"Mrs Lorrimer's Folly."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 13 May 1913, Page 2

"Mrs Lorrimer's Folly."

(OUR SERiAL

By Charlotte M. Stanley. Author of "Edna's Vow," "His C ouritry Cousin," "How an Oath Was Kept," "A Wo man Wronged."

(IHAPTFJLt IV.—Continued

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BALL

DRESS

It was a little after eight when Rose c:uno, so there was 110 time to tell her anything about the quarrel heitlier \va s there ti*ne to write an explanation for Fred, which L:!lian would gladly have done if she could. She did write a few words, liowe.ve.r — just these : "'I have not gone to any hall, dearest husband,' but just to take home so mo work. Am late with it, and cannot .say more now. Do -not judge me until I cone home axd explain, and then we will forgive each other. Your own true wife, Lillian."

She laid this note on the ta.ble just as Rose, arrived. He would be sure to find it there. Then all wa s hurry. Each girl had a. very large bundle to carry, so taking baby was out of the question, even if it had not been too late for him, so Mrs Juniper was

called in to mind him till mamma came back..

"Get him' to sleep, of you can," said Lillian, as she gave hi-Tt a ling and a score of kisses; "he has slept scarcel vany to-day," and she caught up her purse and gloves from the table, and her bundle and ran out. "I hate to leave my -baby," «ho-sai{l to Rose. "I hope we shan't be long away, dear." • But they were. The dresses had to bo tried on. of course. That was what silly Lillian had meant when she told Fred so positively that the dress would be worn that night, that she would not be any the worse off for such wearing. Ah, but she, was—she wasl * '

When tried on, it proved that each costume needed some' trifling alterations, which, of course, ■must be made then and there, and by which an extra half hour was taken up. Lillian's nervousness reached such a pitch'that Rose could not choose but observe it, and when their task was finished and paid for at last, and they stood in the street, she questioned her:

"Don't y/.ni reel confidence in Mrs Jumper P" But it wasn't- that. Lily had entire confidence in her landlady, only ■she .had "taken a notion" tlmt something was -wrong with her child. "I feel as if I were going to lose him," 'slie said; and then, almost wildly. "It's ten o'clock! Oh, Rose, it's ten o'clock! Will that car never come? Oh, baby, baby!" And then she told Rose about the quarrel. "I left a note for Fred," she said; "so, if he does come in before I get l>ack, Ji j will not be angry. I suppose our quarrel—a real, serious qua.rrel. Rcse —has upset -my nerves. Fred said such dreadful things—l should, lose my home, my child, my hnsba.nd —wo should part forever!' Oh! how could he even think of such a parting! Thank God, here comes the car at last!"

They were quickly inside ifc, and as it ohanced, had it all to themselves. Lillian's strange nervousness continued ; Rose looked sad and grave. "I do wish you had told your husband the simple--truth," she said — "I do indeed! Fred is very good, but rather queer-tempered, and inclined to he 'jealous, too. Oh, Lillian, why couldn't you tell" him just the truth?"

The question had a touch of gentle reproach in it. Mrs Lorrimer gave the .speaker a swift, uneasy "glance, alarmed instantly at the tone of anxiety that seemed to match her own.

"Oh, hut it will he all right now, of course,, since he has read mv note by this time," she said, striving to reassure herself her fears. 'There's nothing to worry about now. If lie had come home and found me absent, after what had passed, without a word of explanation, then, indeed —because, as you say, Fred has rather a hasty temper —. But it's all right now, and" —glancing out of the car window—"We shall be at home in a few minutes. I'll pay," she added/ "I have some pickets," and she put her hand into her pocket.

