A DREAM OF LOVE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 61, 12 March 1903, Page 6

A DREAM OF LOVE.

(By BERTHA M. CLAY.)

CHAPTER LIV. "HEAVEN'S GATES AXE OPENED WIDE." It will be hard, indeed, for the ordinary reader to faithfully enter into the feeling of the young- Earl of Lytie at this supreme moment, lie had not looked upon the beautiful face of Marian Treinayne since that memorable and fateful night when he had been mad enough to doubt her—mad enough to insult h«r as no woman had been insulted before. What a lifetime of horror for both of them had been crowded into the few months that had intervened! And how should he meet her? How should lie crave forgiveness for the pain that he had caused her? He told himself that if he had been a man, this dark blot might never have sullied the bright pages of their lives. "These are Miss Tremayne's apartments, my lord/ said the nurse, who was walking before him. Athol stopped, and did not dare to knock until the woman was gone; then He tapped gently at the door, his heart leaping into his throat, and in one moment he saw the regal form of his beautiful Marian standing before him. A mist came before his vision, and he seized her hand, impulsively. "Marian, my darling! My own true love!" "Athol!" He closed the door, and they became locked in a fond, sweet, never-to-be-for-goften embrace. In the space of one minute more than a million words Mere expressed. No language of the tongue could so eloquently tell of the constancy, the truth, the love eternal of those two hearts. Then he pushed her from him a little way, to feast his sight upon the face that was enshrined In Ma soul. "Yes, darling," he whispered, 'I can really see tlnough one of the blue glasses, end 1 hope soon to have the sight of Loth eyes perfect. How wo have suffered — bow needlessly we have suffered — fand I alone am to blame!'' "Athol, you must net say that; we have both*made mistakes; but nothing in the whole world has power now to come between us, to part us even for one moment." "I wish that were true, literally," Athol smilei. "I wish that you were my ■wife, Marian, so that we need not leave each other even for a day. There is no use in waiting, sweetheart, and my mother wants you so badly. Her last words to me this morning were for you, Marian. You will pity her when you see her, and I am sure that your tender heart will forgive her at the same time." Marian nestled closer to her lover.

"There tue many explanations to be made, Athol, and then there shall do perfect trust between us for evermore," she whispered. "I think that I know all that I ever want to know. I have your forgiveness and your love; I know that you are the most perfect woman on earth, and as soon as we are out of this house of horrora, you must prepare for our wedding. lam impatient —I cannot wait. You fjave now no ties to keep you from me." "Only papa," murmured the girl j "poor papa!" Athol pressed her tightly to his bosom, Baying: "Your father 3ias gone, darling. He died'this morning at an early hour. The servants my that he was mad again, and it is better so; hi* life would have been one long misery, anxiety, and reproach. He died of heart failure, and suffered no pain. You need not see him in this house, dear. Dr. Allbright will have the |)ody sent to your home at Broxbourne." The shov;k to Marian was severe, but even with the blow she experienced a feeling of relief. How much had she dreaded his meeting with Raymond Boyd, and the knowledge that Lillian, his faTourite child, waa dead! His fury and remorse would have been terrible.

She wiped the gathering tears from her eyes, saying: "I have no wish to remain in the house one moment longer thai is necessary, Athol, an.l I do not wa<-t you to go far away from me; I have ttil) upon me the dread power of .my enemy, the evil power of that wicked doctor."

"You need have no fear, sweetheart; the Duke of Medford will trouble you no more."

There was a knock at the door, and Dr. Allbright came in, followed by Sir Geo. Granville. The latter was introduced to Marian; it was the first time that they had ever tret, and his heart misgave him for the haul thoughts he bed had of her; for the daik counsel he had given concerning hot. "I am soiry to interrupt you lovere." Dr. Allbrigh* said, gravely, "but J. shall not feel comfortable until we are. out of the atmosphere of this place. All 5s now ir> readiness for a departure to the Medford Arms Hotel, where we wir lunch before starling for London."

"The mirpe is in the co-.iidor, waiting to assist Miss Tremay^o to dfw and pack up," added Sir George. "Come alonf, Athol, and we will wait for them below."

They left the women, who immediately became very busy, and Dr. Allbright showed the earl a telegram from Scotland Yard, stating that two detectives had been sent on.

"We will leave the house to them," the doctor said, "and I have no doubt that the heir and relatives Mill soon be nocking here. There is only one person missing, and that is the doctor who has assisted the duke hitherto in his nefarious work. The buttler says that Tremayne, in his last mad frenzy, brat the fellow's face out of all rocoEfnis-.ibhi shape with his violin. I expect that wo shall have to appear at the inquest, and then there will be an end of the whole miserable business."

"I have told Marian of her father's death," the carl said, "and that is all

she knows yet of the horrors of the past few hours. What shall you do with the Italian girl?" "Take her with us, poor creature. She is undoubtedly the Duchess of Medford, and will come in for a share of his personality —that is, if no previous wife turns up. I have told the nurse to lind her some suitable clothing." Two handsome carriages from the Medford stables were waiting for the party, which consisted of Dr. Allbright, Sir George Granville, the Earl of Lytte, and the two clergymen. Then followed Mrs Hammond, the housekeeper, who refused to stay one hour longer in the house; the nurse, Marian Tremayne, and the unfortunate Therese Cavaili, attired in a suit of black from MisS Tremayne's wardrobe, and looking extremely beautiful. But there was misery— terror, in her pale face —there was but one cry upon her drawn lips: ''Frederick! my husband! Frederick!" She could think no evil of him now. Had he not called her by the old pet name? Had he not pressed her to his heart, and kissed her in the old, fond way ? A crowd of curious people were about the lodge gates, and followed the carriages to the hotel, hooting and yelling. The news had leaped out; the story of the tragedy had been bandied about. After the lunch, which was but a mere pretence, the gentlemen luid a sharp business consultation. The vicar agreed to take charge of the housekeeper and the Duchess of Medford —he undertook to institute a searching investigation into her claims, and to see that she enjoyed what was hers by right. "And you, doctor," the earl observed later. "What are your movements?" "Well, for a week or ten dajs, 1 am not my own master, and we have Miss Tremayne to consider." "'I intend taking her to Lady Travera' town house, where my mother is staying, the earl said, "and you had better make your headquarters there, also, until the duke and Mr Tremayne are buried, at least."' "And after that?" the doctor said, quizzically. "I shall ask Marian to consent to an early wedding. I have waited quite long enough." Sir George also pressed the dactor to go direct to Lady Travels. "You see," he added, smilingly. "I can invite you with some show of authority—l. am Lady Traver's future son-in-law." So Dr. Allbright agreed, and various telegrams were soon being flashed to London, and one of the message.? will never be forgotten. It was from the earl, and was worded in this way: Dearest Mother, —Marian is coming with me. All is love —forgiving and forgiven. Heaven's gates are opened wide. (To be continued daily.)