THE MARQUIS

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 204, 28 August 1902, Page 6

THE MARQUIS

By CHARLES GARVICE,

Author of " His Perfect Trust," " Her Ransom," " Her Heart's Desire," « A Wasted Love*" v Elaine," " Leslie's Loyalty," etc

CHAPTER "vTC (continued.)

Quick as she had been, the marquis and the boy were waiting for her. Arol was already mounted, but the jnarquis was standing beside the chestnut and a remarkably light and pretty mare whose quick, eager eye and impatient toss of the head and pawing of the slender foot, indicated her good blood. The marquis turned his head, and an expression of approval flashed into' his eyes as they rested on the sjim, graceful figure in the well-worn but well-fitting habit. "You have been quick," he said, with a nod. "And here is your horse. It's the best I could get? they are all, excepting her, too heavy for you. "Why, you are lighter than I thought; the habit makes a difference, I expect." And he. looked at her again with more distinct and marked approval. "Now, this mare is very goodtempered; I know, because I've tried her pretty hard; but she wants to go. You won't chafe her?" "No," said Constance in a low voice. "You are not timid?" he said, glane- ; ing at her quickly. Constance succeeded in repressing the smile; she timid, who had ridden for days at a stretch on horses little better than wild, and over country from which most"Englishmen would shrink aghast! "Come along, then," he said, and he held out his hand for her. She sprang into the saddle. The mare went off, but was instantly checked. The marquis, after watchIng her for a second, mounted quickly, and the three passed out of the courtyard.

(To be continued daily.)

They turned abruptly to the left, to avoid the front of the house, as Constance guessed, but they were notwithstanding" within sight of the rows of carriages and led horses, and she 6aw him smile a half smile of amusement.

Cantering down,. one of the side paths they gained the park, and made for the open country beyond. For some time the marquis said nothing, bending down now and again to arrange Arol's reins or give him a-word of instruction; and gradually the colour came into Constance's beautiful i^ace, and the light into her eyes, making them brilliant with the deep brilliance of the violet and the purple commingled; the blood began to dance in her veins and her heart to thrill.

Thi^ marquis glanced toward her with ti curious mixture of surprise and admiration, but still remained eilent, until they reached a ditch with a tvroken fence above it. It was not a formidable jump, even for Arol, but the marquis looked at Constance.

"Shall \ve take this little impediment or go round?" he said.

Cor.'stance looked toward Arol.

"Oh, he's all right," he said, smiling down at the boy, whose eyes began to flash eagerly.

"I can do it, Uncle Wolfe! It's no harder than the one we tried the other morning in the park," he said enthusiastically.

"Come on ihenv" he said, leaping over.

Constance let her mare go, and she and Arol went ovOi" together.

The marquis had swung round in his saddle to see the result, and nodded twice with approval.

"Where did you learn to ride, Miss Grshame?" he asked, bending his dark eyes on her face, all flushed and aglow with the delight of even such a wee thing of a jump.

Constance was about to reply "Australia," but reflecting that she could not be said to have learned {here, she replied:

"In Ireland, my lord."

"In Ireland," lie said, "ah, yes, that accounts for it. You hunted a great det'l?"

"Not a great deal," said Constance. "We were too poor. My father's practice —he was a doctor—was small, but I got a run now and again; on a friend's horse generally."

He listened to her, intently, as it seemei, for he brought his horse nearer to her.

"And how long have you been at Jhe castle?" he asked. "Just six days, my lord," paid Con-

stance

He was silent a moment, then he said hesitatingly: "Is your father——"

"He is dead, my lord," said Constance in a low voice.

"Forgive me," he murmured; then aloud, "We will have some hunting this season, eh, Arol?"

"Yes, Uncle Wolfe, and Miss Grahame, too; she came over that ditch in fine style, didn't she?" and he threw up his head and looked at Constance with loving admiration.

"I meant Miss Grahame," said the marquis dryly.

Constance flushed as she thought how very unlikely it was that she would be at the castle in the hunting season, but she said nothing, and presently the marquis remarked:

"What do you say to a gallop, you two?"

"I'm ready,"' declared Arol, prompt-

They started and sped over the heath at a good pace, and every moment Constance was feeling lighter and happier.

Now and again the marquis, unseen

by her, glanced at her lovely face, and smiled to himself. Suddenly he pulled up, and craned back over his saddle as if looking at something.