LOVE FOR AN HOUR IS LOVE FOR EVER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 109, 9 May 1892, Page 3

LOVE FOR AN HOUR IS LOVE FOR EVER.

BY AMELIA E. BARB, Author of 'Friend Olivia, , 'Beads of Taster,' • The Household of McNeil,'etc.

CHAPTER XVI.-(Coktinui-.d.)

The next day they began to retrace the* steps to the city of Mexico. A great despondency had fallen upon Frances^

Loida perceived that hope in her heart was dying. Thogayetiee of the metropolis gave her no pleasure, and she ceased to maki inquiries of Dick as sho used to do. Eibha she did nob believe in his exertions, or slu had accepted the idea of a final separation from her lover. Dick felb her attitude to be a little provoking. He knew that ho nad done everything possible to trace the young man, and he also knew that Francosca only half believed that everything had been done. ~ . At length his own business was settled, and there seemed to be no further reason tot delay. Loida, though she had thoroughly enjoyed her trip, was beginning to turn of her English home. It was April, and she could not help saying continually m net hearb:

'"O to be in England. Now that April's there! And whoever wakes in ttnglanu See 3 some morning, unaware, That the lowest boughs of the brushwood shea! Round the elm-tree's bole are in tiny leaf. While tho chaflinch nings on the orchard uougn, In England now."'

One day, when Dick was feeling that 8 move homeward inusb no longer bo de layed, he met in the lobby of the hotel an American who pleasantly accosted him, and then added : • Had you stayed another day at ban Lepato, we might have travelled in com panv. , , • You have been at San Lepato, then ? ' Yes. I saw your names in the director's office. It is a little singular how many Yorkshire people go there. The laat time I went to Lepato I wenb with a York shire gentleman. , Dick was on the alert instantly. 'A Mr Lancelot Leierh, I suppose? , 'That was the name, air. I had the pleasure of saving his life and helping him to a sort of settlement. A very nice young man, I think.' • " Saving his life !" In what way had he pub his life in danger ?' • In the most innocent way in the world, Hβ was at Guadaloupe at the time of the feast of Our Lady of Guadaloupe. 80 wai I. When the holy image of the Virgin, preceded by the Host, appeared, Mr Leigh stood and gazed at it. , •That was natural enough.' • Bub ib was construed by the populace as an insult to their faith and to the Mexican people, and the muttered curses at hii attitude soon grew to cries of indignation and to drawing of stilettos. Mr Leigk was quite ignorant that he ought to have prostrated himself, and that his failure to do so was an offence worthy of death. 1

' How did you make peace V 1 1 knew the people and the language, which Mr Leigh did nob, and with great difficulty I explained his ignorance. Bui the stubborn fellow would not do homage to Our Lady of Guadaloupe, even to save his life, and my task was only accomplished by promising an enormous gratiiication in money, for the ofienee.' ' How much did he have to pay ?'

'He paid nothing. As soon as the pro' cession had passed on, we rode for our lives northward, and did not stop until the Lepato mines were reached. Mr Leigh expected to find a friend there, but he had loft the mines when we arrived. .

' Did you stay there any length of time ? • No. Mr Leigh thought he might be secure in the mines, but he found himself unable to endure their heat and gloom, Indeed, he was made ill by a vory short experience of their horrors, and he declared that not for all the silver coined from them would he remain twenty-four hours in their depths.'

' Can you tell me in what direction he wont after leaving San Lepato ?'

•He went to Texas in my company. I parted with him in San Antonio. I should nob wonder if he bought land in that vicinity. He was powerfully taken with that part of the country. Never saw a man who, generally speaking, went more naturally to camping-out and using a rifle.' ' Your name ie Richard Gilleland t

' Yes, sir—tbab is my name. I have no occasion to shirk it.' He was a sallow, long-haired, fiercely ivhiskered man, whose great bell-spurs tinkled to his long stops and made a soft chime to the ring of coins OD the counter.

• Do you really think he is now living near San Antonio ?'

