GRAZIA'S MISTAKE

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 99, 26 April 1894, Page 6

GRAZIA'S MISTAKE

BY MBS QIEOBQIE §HELDON.

Author of 'Faithful Shirley,' Brownie's Triumph,' 'The Forsaken Bride,' * Geoffrey's Victory,' etc.

CHAPTER XV.

MB YENTNOB AND MI3S MACOMBER DO A

LITTLE FENCING.

HaYMOnd ViiNTNOR's heart was none too light, in spits of his knowledge that Grazia loved him, as he made hia way back to the gay hotel, where, seeking his room, he hastily donned his evening suit for the hop.

His intuitions were exceedingly keen, end he had read, aa from an open page, the conflicb between love and conscience that had raged in prazia'B mind ; and, as may be supposed, he experienced no small amount of anxiety regarding the resulb. He was a trifle pale and graver than usual, when be entered the hall, a half-hour after the assembly had opened.

The opening number was over* and his friends, espying him, came flocking around him to inquire whab bad detained him. He apologised for his absence, remarking thab he had felb obliged to attend to a little matter which had accupied him longer than he had expected. This explanation appeared to be satisfactory, and he waa not questioned further. Every one knew tbab, as bheir host, many duties would naturally devolve upon him. and it was nob thoughb strange that he Should have been detained 7' for a while * upon hospitable thoughts intent.' We musb, however, excepb one who had watched wibh a jealous eye his every word and look while he was speaking. Marie Macomber had hoped that Raymond Venbnor would make her his especial charge thab evening, and she had eagerly awaited his coming, until the last moment, before the opening of tbe hop, when, greatly to her annoyance, she was-com-pelled to accepb a young West Pointer for a partner, or sib out the first dance. She had been on the watch, however, every moment for Mr Venbnor, had seen him bhe momenb he entered the hall, and instantly observed his pallor and unusual gravity. . She had heard his excuse for his tardiness, and deeming ib rabher indefinite, her BUBpicions had instantly been aroused. ' He has been back to the yacht to see that girl,' she mused, ber heart full of anger and jealousy, ' and something has passed between bhem to upset him. I think ib wili be wise for me to give him a little inkling of the truth—jusb enough to seb him thinking, and to prevonb him Irom making a fool of himself.' With these sage resolutions in mind, Miss Macomber put herself in Mr Venbnor's way, with a view to securing him for a parbner.

But ib was not until late in the* evening thab be appeared to be ab liberty, whon he sought her and solicited" * bhe pleasure of a dance.'

She ground her teeth in silent rage when he simply P ub his name down again for a •stupid quadrille,' and did nob oven ask for another; bub she was obliged bo conceal her wrath, and secretly resolved to make the most of her opportunity when it came. She was ail smiles and graciousness when he came to claim hec, and no one would have supposed thab her brighb and beautiful exterior covered a heart full of malice and vindictiveness, and the deliberate intention to ruin tho prospects of one as young and lovely as herself. • I am afraid that our genial hosb is nob quite himself to-night,' she smilingly remarked, as she accepted his arm, to be led upon the floor. • Indeed V wasthe young man's courteous reply: * I trust your observation has not been called forth by any neglect of duby on my part.' . * ]Say, I was not referring to your duties as host ab all, bub simply to your personal appearance,' replied Miss Macomber, looking straight up into his eyes. 'You are looking pale, and I am sure you are troubled aboub something. I sincerely trust that nothing in connection wibh our trip is annoying you.' Raymond Venbnor starbed slightly as the spoke of his being troubled; but, quickly recovering himself, he assumed a lightness that be was far from feeling, and remarked:

4 Are you a physiognomist, Miss Macomber ? Do you understand the art of reading the mind by the expression of the features ?' •Nob at all,' said the girl, regarding him with affectedly innocent eyes ; ' but sometimes ono knows, by intuition, when anything is troubling one's friends.' The young man shot a quick glance at ber. .He thoughb ahe was assuming considerable by thus., inferring thab she was Bufficienbly en rapport with him to be able to read his thoughts by intuition. • I should be exceedingly sorry if I imagined that my friends, in addition to their own troubles, were obliged to bear mine also,' he smilingly replied, as he reached the set they were to fill, and made his bow to her with an air that said he did riot care to discuss the matter further. Hiss Macomber .flushed, and her heart

thumped its angry beats so loudly in her bosom bhab she feared her companion mighb hear them ; bub she managed to preserve the semblance of calmness, and went through the figures with her usual grace and ease.

