HER LADYSHIPS COMPANION

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 2, 3 January 1934, Page 13

HER LADYSHIPS COMPANION

By _ HEDLEY RICHARDS

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.

_ Author of —————— "Out of Darkness," "A Day of Reckoning," eto,

Op THE WEB OF FATE

LADY JANE TEMPEST, an orphaned heiress, who is not considered even good looking, is expecting a visit from her cousin, RONALD STAPLETON, who has arrived home after six years' big game shooting, expecting to marry Lady Jane, a plan made long ago by their parents because the estates of the two families joined. But Ronald first meets Lady Jane's beautiful companion, ESTHER COLLINSON, and falls in love with her at first sight. Esther and Lady Jane were at boarding school together in France. Ronald cannot refrain from comparing the two girls, and wishes he were free to woo Esther; Esther realises Ronald is not in love with Lady Jane, and makes up her mind to win him herself. There is something in Lady Jane's past that is worrying her. CHAPTER IV. The Assignation. Lady Jane didn't answer. Every nerve in her body was quivering. Still she followed him until they came to an open space in the little wood, where the rays of the moon, that was now shining clearly, penetrated, showing the deathly whiteness of Lady Jane's face. "We can speak now with safety, and, to begin with, as yon see I'm not dead, but very much alive." And he regarded her with a look of amusement. ■ "Why did you do it? I believed you were dead, and I might have married." He laughed mockingly. "Surely not so soon? But I wasn't responsible—at the beginning—for the lie that appeared in the papers. My brother was killed in the accident—we resemble each other very much—and an acquaintance identified him as me. It suited me to let the lie stand, but he was buried in his own name. Then I came here to correct any little misconception that might have arisen in your mind, and let you see that I, Victor Duznarsque, was still living." "After three months. Oh, it is cruel. Why did you not let me know sooner?" He laughed. "Has my pretty Jane fretted so much because she was a widow ? Or is it that she hates to think she is still bound ?" "I suppose you did not ask me to come here to taunt me? What do you want? " ehe said, trying to speak calmly. " Now that is business-like. You English are, indeed, a nation of shopkeepers. Even your old families are filled with the buying and selling instinct." " At any rate, we English are straightforward. An Englishman would kill himself rather than do what you did."

"I did but marry a rich wife, and London as much as Paris is a great market-place where the women with fortunes or high birth are bought. Some get in exchange a coronet, and the dowerless brides of high lineage secure rich husbands, and you my Lady Jane, got the treasures of my heart laid at your feet."

"Stop, or I shall leave you, and tell the whole story to my aunt."

"I think not, because, my pretty Jane, that would mean that I should come here as master of this fine old house, and " "It would mean no such thing. If my guardian, Sir John Eslington, knew how you have tricked me he would move heaven and earth to have the marriage j annulled." "But it would be useless. The marriage was legally performed. Still, I do not wish to force my presence on you but I must be paid to keep away." ! " I promised to allow you a handsome income when I came of age. Until then —as you know —I have only an allowance from, my guardian, and I have sent you the larger part of it." "For two months I have been penniless, but I cannot do longer with the miserable pittance you have given. You will have to get me a good sum. Five hundred pounds will do for the present. Then, when you are of age, and there are no guardians to deal with, I either come here as master of the Hall, or you give me half your income." "I'll gladly do that to be rid of you, but I haven't the' five hundred pounds to give you now." "Then you must get it from your lover. He is rich." Lady Jane's voice shook with indignation as she said: " How dare you suggest such a thing? I have wronged him enough. He believes I am going to fulfil the compact our fathers made, and become his wife." Victor Dumarsque laughed scornfully. "I don't think he will break his heart. There are many fairer women than you, and he is rich. He need not go into the market place. But why tell him of that little ceremony in Fiance 1 Only in name would you agree to be my wife, and for a pension—a handsome one—l will be Bilent, and never tell him about that little episode one thundery day. Then the cousin and you could marry as the good fathers arranged." "How dare you insult me with such a proposition? I may be only your wife in name, but I will not commit bigamy. You are a bad, wicked man. I believe you wanted me to think you were dead so that I might marry my cousin, and you cnuld levy blackmail." He laughed sneeringly. "Don't go into heroics, my dear; the time would be better spent arranging when you will pay me that five hundred pounds." "I've only fifty pounds in the bank. You can have that to-morrow." "You might as well offer me fifty pence. Five hundred pounds is what I mean to have, or your little world shall ring with the story of that episode in Ladv Jane Tempest's life." "You are a brute," she said bitterly. "Granted, but the brute must be fed and clothed, and it is the duty of a rich wife to keep her husband in comfort, if not luxury." Lady Jane felt that she- could' not bear it any longer, so she said: "I will try to get you the five hundred pound*, but I am not sure that I can, and it may make my guardian suspicious." "No, you can say there were little extravagances in dress; he will believe you." "I don't think so. Aunt Sarah told me a little while ago that I was too careful, and asked me why I was saving my dress allowance. The last two months I have spent more—" "Since you thought the dear husband was buried ? But you do not wear even a black ribbon in memory of him," he said wi'h a sneer.

