Mrs. Daventry's Mistake

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 62, 13 March 1915, Page 18

Mrs. Daventry's Mistake

r By HABOLD BXHS'LOSS.

Author of "His Adversary's Daug&tmrf "A Wide Dominion," "BlaktZs Burden," "The Wastrti," ''For Love and Honour," etc. CHAPTER XL T Mabel was walking home by the dale tJn a disturbed and indignant mood. She ~iad not seen Keldar since the day the /■bog broke into the trench, but she had "thought a great deal about him, among other matters, for she had had much to occupy her mind of late. For one thing, • Aer mother had spoken to her with em- . .barrassing frankness. Mabel, she said, was wilfully throwing away an opportunity she ought to be thankful for: particularly as her lather's means were getting straitened. Mr. Keldar must feel "Jiurt by her absurd Tcoldness. and unless she was careful he might withdraw from "the field. She bad already snubbed Max. bad a great deal of mone\\ and was -a young man of excellent character: and ~a girl without a dowry could not expect "many of such eligible .suitors. " Mabel retorted that Oils was a relief, ' but it was really her •mother who had checked Max. while 'Mr. Keldar had shown no marked inclination to become a suitor. Mrs. 'Daventry declared that Mabel must blame herself for this. A man, she said, needed a little judicious encouragement. He looked for a sign that his intentions were not displeasing. -'She added more to the same effect, and Zithe girl, "who escaped at last, divided between anger and humiliation, now thought over the interview with a deep -aense of injury. - Her mother's plans were obvious. Max ■Aad not been finally thrown over. He ~was being kept in reserve, and would be "brought forward again if Keldar proved insensible to their, attractions. Mabel detested Max. but she rather liked Keldar, and had for some time realised that it iwag her duty to make what her mother '. called a suitable match. In the abstract the possibility of her doing so had not 'been unpleasant. She had been taught "zto be ambitious, and had a very natural fondness tor beautiful houses, influence, friends of rank, and dainty clothes. Besides, it would be something to help "her father, who was often embarrassed by want of money. Now. however, when she had, perhaps, an opportunity -*f doing what her parents wished, she shrank from it. Keldar had his advantages, but although she would not admit at candidly, she liked somebody else better. The trouble was that the man she was comparatively poor, and rlier mother strongly disapproved of him. • -She stopped for a minute or two, leaning on a st3e, and looking moodily up - -±he dale. oatfield. m front of ber had been reaped, and the dark peat-soil showed through the yellow stubble. Further on, the birches beside a stream were turning saffron, and on the steep breast of the HU beyond them the heath was -growing brown. The dew bad not dried npon the fern along a neighbouring wall, ".'and leaden mist clung heavily about the distant fells. Winter was coming, when ODen-air amusements would be few, and the round of tedious parries at the * country houses within reach would begin. Mabel shrank from tbe strain of ... continually meeting Keldar and keeping "Max at a distance, as she would be forced to do. Then, looking rcund at a rattle of stones, she saw the Renshope steward spring down from the wall. He looked virile, alert and athletic, and there was a smile she liked in his brown face. "I saw you-from the top of Greyriggj and came straight across the fields," he said. "That was a long way. I must have been very indistinct." "Oh," he said. "I'd nave known you at ajmuch greater distance." " * Mabel wondered if she blushed. It -rjras - pleasant .to.-hear -him say such things, and she did not think" he altogether meant—them as careless compliments. "You have a curious habit of turning Up unexpectedly and in an unusual manner," she remarked. "In England we prefer to come-through a gate and along a road-"'- - - --" "There were no roads where I lived, which perhaps accounts for it. But I hope I have a habit of turning up when ll'm wanted." J r.~ _--_ 1 "You. did soJbnce, wherrjny ear broke dbwn:" "._"■" _ ~ ". _. _*-"" ""Well," h*g_said,,".l may.do so again." Mabel -let and glanced at his band, whien"Was bound up. " Have you "Bnjrt'yourself-atthe'drainage works.?". "Xot" mucb,;and it was another fellow iwho hurtme: the resultof trusting a professional striker. We're beginning to cut through-the limestone, and the fellow hit my' fingers instead of the drill". I was showing the bov3 the Canadian mm"- --" ers"*"ipl"ui; ,bii± 3TI sfee that Keldar. takes the_hamnSei" next.-time. But if you're going home, may I come along?" V Yes," she said, - if you wish, you may come as far as the wood." He nodded with a faint smile. They could not be seen from Tarnside until they passed the wood; and he knew Mrs. Daventry did not approve of his enjoying her- daughter's society. When he had helped Mabel over the stile she Presumed. '. . _ , ■ ~.,"•' - Keldar have rather "esicentrisr tastesr "it isn't "usual in this country for a landowner's steward to liammer drills and dig in a drainage trench. 'Did you know that. Flora and I saw you at work the* day~the bog broke - mi" . "I didn't," be said, and looked disturbed as he wondered whether she had heard his remarks about the merchant who had sold him the timber that gave way. 'It wa« clear to the girl that he felt no pride in bis exploit. "I guess it's a natter of temperament, and what one has been used to." he went on. "We haven't got into the way of hiring somebody else to do everything for us." - "And yet -Mr. Keldaris obviously rich. How did he make his money?" :"By very hard work. Thawing out shallow mines in the Alaskan snow, drilling and shovelling with frost-split hands, which he sometimes burnt in feeding the big fire that kept the ground from-hard-ening. Often he bad remarkably little to eat, and Pve known him haul provisions a hundred miles on a sled through an Arctic blizzard. ""Hten. when he started farnunji, he didn't copy the other fellowß, but took big own line. It pay 3to tbfnk for oneself aad be original." ! " I wonder," said Mabel, thoughtfully, •whether it always pays.* ~"'"ft does in tbe end."* - But it must need some courage now - -and then. It isn't eaev to defy puttie **■*« «d d»£l««a«e jour fnenV"

