THE STORY-TELLER.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 924, 25 May 1878, Page 3

THE STORY-TELLER.

WIFE IN NAME ONLY. By the author of " Dora Thorne," "On Her Weddixo Morn," "Redeemed by Love," "A. "Woman's "War," &c, &c. (Continued from last Saturday's issue). CHAPTER XIX.

% He had thought it all over. . He remembered well what the Duchess bad said about the Duke not caring to hear the mutter mentioned. Lord Arleigh could understand that, with all his gentleness, Hazlewood was a proud man, and that, if there had been an unfortunate marriage m his family, he would be the last to wish it discussed. S.till, Lord Arleigh knew that he would approve of the marriage. It was plain, however, > that it would be better for it to take place while he was away from England, and then it could not m any way compromise him. A quiet marriage would not attract attention. If he could only win Madaline's consent? She had been so unwilling to promise him her friendship, and then so unwilling to hear that he lovtd her. He could form no idea as to how she would receive the offer of marriage that he intended to make her. That was why he wishel to go alone. He would have time and opportunity then. As for Philippa, he did not fear any real objection from her. If she once believed or ' thought that bis heart was fixed on marryiug Madaline, he was sure she would help him. Marry Madaline he must — life was nothing to him without her. He had laughed at the fever called love. He kne.w now how completely love, had mastered him. He could think of nothing but Madaline. ' He went down to Verdun Royal, heart and soul so completely wrapped m Madaline that he hardly, remembered Philippa — hardly remembered that ho was going as her guest ; he was going to woo Madaline, fair, sweet Madaline — to ask Her to bo his wife, to try to win her for- his own. It was afternoon when be reached Verdun Royal. The glory of summer, was over the earth. He laughed . at himself, for he was nervous and timid ; he longed to see Madaline, yet trembled at the thought of meeting her. ' So this love !' said Lord Arleigh to himself, wilh a smile. ' I used to " wonder why it made men cowards, and what there was to fear ; I can understand it now.' Then he saw the gray towers and turrets of Verdun Royal rising from the trees ; he thought of his childish visits to the house, and how his mother taught him to call the child Philippa his little wife. "Who would have thought m those days that Philippa would live to be a duchess, ' and that he should so widly worship, ( so madly love, a fairer, younger • face? , \ He'was welcome at Verduu Royal. , Lady Peters received him as though t he were her own son. Then the Duchess entered wilh a glad light m her eyes and a smile that was half wistful. She greeted him warmly, she was pleased to see him . — pleased to welcome him } the J whole house was at his service, and everything m it. He bad never 1 seen the Duchess lock better ; she wore her favorite colours, amber and '. white. , 1 1 have attended to yom wishes, Norpiau,' she said ; ' you must not blame me if you are dull. I have asked.no one to meet you.' ■ ' ' « There is no fear ot my ever beingdull L'ere, Philippa,' he returned. 'You forget that I am almost as much at home as you are' yourelf. I can remember when I looked upon coming to Verdun Royal as coming home.' A shadow of pain crossed her face at this reference to those early, happy days. Then be summoned up courage, and said to her — ' Where is your fair companion, Philippa?' 'She is somewhere about tbe grounds,' replied the Duchess. 'I can never persuade her to remain in-doofs unless she has something to do. So you have not forgotten her V added the Duchess, after a short pause. 'I have not forgotten her, Philippa. I shall have something very important to say to you about her before I go away again.' She gave no sign that she understood, him, but began to talk to him upon a number of indifferent matters . the warmth of the weather, his journey down, the last news from, her husband — and he answered her somewhat impatiently. His thoughts woi:c with Madaline. At last the signal of release came. 1 We need not play at "company," Norman,' said the Duchess. 'As you say, Verdun Royal has always been like a home to you. Continue - to make it so. We dine at eight — it is now nearly five. Yoa will find plenty to amuse yourself with. Whenever you wish for my society, you will find me m the drawingroom or my boudoir.' He murmured some faint words of thanks, thinking to himself how ,- considerate she was, aud that she ,', gv^esaqd he' wanted to find Madaline. a smile on ber face, she. turned < to him as she was quitting the room. '' r,iH "'* Vere i seemed very -uneasy, when

