LORRIE: OR HOLLOW GOLD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4, 5 January 1903, Page 6

LORRIE: OR HOLLOW GOLD.

By CHARLES GARVICE.

of "The Marquis," etc

CHAPTER XXVUL

Seymour Malford swept the curtains aside Avith his left arm, while his right supported Lorrie, and called to Lady Collop: "Will you come, please? Miss Latimer has fainted!"There Avas an instant commotion and consternation, in the midst of Avhich Lady Farnham came up, composed and self-possessed. She understood it all at a glance. "Your unexpected arrival has startled her/ she said to Seymour Melford. "That and the long journey have been too much for her; the poor child is not strong! Give her to me, please!" and 'she took Lorrie fom his arms as he had taken her from Guy's. In a few minutes Lorrie came to, and she looked round wildly, with a little shudder of fear. "Hush, my dear! Don't speak!" whispered Lady Farnham, then, signing to the rest, who stood round in silent anxiety, she led her up to her OAvn room. "It's very silly of me," she said, Avith a feeble attempt at a laugh. "Ive — I've only fainted once before in my life, I think! It must have been the heat of the room. lam very sorry, Lady Farnham." L«dy Farnham said nothing, but with her own hands helped her maid to undress Lorrie. "Now go to bed, and to sleep, my dear," she said at last; "don't say another word!" as Lorrie opened her lips again. "Perhaps I know more than you think!" and with this enigmatical speech she stooped and kissed the pale, beautiful face, and went out. When Lady Farnham re-entered the drawing-room it was to see the guests broken up into cold and aAvkward groups. The earl stood by the fire, his white hand 3 leaning on his stick, his noblelooking head bent thoughtfully. Lady CoMop had gone upstairs to "look after Lorrie," and Diana sat frowning sulkily behind her fan. Guy, with his hands thrust as far as they Avould go in his pockets, leaned against the wall, staring moodily at the floor. But it was Seymour Melford's face that attracted her attention. It was never very ruddy at the best of times, but it was perfectly colourless now, and Avith a look half savage, half ferocious, like that! of a wild animal longing to snarl and bite, and yet afraid to do so. "I must be going," said the earl. "Is she better?" he added in a loav voice, full of a sense of troube and remorse. "Yes, poor young thing!" said Lady Farnham. "Don't go to-night,, Latcham, stay here; your room is ready for you. It is next to Guy's. Guy, come and persuade your father to stay till the morning; it is a nasty, draughty night, and he will catch cold going out of this warm room." Guy crossed over and said nothing, but, as if he had spoken, the earl nodded. "I will stay," he said. "Guy, come to my room before you go to bed." Guy inclined his head dutifully, and the earl went to the two ladies and made his courtly adieux.

Guy went back to the wall and resumed his old attitude, his face pale, his lips set. Seymour Melford's sudden return had roused in him that devil which most men have. It maddened him to think that the man had the right to take Lorrie out of his—Guys—arms, that soon he would have the. right to hold her in his own as his wife^ Lady Farnham came up to him and touched him gently. "Guy, you are going to be a good boy, ain't you?" she said in a low voice, and one that was strangely anxious for her. "What do you mean?" he demanded, almost curtly. "Well, you haven't been a very good boy to me, have you now?" she said with gentle reproach/ "Why didn't you tell me that Lorrie Latimer was We'll, the girl you were fond of?" "Why should I?" he said under his breath.' "If I had done so, you wouldn't have asked her here, would you?" "Certainly not; you know I should not!" "Well, and I wanted you to ask her. You see how she is? She was pining for fresh air and a sight of the country she loves so well." "Still you should have told me," she said, gently. "But it is all right now that her sweetheart has arrived, isn't it?" "It looks like it, doesn't it," he retorted bitterly, "when she faints at the sight of him!" "Hush!" she said, warningly, for he has spoken almost aloud. "Won't you go to bed, now, like a good boy?" "What, and leave all the hard work of entertaining Mr. Melford to you?" he said, with bitter significance. "1 have scarcely spoken to him yet." ' Lady Farnham's grasp tightened on his arm. "Guy, you are not going to make a scene?" "No," he said, calmly, and with a heavy sigh; "I'm not going to make a scene. I am bound hand and foot, and powerless; there is no use in making a scene." Meanwhile Seymour Melford went and sat down beside Diana. She glanced up at him over her fan curiously. "What is the matter with you?" she said in a low voice, "What has happened—can you not tell me now and here?" "No," he said, looking beyond her at the tall figure leaning against the wall. "How long has this been going on?" "How long has what been going on?" she repeated, with affected ignorance of his meaning. "You know what I mean! How long hns that fellow been dancing attendance oti Lorrie? How long has he been sitting in her pocket and flirting with her?" Diana smiled. It was some consolation in her own bitterness to watch and add fuel to his, "Oh, he has been staying in the same house in London, and he got her invited here," she said.

