Men Were Deceivers Ever.

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1044, 19 July 1904, Page 4

Men Were Deceivers Ever.

still and called to Alico by name,

CHAPTER X—Continued.

Sho was about to go awny again, whon o faint moaning sound from within 'iio houso reachod hor, nnd, vaguely alatmod, ebo lifted tho latch and outered on tho iiupulso of tho momont. Tho room was largo, and wainscoted for some six feet from tho ground, 'Photo wero two other doors nearly opposite where alio stood, and two windows, so deoply sot iu tho wall that tho embrasures formed seats.

In ono of those sonts a girl—whom Aline recognised as Alice, the miller's daughter, was seated, with her head bent over a chiles do 1!, ovor which she wan crooning

At the sound of the door opening, sho looked at first vacantly, hut as her wan 4 dering eyos settled on Alino, she roso hurriedly, uttering a shrill cry, and with tho doll olasped to her bosom darted towards one of the two shut doors. Aline, totally taken by surprise, stood

At tho sound of her voice the girl started round, hoc pretty face turnod rod, and her eyes glarod on tho speaker, " It is Miss Aline," she Whispered to herself,

Thon, darting forward nnd dropping her rag doll, sho stoppod within four feet of tho baronet's daughter nnd threw up her nuns,

" How daro you come bore she cried. " You who havo taken him from me ? Ho was mine, and would havo been true to mo always but thut you drow him away. You had all youcould wish for—father, home—and could havo mnrrijdwhom you wished, and I had only him-my Neil—and yon

covoted lnm and took hitn from me. Ah, do you see the lightning'? Jf it struck you bb you left this houso it would bo but the justice of heaven for the miiory you havo brought on me!" Shocked, surprised, and with but a

glimmering sense of the meaning of tho girl's words, Alino stared in horror at her companion. " Why do you ourso me ?" sho asked, " I havo nover done you any wrong, And why do you spoak of Noil ?" Without actually replying tho mad girl broko out afresh:

"Ah, you are proud in having won him. But wait, and you will see how falso ho

can be, Never think he loves vuti, Hia love is mine, iiikl will always be mino, living or dead. Lot him spealt the word, and I will drown myself mid thon be can tako yon mid your money, In a year your happiness will be spent. Ah, I would die ten limes over if I could only clasp yon in my arms whilst the soft green water closed over us, and I could hold you tighter and tighter whilst you strugglo for life and breath. But what lmve you done with it ? Where is my baby? You have hidden it I Oh, tell me where, and I will forgivo you—forgive you lor its own and its father's Bake-only have pity and toll mo whero it is i"

And the poor, demcmed thing lell at Aline's feet, clasping her ltnees and looking up into her faco with oyes that no longer tbreatonod, but wero filled with tears,

Alino, unable to speak, stooped doivn and lifted up the doll. "Oh, iliio is dreadfull'' ulio said, "Can Neil have wronged this poor child ? Toll me," sho cried, looking down on Alico more sternly than sho had ever looked on any ono before, "do yon mean to say that Captain Dontou is your lover ?" "Ho loves noiio but mo in his heart, and that is why I live," tho girl answered, " You cannot rob mo of that even when you are his wife 1"

The stab went home sharp as if a steel blade had boon driven by a strong hand into Alino's gentlo heart. Before she could answer, one of tho inner doors was opened, and tho miller in person stepped into the room, showing considerable astonishment on finding a visitor, " Your servant, miss," ho siiid as he took off his white powdered hat, " Proud to eoe you, But what has this lass and he patted tho shoulder of Alieo, who had rushed to his side at once—" boon j tolling you ? Tho poor thing's senses lef: I her with the fever." "Then what she has been telling mo about—the wrong that has been dono her —is all false ?" exclaimod Aliuo, The miller shook his head. " I foar not, I fsar not, Hp is n wrong 'unis thao Captain Denton, and I was an old fool to lot hiiii come anigh the house—but it is tho babe sho is demented on, She novor bad one, but sho woko from the fever and cried for it, so, just to pacify her like, wo gavo her a doli to play With. Iwillaskyou, Mis& Alinonotto Bpeak about this, for it's only mysolf, the nuise, my own sister, and the doctor that know." "I must malto ono exjoption, or, rather two," tho girl replied. "I have been eDgaged to Captain Denton, and, of course, this puts an ond to it." The miller scratched his head and looked doubtful.

"I bo sorry, miss," he Baid, " but he has wronged us, ond to engoge himself to you seoms to mo like an insult, 13ut, of courie, you must tako your own way »it was for tho Bake of this littio lass I spoke." " I will tako care that not a word about her is breathed abroad," Aline answored. " And -and one thing more. You must let me do something for your daughter. Not now, perhaps, but when sho gots better and forgets." "I thank you miss," he said simply; '' but you see, sho is my only daughter, and whilst I live sho and I bide together, Afterwards, maybe—" His voice broke, ho did not finish tho uentcnce, and Aline, feoling that the sceno was too sacred for another's eyes, turned and in silence crept softly from the room. But of one thing sho was determined llow—she would not marry Neil Denton. How sho could oscape sho did not know, but sho would tako any steps to break off the marriago oven at tho eleventh hour.

CHAPTER XI. THE WANDERER'S RETURN, Alino was walking very slowly up tho drive to tho Abbey when hor lovetio was interrupted in a most unoxpocted way, " Aline, little cousin," n man's voico said, " say thnt you will bid mo wolcomo home." Ho was a big, taandsomo, bronzed fellow, who suddenly vaulted over n sidegato and stoood before litr, holding out his hands, And Alinp. with a little cry of joy laid hor own fingers in bis palm. For this was Jack, her cousin Jack, and at the moment sho quite forgot how she bad dreaded his return and how her father had insisted on hor marrying him. " Ob, I am so glad to &eo you again I" she exclaimed. " Come lo tho houae at once. I cannot think what father will say, Whore have you boon? Why did you never writo to us ? And what terrible ad. vontureshave you had?' 11 One question at a time, please," Jack laughed, and then ho allowed her to draw I r.rto tho Abbey, whoro Bir Godfrey, in;? his voice, enmo forward and •_'i 'ted bis nephew with such unuiii" 1 ivo.'uth tha' i eeemed ns if Imvou.. never cease from ihakitg hands.

BY EDITH FMNOIS

" Thank heaTon you liavo como back to us again," ho said. "Wo havo so much to toll, nnd you must lot us havo all your story, too. Why, bless my soul, I suppose you do not ovon know that I havo marriod for a second timo, Aline, run to Sara's room and bid her como down to wolcome my nephew homo." Aline ran away obediently, but a few minutes Inter the bells wore ringing wildly through tho house, and servants wero rushing about in alarm. For in hor own room thoy had found Sara, Lady St Clare, lying cold and senseloss, Sho had scon Jack approaching from the window, ond had fallon unconscious, as if beneath a deadly shock, To be continued,)