In the Bonds of Love.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXIII, Issue 19, 24 January 1911, Page 3

In the Bonds of Love.

Our Serial Story

(Continued.)

"It all rests with you," s-lw? said. "You love liiini; lie lovos you. Whatever you say, or do, will seem right in litis eyes. .Besides, he—the mu you Hove —is good and merciful. Ho is not like inline"—her voice was said, not bitter—"ho will not find it hard to forgive. lie forguvo 'him .before, 'and will. dii> so again—for the last time. Jdarold wilf leave .England, and trouble Lord Leeihmere no more. He Lias promised me. Give roe your word —I only- want that; I can trust you give me yoiur word that ho shall go*" free —that you will .-.ay notihimg till he is out ol' the country—and I will confess everything." "I promise for him," she said in .a low voice. Mary Marshall 100-bed at lier steadily, the tears coming into the weary eyes slowly, 'and as sknvHy trickiling down the white face; then she took the cup. "Let me go dio.wnstai.vs," she said, as firmly and resolutely as before, "| shall' want, writing materials. No-; I am quite strong," she added, as Madge oft'elred to help her. But Madige gently insisted, and, with her arm round Mary's waist, th© two went to the parlor. Mr Gordon was walking up .and down the front garden, reading, and M'ad.ge motioned to him to remain i'here, t.hat tihey might bo alone. Mary Marshall eat at the table and learned 'her head on her hot hand. "Give m>3 some paper," she said. ■Madige placed writing niateriaisjbofore 'her, and kneeling by her sid'e, put her hand upon Madge's arm. "Don't—don't say more than, lis necessary, dear," she said, in a low, compa ssco nate volce. Mary Marshall's lips quivered, and she began to write; but her hand trembled .and shook, for .all liier womanly courage, and with 'a sigh she laid tlhe pen down, and said, as -sllie covered her eyes with her hands. "You must write, please."

M'adlge took the pen and was 'drawing the paper towards her, when u voice said: "Allow mo, Miss G and on-." Both women started to their feet with a. cry. Mr Levi stood in the doorway, beautifully dressed as usual, wild, as usual, smiling sweetly and uinaoncer.nedly, as if ho had just dropped in cas'inalliyi. "How do you do, Miss Gordon? Miss Maii-y Miarshai'l, I believe. Pray, don't .foe alarmed. There is nothing to be frightened about, Miss Marshall." Mia.ry looked from, one to the other as if she half suspected a plot to entrap her, and stood with her hand to hen- bosom, her breath eomii.ng fast and heavily. "Plea.:-? do not be alarmed," said Mr Levi in his softest accents. "My visit is quite an unexpected one. I happened to raui down to see Miss Gordon on business, and I find you, too, engaged on. fou'siness. Now, am I right in supposing that the business is connected' with the case we are interested in?" Neither of the girl:.; spok-Cr. "Yes? Quite soT Miss Marshall- is just about to. make >a. short statement, is she not? I thought so," he said blandly. "No!" said Mary Marshall, setting her lips tightl-v, "not one word, unless -" "Liniless w,e undertake to'.give, a certain person who shall be nameless plenty of leg bail. I understand. Quite right, Miss Marshall!. j'.'h'is statement of touts is valuable, n>ivd yon are wise to put a. price on It, and we are q.uito ready to pay it. Allow me. Thank vo<u."

He took a sheet of paper and wrote rapidly, and jet without any appearance of hurry, speaking as he wrote : "This is a, dreadfully wrong thing to dio—dreadfully; and if it were known."—diipping his pen in the ink —"it would probably send me amd Miss Gordon to jail, and very properly. Never mind. How will that do, Miss Mairsßiall?" .and with a smula and a bow he handed across the table the sheet he had written : "On behalf of Lord Lechmore, wo undertake not to prosecute Harold Thane, provided he leaves England ■and makes Mary M'arshalll his lawful Avife. "(Signed) LAZA'BUS LEVI." "But your .name under mine, Miss Gordon.—it's really very, very wrong! —and give the paper to M.iso Marshall." Madge signed her name with, trembling ringers and handed the paper to Mary Marshall!. iS)he read it with a. deep sigh, then took the pen and slowly drew a. l'iii.9 through the 'last words. Tilio tears sprung to Madge's eyes. "Oh, my dear, my dear!" 7 she murmured, brok ell ly. "And now," said Mr Levi, seating himself, ;and drawing, paper and ink towards him signifb-a.ntly. In accents that scarcely faltered, though ilr j v voice Avas weak and low, Mary Marshall gave the evidence which proved Lord Norman's identity. Mr Levi wrote rapidly, the expression of his face, growing more bland ji'nd satisfied each moment. When, with a sigh, Mary Marshall stopped, lie carefully blotted the p;aper -and. handed it to her to sign; and Inning folded it and put- it in bis pocket. nose and nodded ehoerfu!i'\ "Thank yon.. Miss Gordon, p.-rn.'.-ii

me to ■cou.gni'tulij.te yon. Lord .Nor- | man is saved'; and I am sine. Aii-s | Marsha'] I, that yon will approbate iln- ) value of thle good work you have i-uis moment accomplished, when J t<d: yen that but for yon- -" Ho ahrn:j;p;i'd lii.s sJioiu'ld-ers sipMiificantly. '"i o ; n]y AViish I coukl liavo an opportunity ol eo.nigratutatinp; 31 r TliaiK-, also for jf •ever a m-a.n. was lui-Icy in the possession oL' tin- love of a true and nohle woman, ke is that man. "Vihv, Miss Gn'rdo.n, I should like to liaro a fo.vr words with, yon outside, if 31.i.-u* Marshall will take niy ad,vie<\ .die will i p;o and rest- alter this try!up; I b'U'.d noxs.'' |

