THE BLACK BETRAYAL

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 159, 7 July 1926, Page 20

THE BLACK BETRAYAL

srxorsis. Miss Sophie Brant, daughter nf Matthew Brant, an American oil rungnaie. rents a c-ott;n;p on the ISesseuier Court estate, uear IX'.blju. Tin' cottagr wnn fin-uK'i-l.v n.-cUpiPd by Denis McCarthy, wlm I'inijjrated ami became a ri<h man in New York. Roiilile is ii frici),l (..[ his daughter, Movuu McCarthy. The r.p,«:spmer rstato is liruvily ninrtpncfil. iiiul its owner, vouir-r I.ukp Hoskciiht. is :i v-rlrs-. I.uUr 1, ; ,s hccn iiilrim-il nf tbe r'dlliiujt of tin , rich Miss Itraiit tiy I'shcv. !iis l.iuver in pnViin. hut aroiil* So'ihie. He iji>» s not np;>nrvj< of her aiHlnrimis \vaj-<. Koplii- is prr-JiKllcoil :iu:> ! 'ist I.uUe l.y :i meil<J!es<i!Ue co-si;), hut she lims nil olijprt in making his aiviuaintan ■ ■"■. ami contrives to do m>. Tup twn src.n to have notluun in common, ami their lirst meeting eiuls almost in a quarrel. Sophie' is ilismnyoil to find that Otto Hirrt :in<] Harper Sliaraian. who itosspil the Atlantic on tin , same sti-iimer with hpr. b;ive .-irrived in tho villa«e. She fears tln-v will interfere with the suoi'ssful aeconiplifliiTiont of lier quest. Hirst and Sharnian are ths» represent!!tiv(s of an American synili.atp whose ol>jpc; ; i-s to purchase Itesseiuer Court, with its demestie. anil establish a cartnn on Monte Carlo lines. They suspect that Sophie P.raut is the agent of a riraJ syndicate. I.iik" Besspaier is on the pvp of comI'letiim an inrpntlr.il which he linpps Will restore the family fortunes, when he learrrs th.it a rival inventor is likely to forestall him. ("HAPTER V. Kathleen Talbot was an ugly duckling, so crushed under the thumb of her managing mother that Sophie's compassion was stirred, and she had installed herself at Violet Lodge as friend-in-ekief to the plain dumpy srirl whcee home life had been inexpressibly dreary until Miss America shed some of her superfluous sunshine upon it. Kathleen adored Sophie and thought her the most -wonderful thing in creation, and she looked forward to her mothers return in fear and trembling, lest, that domestic autocrat should issue a ukase forhidding intimacy between the cabin and the lodge. Mrs. Talbot wai capable of doinsr it to thwart her daughter and to uphold her own decree that uo intimacies must be formed without parental sanction. Sophie learnt from Kathleen the dull chronicles of the Talbot family, no different from the chronicles of numerous county families in a land where pride. J poverty and blue blood are a triune I combination common as blackberries on hedgerows: where Irish dread of losing caste impels well-born paupers to drag out a mournful existence on the borderland of starvation rather than earn their bread by the sweat of their brows, if they lack brains to earn it otherwise. Mrs. Talbot's annuity of a hundred a year would die with her, and the profits of violet-growing were small. Not a shilHns could be saved against the day that would see Kathleen thrown penniless on a world ruthless to incompetence. Halfeducated, physically unattractive, having no training or aptitude for any sphere of emjjloyrnent, the ugly duckling's future prospects depended on a legacy promised by Marmaduke Talbot, a tea-planter in India, whose liver was confidently expected to waft him hence in a year or two. It seemed unbelievable to Sophie that they could pin their easy faith on a mere promise. She learnt also that Mrs-. Talbot purposed bestowing Kathleen and the spoils upon Luke if he could sit tight in Bessemer Court till the liver did its gracious work. She had told Kathleen of her purpose coldly and casually, as one states a decision to another whom it does not personally concern. Whether she had told Luke or not was a moot question. The girl confessed to Sophie that he had not broached the subect or dropped the least hint that he was aware of Mrs. Talbot's plan. His manner to her was only brotherly and kind. But if mother wished it done, Kathleen declared it would be done, and sooner than marry Luke she would drown herself, for she loved Philip Coyle, a Dublin bank clerk. Sophie had romantic yearnings, and listened eagerly to detailed accounts of the old story, which is ever new. An accidental meeting on the roadside and a lengthy chat while Philip repaired a motor bike had led to secret trysts, and the wild thrill of eluding etern vigilance to find comfort in strong protecting arms. Philip's embraces opened the gates of Paradise to a forlorn Peri. He was handsome and ardent, and Marmaduke Talbot's legacy didn't weigh a scrap with him. Indeed, when Kathleen told him of her prospects at their first meeting he said money was dross and professed noble scorn of it. He resided in town, but thanks to the bike and short hours of duty they were able to carry on a clandestine courtship. Three honks of the horn intimated that he was passing Violet Lodge and would await her in a leafy lane, and thither she would fly to taste the nectar of stolen love. , Taking advantage of her mother's absence, she invited him to tea, and introduced him to Sophie. The contrast between Kathleen and fascinating Philip awakened in Sophie's mind a hideous doubt of the genuineness of his affection. Later, alone with the infatuated girl, she , sat on a couch, and eyed her thoughtfully, chin in fist. "Kath, I'd like to remould you to match that nice boy of yours." she Eaid, sober-voiced. "You are far too fat, a regular puddinsr. Believe mc, I'm speaking frankly for your good. It's harder to keep a husband's heart than a lover/s, according to the novelists, and if you don't buck up and pay attention to appearances you'll be a sloven in the thirties, and the nice boy will tire of his wife." "Philip says he loves mc for my soul." said startled Kathleen, a trifle wounded, and Sophie bit the hem of her handkerchief to camouflage a smile. "Perhaps he's superior to the rest of men. I'd hate to be loved for my soul. Wouldn't you rather he praised your hair and eyes, your clear skin and willowy figure? Honest, wouldn't you?" "I would.' -wistfully. "Im hungry for that sort of praise." "Then do your utmost to deserve it. No young girl need be a frump if she's fresh and trim. I'll help you to look your very best, and you're a long distance from it. Your hair isn't properly dressed, your corsets are a disgrace. You're sloppy all orer; and again I tell you you're too fat. Your lazy habits are to blame. I'm going to make you exercise, and show you how to fix your hair, and clear your skin naturally. Your teeth are your strong point. They are as white and regular as Luke Bessciner's. Heaps of women would envy you your teeth. You see you've something to be vain of."

