YET SHE LOVED HIM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 229, 25 September 1894, Page 6

YET SHE LOVED HIM.

By M3S. KAIE VAUGHN.

Anthor of ' The Mother's Legacy,' ' Tbe Banker's Daughter,' • ErinGo-Bragh,' • *•>» Sa,Ue Friend,' eta, etc.

CHAPTER XXXVII,

The sun shone brilliantly over New York bay as the Gallia steamed into port. John Lorrimer stood looking ab the beautiful scene, his handsome eyes flashing "wibh happiness, his dark face animated and enthusiastic. He was approaching bhe land be loved with the woman he loved^ He refnsed to think of anything further as ho eagerly pointed oub to her one object of interest after another.. . .

• I do nob wonder you love this beautiful counbry,' said Madge. Bub in her eye there was a tender sadness he had tried in vain to chaße away. Bub she guarded her secret so well, be did nob guess her fear of her own hearb and that in bhese three days, while basting such bliss as he had never dreamed, she was maturing a reßolubion as cruel to herself as to him ; and while he was so joyfully expatiating on tbe charms of his own country and picturing to himself how, as n brother, /he would help her to forget the past and enjoy the future, she wns telling herself abe must fly from this dangeroua pleasure and planning how to do ib. She knew there were other greab cities besides New York and bried bo fix on one bo which she mighb go directly she could get from under Lorrimer'a watchful care. -' Lorrimer watched her with a puzzled, anxious expression as they lefb the noble vessel, and went through allithe tiresome details incidental on landing in this new world. — I"1- # ; Nothing seemed to excite'her curiosity or interest. She was pre-occupied wibh some thought he tried hard to undersband. Could ib be regreb ab leaving England? Bub had she nob already expressed joy ab being free from haunting fear. • I will take you to bbc Albemarle; that's tbe quiete°b hotel I know of,' he said, «And when you are rested we will talk over your plans.' • I bhank you. And wHbre do you go 7' she asked. • Oh,- I'm at home in New York,' he replied. • I have a brother here and we have bachelor quarters together. I wish I bad a sister or a mother, for your sake.' Lady Madge was very thankful he had nob. How difficult ib would have been to escape feminine attentions. She little knew yet of man's persistence. How, when actuated by absorbing love, ib could encompass her more infinitely than any feminine care. When bhey reached bhe hotel, Lady Madge'wenb to the rooms Lorrimer ordered for her. She found he had engaged an elegant suite overlooking Broadway, and smiled sadly bo herself to think how shorb a time she would need them.

.She had wished him good-bye and thanked him as be left her on bhe stairs. She had purposely infused nothing of the 'farewell ;' she meant ib to be in her tones ; she longed to dp so, bu^ .conquered herself ; he must nob guess^^ v";' She went into her. bedroom and refreshed herself with a bath and change of clothing and jusb as Bhe was ready to come forth and pursue her plan of leaving the hotel and starting for Philadelphia before she should see Lorrimer again, a waiter entered with an exquisite luncheon. She had" not thoughb of food, so full of her plan had she been, bub the sight of.it reminded her how necessary ib was for her to eat.

' Was this lunch ordered ?' she asked, nob quite knowing whether such things might nob be supplied as a mabter of course in this country. • Yes, madam; the gentleman ordered ib. It was very sweet to her to have her necessities catered to by the man she loved. , .■'..". '- _ ■.

Scarcely had she luncheiwhen Lorrimer sent up bis card and a pencilled request thot she would see him for a few moments on business. Lady Madge was taken aback somewhat, She had calculated on his . having to go away to his own quarters to remove the travel stains. She had no conception of the convenient possibilities of an American hotel. But she could nob refuse bo see him, thab was certain. When he entered he had evidently lately gone through the barber's hands, so that her hope thab he mighb yeb be forced to go _,way to dresa was disappointed. He held in his hands a bunch of superb Marechal Niel roses, whose Id'ng, languid heads started from a nest of Parma violets. ' Let me give you a few of our New World blossoms,' he said, .. as a token thab you haven't lefb all bhe roses of .life behind you.' Madge took the blossoms and held them lovingly to her. Ah, how sad ib was she bad bo fly from this man—bhie love bhab would so illumine her pabb. Bub she knew she was reaping as sl>e had sown. ' I came up bo ask you wbebher you like your rooms, or if you would rabher leb me seek for you a quiet homeina private family. I recommend the latter.'

* Yes,' said Madge, hasbily. * I have to live economically/and this must be expensive, but you must please leb mouaanage for myself—you —you musb.nob —' ' M u?b nob what V ho asked. • Sou surely do not mean that I must not do for you what: a brother would? You do nob think, I hope, that, having found you here and alone, I will let you acb as if you were friendless? Besides, you could nob. You could nob take- bhe firsb- step in. this city alone, you are too young and beautiful nob to be open to misconception.' Madge had feared bhis, yeb she musb risk it. Yes, while she had believed herself indifferent to ib, she mighb have accepted his brotherly core, now she dare nob. * Come, Lady Margaret, make up your mind to trusb yourself to my care, and we will drive ab once to a lady I know, who will advise us where to Book what you want, I want, too, to show you some of the beauties of my native city.' •Ob, no, no !' cried Madge. 'Do leave me, p!ea*e do, I am not well, I cannob do anything to-day.' Alas, if she had expected this to send him from her, she was mistaken. ' Nob well!' he cried, and all his affected coolness was gone, he 'came to her and looked anxiously into her face. ' Nob well, my dearesb. What is the mabter ?' • • Oh, nothing, nothing 1 Ib only means you rausb leave me. Ah, don'b you understand—thab I—that you must nob be wibh me, that I am a married woman in the sight of the law, bhough nob in the eighb of God.' - 'My darling, whab change is this ? You are not more married now than you were in London, and you had no such fear. Great heavens, you cannot think, because you are here alone you are in danger from me.' ' Oh, no, no !' * What is ib, bhen! Ah 1' he cries, for some new tenderness in her eyes sent a ray of joy.to his hear.. 'Is it possible you yourself have changed, that you love me, my darling?' She hid her face in her hands, bub he

