HIS FATHER'S HONOUR

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 168, 15 July 1908, Page 10

HIS FATHER'S HONOUR

A MODERN ROMANCE

CHAPTER XVIL "What do you mean, child? You are snad!" Joel cried furiously. "No. I am quite sane, but I am going *k> ask Lord Hareeastle to give mc my freedom." Rebekah replied firmly, and .■with a brare look at her father. "You haven't spoken to him. then?" ihe broke in quickly, and his voice expressed great relief. "He is coming here this afternooa; I shall ask him then. I thought it better to tell you first," she said with a wistful glance. "I am very glod you did," lie said gmnly. "You had better understand that you must do nothing of the kind. Your marriage shall take place." He spoke with fierce determination, tut Rebekah faced him unflinchingly. "I have quite made up my mind, fathor. Won't you consider my happiness? I should be utterly miserable if I married Lord Hareeastle; surely yon don't ivnnt that?" she s-aid pleadingly. saw at once that she might as wph have remained silent, for Joel was eyeing her sternly. ""Pray what reason have you for this sudden change?" he asked coldly. "Please remember that the marriage is to take place in a few days' time. Some of the guests are arriving this evening; you have received numberless presents. The idea is impossible. Be sensible, my child." He -wound up less angrily, and Rebekah hoped that he was relenting. "1 should he miserable—utterly, if I married him," she repeated dully. "You must be frank with mc. What is actuating you in this? There must be -something," he asked sharply. "Only that I have suddenly realised its impossibility," she answered slowly. "Has Hiaxecastle been speaking to you? Is it anything that he haa said or done?" 6he shook her head in reply, and approached her father. She laid her hand on his shoulder. "You are fond of mc, father. You cannot be cruel. Fall in with my wish, and let us at once send out an announcement that the marriage will not take place."' ""Xe-rer!"' he cried emphatically. "I sweaT that you shall marry Harecastle, and nothing shall turn mc frpm my decision." "T refuse," she answered proudly; "you tviil find that I, too, can be obstinate. I am not your daughter for nothing. You cannot drag mc to the church; besides, you w-ill have Lord" Harecastle to deal with." •'I can easily manage him," he said jeeringly, "and you will find that you, too, will have to do what you are told. You love the man, and through your love I will make you do my bidding." He watched the colour slowly mount to her cheek. "I thought so. There's a mystery somewhere, and you had better say what ihas happened-" "I have already told you," she said wearily, "'and you must reconcile yourEelf to the marriage being broken off." '"You've given no reason, absolutely none. I demand to know," he cried furiously. "And I refuse to tell you," she answered defiantly. She understood that a meek and pleading attitude was not one with which iher father should be met, and she determined to brave him. "You shall tell - mc," he shouted ihoarsely. He seized her by the arm, and she drew back, for she thought that in his anger he was about to strike her. He saw her action, and he let her arm fall. Suddenly he became calm, and sitting down, motioned Rebekah to a chair. "Let xis talk it over claimly," he began quietly. "I am sorry I lost my temper, but you must own that I have Teason. Come, dear, I haven't been, a bad sort of father to you, have I?" "No." "Then trust mc. Tell mc what is ■wrong. I may be able to Bet matters right. I am sure you love him, so it can't be that. What is it?" —"Put it down to a woman's whim. lAre we. not- allowed to change our minds?"' she answered with an attempt at playfulness that was pitiful hi the extreme. -•"No. Not in , a matter like this. Everything has been arranged; the lawyers have prepared the deeds; Loni iWolverholme comes to-day; Royalty has consented to be our guests on the day of the wedding .You are not some unknown Miss whose marriage is of little account. You have been paragraphed and photographed. At the present moment you are deemed one of the luckiest girls living. In a few days you -will be able to call yourself 'Hy lady.' What more can you want?"' "It is no use talking, father. Nothing you can say will alter my determination." "We shall see," he cried vindictively. "So far you have found mc an indulgent father. Every caprice and whim lias "been gratified as soon as expressed. But now I shall show the reverse of the picture. I repeat to you in cold blood that you shall Marry Harecastle." She shook her head wearily. "But you will," he continued in a cold, cutting voice, "and I know how to make you. You love him, that is sure. [Very well. Break off the marriage. Do it." , "I am so glad, father. I knew that you could not be so unkind as to force mc into it," she said joyfully. "Yes. Break off the marriage, and I ■will announce to the world the reason." "'We can make up some excuse," she said quickly. "No, my reason is to hand. Just listen to a little history," he continued, and his voice was coldly threatening. Rebekah could not repress a start. Her hope was dashed to the ground, and she dreaded to hear wKat was coming. "Some thirty years ago Lord Wolverholme was sent to St. Petersburg to make an agreement for the British Government. I won't give you details, but it is sufficient to say that he sold his country; that he was an infamous trait* or, and that if it were known, he would fee hounded to death." "Why do you tell mc this?" she gasped. "I am merely telling you the reason that I shall give to the -world for the breaking off of the marriage. My discovery in time of this treachery rendered such a marriage impossible. I could not allow my daughter to ally, herself with the son of a man who had been guilty of such dastardly conduct." He stopped to watch the effect of his •words, and by the blanching of her cheeks he saw that Ms shot had hit the park.