Mukci? took 3FarvV. hand, and after a moment or two ol' hesitation, slm pormitted 3ladfpo to Lead her upstairs. "Oh, my dear., my dear, how can I

thank you? What can I say:-'" Madge faltered. Mary looked at lier with sad eyes. "You will be happy now," she said in a low voice. A smile broko thre.ii.gh Midge-ft tears. "Yes, and I shall owe that happiness to you. Oh, I trust —I believe—you will bo happy too' You Cwcrve i.t so miuch, so mueh ! 'Ho must love yon through alb the future —love and worship you ! He could not help .it." "Do you think so:"' said the low, sad voice. "Yes, yes, yes! And now lie down and rest, dear:" Mary Marshall sank upon the lieu and covered her eyes for a moment; then she said : "(io; he is waiting for you." "Yes: but is there nothing 1 can do for y->.u ?" "Not.Ving," said Mary. "Yes, kiss n:o once, if—if you will." . Mndge put her arms round her and kissed her. She found Mr Levi waiting for her outside. Ho was talking botany, with. jv gravity which would have done credit to an Erasonus, to Mi-' Gordon-, and the old man seemed 1 quite roi'uotau.t to let him go. "You—yoai interest me very much, Mr—Mr I'm afraid I don't know yo-ur name," the olid man said. "I think there is a great deal of troth in your petal theory, and I will m.Eiition, it in my book. Maist yon go? Perhaps yo,u will, look in ■again and discuss tlhe question, more fully ?" and, in an audible whisper to Madge, ne addied-d: "A wonder fully well-read young man., miy dear, wonderfully!" "Are yon ready, Aliss Gordiani? Come along, then"; and he led hear into the" house. "I congratulate you on vonr saiceess. You would make a splendid detective, my .devir young lady ; audi it is really a. pity that you are destined, to- be a peeress of the rcnTm"—Madge bkixhed charmingly—"for other-wise I could have got yon a high place in the female force." "Oh, but I didu't find hi?r ! biie—she found herself, Mr Levi," Madge said, piteonsly. Mr Levi laughed softly. "I know that, my dear young lady; I -heard if from the landlady. Never mind ; I wanted an excuse for sending yon down here, and the detective one came in handy. And now, cc.u'id you find me a. trusty messenger to Lord Norman, do you think?" Madige colored crimson, and caught her breath.

"Oh! couldn't-—couldn't I?" _sho stammered, clasping her bands, "fou want straio one 'to tell him; but"— 'her face fell—"bait ws promised >n»t to toil him, ov >any one, until that other had left the country, Mr Levi.'' "I know," he said, ami Tin g; "but" —he drew a. paper from hia pocket—"you need not toll 1 Lord Norman anything, except that foe is a free mam—or a comparatively free man—until the trial. I have bsen through a .certain legal formality which is cabled' 'seeing ' a jud,gc. in chambers,' and have got bail for him. I liave had an interview with Lord La.ndon, the ior magistrate, this morning, and here is the document which will set Lord Norman free until the 'trial. Now, would you .lite to take it to him?"

I am .afraid Madge was guilty of the schoolgirl offence of "snatching.'"

Mr Levi ia.ughed with pleasant cmjoy men t as she tore- the paper from him.

"Very well; off you 550, thou! Bring .his to the Chase. Let mo see —allowing for the journey to Dexmout and back—l've got a fly waiting at tk© top of the lane —au id the inevitable formalities, you won't be able to reach the Chase before halfpast ten to-night." "The Chase —so late! Why?" allied Madge. "Never mind. I'm afraid you'll have to trust to me for <a little While longer," he said, with a "Can you do so?" Madge held out her hand. "It is easier to trust .you than, to thank you, Mr Levi," she said, iheir sweet voice eloquent with gratitude. For the first time in his famous career, the celebrated Mr Levi was embarrassed, and ho was extremely glad that there was no one but this charming young lady to witness h'is momentary confusion. He actualily stamimered <as he said :

"M'iss Cordon, notwithstanding his nrany trials and misi'ortlines, 1— 1 onvv Lord Nonrain."

CHAPTER XL

Thane, after parting with. Sites Fletcher out side the Cliase gates, rede at break-neck pace across the moor which, stretched> between the Ghesuey park and The Grange. He ivas one of those men to whom, in periods of excitement and peril, rapid or violent action of some kind is absolutely necessary. Shut up in his sunok.ingronin or im cine of the luxurious lapa.rtments of the Cliase, he would, ho felt, have gone mad. But the tearing rate at whirl) he galloped endued his overstrained mind with. a notitious strength and braced him up to work out the problem of his fate. And it was a terrible problem. Before Ihi'in were only two courses : to "face the music," defy Mary and her dumming evidence, or seek safety k\ flight. If he took the latter course, lie must throw up the spionge, bid farewell for e.ver to rank, position, wealth. Welt, he could, do that, not without;! struggle; but in relinquishing them lie must relinquish that which be held as far dearer and mere precious, Sybil Del'amoor. (To bo continued.)