LORRIE OR; HOLLOW GOLD

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3, 3 January 1903, Page 6 (Supplement)

LORRIE OR; HOLLOW GOLD

By CHARLES GARVICE, Author of " TEE. MARQUIS," <tx.

CHAPTER XXVII

-Whatever it may seem like in ilan-cheslcr-square there can be no doubt that the spring has come at Farnfcaro. and Lorrie, as she sits at the iopen window of the little room near Lady Collbp's extensive suite, leans tout and draws in thirstily long 'breaths of the sweet evening air that comes over hill and dale laden with the perfume of the ,spring flowers. It* is the first time she has seen the country for months, and already the fresh air seems to have wrought a change in her. There is a delicate •flush in her cheeks, a touch of the old light in her eyes. It is scarcely ■necessary to say that Lady Farnham has no idea that the "young lady companion" who has come with Lady Collop is the girl about whom Lord Guy "was so nearly "making a fool of himself." It is a "very great question of Lady Farnham would remember Lorries name if she had heard it, and as yet she had not seen her, for her ladyship has the greatest objection to meeting her guests on the moment of their arrival, and prefers to see them in the drawing - room first before dinner, where she can say "How do you , do" in comfort. Diana could have enlightened her, but has not chosen to clo so, and Guy has also kept his counsel, and keeps it still, even when he comes down dressed for dinner and finds Lady Farnham alone in the drawingroom waiting for her guests. "Well, Guy?" she says, as he bends over her white and still smooth hand. "Had a fine time, as you vulgar boys say Dow? You don't look over bright, sir! What have you been doing? Late hours, gambling at your club, and all that sort of thing? What a good thing that you are going to marry and settle down! I heard of your'getting run over. Were you hurt?" "No," «ay 9 Guy, shirking the subject. "Thanks to the special Providence that looks after drunken men and young children, you know." "I know," she says, smiling. "And haw is Diana? Quite knocked up •with her shopping, I suppose?" "I don't think so," he says, carelessly. "I should rather imagine that the people at the shops were more knocked up than she is." "And the wedding, when is that to be?" He laughs, but there is not much mirth in the sound. " Ton my word, my lady," he says, "you are worse than a catechism. Oh, soon," he says, and he turns away and picks up a fan. "Nobody down yet?" "No. I expect Diana is resting. 1 know Lady Collop islying-down. Quite a nice old lady, isn't she? I remember her when they were at the Mansion House." "Oh, very nice," he says; "would be nicer if she weren't eaten up by a anost unreasonable ambition. Wants to be better than anybody else, you know. I don't like to say so, but I Tather think she has accepted your Invitation with the express intention of converting you." Lady Farnham laughs. "Oh, yes, I remember; she was always that way as a e*rild. Well, sir, •better to be too good than too bad." "Now, I call that personal," he retorts, glancing at the door for the twentieth time during their chat. "How impatient you are," says the old lady, shrewdly. "She -will be down directly. He starts almost guiltily; i "Who?" he says. "Why, Diana, of course, you stupid boy. There, don't colour. I like to see a man rather silly over his sweetheart, and with such a beautiful girl as Diana there is every excuse for you." _, " "Yes," he assents' absently. ' Oh, yes, certainly!" As he speaks the door opens and Lady Collop enters, followed by Lorxie and Lady Farnham goes forward to meet tlem. Guy, watching her closely and rather nervously sees the old lady's face assume a look of surpriSe as it rests on Lorrie, and as she shakes hands she says: "How £o you do, dear? I haven't had the pleasure of tearing your same/ , "My niece—my cousin, I ought to say, Lady Farnham," says Lady Collop. "Dolores Latimer." Lady Farnham looks rather puzzled for a moment, as if trying to remember the name, but had evidently failed.^ "Come and sit down, my dear?" she says. "You look rather tired after your journey," for Lorries face had gone pale again. "And so you are Lady Collop's cousin. lam very glad to see you; Lady Collop and I are old friends. You look rather pale; have you been ill? "Never in my life," says Lorrie, her heart -warming to the sweet-faced old "Ah! ,, and she glances at the black dress. "Well, you must get plenty of fresh air, and enjoy yourself." "Just to be in this beautiful place would be enjoyment enough," says Lorrie, honestly. Lady Farnham puts her head on one side, as if she were trying to find out whether this were conventional flattery; then, as she could datect no guile in the frank, lovely eyes, she nodded. "My place is my weak pot, my dear," ehe said; "to admire it is the quickest wa- to my stupid oid heart. Lord Guy knows that, and he is always lauding it in the most awful and unblushing manner." Lorrie glanced up at Guy's face, and a faint colour came into ncr own. Lady Farnhain looked at her and then at him curiously. "I hear you have been helping these two young people with their shopping," | she said. ! "Yes," assented Lorrie. '"I saw Miss Melford in the corridor, and she asked me to beg you to give her another half hour: she is tired." 'Certainly,' , said >.ady Farnham, and she crossed and went over to Guy. "Guy, I have a surprise for you. Who do you think id coming to-night V "Can't say," he said. '"'Anybody who was asked, I should think/ Lndy Farnham tapped him with her fan.

