Doris Marlowe

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 171, 20 July 1903, Page 6

Doris Marlowe

By CHARLES GARVICE

Or "A WOMAN'S SOUL."

CHAPTER LX. —(Continued.)

"If I really thought you -would help me," Lady Grace said, doubtfully. "You may think so, for I will," Spenser Churchill answered. "As I said, never mind my motives—they concern only myself. And how goes the business? Has our dear friend Cecil—eh?" She frowned slightly as if the question touched her self-love and vanity. "Our dear friend does not at present seem much smitten by your humble servant's charms," she said, with a short laugh, which only barely hid her vexation. He smiled and nodded. "Our young friend is rather spoiled, you see. One cannot be the favoured of the gods in the matter of youth, and strength, and features, without paying the usual penalty. Cecil is the most popular man in London. Believe me, there are twenty young ladies—l could give you their names" — and his lips curled—"who are, if not dying, living in love of him." "I know," she said, with hardly restrained impatience. "Of course, there has been a dead-set at him. That is very natural, is it not? But—but 1 don't think " "That the sultan has shown any partiality, that he has not yet thrown the handkerchief," he finished for her. ".No, thoughtfully; "I don't think he has. His lordship has, indeed, been so very impartial, not to say invulnerable, that 1 have sometimes wondered whether there was not some young lady hidden away, eh?" and he looked at her questioningly. She started, and coloured. "Then there is?" he said at once. "I—l don't know," she replied,musingly "There may be. Last night I dined away from the Towers, at the Thurltons, you know?" "I know," he murmured, pleasantly. "Thurlton's grandfather was transported for forgery; his wife's sister ran away with young Lengard, I remember. "Of course you know all about them, every shameful secret in the family for generations back?" she said, with a sighHe laughed. "I have such a dreadfully good memory, dear lady. Well, you dined there "Yes; and coming home I passed down the High-street, and saw Lord Cecil. He was standing at the door of a fly, opposite the theatre, talking to a lady, a girl." He nodded, and puffed at his cigarette placidly, with half-closed eyes, looking, indeed, almost asleep; but his next question proved that he was very much awake. "Was she pretty, Lady Grace? "I only saw her for a moment. Yes," she admitted, reluctantly. "You did not know her?" She shook her head. "No. She was not one of the daughters of any of the county people; besides, it was a fly. It was opposite- the side entrance " "She was an actress," he interrupted, quietly. "How do you know?" "My dear lady! It is so simple! The fly was the only one there, or you would not have seen her so plainly; it was at the side entrance; she was unknown to you. Oh, plainly, it was an actress. And it was she who was with Lord Cecil this morning." "Then you have seen her?" she exclaimed, eagerly. He shook his head. "No," he said, "only heard her. I met our dear Cecil in the woods. As 1 approached, I heard two voices, though he, of course, denied it. One was a woman's, and, though I am not in the habit of laying wagers with ladies — for they never pay when they lose—l would bet something considerable that the voice belonged to the young lady whom you saw talking to Lord Cecil outside the theatre last night!" She bit her lip, and the look came into her eyes which indicates the first approach of the green-eyed monster—jealousy. "Some worthless actress, painted and powdered. Some woman old enough to be his mother, though made up as a girl » He shook his head and laughed with eerene enjoyment. "No, no; such an experienced bird as Lord Cecil is not to be caught with such chaff, my dear lady! Depend upon it, this girl is young and pretty." She twisted her handkerchief in her hands, then smiled contemptuously. "It must be the Juliet of last night!" ehe said. "Perhaps." "Well"—she drew a long breath —"I think I am a match for a common actress, though she be young and pretty!" and she raised her head and turned to him defiantly. He loo.Ctfd at her with the calm eyes of a connoisseur. "Yes, i should think so," he said blandly. 'Certainly, ] should think so. A match for half-a-dozen of them. Forgive me if I say that I don't think there is a more beautiful woman in England fchan Lady Grace Peyton, or a more charming one!" She took no notice of the compliment; to her ears there rang a tone of mockery behind the smooth phrases. "What is to be done? What do you advise?" she asked, after a moment's pause, and with an affected indifference which made him smile. He puffed a thin line of smoke from his sleek lips and watched it with halfclosed eyes. "Nothing," he said. "Nothing?" she repeated. "No," he said. "Nothing, so far as you are concerned. Just go on being beautiful and charming —as you cannot

Author of "Leola Dale's Fortune," " The Marqnis," " Lorrie, or Hollow Gold." Etc., Etc.

help being—and leave it to me to do the rest. If this is not a serious business; if his lordship is really only scratched, why "He laughed lazily. "If, on the contrary, he is badly hit, and means business, means to make her the future Marchioness of Stoyle, why we must deal with the young lady herself." "Deal with her?" she asked, with an eager interest she did not attempt to conceal.

He nodded at the scenery. "Yes. There are two ways of going to work, each suited to the subject we arc speaking on. Money and moral suasion. It may be money in this case; if

"I am rich," she said, in a quiet undertone. "If the creature requires to be bought; if " "You will do it? Exactly. But the moral suasion?"

"I will leave to you, who have so much of it," she said, with a haif-sneer.

He laughed softly. "So they all say, dear lady, but, alas! I am so tender-hearted that I can never bring myself to use it! I am all heart, all heart!" and he laid his hand on the spot in which the organ is situated, and beamed at her. Then, without moving a muscle, he went on:"And so, dear Lady Grace, we had the poor children to an evening party, and gave them tea and buns, and I am sure you would have melted to tears at the sight of their overbrimming happiness." Lady Grace looked round in astonishment, and saw that Lord Cecil had stepped from one of the windows. Spenser Churchill's quick ear had heard him, and hence the swift change in the topic of conversation.

