THE STORY-TELLER.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 990, 26 October 1878, Page 3

THE STORY-TELLER.

WIFE IN NAME ONLY. By the author of " Dora Thoene," "On Hut Wedding Morn," " Redeemed by Love," "A Woman's War," &c. &:a. (Continued from Tuesday's issue).

CHAirTEK XXXIII. As the hot tears blinded his eyes — tears for Madaline — not for himself, a light suddenly Hashed iuto them, and he found himself quite close to the window of a house. With a deep-drawn, bitter sob, he whispered to himself that he was saved. He had just strength enough to knock at the door : and when it was opened he foil across the threshold, too faint and exhausted to speak, a sudden darkness before his eyes. When he had recovered a little, he found that several gentlemen, were gathered round him, and that one of them was holding a ilask of whiskey to his lips. • That was a narrow escape/ said a cheoiy musical voice. ' How long have you been on loot V 'Since eight this morning,' he replied. ' Aud now it is nearly eight at right ! Well, you may thank Heaven for preserving your life.' Lord Ark-igh turned away with a sigh. How little could anyone

o-uess what lilb moant for him— life spent without love— without his dear Madeline ! . , . < I have known many lose tncir lives m tin's way,' ontinucd the sirae voice. • Only last year poor Charley Hartigan was caught m a similar storm, and lie lay .for four days before- he was found. This gentlenum has been fortunate.' Loid Arleigh roused himself and looked round. : He found himselt the en Ire of observation. Tho room m wl.iih he was tying nvus largo and v-ell furnished, and from the odour of tobacco it was plainly used as a smoking-room. • Over him leant a tall, handsome man. whose hair was slightly Urged with gi'ay. < I think,' he said, 'you are my neighbour, Lord Arleigh ? I have often seen you on the moors.' 'I do not remember you,' Lord A rleigh ret u rned ; nor do 1 know where I am.' • Then let me introduce myself as the Earl of Mountdean,' said the gentleman. * You are at Kosorton, v [shooting-lodge belonging to me, and I beg lliut you will make yourself at homo.' Sometliii g in the kind, sympathetic voice pleased Lord Arleigh. Ho could not i ell what it was, but it seemed as if there was a sound of half-forgotten niosic m it. Evi-rv attention was paid to him. He was placed iv a warm bed, some | nourishing soup was brought to him, and he was left i q rest. 4 The Earl of Mounldean.' Then this was the tall limire he had seen (striding over the hills— this was the neighbor hclia'd shunned and avoided, preferring solitude. How kind he was,' and "how his voice affected him ! It, was like long-forgotten melody. He asked himself whether he had seen the Earl anywhere. He could not. remember. He could not recall to his mind that they had ever met, vet he had most ueNaiuly heard his voice before. He fell asleep |hir>kiijrr of this, and dreamed of Madaline all 'iiisjht long. -.-« • - In "the morning-, the Earl himattlf camu to his room to muku enquiries, iind then Lord Arleigh liked him better than ever. He would not allow his guest to rise. « Remember, 1 he said, * prevention is better Uiuu cure. .'After the terrible risk you lmvo run, it will not do Jbv you to bu rash. You. must rest. 1 ■ Ho Lord Arleigh look the good advice given to him, and lay still, but on the second day he rose, declaring Ihat he could sfrnd no. further confinement. Even then, Lord ■Mountdeun would not hear laS his going. ' J am compelled to be despotic with you/ he said. * I know that at (.{■laburn you have no housekeeper, — only men servants, and they cannot make you comfortable, I am •sure. Stay here for a iew days, until you are quite well.' PoLoul Arleigh allowed himself to be persuaded, saying, with a smile, that he had come to Glaburn purposely for solitude. ' ' Jt was for the same thing that I came here,' said the. Earl. ' I have liud a great sorrow m my life, and .1 like somoiimes to lie -alone to think about it.' The two men. looked at oach other, but they Hkeii each othur aIL the better fur su^L upun- confession. "When a few days had passed, it was Lord Arle;gh who felt unwilling 1o leave his companion. He had never felt more at home than he did with Lord Moun tdean. He had met no one so manly, bo simple, so intelligent, and at the same time such a good fellou-. They were little peculiarities m. the Earl, loo,,thaf struck him very forcibty ; they seemed to recall some faint, a, vague memory, a something that he could not grasp, that was always eluding him," yet that was perfectly clear ; and he was completely puzzled. ' Irlave I ever met you before V he - asked the Earl one day. ' I do not think so. I have no remembrance of ever having seen you' : • . .-. ' Your voice and face are familiar to tap,' the younger man continued. ' One or two of your gestures are as well known to. me as though I lived with you i'or years. 1 . ' Kemenibiiinccs of that kind Boraetirr.es strike me,' said thoEarl— ' a, mannerism, a something that one cannot explain, ,T should say that you have seen someone like me, perhaps.' ' It was probable enough, but Lord Arleigh was not buite siitistied. The Ear! and Ilia guest parted m the most friendly tn-iuher. , ' ' I shall riei'er be qaite so much m Jove with solitude again, 1 said Lord Arieigh, as they were parting; you have taught me that there is soraetliinjj better.' 'I. have learned-. the s:i me lesson ffom yt;u,' rrspor.ded the Earl, with a .smile. 'Yoa talk about solitude. 1 hid not been ut B.osorcon ten days before a p uty of four, all friends of miia. 1 , propo-iß'l to visit, me. I could noC refuse. They left the day after you came.' • I did not sec them/ said Lord Arleigh. ' No, I did not ask fhem to prolong their stay, fVjaring that after all tuuif hours on the moors you might have a serious illne&s ; but now/ Lord Arljigh, you will promise me that wu shall be fi iendfi.' ' Yea,' he replied, 'we A\ill be friends. So it was agreed that they should be strangers no longer — that they should visit and exchange neighborly pDnrta.sien and civilities. lo be Continued*