HIS FATHER'S HONOUR

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 149, 24 June 1908, Page 11

HIS FATHER'S HONOUR

A MODERN ROMANCE

CHAPTER IX. The discovery of the loss of the cipher letters was naturally a great shock to the Earl, and it resulted in his once more becoming ill. Indeed, his state was so serious that Lord Harecastle was unable to leave him, much as he desired to visit Ethel Fetherston, and to explain to her his reasons for not having made public their engagement. He had quite made up his mind not to give in to the pressure that his father was bringing to bear upon him to break his engagement. He was finally compelled to write to his fiancee, and he found the letter a difficult one to compose. He hinted at his father's financial difficulties, and asKed her plainly to allow the knowledge of their engagement to be ' confined to their immediate families.

. "Please give my father's health, as a reason to your people why our engagement shall not be publicly announced. I am loth to suggest to you a course which is not quite {rank, but my position is a difficult one. I feel sure that you will trust mc and believe that I am only acting under great compulsion. In a couple of months matters will be straightened put. I must tell you that we shall not be as rich as I anticipated; in fact, we shall be poor for people of our position, and we shall have to exercise a certain amount of self-denial for a few years. Believe, dearest, that I love you devotedly, and the one wish of my heart is that'our marriage shall place at the earliest possible moment." He was not satisfied with the letter, but he was hampered by a desire to protect his father, as far as possible. He did not wish to lower him in Ethel's opinion, and in speaking of him he was driven to prevaricate. He waited anxiously for her reply, and when it came it -was all that he could desire, for it breathed of deep affection. "Do not worry, darling. I am quite content. I trust you implicitly, and am confident that you. would not suggest any secrecy unless there were very powerful reasons for your doing so. I should dearly love to see you, even if it were for but a few moments, for your letter tells mc that you are worried. Your father's health must be a great anxiety, but let us hope that he will soon be strong again. As for poverty, you know mc well enough to understand that wealth has but little attraction for mc. Neither, dearest, has your title; it is the man I love —honest and straightforward • —that I have chosen to be my husband." Her words brought him comfort when he was in need of it, for the Earl w'aa taking full advantage of his illness. Joel and his daughter were still at the Castle, for they had stayed at the earnest solicitation of the Eari, who felt that he would know no peace until his debts were actually paid.

Joel busied himself in settling the liabilities, and in a few days had the pleasure of announcing that his task was accomplished.

When the Earl became a little stronger Lord Harecastle once more opened the question of breaking the entail. "It is time that your debts were paid, and I shall be glad if you will give mc a list of your creditors," Harecastle said, respectfully but nrmly.

"You will find the documents in the drawer of the dressing-table," the Earl answered with a grim smile. "But these are receipts," Hareeastle said, when he had looked at the papers. \ "You are quite right. The debts are aIJ paid." "You have borrowed more money from Joel?"

"I warned you that I should do so," the Earl replied with a smile. "And I forbade it. Surely lam entitled to some say in the matter."

"Not at all. The debts are my own personal ones, they do not affect the estate. Joel will have no claim upon you when I die."

"He will have a moral claim if not a legal one. You must get out of his debt, the position is insufferable. Have you do pride left, father?" "If Joel is satisfied, you ought not to grumble." "The entail must be broken and sufficient money raised to pay him. There must be no delay. lam anxious to have your affairs in order before my engagement to Ethel Fetherston is publicly announced." "I fear that you -will have to wait some time. Can't you be reasonable? It is impossible for you to marry her, for yon must have money, and the only way that I can see for you to obtain it is by marrying it," the Earl said quietly, but there was an. appeal in his voice. "I refuse to discuss that again. I repeat that the woman I shall marry is Ethel Fetherston. My honour is bound. Even if it were not, I see no sufficient reason for sacrificing the happiness of my life." "Well, -well, that is sufficient. Send 1 Joel to mc," the Earl said wearily. Lord Harecastle left his father, and found Joel with his daughter on the terrace.

"The Earl wishes to see you, Mr Josephs. I, too, shoiild like a word after you have done," he said rather curtly.

"As many as you like," Joel replied cheerily. "Stay and amuse Rebekah. 1 do not suppose I shall be very long."

Hareeastle had been rather hdlding aloof from Rebekah, but he was unable to leave her without being guilty of rudeness, and he felt that this young girl did uof deserve unkindness from him, for she was but the innocent instrument of her father's machinations. He was sorry for her, and unconsciously his manner became sympathetic. Rebekah flushed with pleasure, and her eyes sparkled wifch animation. She .asked but little, and a kindly word from the man she loved changed her whole world. As Harecastle saw the effect of his presence, his heart became sad with pity, both for her and for himself. For himself, for his was to be the hand that would deal her a cruel blow. The most modest of men and without a trace of vanity, the last few days had convinced him that he had won the love of this young girl; unwillingly, it is true, but it none the less caused him pain. Compassion spoke from his eyes, and Rebekah thought that it was love, and her heart throbbed with a happiness that was almost pain. The Earl received Joel nervously, for he was going to give him bad news, and he did not quite know how it would be received.

"Harecastle is impossible," he began (hesitatingly. "I've done everything in my power to move hi™, but without success. I'v.e told him about your goodness in letting mc have the other twenty-five thousand, and he is furions. He declares that ho -will pay you back at once." "Wβ shall have to bring this young .ami "-to bis senses. I want you to Tinder-

BY DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY.

stand that my mind is fixed on this marriage, and it shall take place," he said emphatically.

"I don't see how you are going to manage it," the Earl said despondently. "I do not know the way myself for the moment, but I shall find one. I don't want to be compelled to use force or to stir muddy waters, but: " His look at the Earl was almost threatening.

