HIS FATHER'S HONOUR A MODERN ROMANCE

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 183, 1 August 1908, Page 17

HIS FATHER'S HONOUR A MODERN ROMANCE

BY DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY.

CHAPTER XXIII. Ethel Fetherston was obviously nervous during the journey. She had been <riven to believe by RcbekaiTs earnestness that theTe awaited her an explanation that would disperse the shadows from her life. What it could be she could not imagine. Rut the joy of thp. thought enthralled her, that she would foe able to take back Lord Harecastle to her heart. Her pride melted, and she uras ashamed to think of her disbelief. "You must own that I had every ' reason for my distrust," sfie said wistfully. "Everything was so black against him. and even now it all seems like some wretched dream. I am so anxious, dear. You do not know what Tt means that lEV confidence in Cyril shall be restored." "i can understand," Rebekah said simpJv "You will not deny mc my friendship •with Cyril. He is all I have," she added (pathetically. '•[ could deny you nothing, ilear. But ot i< too good to be true. I can only wonuVr and waft.'" IjorJ Uareca.stli' received them at the door «>f Leighton Manor, and -helped •them to alight, from the car. Then- was a painful shyness in Ethel's manner, and Harecustle, too. was nervous. He made no remark, but led them in silence across the hall. He watched them ascend thp staircase to the Earl's bedroom, ami wondered what Fate had in store for him. His father, too: Cyril realised the shame that he would suffer in making this confession, and his heart went out to him in pity. -Toel came to him and greeted him with gruffly. '•1 soe Miss Fcth-eTston has arrived Jrcro. What does it mean?" he asked. "She lias come to see my father." "1 hope he will put everything to arisrht." .loci said, to Hareeastlc's intense surprise. "I am weary of Rol>ekah's reproachful face, and I suppose she will not bp content until she has brought you together." "Mr. Josephs." Harecastle began diffidently. "I want to talk to you about money ma-tters. My father has consented to the break+rrg of the enta.il, and we. arc in a position to pay you the money -you advanced to him." "You must please yourself," Joel said indifferently, "but don't put yourself ■to any inconvenience.."' "And then, too, 1 must thank you for .your kindness in putting up with us lor so long, but unfortunately it would be dangerous to move the Eaj-1." "You must not think of it," Joel said quickly, "and please forget the unpleasantness that has passed between us. 1 can now see my actions in their true light. I wish you could give mc back Jtebekah's love." Lord Hareeastle looked at hhn won- ' deringly, for there was little of the Joel he knew in the manner of the man ■who was appealing to him. "Yes, I hay« had a lesson." Joel continued quietly. '"Your father's ilbress has given mc a shock, and I cannot xid myself of a feeling of responsibility." "My father has been liable to these attacks for some time. You must not ■worry too much about that, Mr •Josephs." They fell into silence, and Harpcastle marvelled at the change in Joel. This new phase incredible, but hp realised that his character was a complex one, and that he must be judged by no ordinary standard. Kebekah led the way to the Earl's bedroom, after Ethel had removed her hat. She made a motion to the nur.se, who left the room. The iiarl looked at them curiously. His eyes rested first on one and then on the other. They both came to the conclusion that he was comparing them, and their faces flushed. "l)o you know why you are here?" the Earl asked grimly of Ethel. "No," she replied nervously. "You owe it to this girfs generosity," lip said, laying his hand on Rebekah; '"and you ought to be duly thankful. 1 understand that you think that Cyril acted the blackguard to you." Ethel flinched at the word, for the sharpness of his manner moved her . strongly. He waited a moment for her to speak, but she remained silent. "You are wrong. It was another member of the family who played that Tole. and he is going to 'confess to you." Ethel watched him with, frighted* d ryes, and she longed that the tense staccato words should cease. "I am the blackguard," the Karl continued, "and Cyril was protecting mc." "1 do not understand,' , Ethel said, brokenly. •'Xo—and you want tho whole wretched story. You shall have it, for it's ybur right. 1 understand that there is some chance~-of your becoming a member of my family. This is if you are fat.isfied with Cyril's whitewashing, and are not too disgusted at the character of thp other member .if his family." "Don't," Rebekah pleaded. "You are cruoU" ""Let mc alonCrchUd. T must tell my story in my own way, and if you expected tears you arc doomed to disappointment. Won't you sit down, Miss Fethcrston. I must trouble you with a Hittle ancient history, for my confession must hip a full one. You are the sort of woman who will be content with no half-measures. You require your full Jiound of ilesh, and you shall have it." . The Earl spoke vindictively. He was J feeling terribly the shame of his position. and the only way he could hide it was by this vindictive manner. At heart he was sorry for Ethel, but he realised that if he once let go his self-con-;7nand. he would break down. So he Tjeeame more bitter as he proceeded. "Thirty years ago I was a promising •youngster. I had the world at my feet, but 1 did not kick it. 1 gave it a chance to kick mc. I was extravCgant and got into difficulties. it is a way young men have, who are alowed to run loose. JUy father died when I was -a boy." Instinctively he looked at Rebekah, •and she understood that it was to her ■that hp was trying to find an excuse for Chis conduct. "When I had landed myself in pecuniary difficulties,. I fell madly in love with Harecastle's mother. Unfortunately, lipr trustees were not fools, and they ohjpc-terl in the match unless I conld put ray financial affairs in order. Their ui-cisi'jii was communicated, to mc on thp evo of my setting out. for St. Petersburg, for 1 had been entrusted by the Government to arrange an agreement with Russia. I did really lore the wo2nan who was to become ray wi£e, and the thought that I should lose her drove mc mad. And then came tho temptation. The devil chooses his time- with care. I think I can see before mewnow the sneaking, oily .Russian, and his"-in- :. -Bay. I longed to kick^ttent;

