CHAPTER VI

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 4962, 10 October 1906, Page 4

CHAPTER VI

—Kesterven Drives a Htu]d— Bargain. (Continued*) , , . "I'll tell you, then," she said, tapring her foot impatiently on the carpet. "I—l felt hart by your d«j* scrtion. I — l lov»«d you. And I— l thought I'd try and do without.you. I tried to,, forgot \ou, but — —l"But.?" he said, seeing- that she paused. "Ami after ?" "Well, things went, wrong from the beginning-. I couldn't get anything to do, anrd — I — nearly starved."- Her voice broke ; she looked a rather pretty picture of distress, ; KesterveK thoug-ht. He was most; susceptible to beauty. "Then ,1 raneinifrered that I was Lady Kesterven. I thought ihat.ga-v© mw - *omd claim— «t~ least, on your charity.. ,,. And, Reggie, r I still love you,t fo»* youj h&vet treated me so badly." 3 _ .** .„*„ .;...;". She paused again. Kesterven look : ed down at his patent leathfer shoes, evidently seeking inspiration from them. But^toe .^puntl nope, r - >* * # "What <J6 **^i; iVtpect'Hifyii pfe^'f he asked flte^MyriooWn^i^.^^/J "I am still' your" 'wife,' Reggie," she reminded him •gently. • - ' ' "Ye-es. That's true, by Jove !" he exclaimed. petulantly. '•'Which brings us back to my first question," said Kitty, on whom his irritation was not lost. '-'Are you sorry that you married me?" Kesterven did not reply to this at once. He wanted time to think. Of course ho --wairsorryr outr he" tiadfi't quite got the heart to say so. Her white, pleadrnfe, patheiic face kept him silent, for his sympathy was easiry^eVb'Ked tfri&rS \TOflieri w§te concerned. . "I am afraid our marriage was a mistake," he said slowly. "You see, there isisuchtg* w|d#i^ioaiß|qpe — -" "In our positions," she took, .turn up quickly. "But you once said t^ft you thought mo lit to graqj.apposition. . ."..., "You have altered,"; ho rejoined, but not Unkindly. "No; it is you who haw. changed," she said,* with asperity. "You used to, love me once. But .you have, ceased to do so." 'But jes !,' it's useless" to deny it," read it in your manner. Well," w-it-h a shrug* of. her shoulders, '.''vfliat -vdo you suggest ? Something's got to bo done, you know.' 2 - f '- : ■ "1 suppose so," h.' -answered wearily. "You sec, I can't ncknowlcdgi you as $ps'&%p- $" sJ<rgl#ft?e tlw "laughing stock" of all the town,.",/ The woman showed hvrTceth ill : « rather aggressive wanner. '''Thai would be a pity, wouldn't it?" sh« said. "Never mind about my feelings so long as people don^t laugt at you. Why should they laugh?" she* demanded .suddenly. "I'm awo man, and I've got good looks, an; and — : — " "Yes, yes !'\ he interrupted hv*i impatiently. '"I know all' that. There is juoiuthc , slightwsiL. necessity,, to^-ru mind me what y©u are. Still — —" td g# 01C but Tie ma not.- Insteao he rvsrumed the contemplation of hi shoes. He was in the ."deuce of • mess. It would not 'have been 'hal so bad if he had not spread th uews of his engagement to Beafr/fo But by this time everybody wS talking of that event. No, he coail 1 not acknowledge this woman as bj wife. Whatever -happened ho cotil not -break his engagement to Lad 1 Teriton's beautiful -daughter. Beside! ' he loved Beatrix now, not Kitty. S ■ far as he was concerned, that a ' fair .was over fang ..dofi^jf i thj | CBi was *it" •done with*.?. He stole a cc ; vert glance at the woman's pale b\ • ' resolute face. There*, was nothing ci eouragjng to be read there. She di v not ,look, like the sort of • wbma " who could be bribed?. Yet that' wf *, the idea which had entered his heat l : and which he would try to work uj : on. If Kitty could.be frightened ii to going abroad and keeping out < the way, all .night' yet be well. 1 c could but suggest the plan, anyhow jV though he bad not. any very : gra hopes of it being accepted. ' '-I'm a woman, and" good looking : Kitty said at length. "Why shou ' I not take my place as ' Lad- Ke 8 terven, why shouldn't I claim' it V rights .?"