could see the burning blushes covering her neck and brow;/ \ r~~ _ ~< . . 'My dear ope,, don't) say one ..word, I see, 1 understand, and 1 thank God I Bub you need fear nothing, I know now that we cannot be oaly * friends, and _ more than friends we must not be,, vet there is deep joy in my heart, darling. Even this is something to live for. lam going, you need no'to fear me. I will nob come near you.. I will send the lady I spoke of, who will counsel and befriend you. I promise never to see you alone, even if the chance offer, after. this.' '■'■ '..:'''

He seized her hand and pressed a passionate kiss on it, and then, without another word or look, he left the room.

After he bad gone she ran to the window and watched till she saw his tall form emerge and cross into Madison Square.

_ Now,, quick, I must go ! He means to be true to his word, but I dare'hob trust. I mv. a leave this before he can do anything to prevent.'

And with hurried, feverish handa she packed the little baggage she had, and rang the bell to make inquiries about modes of travel and time for departure.

Lorrimer bethought himself after he had lefb the Albemarle thab he had been so engrossed by 'Madge, he had nob gone to bia club, to which he had ordered Martin to send any news he might have by telegraph. He did nob expect any telegram, bub ib was perhaps as well to see. He went direct bo bhe Manhattan and, to his surprise, found bwo cablegrams had been waibing -for bind several days. He tore one open ;it was from Martin : . 'Certifloate found. Wife was living alter date of second marriage.' He stared ab the message as if he could nob undersband. • Can ib be V He almost forgob bhab he had still one telegram unopened ; he was going away with ib still in his hand when he remembered it. He opened it anxiously as if ib contained a fiat of fate thab mighb reverse the news of the first message, Fraught with fate indeed was ib. Happy fate I Its words were : ' St. John killed by accident. Letter.' How he' gob from the office and bo the Albemarle Hotel he never knew, so intoxicated was he with happiness. He pictured to himself Madge, darling Madge, aglow wibh joy as be had. firsb seen her. When she should hear his news she would not believe it, and then ib would be hi? sweebtask to-convince her. His heart throbbed joyously, and all his blood coursed through his veins like liquid fire as he drove ba the hotel, and hastily wrote a line on his card and handed it bo the ball porter who, looking ab ib, reburned it. ' The lady wenb away a few minutes ago, sir.' ' Gone 1 Gone away ! Impossible 1' He rushed from the man to the office, and there found thab Madge bad indeed gone. , ' Poor, dear, mad girl!' he murmured, all his bright hopes terribly dashed. 1 Why could fate be so cruel as to send her wandering, when happiness awaited her.' Then he bethought him thab she had doubtless procured information ab bhe office which would give him a clue to where she was gone. He found on enquiry bhab she had enquired aboub Philadelphia brains, aid had taken a hack to the Pennsylvania Depot. i Lorrimer hastily asked the time tbe brain would starb, and found she had gone an hoar too soon, and bhab he would have time bo sbopher.; Anxiously he" endured the inevitable delays thab beset bhe hack before ib'could reach its destination. Many times he believed he could have walked much more quickly—for ib was before bhe days of rapidi transit; bub common sense prevailed, and he kept his Beat till he found himself before tho ferry, and then he sprang out, rushed past every one, and there, bewildered, frightened, pale aad unutterably sad, stood Madge, poor, forlorn traveller. Ah, ib was good* to see the rush of joy in her face, the glad little cry with Which she started bo meet him as be enbered bhe ferryhouse ; and then, remembering her resolution, hung back. Bub he was by her side, looking with happy eyes down into bhe little, Bad face thab was so soon to lighb with joy. Bub he could nob waste the bliss of seeing ib, of telling his story in that place. Taking her hand, he said in a broken voice:

' Come, my little would-be traveller ! I have news for you.' ' I dare nob—l cannot.'

• You dare and you can.' Overpowered by something masterful in hie bone, she yielded ; and when they were onco in,the carriage he turned to her and aaid in a voice shaken and trembling :

.My darling, you are mine. » Nothing comes between us. You wore never really married to thab man. See!' He bbw the could nob believe, and he pub the written words before her. And then, wibh. a low, joyful cry, she turned to him. 'My darling, my precious, my sweet libtle girl!' he cried, straining her passionately to his breaab and raining kisses on her face, hands and hair. Was there ever such happiness eince bhe world began as that of bbese two happy people ? They thoughb hob, at ail events.

(To he Continued.)