The Petals of the Almond Blossom.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 114, 13 May 1912, Page 10

The Petals of the Almond Blossom.

BY JjJLA. FIELD.

Author of "The Crystal-Gazers," "Cupid' Victory." "Honoria," "Her Atonement, •'Countess Vera"* Flight." "One of ; Legion." etc., etc. CHAPTER 11. A MOONLIGHT NIGHT OX THE MEDITERRANEAN; "We can't be more than a mile or s< off now.' , said Lord Hructon, trying t< pierce the sea-mist which surrounded thf Yen-us with hi» glasses. "Lan we land directly we get to Nice?" asked Lady Silcbester, nervously, iiiii ■was lying back in a ertshion-eovored deck < hair. Lord Hatton leaned over the railing, but failed to discover any sign; of land, lie resumed his seat beside Lady cSilvhester before answering:. ""I am afraid, it will be quiti- impossiblehardly -worth while trying unless •this mist lifts.' Lord Hatton suddenly rose, holding out hie hand to Lady i-il-ehester. "Come, shai; we go in ? We're swallowed quite enough of this fog."' "No; I feel I can't move—star ! " Lady Pik-hester grasped Lord Hatton'a hand and dragged him into iiis chair. She remained in silence. Lord Hatton glanced furtively at his companion. A sudden spasm had contracted Lady Silchester< face. ""Tell mc. what has happened. You've been so brave up till now." Lord Hatton's voice had a disappointed ring in it. "Nothing—it's nothing. Let us go in," SAid Lady Silehpster, pulling herself together. "Eem<"iniber, dear friend. 1 warned you I should be depressed. Oh, God. may life is not worth the Irving ! The air seems full of evil spirits to-night. It must be the mist. Bet look. Lord Haclon. the fog is clearing—and what is j that ': Yes, the moon."' With a little laugh Laxly Silciiester rose hurriedly. shaking out her dree*-, and throwing back her head as if to rid herself of the horrid day-dreams which had been with her. The sea-mist had.been dissipating rapidly—the moon hung soft and frosty looking, but little by little the silver light swept over the -water, and the Venus stood bathed in the shafts of ■brilliant light. Lord Hatton looked out over the sea towards Nice. They were only a short TFay off from the gay .Riviera. With a sinking heart he thought of the man living there they had come to seek. Lord Hatton heard a suppressed err from Lady Sik-hester. and. turning quickly, almost fell over her kneeling form. • "What have you lost ':" he asked, lending down ale*. "What have 1 found, you had better ask. Bend lower. Lord Hatton, and i ■will show —on your knees, now here •where my finger points. Tell mc I am dreaming-—mad. anything— tell mc it is not true that there is something here." Lady S-ilchester spoke in a hoarse whisper. Shi- waa looking -with fierce, burning eyes at a white spot on the deck as Lord Ila.tu>n .knelt beside her. She buried her head in the chair she had been sitting in. Slowly the man picked up the small while object whien ! had caused Lady Silchester such terror. '' "It is something soft and white," sal Lord Hatfnn, feeling and emoothin" i as it lay in his hand. ° "With a spring Lady Silehester stoo. ■beside him. clutching fiercely at hi arm. ""Don't you know —you can't guee what it is ?"' Lady Pilchester snappe< her teeth together:'they gleamed white Her eyes flashed as sne gazed toward; Nice, all life and .brilliant light; then ai the deep blue expanse of -water spark ling with moonlight. '"It is the petal of an almond bios som." she said in his par. She took the petal, now warm and withered from holding, and rolling it between her fingers threw it over the side of the Venus. "Now you know the meaning of our interesting find. I am followed; goodness only knows how my spy got on board your yacht, but here he is, and be has made a great mistake in warning mc of his presence, for he is at mv merer here," Lady Siichester caught her lips sharply with her teeth; her eyes siufted swiftly to the parts where the deck remained in shadow. "I think you are mistaken. That petal must have belonged to yon, and you brought it along in your handkerchief." ■Lord Hatton turned .to his companio: hut the look she gave him convince ■him more surely than -words that the] was no delusion on her part. "Do mc a. faronr. Go in and leave mc she murmured passionately, putting he ■band on his (arm and pushing him a-wa flam her. "Nat unless you promise mc you -wi do. nothing rash. You are too excited; can*, lea-re you Eke this." Lord Hatto took Lady Sflehesier's hands in his; the ■were icy cold. His eyes involtnrtaril met hers, and -without "a "word he wall ed down the deck and disappeared. Left alone. Lady Skrhester peere •caiitionely round, then, opening a tin ■black -box, took out a waxy-looking p<: tal, and, placing it exactly where th other had been, retreated to a dark cor ncr behind two chairs. The time dragged wearily, the mooi ■was -very low in the horizon. Lookhij almost as if she were going to dip int! the restless waves, the Venus, now a a standstill, swung gently to and fr< in the darkening "waters." The chimefrom the clock within struck the quartei to twelve. Lady .Siichester shivered, bui she still remained in her crouching posi lion. The sound of footsteps sudden]v camt to her ear, and a triumphant smile broke over her white, determined face. With steady, calm deliberation she drew a long, glittering steel neeJle from the bosom of her drees. "li, h he ! " murmured Lady iSilehest<r. leaning forward, Every inch of her body Mas pulsating with anticipation. The man who came into view ,vas Ladr SiHii-sier'.s unknown footman. He was fniiii.TL' as ho wont up to the chair where Li-iv -m;. hitster had 'been sitting. Sinking into it, and striking a match he lit a -gareite. Holding the still burning , mauii above his head he bent low and e-xjuniufid th- -J*,* in front. With a low wbirtle ;iI . started forward, and. drop- '''''- ''" '"'*' ''"'-'•. >.Lruc-k another match, "-' "uyrily to himself. Ho ■*-• --v..; ~uv hi, i^ M yeilow hand to ¥•-;> ap Lh. al Dl .,n;l Uo SiUm ial when. ISilli iutely paralysed' Au,i '-■ v i ''