"Do you want the truth?" «hc said almost fiercely, "because I'll tell you this onco, and you'll understand better how loafliiwwnw jour preseaes fa, JFliaa

I read the account of that accident I was thankful—God only knows how thankful—to feel that I was free from you—that you had passed out of my life for ever—and as the weeks passed' I felt as though a burden had rolled off my shoulders and I could be lighthearted again. Then, when your letter came this afternoon, I knew it had only been a respite."

"Don't you think I came in time to prevent too much cooing', unless you intended to take the law into your own hands. I heard the cousin, whom people say you are to wed', had returned, home. He's a fine fellow—l saw him paea the White Swan, where I am staying—but enough of this talk. I want money, and must have it. Two days will give you time to gather it together, so two nights hence at midnight I will be waiting here. Adieu, my pretty Jane. You will not let me have a ki6S, I suppose." She looked full at hira as she said: "I would sooner die. Oh, how I hate you," and with these words ehe turned away and went quickly back to the Hall. The side door was unfastened, as she had left it, and unconscious that she had been followed, she barred it and went to her room, not knowing that Esther, who had heard the soft footsteps in the corridor, had opened her door and watched her until she disappeared into her own room. Then Esther drew back, and, locking the door, she stood wondering what it meant. She had not dared follow them, when they moved further into the wood, or the secret would have been hers; as it was, she only knew that the man whom Jane had met had some hold over her, but that she did not love him was certain, or he would not have challenged her with being sorry to find he was still living. The man's voice had seemed familiar, but she could not remember where she had heard it. She would keep her eyes and ears open, and before long Lady Jane's secret would be hers. One thing was certain: Ronald Stapleton would not marry a woman who went out to meet another man at night. Oh, yes, Jane's little escapade opened up glorious possibilities for her. She didn't want to injure her, though she had always felt jealous of the girl who had money and position; still, she wouldn't have done her any harm unless it meant gain to herself, and assuredly this would, so she must remember that it was everybody for him or herself, and with this worldly-wise maxim Esther fell asleep, and dreamed of a wonderful future, in which Ronald and she were happy lovers.

Poor Lady Jane lay awake the night through, debating what she should do. Her common sense told her that Victor Dumarsquo had some strong reason for not asserting his right to be master at the Hall. Was there some flaw in the marriage? Perhaps he had a wife living when he went through that ceremony with her. She shivered at the thought of the past. Should she tell her guardian the whole truth, and let him deal with this man? But she hated the story becoming public. Far better endure in silence. Of course, she couldn't marry Ronald, but she wouldn't tell him so at once. He was her cousin, and it was pleasant to have him coming to the house in the old way. She didn't think ho was very much in love with her. Shefancied they were both inclined to be good friends, and if circumstances allowed, would marry and live happily. But so far they were neither of them deeply in love. Yes, she would wait, and something might happen. At last she slept, but it was a restless, unhappy sleep, and when the morning came she rose unrefreshcd, and went down to breakfast heavy-eyed and weary, and Esther, who looked unusually bright and more beautiful than ever, regarded her with a keen scrutiny. When breakfast was over Lady Jane said she had a letter to write, and aeked Esther if she would mind taking a message to the vicar's wife. "You can have the pony carriage," she added. "I would rather walk. It is such a glorious morning," said Esther, and, running upstairs, she put on her hat and walked briskly down the avenue that led to the gate, hoping that by some chance she might meet Ronald Stapleton. As she passed through the gates she almost ran into a man who was coming from the opposite direction.

Raising his hat, ho apologised, and with a start she recognised him. "Good morning, Mr. Dumarsque. It is a surprise to see you in England," she said. "Oh, we artists are citizens of the world. lam told there are some lovely bits in that park. Would it be possible to enter and transfer them to canvas?" "You would have to get Lady Jane Tempest's permission. You remember her? She was at Madame Verner's when I was there. By the way, are you still drawing master there?". He shrugged his shoulders. "That was too great a hindrance to my career. I give my whole time to painting pictures." "I see. And your cousin—has she also left?" "Yes. My mother, who is something of an invalid, needs her. I see Miss Collineon has :i good memory. Perhaps, knowing nv . she would speak a word to the lo'ge keeper, and I should get the rntvue to the park." Esther shook her head. "No. I am only Lady Jane's companion, but I don't think you would find it difficult to get permission from her. Why not go up to the hall and ask her?" "She is a great lady, and might not like the intrusion, but I will think about it, Miss Collinson," he said, as he raised his hat and)walked past the gates, and she turned in the direction of the Vicarage. "So the man Jane met last night was Dumarsque. No wonder I knew his voice. I'll find out what he has to do with Jane. Yes, I'll play detective."

(To be continued daily.)