THE WAY OF A MAID.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 31, 6 February 1925, Page 12

THE WAY OF A MAID.

By CARLTON DAWE, Author of "Furyale in JjOvdon, "Stranger Than Fiction." "_ Tangled Marriage," etc. CHAPTKi; XIV.— (Continued.) I ringing, vet venomous. Donillgham looked up. '"She'll fool you loo," he said, "a- she fools us all. She can't help herself: it's born in her. Take her and go to Ihe devil, the both of you. Only be careful when she wants to borrow.'' Moraine stood over him. "ll" you were worth it." he said. "I'd kill v.m!" Contemptuously he kicked the coward. Dorringhain scowled furiously, but made nn nP.empt to retaliate. Moraine wailed; he might have waited indefinitely. The gallant Bruce hn-l no intention nf risking a further eucoiiiit T. Leaving him sprawling there, Moraine and I'ae turned from the room, descended the stairs, and so out. to the car. As they sped away Morain» flung a quick glance nt the window. Bruce Dnrringhani was there, his handkerchief to his mouth. It was a handsome two-seater, and it purred along smoothly. Neither spoke as mil' alter mile sped hy. She sa<stiffly in her scat, her eyes fixed den,l ahead. Sometimes, out of the corner a' Ills eye, he glanced at her. He longed to slip his hand over hers, to cheer her wi'h a word, hut feared to tender a suggestion of sympathy. It was better to let her live'wiih her thoughts eve,, though they proved the most object ionable of neighbours. In her own g.,.„l time she would speak. Her brain buzzed to the purring of the engine and 'he whirring of the wheels. I iiriously enough she found it impossible, to concentrate nn that one dreadful happening, though it formed the background of all her thoughts. What did the man beside, her think of her'r And Hruee's venom, his bitter words .. . and Moraine's terrible anger! What would he have done had he known how Bruce had insulted her . . . his horrible suggestions . . . his bestial kisses. Thank Cod, he knew nothing of that; no one should ever know. It would have meant murder. Never had she seen such white, deadly anger in a human fare. Who would have believed that the quiet, sell effacing Moraine had it in him! Stodge! Heaven, that word would remain a bitter memory lo the la-t day of Bruce Dorringhain's lite. She wanied lo look al him. lo say something, but dare not I rust her ey s or voice. What was he thinking as lie sat there so quietly? She would give the world to know. She was conscious of the movement of his arms as lie manipulated the wheel, of a face set rigidly ahead. Then she found herself admiring the and precision with which he steered the machine llirongll the traffic, and then the man himself. Slowly he was dawning on her like a new- and wonderful revelation. An,l ii seemed most singular thai he should have been on the spot at tlie very moment when he was most needed. Hut was it so very -singular after all'/ He knew of those jaunts to Brighton on a Sunday, for neither she. nor Bruce, nor nny of the family, had made a secret of them, and of tea at the Dragon. Was this the first time he had cine--had there been other occasions when they passed on the road '.' A ,-ndden. almost nvervvhelininsr desire to take him into her confidence assailed her: a dozen times Ihe whole stnlV throbbed on her lip-. It was the least she co,ild do. something sue owed him; hut in explaining she would l„----force.l to tell the secret of Harold's crime, and that was a horror from which she shrank. Hruee's cruel refer cnee to "borrowing - ' sapped her of all strength, sickened her, tilled her with incredible apprehension. She would not have believe,! it of hi,,,, of any man: it was the sort of thing men did not do. She hated them; never again would she place herself in the power of one. She was -lad that she was not .ailed upon to make conversation. The whirr of the car and the swish nf the air suited the tumult of her nerves. She wanted i.. go faster, faster: to tear along like a mad thing; to skim disaster, death even. If she were only dead. She stole a glance at. him and their eyes met. Then he put out his hand and pressed hers. She turned away, her face burning. What was there about him which awaj-s made such a singular appeal to both nerves and conscience! In spite of herself, her determination to go her own way, live her own Hie, file,. the battle irrespective of the wishes and opinions of olhers. she knew thai his influence was ever dominant in her thoughts, affect ing her actions. 5,,,,,,.. times this knowledge made her migry with him and herself; she almost haled that non-ohstrusive authority which she could not wholly ignore, an.l which precluded defiance. For there was indisputable authority in his manner, in his very self-elTaocment. He was strong more by suggestion than by word or act, of a spiritual strength which was both vexatious and impressive. But she had never thought of him as the man aggressive, the lighting man. the potential killer. This was a newside of him, and indescribably thrilling. He had fought for her as'men h„,l fought for women throughout the ages, as the male fights for the female. There was extraordinary emotion in the thought. For a moment she was own sister to that ancient wild woman who clothed herself in skins and waited captive to the stronger club. Richard Moraine drew incredibly near her at that moment. Had he only known hownear! "Have you any choice of roads?"' he asked. "No."" It was all one to her: all she wanted was the buzzing of the machine, the swish of the air on her face. Unseen the beauties of the country flashed by. She was seeing other sights, dreadful sights; men with fierce eyes, stern white faces, and bleeding mouths. And that crash of the clenched list! What a coward Bruce was: Why hadn't he come on and on like a man? Kven now. in spite of all, she would have thought better of him if he had. What a. blowto her pride, this knowledge of his uiiworthiness. Moraine had shattered a curious and compelling dream. She almost wondered if she were glad. lie swung the car into a side road, and presently they ran up a fairly still' incline. Below them stretched a deep green lane. She glanced up at him with excited eyes. "Let her go," she said. He nodded. What did he care for -possible police traps when she commanded? Besides, he thought he understood the request. He let her out and she fairly Hew down the lane. The wind tore at them, shrieked at them, blinded them almost. Straight ns the flight of an arrow she ran: the leaves whistled with excitement n« the ,-ar screamed by. She caught herself asking where he had learned to drive, .st.idge: ("rood heavens, he was almost extraordinary!