stay behind in London nothing would have happened to yon, bnt you overstepped your discretion by following mc so boldly. I could never have harmed you in London, tat here, alone with you on ,the glorious Mediterranean, "who is to raise their eyes in wonder or make a scandal ont of the fact that one of Lady Silohester's footmen became snddenly paralysed, and -was discovered by the medical man to be a Chinaman in disguise ? Oh, no. my dear ! Here I am quite safe, for I shall send you as a Chinaman to a home in Nice, where you will remain; and now that I've ■waited for about four hours for you to put. in an appearance on deck. 11l go to bed, as it was certainly fatiguing work, but well worth it." With a mocking laugh, Lady Silehester rose to her feet and replaced the evil needle. A hand was laid firmly on her shoulder ac she still stood contemplating -triumphantly her night's deed. '■What have you done, Lady Silchester ? You've killed him —my God ! Why did I leave you alone to-night ? You were mad; but I thought the look you pave mc meant I could trust you." Lord Hatton dropped on one knee beside the prostrate form at Lady Silchester's feet. "He is not dead, Lord Hatton; he-only sliim-bers securely for life. Don't think I am such a fool as to rick my neck for a worthless Chinaman; but I have placed myself safely beyond all further danger from him." "A Chinaman ! Why, he is your footman I saw in London," said Lord Hatton, blowing out the match he hal lighted to examine the man's face. "Yes, one and the same; -but he is • Chinaman, you will discover, when y< get him ready for the home in Xice la going to 6end him to to-morrow. No Lord Haton, oblige mc by carying hi down into the cabin next yours, ai please lock him in securely. a.< we dot wan any one of your men to see hi again." With a sweep of the hand La< Sileheeter indicated the way down. The moon had finally dipped out sight, leaving a clear, but dark, nig] behind her. Silently Lord Hatton lifted the he] less Chinaman in his arms. A feeling < :ittcr repugnance passed through him : lie looked from the thin. inotionle igure he carried 'to Lady Silchcster's ta! jueenly. and very beautiful in her whil ace tea-gown and sable cape. All the oJ eeling of dislike for her returned. "How heartless you are—scarcely lonian ! " he said bitterly. ''Aiigh. what a fool ! 1 suppose yo vould «ill mc womanly and full of heai f I had allowed this devil to eontiuu orturing and end by killing mc." Lad : ilchester threw off her sables and sn town on a chair at the foot of th rank where Lord Hatton had placed th Chinaman. "Now see if he isn't a Celestial, , ' eh ontinued with a wicked snerring laugl "I couldn't touch him -again—just no\i it any rate." said Lor.l Hal ton, movin way and standing against the door. "I'm glad you said 'just now,' for, o ourse, you must take him to the hospi "1-" Lady Silchester rose, and, takiii] sponge, turned on the hot-water tar he soaped it and passed it over th 30tnian's "face. Uit by bit the pasti c had covered his features with mcltei ff, leaving the. yellow Chinese face ex osed. Standing aside. Lady >i!chest€~ ith a sarcastic lau?h. pointed to tl ice she had revealed. "I'm a she devil, aren'jt I. Lord Ha jn ? Say it, I don't care." she erie lrngginjT her shoulders and turning 1 iek up her cape. '"What sort of crime do yon call thisor don't you call it crime ? Perhaps yo hide your vile action under the cloak < self-preservation." With a fierce, angr light in bis eyes. Lord Hatton move away from rthe door, holding it open ft I Lady Sikhester to pass out. Slowly st went to her cabin, a self-satisiied "smil on her face. Lord Hatton could hea her humming a popular -waltz as she diappeared down the passage. With a disgusted shiver Lord Hatto opened the port-hole to let the smell o Russian violet out. The scent was sue a strong remembrance of Lady Siieheste that Lord Hatton felt suffocated as h smelt it filling every corner of the cabij like a hat, evil wave. The cold -wind from the sea -swept in blowing the hair from his fevered fore head. # ''Can't you move—or speak ?" he aske. the stricken man, the anguish he felt fo: him making the beads stand out on hi; brow. The Chinaman looked up with glassy agonised eyes, the veins standing oui like cords on his flat temples. '•Poor devil ! "cried Lord Ha-tton, deepity making ihis voice quiver. Gently aimost with a -woman's tenderness, he went about to make the paralysed man comfortable. "And to-morrow, God only knows, she may have rid herself of one joemy only to find them rising around , her thick and fast." Looking once more at the' still figure on the bed. Lord Hatton switched off the electric licit locked the door, and pocketed the key. "Not to •bed. with this horror next to mc: and she, I suppose, is sleeping like an innocent child." With a muttered imprecation Lord Hatton went -up on deck and lighted a cigar, leaned over the railings, watching the deep blue waters tossing round the Venus. The blackness which had become intensified on all around announced that dawn would soon ■be appearing, putting to flight the spirits of night. r "And after all, this struggle to live only -means a few more years of worry in this world, and then the inevitable death I Life is only a flash, and finally darkness ' ; Lord Hatton flung his cigar-end far out to sea; it flared up in its rapid rush through the air, then disappeared Shaking hie head, Lord Hutton looked up at the fast-changing sky; lemon-coloured streaks were appearing on the horizon Before turning in he looked once more at the sky. The first- rays of the sun were shooting up—another day had dawned. (To be continued daily.)'