AFTER RELEASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10615, 23 April 1912, Page 2

AFTER RELEASE.

OUR SERIAL.

By VIOLET M. FLINN, Author of "The Master Passion, "What Shall It Pro0t?" "Verea-." "By Devious Paths," Eto.

CII.\PTKH XXll—Continued

"Lady Flora is very i!l!' he said slowly. "She has had a bad fainting attack. 1 canio down to tel'l you!" Thomas uticred a groan that was half a sab. Jt was evident that ho was torn hi half by his jealousy and Jove for his wife. "What causes these attacks?" he

demanded. "She never used to ha>vo Jt'hem, but then she never used to play j this underhand game. No—no, Jack, if slio can't look after herself,''l will havo to do it for 'her. This Bovill, | whoever ho may be, has got to leave her alone, or I'll know the reason j why. And now you read that letter kind t:ll me, if it is any wonder that ■sin lias those fainting attacks." Ludworth took up the paper reluctantly. J t bore no address, but paper and writing were alike good. "MY I HOAR, FLORA: I did not think 1 should ever write to you again, but J have reason to-believe that the old trouble is astir. Do not be afraid. Remember,, you and I know it-he-truth; and I have no fear in making it known Yours affectionately, A." He read the letter again, strangely arrested by it. "This is from a woman,' he 'said, and the inquiry agent nodded confirmation.' "Has Aunt Flora seen it?" "The letter only arrived last night," Smith answered. "'Sir Thomas has given me charge of the letter bag. Lady Flora has not seen it yet!" "Have you any idea where it comes from?'" "The postmark is unfortunately obliterated. Still, it might he possible to find out."

Ludworth put -the letter down. He was in dire perplexity, which was in mo way allayed by what he had just read. He did not know an the least •ivthat heeould do for the. best. They were still' standing in doubtful (indecision when tho door was opened and one of tho footmen .made Ms ..appearance with a letter and a telegram which lie handed to Ludworth. "They have just been brought, mWrdl" ho said. , "The letter 19 marked 'lmportant,' and the telegram ihjis just arrived." It was with surprise that Ludworth saw that the letter was from Triesidder and had been delivered by hand. He opened it wonderingly, and his surprise grew as ho saw the address. What on earth could Tresidder of all men, be doing in the same hou-e with Eldyth?

"MY DEAR LUDWORTH :" the letter ran-—"I should be. greatly bb liged if you would come and see me, at the above address, by the courtesy of Miss Grainger." The colour, rushed into Ludworth's face as he read the name. "I havo had a slight accident, and she-lias been good enough to give me house room. I am anxious to have your opinion on a matter that interests ine greatly. ; I shall be. glad 10 see you at your.earliest convenience. V * ■ Yours very truly, JOHN TRESIDEII."

With lias lioad full of the letter and its astounding address, and liis mind already planning the quickest way ho oould get to Mulgrave 'Bquiare, he tore open the telegram. His face changed as lie read the long message. "Hermione has met -with a: accident and wants to see me at once!" he exclaimed, and his heart sank at once. He had wholly forgotten Hermione, yet he knew that of the two claims hers was the greater.

CHAPTER. XXin

"I am glad to say Miss March is doing very well," tlio matron said in her most affable tones. She smiled graciously upon the Duke of Ludworth as she took him along the wide corridors to-the prolja turners' qifa'.'ters. U was surprising how many of the staff had business in that direction at the same time. The news of his arrival had spread quickly in the hospital, and a hundred rumours were in circulation about Miss March and himself. | Ludworth hailed Sister Allan with relief. He had found the ordeal ol inspection, open and covert, very ingIt had been a- trial to Sister A ,en to hear of his engagement to Hermione and she had been inclined to regard I the secrecy as deceitful, hut she relented a little when she saw his evident anxiety on the girl's behalf. "Yes, it has been very bad, hut not so bad as it might Invvo boon if it had not been for Mr Kawarde. 1 1 is quite possible that she will not be marked at all, owing to his care. J Jut you must not bo shocked at the sight of her. She has been wrapped in bandages to save scarring." "It would have been horriWe if she had 'been disfigured. She was so very' pretty,' ho said. ~ Sister glanced at him scathmgiy. then relented. After all, he was not to be blamed for being engaged and keeping a better man off. In spite of himself Ludworth co-dd not control a dismayed exclamation when he caught sight of the bandaged head and shoulders. A little soobing laugh issued from the middle of the enveloping dressings. "Do I look so very dreadful"'' Hermione askedT "But I'm prof, wsing very well I hear, and I don't think T. will be marked. That would hare beet'

