WITH LOVE'S AID OR, WON AT LAST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 148, 23 June 1908, Page 6

WITH LOVE'S AID OR, WON AT LAST.

: ■ ■ Bty WENCKNA GILMAN Author of "ETelyn. the Actress," "For Love Alone," "The Trials of an Actress," ■'"Stella, the Star."

CHAPTER V. THE BIRTH OF AMBITION. Peak Castle was, as Madam Delpre had. said, the show-place of the commun- , ity. It was a magnificent estate, the , castle having been built originally by one of the early settiers who landed on these shores from the celebrated May- : flower. Not that it -was a castle then, by any means. The original building, however, had been added to and surrounded; first by a long, low, rambling structure, with a beautiful quadrangle in its centre, then gradually elevated until its turrets were to be seen for miles around. It was situated on the highest peak of the mountainous range adjacent, and from, that had derived its name. The park surrounding it was famed far and near for its broad acres, its magnificent trees, and its wonderful deer and antelope, which were as tame as dogs, eating , from one's hand with a confidence not often possessed by wild animals. Madam Delpre had taken Dorothy to see the superb old place until Dorothy knew it almost as tvell as madam herself who had spent the best years of her life beneath the historic roof, but on their last visit they were notified that the new heir was expected. Madam sighed. It seemed to her that that new heir had wronged her in some way, though she could scarcely have told how, as he certainly had the best right to a property which had belonged to his family for generations. "He is married, I suppose?" she questioned of the old butler, whom she had known for more years than he remembered. "I t.hiTiTc not, madam," he answered. "He has written mc that he was coming, and to have a room prepared for him—any room I might select—and he could make his own choice after bis arrival. He certainly said nothing of a wife, and he would most likely have mentioned at least a suite if a lady were to accompany him." Madam Delpre said nothing. She glanced critically at the girl beside her, seeing a tall, stately, young creature, graceful as one of the undulating saplings in the park beyond, her exquisite red-brown hair tossed slightly by tho : breeze, hex complexion rivalling any perfect rise in the garden, her darkly ' fringed eyes brilliant with the health and joy of youth. ] An expression of extreme satisfaction ' crossed madam's Ja.ce. She had never , seen anyone so lovely as Dorothy Griswold, and madam was a connoisseur of . beauty, in spite of the quiet and. almost uneventful life she had led. ' "Peak Castle is a grand old estate," , she said to Dorothy, as they drove . homeward in Dorothy's pretty, pictures- : que pony-carriage. "If Kenneth Cameron is not married, there -will be a sensation among the marriageable girls in this vicinity. I shall hope to have you ! meet him, my dear." "Why?" questioned Dorothy. , "Because," she answered quietly. "it is well that young girls should be thrown < in the best society possible. Kenneth Cameron comes of one of the finest families in America. I know that he can < be nothing but a gentleman. He has « lived the greater part of his life abroad, f receiving Ms education at some of the j famous colleges of the world. I shall ] be very glad to see what the young man is like." < Dorothy gave no intimation of any ( curiosity upon the subject. * "The park is beautiful!" she said j gravely. "Charming as the house is, ( I prefer the park. How I should love 2 to own those perfect deer!" ( Madam smiled. s "Do you think they would become friendly with your Nemo?" , "If not, I should dislike them!" .And, apparently, she would dislike ■, anything that came in contact with her < pet, for her devotion to him was per- i feet. j In the evening she would sit upon the ■, broad piazza, in a low chair, with Nemo « at her feet, playing upon her guitar, s her sweet voice making the very wild j birds" envious, while Madam Delpre sat beside her, thinking how charmingly life « had changed for her, and how much more youth a young companion put into ( one's veins than an old one, no matter x what the old associations had been. c And they were sitting like that olle evening, enjoying the exquisite moon and the music, when a young man paused in the shadow of a tree. " - He waited until the song was fin- -. ished, until she had thrown the guitar J aside and buried her lovely face in the long, shaggy hair of the" wolfs 'back, and then he came forward. Nemo received him with a low growl, but Dorothy lifted her face, and slapped ] liim lightly, gently, where she had kissed him before. _ "Silence, you inhospitable fellow!" she exclaimed. "You never growl unless there is a stranger on the premises. Now, where is he?" "Here!" answered the young man, coming more fully from the shadow. '•"Will you pardon the intrusion, ladies? This is Madam Delpre, lam sure. 1 have taken this informal hour because it is the very first I have had, and be:ause I felt that I should be more likeiv to find you alone, and I wanted so to apologise for all I have cost you. 1 am Kenneth Cameron, 'dear madam" She arose and held out her hand, smiling graciously, and looking-at him with quick, critical eyes. He was tall and fine of mould, almost as tall as Kudolph, and almost as well proportioned. His face was classic in cut, the line of his mouth being exceptionally fine md unshaded by any hirsute appendage S'hatever. His hair was blond, almost golden, and iis eyes blue as those of a boy. It was a frank, open, handsome face, md one that a person instinctively trus*d. "How kind of you to call upon mc so )elpre exclaimed, "i assure you I did pt expect it. I am so glad. Will you ermit mc to present you. to my young harge. Miss Gxiswold?" The boyish eyes were turned with open dmiration toward Dorothy, who held ut her beautifully shaped hand to make im welcome. "I should have been in America months rfore if I had known how charming j y new home .ns to be made by my j . :ighbonrs," 3» exclaimed smilingly.

