was betrothed. "If you would only help me!" ■ "Help you? Oi course I will, my dear girl! "stou know I have always hen delighted to do anything for you ; at least I should havo been if I had known you wanted my help. We used ( to be rather pally when you came to Caynhams that time, didn't we? Awfully jolly time I had. I dare say that if my mother had not died you would' havo como again, and we should have got to know each other better. But anyway,'tell mo now what you want! ' He felt quite affectionately disposed while he waited for her to speak, but ho was certainly not prepared for the rush of words that broke down the reserve of years between them.

(To he continued.)

, "Great Scott! What a. palaver! j Half of those fellows ought to be bounced!" Ludworth said briskly. "How are you, Hermione? I got your noto this morning. Tlisit is quito bad news about grandmother, isn't it? For her, I mean. I went round to Fluff last •night. She had been firing telegrams at mo from Queenstow to Euston. She is simply bubbling over with excitement.' He laughed gaily, but only a faint smile appeared on his cousin's face. He wondered if there was anything that would make her look more alive and interesting. ■ "The doctor says that grandmother must have six months absolute re>t and A She is not to send any letters or receive them, or to have any communication with the outside world. It will be a great trial to her." "And a great relief'to us!' the duke said blunltly. "I, for one, am ,-.ot sorry that she is immured for a long time." . ...

i They were sitting oposite ea.;h other, '■the girl on a high-backed chair that had been one of the gems of the first Crystal Palace Exhibition.. Her hands were folded on her lap, her eyes cast down, her face was grave and composed. It was her usual attitude. He (had scarcely seen her sit otherwise, just: as he had seldom heard her ,>ay more than "Yes, grandmother," "No, Ludworth.' ' She always made him think of a coloured statue —she was so very handsome, so very impasive and indifferent. It was a great satisfacition'uto him to feel thjat the honour, of the family would be safe in her hands,, and that she would act the part of a duchess to perfection. He always felt somewhat awed by her stately dignity and not a little bored by her ignorance of everything that interested him. "What are you going to do?' he abruptly -asked. "I suppose you will stay with Fluff. I'm sure nothing will persuade her to come here, even for a visit" —looking round his ancestral home with disfavour. ~ "Grandmother wishes mo to remain here. She has written to cousin Gertrude to come and stay with me during; her absence." , I "Gertrude? Why, she is only one atom less unbearable than grandmother herself!' He looked again- at i-w