LADY LIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 180, 30 July 1913, Page 10

LADY LIL.

SENSATIONAL STORY OF A SOCIETY BEAUTY. A ROMANCE OF LOVE ANTr-THE SALVATION ARMY. (By;'ARTHUK APPLLN.) 2irSazr of "The Chorus Girt," "The Orri Who Sa-cer Bis Honour," "The Stage Door," etc. etc. CHAPTER XiXl. Tbe Orlando was a good-sized boa I of two- -thousand tons. Besides her passengers and. there equipment she carried a fair amosaK. of cargo—arm*, ammunition and. -other goods destined for the use of tbe rtates ia the Congo. She would probably return with very different mt-r----cfa3jidsse= gum-copal, nuts, rubber, tusks. Once- clear -of -th* l Bay or Biscay. fair weather followed the Orlando; plenty of sunshine. pAenty of warmth, with coo] creeses ai-aiighL I nuspile-af. £he?.boar-i>eing ratber crowded. Lady Lil bad been given a small sxajeccam- to herself. It was the smallest os> thc~bo3S. placed forward on the saloon derk. JoeiiEEage had chosen it himself: ir-shewreaot a good sailor the motion of the boat would not 'bo felt here >o mnrh as -an the upper deck. She was among and children, too. Her husbands stateroom «as at the other end of the Orlando. Bnt- Lady Lf" had gone on board, rareless, apparently, of the accommodation offered her_ asking nothing, desiring nothing. Not until they were a couple of days out did she even notice that a huge bouqnei of spring flowers had been placed in her cabin: quite a miniature library of books, beside- one or two little trifles, for her comfort which she. who had never voyaged, would not have i4soirghl of. fie wondered dully, with .-rf-arcelv any SrSerest. wfho it was who- had done these Tittle tilings for her. Her first thought was Peter Allen: then she realised it would hardly have been possible: probably .either her husband or .lot; Savage were responsible.

She also found -several letters, neatly tied together in a bundle, -waiting for her inspection. Some were from distant relatives and connections; others from acquaintances, mostly condoling with her or congratulating her—according to the ■writer's point of view. A king communicatinn. partly oil iuisiness. partly giving kindly, well-m-carrf advice, from her solicitors. She read them mechanically, •with little or no interest, then tore them up.

She had said good-bye to that side -of life—good-bye to the friends and enemies it contained. She would probably never see England again.

She was going to the L-nknown. And the Unknown would swallow her up. She would soon be forgotten.

If she returned —if!—it would not be to her old lap. the- life she had once dreamed. It vv-ould ju-t lie as a humble •worker amongst the humblest people lost in the greatest city in the v-orld.

Lil. Salvation lass! But she would never Tecum! She did not want to. Indeed, she already felt as if she were dead. She ate, she slept: she talked a little to her stewardess 'and tile matron who daily visited her. But she did ail the<e things automatically. Her bustard. ;«;.>. iaunp every morning -nnd inquired as to her health and asked if she had everything she wanted. His presence alone roused her from her tipathy. She remembered all that had passed between them—all that had yet «,o happen. And she found herself wondinnng wiverlfer lie had c\ er been responsible for all his actions.. The series of tragedies which had happened apparently had made no effect upon him.

He never made any reference to tlteir fjiiaxTCJ, to -Toe >avage. t-o the murder, or to her disappearance and sudden return to Bronningtou Hardens. His reticence might have been out of respect and sympathy for her. Possibly when he was alone he. too. vondcred why she was silent "and said nettling about the great, though invisible, harrier which stood between then:.

The worst of ii was Lady Lil did not care. Nothing mattered.

Yet. among her letters was one. which she opened and read la-*t of all. that loused -her for a brief moment from her anaxhy. set Ht heart beating; made ■warm and bitter {ear- ri-e to her eyes. It -was from >oujeone she had never met. a-name utterly unfamiliar. And it -was a. love-letter! Perhaps '.he strangest a SComa.n had ever received.