' I will have my say oub even yet,' she told herself. ' I'm half inclined to think that baby stayed behind to-day, and feigned illness, with the sole purpose of luring him back to the vessel to see her. I'll geb ab bhe bruth before I have done with him.' Bub of course she allowed nothing" of bheee ill-natured cogitabions to be manifest, and she was as chatty and agreeable as possible throughout the dance. When it was over, and she had taken his arm to return to her seat, she remarked, as she fanned herself vigorously : ' How excessively warm ib is here in the hall. It seems aB if bhere is nob a bre..Ui of air sbirring.' * You appear to feel the heab very much,' Mr Venbnor responded. 'Shall I bake you outside upon the verandah lor a few momenta ? And perhaps you would like an ice.' ' The crafty girl's eyes glowed as she saw how easily he had fallen into her licbie snare. •Thanks; if you will take the trouble I would like it,' she reburned ; and, two minutes later, she was sitting in a secluded corner of the piazza, and Raymond Ventnor was on his way to get an ice for her. Presently he came back wibh two, and sat down to join her in eating them. •This is delicious !' Miss Macomber remarked, with evidenb enjoyment; 'and what a beautiful night ib is,' she added, glancing up at the brilliantly lighted sky : •almost too lovely to be indoors. Much as I enjoy dancing, I believe I should like better to bo on board the Nautilus with nothing over head but that glorious vault. One would nlmoeb feel tempted to envy Miss King, who is having it all to herself. I hope she is hfot seriously indi-posed,' she concluded, darting a sharp glance at her companion, •I brusb not,' Mr Ventnor quietly returned; then added : 'The night is, as you say, charming, and I often wonder why people prefer to shut themselves up in close, hob halls, and punish themselves with such violent exercise rabher than tako bheir ease in a quiet stroll, drive, or row, and the enjoyment of such beauty and a comfortable temperature like this.' 4 Mr Ventnor, you are very clever,' was Miss Macomber's inward commenb; 'you have very skilfully switched me off' my track ; but, perhaps, I may be able to find my way back again if I try.' • I am afraid, my friend, you have given yourself away on the subject of dancing,' she said, aloud, wibh a lighb musical laugh. • What violence you must have done your feelings, both last evening and to-nighb. If I had known this half an hour earlier, I should nob havo permitted you to become a martyr for my enjoyment.' ' 1 am afraid you wilfully misinterpret my innocent . remark,' Mr Venbnor responded ; ' I was speaking of people and bhe season in a general way. lam fond of dancing, bub like ib better during the winter ; although, with pleasant company, ib is always enjoyable,' he concluded, with a courteous bow.

* Whab a figure Miss Nelson makoß upon the floor. Have you noticed her V his companion abruptly inquired, as her firsb step boWard gebbing back upon her brack. ' Yes; bub ib sbruck me thab she was very graceful, in spite of bhe picturesqueness of hor costume,' Mr Veutnor replied.