, "That's true," he answered. c Guees ', hardest'"for^awomtn." ~Stfll, yotar life is yours, not theirs, to make the best of. Seems to mc you have to be yonrself, follow y-our own heart, and do: what you feel is tight, without caring -what other people think." Mabel felt embarrassed, for lie -was , looking at her -with a strange steadiness. "Ah!" she said, "one canjt always tell what is right and best." ' "Then you have to wait. When the time to act comes tou will be able to tell." Tm not sure it's so simple as you seem to think, but "we're getting too serious," Mabel rejoined with a smile, and during the rest of the walk they talked about matters of no importance. A few days afterwards Stevenson sat !on the terrace at Renshope with Elton, , who had driven out to see him. The : days were shortening fast, and though jit was still some time before dinner, the sun hung, large and red, upon the edge of the heath. The blue shadows of the ; larches crept across the front- of the old j house, but the air was warm, and Elton sat in a basket chair enjoying the cigar his host had given him. i "I'm afraid you don't quite realise j 3iow much money your steward's plans j will cost you, Mr. Keldar," be remarked. "'You mean putting the farms to rights and the drainage work?" Stevenson asked, in a languid tone. "I expect it will cost something, but I leave all that to Jimmy; he tells mc I'll get my money back." '■"But don't you think it might be wiser to look into matters yourself?' '"Suppose Ivc got tired: did boo much looking in-to things when I was out West. Wondering how you ought to spend every dollar gets monotonous. Besides, what's the good of having a steward if you're to do the work?" "I was merely suggesting a little judicious supervision now and then." "Just so," said Stevenson, yawning. "S'pose I must make the effort when j I've thne. I've told Jimmy he's trying ' to ruin mc, but he doesn't mind. The fellow's a reckless optimist, but he never seems to come to grief." I Elton felt disappointed- and angry. ■ He had come wit«h the object of rousing i Keldar s suspicions, and, if possible, ob- ;' taming some information that he could use against Stevenson, but it looked as it he had failed. eKldars indifference baffled him, but it was puzzling. The man. who had made money in Canada, 1 could not be a fool. I "I notice that he writes your letters, 1 but he no doubt consults you about anything of importance," he persisted. I "The trouble is that he's always con- ! suiting'me: but I stood out against , writing letters when I found I was ex- ' pected to fill the mail-bag." Stevenson ! turned to the lawyer with a confidential ■ smile. '"You see, I had to bustle pretty ' hard in Canada, and I eatne here to have a good time and take things easily. The advantage of owning a plaice like Rens■hope is that you needn't do anything unless yon feel inclined." Elton found it hard to keep histte n; per; the fellow's supineness was exasperating. I "After all," he said, "injudicious spending doesn't generally conduce to • ' the enjoyment of undisturbed leisure." , j "That sounds logical,' Stevenson i agreed. "You have a pithy way of eifi pressing yourself. Of course, it all de- [ pends upon whether Jimmy is spending j my money injudiciously or not; and he - seems convinced tha-i he isn't. Still, 'if " you think the contrary,- perhaps I'd betr r ter have him up, and hear what he has ! ■ to say." j This was by no mean 3 what Elton \ wanted. The steward was plausible, and would, no doubt,-have an explanation ready, while his employer's action would make it evident that he had been I I warned. , I "I would rather advise that you make a few private investigations," he said. "Then you-would be less likely to be : influenced by Mr. Stevenson's enthusi- ; asm about his plans. You may not feel I so inclined to approve of them when you learn how fast the money is running j out." '""Mv dear man, I'm most unlikely to be influenced by enthusiasm about anything, and I the moneys coming in as it should. I leave that ; part of the matter to you, and have no doubt you look after-it very well. My finances ought to stand a little extravagance." "Yes," of course," said Elton, who dare not hint the contrary. Then he looked up with annoyance as he.saw the steward j and Miss Foster coming up the drive. His host rose and beckoned to him. ! "Jimmy," he said, "you're just in time. j Mr. Elton has kindly come over to sug-1 . gest that. we're going too fast, and I've! ! tried to explain that I'm being dragged \ along at your chariot-wheels." Flora acknowledged Elton's bow with a i curt inclination, and then remarked: "Mr. Stevenson would have no use for anything so out of date as a chariot. . He'd "be content with nothing less than a fast motor-car." "That makes it worse, if I'm expected to run behind,-" , - Stevenson replied. "But sit down and talk to him, Jimmy. Perhaps you can set his mind at lest, and . I'm feeling tired." I 'Tm sorry, but time does not permit," .'said Elton,"firmly. "I have an engagei ment to-night." j "But don't go just yet." Stevenson put his hand upon the lawyer's arm. "I daresay my steward could give you a lot of useful information." Then he turned to Flora. "Won't you help mc to persuade Mr. Elton to stay for dinner?" j "You might show him your autograph I book, if you* have one," Flora suggested. j "It's a-subject he seems interested;in." ' "I am interested," Elton rejoined.' "Td ' like to- know why you made Mr. Keldar sign himself a Borderer instead of by his ] name." "A caprice. It matched the verse and sounded romantic." Then Flora added, with a laugh: "Aβ a matter of fact, you're J not really romantic, are you, Mr. Keldar?" "Xo," said Stevenson, thoughtfully; "I hope not. It's apt to get you into trouble. If you want a truly romantic man, you I must apply to Jimmy." I "Yes; I think you're right. Your comrade has unconventional ideas, and doesn't seem afraid of living up to them. In fact, he shows marked traces of the old moss-trooper strain." "It was a barbarous strain," Elton interposed. "Rather oat of place nowadays 3 one hopes we're getting more civilised." Tm afraid oar civilisation isn't very deep yet," said Flora, with a meaning smile. "The Fenwicks, Fosters, Keldars, were certainly what Mr. j Sterenson would call a hard crowd; and 1 j I think our neighbours' badge of the this- , tte etill expresses oar character. The person who rashly inter feies with us is apt to get pricked." , Elton declared that he had stayed as long as possible; and when be drove off: Flora laughed. | r "I wonder whether" it was lor Mr. Ste- ; venson who frightened the lawyer away," she said,