«———■< II Jill 11 ill I I—— mrnnm mill iiimim«— He drew a long breath, and his nostrils expanded like a Avild animal's. "And you are mean enough to sit by and permit it!" he said. "If you had no thought for me, one would think you would have had some for yourself; he is engaged to you!" She laughed, the soft scornful laugh that always maddened him. "My dear Seymour, you amuse me! What does it matter to me whom poor Lord Guy flirts Avith? So long as he marries me he may amuse himself with any number of girls! You take things too seriously, i suppose you are still in love with that pale-faced chit 1 Really, it is too absurd!" • "And you," he said, going whiter, "are incapable of love!" ■ "Thanks. Perhaps I am. If so, I ought to be grateful, seeing that I might make as great an idiot of myself as you are doing. For goodness sake, don't scowl at him; he is quite capable of coming over and pitching you into the iireplace," and she laughed. He breathed hard and clinched his hands. "Curse him!" he hissed between his teeth. "Curse him as much as you like, but don't let him hear you," she retorted, pleasantly. "Pshaw! be patient, my dear Seymour; only a week or two and I shall be Lady Kendale. If it will comfort you I promise you that he shall not have many opportunities of flirting Avith your Lorrie Latimer." "And this is Avhy she wanted to go and live with that old hag, 'to be all alone!' Yes! Left alone to the society of that—that—ruffian!" As if he were unable to control himself any longer, he rose and walked across the room toward Guy. Diana watched him with a soft smile. A storm of Ijealousy and spite Avas raging in her bosom, and, like a tigress, she Avould have enjoyed the spectacle of these tAvo men tearing each other to pieces> Guy raised his head as Seymour Melford approached, and the two men looked at each other steadily. "I have to thank you, Lord Kendale, for your kind attention to Miss Latimer during my absence," said Seymour Melford, his eyes glittering, his thin lips curved into a hard, sinister smile. "Do you mean because I Avas fortunate enough to be near at hand and catch her when your sudden and unexpected appearance caused her to swoon," said Guy, Avith quite as ugly a smile. "Yes, and to your efforts to amuse her at - Lady Collop's," said Seymour, scarcely knowing what he said. Guy stared at him, then shrugged his shoulders. "Miss Latimer and I are old friends/'* he said, carelessly. "Yes," purred Seymour, "and you will be almost brother and sister, will you» not, when she and I and you and Diana are married?" Guy winced, and his brows contracted. "Exactly," he said, "when those interesting events take place." "Do you mean to suggest that they may not take place?" asked Seymour, still smiling. "Who knows Avhat may happen?" returned Guy, almost mad Avith the longing to seize him and hurl him, smile and all, out of the window. "Then there is a doubt?" said Seymour Melford, SAveetly. "On Avhich side is it? Not on yours, I am saire. Any obstacle Fate should put in the w r ay of your marriage with Diana now would be too great a misfortune, Avould it not?" and the smile grew into a sneer. Guy thrust, bis hands still deeper in his pockets, so that they might be less unfree and more under his control, and his face went white. He understood the taunt (conveyed in the seemingly innocent words. He kreAV that the breaking off of the match with Diana Avould mean ruin to Latcham. "A Aery great misfortune," he said; then, in a loAver Aoice, and with an ominous light flashing in his eyes, "Mr Melford, do you intend to be offensive?" Seymour Melford gave an affected little start.

