A MATTER OF MILLIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 277, 24 November 1890, Page 3

A MATTER OF MILLIONS.

BY ANNA KATRAPJNE OREEN,

Author of 'The Leaven worth Case, , 'The

forsaken Inn,' Etc., Etc.

BOOK SECOND.—THE RIVALS,

CHAPTER XXXI. FINAL WORDS. It was nob long before Miss Aspinwall'a house was the scene of lively congratulations and prolonged festivity. Sue , ) good fortune coming to one of its inmates was certainly a cause for much rejoicing, and as moat of the youthful guests who indulged in it were members of wealthy and influential families, there was bub little jealousy mixod with the universal delight. That is, no jealousy as regarded her millions ; I will nob say as much concerning her beauty or her power over the hearte of men. Her two declared lovors did nob make themselves greatly conspicuous. Mr Dβgraw, of Cleveland, already betrayed evidences of wishing to depart, while the artist, although partaking in her happiness and pride, was seen bub little by her side. Did her riches awe him, or was she in ono of her coquettish moods which ab once invited and repelled a lover's attentions ? Those around her could nob debermine. Hilary, who was somevrhab pale, bub very sympathetic, did nob enlighten her guests concerning this matter. Sho was bent upon showinij hor regard to the donor of the JDelancy millions, perhaps in secret remoree over the grave doubfca with which she had hitherto regarded him, Sho read the disappointment which mingled with his relief, and managed to infuee into her bearing that gentle respecb which is the surest) balm for au.ch a wouad aa thab under which he secretly laboured. Yet no one could ever accuse Hilary of coquetry, however much he mighb attribute it to her lees candid bub more fascinating friend. But was Jenny Rogers a coquette ? Wβ, who have partially sounded her nature and circumstances, do nob think so, nor do her glances on this important day betoken that she is playing with the artist or even thinking too much of her newly-acquired wealth. As she sits in her old place on the windowseat, almost buried under the flowers which have been thrown ab her feet by her merry companions, she seems to us the embodiment of worcanly sweatness and beauty. She smiles, but who could nob smile when suddenly raised to a kingdom ? Yes, and she utters mockeries ab timos, but it ie not in scorn of any true expression of feeling, but only in disdain of the nearly fulsome adulation with which she is now and then addressed. Sho is clad in a soft clinging robe of pure white silk without any other ornament than the lace at her throat; but she never looked more beautiful, nor appeared more brilliant, and to one pair oitsyesat least never seemed more alivo with love and feeling. These eyes were those of Hilary, who in the joy she thus saw revealed before her iead the naal words of her own hope. ■-■•'. Another porson perceived the signorina's burning beauty, and resisted it as long as he could, but finally eubmitted to its charm and passed quietly to her side. * Come, , he entreated, ' I must havo a few words with you before we enter xipon our three months of separation. Leave this crowd who have worshipped you long enough, and if you must be half-covered with flowers, we will walk on the porch whore the vines hang thickos! - , and I will shake down rose-leaves enough to make a carpet for your feet.' ' I care nob for roses,' she said, and Stood up at his side, a rose herself. But when they had withdrawn into the porch, it" was not of love he spoke, nor was it flowers he offered her. He had a fear to express and made haste to utter it. • Signorina !' said he—' Pardon me, I will not call you by thab name when I can acquire the right to use a dearer —you have never told me why you so suddenly left blip house in street. .

