HIS FATHEH'S HONOUR

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 189, 8 August 1908, Page 16

HIS FATHEH'S HONOUR

A MODERN ROMANCE

\ CHAPTER XXV. With all the pomp and circumstance i c:;rnd.:n; upon hi.- position, rhe body of the Earl of Wolverholme was laid in the family vault. The tragi- circumstances attendant upon his do.it b had intensified ih.' grief that Cyril Ht at his iiUSier's death. Joel »•,!< present at the funeral, and Tv ;, ri quiet sympathy h.id endeavoured to comfort Cyril in his grief, but for a til. , presence of anyone. II: ; ~orrow \\:i< from ! he fff.-vt:- of the long menial strain that ii ,, had endured. lie ena rr. , ncrcn-Tr of the late F.i rl's alT.iir-, Tin , In , iva- in .ipab'e of the mental cotieenlralkm tit.i: this, necessitated. Hi-i manner w.i- li-ik---. and he appeared to !(•■' iv;is living in London at his chartVr, .it :ii- Albany: fnr Wo!verh..l,,ye Casil' , had become distnneluj to him. Cine afternoon, a week nr two after his arrivnl. he received .i .-all from Joel and I:,-',- k.ih. -I d.i iif>t under-uind. Lord W.dv-r-Jiobne." -1.-iel Irid remarked thnt iiiriruinc tn l,i« d.i:iglu-r. -lie ser-ms te take .in iTep'-r in nothing, but broods ! a. , : day- It i= no; natural, and be wants roii-.nr." -I-.ii; ivlia; .-.in we Jo? I wonder if he ha« -i.-n Ktin-S 1 think I iud better call nn her." "Yes. <"io this morning.' , n.-b. k.ih found Ethel at home, -and the mimrning which she wore seemed tn .Kvn::i3.te her fair beauty. But her ey- , - nere troubled, and sho eagerly greeted her visitor. -Have you heard from Cyril? ,, Rebekah asked at once. ' I "No. He has not written once." Ethel rephi-d wistfully. "Pe.rluip.-i he will not ' forgive mc. and I dare nut go to him." "l-'athor tells mc that lie is ill. Some- ! thins; must be done at once. You see., fiit-b- r and I .ire ;jninsr abroad for a tinr . and I cannot, leave England with a coiit-'nted mind unless 1 see you two happy." , "it i< my punishment, and T deserve it. 1 may'have lost his Live, and I am so miserable. Rebcknh. I have no pride, thai! I go to him?" "You must remember the terrible trouble that he has gone through. He loves you. you may be snre. Cyril is r.m one who would ever change. Shall I Igo and see him?" " | "Yes. and give him a message from mc. Toll him that his sorrow is my sorrow, and that I long to comfort him." Kthel said eagerly. "I will go this afternoon." Kebckah replied tenderly. "You must not be miserable." j Joel consented to arcompany Kebekah ■ on her call upon Cyril, but it was with much trepidation that die looked forvrard to the interview. At the sight of his changed f.ice she gave a cry of "You poor dear boy." she cried tenderly, "md you have been all alone.' , ! .loci v, as looking round the room, which was littered with travelling " trunks, and there was every siprn that Lord Woivfiiinlme was engaged in packing up his effects. ' i "Are you moving from here?" he ■ a.