"Offensive!" he echoed, with a laugh. "What can you mean? Surely you do not take' my little pleasantry seriously? Oh, lam quite convinced of your devotion to my sister, or be sure I shouldn't jest about it." "No, I suppose not," said Guy grimly. "But I don't mean to be offensive when I tell you that I am not in the humour for jesting- this evening," and he turned on his heel. Seymour Melford went back to the sofa, pant'ug with suppressed fury. "Well?" paid Diana, in a low. mocking voice. "Is it all arranged? Are you going to fight with swords or pistols?" "Heavens, if it were only possible!" he ground out. "But as it isn't you had better agree to hate each other in the ordinary polite and harmless manner," she retorted. "I am going to my room now. You can come and say what you want to me up there." "Good," he replied. "I will go and get a cigar, and cool myself." and he passed his hot hand over his forehead, upon which great drops of per; hnd gathered. She rose languidly and crossed the room. "Good night, Guy," she said, raising her face to his. "How bored and ill-tempered you look. Lorrie isn't really ill. you know: she will be all right to-morrow. Don't upset yourself more than you can help." His face flushed, and then went pale again, and he stooped and touched her cold forehead with his lips, from which he crushed back the retort that sprang to tßem; for was he not bound hand and foot and helpless? As he went up the stairs to the earl's room he passed Lorries door and for a moment he paused and stretched out his hands yearningly towards the senseless door, and her name trembled on his lips. Heaven! how hard and cruel Fate had been to them both! —not only to him, but to her; fcf- he had read in the swift look with which she had greeted Seymour' Melford not only surprise, but fear and dislike. Even now it was not too late. The fatal words which would make him Diana's husband, and her Seymour Melford's wife, had not been spoken, but how could he break his promise? —how could he lav Latcham in ruinSj and bring his father's grey hairs in sorrow to the grave? With a deep sigh he opened the door of the earl's room and enter-, cd.

The earl was seated before the fire wrapped in his dressing-gown, which the valet—for whom Lady Farnham had sent—had brought over with him. He looked up as Guy came in, bu?, said nothing, and Guy went and leaned against the mantelshelf, and bolh were silent for a moment or two. Then the earl raised his head and in a low, mournful voice, which quivered with emotion, said: "Guy, I am a Avretched man." Guy started and looked at him. "Why do you say that, sir?" "Because I am. too wretched to keep my misery to myself. Guy! I have seen to-night how it is with you." A faint flush came and faded upon Guy's face. "I have seen how it is with you and —I am frightened." "Frightened, sir?" "Yes, frightened," repeated the old man, with solemn melancholy. "I had thought that things Avere Avorking well Avith vs —that you had forgotten the past, and were contented and happy Avith the prospect of the future. But —but to-night the veil has been torn aside, and I see it all! Guy, you love that little girl still! Can you deny it?" Guy's face went white, and he bit his lip. "Why do you torture me, sir?" he paid, bitterly. The earl put up his hand appealingly. "I did not mean to be cruel, Guy! Heaven forbid! Ah, there was no need to answer my question! I read the truth in your face when it turned to her; your voice, every time you spoke to her to-night! Oh, Guy! Avhat is to be done?" Guy remained silent. "And she, too —she loves you!" said the old man, his voice low and broken. "Oh, say no more, sir, for Heaven's sake," exclaimed Guy, hoarsely. "Of what use is all this? What is done cannot be undone! We are divided, poles asunder; of what use can all this be?" The earl raised his head and looked at, him, a glance of infinite pity and sorrow. "Guy," he said, with a quiet air of resolution, "it is not yet too late! j-ou are divided, and it is I Avho did it! I! I did it- for the best, I call Heaven to witness; not for my own good alone, but for you, for Latcham's! But —but I had not seen her then." He turned for a moment, and his head sunk again. "I had not seen her then. Oh, Guy, what charm has the girl Avrought to bewitch me so thoroughly? I cannot get her sweet, pale face out of my mind! It haunts me! My first thought should be of you, of your welfare; but it is not! It is of her I, think! Guy, her heart is breaking!" Guy moved so that his face was in the shadow. "Breaking! I know the look too Avell to be deceived. And I have done it! My boy"—and his voice grew tender and full of remorse, "it must not be. I take back all I have said; I will undo all I ht>ve done! You shall go to her " Guy broke in with a harsh laugh. "That Avould do no good," he said. "Ah! you do not knoAv her. She has given her promise to that —that man, and she will keep it, though her heart is breaking, as you say." "I Avill go to her!" said the earl, with simple dignity. "She Avill listen to an oki man Avho has Avronged her, and comes with humility and remorse to make re paration " t "100 late!" said Guy, grimly. "You fOl get, sir, that I, too, am fettered. I have given my Avord, and a Latcham does not break his promise lightly. You think—l think only of Lorrie, but Diana The old man bowed his head. "What have I done, Guy?" he murmured, almost inaudibly. "You haA-e acted according to your lights," said Guy, slowly, solemnly. "It is too late now, sir, to hark back. Neither her heart nor mine will break; we cannot suffer more than we have, I think," he added, simply; "and, at least, Latcham will be saved."