'Do you think so ? I cannob agree with you ; and somehow, I can nover make her seem like a woman. She is very peculiar, and a person of strange hobbies also, I should judge ' ' Well, perhaps ; but she is a person who does a great amount of good ; and sho has my unbounded esteem,' tho young man gravely responded. •Of course,' Miss Macomber assented. 'Everybody knows that Paula Nelson is above reproach ; although I imagine that but for her wealth and position she would be more severely criticised than 6he is. But there are some things that she carries to disagreeable extremes, in my opinion.' •Such as whab, if I may inquire?' Mr Ventnor unsuspiciously inquired. • Well, taking in all sorts of people as protegees, and forcing them upon society, for one thing..' Raymond Venboor's eyes began to burn wibh "a lurid lighb ab this, for ho could easily understand now toward whab bhe oonversabion was bending

• I was not aware thab Miss Nelson had made herself obnoxious in any such way,' be composedly observed. * • Well, no—perhaps she has not as yet; or rather, I should say, society has nob yob realised ib; but that is only a question of time.' •You speak in enigma?, Miss Macomber.' Miss- Macomber shrugged her shapely shoulders nervously. She did nob quite like the gentleman's tone. • Well,' she Baid, 'perhaps I should nob have spoken ab all on this matter ; bub I do nob like to see my friends imposed upon.' ' Who is being imposed upon by Miss Nelson V ■ • You, among others.' •1? How?' ' • Through that girl whom she is introducing everywhere.' •Miss King?' Mies Macomber gave vent to a scornful laugh as Mr Ventnor uttered this name. • Miss King !' she repeated,ln a tone bhab was resonant with malice and spite. 'The girl isn't what she appears ab all ; she is an impostor, and I can prove ib. I thought,

bhe momenb I saw her,bhab I had seen her face somewhere before—'

• Then you had met the lady previous bo your inbroduction to her on board bhe Nautilus V Mr Ventnor inquired, in a strangely quieb bone. ' No, I have never meb her ; bub I had seen her phobograph, and was told her whole history by a iriend who wenb to school with her.'

♦She has a history, then?' Mr Ventnor remarked.

• Indeed she has, a mosb thrilling one, and not a very creditable one, either. She has been, atrested, imprisoned, and tried for murder; and I imagine society will open its eyts wide enough when it learns whom it has been petting arfd making a favourite of to such a ridiculous extent.'

'I should hope ib might not learn whab you have jusb bold me, Miss Macomber,' her companion responded, in bhe quietest und smoothest of tones imaginable.

•Whab ! would you uphold her in practising such an imposition?' the girl demanded, almosb sharply. 'I think ib is no lighb thing when our homes are invaded by criminals— murderers, and one knows nob what, and I imagine Misa Nelson will be severely censured for introducing such a character.'

4 Your language is rather severe, is it nob Miss Macomber?' ' Perhaps you doubb bhe truth of what I have been telling you,' the girl retorted, •with some asperity. • Bub I can"prove whab I have said—your Miss King is not what she pretends to be ab all—her real name is Grazia Kingsley, who was recently tried for murder of both father and mother in Buffalo.' •I know ib.' Had a bomb exploded ab Miss Macomber's feeb, she could scarcely have started more suddenly than ab those bhree quietly spoken words. • You know it ." she exclaimed, in almosb breathless astonishment. • Yes, I have known ib ever since I first meb Miss Kingsley, ab tho entertainment tfiven at our hotel a week or so ago,' said Mr Ventnor, composedly. • Who told you V demunded Miss Macomber. 'No one; I simply recognised her. Being a lawyer, I was naturally deeplj interested in thab very mysterious caee bhab occurred in Buffalo lasb year, consequently I toon pains to be present in court throughoub the trial, and thus became very familiar with Miss Kingsley*s face.' 4 And you have kepb her identity a secrob !' exclaimed bhe girl, in surprise. •Certainly ; why .hould I nob?' 'Ah I bub she is such a—fraud !' said the girl, scornfully. Raymond Venbnor could nob reply for a momenb, for the remark aroused all bho lion witihin him. Bub crushing back his indignation wibh all bhe power of his sbrong will, he ab lasb gravely remarked : ' No, she is far from being anybhing of bhe kind. Miss Macomber.• Miss Kingsley is a pure, innocenb, and lovely woman—a much wronged and very unforbunate woman also. She is as innocent of thab crime as eibher you or I. She is as worthy to mingle in tho highest circles as either you or I. She is refined, cultured, bnlonted —her influence for good has boen recognised wherever she has boon received, while her exquisite music has charmed everyone. Why, bhen, if she has chosen to appear under bhe name of Miss King, bo hide her sorrows bhus from the curiouH world, and enable her bhe bebter to earn her living, which misfortune has obliged hoi* bo do, does ib become necessary for anyone, who haß by accidenb discovered bhe truth, to proclaim her identiby, and bhus destroy the foothold she has gained ?'