= i-"d anxiously. "J am going abroad at once. I am in need of a change." he s.iid curtly, but his eyes did not meet Kebekuh's, who gtivr ,i erv of consternation. "liut Ethel? Are you not K oin S to see her'" she demanded eagerly. -[ don't know. Not yet." lie added quickly, "1 rnu=t have time; I am weary an-.l sick at heart. Can't you understand" lie wound up helplessly. "Nn. [ cannot.' , she cried firmly. "Cyril. I must sprak with you. Father, Will yo;i run away fnr a. while?" •Wl took up his hat and obediently loft them together. "What is the matter. Cyril?' , she ask-] ed witli simple (iire-ctness. "1 don't know." he replied listlessly. ' •"Only that all my feeling .seems dead." j "Don't you still love Ethel Fetherston . Don't ymi still wish to marry her." she demanded firmly. "Yes, but 1 must have time," he repeated earnestly. "I feel that I want her. but yet 1 cannot live her the love that I did." She rose impulsively and took him by the - rm. "I emiid shake you." .-he cried fiercely. '"But a -lmrt time ago you were utterly miserable that you could not marry Ethel. Life was desolate to you. Now all difficulties have been removed and she i is lnnpin™ to take you to her arms. Why j do you hesitate? Are you flekle-mind- j ed? lam ashamed of you, Cyril." | He did not make any reply to her vehement outburst, but sighed deeply. And Rebekah \v:s assailed by a temptation that moved her very being. Should she try and win this man she loveJ so devotedly? Should she snatch at the chani-e that seemed in he r grasp? iJiaht net she be able to move him, she who had saerifieeii herself for his happiness? And "hat was the result? The wretched man that seh saw before her vry eye-. Might it not be possible that afte r -11 it was -he he loved, and not Ethel j A mad joy mrjnrf to her heart, and her Ir.snm rnse and fell rapidly with her etnoiiun. The thought of the delirium of hanpine« that his love would bring w-i7.it! her in it= grip. She mad-e a movement '"urwriril. her eye= filled with lovi-. ll.■ itmUml up suddenly, and thnre w.ns xrvtalrd in him in p. flash the intensity of l.r pas=in n . lie remembered her d--votion tn her father, the plucky which she had made for his h-ppine« : her ah.iegatinn of self, an.l her whole-hearif-d desire m ._-i\e him the woman he loved. Shr. r"ad hi<= thought. and she was struck hy a sense of the unwnrthiness of her wild longing. •Cyril." she cried timidly. "Won't you try tn make mc happy? TV yourself aga n. !>n you warn tr.e tn think that wat I h.ive dnn' hi- been in vain? ]> r: T away. I implore you.' , S- .;ij-i-r!y watehi-d the . - IT. et nf be r w. r:-. ;;■'.! l t :i\« an exclamation of Jisa; ji ..-'imTit when she .-aw that he was ui:n ■■ d. •■ i ■ i rev-, mc something."' she said at l.n-i i',.r -!• ■ was determined to rouse l.iin firm '''■'•- l-.'ih rz-~- "You expressed yi lir "/rruliude fnr what you thought I Ij.i.i tiom- f.ir you. Do you want Ethel Fμ ■ r=ti n tn come here on her knees anl h■■■_' i"r your In , , c , .\ r e you acting t-.e parl': Think of what she ■ ruu.-i Y'' suflerini:. she wronged you. I airrit that: but do ymi wish her to thii k tliat -he remains unforgiven?" (1..,- ti,-.yrr word- had their effect. •■ i will try ti~ explai , '." lie =ai<l nervr.'.i'.v "bin it is very difficult. I want to ;c c KiUclj but I don't know that I