out of my room, but I refrained. He offered mc money to consent to certain terms in the agreement, arid to my eternal shame I consented." "Enough! Enough," Ethel cried passionately. "Don't tell mc any more. 1 forbid it.' , "1 don't see that what I have said affects Cyril. Be patient," he continued more quietly, for he had regained control over himself." "1 came back to England and was married. 1 was happy, inconceivably happy, when one considers the weight of shame I was carrying. But perhaps I had no conscience then. That is an inconvenience that sometime* awaits old age. But there is an all-seeing providence that forbids that crime shall not go unpunished. To my horror my treachery was discovered. I had an interview with the Prime Minister, which I shall remember to my dying .day. The result was that 1 retired into official obscurity, and was not treated like the common criminal that I was. AYe can pass over the next thirty years or so; ' and we <>ome to the part where your interest begins." The Earl hroke off I suddenly. j "Give mc a glass of water, dear," he said to Rebekah, and Ethel watched her , with eyes that were magnetized by the tragedy that was being unfolded. '"Aekroyd doesn't concern you. It Iα sufficient that you should know that i .loci discovered my treachery. He ; bought the papers which proved it. from this man Aekroyd. I understand that you were then engaged to Cyril. Joel went to Cyril and told him that ho must mam - Rebekah. 1 may say that 1 also desired the marriage, but I had no idea of the pressure Joel was bringing to bear." The Earl looked keenly at Ethel, whose face was twitching painfully. "I .begin to understand. You have said enough," she cried tearfully. "Xo. You snail hear the whole story. It does mc good to talk about some ono else's bad deeds." "Forgive mc, dear." ho said quickly to Jtebekah. "' I forgot that he was your father." "Can you understand Cyril's position? He had either to sacrifice you, or my I secret would have been disclosed to the 1 world. What would your uprightness have advised him to do? .Should lie have considered his future wife, or should filial afiVction have prevailed? It ' is a pretty problem." "You must stop," Ethel pleaded; and ' tears were streaming from her eyes. "I have little more to say, for you. " can imagine the rest. Rebekah discovered her father's action by some means or other. What did she do? She acted the part of a brave and noble woman, for she sacrificed herself, and she has : struggled for your happiness. Why? Because you wen; loved by the man she loves. Which has been the greater in generosity? You or this dear girl?" "Forgive . mc," Ethel whispered hoarsely. She realized thai th's confession must have hurt the Earl acutely, and she felt mean to have been the cause of its having been made. But this was quickly overpowered by her realization that she ' bad done Cyril a terrible wrong. She ' quickly owned to herself that he could have a-cted in no other way. The horror of his position was disclosed to her. Her heart wept with sympathy for tho sufferings hp mu.