AFTER RELEASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10588, 20 March 1912, Page 2

AFTER RELEASE.

OUR SERIAL.

I By VIOLET M. FLINN, \ Author of "The Master Passion, "What Shall It Profit?" "Verona." j' "B.y Devious Paths," Etc.

CHAPTER Vl—Continued. "I hopo yoii won't got tired of my 'shoppy' letters. I feel in my element, and everyone is so kind to me. Eve.y day I thank you, dear Ludworth ,for helping mo to come -" The swifly-moving pen ceased and ■a look of indecision crossed the lovely face'beneath the close-fitting while cap "I suppose, since he suggests wining I ought to say 'yes,' " she murmured half aloud, "but it really isn't necessary." She bent again over the writing pad on her knee. "It is vory kind of you to think of coming down for a day, but 1 don" i: get much 'off' time, and it would Le hardly worth the long journey. 1 was 'so--.!surprised to find that you -vero sti'i in town. I thought yoa always went to the castle shooting at this month. You know I shall be glad to sec you if you car© to'oome. "• "I am-your affectionate cousin, HERiMIONE MAUGHAM." As she isealed .and directed velopo there was a knock at 'the door of the room which, as a .paying "pro." she had for her exclusive use. "Come in!" Hermionc called cheerfully, and Sister Allan entered in outdoor uniform. "I am going for a walk,' 'sho said. "Will you coma with me? T thought you looked rather pale this morning." "Did I? I feel quite well. I shall bo very pleased to go wit'i you, sister." Miss Allan sat down whib Hermione put on the sombre outdoc uniform that, like, her print frock and cap and apron, seemed to enhance her beauty • rather than conceal it. Her glance fel! on the bulky letter addressed to the Duke of Ludworth, and a little whimsical smile crossed her strong, sensitive mouth as she thought of tho flutter •that would bo caused in the hospital were'"Nurse March's" identity to be known. "It's a pity if she is really engaged to him. They are not a bit suited to each other. Her lovely nature is one that would ho entirely lost on him, nice as he is. She isn't a. bit in love with him' ,and in her heart despises him, which I think, ho by no means deserves —'but I l>clieve I heard that there was some sort"of family arrangement made, about them," "I am ready now," Hermione said, and Sister Allan's reflections came to an end. Although the day was in November' it was clear and sunny, and an ozoneladen breeze, with a pleasant touch of tho salt-air in it, •Mew up from tho river along the wide streets. There were children playing happily under the leafless trees along the boulevard, and down the hill the white-capped waters of the river dashed with mimic fury against the gleaming wet sides of the ocean-going liners. Happiness had done much for Hermione. The duke would certainly have ! seen a much different girl from the one ! he knew had ho been able to become an invisible spectator and listener as she and Miss Allan walked (briskly a.o Their cloaks were wrapped around them to guard" against tho frolicsome gusts. The girl's native reserve lessened when she was with the pleasant, sensible, kindly woman who was guarding her innocent secret so closely and j helping her eager feet along the path J they longed to tread. She ttold her imany things that she had never divulged to anyone, but she talked most of the. secret dream of her ambition. It was the homo that she would establish for youthful invalids! "That is Mi - Rawarde's idea, too," Miss Allan said as they turned homeward. "You seej ho is so much in advance of the men hero that they hamper him dreadfully. When he has his own hospital I shall go under his care. I believd in him thoroughly." "I think he is vory clever and daring. That Jewish boys legs are marvels, and he is so nice with tho children;, too. He never seems to forge* how, helpless and frightened they are.''

] and sho was the only cliikl. She was very young, only nineteen when they { were married, pretty and enipty-lieacJ-j ed. But he was a widower before lie was twenty-throe."

