VELLA VERNELL; OR, AN AMAZING MARRIAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 85, 18 April 1885, Page 3

VELLA VERNELL; OR, AN AMAZING MARRIAGE.

By Mrs SnMNr.it Hayden,

of "Lit"o Goldio'" " Tho Midni Rhl jjur-iago," "Geraldine," etc, oio.

CHAPTER XLIV,

<<_ou don't mean ?"

.. vnialnysomowherol Whoso >. One says we are Kotbe.hton"ncst fame should nt least by mo Bl itbW<lufa-. Cnowlord ot tho broad estate __,__,_ .sowed from a scheme that left us P^accM drained." Maud.

~_ya o did? Why, it couldn't be, deai What motive-"

ii The motive was a vory strong ono. ffait-don't say a word till I get through. Aj I havo said, whilo lying asleep on the |q.mgo I was drugged, the money secreted about me, and then an urgent decoy letter Dili in my hand. Of course, I snapped at the bait, cleared off post-haste, and was n abbod at my very entrance to the place of rendezvous. That was tho rosult of tho icheme, Thin is the motivo: Claflin wanted to marry Vella. Ho possessed a certain power over undo which mado the latter anxious to please him. But this is

the nineteenth contury, and ono does not use force nowadays. No plot for her cap-

tare would havo succeeded wore I about with open eyes and free arms. Ergo, I must be put out of the way for tho time bang. To effect my release she would bo induced to consent to marry him—at least, jo ran surmises. It all worked very prettily, all cave her visit to mo at tho station. The leniency which allowed that was a bad move, the only poor ono in a most excellently planned and executed game. It was unpardonable stupidity. Now, don't you understand, Aunt Dolly 2" Every bit of florid colour had died out of for round checks. "Great patience ! You mean—you don't mean —" "Yes," ho avowed, "that, just exactly what I do. My uncle wan the prime mover |n the whole affair. Ho was the spring and IQurce of the infernal plot—every bit of it." .Not a syllable did Mi_3 Dorothy speak. Hat that moment a word would havo saved let neck from the gallows, sho couldn't live spoken it. Voyle pushed back his chair and stood

% "That is what I wanted to tell you

You see how impossible it would bo for mo logo to the houso, to meet him at all at present. This is also why lam lying dark. f want to work up my case, traco clues, find proof, before I can act boldly." "Voyle, you would not go to law with your uncle?" "1 haven't said I would, but I'm not so nrol wouldn't."

Miss Vernoll groaned helplessly. "Dear, dear! Just when things got so lad one thinks thoy can't be any — any Mder," desperately, " along como. worry worse than any. You must bo mistaken, my boy, You're guessing. Folks don't always guess right. Your not at all sure. Your uncle could not be in Claflin's power. He is too well off to owe any man money."

:"_she?" grimly |» owed-Wis money."

" Well, I didn't say

A sudden resolution to leave no point in Mt came to her.

She, too, stood up. Sho laid her hand on lis'arm,

"You haven't told me all you know, Yoyle. Out with it." ."You would not credit it."

"Let me hear it, anyhow."

"My father died a wealthy man. Vella tndlwerehis only heirs. Our inheritance UmsleJames robbed us of— there."

Vaguely she had dreaded something like ftii. She sank to her seat again, still looking m athim. "(Mittwas the only one who knew about it. leta-dout about it on that Australian tripdtt.." "todytra-—" "'Bowitl know ?" he laughed out at tho ncofe&n. "Well, that stormy midnight !/_■ (Mil came to the house in search of a bridt is deposited his sudden and oppres--Vb weight on the Turkish divan under iMci I lay, and there and then taunted Bde with the whole contemptible tMerery."; "And James?" anxiously. "timed up." And then there was silence in tho ugly Bile room.

.■H was broken at length by Voyle. "By the way," ho said, " I deserve a ttnihingfor not asking you sooner about Villa, But of course she is safe with Evelyn."

"Of coarse! that is," stammering, "she tort be,"

the lad turned quickly. 'You've heard from her ?" 'So."

'Hot since she left."

" _o." An exclamation or foar broke from his %*;

"She-probably doesn't think it necessary « write. You remember when she was way at school how seldom she wrote. She M-not want James to know whero she is, Wis most likely afraid of a letter foiling -tohis hands. lam sure she is all right." The worda relieved him. "Yes, I daresay you are right. But I Wl frightened for a moment. I shall ™egmph Evelyn to-morrow, howover, to mke Bare." j,

■ Miss Dorothy rose. She was still white "paper. "Imußtbe going. Hilaria will be tired Wiling. You are growing thin, my boy." "Am II lam doing enough thinking to jjjke me thin—l can assure you of that. J_*~olvedto make no move, though, till I mevery solid ground under my feet. I've Wii„otried about something else a good fe-lately," B ."What's that?"

