GRAND SERIAL STORY. JUDGMENT.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 21, 6 August 1920, Page 5

GRAND SERIAL STORY. JUDGMENT.

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FOR NEW READERS. SIR JOHN MILLBANK, a successfol, but steni judge, quarrels with his only sqii, JACK, who leaves his father's house to fight his own way in the world; and whilst serving with the Australian contingent, under the name of Dick Foster, he meets, and falls in love with KITTY, the adopted daughter of Sir John. However, Sir John has arranged for her marriage with LORD HAVERHAM. In a moment of despair, Kitty writes to Dick, asking him to raeet her in thJffBlue Room at Rivercourt Mansions. At the appointed hour, Lord Haverham goes to the Blue Room to write some letters, and, unbeknown to the guests, Sir John meets him there. An altercation arises between the two men, resulting in the accidental death of "Lord Haverham. Later, Dick aTrives in the Blue Room, is caught and accused of murder, and found guilty. Whilst passing the sentence of death, Sir John recognises the prisoner as hia own son Jack! A few days later, Sir John interviews the prisoner at his private residence under escort of the warders, and tells him he will have to serve at least three years' imprisonment. Just as they are leav"ing, Dick with the assistance of Kitty " makes his escape, and that night they decide to drive into Winnerleigh ; but the car breaks down, and they are forced to accept the hospitality of j BEAUMONT CHASE, a millionaire. | The following morning, Dick's host in- j forms him that Sir John had called : during the night and taken his daughter away. Dick, believing this story, leaves that morning for Winnerleigh. Kitty goes down to breakfast, and is cross-examined by Mr Chase, but on.,his promise of assistance tells him the whole story. At ' a fabulous price Mr Chase engages j . the services of MR PELHAM WEBB, a ciever but un- • scrupulous detective, to find Dick Fosg ter, and extracts a promise from Kit- i ty not to attempt to see or write to 1 her lover until a year has elapsed. ! Pelham Webb discovers Dick, and un- ' beknown to Beaumont Chase, takes him to the latter's residence where he is installed as gardener. Sir John and • Kitty arrive at Beaumont Hall, and : ■ > Beaumont Chase loses no time in asking j v*s Sir John for the hand of his daughter. ! 1 - Sir John consents. That afternoon ! Kitty receives news that the gardener ' J| is seriousiy injured. The concluding paragrapns or last week's lnstalment, reprinted to refresh readers' memovies. Kitty wasmet by her maid, who gazed at her drawn, wliite face in dismay. M"Oh, miss! You are ill!" No, Julie," replied Kitty, in a strained unnatural voice. "I am quite well, quite well. There is nothing the matter — nothing. Would you care to travel, Julie?" ; - o travel, Miss?" les. To-morrow I am going abroad." (A 'Abroad? To-morrow?" Kitty was standing rigid, staring in front of her with big, unseeing eyes. Yes," she said slowly; "on my

honeymoon. Didn't you loiow? To-mor-row, I am going to be married!" THE MARRIAGE BY HpECIAL LICENCE. Kitty awoke to find the Septemher sunshine streaming in at her windows and filling the spacious bedroom with a kinl of pallid radiance. To-day was her wedding day! Her «pretty, childish face was very pale and haggarcL and her eyes seemed unnaturally big as she sat up in bed and stared fixedly in front of her. In that dreadful interview with Beaumont Chase, last night, she had learned things which had changed her from a ehild into a woman. A veil had been lifted, showing her for the first time the dark, ugly secrets in the heart of man. Tbe millionaire had told her th»t Sir John, the great judge, whom she had worshipped so devotedly, and loved to dearly, as a father, was the real murdc-rer of Lord Haverham. And having told her that, Beaumont Chase had done more. He had proved his words with sworn documents, which she could not disbelieve. He had convmced ! her. The pitiful breakdown of Sir John's health and nerve, and many other things, which had puzzled her, wer.e now explained. I "Poor daddy6!" she murmured. 'You j who have done so much for me ! How can I let you be exposed to public shame uow that you are old and feeble? No ! You, shall die in peace. I will pay the price. ' Beaumont Chase has promised to spare you and to save Dick, if — I consent. And 1 I have consented. As Beaumont Chase's wife | I will see that he keeps his promise." [ She buried her face in her hands, and , for a while rocked herself miserably to and fro. — - But in a very little time she recoverel herself, and when her maid, Julie, presently entered the room, she found her mistress strangely cairn and self-possessed . "I have seen Mr Chase, miss," said Julie. "Yes?" "He has now left the house, and he told me to tell you that he would not see you again until he met you at the church this afternoon." "Yes?" Kitty's voice was still quiet. Julie went on hesitatingly, her manner hetraying nervous embarrassment. "He asks you to be at the church at three o'clock. I am to go with you and Mr Pelham Webb." "Pelham W7ebb?" For the first time there was "a note of surprise in Kitty's face. "Yes, miss. I understand he is to give you away. Kitty caught her breath, and a flush of colour came to her cheeks. "Where is my father? Is he better this morning? I must see him as soon as he is up!" "Sir John has gone away, miss. I understand he left the house at daybreak this morning." "'Gone away!" Something of hopelessnbss, and something, too, of fear, was in Kitty's voice, as she uttered the words. "He left no— -no message for me?" she said presently. "No miss. He left no message of any kind." Kitty rose, and dressed in silence. Sombre thoughts crowded her brain. Now, indeed, she was alone. Sir John Millbank had gone away, without a word, leaving her to her fate.