CHAPTER XII. j Breakfast' was' over at' Tarnside, and • Major Daventry sat is his study in a de- ! jected frame of mind.' The room was, for i i the most part, furnished with' guns, but i there were a few books about horse-breed- ' ing and agriculture, and an old-fashioned i desk was open on the table. Daventry l was trying to compose a letter to El tony • and had so far only succeeded "in spoiling - a quantity of" notepaper. He wanted to ' ! write a dignified remonstrance, and found • himself becoming violently abusive in- . : stead. Jt was dangerous to address a ! lawyer in that style, but he felt that ' Elton had let him in. He was not sure 'this was what' he ' called parliamentary when he wrote it down, and, tearing up ' the letter, he turned to some he had just , ' received. " ! One or two contained reminders about i unpaid accounts, and" another was from a ; ' stockbroker, asking for instructions about , some shares he had been told to sell when ' I they reached a certain price. They had, he said, fallen sharply, and could only be disposed of at a serious loss. This was a rude hock, because Daventry • had confidently expected* them to go up. Elton bad advised him to sell out some sound securities which did not pay much interest and speculate in these shares, , and this was the result. The fellow was obviously not so clever as he thought. Any fool could lose money: Daventry admit- '. ted that he had often done so himself. It would be disastrous to let the stock go at its present •price. While~ he was thinking ' over it, Sirs. Daventry came in and gave him a reproachful glance as she sat down. "Mabel tells mc you have promised that she shall spend a month with her cousins in town, and perhaps go to the ' Riviera with them afterwards," she said. "I did. The girl doesn't look very ■ well, and the change will do her good Then Robert's wife has often asked us , to let her stay with them, and Mabel's , young. She wants more gaiety than she's able to. get here."

