AT BEAUTY'S BAR

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 260, 2 November 1910, Page 10

AT BEAUTY'S BAR

BY ROGER K. WENLEIGH. Author of "Friends and Rivals," "An Irresistible Temptation," • j i- • ■" '""'.C"'"- "A,Prolonged Truce," etc. . - /, '

CHAPTER' XXV.' ~1 i to"™ n.°t that Will dO, boy -" said j . But Joseph gave the curtains another *«'ist, and, screwing his hea<l round over ! ins shoulder, stared hard .at Minnie. She < ■was sad and pale, and seemingly absorbed ,; in a book, from which she did not raise ' her eyes. . < As I was saying, my dear," continued ixid.v -Margaret, '-now that [Algernon is in the neighbourhood I shall taice the op- : portunity of having a garden, party. Algy -ivill play host for rue. an<3 " "So soon after his mother's death?" ; Baid Minnie, and, looking up, she caught Joseph's round eyes fixed cm her, filled ■ ■until signs and winks and Tailings of most expressive entreaty and distress. "What's the matter with the boy?" said ljudy Margaxefc snappishly. "I said that was enough. the α-oom. I.' don't see, Minnie, why you should raise any objection to Algernon " . But Minnie bad risen, and "was following Joseph from 'the room. "Dear mc, miss, it has been so trying," n Baid Joseph, as, standing up against the door of the library, which slie 'had. entered, he stretched iorth the letter towards her, "From Oa-pta-in Xoritltcote, miss.' , lie whispered. "Why do you brinp mc letters from him wu'bh this ridiculous mystery?" exclaittned Minnie, much irritated. . But her face changed as her glance fell on the writing, ami, tearing the letter ■open, she road it through in a quick, breathless way. ■"Who gave you this?" she asked eagerly. "Captain Northteotc's man," answered Joseph. "Impossible! Where did you see him?" "In the stable yard, but I didnft see Jirrn, miss—it was 'too dark. I only heard a voice, and saw a dim figure, and' I shouldn't hardly have thought it was Tony rf he hadn't .talked about you." "Abuot mc? Go on," ssrid Minitie impatiently. But Joseph bad stopped in great alarm at his own words.

"1 daren't go on, miss. You can give mc warning if you like, but I daren't go on." Bui Minnie, who was sure F!rank was •hiis own messenger, was resolved to hear •what lie had said. "You confess there is some secret you are holding back,, and. I must and will ihear it," she said. "Please don't, miss," i3-d_oseph, ha-ck-_ig against the door. "But I insist," cried Ms young mistress. "I have no dor—t I 'ought to know What tlie messenger said respecting mc." "Well, miss, if you will ■ make mc toll, he said he loved you—he did,. inideed."iT. "Was that all. -asked' Minnie, an" a voice by no* means patchedto the. tone of anger he expected. "It wasn't by any means all, miss. He asked mc to help him to a sight of you, miss." "Well?" And Minnie's voice was quite sweet and pleasant, thus embolden—g Josep_tO'confess all his delinquency. "And I told him you walked on the west terrace, miss, every evening -about nix. But now, in course, you won't go to-morrow." To this suggestion Minnie made no reply; she pressed the .letter to her lips, and stood in thought, pondering whethervt would be wiser to take Joseph into her confidence or. leave him still in a state of mystification.' She de_ded on tlie latter course, saying only:— "On the contrary, I ahfl.ll take myTaalk as usual, Joseph. Am I likely to see your friend?" "No, : miss. He promised to hide ;in a hollow ,t ree - Mc anu th - e g ardener can lock him up in the tool house if you lake." -'. . ~ , "No, no," returned M-innie, laughing, "and should any more letters come for mc by the same band be careful of them, Joseph, and 'bring them to mc _fc once yourself." "I'U mind, miss. But I won't never hear any more irnperance about adoring shadders, and I'll —11 him if he dares be spying round the terrace again arter to-morrow, he'll be discovered-, by -/the old lady. I'm glad you ain't very angry, miss." "It was Frank himself," said jVlktnie, in her thoughts, as she returned to the drawing room with a face so radiant that Lady Margaret peered at her curiously over her spectacles. "Well, my dear, what was the matter with that queer page that your aunt has left to guard, you?" "He fancied lie saw a ghost, grandmamma." " "Ah!" said the, old lady, with r a grim smile, "when he gets to my age, he won't talk about the ghosts he sees. What was this particular spectre like?" "He came in the likenesa of a man who had-'been injured and traduced, and who haunted this spot to justify himself— at least, that is what all ghosts come for, ia it not, grannie?" said Minnie, with a nervous laugh, fearing she had spoken a little imprudently. Lady Margaret looked at.her a moment earnestly, then dropped her eyes with a slight sigh. "My dear, keep your jest and your little secret if you like; hut if all injured individuals returned to'the earth to clear their characters, we should have a good many scamps who have been hanged parading their ghosts 'before the world. All tlie same, I won't' have the •boy frightened by tricks." And Lady Margaret put her hand upon the bell. "Pray, grandmamma, don't make a fuss!" cried Minnie. "Joseph told mc he „w Algernon's man in the yard, that was all." ... , She blushed vividly • m- saying this, because, although the words were true, sne icr.ew they would convey a raise impression to Lady Margaret's mind, yet she'could not help it. ... The old lady withdrew her resolute hand from the bell, and smiled. "I think he must have .brought a pretty message," she said, "for you look several shades happier since he., came, Minnie." "Shall I make out the lists of guests for your garden party, grandmamma?" asked Minilie, retreating hurriedly from the too near inspection of the sharp eyes regarding her. &"__?' y ?' tt >' ou don>t st 'U object' to Algernon's presence." . . Lady Margaret's eare-l'med eyes. :/lhe west terrace was; in factor, to^__i_,* y _, te S of s ™ s *™ +1 \ , s P rinkled - Minnie* pa_, an i threaded her hair „K_ gold™ gleo.™ »« Aiiam in Kden ere Eve' -«"~0. from Ms B _-__;; __.*_£ ?Z£%