• "Guy, I declare you are getting quite I a courtier That was very neatly turned! Well, then, what do you say to the carl?" Guy started slightly, and did not look J over delighted. j '-My father?" ! "Yes; he is so much better lately, and I persuaded him to dine with us tonight. Wasn't it good of him? But I'm t bound to confess that he refused, until . I told him you were coming down." Guy nodded, and. lowering her voice, she said: "What a lovely girl that is, Guy!" j "Who?" he asked. ! "Stupid! Do you think I mean Lady Collop? I mean the girl there, Miss— Miss " i "Latimer," he said, trying to speak indifferently. "Yes, do you know her?" "Why, haven't I been 'staying in the same house?" "Now, you know I don't mean that! But before?" "I've met her," said poor Guy. "Why?" The old lady hesitated, keeping her eyes fixed upon him. "Oh, nothing, but I thought she looked at you just now as if you had been old friends." Guy shuffled with his feet after the manner Of men "who are trying to conceal something from a clever woman. "I've known her some time," he said. "Her brother and I are old friends." "Really! Is he anything like his sister ? If so, I should like to see him." "Wish you'd ask him," said Guy, on the spur of the moment. "Dear old Jack!" Lady Farnham smiled. "Direct an envelope for me," she said. He went to the davenport. "There is a sister, too," he said, "one of the dearest and best creatures under heaven." dy Farnham made a little grimace. "Thanks, no. I am rather afraid of paragons." "Afraid of Greta!" and he laughed. "You might as well be afraid of an angel." "I don't know that I shouldn't be," she retorted; "but I'll ask her as well if you are quite sure you don't admire her too much." He laughed grimly, then he said: "There is only one woman I admire too much," he said. "Good boy!" approvingly; "always feel like that, and you'll made an admirable husband." "And the woman I admire most in the world stands before me." The old lady gave his head a soft slap. "Eeally, Guy, you are incorrigible! Well, I'll ask them both. It will please that little girl, then, will it not?"

"More than, if you were to give her the Farnham rubies!" he said concisely.

Lady Farnham, who always did things on the spur of the moment, sat down and wrote the invitations, and Guy, vrho ■was equally prompt, delivered them to the footman.

"Don't say anything about it to Miss —Miss " "Latimer!"

"I should like to give her a pleasant surprise. Guy, I have taken a fancy to that little girl. Why, I wonder? Extraordinary, isn't it?"

"Extraordinary!" he retorted, grimly. "She is generally very much disliked."

At that moment Diana entered. She had spent the half hour's grace not in resting but in dressing, and came sailing across the room like a goddess in a Worth costume, with diamonds upon her throat and her fingers, her languid eyes full, of power and triumph, which, try as she would, grew cold with dislike as they glanced for a moment at Lorrie.

"Better late than never, dear," said Lady Farnham, kissing her. "You are looking very well; but you always look well, doesn't she, Guy?"

"Yes, oh, yes!" he assented, with downcast eyes, which can see Lorries. face, though they rest upon the carpet.

•'Ob, I am very well," said Diana, ■with a half-scornful laugh. "The delicate and interesting invalid part is not my role. You look tired, Lorrie,"' , she added, almost in a breath, with that daring , spitefulness of which only a woman of her temperament can oe guilty.