..=: - ■ / c "Because I don't wish you to, th« t is why," he answered. 0* "That's no reason," she said, | :, ; lips tightening again. - ' « >• - "Perhaps not, .but it's all you' ■ going to- get' from me," he retbrte "Now look here, Kitty ; I'm goif t , to., make you an offer. You can tal _: it or leave jt, justas s*oll pleas c but I think you will see that it w • bo to your advantage to take' it." "Proceed !" she said curt-ly. •"Don't interrupt; please. What ' suggest is this : ho long as you r l - frain from claiming ; what you ca '» your rights, and so 4ong as you r '• side out of \hv r country;, I'll mal yov« an allowance of fifteen hundn li a year. ? That's a generous coffer, at • a fair one. But it is conditional v] on your • not moleHtjnj* me, awl; v] 3 on your rcwid-mg abroad. Now, wht a do you Bay ?" • ,* "Suppose that I refuse it ■?•" »f 1' counter-queried. __ "In that case, you won't get /j i penny-piece." he said firmly "Tl i choice rests with $' O u.'< Enipty' hoi L ours, or a decent cojnpetence." .'■: J. hm<e my nghls," shtj reniindc . him. ThxMv was an evil gli, rt in h, s bijf blue eyes. 'Don't for£i?t tlmt.' "I don't !' .said hjs lordship, wit . a snule of assurance. "But 5 1 slta „ light.. you. to the lnfet fence. Remen bvr, those -with tnv longvsi R urw; gi the most just ice. ' Kights. ' as ' ye , call 'em, wont avail you much * i r lno law courts, if youve got no m< . i»cy to support Mirtii with. I shou p lust of all eonU'st the lcgalitv < . °" r 'Carriage. If you succ^tof i . establishing that, I should still fiJ . you on the question of alimony Yo - * h ° ? *' hat . l lmvau l»>' ««pty hanour; "You're not thinking of marr%iTi man asked, somewhat inconsequent h "Certainly not!". he interrupt* "" sharply. -What should put sue an obsurj «|,a in,, yimr tead r - s.vn, sx» dr^jfully i «vl n,| O f Inc •■ j^. sajfJ tear.",,, v l>i( ,.. ..,.^ fci<> ta ,,. t , K-isiami that ) ,wi ju , ;l lh; , tow a ,d s you as X di.| \ V^ „ •

' 'Xq, I dgn't* and I doirt want to understand," ne "•sard'; feering- now that he had gained the victory. •' y Np^ wliich do.fiyou choose?" I iii ro^\bruptly to his feet. The woman also rose. ."Choose I" said Kestervenr, his hand on the bell-rope. , ,"I have no option, Reggie," said the woman, with a sad" little smile. "1 know what poverty is, ami I can't go back to that. But I wish yoji loved me just a little, as| used to in the old days." ' f'That is impossible, I'm afraid," ho said, lie took out hjs pocketbook', ami handed her a •bank-note. "That's for immediate necessities," he. went on. -"Whejv you are- settled in lodgings, send niu , your, address, aivd we'll make arrangements for thefuture." Without looking at her, he rang the bell. / : . "Show Miss BelHngham out," he saitl, when Simpson appearo-d. "Ooo<l ftight,- UJiss Bellingham !" H« tli-d not offer to shake hands. Tire womart hesitated' a moment, and sxt'ined alxmt to speak, but she' changed her mind, and,- with 'a 'little bow, followed the servant out of the room. And KfcPterven was alone with his thoughts.