"Harecastle is of age," Lord Wolverholme protested, "and you can't compel him to go to church."

"I shall find a means, and through you. What lever does Ackroyd hold over you he demanded suddenly. ■He keenly watched the old man, and saw the startled expression that was quickly suppressed. "What do you mean?" the Eart said unsteadily.

"I know that Ackroyd possesses some power over you, and I want to know the nature of it," he said with decision.

"I don't understand you, Joel. I know very little about the man; he is a protege of Felix Shelby, and he came to mc with an introduction from him."

"That is a lie!" Joel cried brutally. The Earl raised himself on his elbow, and his body shook with passion. "I may be in your debt, Joel, but that gives you no right to insult mc. If 1 were a younger man I would " He fell back on the bed, and his chest rose and fell convulsively.

"I apologise for the word," Joel said quickly; "but it would be wiser to tell mc now rather than to force mc to find out. But find out I will. You do not seem to realise that I am in earnest. Believe mc that I have no wish to injure you or to worry you, but if I can get at Harecastle through you I shall do so. Do you understand mc?"

"I understand that you can be very ruthless. You will be following a mare's nest in Ackroyd." The Earl had recovered his composure, and his manner was so confident that for the moment Joel -\ras inclined to believe him; but it did not turn him from his decision to see Ackroyd and to attempt to discover his secret. "And now for Harecastle!" Joel muttered to himself. His face lighted up, for he dearly loved a fight, a.nd he anticipated that the ensuing interview was likely to be a strenuous one.

He found that they were still together, and the happy expression on Rebekah's face, as she chatted animatedly, only strengthened him for the conflict. He noticed that Harecastle's manner was atmost tender in its solicitude, and this only strengthened him in his idea that he had been making love to her. "Run away, little one. Harecastle and I want a chat," he said, and patted her head affeetionatelv.

"I think you had better come to my room," Harecastle suggested. Their walk was a silent one. Joel looked _ curiously at his companion's face, which was sternly set, and his lips were firmly pressed together. _ "You remember our recent conversation: I mean about my father's affairs?" the young man asjced.

"Yes, I remember something about it." "I then expressed a desire that you should not advance my father any more money. I find that you have done so, and I should like an explanation," he said quietly.

_"I do not quite see that you have any iright for an explanation," Joel said easily "I think I explained to you that these matters concerned your father and myself personally, and, "to be frank, I do not see that you have any say at

"I do not agree with you, Mr. Josephs. Anything that affects my fether affects mc. You had no right to lend him this money."

Harecastle spoke angrily, and Joel raised his hand depreeatingly. "You do not look at it in the right light. Your father has been kind to mc in many ways. I owe my introduction to Society to him. To you the money may seem an important "thing, to mc it is a mere fleabite. I can afford to throw away a good many such sums. Own that I have done araic good. Your father is ill, I have eased his mind. Is that not so?"

"Yes," Harecastle replied grudgingly, "but "

"The Earl is not a young man. The cutting of the entail and the sale of land that has been in your family fof generations, would be a grievous * blow to him. That has been avoided. On the other hand there is the fact that your pride has been hurt. You are a young man, and can't you leave yourself in your father's hands?' , "I Tegard it from the point of view of my honour," Harecastle said sternly.

"It is all very well to talk of your honour!" Joel said jeeringly. "Haye you always been so careful of it? Have you nothing to reproach yourself with? Something much more vital than a few sovereigns?" "I don't understand you," Harecastle replied coldly. Joel rose from his chair and began to speak with great earnestness. "There is something that concerns you and mc, L/ord Harecastle. I want to speak quietly, for I do not wish to quarrel. You have gained my girl's love." "Unwittingly," HaTecastle broke in eagerly. "You say so, but the fact remains thai Rebekah is not the woman who wouM bestow her affections unasked. I have watched you together, and to my mind you have behaved in such a way as would naturally lead her to think that you loved her. You say that it was done unwittingly, I reply that your manner is unfortunate, and that your honour is not free from stain if you do not marry Rebekah."

"I am engaged to Miss Fetherston. I repeat solemnly that I have, never had it in my mind to make love to your daughter. I admire her, respect her, and I think she is a charming girl." k ''Then marry her," Joel broke in, "and all will be plain sailing. The sentiments, which you say you hold towards her, are those -which a husband should have towards a wife. What more can you want ?"•

"love," Harecastle said simply. "Fiddlesticks!" Joel cried irritably. "That will come afterwards." "I have not asked you here to talk about your daughter. I have already answered you; I am engaged to Miss Fetherston, and she is the woman that I shall marry." "Not if I can prevent it, Lord Harecastle. So it is to be war. Yon will find mc a hitter enemy and a powerful one. You had better consent with a good •rrace, for you will do *o eventually." ° "You already terve ray decision, and I refuse to discuss it further. I shall go at onw to cur soHdtors *nd «aa*urour

t°...arrangs' for the payment of the amount that my father owes youf lifffiej meantime, do-you not think it would be better for you to take your departure? I do not.wish to-be inhcspitable, but you will understand with my- "father's illness and -" ''I understand everything,. Lord, Harecastle," Joel replied, "and we will BO at once." ° Lord Wolverholme protested against it with vigour, Imt Joel was firm,' and the next morning they left for London. The Earl grew rapidly stronger and was soon able to sit up. His son remained with hjm, and did his best to persuade him to consent to the breaking of the entail, but. without success. The one worry left to the Earl was Ackroyd. He felt sure that he would not be content with the sum that he had obtained, and he went in daily fear of another visit with the object of extorting more money. (To be continued on Saturday).