Yet while it mocked her. reminding her *rf the youth and '.appines.- she had for ever lost, it -warmed her heart. It made her feel again. E -was undatp.l and had no address. "Tou "may be surprised, hut I don't -ffimk you will he annoyed at receiving this letter from a perfect stranger, a man yon have never met. probably never even seen. .1 have only seen you once in one of Jxmdon's great higiiways. But directly I saw you 1 recogui-ed you. And remembered ....

1 think we miiri have mr; and loved nrtc another aeon- ->nd aeons KveTy-thinjr about you it quite famUiar, pvj3i your voir/', .which 1 bourd for one rrappy moment when you stormed to ask someone the way. You opened your bae to .search for .in address, and an envelope fluLUred to t'.ic ground. As soon as yr*a_ had q-onc I picked it up. 1 learnt yottr name and where you lived. I've read a jrreai deal about you in the .since then—and I've, laughed to rtrypeii. Bid I tjr I had read about ynn? J sboold have said the shell which rrtckases yon and in -which yon hide from *fire world. Though I"vr' never spoken to yon. 1 knewv you better ih3n the fools ■who write about you. the people who EnrrorjDd you. the huehand who married you.

"T Jove you. This v the first time f fcssre ever written tho?r beautiful words to any woman. The first time [ have ever used them. It mafcej mc hap-ov. [And I know you won't laugh or tear the letter up in d : -irijst. You may not rrndeTstand. brat you win one day T fead ».t> -write and tell you. fur even as yon are now lonely I hare be,en lonely ail my life. I am'a man of fo rt y. and there is lirße I have not done in the ■world, little -I have not seen. r don*t live iv England; I wa ? only there on Dnentes-s when I saw yon "that day standing in the mnddv street \n"d' though I l e ft you there'without a word !2? k J S <m in m 7 heart to mv I castle in Spain, where T reside for the 1 greater past of the year. T live quitakme m m 7 ««Qe. It hangs on the mounSL «j£L aooting a glad, green -raUey, -trhicb. in barSia the-

long, silent days dreaming of you —now |1 have seen you the dreams -win be more real and more beautiful. When night comes I sometimes grow restless and call tor a horse. Choosing the youngest and wildest of my stud. 1 ride down the mountain-side and gallop wildly through the valleys in the darkness. In the winter 1 hunt and shoot and go long journeys far among the hills of the Sierra Nevada, living the life of a hunter, revelling in danger and cheating death a dozen times a day. For Stature has been kind to mc. and made mc strong and big; fierce when I meet an equal or a dangerous foe. The great hall in my castle is full of the trophies of the ehasT: the skins of beasts I Itave slain in far-away countries: heads, horns: -arms and shields and ] -pears of savage tribes. Though I have i never bunted just for the lust of killing, I have fought man and beast either for food or in self-defence. ... lam telling you all this thai 1 may give you a j rough picture of myself and my lonely home. . . . And perchance you will remember me —even as when [ saw you for that moment in tbe muddy London street I saw and recognised you. We shall never meet in this world, hut I shall write to you again—and, perhaps, one day you will send mc just one little *ord. with a glove that you ha*e -warn, or a scarf tout has touched yarrr neck, or a flower that ha* nestled in your breast. "God guard you in your travels and help you in your tronbles.—Armande Silvester. Box 32, Bank of Spain, London."

The writing was peculiar, certainly un-English, sbovring strength and character. When Lady Lil destroyed her other letters she hesitated as she took this in be.r hand, half tore it across, then hurriedly put i: back in its envelope and loc-ked it away. it came from the unknown. It was something outside her life. Yet it seemed to bring her in touch -with life again. An invisible hand stretched across -7>ace. holding hers. Someone, somewhere, as lonely as she. That thought stirred tier and touched her. She kept the letter. Next day. for the first time, she went up on " deck. The first person she saw was Joe Savage- He was sitting on a deckchair on the lee side of the boat, staring over the blue .surface of the almost ruffled sea, instinctively she knew he was waiting for her. that he had wafted there every day since the boat had left Lisbon. He rose and gave her a chair, and stood beside her without a word, though she knew his eyes were devouring her face.

