Men Were Deceivers Ever.

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1031, 4 July 1904, Page 4

Men Were Deceivers Ever.

BY EDITH FIMOtS,

Authoress of " Sinned Against and Sinning," " Lovo in Idloncss." etc, etc,

CHAPTER ll.—Continued ( When should she sco him alono »ga>.i» sho wondered? i Chance gnvo them a moment Mono , together in tho drawing-room, time enough for Neil to whisper a requcßt for her to meet him in the path that led down the steep bank to tho mill tho next afternoon at three, There was no time for a verbal answer for Sir Godfrey returned, but ho read it in her eyes, He know that sho loved him, and lo do him justice ho felt almost a pang of remorse that ho did not love her batter. At nny rato, he meant to marry her, and he was angry with himself for having beon drawn into tho complication with Alice at tho Mill. But, as ho told himself bitterly, there was nothing to be surprised at in that, ho always was ft fool where it pretty woman was concerned. But he would break it off with Alice-, ho would never seo her again, and ho would marry Alino and settle down into quite a respcctablo country (jomlemau on Sir Godfrey's money. Ho would keep paying secret attentions toAlinonntilhosaw how the land lay definitely and knew how to net. Then, if it seemed certain jho would i.'K herit the money ho would marry her, with or without her father's consent, vrlrilo it, on 'bu contrary her fortune was to bo but mndl. he would "love and ride "Kvvuv." i(c had been guilty nf such breaches of with so often beforo that his conscience had become blunted lo them. CHAPTER 111 Neil Denton had made the appointment in a moment of haste, and ho recognised that fact as soon as he was alone, Ho could have chosen no worso placo than tho path leading to tho btidgo abovo the weir, for to reach it ho would havo to pass tho mill which meant that Alice, seeing bim bound for the Abbey, would be joalous. However, it was too late to altar tho rendezvous now, Tho next day it was as he expected, When he crossed tho bridge Alieo was as usual in the garden. Poor girl, she was but a vain, weak little creature, but she lovod this man with a passion that frightened herself; sho loved him, indeed, " not wisely but too well." She had neglected her usual household work that morning :how could she do anything whou her thoughts were full of him ? He father had scolded her for boing absented minded, she had • forgettcn all the duties whioh fell to hot sharo, but sho felt no remorse, for once in her lifo she was indifferent to her father's bliiino, Whou breakfast was over, sho had gone out iuto tho gardon, still thinking of bim, and tho reaction of her passionate lovo had set in, for sho began to remember that sho was but-a poor country girl, not a fit wife for a man like him. although ho had said that ho lovod her, and she, alas 1 had but too easily believed him, And then ho did not come to sco her though the morning passed away und the afternoon waned, Evening, indeed,