"Will you come into the drawingroom?" madam asked.- "I Trill ring for lights." "Please, don't, if I may have my choice!" exclaimed Cameron. "May I sit down here? I feel quite like a friend of the family in this informality. I came purposely to persuade you to return to Peak Castle. You loved it and I did not! I heard of you and of all that you had lost by my inheritance at the same time that I heard of the inheritance. Of course, there was a little natural curiosity to see it, and so I came, hoping that I might persuade you to return and live there just as you had for so many years, and I find you with a home of your own infinitely more attractive. I asked Hopkins about you, i and he told mc how I should find you. The night is so. magnificent that I walked over." "How very kind of you, Mr. Cameron." exclaimed Madame Delpre. "I can't tell you how I appreciate it. I am very happy here with my new charge, and as the estate does not really need mc any longer, I should feel more comfortable earning my living in some way, though Heaven knows it is the pleasantest and easiest way that ever a living was earned. Am I to understand, that you are going back at once, then, so soon as you have become acquainted with your estate?" "That was my intention," he answered, with a quick glance at Dorothy, and an emphasis on the verb. '"Now, however, I think I will remain and learn something of my native country. I have not been in America since I was a boy of ten." "Really? Then you have many pleasures in anticipation. You have some charming neighbours." "I am quite aware of it, though I arrived by the four o'clock train this afternoon. I can imagine the castle could be made a very delightful place if only there were a woman to brighten it and make it habitable. It is deadly lonely now. Are there many young people in the vicinity, madam?" "Yes. It is a neighbourhood of wonderfully good families —extremely select —and you will be repaid for a stay among them." "I thought of giving some sort of entertainment at the castle, that is, if you will assist me—you and Miss Griswold. The labour of it would not bother you at all, if you would not consider making out the invitation-list for mc a nuisance. "Will you, madam?" "Why, with all the pleasure you could imagine! I am sure it would be the greatest delight to us both. Miss Griswold is an orphan, without relatives entirely, save one young man who is almost a brother to her. He is not here, however, and it is lonely for her, very." "Then, perhaps, you would let mc come and take you to ride sometimes!" exclaimed young Cameron eagerly. "You ride, do you not?" Dorothy remembered the circus and coloured. Suppose he knew that? Would he be so anxious for her society? "Yes," she answered, softly, "I ride." "Better than anyone 1 nave ever seen," supplemented madam serenely. "She frightens the life out of mc sometimes. I don't think there is a fence in the neighbourhood that her hunter has not taken." "How delightful!" exclaimed Cameron. "I feel that I am an old acquaintance of Madam Delpre's/ Miss Griswold, and therefore can presume further than most fellows who have known you but a single day. Won't you let mc come to-morrow morning, and won't you show mc the country? Remember that I am also a stranger." "I should be very glad to go," answered Dorothy simply. "Thank you so much!" murmured the young man, with infinite satisfaction. "And now the concession emboldens mc. Won't you sing again? I never heard a voice so fresh and pure and true as yours. I can't tell you how beautiful it sounded as I stood out there among the shadows. You will forgive mc for playing eavesdropper, will you not?" Dorothy only smiled, and took up her guitar. And then her sweet, rich voice rolled out, the notes of the guitar blending under her practised hand, until the soul of Kenneth Cameron was enslaved. (To be continued,daily.)