Taken, aback, for she had expected different words from these, Miaa Kogers looked at him with searching and slightly troubled eyes and murmured : ' Why do you aak mo that now ? I was nob thinking; of anything like that.' ♦ Because you are lost in the pleasures of the present, while I am concerned with the dangers of the past. Why did you fly from home in those days; was 16 because you feared Monteili more than you trusted me?' Her head fell, she nodcled a quick yes, and then as he still stood waiting, exclaimed: i ' 'He was a bad man. T dared not linger another day where he could visit me. One glimpse q£ his face had been enough. to thoroughly alarm me, I fled and buried myself in as obscure a place as I could find. Tho Portuguese accompanied me, bub I soon cams to fear her also. You had sown the seed of distrust in my heart, arid I grew to bo afraid of everyone. So I ran away agsin and came here.' 'Alone? , 'Alone. I knew that Hilary AspinwaH had a country seat in this town, and I hoped she would see me and take pity on me. You will nob tell her that I calculated upon her friendship to such an extent, will yOU? ■.. ■■'" ,: :, 'Oh, no,' he answered, smiling, for; her lcok was quite piteous in its ghatuo and entreaty. ' But; Miss Aspinwail wouid understand, She ia $p trujy womanly. , 4 1 know, I know, bub I have some pride, and I acted as if the meeting were ft surt prise.' ' X see. Well, I will keep your confidence, only yaw must tell me one tUiog more. Did you ever euapecfc that Jtfojstelli was not really an Italian V ' No ; that is, I have not thought very much about ib. I took it for graced'he was whafa he said he was. Why V ' Because I had a strange suspicion last night whan I saw the fellow who attacked you lying on tho floor a&tbe foot of the staircase. Though I had noO noticed it before, X thought then that he had an eye like the Italian whom I saw for a minute in your rooms. If that ie so, and he is Monteili in disguise, or,- what ie more pro' | bablo, Monteili was this man in disguise, j then tho two matters are one and the plot! against you is of long standing.' ' It may be,' she acknowledged, ,* it may be. But it is all over pow, Why think of it?' ' Because I do not feel at ease about him; npr do you, for all your seeming eayefcy. 1 have caught you more than once g-lancing in visible apprehension toward the door, w if you feared a renewed sight of your murderous persecutor.' 'Did I betray myself like tbai>?' she asked, then stopped and exclaimed with sudden conviction,. 'It is because great pleasures never seoxo. quite real. I cannot believe that I shall be allowed to step into this immense fortune without some disaster to dampen my happiness. It would be Jifce' the wonders of a fairy-tale occurring to an ordinary mortal.' • . , 'But you are nob a mortal; ypu are Q, witch, or one ot the fairiea tbPW? elyea; s<? you should believe in your tusppiness, only —'he grew more eeriouß do JWfc. want yon tp trust jt go roqeh oa to be r«oU}ess r This fellow is in custody, bnttiowiy manage to eacape ; and though you certainly have nothing more to fear from his cupidity, you may have from his revenge.

He will never forgeb that through you he has lost, as he thinks, the possibility of handling 1 an immense sum of money.' ' Do you wish to terify me ?' «he inquired, with a frightened look.

• No, no ; how can you think it ? I only wish to warn you, so thab if you ever have reason to think lie is in any way engaged indoingyouharm, you will notify the police, and procure a guardian to watch over your safety. I cannot rest in peace unless you promise me this. Will you ? Otherwise I shall not be able to sleep at) night. 1 She smiled. Ib was almost a sad smile; ib certainly waa an appealing one. Bub he had fixed bhe boundaries feo his sympathy, and would nob overstep them. ' Promise me,' he persisted. *To take care of myself ?' she queried. 'Ah!it is easy to do that. lam too anxious to show the world and you thab I can bear the honours of my position and not forgeb my old friende.' Ib was charmingly said; ifc came like dew to his thirsty and longing heart. He caught her band in his, and pressed it with more than friendly warmth, bub in that very acb drew back and made his final bow. • '

' You make ib too hard for me,' he re* monstrated. 'To behold Paradise so near, and yob to fee! oneself resbrained from enjoying i(> by the most solemn of secret oaths, is torture to such an impetuous nature as mine. I shall therefore turn my back upon the gates I may not enter, and nob bill three months have elapsed will you see me again. Good-bye, dearest of women, good-bye. . And he was gone.

[To be continu'd.)