too bad for you, after having lofc me como here." ' "I don't know that I don't want to kick myself for letting you come here,' ho answered in the affectionate, older-brother stylo that came so easily to him. He took the slender hand lying on the counterpane. "My po"r, dear girl, this is a sorry end to your play! You must have suffered agonyi' "ft was rather bad, but —but I imagined that you would be angiy witl. me, Ludworth." "Angry, my dear girl? I'm most awfully sorry!" She caught her breath in a Jittle choking sob. "Wliat do you think grandmother will say? She will have to know now. The discoloration won't die down for some time." - Ho gave her hand a reassuring little "Don't bother your head about our grandmother. Her reign is over as far as ypu and I are concerned, I am head of the family." .

"Yes, but she is my guardian for the next two years."r •■- • • opened his lips but closed them again without speaking. There was an obvious reply in his action, but he could not bring himself to make it. He sat beside the low bed, holding Jus cousin's hand and listening to her account of how the accident happened and lie felt himself a thorough -paced scoundrel and cad.

"I am awfully fond of her!" he groaned inwardly, "but I'm mot in love with her, and don't want to mar. ry her, yet even if there was an opportunity, even if I felt she did not want to* marry me, I can't say anything now, becauso it would look as if I were going back on her because she has lost her looks."

"I thought the kettle was empty, and put it, down the sink and (began to unscrew it, and suddenly there was a fearful crash, and I felt " Her voice stopped abruptly. Footsteps were approaching along the hoarded corridor. Ludworth felt the hand he was holding nutter and grow warm. "Here is Mr Rawarde," she said, and she could not control the thrill in her voice as she spoko his name. Ludworth did not consider himself particularly astute, but perhaps because ho was so deeply in love himself ho had .become more sharp-witted than •ho realised. The change in Hermione's voice and maimer, the quiver in her hand were not without their meaning to him. Ho felt as if he had suddenly had lus eyes opei:ed to what lutherto was dark'and obscure. Had she been •able to seo him she would have seen ! bis expression change to one of en- : lightenment as lie said in a careless tone: "

"Sister Allen has been saying that you owe .all to his care. He is the man whose skill you have been admiring all along;, isn't he?" ''Yes,'' Hermion o answered. "Ho is considered extremely clever/' "I wonder —-"Ludworth began, then paused abruptly as one of the superintendent nurses approached with Rawarde: He ; had been told of the duke's arrival and had himself well in hand. The two young men glanced quickly at each other, and a surprised exclamation burst from l>oth. "I had no idea you were the Rawarde," Ludworth said, holding out ,his hand. The other took it with increasing astonishment.

"Are you the Duke of Ludworth ?" lie asked increduluosly. "I understood the matron to say " "Oh, yes, that is nothing. I happen to be the Duko for my sins." "Have you two met before?' the faint voice asked from the bed, and Ila:wardo turned round on the instant. "We met some weeks ago without either quite realising who the other was," he replied. His voice had softened. Ludworthl turned abruptly jaoud surveyed a familiar (portrait of Lady Flora with tingling pulses and eyes that saw nothing; "Well, if he can look at <a pillow; of cotton liko that, ho must I>o fran- : ■tic-ally in love!" ho ruminated. "Oh, my much-disliked grandmother, here is a pretty kettle of fish." Ho preferred to wait in the corridor wlwlo ltawarde payed his professional' visit. He paced up-and clown in a vain endeavour to quiet his excitement and arrango a plan of campaign. It was perhaps only .natural that in the discovery he. fancied lie had made lie should first think how it affected umself, but that selfishness, such as it was, was only momentary. It was rather of Hermione he thought as lie paced up and down.. (To bo continued.)