Silas Dennington's Money,

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10672, 29 June 1912, Page 2

Silas Dennington's Money,

BY F. L. DACRE.

OUR SERIAL.)

CHAPTER XII. MR NOBODY, FROM NOWHERE. The tea at Theodore Grant's that Sunday afternoon was far from being the delight that Jack Castlemaine haci anticipated. Mr Grant was gnmlpy and taciturn; Rosamund was ill at ease, passing emotions sending the colour to her face, then leaving it white and weary-looking. Jack guessed something of the situation, and set his lips grimly together. Mr Grant objected to his growing intimacy with Rosamund. Mr Grant rose from the tea table abruptly, and went over to the window. "Not going out this evening, Rosamund," he said decisively. "There's ja thunderstorm brewing; I, always know from the way my nerves quiver, and I can't stand music or noise of any land." Jack had been ■casting., longing eyes in the direction of Rosamund's harp. The hope was difsinat- , jed 3 - and ,he was. coufrc-tc;*.. '• /-he sensation- of being 'an : _. en. .velee.no guest. Rosamund got up to take away the tea things, and without looking lound her father continued: "You will not be jiving over the way niuch longer, Mr Castlemaine?" he asked.

"You have been misinformed, sir. I have no intention of leaving. Miss Grant asked me thfe same question this morning.' Merely a mistake,on the part of Mrs Garland. The fiat suits me exactly until the room io wanted by the business;" "H'm!" grunted the old man. "Do you honestly think that you are going to make a permanent business in that liue?" He jerked his hand to the window of the publishing . office, wherein the new paper and\its attendant papers were displayed. , . "I have every- reason to hope so."

"Then, I hope it will be a .dismal failure, as it deserves to be. It is the duty of every man to help the ignorant by precept s workfor the best that is in the world." Jack felt nettled, but he had no intention of quarrelling with Rosamund's father.

"You condemn without seeing, Mr Grant. Every line in that paper, if not harmlessly humourous i? honestly patriotic. I' am disseminating, literature which will be a distinct improve- , ment upon the stuff now. put into the hands of the working boy." ; J "Pish! The things are offensive, right under my window. You might have the decency to remove them on the Lord's Day." • ' ; V" : "They shall not, again offend you on a Sunday, Mr Grant., I am project-; ing other publications ,of a different class."' .' ' ■•'.'?/ . '/;' v "Pray don't apologist; I am not interested in anything that you think, of doing. .Rosamund," he added sour-', ly, "go to your room for a while ; I want to talk to Mr Castlemaine." The girl shot a swift, /troubled glance from one to -the other, and in-obedience-to her father's command, left the room, carefully closing . the door after her. ' ' : "Now, Mr Castlemaine," Theodore Grant continued, facing round. "We can indulge in a bit of plain spekking; lam angry with 3 r ou for abusing my friendship and hospitality." :' ; . He was unable to proceed ; his lips were shaking, his feelings were overmastering him. He had spoken with I growing excitement. ' .~ ; I "I won't profess to misunderstand you, Mr Grant. It's . about your daughter." , ' v ''My daughter—yes.: Exactly. I am glad that you have saved me that. Now, sir, perhaps you will go, and riot trouble me again." Jack was nonplussed for the moment. ■: /• "Let's have fair*play, Mr Grant. I've done nothing of which I 'am ashamed., Men and women have been, coming .together >by divine command since the beginning of the world, and will do so until the end. lijiave fallen ill love with your daughter, and I believe-the attraction is mutual." Theodore Grant gasped. ' "At any rate, you are candid. . You followed her te church this morning.''.' "I.did, and I walked home with her, and, with your permission intend asking her to be my wife. I have very little to Rosamund, but?' she understands. lam not a poor man, sir, and I can keep her in comfort." , There was a moment's silence. Grant stared vaguely at Jack. "But we know nothing about you! Oh, the young fool! Who are you? What are you ? Where do you co'me from? And you are old—far too old." "I am only in my thirtieth year, Mr Grant." "Nonsense! Do you expect me Ho believe that ? How am Ito kno# that you are not some shameless adventurer ? You may. have a wife' living.; You may be an old gaolbird. There are more gentlemanly rascals in the Strand than there are in prison." _ "I am in my thirtieth year,, sir," Jack answered, apparently unruffled, although the Iblood in his veins was coursing furiously. "My beard and, whiskers make me look older than I am. I hope that I am not a gentlemanly rascal, As for having, a wife already, that's a pretty serious' thing to accuse me of. I have never before spoken love into any woman's, ears.":,/ ~ • > ' The silence betwen them was a long

Author of "Held in Bondage," "A Phantom of the Paso," "Sip John's Heiress," "The Shadow of Shams." "A Daughter of ajlystery," etc.

