AFTER RELEASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10621, 29 April 1912, Page 2

AFTER RELEASE.

OUR SERIAL

By VIOLET M. FLiNN, Author of "The Master Passion. "What Shall It ProfitP" ««V«MB-." "By Devious Paths," Etc.

CHAPTER XX\* —Continued. 1 Rawardo looked nut of the window for a moment. It was not often that anyone could say that ho had seen hiin nervous and discomposed. Ludworth could have done so then. "I think it is only right, duke," ho said formally, "to tell you that that J had no idea that Lady Hcrmiono was who she was, or that sho was engaged j to you. I"—he looked at him with j some defiance —"1 don t ijiipposo it would have; made any difference to my feelings if I had done so j hut at the same lime I would not liko you to think that—that Lady Hermione gave me an iota of encouragement-. As a matter of fact, I aiu certain that—that my offer of marriage was a great surprise to her." "Oil, has it gone a.s far as that!" Ludw-orth ejaculated involuntarily.^ "Yes, it has," Basil said stiffly. "And I givo you fair warning that if, .* as I suspect, Lady Hermione's affections aro not engaged, I shall not lose my hope of winning her in the end. You have said yourself that the engagement was purely a family arrangement- " "Mv dear fellow," Ludworth interrupted gaily, "I am sure that I hope with all my heart that you'll get her! Hermione is no more in love with me than I am with her," he continued, as Jlawardo stared at him, hardly be-

lieving tho evidence of his mvn senses. "Wo were very good pals in our childish days—when we saw anything of each other; which was not very often. But from the day I agreed to marry [ her I knew that I had made a misI take as far as happiness went. I don't know, of course, but I have a great vuspieioii that Fermy would be more happy with you 11 Hm with mo. So far as I am concerned, you litwe Yiiy consent to go in and win," For art instant Basil was too taken by surprise, too overwhelmed to even speak. ' . , "I never expected such 'generosity! lie stammered, and Ludworth laughed l.iglit-heartcdij'.' "Generous to give away what was never mine?' ho asked.

Kawame s face claimed. "If the story is untrue, if I am real- 1 ly Neal's son "ho began. ___ j "Well, it need not make nr.y difference, need it? You would also be Mrs Rawarde's son, which would be greater to your advantage! But, upon my word, I believe you aro Ludworth', and I—well" lie shrugged his shoulders—"life still holds compensations, and 1 always did like Cayuliams best." "I hope you will always bo Ludworth!" llawarde said with all his sincerity. There was not time for much to be said when Ludworth went in to see Hermione, and sho was too surprised by the early visit to pay much importance to Jiis remarks about.Flora. "Aunt Flora is not at all to come and see me," sho said. You iniruv hmr she hates horrors, as she

{ calls them. She would faint at the sight of all these bandages." I She was far more interested in what 11 he had to say concerning, his visit to i j the square, and ho saw a little flush I rise in the part of her face that ha<i been freed from the bandaging when he delivered Gwenda's loving messages and told her all that Mrs ilaWarde had said about Her, "They have be?n so sweet to me," she said, with a quickly-chocked sigh. "I shall miss their! so much! It has been delightful to know them, and ' Gwenda is a darling!" "She's awfully taken with you, ' Ludworth said with a. chuckle. He would dearly have loved to repeat her conversation about her now mamma, but he mercifully forbore. But hecould not forbear to praise Rawardo, ' and ho saw the girl quiver in response to the name. "I am glad; you like him," she said softly. "He is so very clever." Ludworh. laughed. "Is that all? I must be going, Her-, my. Good-bye, dear!" 0 Ho saw her shrink a little, and tnen prepare to receive the expected car- • ess passivlv. He patted her hand reassuringly. . "Cheer up, my'dear," he sa.;d. It is always darkest before the claw 11, and left her to ponder his enigmat.:e j remark at leisure.