-t have endured, so ' greatly increased by her own disbelief. Could she ever forgive herself? .' "I have a question to ask you." the Earl continued anxiously. "I do not ' understand yoii, and I fear for your answer. Shall you let the knowledge that Cyril's father is a criminal prevent you ' from marrying him ? Have you the mind that can judge him .for himself alone?" "How can you ask mc? 1 have al- , ways loved CyriL Put yourself in my place. He discarded mc and almost immediately engaged himself to Rebekah. I thought that money was his motive, and I have always thought so. If that had been so 1 could never have forgiven him. My mind could not conceive any such reason as the one you have given mc. I promise you that if Cyril will take mc back again. I will endeavour to make him happy. But it will be long before I shall be able to forgive myself. I feel that it is 1 who lrave played a despicable role. I ought to have trusted him in spito of aH. I can see it now when it Ls too late," she said miserably. The Earl lay wearily back on his pillow, but a load seemed to have been lifted from him, and he looked loss troubled. Ethel glanced gratefully at him. "May I kiss you?" she asked timidly. "There—there," ejaculated the Karl as ho felt the touch of her lips. '''And you are now content? If so you ran both leave mc, for I am tired-'-to death." Rebekah slipped her arm round her waist and led Ethel to her own room. '•Sow I am quito happy." she said brightly. "And you—you * will see Cyril ?" '""Xo, not to-day." Ethel said, hurriedly. "I am too ashamed. 1 must have time. I dare not face him." "You need not fear, for -he under-' stands. Cyril is generosity itself." "Promise mc that you will let mc go away. lam unstrung. That poor old man. I am filled with pity." "And I too. for 1 love him dearly. He has terribly suffered for that one backsliding. Hp is not oiip to wear his heart on his sleeve. His suffering he would conceal beneath a light-hearted munner that would deceive the world." "And to you. Rebekah. I do not know what to say. You have behaved nobly, and I shall be ever grateful." '•1 only want you to be happy—you and Cyril. Never distrust him again, though everything be against him." "I have learnt my lesson." Ethel replied simply, but with great feeling. "Will you give him a message from mc?" "Yes, dear." "Tell him I implore his forgiveness, and ask him to come to mc. but not for a long, long time. I am too ashamed." "I feel that you arc- wrong, but I will do what you say," Rebekah promised. She took her down to the car and they did not meet Lord Harecastle. Once alone Ethel gave herself to the bitter thoughts that assailed her. She was full of self-reproach, and as she had been hard upon the man she loved she became hard upon herself. She went over everything that had happened, and when she remembered how she had repulsed him at their last intericw, her anguish grew. She could see his eyes pitifully pleading for mercy, and the cold rejection which had been her answer. No. She did not deserve happiness. She must suffer as he had done, for she could not accept happiness, fought for ; so brsrvely by one who had been her Tivftl.

When she arrived home she sat down and wrote a letter to Cyril that was painful to compose. It was nlied with self-humiliation, and reproaches of I»er own conduct. She expressed her admiration of !Rebekah and compared her own conduct with the other's generosity. -. "Do not come to mc, dear. I believe that you will forgive mc, but give mc time to recover from the feeling of shame ! that is overpowering mc. But in spite 1 of it all, joy gladdens my heart to think that you are my old Cyril. The man I have loved and worshipped. Perhaps " some day you will understand my wretchedness, and we can be to one another as in the old days. I have no pride left, I Cyril. If it is necessary I will go on my ' knees to you, when I am fitted to meet ' you. Good-bye, dearest." She felt happier when she had un- ! laden her heart, but her self-respect had ' received a terrible blow. 5 {To be continued next Wednesday.),