Next instant she- uttered a curious cry and withdrew the hand hastily. In it she held a little note, at sight of which she turned pale as death and began to tremble. Rose, watching ;her with alarmed surprise, lieaird her mutterj breathlessly: "My note! my note! Oh, God, what will become of me?" Then Rose understood, and caught her trembling hands in hers excitedly. "Your note?" xhe cried, "Oh, Lillian! surely not the note you —" "Yes!" the unhappy creature, cried in a voice whose tone of fear and agony'was terrible. "Yes —the note that would have saved me! /Hero it is! I must have snatched it from the table when I took up my pures. Oh!" She sprang up wildly. "Stop the car! I can't sit here! Let us get out and run home. If you could have seen his face—if you could have heard his words and tone! Oh, God, my child! Did I not say that I felt trouble coming? I shall lose him—l shall lose my child!"

CHAPTER V. "FAREWELL, LILLIAN.'' The two girls left the car at once, and ran home, only a short distance, as quickly as their young limbs, ur<>;ed by keen anxiety and fear, could carry them. Neither spoke; every energy was bent and set t-o roach that room whither the thoughts of of both had sped before them; but when they reached the house and, glancing upward, saw the windows dark, that evil omen wrung a groan from Lillian's lips, and Rose felt her heart sink down forebodingly. Still neither spoke. Upstairs they darted, Lillian i'irst, and into the

darkened room. , The door was unlocked, and yielded to her touch; the fire was out, the lamp turned very low; still, there was light enough to dispel or verify her fears. She darted to the, bed, flung down the covers wildly—the baby was not there! A shriek pealed from the wretched mother's heart ; she made a mad dash for the door. Rose flung ( strong arms around her, and pressbd one hand upon her lips, thus silencing her cries, and forcing her to listen. "My darling Lillian, listen! Oh. don't give way Hko this! We will get the baby back agan. Perhaps it has not • gone. Mrs Juniper may have carried it to her room, as we were away so long. Lillian, for goodness' sake, calm yourself. Don't set ail the house talking, dear, when perhaps there is no need —that will annoy Fred more than all. What .if he has gone out ? He will come back when his temper cools ; and meantime, Mrs Juniper has the babv. Mrs Juniper! Mrs Juniper! please come hero with baby." she called loudly from the door. "Now," as she returned to Lillian, and they heard Mi's Juniper approaching, "now we'll see."

And see they did—Mrs Juniper entering in great surprise., but without the baby. "I haven't got -the baby," she said. "Was that you that screamed', Mrs Lorrimer? Dear, what a turn it gave me! What's the matter? Where's Mr Lorrimer? Isn't the baby in the bedP" Rose interrupted her. Lillian had dropped into a chair and sat, staring straight before her with wild, wideopened eyes, not- seeming to hear or listen.

"Mr Lorrimer lias been here, then !" cried Rose. "Has. he, Mrs Juniper ""

"To. he sure he has!" replied the landlady. "Came in not so verylong after you went out, just about nine o'clock, I guess. An<l very ill he looked, too. I'd dropped into a doze with my head 011 the table, and he woke me, standing over me as white as any ghost.' And his voice so hoarse! I'm sure if he'd been a ghost in earnest, and had caught col<i 'lying ill aUAmp grave, he bouldn't have been much hoarser. 'l'll take charge of the baby,' says he; 'you needn't wait.' So I left him. Perhaps he went to get something for his cold, and left the baby in one of the other tenants' rooms. He might, for I've been out myself, and — wmikl von like me to go and see " Lillian's stony eyes turned on her —showing that she had heard every word—and Lillian made her a slight motion of assent. Lillian's,cold hand

closed on Hose's, too, as Mrs Juniper departed, on her errand, and signed to her to close and lock the door. .".My child is gone!" she said, in a -strange, husky voice, and with something like the apathy of despair. "Fred has taken him farther than

Ito a neighbour's room. Mrs Juniper

j will not find him. Please keep her | pwa'y, Rose; slip lnenTis'well, but my lit ad aches, and lier talk annoys me. Oh, my child! my child! Did Fred •wrap him up before lie took bim into the night air, I wonder?" 1 - (To be Continued.)