Lady Farnham looked rather surprised, and waited for the answer; but Lorrie, who a few months ago could have given blow for blow, merely smiled.

Then there was a little stir, the slight bustle which always attends a distinguished arrival, and Lord Latcham was announced.

Ever since she had heard Lady Farnham say that he was coming Lorrie had been hardening her heart against tne mercenary old man who had been the principal means of separating her from Guy, and her face paled as the name smote on her ears.

For a second she kept her eyes fixed on the fire, then she raised them, and a sharp pang ran through her. In her heart she hated the old man, and meant to hate him; but as he came down the room, leaning slightly on his stick there was a look in his face and in his manner so like Guy that it sent tie blood rushing to her face.

His voice, too, so clear and bell-like, was, in every tone, an echo of the voice she loved, and as it reached her in her quiet corner it reminded her of that night in the lane when Guy's voice was attuned to words of love.

Slowly the tears came into her eyes, but she forced them back, and, as Guy would have said, "pulled herself together."

The earl was brought up and introduced to Lady Collop, who curtseyed with as much awe as if he had been a prince of the Royal blood. Lady Farnham mentioned Lorries name, but the old man did not catch it, and only bowed,, and presently they all went into dinner.

All dinner time Lorrie could not keep her eyes from the old man. Guy sat opposite her and once or twice her n-iance rested upon his handsome faceTbiit to-night, strangely enough, it was the father, the stately, high-

bred patrician, who seemed to fascinate her—the old man, who, to save his estate and to rnarrv his son

to a

wealthy heiress, had broken her— Lorrie's —heart!

The ladies went into the drawingroom and Lorrie stole back to her corner. She heard nothing of the chatter of the other women, scarcely remembered where she was: the old man's voice was ringing in her ears; she could not banish him from her thoughts.

Presently—very soon, indeed —they came in, the earl leaning on • Guy's arm. The ladies made a little fuss with him, and Lady Farnham wheeled a chair to the fire. It was close to Lorrie, and as the old man sank into it he turned his eyes upon her.

"I shall keep the fire from you, my dear," he said.

It was the first time he had spoken to her, and Lorrie —'Lorrie, the bold tomboy!—actually had to pause a moment to control her voice before she could say:

"I am not cold, my lord."

Lorries voice was one of the sharpest arrows with which Heaven had furnished her, and as the clear, musical accents fell upon his ear the earl looked at her again and more attentively.

"I don't think I have had the pleasure of meeting you before, Miss—" and he hesitated.

"jSTo," said Lorrie, "I have not met you before, my lord."

"Are you a friend of Lady Farnham's?" he said.

"I am Lady Collop's cousin—companion," she answered.

He glanced at Lady Collop, and there was a fresh interest in his eyes as they returned to the lovely face.

"Forgive me for my inquisitiveness," he said, in the tone and voice men of his school- —the old polished school of the past times—acquired, and which seems lost to our gentlemen—"but I am an old man wlio seldom goes even into this small world around him."

"And I have never been in any world at all," said Dolores.

He smiled and nodded

"I should not have been here tonight, but the pleasure of meeting my son was too great a temptation. Do you know him?" and he glanced across the room at Guy, who stood talking to Diana but watching those other two closely.

"Yes," said Lorrie, almost inaudibly, her heart aching. "Yes! 'Happy is the man who has a good son,' says the old Spanish saw, and I am happy. Forgive an old man for prosing, my dear," he added. "But as the man used to say in tiie play, 'He is the only son I have got. , "

As he spoke a footman came forward with a cup of tea, and as he handed it touched the earl's foot.

Lorrie saw the fine old face contract with a sudden spasm of pain and then turn pale.

Some impulse, she knew not what, prompted her to put her hand upon his arm; it almost seemed as if it ■were the dear old father himself who was sitting there. The earl laid his hand on hers gratefully*

"Thank you, my dear! No, he didn't hurt me—much. You see, I ought not to leave my own chamber."

Lorrie rose and stole to the table and got him a cup of tea —the* footman had disappeared, overwhelmed at his mishap—and she brought it to the old man. i He took it with a low bow and a smile—a beautiful smile.

