AFTER RELEASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10625, 2 May 1912, Page 2

AFTER RELEASE.

OUR SERIAL.

By VIOLET M. FLINN, Author of "The Master Passion, "What Shall It Profit?" •T«ra»-." f "By Devious Paths," Eta.

CHAPTER XXVll—Continued. "Yes, I know that lie assumed tlnafc aamc. WoI!l, I don't think that there is anything else to ho done «ir. present. Stay! I think you came to me with somo object, I remember."' "Yes, your grace. But I thr»ught the, duchess liad explained to you 1 — that " He hesitated. "Sho lias explained nothing. What is it, Smith?' Tho man 'looked a littlo luicoiv.fortable. "Well, your grace, it amounts to this: In tho old days when tho trouble began, her grace.was anxious to get hack a letter sho hndw ritten to Neal. Tho letter never turned up, hut, 1 have reason to -believe that it is still in existence. It is possiblo if it were produced it might make trouble, and I wondered if on that acount, as well as stirring up other unpleasantness, you would prefer that nothing more was done in regard to Neal." Tho colour rose in Ludworth's face. It was what the agent implied rather than said that -made him writhe. "I think it extremely probable that I shall sco him myself to-morrow," he said. "Ho is to come here hy appointment. If anything occurs—well, I will telephone you if I need you. Cut, perhaps, at the present, it would lie as well to say very little to Sir Thomas." "Very good, your grace!" and Mr Smith bowed himself out.

Ifc was perhaps because of the crisis that had just passed that Luclworlh i felt his hbuse was not big enough for ■' him. He ordered the motor to be 1 brought around for him, and told himself that ho would go and commiserate " with Tommy. There was nothing that could be done now until to-morrow. ( There was all the stir and bustle of a January day in. the streets, and all tho busy traffiic of work and pleasure swung up and down Piccadilly., ft was that hour.'between daylight and dark when blue shadows hank over the distance, and the first-lighted lamps of carriages and windows are nebulously yellow against the twilight. Ludworth lost some of the perplexities in the interest of threading his wny through tho traffic. He had pulled up for a moment-in answer to a policeman's extended hand, •when someone touched his hand, and, turning, he found John. Tresidder on tho pavement hesido him. Never had he seen him so well or in such bright 'spirits. Ludworth felt quite old and pessimistic beside him. "This is the greatest good luck!" Tresidder cried... He was beaming in a maimer far removed from his usual staid manner. The mingled feelings with which Ludworth acceded to his request was soon, lost in the surprise and interest of the talc Tresidder unfolded. To he ' sure, he had arrived at tho same conclusion -himself, but this was definite verification of what ho had only sur- I mised. j "And so this morning we went down j to the little place—Mulford, just be- i yond Haslcmere, and wo saw the reg--1 ister for ourselves. We made friends with the old clerk and ho recognised. the miniatures, and told us all .aibout the wedding and a, host of circumstantial evidence, if 3-011 -and your family want to exit up rough and question her right to tho name. Is it not remarkable that she should be your-cous-in?"

"Yes,' Ludworth said, a little drearily. "But there's always one point at which Neal's story breaks dowji. He says tho child was a son.." Tresidder paused to give full effectto the announcement. "Lady Charles Marcham had twin children —a. son and a daughter. As to whose son died, I do not know; the only thing I know is that my dear adopted daughter is tho child of Char, lea Marcham." There were many questions to be asked and answered beforo they reached Mulgravo Square. As they reached No. 17, Tresidder sprang out with the agility of a young man. "You must come up and see heiy' he said. "She will be surprised to see me back so soon." But at the sitting room door he stopped. "I havo left gloves in the'car. Now you go in, and I will be hero in a minute." The room was full of pleasant firelight, tho curtains drawn, the lamp shaded, and as Ludworth ,advanced, with throbbing pulses, it seemed to him that the pleasant warmth and iireglow wero always associated with his memories of Eldyth. She was standing on the rug looking at some papers, and she did not at once look up. "Tea .already, Mrs Dolby?" she said. He did not, could not, speak, and struck by the silence sho looked up. It was the first time they had met since that walk through the mistwreathed park. Xo word of love had ever passed'between them, and yet as their glauces met a cry burst from each, a sound of utter rapture. "Oh, darling, darling!' Ludworth cried, and his arms were round her, and his eager kisses wore on her lips.

CHAPTER XXVIII

Tfc war, late when Trosidder and Ludworth loft Eldyth. The young man thrust his arm into the elders' ,as they went down quiet streets where their footsteps sounded hollow, and glints of light showed behind barred windows The motor had been sent home an hour or two previously. "Are vou very tired?" Ludworth

asked. "I don't feci as if any carriage could hold me to-night.' Ho talked irrepressibly, with all the frank, confident egotism of a .voting man in love. Another man than Tresidder might have found tho situation boring, but his fresh, unspoiled heart that had ever held tho sweet fragrance of ins only love romance was in harmony with Ludworth's subject, and bis delight and wonder at the wonderful happenings of tho last six months were no less than Ludworth's own. Tha whole story from that foggy, nevcr-tct. be-forgotten night when a voice had spoken out of tho gloom, to this moment when Liulworth, his title and possessions in jeopardy, was walking along tho London streets, the happiest of men, had to bo told again and again. "Such a jolly old world," Lud'worlh said, with his gay, boyish laugli. They stood for a minuto or two in Leicester Square. "And to think .Jinl, with it all she is my cousin. Good old \C, won't his eyes open? He was in love with her mother. Oh, how I wish everybody in the world was as happy as I am."

"It would bo a different looking scene, then," Trcsidder said sadly, loking at the crowd m the street, "it seems a longer block than usual, my dear boy. Ah, here comes tlio fire engine." There must be a big fire somewhere !' The crowded street cleared with celerity as the two engines c«jme into

sight. "I wonder where the fire is, if it is a big one?" Tresidder said. "I've always had a wish to see a really big fire.'"' The policeman on point duty heard the remark. "Tisn't a big one at-present," he said, "but it's what it may be iu that crowded rookery round Golden Street perhaps.' ) "Golden Street!" Lud worth exclaimed. "That is near Von Markheim —I do hope he has not set the music in a blaze. Le's go round, and: Golden Street 1 .Why, that's where Stanton Neal hangs out! I wonder it: he has returned from NprthporLr ..]£■ I would bo a bit of a startler foi him to ! coiuo'back and find his crib m ashes, I wouldn't it?" But he, too, grew sdent when they had joined the den so crowd stood at tlio entrance to the- street? It seemed as if the whole place waa on tiro as the liames licked up the dry old houses >— volumes of smoke hung a pall over the street. Through it o.mid be seen tho : figures of tho firemen moving calmly among tho glare and heat, wild tho confidence of men whose aim it was to win mastery. It was an awewmo sight, horrible with its postiLihtics, for tho doomed houses had boon lull of human beings who were fining out into the street in - punic-suickcn lear and terror. . , ... Ludworth and Tresidder watched ill© sight with fascinated eyes. I uey couW ! not tear themselves away. (To be continued.)