HER MARTYRDOM

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 208, 7 September 1897, Page 6

HER MARTYRDOM

BY BERTHA M. CLAY,

Author of "Beyond Pardon," "The Duke's Secret," "A True Magdalen," "Dora Thorne," etc., etc.

CHAPTEII XXIII.

There was a faint iminnur of admiration as the beautiful mother and daughter, accompanied by the gallant captain, entered the ball-room at Lnd.y Holte's. Angela wafj soon snrrotmued by a, small and select group ol: the jemiesso doree, to most oi' whom site was a queen. Lady Laura, after speaking to ncr hostess, crossed the room with her. and in doing' so met Lady Kinlocb with Gladys Kane. The meeting- could not be avoided, even had Lady Laura wished it. For a few minutes these two beautiful women, who were destined to cross each other's lhes so fatally, stood looking at each other, each measuring the other's strength, the one triumphing in the consciousness ihat sbe wis loved, the other triumphing in Hie knowledge that she was ii lawful wife. Outwardly, everything was pleasant and gracious, within were the elements of tragedy. The men awarded the palm ot beauty to Lady Laura, lor few understood the dark, passionate face of Gladys Kane, ft never lighted to perfection save for Vance Wynyard, and none but he knew the full beauty of the dark eves and crimson-tinted lips. It was when the two women iookea steadily at each other that the soul ot each shone in their respective eyes. "I am his wife. He is mine lor ever and ever," could be read in Lady Laura's face. "He loves me," shone in the tlartc eyes of Gladys. ' And then came another pnnse 01. Lady Laura's martyrdom. Hitherto it was from a distance that she bad seen her husband's devotion to Miss Banal He was standing by bis wife's side now when he asked Gladys ioilier programme and. begged to know how many waltzes she would spare him. . It was Lady Kinloch who answered the question." Sbe did not seem well pleased with the captain, anil, setting aside his questionable conduct in showing- such marked preference I'or her niece, Lady Kinloch considered that it was for Gladys a waste ot time to flirt with a man who alreadyhad a beautiful wife of his own. "Yon must not expect to monopolise my niece. Captain Wynyard," sbe said iiYa clear voice. "Miss Kane has manyfriends in the room.' Lady Laura felt a glow of gratitude towards this woman, whom she bad never even, liked before. But the captain was not to be put down by so mild a protest. He merely bowed to Lady Kinloch and turned to Gladys with a'smile on his face. "Monoply is charming in such a case as this. There are plenty of. waltzes. May I have the first, "La Bercense"?" Gladys blushed with delight under the eyes of the two who were looking on so coldly. "You may have that aud the third, the 'Manola.' " "Better give Captain Wynyard your proo-ramme to fill at his pleasure, Gladys," said Lady Kinloch, satirically. And the girl's dark eyes, looking at him, said plainly, "I would if I dared. Lady Laura saw the look, and realised all that it conveyed. Then the Captain and Miss Kane went to join the dancers, leaving the two ladies together. Lady Kinloch -would have made some remark as to the Captain's conduct, but one look at the pale face beside her disarmed her. She never forgot the yearning expression in her companion's wistful eyes. A few minutes Inter bady Laura was surrounded by a little court of admirers. She remembered her resolution, and she tried bravely to carry it out: but her heart gave way, her wistful eyes turning ever to " her husband, who seemed only happy when with her rival. That night her partners wondered what had befallen the Lovely Lady Laura. She talked, but it was easy to see that she did not take, any interest in what she was saying, and betsmiles were forced and cold. "While she danced and conversed her whole heart and thoughts were with her husband and her rival. Later on, as Lady Laura, tired and dispirited, was sitting out a waltz instead of dancing it, the captain came up to her. "Lady Holte has been, telling mc that you are not well and are very tired, Laura—is it so?" She remembered her resolution, and it was almost pitiful to see the effort she made to banish the pain that was gnawing at her heart. The colour rushed into her fair face as she denied that sbe was either tired or ill. She made desperate, efforts to amuse him and keep him by her side, but she saw—and the pain of it went to her heart—that he was watching Gladys Kane the whole time that he stood by her side. "Of what use is it?" she cried to herself. Suddenly he bent over her. as it suddenly remembering why he was -there. "If you are tired, Laura,' he said, "you "had better go home and retire to rest." "Will you accompany me?" she ask cd. "I will take you home: but I shall come back again," he answered. "I consider this the best ball of the season, and I do not care to leave it so early." "Nor do I," she said. And the Captain, without further ado, turned away abruptly and went in search of Gladys Kane. A short time afterward Angela came up to her mother, and sat down by her side. "Mamma, darling," she said, "you look so ill, so tired and weary; manypeople have spoken of it." Lady Laura looked at her daughter with a startled expression on her face. "Do you mean that?" she asked.

"Are people really talking of me? Do they say that I look ill or tinhappy?"' "Every one thinks you look ill, she answered gently. "Do you think any one knows why?"' asked Lady Laura. "No; but, mamma, darling, ! know. You must do one of two thing's — cither yon must trample your trouble under foot nnd look" your usual bright self or you must go home." "1 have tried to smother my grief, but ! cannot. I must go homo,"' sain l.adv Laura. "Hut if J do, Angel, ho will' spend all his lime wiili Miss llune. It will be a relief and pleasure to h.iin it' 1 go:" and i-.c beautiful woman looked at ber with such despair in Ini' fact' that Angehi iuiidly know what, to say to in.-!'. "Tbiiik of that. Angel!" she went on, "! believed he loved me dearly, and now it is a relief l<; him that 1 should go away and ieave him Lo enjoy ike society thai lie prefers so ir.liuil.--ly to mine. Ob., Angel, whn! U. nim-kery my diamonds and loses are! lie does not care for me. I -I think i will g-o home, Angel; I cannot stay here." "1 am sure it will be best, mamma," urged Angela. "Shall I tell Ihe . uptain?" "No," said the unii.-;pp\ lady; und then her mood suddenly ehun.ee i. "After all. 1 will mil go.' lie w,.-ii!d be pleased. I will nut go, A i:...-..-i. Why should i leave her to triumph nver mi'? Why should they two spend the night so happiL. , and I go homo 10 weep? lie is my husband. A ngol." "Mamma.' said Angola, "you are ill and feverish; \utir i'aee is Hushed again, and your eyes are too brighi. Never mind tliein: do nol look :it them. Let me go iuune with you." "Then do nol let him know, A neyi; the enrriage can come book for him,' said itte unhappy woman. They lefi the btiii-ivoni iog.-ther, and when they were in the eni-risi.vi* Litd'v Latn-ii wept as tlioug-h iier li<-;i-l would break. "Mother," Angela said lo\ ingly,"l be matter is not worth all i hose ten ■•: ; if. is not indeed." No ilaug-tiler could Imve been more loving, more dew,ted. ihun Angola. Sbe sent Doris the maid away, saying she would wtu'l upon her mother herself", for she did llO'i eat'e lll,ii I |l\> '•:."•■• vant should witness her ludysh' c's bitter weeping. She laid the tyddel: head on Ihe \\ bile pillow, and sat k, her mother's side iinfd sin- had full, v asleep. Who could tell lite love ;r<:d pain in her hear! as shedid so. See heard her mother speaking in her j sleep, and. bending user Sen-, she caught the words, so fulled" oath'>-.: j "Oh. Charlie. Charlie, ! have had I such a terrible dream!" She drew bach m-ais .','t^r she knew i then that in her dreams her mothers! spirit had gone back to Ibe kisiby , husband who had loved her so v:-;-!i, : and who hud never en used her onej tear. | (To be continued.)