Lady Marjorie's Love

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 16 April 1913, Page 2

Lady Marjorie's Love

By Carl Swerdna Author of "To the Ottermo.t F.rttio g ," "A Mere Oeremon,,» "A Fight for Honour," Eto.

OUR SERIAL

CHAPTER XXlV.—Continued. "I am hare to escort Lady Marjorie Wynne back to her home," Harrington sa:d. "That ;s my bus inof-s, Mi^Bligh." "You are here for that? "1 am here for that." "You came because you knew she was here-"' "What else should bring me here: 1 1 neither know you nor desire to know you. I came to protect the poor child from the consequences" of her own innocent folly. I know you have behaved like a coward and scoundrel to her—l don't want telling that! I "followed her' from Castle Marling, and am going to take her hack to it. You know me, it seems —so much the better. If you ask by what right I take her, do m out of her presence, and I'll satisfy yau. but neither here nor now!" He had spoken fiercely in the other's ear, too low for Marjorie catch the rapidly uttered words. Now he moved back to her side again and took her hand. Loftus, leaning upon a table, white-faced, blankeyed, said no word and made no movement in opposition. He looked bewildered, half stunned ; the shock given him by the other's appearance was a shock he had not yet rallied from. Through th 6 folding doors, slightly ajar, whispering voices were minmnirously audible. The dinner guests, abruptly' dismissed by their hast, had not yet dispersed. "Come now!" Barrington said to Marjorie gently. "The cab I came in is waiting! We shall be able to catch the ten-thirty train to Wynneborough and be safe' back at Castle Marling before any one has really missed you, I hope." Dazed and bewildered still, Marjorie yielded to his hold upon her hand; she let him lead her toward the door without even a glance at Loftus. His hand was out to open it. when he gave a sharp, irritated exclamation and drew her back. A step sounded upon the landing outside, and a slow, soft sweep and rustle of skirts; a voice was audible, a rich, sweet, 'penetrating woman's voice. "I know there are visitors," it said auietly. "You need not disturb Mr Bligh. I will wait- until he is alone." The door moved, opened. A figure appeared upon the threshold-—the figure of a woman ,in a black dress with the hood of her cloak falling back from her bright head and her beautiful face. An instant's silence, and then there came a cry.

"Gerard .!" "Norah!" Each rapidly advanced with the utterance of the other's name. Marjorie, shrinking back with a jealous feeling she did not understand, saw them look at each other —the i o whom ,<ihe had -seen standing together yesterday—lovers, as she ha.l thought. The next instant she saw Barrington swing ' round furiously upon her cousin. "You scoundrel!" he cried. "You are the man!"

"You are aware that our marriage was a secret one. Do you object to telling him, for his satisfaction, that you were a witness to itr 1 " "Object? No, certainly not — much pleasure, I'm sure!" Pemberton murmured, rather vaguely. He .stuck a.n eye-glass :n his eye and. looked blinkingly at _ Barrington. "Fact, I assuro you, sir-" he said. "My friend Bligh wanting a witness, and a witness that could keep his tongue still on the —er ei inteieating occasion—why, I —er —considered it an honour to be made use of! A ery much so, I'm sure. If there s anything more that I —" "Thank you, Mr Pemberton. ' Norah said quietly, "there is nothing more." Evidently very much relieved to hear it, Pemberton bowed, murmured disconnectedly, and vanished, through the folding doors again. In t-lie moment's pause that followed, Norah drew her hand from her husband's and laid it on Harrington's airm. "This is not the time to explain all, Gerard, but you understand at least a little of what I meant when we spoke together last night. I made up my mind when I left you, dear, that you and our father should know the truth —that vou should not suppose any longer that I had disgraced your love and lost myself. I have never done that, never —wrong and rash and wicked as I have bean, I .should never have done _ it. You know my excuse; I attempt to make no other. I came here to-night to tell my husband that I would bear the secrecy no longer—that lie must acknowledge me openly to all as his i wife. I am sure lie would have'done it —I am sure he would —if t!bi s disclosure to you had not been forced upon him ; he would have done it long ago if I had urged him, I know. But there were so many' reasons why silence seemed best —best for him- —that I consented to it." Her sweet voice broke into a sob; her forehead fell upon hi.s arm. "Remember what I said last night,, Gerard," sh<* said en-treat-in gly. "Think as little harshly of him as van can for my.sake!" ' "Think a.; hardly of me as you can, and I shall deserve it!" Loftus broke in aloud and steadily. "All the blame that there is is mine—don't forget that. I should be a worse poltrcon than 1 have shown myself to lie if I tried to palliate it.. Her fault has •been that she cared too much for a fellow like me—that's all! Well, the cowardly secrecy's over, and I'm glad with all my heart that it is—that the truth has been forced out of me!" He took his wife into his arms and kissed her. "Norah, my poor girl, I'only wish you had a husband a little more worthy of .such a woman and such a wife a,s yon are!"