"If I were younger I would return your kindness, my dear," he said; "but accept an old man's gratitude. I suspect you have a father of your own, you are so thoug-htful." Lorries face went pale, and she bit her lip. "He died a little while ago," she said.

The earl flushed with annoyance and self-reproach. "Forgive me, my dear," he said, in a low voice.

Lorrie inclined her head and smiled at him, and then drew back into her corner. Diana sat down to the piano and commenced to sing , , and Guy, instead of standing by her in attendance, as was her due, came across the room. All the evening he had been on thorns, and for the last twenty minutes he had watched his father and Lorrie together with an anxiety beyond words. "Ah, Guy!" said the old man, "I am glad you have come. You are so fortunate as to own this young lady as a friend. Will you make her known to me?" ' Lorrie shrank back. and held her breath. Guy bit his lip; the moment he had dreaded had come. "This young lady, sir," he began, when Lady Farnham came up. "Do you sing, my dear? Yes, I am sure you do!" Lorrie, only too glad of a chance of escape, of postponing the. inevitable, got up at once. She was trembling, but she fought her nervousness, and, striking a few simple chords, sang "Robin Adair. "What a beautiful voice!" said the earl, tapping his white fingers on his stick in tune to the air. "Is there anything better than the old ballads? I think not! That is a sweetly pretty rirl, Guy. In my days, half the young fellows would have been at the duello over her; she would have been the toast of the evening! Who isshe? Poor young thing! Just lost her father! Poor girl, poor girl! "She has had other trouble be- ; sides," said Guy, in a low voice, avoiding the earl's question. "Indeed! What was it?" and the earl turned in his chair and looked towards the piano. . "She was very badly treated by a young fellow," said Guy, looking fixedly at the fire. The earl swung round. "Is it possible?" . "Yes. He won her heart and jilted her for a girl "who had money." "The scoundrel!" exclaimed the earl, his delicate, refined face flashing Guy. "It was 'necessary' that he should marry money, and he sacrificed her." , "He was not only a scoundrel, but a fool!" said the earl, scornfully. No one but a fool would lose such a girl as that for all the gold mines of Pe .?U e r h ee G wiS"you," said Guy, white to the°lips. "He was a fool! The bluest fool in the world! "Poor girl!" said the earl, compassionately! "How she must have suffered! But she will soon be consoled Guy. mark my words! She would not run through a single season without having half a dozen aood men at her feet. Who is this lady Collop? I wonder whether Lady Farnham would chaperone her this

spring-! I don't know why, Guy, but the child interests me most strung-e-

X, uiid are laughing at me." '"I understand you perfectly/ said Guy, grimly, "and i was never "further from laughing in my life." "Go and ask her to .sing again," said the earl; "and if she wont Stop;" he took his stick, and, rising, walked across the room to the piano. "Will you sing again, my dear?" he said. "Another one of the old ballads, if you know them. They are very sweet to old men. Will you do it for me?"

U.;d

Without a word Ltrrrie sang "Jockey to the Pair." The earl stood beside her, his head bent, his white hand clasped on his stick, motionless. Every eye in the room was fixed upon the pair; and Diana's face was a study of envy, hatred, malice and all uncharitableness. Rising with a little scornful gesture, she crossed over to where Guy sat, staring gravely at the floor, and touched him with her fan.

"I always thought your father was a clever man, Guy/" , she said, as he looked up with a start. "Well?"

"I shall have to change my opinion. Do you see how this artful girl is bamboozling him?"

"Do you mean Lorrie Latimer?" he asked, sternly.

She raised her eyebrows

"Whom else should 1 mean? What is she doing it for? What is hermotive?"

"I don't know," he retorted. "I will go and ask her, if you like. Lorrie Latimer artful! There is not an honester and more guileless girl on carth — and you know it!"

Her face went pale, and she farmed

"1 know that she can humbug the son as well as the father," she said, scorn fully

A retort trembled on Guy's lips, but he crushed, it back.

"Don't let us quarrel,' lie said, coldly. "1 will go and smoke a cigar," and he left the room.

Lorrie finished her song, and as she rose, the earl held out his arm.