BY DAVID CH RISTZE MUEEAY.

should be my=elf. I am not myself. I I ; should hurl h'-r by my manner, for 1 should tir- enn-tr-ined »nd unnatural. She would think that I did not love hr>r. ; I must wait until thr recent happenings : are nit so vividly before mc. I should ■ imagine that she was thinking of my j father's confession, and 1 should be mis- i crable." i '"That i= nonsense. I understand ! Ethel now. Your father's disgrace j would never have influenced her; flip would have rlung to you all the morel closely. It was what she thought to b? ! your treachery that forced her to act 1 a= flic did. The thinking that you were disloyal. Will you dino with us to-j nipht?" «hi> wound up abruptly. "I j niu»t onnvino.- you that you are wrong. You mn t refuse mc that." "Yes. I will come." "Good-bye then. I see father in the court-γ-ard. Wp ?hnll expect you at seven o'clock sharp." And uitli a smile she left him alone uitli hi= thought-i. She did not return to Ethel FetherSton hut sent her a letter. "Come round at six-thirty to-night nnd stay to dinner. I want to tell you all about Cyril. Don't be miserable, all will be right," she wound up. But in her heart Rebeknh was not so sure, could only hope. She was guilty nf rudeness when Ethel arrived, for she did not make her appearance, till within ,i few minutes of seven. She ■ was not anxious to be cross-examined by her. "I am sorry to be so late," she said apologetically. "Did you see Cyril?" Ethel asked eager'-r. "Yes, but not. a word about him till i after dinner. I forbid it absolutely," she said playfully. i But it was evident that Rebekah was I nervous, for she constantly looked at ' the door. At last, it opened and a servant stood silently there, in accordance with the instructions she had given him. "Excuse mc a moment, dear," she said to Ethel, and quickly follo-wod the servant. "Where is Lord Wolverholme ?"' she ] asked quietly. "In the library, miss." ""So you've come,' , she began quietly, "and I'm very glad to see you. Father will be down in a minute. Won't you come into the drawing-room?' . She led the way slowly, and when she ! had opened the door she motioned him to precede her. Then she quietly closed the door on him. and stood just for a moment, her eyes shining with tears. To Rebekah it was the crowning moment of her self-sacrifice, for she had conquered every bitter thought, and had j emerged purified from the struggle. And Cyril? He stood still, and the shaded lights only disclosed the figure of a woman. But a cry of mingled pain and joy told him who was present. In a few strides he crossed the room and the lowers were face to face. Ethel looked wistfully at him, and I passionate words struggled to her lips, but she was unable to utter them. Cyril gar.cd at the woman he loved, and the siplit of her seemed to drive away the evil spirits that had possessed J him. With a glad cry he held forth his ■ arms, and clasped her passionately to him. There was no need for words, for all the wretched pa-st seemed to have been blotted out by the. touch of love's healing hand. But Ethel was not content. She could not know happiness until she had relieved her heart. "I must tell you, Cyril," she pleaded, a.- he tried to silence her. "I shall ever blame myself fnr not having trusted lou. When I think of the suffering thnt I rauscd you, I wonder that you can still love mc. But 1, too, have suffered, these last few weeks, and I have learnt my lesson. Rebekah has taught mc my meanness. Oh, Cyril! we owe I her a debt of gratitude that we can ; never pay. Each passing hour as we I live our lives together, I shall thank . God for her mercy." I "But she will always be our friend, dear. She loves us both. It was she ; who brought mc back to ray senses. , This morning T felt desperate when she enme to mc, and now " lie stopped expressively. "She is our good angel, dear. Shall ; we go to her?' , Ethel said happily. But they were not to see Rebekah that evening, nor for many, many months to come, for Mrs. Goldberg told them she had retired to her room with a bad headache. j Nay—heartache was her trouble. : I chapter" xxvx I The engagement of the Earl of WolverhoLme to Ethel Fetherston was not publicly announced for some months; for they both felt that out of respect for Rebekah, they could pursue no other course but keep it secret. But they were unable to cousult her, for the morning after their interview, ?he and her father had gone abroad, without communication with them. Kebekah's purpose accomplished she felt that she would be miserable if she remained. So she determined to seek forgetfulness in change of scene. Joel was j always with her, and watched her anxiously but never broke the silence on which Rebekah had insisted, for she had determined as far as possible to keep her mind from dwelling upon the man .-he !ored. They were in Paris, and having dejetiner in one of the big restaurants on the Grands Boulevards. Joel was glancing at a paper, and he suddenly uttered .in exclamation of surprise, but Rebekah quietly tonk the paper from his hand. She rend the announcement to the effect that a marriage had been arranged lie-.Tveen the Earl of Wolverholme and Mi?, Fetherston. Her father looked at her keenly, but her mind was prepared for it, nnd she gave no sign that it ■ caused her pain. M hope they will be very happy." she ~?id simply. ■ They wore staying at the Hotel Ritz. i nnd that evening .Joel was seated alone n the lour.se. He was. busy with his! noughts tthen he noticed that a man 1 > -.vns eyeing him keenly. He looked up ■ > quickly, nnd .aw that it was Ackroyd.! ■ Pie sirr'-t. of him was disagreeable" in ,'; • the extreme, for it brought back such I unpleasant memories. [ Ackroyd ro=e from hi? chair, and took I a seat near Joel. - "You don't remember." he said, with ; an ease of manner that was obviously ! forced. " Perfectly." -Tori replied coldly. ) "Have you seen the mper tbi* morning?" he continued coolly. "It contains some news that ought to interest you." "Indeed!" t '-Yes. Lord Wolverholme is enjmged L to a Miss Ethel Fetherston/' Ackroyd