|p cairt get sign or tidings of Marc jwy. You know how anxious I was to see p after that wretched meeting of ours in -.Palmar. Well, the day after I spoke to P searched high and low for him. I. ly. At tbe hotel they said ho had left "•previous night. I questioned oveiy one j-3 across who might possibly be aware of Westioation. They left me in as dense Prance as that in which I had addressed ™*n. I weut to the Sylvios. They had * (or Cuba to spend the winter. They S attended going, but not so soon, when W Sylvio's sudden indisposition hastened •Wdepatture. Where I wob left then am "Wj-Btaring at a stone wall." ..All may be right between them "wpl" volunteered Miss Dorothy. "Inope it is ! I would go to New York "wtoake sure from Vella's own lip j wero «*}verse to spending tho littlo money I

v*« Dorothy was moving towards the j"™- She hesitated, stood still, turned 81 There were tears in tho blue eyes T»«ne lifted to hor nephew. Blii what aro you going to do—about fl Upon my honour, Aunt Dolly, I don't r**yet. Revenge I may forego. Justice 1 j«l have!" ' «uad.spoken sternly. jtwuear, consider " § »i y ,3rain ls 'n a "■■"'"ri with con•™K. I have always suspected there »a locked closet somewhere. I remember , Jog ao to Vella one morning when she j»gom K ou t riding-last June or July. | iaever dreamed direct confession of g»toma would drop into my hands liko m «rthe theft! caro little. But his lament of Vella, her sale, for it was no- , mm, such he meant it to be, and such M i to" d-*y ifc wa8 ' that and the ,"""»« ia which, in order to accomplish his if ?_-* rd t0 her'be lied m? hands and I*,. ~_ ndec- me with a crime of which •*'guiltless—call for payment." cottlfl_f n _w *-" Sho turned away. She gf Plead no more. »___ -»?** y'" hißliand on the knob of ''tate T 8 _ a^ want some of m 7 ""'i"*6l' _M__ *-an' taff°l 'd new ones just now, fc^__S. -* c. old' Vm not K°ii- *o LC™»atrouble of sending them to ftem V.UCo|neup somo evening and get P _ai l_- C. n l6t m-- -n- Tlle entranoe is feffi "™}y to prove as dangerous as inote P n+_.o__ ned t,,c 'loor. and was for the "-'■_?_, ■_R 'tinrautiously ajar. K&p will you come, Voyle?" *_____**".• 1 Ci-n't very »<*on. I have itff_-"l: _ r the "ext few evenings--'er oE _.town for a while- mg° 18 night two weeks-about 'ttS! .7* timo enough. If there ' W.J t ° ,_,e ooaßt b«ng clear, let me r-'MXi^^a^extevening." .:■■ •.*■**. * write youhere;".

"For n week, yes. I shall get any mail __?__.- ° "V"--"-^ I may not be here steadily. He took hor in his arms and kissed her gratefully. " Good-night, Aunt Do y. _ou were n daisy to come. I wish \ ella wore to tell you so, too. Sho could tio it oyer so much bettor than I. You ..°m, t olth*n' of ua misa o«r mother." There, now ! Voyle, don't! poor Will's babies-why wouldn't I love you ! Such a bad cold in my head. Yes, almost as bad as though I wero peeling onions-isn't it? Ihero now-good-by ! No, don't como down stair*. Go right to bed. iou look fagged. Good-night again, laddie!" And then she found the banisters, and clickerty-chcked down stairs. V oyle stood at the top till sho was safely down and turned hor head for a partinglance. 'I hen ho went into his room and Ilung inmsolf down in tho chair sho had I just vacated.

thoro was a fond, sad smile on his handsome face. For otdy two people in the wi. o work! did ho care, and theso ho loved intensely—Volla and Miss Dorothy. Through the sharp, clear, cold October night the latter jogged along by Hilaria Jackson s side, moro " Hurried " than ever Good-night, Aunt Polly, you blessod ittlo soul you ! Of such is tho kingdom of heaven. Bound sleep—sweet dreams !

CHAPTER XLV

THE PARTIS..

Ho said good-bye, and the spell was over oo warm for a friend and too cold for a lover 1 hero was nothing else to say." Ella Whkglkii.

An, me, " tho wooing o' it!" Such a courtship ! But who that starves will not snatch at a crust ? The morning following tho evening he had dined at Gage's Marc called. It was rather early for the visit of even ono privileged.

Ho paced the library into which the servant had shown him — nervously, impatiently. Ho was looking wretchedly ill and haggard, far moro so than he had the provious evening in tho uncritical gaslight. He did not look like a lover who had hastened hither his feet by desire-lent wings. In truth ho had passed a miserable night.