' Why do yon wish to know, stranger ? I would be sorry to get any man into trouble, I would be particularly sorry to trouble Lancelot Leigh.'

'I am his friend. I am seeking him in order to make him happy.'

' Then I should say : Seek him within a hundred milee of San Antonio. Ido not know for sure he is there, but I would feol myeelf as likely as nob to come across the gentleman in that direction.'

This information seemed to be the most positive yet received, but Dick was nob sure whether he ought to tell Franceses. One hope after another had proved false, and sho was begiuning to believe that she would never see Lancelot djjain. It uppeared to be a kind of cruelty to unsotcle the resignation she was trying to attain to, by a hope which might prove as futile as all preceding it.

He did not even tell Loida, for he knew that, sooner or later, Loida would reveal all to Francesca. Hia business relations and necessities had already frequently proved a most elastic and convenient reason for any movement he thought best to make. All other reasons Loida and Francesca argued and modified to suit their own wishes ; but business reasons they had a profound respect for. To submit to them was a necessity to thoir sex and their fortune. So Dick calmly announced that his business compelled him to go to San Antonio. He eaid, if the ladies wished, he would take them to New Orleans and leave them there, while he made alone the Texan journey. Or, if they would like a camping-out trip, nothing could be more charming in the spring of the year than a leisurely journey across the Texan prairies.

Loida perceived that Dick wished the latter course. She considered it very natural he should do so, for it permitted Dick to have her with him. She was instantly and warmly in its favour, and as Dick went on to describe the arrangements he would make for their comfort, she became enthusiastic.

•Will it not be charming, Francesco. V she cried. We are to have horses when we wish to ride and a cariole when we wish to take a rest. Think of it ! Riding through miles and miles of flowers and waving grass, in the exhilarating atmosphere of Texas with its glorious blue eky above us ! And Dick will get an army tent and lots of blankets and mattresses and a commissary wagon and a good cook, and we shall have the whole State of Texas for a bedroom and a dining-room.

_' 1 wish to go home as quickly as pogsible, now, Loida. Ido not wish to go to Texas. I want to go to England. lam so tiied of travel. 1

*B.qw eg&mas be tired I And it ia pog

sible wo may find Lancelot in Texas. I should think after Mexico his first thought) would bo Texas. , ' I wish you would nob speak of Lancolot. Finding him is becoming a wearisome farce, Loida. 1 wonder that I was cvor boguiled by it. lam tired of promises thafc ill ways fail. . She spoke with sorao temper, and LoidG thought her very unjust). 'I am sure, , she answered, 'everything, i/cs, evergthiiiy possible has been done. Is ifc Dick's fault that Lancelot has hid himself so well V ' 1 did not say it was anyone's fault. I wisli I was a man ! I wish Clara had come with us 1 She thinks of so many things.'

1 1 am sure. Francosca, you arc very ungrateful. Dick has pub himself to a great deal of trouble.' ■' 1 am much obliged to Dick.' She was indifferent, and sho shrugged her shoulders in a way which angered. Loida, as far as ib was possible for that) placid lady to feel anger. Dick eaid nothing. He was not in the least offended with tho disappointed girl. Ho understood better than Loida did that she vyae more angry at her fate than dissatisfied with him. Ho could fee! that sho had come to a point when sho folt even Lancelot's name to be an offence. If people could nob help her in deeds, then words were as well unspoken. This was her present mood, and Dick sympathised with it,

So ho said not a word of the fresh hope. Ho only so moved Loida's imagination thae she was delighted at tho idea of going back to England by way of Texas, and Francesco, acquiesced in that spirit which silently declares all things to bo equally indifferent. Sometimes, when Dick saw her hopolos3 eyes and listless manner, he wae tempted to give) her tho encouragement he was acting upon, but at the end lie always resisted the temptation. For Dick had his superstitions, as all men have, and ho believed that ib is in silence hope grows to fruition. 'You may talk away the good fortune of anything you purpose to do. I will bo quiet, and see what comes of silence. And upon this resolve Dick acted.

(To be. Continued.)