"I euppose you know that Jevons is coming down shortly, and will keep Reedscar open for. the pheasant shooting* The house will, be full, and Jevona, ■who does things well, will see th»t his gueste are amused. His neighbours, including ourselves, must return to his invitations, and I look forward to a round of entertainmente." "So do I, but . not with pleasure," Daventry growled. "Never cared much for Jevons or hie City friends." He paused and added; shrewdly: "I s'pose Max will be staying on?" * • "Certainly." "Ah!" eaid Daventry. "Now I begin to understand. For "all that, I can't see why Mabel shouldn't go up to town." Mre. Daventry broke into a half-con-temptuous smile. ■ The Mayor was eometime inclined to rebel and interfere with her plans, but she seldom failed to overcome his resistance. "Then I must try to give you a reason you appreciate. Are you prepared to give her a handsome cheque?" "How much would ehe want?" Mre. Daventry told him, and he looked aghaet. "Quite impossible! But whatever would ehe do with all that money?" "To begin with, she has nothing to wear." '"Seems to mc I've heard this before. It's hard to see how it. can be. true, even figuratively speaking, the bills I've paid." "And those you haven't paid! Besides, out of consideration for you, Tve kept several back." She stopped him as he was about .'to epeak. "You know how your sister-in-law lives, and the society she moves in; would you like Mabel's dowdinase to be remarked upon? Then your nieces indulge in rather costly amusements, and, even as their guest, Mabel could not .always avoid a share in the expense." v "I wouldn't wish that. Can't stand anything shabby,] , .. Daventry declared. "But about the clothes; the woman you patronise is remarkably dear. Couldn't you get what's needed from somebody cheaper?" "And have a curt demand for payment of the other's outstanding bHI sent in? A new order with a small 'cheque on account -would keep her quiet for some time." "Seems a curious way of doing business," Daventry \oheerved. "However, that's not .the question. I suppose there's come truth in what you say, but are you quite sure Mabel couldn't do with less V ? - "I've given the" very lowest limit, and I understand ttheee matters, his wife answere^coldly. Daventry frowned 'and pondered. He sympathised with Mabel's wish to get away, and disapproved of hie wife's schemes. The, girl, he'fdt, ought to be allowed to marry whom ehe liked. The trouble was, that he wae in difficulties, and must practise stern economy. If the confounded .shares had only gone up! But they were going down. "Well," he said,- in a harsh voice, "tie truth ie I can't find tne money." "So I imagined. Don't you think you had better leave these domestic matters to mc in future'" Although he saw he was beaten, Daventry made a last protest. "After all, even if Mabel stays at home, she can't go to the parties you expect, co to speak, undre^ed." "Your wit is course. One does not expect co much style in the country. If you let mc arrange thiiige, there will be no need to aisle you for a shilling. "Didn't mean to be witty. I was sorry for the girl."

"Which was quite unnecessary. I have her advantage at least as much at heart as you have, and believe I am more capable; of. securing ifc 'Well, 1 will tell her ehe cannot'go." She withdrew, and come time afterwards Mabel came in. She looked disturbed and dejected, and her father was moved to pity.

I ■ "Very eorry, my dear, but I'm afraid it can't be helped," he said. "S'pose you've eeen your mother, and ehe'e exI plained >why you must etay at home."

"Yes," said Mabel,-with • listless air. "I know you would have let mc go if it had been, possible."

"That's so," said Daventry. "Wanted to please you very much. The trouble is," I'm wretchedly hard up. Wish I'd been a better hnsine» man for your sake. However, I've wasted my money, and now the wont is that yon have got to pay."

He looked at her as if asking for forgiveness, and Mabel understood what he meant. He was not thinking so much of the visit she must abandon as of other consequences ehe might have to face, and, althoagh they daunted her, she. felt touched. Hie manner waa embarrassed; he looked worn and anxious.