Try to sleep as ho would, resolutely shut his eyes, or open them wide and stare defiantly into darkness, always ono face roso before him, came, and would not be denied—and it was not that of Evelyn Gngo. More a child's faco than hers, fresher, fairer, if less proud more tender, if lacking in dignity gaining in sunshine—tho pure, shy, rose-sweet faco of Vella Vernell. A bitter battle he had fought in thoso dragging hours. He was to marry another than sho he loved ! Well, why not ? Had sho not proven worse than faithless — treacherous ? What consideration, loyalty, did he owe her? None. And yet—ho loved her ! Ah, there was tho rub ! There every argument, resolution, burst of indignation, ended—right there ! He loved her still as deeply,'?dovotedly, passionately as evor—he would lovo her so every hour and second of his life. And ho was going to marry Evolyn Gage.

Ho .turned at the sound of tho opening door. His gaze rested upon hor as does that of a critic on a clever picture, oxpressivo of approval and approval merely. Hor gown of some soft, white stuff was of palest pink. In front, from throat to hem, it was cascaded with ivory laco. Tho texture and hue of tho sweeping draperies set off her milk-white skin, blue eyes, and braided raven bair with delicious effect. On her lids neither, the provious night, had tho little god of sleep shaken his golden sand. But her wakefulness had only brought her happy thoughts and bright visions. Of how little More cared—could possibly care for her. Yet she never for a momont lot herself think. She was to be his wife, and she leved him dearly. That was tho refrain to which the long night sang, and its repetition had been sweet. The sleeplessness to which joy gives birth never blights beauty. So she looked well this morning—handsomer, indeed, than Marc had ever remembered seeing her. Ho went to meet her—bent and kissed hor.

For just a moment it chilled her, that conventional grave salute. Then she told herself one does not betray one's emotions lightly nowadays—that self-repression in all things is the natural outgrowth of goodbreeding. " You were good to come so early. I did not dream of seeing you before the afternoon."

If sho expected him to say that the hour seemed late to him, that the morning had seemed interminable, or any such sweet and foolish lover's protest, sho was disappointed. "It is you who are good," he declared, with formal courtesy, "to forgive my intrusion at this unreasonable hour, but I havo just received information which will make it necessary for me to leave town today, and of course I coold not leave without running up to say auf wiedersehen." Sho started. " You are going away ?" " I must. There is some trouble about thoso minos in which lam interested. The affair is too delicate to intrust to hired skill."

He had placed a chair for hor, but remained standing himsolf by an Elizabethan desk.

" I should hardly have been so glad to see you," forcing a smile, "had I known tho meaning of your visit." Ho laughed. "It is pleasant to know one will be missed I" he said. " it is not pleasant for the one who does the missing, though I" she rejoined, with a pretty, positive littlo nod. "When will you return ?"' " That I cannot tell positively. Perhaps in three weeks—it may be five I" The homage and regret in tho limpid lifted oyes were enough to warm any man's heart. But they stirred not to more rapid throbbing one pulse of Mark Tracy's. "I will write," he avowed, "and you will lot mo hear from you often, will you

He drew out his watch and consulted

I must be off. I have a good deal of business to attend to before I start. Goodby, Evelyn!" "Good-by?" reprovingly. " No, not that!' ..laughingly. " That was a slip. It's a detestable word, isn't it ? Auf wiedcrsc/ieii !" She roze.

That sounds bet. r!"

How confiding was tho hand she laid in his-how fond the face uplifted! Why couldn't he care a little for tho royal gift she gave—make her think ho cared ? A disagreeable, cold-blooded brute _ was tbe rather unflattering manner in which at that moment Mr _ Marc Tracy mentally apostrophised himsolf. Thus conscience-smitten, he embraced her and made his adieu with a shade more warmth than he had yet exhibited. She steod at the hall door as he walked swiftly away down Walnut - street, but not onco did he turn his head. She was still standing so when a liveried lad, coming tip tho square, attracted hor attention. A telegraph messenger. Ho scanned the numbers as ho camo, stopped before bor houso, ascended tho stops, do touched his cap, and extended his receipt book and a yellow envelope Of course, some despatch for her father. Mechanically she icribblcd her name on the line indicated in tho receipt-book, then turning, re-entored tho house. As she went toward the diningroom, where hor father sat at a late breakfast, sho abstractedly glanced at the envelope she held. She stood still. For her? It was addressed to hor— "Miss Evelyn Gage." Who on earth could bo telegraphing to hor? She held it between her and the light, tore off the end, drew forth the inclosure, and read:

"To Miss Evely-* Gage: Is Vella with you? If not. please answer at once. Sifenco will imply assent.- Voyl_ VerNELL." ; _ -- .. The sheet dropped to the floor. Vella with her ! What would bring Vella \ erne 1 to her ? Had she started to visit her J Well of all the astonishing despatches ! If it had only come a few minutes sooner she could have shown it to Marc, and he would have answered it for her on his way up town.

CHAPTER XLVI,