' turbed the ""stillness of the , sunset''time, , save the even-song of the thrush piping bis love. With her heart beating high with Ivope and fear, and her cheek touched with the damask of the western clouds, Minnie ■hurried on among the shadows, ready to start with joy, or to stand still in the chill of disappointment. Not this last, for, screened" by the bole of a mighty tree, her lover awaits her coming, and watches the changes of her face, and sees the glory of the sunset shining about her, bathing her beauty in a .richer loveliness. "Minnie, my darling! At last I see you again." "Oh, Frank, what are you risking for my sake? I fear this, interview, if known, would be misunderstood, and it would surely put on you a shadow of guilt. Why- not" have come 'boldly to the house, as you promised?" "I would not tell you, Ulinnie, in my letter, ibiit I was met at the lodge 'by a messenger from Lady Margaret with a ■curt, cruelly civil note, saying she could not receive in her house a person whose own father had closed his door against him." "How shamefully deceitful!" exclaimed Minnie. "I ..will leave Pemberton tomorrow." "No, no, that will be to leave mc also. Better stay. I will explain why. I have much to tell you, which I dared ; not write." They walked on farther beneath the ' trees, and sat down on a rustic seat under the branches of a huge lime, and Minnie listened eagerly with fitful ■blushes to the story Frank had to tell. The shadows lengthened, nnd the glory i died away out of the sky ere they , parted. L "So you consent, my darling?" said ; Frank, as he held her hand in a lingering i clasp. Minnie gave him one shy yet earnest glance, then her eyes fell and her lip trembled. i "Yes, if it 'be true, indeed, that my father's mother is plotting against mc, ! then I shall be only acting in self-de- > fence. If I gain any aunt's .consent you have mine." i "I am content," said Frank, and, ' stooping, he pressed a kiss upon her lips, and then they parted. i. Not without many a look, and many I a wa-ve of the hand, ere the shadows of the great trees fell down darkly between • them, biding each, from the other. •Minnie ran hastily toward the house with that unconscious smile' •which ' a ha.ppy face wears when the well-spring of joy in the secret j soul overflows, rippling the cheek >:wi£ii' its dimpled image. Thus".: running; she i came upon her. champion knight, Joseph, '. armed with a.watering pot and a small > rake, weapons, however, which he ihad 1 not been called upon to use. "I hope, missj you haven't been annoyed," he began, but stopped amazed, for, I- driving up the avenue, came Captain ■ Northeote, with lony .Cridge, as large as life, sitting behind him. "Ah, he thought ! better of it!" said Joseph, as, half dis- ' appointed, he touched his tall h-at-to-hie ' young mistress, and disappeared behind •the thick shrubs, ... : _ 5 (To be continued^ dally.)