"How long before we touch land?" she asked.

"In a few days now. Are yon anxious to arrive."

She shook her head. "I suppose the soonerthe better."

There was an awkward silence between them for a "while. They watched the people dumping up and down the deck. Here, some were playing quoits; there, deck cricket. The contrast between the present and the future titruck Lil sharply. Savage read her thoughts.

"They are wise to be happy and healthy while they can. You, too; you must lay in a reserve of ■ health and strength."

Lil looked at him. "Do you think I care what becomes of mc?"

He glanced at the uniform she wore ""iou have work to do. Salvation ' he could not hide the sneer in his voice. "1 hope you have everything you want, that your cabin is comfortable,*' lie added, quickly. She bowed her bead. "Evervthins Whom shall I thank?" * "I don't know. The -captain I suppose." he said, shrugging his shoulders. Bending down, he wrapped the ru"around her jegs and feet with his one hand. Then, lighting a cigar, he strolled away. The day was drawing to a close Night threatened. The Orlando lav moored alongside the wharf at Iratad'i. Softly splashing against her sides, -whispering and gurgling, the Congo poured its waters, bathed in a red-gold light. Tnland. a thick haze half hid tie pafms. Against the sky. flamingoes were shai. ing their scarlet wings. A great heat iay lazily over everything, and evervthmg save the sea and the sky was "a warm, misty green. The heat was overpowering—a wet, weakening heat. Lady Lil looked at the great Mood of red-gold water creeping noiselessly between ha7.y, greei banks', arid she realised the terrible loneliness' of the land from which it came. From far a.way beyond Stanley Poo!; from sbrieking rapids and 'silent lakes; through murderous rank swamps quivering, half-hidden in gigantic forests—the name of antelope and cow and rhinoceros It brought with it a faint, sickly perfume: the smell of wet. hot earth, and rank vegetation.

Alongside the wharf mam- other boats were lying. They were 'being loaded wrth rubber and ivory and gum -copal; the shrieks of sirens and the rattle of winches rent the. silence at regular intervals.

Lady L-il -stood leaning over the raib of the Orlando, watching. She stood alone, save for the sailors hurrying to and iro. The other members 'of the party were getting ready to disembark. The loading of lhe*c boats mith their oncer cargo fascinated her. She could see great bales being hoisted up. ihe occasional gleam of (he earefullv sheathed tusk of a rhinoceros or elephant. AH the strange things that came down the almost silent, purring, red-gold river!

Presently the moon rose, and innumerable lights twinkled along the misty wharf, and the rivor became a sea o"f silver, and the trees became tangled and lost in fog.

"Well, we have arrived. Lady LiL" Li! started: and turning, found gavage by her side. leering _ t beT Tla looked more terrible than ever in the ctothes he now worp . Hig defcnnit more obvions; bis <ferk complexion had become the colour of manogarry. Lil shuddered. He looked like somT dfar.vcr had brought from the dark , swamps and cast on to tbe deck of the

"\e=. we have arrived."' she said coldly. "What are -wmr orders*" Savage frowned He understood and appreciated the change that bad graduRoner " P ° mC OW?r Sir * D P crt

But the change in Lady Lil surprised tarn. That something he had not counted unon.

