[ALL KIGIITS RESERVED.] TWICE-TRIED,

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2575, 12 January 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

[ALL KIGIITS RESERVED.] TWICE - TRIED,

BY ANNIE S. SWAN, Author of " Aldnrsyde," " Carlowrie," " Across Her Pntb," " Sundered Hearts," «&c,, &c.

CHAPTER Ylll.—Continued.

So saying, he stepped aside while his father briefly introduced the housemaid to her new mistress, and when they retired upstairs he returned to the drawing room, not oaring to be left in Rarisome's company. He had been about ten minutes alone there when the drawing-room door opened, and, to his astonishment Mrs Angus entered. Though her toilet had been hastily made, it had not that appearance. Looking at her, Robert Angus could not but wonder at her beauty. The rich black satin robe fitted her to perfection and hung in shiny folds about a figure that was all grace. Although her attire was of rich material, it was not enhanced by jewellery, the only ornaments she wore being a small diamond brooch fastening the lace at her throat, there were no rings upon the shapely white hand but the plain circlet which was the badge of her new estate. Robert took a step forward, and placed a chair for her, but she did not take it. She paused beside a little table near to him, and looked him straight in the face with a tremulous smile.

" I hoped to find you alone, Mr Robert," she said. " I wanted to say something to you at once, before I had been long in the house."

" I am at y9ur service, Mrs Angus." said Robert, courteously. "Will you allow me first to say what I ought to have said downstairs ?—that I sincerely bid you welcome to your new home, and wish you every happiness in it." " I thank you," she said, simply. «' What I wish to say is that I do not wish to be an intruder here. I know very well that my coming must be more or less of a trial to Hie aiso. Ido not want to make any changes here. I pleaded with Mr Angus not to touch this room," she added, glancing round her, " les ie difference should be a pain to you. My aim will be to make the house a home, indeed, to your father, and, if you will allow me, to you." She spoke with something of timidity and a little hesitation, as if not very sure her words would be received. She need not have been afraid. Robert Angus, true to the core himself, was quick to note and appreciate a true and generous purp®se in any man or woman. And swiftly the last grain of prejudice against his father's wife died out of his heart. Ho held out his hand-

" Then we are friends for life, Mrs Angus," he said, a sunny smile relieving the gravity of his face. She smiled also, but the beautiful eyes were wet with tears. But for the presence of Rolfe at dinner, it would have been a very pleasant dinner. He was in the

mood which always had a peculiarly irritating effect upon Robert. He seemed in good spirits, and was pleased to direct his rather tame witticisms toward his sister and her husband. His frequent allusions to their new relationship was neither acceptable nor in the best of taste. Isabel flushed painfully more than once, and Robert saw his father bite his lip, and knew that it was only for his wife's sake that he endured it in silence. It was something of a relief to all when the wine was brought in, and Mrs Angus rose. Robert was very temperate always, and as he had already been too long in Ransome's company, he very gladly joined Mrs Angus upstairs. His father did not stay long behind and as Rolfe had no desire to spend the evening en famillc, he immediately left the house. He had an engagement in the Earl's grounds at half-past eight, and it would take him all his time to be punctual. He walked briskly, puffing at his cigar the while, but in spite of his haste he found Amy Burnett was waiting for him at the old bridge over the burn at the back of the castle. Yes ; Amy Burnett? An hour ago she had been busy stitching at a part of the wedding garments she was to wear as Robert Angus's wife, and here she was keeping an appointment with Rolfe. Oh, woman, verily thy vows are writ on sand ! How Robert Angus would have gnashed his teeth had he seen the calmness with which Ransome put his arm round Amy, and lightly touched her cheek with his lips, scarcely troubling to remove his

cigar. "Not a word, my pet. I know I am late, but the happy coupie were nearly half an hour behind the time, and I was obliged to sit the dinner out," he said, coolly.