As he spoke he passed his hand across his face swiftly, but not so swiftly as to, conceal the misery which shone darkly in his eyes. The ©Id man saw it, and rose with quiet, patrician dignity. "No!" he said, and low as he spoke his words seemed to ring like the tones of a great muffled bell. "No! it is not too late. Latcham shall not be saved by your destruction! No good can come of such a marriage as yours and Diana's, and it shall not be. My hands made the match, and mine .shall break it. I will go to her and tell her the truth; I will humble myself before her, and gain your freedom. Do not speak! Every moment since I knew the tr.uth my resolution has been growing stronger. I will not go to my grave bearing the weight of your ruined life. What is Latcham, what i 3 all the world to me compared with your happiness? I thought differently awhile ago, but my eyes are opened now. You shall marry the girl you love, Guy." Guy stood silent for a moment, then he gently forced the old man into his chair again. "Too late, sir," he said, hoarsely. "*.iy word, my honour, is pledged. I shall marry Diana Melford." As he spoke the window adjoining theirs was opened, and the sound of voices came distinctly on their ears. Both men looked toward 1 the heavilycurtained window and listened unconsciously. "Are you going to faint now?" It was Seymour Melford's voice, hard and metallic, with a bitter, sneering tone, and Diana retorted as bitterly: "No! Why did you tell me with such brutal suddenness? Leave the window open —I feel suffocating! When did you know this, and how?" "Yesterday," replied Seymour. "I went into hi 3 office to fetch a letter. His private account book was open on his dcsk —left there by accident; he has been drinking heavily for the last month —and " " j "You examined it." she said. "I examined it," he assented doggedly. "The items roused my suspicions-. I opened the safe and got out his papers, and was not long in arriving at. the truth. The great Mr Melford —the successful financier and millionaire —is a fraud! He has been on the brink of ruin for years—he is ruined utterly and irrevocably at this moment!" The earl started and rose from his chair, but Guy laid his hand upon his arm and motioned him to he silent. "We are listening, Guy!" said the old

man in an agony. Guy nodded. "When a rogue plots, honest men may listen —and still be honest" he said, sternly. Diana uttered an exclamation of rage and despair. "Are you sure? Sure!—quite sure?" she hissed between her teeth. "I am quite sure," he returned, coldly, as if enjoying the effect he had produced. "And it has been going on for years ?" "For years. Not one of the recent contract has been profitable, although the public has believed that he was making thousands and was eager to lend him the money he has borrowed and which has kept him afloat. The last contract in France has been more disastrous than the others, and it is the last straw." "But you—you have feathered your ne&t!" she said, with a sneer. He laughed b'tterly. "You are mistaken. I was a rich man, as men go; but he has deceived me—even me!—yes, he has deceived me as he has deceived others. UiiOer one pretence or another he rlas borrowed of me just as he borrowed of the public." He laughed. "I ought to have had my eyes opened, but — I didn't, you see." "Then —then you are ruined, too?" "Utterly," he said. "I have lost all my money." "And Lorrie Latimer, too!" she said, with a cruel laugh. He uttered an oath. 'Lost Lorrie? No! I have her still! What, do you think I would let iher go? Do you. think I would bear it all like this if I had lost her? No, no! The money—what do I care for it? I am young and still have my brains. The world lies before me; and with her"—he drew a long breath —"with her I could face poverty all the rest of my life." "You are a fool!" she hissed. "Brains! and you talk of saddling yourself with a penniless wife! Let her go, and marry money—you are young still ——" "Silence!" he said, with another oath. "You —you drive me mad! I tell you I love her!—l tell you—bah! You do not understand! You with your heart of stone and iron! Leave her and me alone. We shall not trouble you. But you, what do you mean to do? Will you marry that fellow now that you have lost the power of keeping their rotten house from falling about their ears?" There was silence for a moment. Guy's grasp on the earl's arm became like a clasp of steel as they waited for the answer.

