A DREAM OF LOVE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 35, 10 February 1903, Page 6

A DREAM OF LOVE.

( By BERTHA M. CLAY.) CHAPTER XXVIII. (-continued.) After dinner, Miss Allbright had much to tell Marian about the neighbourhood and the neighbours, and the doctor said that he felt too tired to go into the business in band that evening.. He preferred j to have a cigar with Mr. Dudley, who j was wandering about the grounds. He hoped that Mrs. Temple would excuse him. The library was at her disposal, or, if she chose, she could go quietly through his new rendering of her father's Work. .Marian laughingly told him that she would find" some congenial task Where there was so much that was pleasant, particularly i? he would give hor permission to cross tl.-r portals of that poetic chamber, which reminded her of the palace oi soma great bashaw. "I am uot a bashaw, Mrs Temple,' smiled the (lector, ''ami thu chamber of splendour is free to you. I saw a similar ojie in India—in tlie house of a pasha, and collected all the acacasories, ay inch you will observe are of Eastern make and giowl:]!, with the determination io construct one for myself. I delight in barbaric Dplendoir, ami to soma extent I think most human beings do who are Messed with any imagination at all. You must consider yourself highly honoured, Mrs Temple, by my granting you the rare privilege of inspecting the contents of my favourite chamber, for such 1:; not extended even to my mosL intimate friends—unless they be musician.:; Or poets. Marian thanked Dr. Allbright in the panic spirit that animated the offer and inspired the language in whicli it was made, and the trio laughed merrily, for Miss Ailbright was as much charmed with their 'visitor as was the doctor himself. At that moment an unsteady step was heard without, and Mr Dudley was heard calling: 'Are you coming out foi- a smoke, doctor? The air is quite soft this evenimT.?' That A-oice! Marian was glad that the. lamps were not yet lighted, for she felt her checks turn cold and pale—her heart seemed to stand still. She could not see Mr Dudley, for he I, ad paused in the na _sas« without, but she could hear him humming over some fine that was familiar—very familiar to * her. '•One minute, sir." called the doctor.

He tabbed at half a dozen cigars that had been placed for his use. and went out with Mr Dudley. Avhile Marian strove to still the wild plunging of her Peart. After a momentary cessation, it had -^iven a Avild leap, and she felt angry with herself for losing all control •over her emotions. Somehow she could jest no longer, and oniv answered the remarks and queries of 'Miss Allbright in the briefest possible manner. There was one longing _i-y in her heart, "Oh, Athol, my darIlimr. where are you?"

Who could be this man who Avas so much like him? Who could be this man •who bore the old family name? If one of the Dudleys of Lytte—and he must he one of the family—his great resemblance to Athol proved that beyond aU manner of doubt—if he Avere one of the .Dudleys of Lytte, then it was fortunate that the name of Tremayne had not been mentioned. ' In some Avay he may '-.aye heard something of her from the . ountess of Lytte. and she did not wish Dr Allbright to hear anything of her .other pitiful story—the story of her misplaced love—its misunderstandings— Hs mistakes—its anguish unutterable. "You are quiet," observed Miss All-

hright. , "I Avas thinking how terrible it must \, e to be blind, and co young," stammered Marian. "It must be, indeed," was the quiet

*C«Ha S Mr Dudley been blind very Ion"* 9" "I 'cannot Bay," Miss Allbright answer-

°°'-ITave you known him long?" was Marian's next question. "Personally, I havo not. These are mv brother's affairs exclusively.' 'Marian felt the tones Avere cold and short Had sho bee;, unduly inquisitive' She knew that it would bn uselew to question Miss Allbright further. The busy little lady had orders for. hei servants, and left Marian alone m the doctor's Eastern chamber. For a while she was content to examine- the rare pictures, the. magnificent ti-rer skins, the exquisite furniture, upholstered in a hundred tints and colours; to inhale the odours of the scented waters of the fountain and admire -tho choicest exotics. From these she turned to the piano, and idly touched tlie keys, her thoughts „ .mo- back to the happy past, her eyes HvoAviu^ moist with the tears she could not shed. Then she sang, in her clear, sweet voice, this tender melody: ««At the mid-hour of night, when stars are weeping. I fly ~, To the lone vale we loved, when life shone warm in thine eye; And I think oft. if spirits can steal from the regions of air To revisit past scenes of delight, thou ...ir come to me there, A, ; . ,_ ( f .i] mo our love l& remembered, even "in the sky! "Then I sing the wild song 'twas such pleasure to hear, TVlion onr voices, commingling, breathed, like one, on the ear: And. as echo far off through the vale my sad orison rolls, I think. 0 my love, 'tis tliy voice from the Kingdom of Souls. Faintly answering still the notes that once were so dear." She had not noticed that the doctor and his patient had entered the room, the soft carpet giving back no sound. They were seated on a lounge, the doctor listening with keen delight and approval in his eyes, but _Ir Dudley's face was turned towards her—bent toward her in an eager manner, his hands were clench-