P he was going away, lest you should ' not feel ut liberty to smoke when J you like,' she. said. « Pray do not let 3 the fact of his abesence prevent your I enjoying 1 a cigar -whenever you feel 1 inclined for one.' * 'A thousand thanks, Philippa,' returned Lord Arleigh, inwardly . hoping that Madaline would give him scant time for the enjoyment of cigars. Then he went across the lawn, ; wondering how she would look, 5 where he should find her, aud what she would say to him when she saw him. Oace or twice he fancied he saw the glimmer of a white dress between the trees. At length he ] came upon her, standing under the ' shadow of a great linden tree. '. ' Madaline !' he said, gently. And she came to him with outstretched hands. Later on that afternoon the heat feerued to have increased, not lessened, and the ladies had declared 'even the cool shaded drawing-room, with its sweet scents and mellowed light, to be too warm ; so they had gone out to the lawn, where a sweet western wind was blowing. Lady Peters had taken with her a book, which she made some pretense of reading, but over which her eyes closed m most suspicious fashion. Tho Duchess, too, had a book, but she made no pretence of opening it her beautiful face had a restless, half wistful expression. They had quitted the drawing-room all together, but Madaline had gone to gather some peaches. The Duchess" liked them freshly gathered, and Madaline knew no delight so keen as that of giving her pleasure. • When she had been gone sonic few minutes, Lord Arleigh asked where she was, and the Duchess owned, laughingly, to her fondness for ripe, fcim-kissed peaches. I Madaline always contrives to find the very best for me,' she said. -" She is gone for some now.' ' I will go and help her,' said Lord Arleigh, looking at Philippa's faca. rie thought the fair cheeks themselves not unlike peaches, wilh their soft, sweet, vivid colouring. She smiled to herself with bitter scorn as he went away. ' It works well,' she said ; ' but it is his own fault — Heaven knows, bis own fault.' An hour afterwards Lady Peters said to her, m a very solemn tone of voice — ' Philippa, my dear, it may not be my duty to speak, but I cannot help asking you do you notice anything ?' ' No j nothing at this minute.' But Lady Peters shook her head with deepest gravity. 'Do you notice the great attention that Lord Arleigh pays your beautiful young companion?' ' Yes, I have noticed it,' said the Duchess — and all her efforts did not prevent a burning, passionate flush rising to her face. * May I ask you what you think of it, my dear f .' I think nothing pf it. If Lord Arleigh chooses to fall m love with her, he may. I warned him when she first came to live with me — I kept her most carefully out of his sight ; and then, when I could no longer conveniently do so, I told him that he must not fall m love with her. I told him of her birth, antecedents, misfortunes — everything ' connected with her. His own mother or sistei could not have warned him more sensibly.' ' And what was the result V asked Lady Peters, gravely. 'Just what one might have expected from a man,' laughed the Duchess. ' Warn them against any particular thing, and it immediately possesses a deep attraction for them, The result was that he said she was his ideal — fuirly, fully, and perfectly realised. I, of course, could say uo more.' ' But,' cried Lady Peters, aghast, ' you do not think it probable that he will marry her f I I cannot tell. He is a man of honor. He would not make love to her without intending tq marry her.' 'But there is not a better family m England than the Arleighs of Beechgrove, Philippa. It would be terrible for him. Surely he will never dream of it.' ' She is beautiful, graceful, gifted, and good,', was the rejoinder. ' But it is useless for is to argue about the matter. He has said, nothing about marrying her; he has only called her his ideal.' ' I cannot understand it,' said poor Lady Peters, 'It seems strange to • me.' She would havo thought it stranger still if she had followed them, and heard what Lord Arleigh was saying. He had followed Madaline to the southern wall, whereon the luscious peaches and apricots grew. He found her, as the Dnchess had intimated, busily engaged m choosing the ripest snd best. He thought he bad never seen a fairer picture than this golden-haired girl standing,by the green leaves and rich fruit.. He thought of Tennyson's ' Gardner's Daughter.' One arm aloftGowned m pure white that fitted to the shape — ■ Holding the bush, to fix it back, she stood. ... The full day dwelt upon her brows, and sunned Her violet eyes and all her Hebe bloom, And doubled his own Avarmth against her lips, And on the beauteous wave of such a breast As never pencil drew. Half light, half. shade, She stood, a sight to make an old man yoiwg. * To h Continued,