Marjorie had heard, and had seen but vaguely, mistily, dreamily, a:

His grip was upon the other's throat; they struggled; Bligh reeled, staggering back; he nearly fell. Norah screamed ; she sprang between them ; her hands caught at Barrington's raised arm; witli, all her force she clung to it and dragged it down. "Gerard —no!" she shrieked. "For Heaven's sake, do not! Tam his wife!"

though clouds floated before heroes, deadening- their voices, dulling jt-heir figures. Now she saw that they drew together and ■whispered, and heart] Norah's exclamation a,s she tamed her startled face toward her chair, as though for the first time made aware of her presence. Then she heard Barrington speak.

"Say only a word or two to lie \" he said; "let me get her away, for Hearen's sake!" "Could she not- stay?'' asked -Norah quickly.

Marjorie fell into a chair behind her; her limbs gave way —they could support her no more. She looked and heard-, but confusedly, as though the scene were a hurried, unbelievable dream. She saw the a run fall and heard thp next words. "His wife?" Barrington turned upon Loftus again, putting Norah aside. "Is this true?" he demanded. "It is true." "You are my sister's husband ?" "Yes, I am your "sister's hilsband!" Loftus raised himself; lie -was resolute, erect, a man again as he took Norah's hand and held it. "Let it all out," he >said, "the fuller and the more the better. I've Ix'en coward and cur long enough, I acknowledge

it—the more shame to me—but, by Heaven, I'll be ,-o no more!" He looked at Barrington eye to eye, firm and steady. "Your sister is my wife," he .said; "she has been my wife for months. "-More than that — if yon need the assertion —until then she was nothing to me but the lady I lovejfand 'desired to marry. She j never would have beftn, and, scamp as I'm forced to own myself, I declare j that T loved her too well ami respect- ; ed her too much to desire that she | should bo!" He stopped. 'You j don't believe me? ,\YelI. I've 110 j right to expect that' you should. I'll give you proofs!" Keeping Norah's i .hand, he stepped back to tlie folding ' doors and opened it slightly. "Pem_ I herton, step here a moment, will i you?" , 1 Marjorie cowered closer down into the arms of her chair as a figure pre- | sented itself in the doorway—that of a good-humoured, florid, somewhat vacuous-faced young man with round, blue eyes and flat,flaxen hair. In the days of her one season she had seen a good deal q£. Frank Pemberton; lie bad been .supposed to admire her more than a little. Xow he seemed quite unconscious of her black figure shrinking in the shadow. He

"Hero? No, not even with you! I must take her home. You can guesis what a row there will be when once this escapade is knowfn, poor ichild —those two women won't spare her! The only way to avoid it- is to get her home before she is missed. I shall do it. 1 hope. -Say a word or two, but no more—.she is not fit to stand too much." (To be Continued.)

nockled to Loftus, looked at Gerard, and bowed to Xorah. •'Good evening, Mrs Bligh! Didn't know ymi were here, I'm -sure. Want me, Loftus?" He became aware of how perturbed were the three face?. "Nothing wrong, T hope?" "No," Loftus answered curtly, "but [ want you to say a'word, Pembeirton." He made a movement in Harrington's direction. "This gefitlenum is niv wife's brother," he said.