"Thank you, my dear/ he said, 'you have given me very great pleasure. Now you must come and rest," and he led her back to her seat. Then he wenc across the room where Lady Farnhawi wus sitting and bent over her. "That *s a very charming young lady," he said, smiling after the manner of an old luan who had been pleased

"Who? Oh, yes!" said Lady jtarnham, following his eyes. "Isn't she? Poor girl, she has lost her father, and she's come down in the world, bo you are taken with her? That is strange! So am I. I have asked her sister and brother here to visit."

"So like you!" he murmured, vrithhis old-fashioned courtliness. "By the way, what is her name? I have not caught it yet. , ' "Her name! Oh, Latimer—Dolores Latimer."

The earl looked puzzled for a second, then his face went pale, and he clutched the arm of the chair.

"Lorrie Latimer!" he echoed almost •with alarm. "Lorrie Latimer. Great Heavens!"

"What is the matter?" demanded Lady Farnham.

"Have you forgotten?" he said with a hurry and agitation strangely novel to him. "It is the girl G-uy wanted to marry! The girl he—he " '■'Jilted!" exclaimed Lady Farnhain, and her own face went pale. "Great Heavens! Here together in the same house! What is to be done?"

"Done!" repeated the earl, painfully. "What can be done? Oh, it is cruel!"

"I—l assure you it is not my fauU , ," said Lady Farnham, hurriedly. "1 did not know, or if I ever knew her name, I forgot it! What shall I do? I can't send her out of the.house —can't said Guy! Now I understand that look sne gave him! What shall T do? Stop! Yes! She is engaged herself —to Diana's brother, Seymour Melford!"

The earl started

"Impossible!" he murmured, incredulously. "Yes, but she is! Though why—l am sure, I am certain that she does not care for him. Don't look so distressed; see, they are watching us," and she laid her hand upon his arm. "I —I am very much upset!" murmured the old man, brokenly. "Engaged to that—that cad! Forgive me, my dear, but he is a cad." "I know!" assented Lady Farnham. "But he is engaged all the same, and— and her being here without him is scarcely fair to him. Wait! I will ask him here!" The earl stood looking at her with troubled perplexity. . •■ , . "Poor girl, poor girl!" he murmured; "and it was she whom Guy loved! There is some mystery. My dear, I wish 1 had not seen her. She—she has made me wretched!" Lady Farnham forced a smile. "It is the awkwardest thing," she said, agitatedly; "but there is only one way out of it. I wil ask this young man, Seymour Melford." The words were scarcely out of her mouth -when the footman opened the door and announced Mr Seymour Melford! For the first time in her life Lady Farnham was guilty of a scream; it was a very low one, but Seymour Melford heard it. Coming forward with his soft, catlike step and insidious smile, he bent over her hand. "Forgive me for intruding, Lady Farnham," he said; "but I knew that my sister was here, and I've come to see her on important business." Lady Farnham, with the ready tact of a woman of the world, had recovered all her usual self-possession.

"We are delighted at any business, important or otherwise, which brings you here, Mr Melford. There are Diana and Miss Latimer; go to them at once, then come and tell me that you will make one of our party. I was going to write and beg you to join us." With a bow to her and the earl, who acknowledged it by the barest nod, Seymour glided across the room to Diana. She looked up with languid, indifferent surprise.

"Seymour! what on earth bring 3 you here?"

"Hush!" he said, bending over her. "Something has happened—l will come to your room and tell you. Where is Lorrie?"

Diana looked round and shrugged her shoulders.

"I see her," he said, and he went toward the ante-room, where Lorrie was standing talking to Guy. Her back was toward Seymour, and as he came up he spoke her name. It was spoken softly enough, in all conscience, but its effect was disastrous.

Lome's nerves, not over-strong of late, had been kept nt the. highest tension all ihis evening, and at the- sound of his voice she started, and uttering a low cry of alarm, she went white and staggered.

Guy caught her in his arms, but, with an evil smile, Seymour said: "That is my duty, I think, Lord Kendale,"- and put his arm round her.

For a moment the two men glared at each other the unconscious girl, then, with an oath crushed upon his lips, Guy surrendered her. "You are right!' he said., as if the words were forced from him. "I will send Lady Farnham."

(To be continued on Monday.)