"Nerer mind," ehe eaid. "I know yon yon hare always done your beet for mc, and I'm afraid I have been a heavy expense, bnt that was not my wish, though perhaps I hare been thoughtlessly extravagant. I never really wanted all you have given me—but I didn't know, and mother seemed to think "

She stopped in some confusion, and Daventry . made ,a . dejected gesture. "Yea, of course. We should have warned you. I've made rather a-mess of things, and now Xyour mother's .trying to straighten them out. I must admit that she knows beet." Mabel forced a smile. "After all, there may be less need for anxiety than you believe; an improvement often comes when one doesn't expect it; but I must,try to give you as little trouble as. possible." She get up and kissed him. "Now we will look at the brighter side." ■*, Then she went out, and Daventry moodily Tesumed his letter-writing. After dinner that evening Keldar and Stevenson sat talking in the library at Rensbope. The nights were getting cold, and Keldar lay in a big chair hear the hearth, enjoying the rest and- warmth after a long day spent about the drainage treaties on the -moor. • .' ' . r. 'You didn't turn "up thi9 afternoon, Jimmy, he remarked. 7 ■' "No," said Stevenson. "It was raining hard, and as I'm not as fond of the wet and mud as you are, I went to Tarnside." ,j '■••■ "Been there pretty often lately. haven't you?" •" - "Not oftener than I've been asked •Mrs. Daventry still shows a flattering liking for my society." Keldar- frowned. "I haven't' noticed tliat Miss Daventry shares ■ her preference." ".She doesn't. This afternoon she rather kept out of my wayv and 1 spent most of the time with the, Major, who seemed down in the mourn. As .he abused the Government' for ruining the nation's credit, and said something about getting dipped over some share* I gather tiiat he has been speculating and losing more "money than he can afford." "Since he wouldn't let us help him, what has that to do with us?"

"You're come times dull, Nick. If the Major's short of money, it .will strengthen Mre. Daventry's determination that her daughter shall make a good match. I can see how this may make things difficult for mc, although,- of course, it needn't trouble you." '"You're wrong there," Keldar curtly rejoined. "Then don't you think it's time you put an end to this silly farce? My opinion ie that it's played out. -Mise Foster is keeping an interested eye on you, and it looks as if Elton was getting on your trail." - Keldar quietly lighted his pipe, and then looked up with a grim smile. ''It's not quite time to leave the stage. For one thing, I mean to give Elton a little longer run; the further he goes, the more entangled he'll got." "That may be a good reason, but 1 suspect you have a better one in reserve." For a moment or two Keldar pondered in silence. He was in love with Mabel, but he meant to win her without her mother's help. She must learn to love him as the steward of Renhopc 'and take him of her own choice, if she took him at all; he would not have her driven into his arms by Mrs. Daventry's intrigues. He would not marry the girl against her will. Sooner than that, he would .retire altogether and let her go. But there was an obstacle in the way of his doing this: if he .withdrew, Mrs. Daventry would bring forward Max tTevona, and it was quite unthinkable that Mabel should marry him. Thing* were getting complicated, and Keldar could see no way of straightening them out The safest course would be to-let his comrade continue to cast his part as the owner of Renshope. Jim could be trusted not to make love to Mabel, but somehow Keldar shrank from explaining -this -to him. "Well,""he said, gravely. "I cant set , what's best for mc to do just yet- We'll have to wait." "Perhaps I'd better mention that Mrs. Daventry hopes to have Margaret Graham at Tarnside for a week or two later on. As she knows you, it may lead to another complication." "I could be called away to London while she's here," Keldar suggested. "And leave mc?" "No." said Keldar; "that would be dangerous.' We'd both have to go." "It would look rather pointed, wouldn't it? Particularly, as you excused yourself from a visit to their place in Annandale."

"Not if you manage it properly; that will be your business," said Keldar, with a grin.. "There's another thing that strikes mc, Jimmy. You think Miss Foster is getting suspicious. Well, she's quite honest about being out for dollars, and I'm the man who really has the most. It might be awkward if she guesses who I am." , "I think you're quite safe," Stevenson rejoined, drily, though there was come colour in hie face. "However, since you eeem to have made up your mind, well talk about something else, but 1 hope you won't have reason for regretting you ever began this foolisn game." That Stevenson's warning was not without reason, the reader, will see later.

(To be continued next Saturday.)