" I thought so, but it was very cold here, Rolfe, and I was so afraid anyone unight see me," she said, drawing closer to him, as if to hide from some reproachful and condemning eyes. "Tell me about them, and about the home-coming."

"Oh it went off beautifully. The governor looks years younger, and he was particularly jolly, seeing his good boy so obediently playing the part of a dutiful son. The meeting was pathetic—'ponhonour it was and Isabel, you know, is A 1 at that kind of thing. At home she was always executing a weep over her scapegrace brother, and appealing to him in a heroic vein to behave his little self bettor ; but the colt must have his fling." Amy was silent. Truth to tell, she felt slightly disgusted with her admirer's vulgar talk, and could not but contrast him with Robert Angus, who never adorned his conversrtion with any slang or objectional phrases. " Jt'a going to be a regular nest of turtle-doves, I tell you—till there's a row, of course," continued Rolfe. " I feel rather out in the cold. Never got on very well with Isabel, you see, She's too goodygoody for me. The governor isn't a bad sort, if he was let alone. As for Bob, I like him as he likes me, and that's very well indeed. What are you so quiet about, eh ?"

" I want to say to you, Rolfe, that I can't meet you any more like this," said Amy, striving to speak firmly. "It isn't right. I feel quite miserable about it sometimes. Besides, what's the use, when I'm to be married in June 1"

" June is it ! Why that's an age yet 1 And, let me tell you, you may as well take your fun when you can, for when Angus once gets you shut up in Fairgate you won't get any more. As well go to Newgate atonce, you take my word for it." "No fear. Do you think I'll be a poor downtrodden creature, like Dr Tobain's wife for instance V

"That's just what you will be unless you begin right. Angus is an out-and-out tyrant. I know him better than you, for you only see the sweeet side, if he has one."

Amy stood silent, her heart misgiving her a little over her treachery

to her absent lover.

" It was an awful shame of you to throw me over after making me care about you," said Ransome, in an aggrieved voice. " I suppose that's the way of all women."

" No, it isn't ; but what was the use of going on with you 1 Suppose I had sent Robert Angus away, would you have married me 1" " Of course I should," said Rolfe, loftily. •' And after I had made my forfune we'd have had a place in the country, and a house in London, and had jolly times with the dwells—much jollier than you'll ever have at Fairgate, for I'm quite an easy fellow to live with if I'm not crossed, and we would have got on splendidly." Amy sighed a little. The picture presented to her silly little mind was very bright, and beside it the roomy house at Fairgate, and the position she would have there in a few months' time, paled into meanest insignificance. " But seeing you did throw me over," said Rolfe, condescendingly quite oblivious of the fact that he had never uttered one serious or compromising word to the girl in his life, " there's no use grumbling over it. You must just marry Angus, I suppose, and we can be good enough friends after it. Of course, we'll need to stop all this sort of thing, but in the meantime we may as well have our fun off Angus. I chuckle when I look ut him sometimes, and think how I could make him swear if I let the cat out of the bag."

" Oh, you mustn't tell," said Amy apprehensively. " I don't know what papa would say, He'd nearly kill me, I believe."

" Not he ; he'd get over it. No no ; I won't tell. Are you going away already ? Why, I have ever so many things to say to you yet." " I can't stay any longer. They'll miss me, and come out to look for

me. Good night. No, I'm not coming to meet you again. I've made up my mind." " Oh, yes, you are. You must just make your mind down, again. I couldn't live without seeing you, my darling ; you have made yourself necessary to a fellow's existence and it isn't much pleasure he has in this vile place. Don't grudge me a few minutes. It'll come to an end all soon enough."

The honeyed words, the strange fascination which Rolfe Ransome had over the girl, speedily weakened and dispersed her feeble resolutions And they parted in a little, after appointing time and place to meet again. And all unconscious, Robert Angus was enjoying himself in the drawing room at home, with a heart unsuspicious of treachery or wrong.