I "I should nol havo thought that he ■ was a man to bo attracted by that sort of girl." "Sho was devoted to him "•■ " '■-> was poor and ambitious. He was only twenty-one when he was married. I (think ho was fond of her, though perhaps, had she lived- " The .sentence way left unfinished. As they talked they entered the •square in which Mr Rawardc. lived. It was a stately, decorous place, where no untoward sounds ever broke its 'brooding peace. Ti.» regular trot M' splendid horses and the noiseless roll of handsome carriages were all that over seemed to rise abovo the laughter of the children playing in the central garden, and the call of birds that built in security in the great trees surrounding it. Hermione liked tho quiet dignity of the -olace. Sunshine seemed j to always lie'upon it, and each house .seemed "to vie with tflie other in the matter of paint- and sliin'i' 1 '" br»sswork. Mr llawarde's house stood out conspicuously on this score. The white paint was always white; the brood, shallow steps were always clean the brasses always bright. Its open door, leading into a flower-decked vestibule had a hospitable appearance, and through the windows were pleasant glimpses of big, sunny rooms and more flowers. „ ~ , r . A 1 "It is such a mce house, Miss Allan said, following. Hermionc's glance. "He has a passion for flowers and.old furniture. Ho has, some wonderful dower chests in the drawing room, and & lovely conservatory, arrangement xn the dining room; You would love Gwenda. She is the dearest little rnik, so fairylike, and as sharp, as, a■ -needle. I wonder " Sho paused to look through the garden railings- Xe*, there she is is. Gwenda!" she called. A small child in very short-white skirts and a mop of fair hair under her white hat was stooping over a tov l-in the garden path. "He won't let her wear anything but I white. She OH!" She broke off I witha little laugh. Gwenda had called imperatively for assistance, with her refractory toy. The person who emerged from tho house in answer to her summons was not the nurse, but her father. He looked idly across at the railing and saw the two who were standing there, A smile of recognition, lit his eyes. Ho'stooped and spofce to the child, and then followed her as she ran to tihe.ga.te. .; . ~ 'She was not, strictly, speaking, a 'pretty child, (but she 'had the attractiveness of extreme youth, 'and her small, fair, sparkling face was Med with an inteHligence not unusually found in a child of five or six. She precipitated therself into Miss Allan s arms, bubbling over with laughter and kisses and an- almost embarrassing -affection. . .. . . "You never been to see mo for ever so long," she cried, in her young, eager voice. "An' I've got three little-dog-gies, an' a real canary in a cage, an' dad savs you've -been d'eadfully busy, •an' the kitchen cat's got five kittens, j "Which was totally unnecessary, Mr Kawarde said, as he joined them. "Good afternoon, Miss March. Has Sister Allan been showing, you the beauties of the city." _ It was tho first time Hermione tiad .met him out of the "hospital, and her first thought was, how absurdly young he was to be Gwenda's father, and an eminent surgeon whose fame was spreading far bevond the limits at Ins practice. He looked .more like a boy as ho stood, smiling at the child and teasing Miss Allan with a hgltt-heart-edness that had nothing in common with his manner in the hospital. Once more Hermione realised how great is the difference that separates life in and out of a ward. _ - A small hand slipped into here. Gwondt looked up at her with the frank, engaging smile of a child who only knows love. The blue eyes now smiled adorably. "Do come and see the kittens. They have got their eyes quite shut 'cos they. don't like to look at the doggies yet, Do come an' see them!" She sprang to 'her father. "Ask her to come, dad, do," she said in a loud whisper. fc>no is so very pretty." ■ It was impossible to pretend that the naive compliment had not been heard. Sister Allan laughed, Hermiono blushed, and Mr Rnwarde caught Gwenda up in his arms. ' "Your grannv spoils you, and M 'do I!" ho said. "You'll come in, Ellen won't you? Do you think you could fay to' gusli over the kittens, Miss March? You would bo irresistible to , the small person then, and I am sure you would welcome some tea. Mien would, I know." (To be continued.)

"There is no ono like .him!" Sister Allan declared with conviction. "I .have known him ■c i ver since he was .» isohoolboy. His mother aaid ho used to lodge with us when he was going to school at 'Bedford, and lie never forgets •old friends. People who don't know him say that he makes use of people, , and then drops them-when he can get no more out of them; hut no one knows Mm better than I do, and it is not true. I have, no claim on him, but he has*"ucvcr dropped me, and his mother simply adores him. They are devoted to each other. I never knew such a couple. Her sun'rises and sets with her Basil." "And do vou like Mrs Raywarde, too?" "Ye-es, I think I do. She is always very charming and kind, but somehow, one never seems to get, any farther with her. She is very delicate, and I sometimes think that ishe had very heavy trouble. They wero very badly ■off when I first knew them. Basil only got to University by scholarships and hard work, and self-denial. I always think she felt (her husband's death very acutely. She gives mo the- impression of never having got over tho shock of it." "Oh!" Hermione began to laugh .softly. "We are talking at cross purposes. I was thinking of Mr Rawarde's wife!" They laughed, and Miss Allan grew grave. "She's dead. Sliodied after a chill .she got while skating, when Gwenda was quite a baby. I never knew much about her. Her people were wealthy,