had begun to gather, and it was ft very 'iguro '.hiTstooJ "in the Old mil. jurfti, iiel heavy eyes looking wuiaill>' -'dung tiio path by which he would couio to iioi. And then at last sho saw him—saw hin: with a thrill of joy so groat that sho noarlj fainted, even while she sprang joyousl) forward to greet him, Then suddenly she checked herself, ami the shadow returned to her eves. Eo hat been away so long, flirting, no doubt with " Miss Aline," that sho would nol let him know how glad sho was to greel him. " You have nover beon to boo mo all day," she said. "My sweet, I could not. It has been ; long morning with me. Letters to write and ft paper to sign and get registered But I will behave hotter in the future and you shall have so much of my jocietj that you will tire of it," "And why do you not stay with mc nuff ? Dad's busy, anuiit would not mattei if he did see us together." " I made ft promiso to Sir Godfroy t< try a young horse foe him, But presently that is, if the young ono does not breal my neck, I will como back," The girl flushed angrily. "You are tolling mo a liol" sho said looking him resolutely in the faco, "Ym ore going to sec Miss Aline, You bavo ai appointment with her," "'Ab I told yon yestcrdny, and as yoi out to know I love you, and no ono else,' he answered, "Como, Alico amootl that dreadful frown off your forehead You don't know how ugly it makes yoi look." " And I feel ugly too. You can't bi true to mo for single day." "You will tire mo if you go on in thi fashion," he said. " But I think I cai charm that disagrecablo look from you pretty faco. Como nearer, and lot mi whisper," Perhaps she guessed, perhaps sho dii not,'but she cortainly brought hor fact very closo to his, He wbb right in his conjtetures, His whisper and his kisses brought frcsl brightness to her eyes and a rosy blush li her cheek. " I lovoyou," he whispered, and becausi her faco was so near his own ho kissed he 10ft cheek again. " Alico, you aro tbo onl; girl in all the world for me." lie had left Aline but a little while before making all sorts of good resolutions to b true only to her, and yet in this girl': presence all besides was forgotten, And sho, who had doubted him jus before, swaved to hiui now, her very sou dazzled by the thoni/iu of his love. " You raeiu it V ahe ™id slowly. " Yoi aronotmakingf'.m oi in.: i"". voauso '. am a poor girl and I cave lor v,u v" "I swear I mean, every word," hi answered passionately, " My darling, yoi uiust nover doubt mc; if you do so, yoi ;ommit a cruel wrong." She had half turned away but at hn words she flung hor arms about his neck " I never really doubted you" slu said. " I could not," 11 Ah, that is how I want my littlo gir to spoak, You will nevor doubt mo A'iei and-you will lot me come to your window "gain to night ?" " No, no," she hiltorod, "I shall bo there," ho whispered, ant flhe did not attempt a refusa l again bu almost as she spoke the village clock stiucl the hour rominding him that it was higl timo to forgot this folly and logo to kco] bis appointment with Aline. "Till ten to-night, thou, wo must part sweetheart," he said, " I shall oomo tt my darling then to silence all hot doubti with my kisses, but now I nuno run away for, to tell you tbo truth, I havo au appointment with Sir (Jodfoy that I mus: keep punctually." So utterly had ho won her by his honiei words, eo thoroughly had ho mado her his slave, that oven hor jealousy was lulled tt rcß* for the timo being, A sense o; security hold her in the present, a security that would make the awakening of th< into trtliiMMmoM hard to bear,

Yot alio clung to him, loth to lo', him ou 1 of her Bight, " Must you so?" slio said softly. "Mj dearest, if you could but stay with mi always." " Somo day I Will," ho niwwercil, and then, oven though ho know Aline was waiting for him, ho took this girl in his arms again, taking a long, long time ir which to say farewell eve ho toro kmiscll away. Again ho told her | that he gloved her, and again she behoved hiui, poor, trusting woman that she was I And as he laughed his gay laugh ami walked away to keep his appointment with Aline,' the looked niter him will' loving, longing oyos. Neil Denton loved Aline quite cnougl: to enjoy making lovo to her and to note how her shyness gradually woro away and how lovingly from time to time slit looked tip in his face, It was not till ho ppoko of. mentioning to her father of their mutual lovo and asking his consent to their engagement ami lutr.ro marriage that his enjoyment received a sudden check, Alino looked at him with quite«scared oxpression in her grey eyes. " 1 had forgotten !'' she faltered. " 01; Noil, I fear dr.d will.HWVtfTuisortt iu Om . : made up his mh;'i in; 1I am to marry cousin Jack." "And who tho deuco is cousin Jack '!" ■ ' Dad's nophew, the son of his younger Limber, and heir to tho title. He was only speaking to mo about him yc6torday, ami ho his already written to tell him to come back to tho Abbey, You know they had a dreadful quarrel. It must be five years agotomd Jack has novcr been near us sinco."^ This caKlO as a bitter blow to Noil's hopes. Not that ho despaired of receiving a consent from Sir Godfroy, perhaps a tardy and unwilling ono, but that was of lit* ic conscquonco, What seriously troubled him was the oxpeetcd return of the prodlgM. Tho fatted calf would doubtless bo killed, and if tho baronet was forced to giyo his daughter's hand to another it would mako him a'l tho mora 'lavish to tho repentant Jack with regard tomonoy, both both beforo and uftcr his death, To k continued)