CHAPTER XXVI

Ludworth sprang into the carriage and prepared to endure, the journey as best ho could. "I've done my best to make two people happy, at all events," he mused to .himself. '"What a fury grandmother will he in when she knows! I wonder if she was in love with Neal? It doesn't 'seem easy to imagine her ia love with anyone hut herself." His thoughts turned to Eklyth. Five hours! In five hours he could expect to be in Mulgravc Square and with Eklyth. "That's the part' of the business that really worries me,' he mused. "Where does Eklyth come in ? There cannot have been two Annet 'Granigers of Bovington at the sann; time. Is this 'what Tresidcler has found out—his important matter?" He laughed softlv. "How extraordinary it woukt bo if Eldvth were to turn out to be a relative!" And then his eyes grew tender and a smile grew round his lips. "I would rather look forward > to her being my wife!" Four hours! Three! Two! One. At last the train steamed into the station and Ludworth sprang impatiently out of tho carriage. He hailed a hansom

and gave the address. A girl who was washing the steps of No. 17 stared at tho arrival of a visitor so early in the morning. She scrambled to her feet ay Ludworth spoko to her. "Air Tresidde-r and .Miss Grainger have gone out, I think for the day, but if you'll come in, I will ask for the missis." It was the first time Ludworth had ever been in Eklyth's sitting room. The missis was a long time before making her appearance, but he did not caro how long she was, since he was in the very shrine that protected ihe girl he loved, it was just such a room as he would have imagined her to possess.- It was original and severe, yet with a glow of colour and picture that betrayed the love of beauty and ease that she so sternly coin-batted in herself. In spite of London gloom and squalor, he could almost have imagined himself in a country room, so okl and quaint was its furnishing, so old-world in its cretonnes. He felt liko one who had suddenly come face to face with an incalculable treasure when lie found his own photo on the escritoire. "The darling girl! Oh, Eldyth! Eklyth! my darling girl, I will 111 ak " you liappv, my, sweet." The smile was still in his eyes as lie turned to meet the portly Mrs Dolby. Sho could tell him no more of his lodger's movements thaJi her servant. It was the first time Mr Tresiddor had gone out, except for a walk 01 diive in tho square. She thought Mr Cole, Tresidder's manservant, had said they were going somowhere by train. Any- ' TV&y, they would not bo back till ev-

cnintf* "YOU are a Devon woman, aren't you?" Ludworth asked, struck by the soft, voice. . " "Devon born and bred, .sir. iiom Miss Grainger's old home and friends. I was cook a t her grandomther s when ■Miss —when her mother came back with her." . Yet. after all, ,shc could tell .lum a littlo more than lie already knew. She was loud in praises of "poor Miss Annet," but it was quite evident that, in common with .C. she did not believe that she had ever been married. She had more to say regarding Ires- | ielder and tho accident that luul made I him an inmate of her house, and it camo upon Ludworth as a great suiprisc that a gentleman named iiawarde, who was a doctor, she believed, had been in, too. "Might have been very bad tor both of them,' she said. "'These hansoms , are risky tilings at the "best, but I'd rather havo them than thetaxis. Yes, Mr Tresidder do seem fairly set on Miss Eldyfch. Mr Cole was saying he never knew anything like it. Mis 3 Eklyth, she was "telling mo that he used to know either her father or mother. I don't know quite which. I am glad for her sake that thcie is somebody to take an interest in her. She has'fretted sorely since klio ha*

been living here, and never v.orso than lately. I'm sure slip went quite pale and was real broken-hearted before Mi Tresiddeji-eame,, so it is just as if his troublo were his blessing, wasn't it, i birr - '' Ludworth went mva,y in. a more subdued frame ci' mind than, when ho arrived. He tfould not have couiessed that he was jealous of 'i residder, but • it was certainly a blow to realise that he was not alone in appreciating Eli dytil's value. He left a message that ho would call again the next day, but I it teemed to him that the edge had been taken, off his expectations ami ' hopes that had "accompanied him on. the journey from Northport. His customary serenity had been ruffled, and ho groaned impatiently when, on his arrival at his own house, he found that a "Mr I. Smith." private inqtiiry agent was waiting ior

him. "Ho called about half an hour ago, your grace," tlic footman said, as .he helped Ludworth to divest .himself oJ his heavy overcoat. "I told him we were not expecting you for some time, but ho said he would like to wait, as the matter was rather an important one." . . T , "T wonder if Tommy thinks I lm c. .smuggled Flora away?" Ludworth thought with a gloomy smile, and entered the library with a .noticeable absence of his usual cheery aspect, • _ The inquiry agent rose to meet him, and apparently grasped the situation at once, for his first words were an apology for intrusion, . "But the fact is, your grace, that I was anxious to have a little private conversation with you before seeing Sir Thomas Again. I am perfectly loyal to my employer, but as a matter of fact, 'another person, has asked me i to take up a line of ■business for him. ■ I have fou*d that the two come together. In other words, your grace, the John Bovill with whom Lady Flora has been communicating is a certai: 1 Stanton Neal." . (To be continued.)