AFTER RELEASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10596, 30 March 1912, Page 2

AFTER RELEASE.

Oliß SERIAL.

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

OHAPTKIt Xl—Continued

The rapture of that thought, the roused mother love hitherto dormant, were still in her .face and- lingering in hoi - eyes as she went downstairs. Rewards, coming out of his study, paused abruptly before the vision. He stood for a little while, grave, almost abashed, and tho memory of that look never left him. In his heart an impulse, a power stirred to which 'ho had been a stranger, a suddeu rccoguitiion took hold of him. It was a moment of subtle revelation to him, a raomenj; iliat taught him that lio was no, longer independent and solitary, a-power unto himself, but one. to he swayed and moved, and influenced for good or ill by the bravo girl with the starry eyes in whoso radiance a new soul had been born.

Only when tho pause grew noticeable and painful did he speak, scanning her quickly with his trained, searching glance. "I have the brougham; no you must not walk! If you will let mo go with you, I shall bo glad. I havo an appointment at four." The drive passed almost in. silence. Only 'when they wore within sight of ■tho clingy pile of 'buildings did he venture to speak. "I hope you will feel no ill effectsfrom this morning's business, .Miss March. I wish it were, possible to express how unuc'h I am in your debt. Gwenxla is very dear to me, how deaiv I cannot tell you. hut " "Oh, pteaso don't think it necessary to thank me!' Hermione said. "I only did what anyone else would do." Ho shook his head disbelieving!}'.

CHAPTR XII

"The ; brutes in the other car never even looked round to see what had happened,' lie said, Jiis face darkening. "However, they will not escape scotfree. Well, I .won't thank you since you don't want thanks, but if ever — if—one day—l can show seo means of showing you—what—I—feel " It as well that at that rhomen t the ,'brougham stopped before the ' great, door, '.and'-the' hall porter roused into activity, waddled slowly down the steps and held the door, open for them to pass.

In the hall they separated, .but Hawardo held out his hand.. "At least allow me to feel your friend,' he said, with a smile, and without a word Hermione laid her hand in his.,' -V-.

Had anyone told Rawardo that he, who prided himself oii'his level-headed-ncss, common-sense- and lack of sentiment, who lhad passed unmoved r'ght through his years of marriage and widowhood, would have fallen headlong in love with a girl of whom he knew nothing, and whom Ihq had only met a few times, he would have laughed at him as an imaginary, romantic visionary. Yet, as ho told himself as he drove away, the. unexpected and stupendous thing Jmd happened and he exulted in it.

He went to his patient; with a confident step and glowing eyes that betokened a buoyancy of spirit that was not without its iniluen.ee upon the invalid. He was a clerk who had under-, gone a severe and critical operation, who was making a slow recovery, retarded by tho dread of a future'when, with ever-increasing demands upon his labour, he would ho less able to, Work. He had thought Mr Rawardo cold and heartless, looking upon him onkv as an "interesting case" and ignoring his feelings as husband and father. He changed his opinion that afternoon as the surgeon found timo to probe his secret anxiety that was retarding his convalescence and to apply ■a remedy in tho promise of renewed strength and better work.

The man looked at him with tear-fili-ed, sunken eyes. 'The liitlo ones pull at .one's heartstrings,' he said feebly; "and trio oldest is only five. Tho wife is not strong, and she was only twenty when we woi e married, and si- < has no friends." "My little girl is only five,' J?aw iv-.le said-slowly, "and your wife is only twenty.' A soft light' came into his eyes. ; v He smiled ,at some pleasant •thought.". "Just a girl, after all. Well O.mithers," ire said cheerfully, "keep your heart up ar-l get ho!!, and .1. will «h> that'you-d< n't suffer lor this." The nieiiDiy of tho ma.i z gratitude rciKuuerl pl.wsantly with 1-i-u as lie d.ove home v Ho had take.), the brougham because ho realised that Hcrmione's nerves would not be'steadied by tho sight of the motor. His dark eyes were very soft, the cold, hard sternness had left his face. He looked more like a boy as ho leaned back among tho blue leather cushions, dreaming dreams as boyishly and romantically as if he wero only in the hoydey of youth. •"Only a girl, after all. Sho cannot bo more than twenty, if she is so old, in spite- of her grave dignity. Hermione! How the name suits her!" ! The smile was still on. his lips as I he opened'the door and went into the hous:>. Tho pleasant homely warmth and flower fragrance met him; the comfort ho always felt hi his well-ap-pointed, handsome dwelling was intensified by tho feelings that held him captive." He was proud of it becauso it represented substantially the fruits of his labours, tho strenuous endeavour of his whole life. He whistled softly as ho went into his study, that inner sanctum that was as the .core of his life. Tt was a large, square room, witn bookcases and many pictures, solidly and handsomely furnished, with the firelight dancing in myriad reflections j on polished omahogany and bowls of , flowers, gleaming on polished steel and white marble, throwing strange shadows and deeper hues into the pur-