I I dont gjve order? now." he said,] sharply: and hie voice reminded Lil of | tie barking oi a dog. "For the next j few days we all travel together until I we reach Leopoldville. At LeapoMviHe —the headquarters of the gang of men who. first of all, under the orders of King Leopold, lobbed-and nnrrderei(«nil tortured the niggers whose Goals yon Irave come to- save—we part company. I beßev© -the mission •votrve joined fe to stay <&faw-» EfcQe •wifle, -then take - yunrj

■husband and I—go ahead—ostensaaly to prepare the way for you, get permission from the District Commissioners, and arrange for huts to be built for your accommodation." He waited, expecting Lady Lil to speak. It was a lons time before she fonnd her voice. "You say that you and mv husband will leave us':" "Yes. Hasn't he told you?" Savage replied. "T've only seen him for a few minutes every day." 7 Savage laughed. "He thinks of nothing but the expedition we shall make together. 1 believe already he has forgotten everything that happened a month ago; though he is never weary of talking to mc. and questioning me— yet I don't think he really sees me —not. for example as you see mc, and the j others see mc. Lil." j " Please remember that I'm Miss Lil Srm'th." she said, quickly, j

"He can't think and talk of nothing bnt this great river.'' Savage continued. ** and the vasts swamps and forests and plains that lie over there." He waved bis arm into the misty tree-tangled night. " Yes. he has forgotten what happened a month ago. but he's remembering ■what happened a few years ago. You should talk to him. Miss Smith." Again there was silence. lAtdy Lil said nothing. Only from the wharf the steam winches still rattled and the sirens shrieked and a steamer grunted as she got up steam.

" You needn't fear him now, he's far too interested in his guns and the big game he hopes to find and the dangers he'll encounter to trouble about you. He has even forgotten that he loves you— that will come later. That will come when the forests have given up to him the wild beasts he is goircj to hunt. That will come later when tired of bis hunting; the lust of killing will have grown so strong that bell instinctively turn to another sport, tbe sport the great Christian King of the Belgians instituted— tbe whipping and torturing, the maiming and killing of human creatures, women and children. Only when satiated with that he will conic back rind, finding you, desire and claim you. Tour white face a-nd your «r>:s beauty and your golden hair will prove an irresnstihle attraction then—a perfect antidote-" " Silence! For pity's sake!" Lil's voice, rose to a shriek, which echoed over the whispering -waters of the Congo—the river that has heard the dying shrieks of countless tortured creatures. '• Silence!" she cried again, putting her hands over her ears. "Are you man or fiend ?*' " I -am what yonr husband made mc." he croaked. "' You wouldn't believe mc. But yon shall see. 'And when you've .--esn and heard all that Beyond There ■has to say to you,"* again he waved his arms towards the trec-tan;:Ved night — "' then you may wish we had left you to the tender merries of Che man they call '""The Doctor.' " He Emped away forward, and Lil was left alone again. Tbe. next morning the train took Lady Lil and her companions to Leopoldville. They had been expected and preparations made for their arrival. To Lil's surprise she learnt that they were not to stop there, but to go straight to the village of which Savage hud spoken Yandjali. A small steamer was waiting to to take them there up t.he river, which. after a short voyage, they reached one morning just before luncheon. The noisy clanging of the steamer bel! annonneed their arrival.

Lil went up on dec-k to look at her future home. She bad arrived ai last. She was in a strange country on the borders of the va*rt forest of the Cotgo. In a land of black slaves nnicd by a handful of white men and an army of savages—savages of the worst or.ier.. cantribalir!—men who killed for the joy of killing, devouring their victim*!

She looked at Yandjali, and all she saw a wooden landing-stage. A handful of cottages and huts, mostly built of mud. Burning sunshine lighting masses of green, tropical foliage. Foliage that stretched away and beyond: a dreadful dead, funereal green, finally lost in a hot miasmic-like mtsi.

The steamer was warped in. the gangway run ont on to the wharf. And as Lady Lil stepped on to dry land, some strange instinct making h"r keep close to her husband now, the District Commissioner. Commander Raemboldt stepped forward to greet them. .Behind him were a dozen almost naked black savage*, each wearing a red fez. and each one armed with a rifle.

To Ldy Lil's surprise Raemboldt held out his hand to Sir Rupert and greeted him as an old friend. Tneu he turned and stared at Lady Lii with, surprise in his eyes—eyes as hot and green and cruel as the tropica! forests surrounding and threatening them on all sides. {To be continued dally.-)