It came with a low mocking laugh. "Will I marry him still? Yes, I think so!"

"Then you love him!" he said, in a tone of cold surprise. She laughed again, this time with a scornful contempt. ;:.

"Love him! Love a man who is in love with another woman! Do you take me for a fool? I have never been very sweet upon him, my dear Seymour, but lately, I think—that— I have hated him! Let me think!" There was silence for a moment; the earl sank- back in his chair and hid his face in his hands, but Guy stood like an image carved in stone. "Yes, Seymour, I will marry him! There will be, there must be, something left out of the wreck of Latcham, and that will be better than nothing. Besides, I shall be Lady Kendale; I shall be the Countess of Latcham before long; the old man is breaking fast." She laughed a soft laugh of evil, malicious enjoyment. "By hook or by crook, the marriage must be hastened; he must not know what has happened till it is too late! Seymour!" she paused and drew a long breath —"you asked me to-night how I could be so mean as to let those two carry on under my very eyes? You thought I did not mind it! If yon knew how I have chafed and maddened under it! But I shall have my revenue now! ITe will marry me for my money, will he? Marry me to save his name and his house? Seymour, I shall have my revenge, don't you think, when I can say to him, 'You have married the. daughter of a and you haven't saved your precious house after all!'" Sevmonr Melford laughed a low, sinister laugh.

"Good!" he said. "Good! Diana. I am proiid of yon! Yes, that will be b»st. THere wi'l be something out of the wr^ck, - and yon will be a countess! Nothing can rob you of your title! Yes, you are right; you shall marry him, the wedding shall be. hastened. I will keep things afloat until then! What money have you now?" "T don't know. There is some at the hank. T think. You shall have it; and there are nijv jewels. He has given me some handsome presents — take them-" They heard her cross the room, hen Seymour's vo ; ce again. "Thanks! I can trust you, Diana! You have proved yourself sterling metal to-night. Can you keep it up?" .She laughed. "You will sec'- Seymour, the thought of my revenge almost reconciles me to the loss of our money. If you would only throw over that palefaced Latimer girl " "No more of that!" he said, angrily; "once more I tell you that the thought of her consoles me for all that I have lost. Our marriage, like yours, must be hurried on. Once she is mine, I can face the world fearlessly. It. is the thought of losing 1-er that drives me.mad —mad! You do not understand " "No!" she said, contemptuously, "What is in her that makes feels of both you and Guy?" "Silence!" he paid, furiously. "You shall not mention her name in connection with his! Oh, my darling! my darling!" She Iniighefl scornfully. "Yon had better go if you are going to rhapsodise," she said, sneeringlv. "Tt is not .for her sake that I advise yon to drop her. I shall enjoy her dismay when she finds that the man she las been scheming for is not the son of a millionaire, but of a swindling bankrupt!" "scheming for!" he repeated, furiously. "It is I who have schemed for her! Ah, you don't know all, Diana; all T have waded through to win her. How I got the father into my toils, and hound her hand and foot to me! How I —but, no. you do not understand! You have no heart "No," she assented scornful-

ly; "I have only a great thirsty longing for revenge, and having got that —and my countess-ship— I shall be content. You had better go now. I want to be alone to think. Oh, I can see the old man's—the earl's —face and my Lord Guy's when they learn the trutht! Latcham brought to the hammer, and the heir married to a bankrupt's daughter! Seymour, I wouldn't exchange my prospect for yours, though I don't possess a heart! You may take your Lorrie Latimer, but give me my coronet and my revenge! Good-night! Close that window now."

The earl and Guy heard Seymour. close the window, and a moment or two afterwards stood listending to his footsteps as he went along the corridor to his room. Then the earl groaned and rose totteringly. "Latcham! Latcham is g-one!" murmured he, forgetting that in pleading for Lorrie he had been reconciled to his loss. "Yes," said Guy, hoarsely, "Latcham is gone!" "But you are saved," cried the old man, and he put his arms round Guy's neck. (To be continued.)