'Bub ib is very annoying to bo so imposed upon,' said the girl, with an irritable shrug of her shoulders. •Ibis an imposibion—if indeed one can justly give ib such a harsh name—that can harm no one '

• Society would nob regard ib in thab light,' defiantly interposed Misa Macomber. 'Very likely nob; bub society has porverbed ideas aboub a greab many things, and ib behoves all right-minded people, who havo influence, to have the courago of their convictions, and bhus bhrow around those who are innocenb and good, though unfortunate, protection and support.' 'Really, Mr Venbnor,"l was nob aware thab you wero such a philanthropist' Mario remarked, wibh a light, mocking luugh. '•Miss Kingsley o,ughb bo feel flattered bo have such a gallanb defender. Doubtless the knowledge will be a greab comfort bo her whon bhe world turns ibs back upon her.'

•I do nob think the world will ever turn its back upon her,' bhe young man quietly responded. • Pardon me; bub lam quibe sure ib will,' was bhe defiant; response. 'Is bhab intended as a threat, Miss Macomber?'

* Abhreab?'

' Yes : am I to understand by ib thab you contemplabe revealing bhe discovery you have made to-day ?' ' To-day ! Whab do you mean by bhat ?' she asked in a startled tone.

•That I knovy you did nob dream, unbil bhis morning, thab Miss King and Grazia Kingsley were ono and bhe same.' ' How did you make such an imporbanb discovery ?' ' Through bhe inquisibion bo which you subjected her,' Mr Venbnor replied. 'I know, before thab, bhab you were suspicious of her, but until she mentioned tho fact of having been at school in Wellesly, you were not able bo identify her.' ' Mr Venbnor is very observing,' wasthe sarcastic rejoinder ; ' and now I can undor-

etiand why he was so eager to poinb out the dolphins and Fort Dumplings.' ' Yes ; I felt that, as my guest, it was but right for me to save her pain if it was in my power to do so,' her companion returned. 'Bub, Miss Macomber, you did not reply to my question, Let me beg that you will keep Mi#s Kingsley'e secret.' ' Why should f ? She is nothing to me.' 'Nothing to you! No one should ever say thab of another,' remarked the young man, in a gentle tone. ' Suppose you wero in her place-—remember the golden rule.'

' I am no sainb, Mr Ventnor, as you have doubtless discovered this evening, if you never did before,' the. girl answered, with a twinge of remorse, for she realised that she had allowed her anger to carry her beyond reason. 'None of us has too much of thab element in our nature ; but let me ask as a personal favour, that you will nob speak of this to anyone, at least whilo you are my guest. We have always been good friends, Marie—pray let nothing roar thab friendship for the future.'

He had called her Marie.

He did not often do thab although they had known each other well for years, and she was thrilled with a sudden hope ; her jealousy was for the moment subdued. Perhaps, after all, her caße was not altogether hopeless. '1 could do much.for your sake, Raymond Ventnor,' she said, with a ring of passion in her tones. "Thank yon ; but I will only ask you to promise to keep our secrec for the present. Then we will go in for a waltz and to show our friends that we hfive nob deserbed them,' he said, in tones she had no power ■to resist, even had ho not spoken of 'our secret,' and hold oub the inducement of a 'waltz.'

' I promise,' she said, as she arose, and together they returned to the ball-room.

(To be Continued.)