By MADGE BARLOW. Author of " Married in May," " Flower of the Bog." '" A Fool For Love'» Sake,'" Etc.

3 '"I suppose I seem an awful sight to I you." Kathleen choked. And Sophie pulled her down on the sofa, aud liugged her breathless. on aren't to think mc a nasty fault- i tinder, rilly kid. It's for your own sake and Philip's Tin going to improve you. \ You'\e been stuffed that you are plain, and it has depressed you. and dragged the spirit out of you. Xothing but a rough mental slinking will rid you of the idea, and I've administered the shake from the lovingest of motives. You know I'm fond of you, don't you?" ""I know you are, and JVI be glad to lie changed, but you're mistaken if you imagine Philip notices my defects, lie isn't an ordinary man. He says bodily charms have no wearing qualities, and the spiritual graces have. He's a beautiful talker when we're by ourselves." "Beautiful windbag, and worth watchins. '' Sophie grunted inaudibly. registering an inward vow to pin Philip to his allegiance if he evinced a tendency to stray from straight paths. Full of the desire to improve Kathleen, and the delight of giving, she rushed away to Dublin and indulged in an orgie of shopping, buying amongst other useful and ornamental feminine articles a couple of gym. costumes. Afterwards she had an animated confab with Mrs. Fanning about the ugly duckling and C'oyle which eased her conscience on that score, and cheered her immensely. Incidentally she mocked L.'ke behind Mc back in a way that ought to have given I him hot ears. The Lodge parlour was cleared for action, and Kathleen's tuition besan. Sjueezed into "tile silk stockinette gym. J costume, she was induced to attempt a \ series of weird, unladylike evolutions on the polished lloor under the guidance of an instructress indifferent to the plain- ! five protests: "Mother would be horrified," and "It isn't quite good form, is I it. dear?' , I Her eyes widened at the spectacle of : a joyous Sophie standing on her head i and balancing gracefully curved legs in j the air; the turning of three Catherine I wheels in rapid succession smote terror j through her. "J couldn't do that in a I million years, and 1 won't try,"' she j whimpered, shrinking to the wall. i ""You aren't asked to try. They are freak stunts reserved for special occa- ! sions, when I ache to show off," laughed ! Sophie, pink and merry, and tousle- : haired. "They're a cure for the blues, ' trio. The world looks a deal brighter viewed upside down if you've got a grouch." j "I'd prefer to suffer the blues," ! quavered Kathleen, wiping a perspiring face. "And I might if I were a Talbot. The gods forbid you should lose your dignity imitating mc there. You shall just have the usual routine we practised in oiu college gym, and a little club swinging and tramps over the hills to vary the monotony. I'll persuade Mrs. Talbot to let us rig up a garden shed to be giddy in.!' "She won't consent." "Why won't she';" "Contrariness," with a nod and puckered lips. "I've never got anything I wanted, not even choice of a hat or frock, though I'd have chosen as cheaply as mother. The fact that I wanted anything was a guarantee of refusal. Favourite toys were taken from mc for no reason when I was a child. Philip would be taken if she knew." Sophie's eyes dwelt on her, a fighting gleam in them. "He shan't. That's one toy you'll keep." "'l'm such a coward where lie's concerned. I'd die if 1 lost him, for he's all I have to love except you. You'll stand by mc?" sliding a trustful hand into Sophie's. "Like a female St. George attacking the dragon." "Mother mayn't play the dragon to an heiress, but she'll end the happiness and put mc in what she calls my proper ; place. This exercising will have to stop. She'll say it's forward behaviour. And the presents you've bought me—the pretty things to wear—you'll get back in a bundle, and be lucky if there isn't a cutting note enclosed. Mother can cut to the bone with a few pofite words. Of course the chances are that she'd be afraid to snub the rich Miss Brant, but mc she won't hesitate to crush." "It's evident Sleepy Hollow has «iore than its share of unpleasant people," said Sophie, wrinkling her nose. "I've had cuts, and can bear Mrs. Talbot's. Till she comes home we'll go on being, happy, and hope for the best. Xow quit sighing and let's proceed with our drill. You're a goose to shake in your shoes before you have occasion to." During a strenuous week the urge of neglected duty prodded Sophie's conscience and was stifled with the argument that every minute of Kathleen's time was precious, as the dragon might pop on the scene at any moment and work havoc. She practically lived at the lodge, and Widow Magee held cake and whisky receptions in the cabin, and told her cronies the Talbot geril was clane dhruv tot wid starvation, for Miss Ameriky took over baskets of food, and 'twas time the cruelty man was set on the taw of a traipsin' ould hussy aiten up wid pride. On a grey forenoon, walking briskly to Three Eock Mountains, the girls encountered Luke. He was brooding upon that inked paragraph in the London paper, and the inability of Usher to find Powell and Rice when he wanted them. The girls were close to him ere he saw them, and he did not halt, only lifted his cap in response to their salutations, and marched past them, a trifle Buttery about the pulses, and red on the cheek-bones. .Nuisance meeting them unprepared like that. Kathleen seemed to him extra spry in a white sweater and tarn, less reminiscent of a sack tied in the middle, and much healthier. When he came to think of it. she had a tinge of carmine colour. He hoped that other one wasn't teaching her to rouge. That other one was capable of any mischief. She hadn't fulfilled her threat of invading the Court. Tie had watched for her coming, and she hadn't comp. Was it that she didn't care, to? That should please him. He muttered to himself that it did please him. tremendously. Kathleen glanced back at him over her shoulder. "Wasn't it queer of Luke to pass us ■by. Sophie?" . "He wouldn't 6tand because I; am with you and he detests yours truly." said Sophie, rather pinker than she had been. had spoken previously of having