"Mr Churchill begging again, Lady Grace?" said Lord Cecil. "Beware of him; he never comes near you without an attempt on your purse. What's it for now, Spenser; the 'Indigent Washerwomen,' or the 'Chimney Sweeps' Orphans?' He's chairman or secretary of half-a-dozen charities —aren't you, Spenser? —and he won't let you rest until youVe put yourself down for lady patroness for half of 'em!" and he laughed the short, frank laugh which was so refreshing a contrast to Spenser Churchill's oily one that Lady Grace felt as if it washed the other away. " "It's the 'Indigent Basketmakers' Children,' my dear Cecil," said Spenser Churchill smoothly. "Dear Lady Grace has consented to become one of our lady patronesses, have you not, Lady Grace?" "Oh, yes," she said, indifferently; "and now having hooked me, 111 leave you to go for Lord Cecil," and with a nod and a smile to theh latter, she turned and entered the house. Spenser Churchill looked after her with a rapt gaze of benevolent admiration. . - "What a beautiful young creature!" he murmured softly; "and as good as she is beautiful!" " "Eh ?" said Cecil, seating himself on the balcony, lighting an immense cigar, and offering his case to Spenser Churchill, who shrank back and put up his hands with a gesture of alarm. "I never smoke anything so—cr — huge and strong, But is she not as good as she is beautiful, now?" "Oh, yes, she is quite beautiful enough, certainly," said Lord Cecil, carelessly; "as to her goodness, why, yes, I suppose she is good enough. All women are good, especially pretty ones." "I—see, , ' murmured Churchill, with his head on one side; "you'd say that— er—there was a faint sign of, shall we say, temper in deax Lady Well, perhaps—but —oh, really you must be mistaken, my dear Cecil; so charming a creature!" "Why, I didn't accuse her of temper!" said Lord Cecil, with some astonishment and an amused laugh ; "it was you yourself!" "No, really? Did I? I'm sure I had no such intention. But I see you think —eh?—perhaps a little inclined to jealousy? Well, there may be a touch ot tha/t in her composition, now you speak of it." Lord Cecil stared at him with a halfamused smile. "Terrible thing, jealousy, Cecil! My poor father —I don't think you knew him?" Lord Cecil shook his head, as he thought, "And no one else that I ever heard of!" "My poor dear father," continued Spenser Churchill, with a plaintive air of reflection, "had warned me against that peculiar temperament. "Never, my dear Spenser,' he would say, 'never marry a jealous-natured woman. You had better throw yourself into the first horsepond!" "And you never have done either?" said Lord Cecil, knocking the ash off his cigar. «2J— O » said Spenser Churchill; "and do you really think that dear Lady Grace has a jealous disposition? Now, really, Cecil, I think you must be mistaken "

"Confound it!" said Lord Cecil, "I never said anything of the kind! Don't put words I never used into my mouth, please, Churchill !" "Didn't you? Then how did I get the idea, I wonder?" responded the other, looking gravely troubled. "Surely noi from Lady Grace herself? Oh! nono!" and he looked extremely pained. "I should very much regret giving yon a wrong impression of my opinion of that charming young civature, mv dear Cecil! Most charming! Ah! what a wife she will make! You don't agree with me—no? Well, perhaps—er—yes, I understand you. Beauty, however charming it may be, is not the best possession a woman can boast. No! after all, perhaps, as you think, a young unsophisticated girl, unaccustomed to the intoxication of constant admiration, would prove a more valuable companion for one's life.' These London belles are—er —like the wellknown Oriental fruit, more beautiful to the eye than the touch, and " Lord Cecil broke into a laugh. "What on earth are you driving at?" he demanded. "I driving at!" exclaimed Spenser Churchill, opening his eyes with an innocent stare. "What do you mean, my

' dear Cecil ? What on earth do you mean ?" Lord Cecil clasped his hands round ; his knees, and looked at the round, \ smooth face and extended eyes with ! faint amusement. j "You'd make an excellent Chinese puz- | zle, Churchill," he said. "If what you mean is to warn me against marrying Lady Grace " "My dear Cecil," broke in the soft !■ voice, pitched in a tone of strained horror. "You can spare yourself the trouble, for I haven't the least intention of doing so—at present." i Spenser Churchill's thick eyelids quivered almost imperceptibly; but-be-yond this faint sign, no other trace of any emotion was visible at this frank announcement. "Really?" lie said; "I thoughtBut, my dear Cecil, don't you consider her' a most beautiful and charming woman? and—er—come now, after all, you would find it difficult to discover a more suitable partner, eh?" Lord Cecil frowned. "Let use change the subject," he said, curtly. "Well, perhaps you're right, after all," said the other,* with bland promptitude. "Yes, no doubt, you are right! That sort of woman is better in a picture, eh? Yes, we'll change the subject! What time do you dine here?" "Eight," said Lord Cecil. "I don't dine at home to-night—at the Towers," he corrected himself. "I have an engagement." "Really? I am so sorry! Can't you put it off—for my sake? Write and tell the people that you are too goodnatured to dine out when an old friend turns up." "I'm not going to dine out," said Lord Cecil, absently. "No; really? Now, where can you be going?" "I think the marquis was inquiring for you," said Lord Neville curtly; "I'll ■tell him you are here," and dropping from his perch, he sauntered into the house. Spenser Churchill leaned over bhe balcony and smiled. "Going to the theatre again!" he murmured. "Yes; I haven't been to a country theatre for some time; I really think I should like to go and see w'ha* it is like!" (To be continued daily.)