BY DAVID CH RISTIE MURRAY.

"Do you understand now!" 'he asfesd with a malevolent smile. "You can't mean it. Such an act would be infinitely worse than the Earl's, bad as that was. Say you don't mean it," she pleaded. She dropped on her knees beside him, and buried her face on his knees. "You are doing more than you think, father. You are robbing yourself of my love for you. Don't be so cruel, dear. I am only -a girl, and I'm all that you have. Do be kind to mc." "Will you marry him?" he insisted more quietly. "I can't; oh, I can't. Don't you understand? I appeal to you, to the memory of my mother whom you loved. Don : t do this base deed. Let us go away together. I will be content to live with you always, and I will lavish my love on you. You shall never have cause for complaint. Just grant mc this one wiih." Sobs broke from her and she clutched at his hand. "1 am trying to save my love for you; don't kill it utterly. Let mc be your little girl again; I'll never want to be anything else." He shook her from him and rose to his feet. "It is of no use. Nothing will change mc. Have you decided to be sensible?" he asked coldly. "Can I say nothing that will move you? Do you wish to drive mc to desperation?" she cried hoarsely. At that moment the door opened and Mrs. Goldberg entered. She ran forward when she saw that Rebekah -was in tears, and took her in her arms. '■"What is the matter, dear?" she asked tenderly. "Matter enough," Joel answered. "She says that she won't marry Harecastle. Do you know anything about it?" "No, Joel, but I am not sorry to hear it," Mrs. Goldberg answered firmly. Rebekah gave a cry of joy. "You will support mc, aunt. I can't marry him. I really can't. And father wants to force mc to." "Shame! Joel. I told you from the first that I did not like this engagement, and I'm not surprised to hear this." "She shall marry him. It would be as well that you should understand this, Rachel. And I forbid you to encourage Rebekah in her disobedience. You and I have lived together for many years and we have not quarrelled. Don't let us commence now." "Realise that I mean every word that I said just now," he continued, turning to Rebekah. "Please leave the room for a moment, Rachel." Mrs. Goldberg looked hesitatingly at Rebekah, a world of pity in her eyes, but she kenw sufnvient of her brother but she knew sufficient of her brother not to eros him in this mood, so she went out with a backward look of concern at her niece. "This is the position," Joel said firmly. "You can break off this marriage if you like. I give you a fre hand. In the event of your doing so, I shall immediately give forth the reason that I told you. Such an announcement would naturally rum Harecastle. You don't want to injure him, do you?" She shook her head, and a cowed look came into her eyes. "I thought not. All you have to do is to marry him. Will you do so?" he asked quietly. "I must," she answered in desperation. "You leave mc no alternative, but you have broken my heart, father." She burst into a flood of tears and rushed from her father's presence. Alone, Joel did not feel pleased with himself. He hated having to take such a stand, but he felt that he would do so again should occasion arise. He realised that there was something contemptible and paltry in bullying a girl with such a threat. But such was the nature ot the man; he could not see that he was ruining his daughter's happiness by forcing her into the marriage. He had arranged it only after much strenuous exertion, and a great expenditure of money, and why should he forego the fruits of victory when they were so ripe for plucking? Her appeal to the memory of his wife had touched him, just for the moment; but he had conquered the feeling with an effort. Yes. He would pursue his course to the bitter end, be the result what it might. A knock at the door called him from his unpleasant thoughts. A servant entered. "Lord Wolverholme," he announced, and the peer walked slowly in. "I have come earlier than I expected, Joel. I suppose I'm none the less welcome." "I am glad to see you about again. Wolverholme. You are looking much better." "I'm beginning to feel quite fit. How is Rebekah? I haven't seen her yet." "She is very well," Joel replied. "She was here a minute ago. Where's Cyril?" "He came down with mc. I suppose he must be looking for your daughter. That's the natural thing for him to do,, isn't it? When he went into the draw-ing-room, I thought I would come along to you." The Earl made himsftlf comfortable in a chair, and took a cigar from, the box that Joel handed to him. "I am really feeling very happy, Joel. All my wishes seem to be gratified. I only want to live to see a grandson, and hold him just once in my arms, and 1* shall die content." "Don't talk of dying. You've years of life before you yet, if you take care of yourself," Joel said heartily. (To be continued on Saturday).