No doubt he had learned of the sacrifice she was making, and felt he could not face her. She felt no hitterness towards him. She had loved him too dearly for that. She remembered only his kindness in the past. Some mysterious power had decreed that she should be the wife of Beaumont Chase. Was it, indeed, Fate, Or was it that strange man's indomitable and unscrupulous will? "I always get what I want" he had once told her, and she had scorned him, but now she was convinced that he had but spoken the simple truth. He wanted her, and in a few hours she would be his for life! The remaining hours of her freedom passed with incredibie swiftness. No one came near her, but all the time she felt that she was being watched. It was a strange wedding day. No solicitous friends and laughing bridesmaids throriged about her. She wore a travelling gown. Her luggage had already'been sent to the railway-station. After the ceremony, she and her husband were to proceed at once to London, and then, in a day or so, to the Continent. All was arranged. She had not been consulted in any way. Beaumont Chase had simply informed her of his plans. "It is time to start, miss." Kitty was seated in a quiet corner of the garden, when Julie's voice startl'ed her. The maid was- already dressed. Kitty rose without a word, and, entering the house, passed through to the front hall. Outside, she beheld a carriage and pair. It was unadomed. There was no gay, white ribbon fluttering from the coachman's whip, no rosettes on the horses' heads. Kitty was glad of this. As she stepped out of the front door, which a footman, with impassive face, held for her, a man appeared at her side. It was Pelham Webb. No words passed between them, but she permitted him to hand her into the carriage. Julie followed, and then Pelham Webb himself. A footman closed the door, and the carriage began to move down the long drive. During the short journey to the chufch, Kitty sat motionless, a fixed, hard look on her pale face. The carriage stopped at ti e church. A few villagers had gathered outside, eager and curious, but there were not many, for in the main the secret had been well kept. Very few of those who saw Kitty's pale, girlish face, as she walked along the narrow path from the .gate to the church door guessed that she was a bride. As for Kitty, a mist seemed to envelope her, and she was hardly conscious of anything 'until she stood at the altar, with Beaumont Chase standing by her side. Then suddenly all her senses became onc,e more acutely alert. She saw everything, and every word uttered by the old clergyman rang clear and distinct.in her ears. She had never read the marriage service, and its solemn significance impressed her deeply as it proceeded, and even fillied her with a nameless fear. "Into which holy estate these two persons come now to be joined. Therefore, if any man can show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever . hold his peace." As these words, solemnly spoken, fell upon her ears, a wild momentary hope leaped np within Kitty's breast. Surely, surely even now, at the eleventh hour, some voice would be uplifted to save her, some stern cominand would ring out, forbidding this hateful sacrifice! But there was only silence- -silence of barely a second's duration, and then the clergyman's voice sounded once more. Now the voice was addressing her : "Wilt thous obey, and serve him, love, honour .* . . so long as ye both shall live' ?' Her voice did not falter as she made the response. And now the man by her side had taken her hand, and now she felt the ring slip on to her finger, and at that moment it seemed to her that her whole self, body and soul, had passed from her own keeping into possession of another. She was kneeling, and the man — her master— was kneeling by her side. (Continned on page 6.)

JU DQMENT. (Continued from page 5.)

"Those whom God hath joined let no liaji put asun&er." The old priest's words, like a deathbiell, rang in her ears. And then at that moment the closed loor of the church was burst open, and an Jd man strode into the sacred edifice. Without ceremony, he came striding down the aisle, his hands upraised. "Stop!" he-cried excitedly. "Stop this! I forbid the ceremony!" Beaumont Chase was the first to turn. His mouth was set in a firm line, and there was an ugly look in his eyes. Swiftly, he put one strong arm about Kitty, and held her helpless at his side. He was about to speak, but the clergyman was before him. The old priest stepped forward, and faced the intruder. "Who are you?" he demanded sternly. "I am Sir John Millhank, a judge of the High Court. I am the father of that ch Id —that is, I stand in the place of her iather. I am her legal guardian. She is aot ye.t of legal age, and I forbid this paarriage!" The old clergyman raised his hand pro/estingly. "I beg of you to be cairn, Sir John," he said. "If you will come into the vestry, I will speak to you. I may say at once, however, that your protest comes too late." "Too late!" cried the judge furiously. "What do you mean by that, sir?" "I mean. Sir. John, that a father's nuthority over a daughter ceases at tl.'e hour she becomes a wife." "A wife! Bah! She is no wife! I forbid the marriage, it cannot take place!" "You are mistaken, Sir John," replied the clergyman gravely ; "the marriage has already been solemnised. That man and that woman are now man and wife, and no power on earth can put th.ni asuu-ier." (To be continued).