■ one this time. They looked into each I other's eyes, the older man wavering, I the younger with confidence. "I am only half satisfied," Grant said, at last. "No, lam not half satisfied. You seem to be honest, and you are a gentleman, but you are a mystery too. My daughter is. the only living relative left to me, and I love her beyond anything else this side of heaven.". His emotion overcame him, and he covered his eyes with his hand. "I honour you for that, sir." . "Oh, talk is cheap enough. Look here, Mr Castlemaine, I can't help liking you in a way, hut you must give mo satisfaction, or this house is forbidden you. Give me straight .answers to straight questions. Will any responsible person vouch for you?" Jack shook his head! "Not yet a while. Mr Grant. i v havei reasons." Jack looked him squarely in the , eyes. "Only for a short time though. You have your own little mystery—you told mo so yourself, and mine is quite as harmless as I am sure yours is. I am ■willing to take you on trust, and you must do the same for me." ■ "But our positions are so different. I am obeying the whim of another." "Sf am I." "It won't do.' r Grant's tone was curt, contemptuous. He got up and went to the window .again, folded his hands behind his back, shaken-with'-agitated thought the while. He wheeled round suddenly. : ; , "Is your real name Castlemaine?" "No." "What is it?" "That I decline to say." "I knew it all along. There was no ) Castlemaine at Cambridge at the time; you claim to have been there." Grant stamped his foot. "No, it shall go no further, Mr Castlemaine. I bid you good-day." "You are determined make trouble, sir. I refuse to be kicked out like this. Now.l'll make you a fair of- , fer, but only under a solemn vow of secrecy. We will exchange secrets. You tell me yours, and will tell you mine."

Mr Grant's face became paler and older, ibut his,eyes were wistful. "No," he said firmly, "I can make no compromise of that kind. I'm sorry—very sorry." He struggled with some powerful inward feeling. "I like you Castlemaine, and against, my better judgment I am almost inclined to give way, if—if " "I cannot give up my happiness," said Jack. "The very doubt makes me sick with the hunger of desire. No matter what your\decision is, the result will be all the same." . "Is that a threat?" ' ' - "Nb—no; far from it. I mean to say that the ultimate end will be the same. lam a man who bends circumstances to his will. You may delay things, and make trouble for two young people who care for each other, and a period of hell upon earth for yourself, ibut we shall come together at the last." ' Theodore Grant moved across the room, his face twitching uneasily. The church bells were ringing-, for .the evening service, and he glanced 'at the clock. \ V

! : ''Do you think the storm is passing, §astlemaine? It would be unkind.to keep-Rosamund from church —the one little ibreak in the monotony of her dull life., lama selfish old man. Good heavens, how much longer will/it last! Perhaps many years, and when Rosamund leaves me I shall be here alone. Gastlemaine, I try to persuade myself sometimes that I am a man of the world, but it is only a temporary delusion; I am, in reality, a weak old; fool, lam going to, call Rosamund, and she shall decide. After all, I am in the hands of' the two of you." '' I He opened the door, and called up the stairs. "Rbse-T-R<^sie,. my darling. Come, down her &; j ust a few words with' Mr Gastlemaine, and thon church if you; wish to go, The storm has drifted; northwards." , , \- 1 Jack waited, and it seemed that his. life was suspended for those few an-' xious, expectant moments.' He heard; Rosamund's light footfall,- and he saw| her enter the room swiftly, and; almost]-! spring to'herffather's side. , "What is it, dear old dad ?" Her a rms were around his neck, an A she was kissing his face. Then, she' looked at Jack, her cheeks aflame,; and never before had her fresh youn© beauty, her youth, seemed sff glorious to him. i - t (To be Continued). " <