' plo depths of the velvet curtains, that were drawn over the wide windows — the room of a man of many tastes and refined instincts. A portrait of his mother hung opposite his desk set ou f with ivory and s.olid silver requisites among which was a beautiful uiiniat.::re i.i' Clwondn in a gold frau;e. Ti: i w,is poi Lap-:; symbolical Iliac his wife'* portrait, although occupying the position of honour on the mantelshelf, was behind his customary chair.. ! The Aberdeen terrier on tho hearth sprang up to givo his noisy, welcome. He caressed the rough head the while ho turned' over with rapid fingers the pile of letters and cards that had accumulated in his absence. | "Mr Storrena has gone ?" lie asked a butle/, who had followed to switch on ■ tho electric light that flooded tho room I with soft radiance from behind shaded globes. i "Yes, sir. Ho said ho would como I back after dinner to seo if any letters 1 needed immediate replies." i "I think not. I—" He paused a card in his hand. Tho man busy fit tho fire did not see thetall form stiffen, tho smiling face grow hard and stern. A pencilled line had leaped out like fir o , from below the printed name: "MR JOHN BOVILL." After all these years it had come at length. ' . ,j. ~ He read tho narao again, but it was the pencilled lino ho regarded with .loathing. ~-■,,» "By favour of Mr Stanton .seal.

"So the young lady refuses to be famous," Von Markheim said in his thick, gutteral voice, from out of the cloud' of smoke that enveloped him. "It ess not her voice alone that ees unique, it ecs herself also." Ludworth, sitting astride his chair, nodded affirmatively across the untidy room, stacked with dust-incrustod music in manuscript, in volume, in folio, piled., high everywhere..except on the <Vrancl piano, whose bareness contrasted oddly with the worn chairs ahd all the heterogeneous collection' of a man who cared for nothing except for music and tobacco. . . "1 am beginning to think sjie is right. She is not fitted for a public career —she is too refined, too sensitive—not like other girls." "Acli, so we all say when wo are m lof!" .

"I am not in love." ■ "So. .Then I haf mistake made. It ees devotion to art that keeps you in London in this beastly climate. Ach, Carl Von Markheim, you are indeed a simpleton." Ludworth'left his chair, and walked over to tho small, dingy window, looking out onto the mean street, .where he" stood swinging the window cord. The street was damp and dreary, and lie looked out with troubled eyes that, had lost their customary brightness. "I'll acknowledge,"' he said at, length, " that I am very interested in Mi'sa Grainger, hut I'll not admit that there is anything more. I—l don't even want to flirt with her. 'Why, man, sho has been more difficult to get to know than any princess!" "It ees, I suppose, necessary that thero should lie friendship between the'.Duke of Ludwortii and this phann-iin-g young lady who —works'r'for her living!" ', "Oh, don't he a snob, A on. Markheim! She's as.good—no, far better than I am any'day! Why shouldn't I know hoi: She's most -ittractive —and, hang it, if I choose to bum my fingers, why shouldn't I?" "I haf spoken, niein Junge!" Von Markheim said philosophically, and he shook his-white Jovian head. "I knew yon would not listen. It would have been too much to expect from hot, impetuous'youth riding for a fall. But I haf my mind relieved. Shall you come to the concert on Saturday? It will bo good; a real tenor is going to sing. He ees studying hard, and in three years will ho tho world's, famous one."' ■ "As mv rani avis should have been too!' Ludworth said. "Yes, I think I shall put in an appearance. Clayton wrote to me .and sent me a hundred tickets." "He ees truly modest and far from grasping. Fortunately ho has nothing to do with the programme. My friend, that is the fifth time you have compared your watch with my clock. It ecs time you went, You will be late for vour appointment." "I have- not got an, appointment, vou old misanthrope'!' 'Ludworth answered gaily. ■ He reddened as he spoke. "However, I am going now after that broad hint. Why do you I live in this out-of-the-way place, Yon 'Markheim.'" he continued, as he ! put on his coat and drew on his over--1 coat. (To he continued.)