"How's that?"' he asked, as they crested the opposite hill. -Splendid!'" Her eves were shining, tlie wind had •i hipped the colour into her face. Such eves, and such colour! Wisps of her red-gold hair Hashed in the sun. What must it be like, that hair, when it was down? Should he ever see it, fondle it, bury his face in It: He .aught himself wishing that it was down now and streaming ill the air. This wonderful, wonderful girl! "You are not cold: "I am on lire." Broken words caught by the wind; broken thoughts. Lite sceiiis ciliclly to i,e htiill up of broken things, odd bits of I,right glass, dull patches of heavy "Yon drive awfully well." sin- said. "I'm rather fond of it." She felt safe with him. .-iiriously sale. During that fearsome lliglit down the lane she iiad experienced no single moment of t.-rror. He suggested the man who sees one through dilli, tilt ies. who inspires confidence; a steady, reliable sort of mail. safe shield for a woman. Never before had she seen him in a cloth cup. She thought it suited him, cut clear his prolile, made him look ever so much younger. Pooh, why should she think of age. He was young enough for nnv woman. A man. a man! Was this his own car. or had he hired if! I'riihahly the hitler. How could he possibly own such a car. he who could allYird nothing more expensive than a seat in Ihe pit'! Why had he never asked iier to go for a run wiih liimt And I hen she guessed why. Comparative poverty: she iiad never forgotten that phrase. He was nut the man lo po-e. to "swank." Vet such men often went far. though ultimate disaster were the inevitable outcome. Hut while Ihev lasted they wrung much of the sweet from lit,-. ' Had 1 ver tasted such sweet, or had his life been circumscribed by the monotonous round of work'! ll was a shame thai some should have so much while others were starved in body and stunted in sou.. Hume safely „t last. Scarcely a word had been spoken during the latter part of the journey. During the inn through Bichmond Park he pointed out a wonderful copper beech gleaming in the sun. and though; ~f her hair, bul she merely nodded, 'giving it the fleetest of glances. After jthat he left her to her thoughts, nor did Ihe find his own dull company. Once ; more this girl had cine into his life, and there was little room for anything At the foot of Ihe stairs she gave him her hand. "I don't want you lo come up, Dick." "No. dear." link! It was the first time she had called him by his Christian name He thrilled with'tin- joy of it. i "I want to hide myself ... 1 am ashamed." '•There is no v I." "If I could only think so." "I think miii were very bravo, Kae." i "No. ,„,:' a frightful' coward. Hood night: and thanks ever so much." I "i; I night, my dear." ' He waited mini her steps died away 'onthe stairs, until he heard her shut the J door of her flat. Thank Hod, she was | safe a I la si I I (To liv- continued daily.l