said with a 3mile that was intended to annoy. '"1 was aware of that several months ag«," Joel replied frigidly. But Aekroyd was not the man to be rebuffed; and he quite made up his mind that Joel should afford him a little amusement. He hnd 100 bitter a recollection of his fruitless journey to Leighton Manor, and the scornful way in which he had been treated. Surely he could make him feel uncomfortable. "Bather a bad investment on your ! pnrt! Let inn ~eo, it cost you roughly 1 fifty thousand pound?," Ackroyd said ! reflect ively. ', "Wrong. The sura was twenty-five , thousand," Joel corrected him. "But j really, 1 have no wish /or your company. ; Mr. Ackroyd. Will you go, or shall I?" i "it is you that are wron;;. You for- ' jet the five thousand your daughter paid j mr." ! "What five thousand?" asked Joel; for : Rebekah had never confided in her fa- ! tlirr that she had paid this sum to Ackj royd. .loo] had thought that he had ! thoroughly frightened him at the intei- - view. but had had the curiosity to make inquiries, and had ascertiincd that the copper shares had risen, and that Ackroyd had evidently sold out at a hand"mm> profit. "Did you not know that your daughter had given mc five thousand pounds for (he photographs of the letters? That little sum tided mc over my difficulties. thanks to her. I am jn a position of comfort, for I hsre saf/lv invested my money in gilt-edged securities," Ackroyd wound up triumphantly. '•Very wise. I'm sure, but it doesn't interest mc. in the least. Good evening, sir." '"'But T am ver.v in"* = e?{ed. "Why didn't yon hring the mnrrkigp off? Yon played a dirincr name. ,md you have mv sincere admiration. There was not mil eh to choose between us. We acted like a pair of black-guards.' , J.-iel made an impatient movement. '•Whvit was it? Did your conscience prick you. and were you moved to repentance? Tf so. T shall he bitterly disappointed, for I thought better things of you." "Go to the devil,"" Joel said rudely, but Ackroyd only smiled. But the smile left bis face when he saw Rebekah approaching them. Joel rose and Ackroyd followed liis example. 'Tome, father." Kebekah said, and as she spoke she recognised Ackroyd. A flush mfc to her cheeks, but her eyes did not waver as she coldly regarded him. He bowed profoundly, but she took no notice, for she slipped her arm through that of her father and led him away. Her silent contempt stung Ackroyd tc the quick, and he laughed harshly. It was but a few months after the announcement of the engagement that the marriage of Cyril to Ethel took place. They had wished the ceremony to be a quiet one, and it was so decided, for Cyril had made up his mind to practice severe economy until his finances were once more in good order. The passage of time had made their happiness complete. The troubles that they had gone through were buried in the past, and they both looked with confident joy to the future. Their one regret was in Rrbekah's absence, and Ethel wrote her a letter of appeal to be present at the wedding, that =he had done so much to bring about. Her reply waa magnificent riviere of diamonds foi Ethel (.Joel, too, sent Cyril a prpsent) but she made no mention of their invitation. Ethel understood, and her heart wenl out to her in sympathy. She remem bered all that she had done for them and longed that time might bring he] peace and contentment. Their life was a full one. for Cyri: took seriously the responsibilities of hi; position. He quickly entered into public life, and his name came prominently before the public. And then came thf seal of their joy—tie birth of a son and h.?ir. As soon as possible, Fthel wrote a long k-tter to Rebekah, and told her oi the great happiness that had come tc her. "Both Cyril and I arc agreed on one thing, and that is that you should be godmother to our baby. Won't you come home? You have been away such a lonj time, and we are both longing for n sight of your dear face. We shall not be content till we have you with us and T do entreat you to return. ,, Rebekah's answer was full of kindli ness, but she was none the less firm ir her decision not yet to retnrn. For sh( owned to herself that she dared not yel I do so. i "But, perhaps, in a year or two yoi I shall see mc. I thank you for your wisl 1 that I should be godmother to your anc f Cyril-; baby, and I gladly consent. B( . ' sure that I do not undertake it with c light, heart, but view the responsibiltie; seriously. I shall never marry, dear, anc perhaps your child will fiil up the voic in my heart. I am not ashamed to tel you my thoughts. You know every ' thing, and you would not have m( ' changeable. I am so happy to see fron the papers that Cyril is rapidly makin; ■ a name for himself in political life. Hi: 1 father's heart would have been gratifiec if he had lived. T often think of him > and his curious nature; but he wa: i very lovable." This letter grieved Ethel, for it shower her only too clearly that Rebekah hac ' not yet forgotten. She did not show i • to Cyril, but she looked at him wist fully." Cyril was perfectly happy, for hii every \vis-h had been gratified. He hac married the woman he loved, and Shi had blessed him with children to earn on his name; but he smiled sadly as the Christmas presents were unpacked tha came from abroad, and which the child ren understood had been sent by the.ii Aunt Rebekah, about whom they hac heard 50 mu-ch, but whom they had ncvei met. But time heals most wounds; and ii was with a smile of contentment thai Rebekah at last felt that she could sil down with a light heart and write tc Ethel what she was so anxiously wait ing to hear. '"Yes, dear." she wrote. "I can come to you now. if you will have mc. May 1 spend Chris. tr|'s with you and youi little ones? For I can look upon your happiness in no grudging spirit. Nay, J long to share in your joys. J And Rebekah returned to England ; once more. i in placid contentment slie announced i her journey to Wolverholmc Castle. A ; heavy fall of snow had taken place, and ' ?hc was obliged to go by train. Upon the pint form of the station J T.ord and Lady Wolverholme awaited J her arrival with impatience. As she i stepped from the carriage Ethel ran forward impetuously and embraced her. ""Welcome, dear. Thrice welcome." she whispered tenderly. And Rebekah once more met the man ■ she had loved so devotedly. Her eves I calmly met his. and she'smiled with hand™ Ppin^s when he grasped her ! X ii hC * Chi !^ rea w «e gathered in the I 1 hall, for they were eager to see 111

aunt of whom they had heard so much, i But she turned instinctively to the eld- i est son, her godchild, and as she scanned : his face, she could trace there the delicate outline of his father's features. She took him in her arms and kissed him tenderly. She looked at Cyril with . eyes that shone with peace and contenx- ' ment, for she had fought the good fight, i and victory had crowned her. (The End.) ;