scraped acquaintance with Besseruur, bui kept silenco on the matter ol the wooJchoppiug and the sparring. "He couldn't detest you, 7, Kathleen said, warmly. "Ho does, and I him. Starchy prig!'' "<>li, Sophie, whatever Luke may be he isn't a prig." "■Jie is, and you blian"t contradict m<?, ' teetily. ■■J'l'jliupo you made his acquaintance wheii his mood wasn't comijanionable. jUo is often reserved, and gives the impression thu'L his mind is so occupieu Jie Bcaroeiy eees or hears one. And there's a reason why you ought to excuse him. A few years ago he had a great grief and a great shock which Left their mark on him." "'Was the grief particularly killing." '".Mother tays it was his father's death." "That!" incredulously. "Men don't mourn a father's death lor years unless the < - ireumstane<?s were painful and peculiar. Your mother was fubbiug you ofl\ And what was the nature of the slu.c-k?" "J do not know. Mother knows but ] daren't ask her, and the folks here know and won't talk. Even Widow Magee shuts her mouth on it, and when she's dumb on any subject you can be sure it won't bear'speaking of. At Uptime of Mr. liessemer's death I was fifteen, and delicate. and as mother can"t endure to have ailing people near her 1 was sent to relatives in the West. 1 spent six months in a desolate but braeLng bog district where newspapers were i a rarity, and nobody knew what happened beyond the bogs. 1 came home restored to health, and Charles Bessemer was dead and buried, and the place seething like a bubbling pot with the lid tight on. Mother said the death had been startlingly sudden, and wouldn't answer any questions.'' , "Were the Bessemers mixed up in politics, Kathleen?" "They were not. They took no sides in polities, had no enemies. Charles was popular, and genuinely beloved. The trouble was solely a family trouble. One saw that public sympathy was strong. Mother told mc the entire countryside attended the funeral. Luke would be as popular as his father if that odiou~ Widow Maeee hadn't spread ridiculous stories to vent a paltry spite." "She had foundation for her stories. Isn't there a Bluebeard's chamber at the Court!" (To be continued daily.)