THE SIN OF JASPER STAHDISH.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LII, Issue 8628, 8 July 1924, Page 7

THE SIN OF JASPER STAHDISH.

& STORY OF BROKEN HEARTS, A VIVID PICTURE OF IRISH LIFE AND A HEARTLESS VILLIAN. BY “ R ITA,” Author of "Deg ; The Rake,” “The Mystery of the Dark House,” “A Daughter of the People,” &c,, &c PART 9. She was trembling with agitation. The awful discovery on which she had stumbled usurped her mind to the esclm.i m ot all else. Mechanically she took her way up the long straggling street, tripping over rough stom« or stumbling into pools and mud. The rain fell faster, the clouds darkened overhead. Before she reached the doctor’s house she was wot through. With shaking fingers she unlatched the gate and groped her way to the back door. It was not easy to And the keyhole in that inky darkness, and her cold hands slipped over the surface of the wood. At Last she got the key into place, turned it, and stood within. As .she locked it a light suddenly flashed in the passage. "Who's there ?” challenged a stern voice. She turned hastily ; the shawl slipped from her white face. Standing at the end of the passage was Dr. Dan ! CHAP TE R XIII. Amazement and consternation were visible on the doctor’s usually genial face. “Jane ! Good Heavens, woman, where have you been at this time of night ? —and look at the state you’re in !”

The water was dripping from the soaked shawl and from her shabby skirt ; her bools were heavy with mud and clay. She stood motionless, wondering how she could explain her absence, seeing suspicion and displeasure growing stronger every moment in the eyes fastened on her face.

“I can’t explain,’’ she said at last. “Whatever you think, sir, I can’t help it. I had to go out to meet a friend. It was better no one should know. I took the key to let myself in. That’s all I can tell you.’’ “This is very extraordinary behaviour,” he said sternly. “If you were a young indiscreet girl I should know what interpretation to place on. it. But a woman of your years and

“And appearance, sir,” she interpolated. ‘‘‘Do n't spare me. I have no woman's vanity to he hurt by plain preening.” “And appearance then, must surely be actuated by some very strong motive to lay herself under suspicion, If you cannot justify your conduct to me I shall feel in duty bound to lay the facts before Miss Orcheton. I do not consider you a safe person to be in her service. You have left your young mistress alone, after all my instructions to the contrary. That you are bound to explain.” A piteous look came into the dark troubled eyes. Bhe clasped her hands convulsively. “Oh, sir, you wouldn’t do that ! For pity sake, don’t misjudge me. There’s no one I love like Miss Nora. It would break my heart if she thought badly of me. Can’t you trust me ? But now my lips arc sealed. I can’t speak. It’s my life against my silence,” Such truth, such conviction, spoke out in her agonised face and pleading voice that against his better judgment Dr. Dan felt the woman was at least sincere.

“This is all very queer and very mysterious,” he said. “What reason have I to believe you are not doing something dishonest —dishonourable ?' Her pale face silenced him.

“You have no reasonshe said very quietly. “Only my bare word. The word of a suffering and much tried woman. Miss Nora would believe me, perhaps even Miss Orchcton ; but I mm t leave you to deal with them. Only’’—and her voice grew firm and there was that in her face that gave its own testimony to truth—“only if you turn me from here, if you shut the door of kindness and helpfulness so newly . opened, there will he others to suffer, innocent lives sacrificed. My God !’’ and the firmness broke into agony, “what is there in human nature that one soul won’t and can’t take another on trust ! That it’s always ready to believe the worst, if the best stands unproved, for judgment !’’ “Faith, Jane, you’re right. What is there ? I’ve got two sides of you b?fore me to-night. One leads to suspicion, the other to trust. If I’m anything of a judge of character, and heaven knows I’ve seen plenty of all grades,' sorts, and eonditions, well — I’m inclined to put the trust before the suspicion. I’m sure you love

Miss Nora tor* well to lightly nss. dismissal from her service. I’ll take your word you were out on no harm; but, mind, no more of this sort of thing. I hate mysteries and secrets. No good ever came of them, nor ever will. Get off with yourself and change those wet clothes, or y«u’ll be ill. It’s lucky 1 came across Vou and not one of the servants, or you’d not have got oil so easily.” Tears rushed to the woman’s eyes, her lips quivered. “God reward you, sir,” she said. "You’ve saved what is more than life to-night, and you’ll not find me ungrateful.” She moved on to the kitchen to get a candle. Dr. Dan went back to his own room more puzzled than he liked to acknowledge.

All the joyous anticipations with which Lyle had looked forward to that “settling down” into the Hermitage had been chilled and overcast by this awful calamity that had befallen her friend.

The happiness and lightheartedness! that had been hers so brief while bebore had changed into sorrow. It was a grave and very subdued face that superintended the arrangements of the new home, that directed and watched the gradual change from confusion io order.

In Nora's room many tears were shed at thought of all that had chanced since that pretty chamber had been planned and furnished for her \iri s. It was ready how, draped, curtained, furnished —as lovely and dr-lity as perfect taste and loving hands could make it ; ready—and on the morrow Dr. Dan had arranged to drive Nora over. It would be Christmas Idee ; and Lyle had Im-

I od th:.t they might be. t-rnGhoe. .t v.odd le sad and melancholy, a time of memoiies and reminiscences, I>. t amidst new surroundings, and r; it-.i.tered to with all the devotion cl ho Trig hearts, she hoped the poor : 1 1 would sailer kss.

r I ha mystery of her father’s death pre eu on her mind incessantly. She se-med unable to shake it. off; and however a conversation began, it always drifted back to that one point.

Indeed the awful tragedy had cast a gloom over the whole town and r.odghbourbood. Mrs. O’Neil had pr stpcned her New Year’s Eve party, tha could not “fancy a dance/’ she s id, “without her two favourites being present.” She had been to and fro to the Hermitage to help Lyle during these last few,days of “fitting up,’’ so purely the prerogative c.f 1 nnnioe hands. Workmen had been dismissed. All was finished save a f:.w frit'ing details that were left till over the New Year.

Mrs. O’Neil and Lyle Orcheton. stood before a blazing fire contemplating the room on which such lov-. irg thought had been lavished. “It is entirely charming,” said the genial Belle. “If anything could minister to a mind diseased and pluck out a sorrow by the roots it should be surroundings like these. All said and dene, Lyle, ray dear, you English can give us points in the way of arranging rooms, whether they’re purely feminine, like this, or useful and ornamental like the ball, or ‘ll vadlV like your dining-room. But this is simply perfect.” “Boor Nora !” sighed Lyle. “If only v.c could rouse her or interest her in anything. It’s dreadful the way she broods over her father’s death. It seems as if slic’d never got over it. ”

“You must give her time.” “That’s so hard to believe. A year is long to look forward to, though short to look back upon. But I’m keeping you standing. Shall I ring for some tea and we’ll have it here ?’

“Do, my dear. It will he delightfully cosy. I told the carriage to come round for me at sis o’clock. We have the best part of an hour before us for a gossip. I forgot, though jou’re not much inclined that" way.” Lyle smiled. “But I like to hear you talk,” she said. “We’re great people for that my dtar. Well, everyone has their little peculiarities. And talking of that I. forgot to tell you I have bad a Utter from that good-for-nothing boy Derrick, this morning. He hopes to be with me for Christmas.” A sudden constraint seemed to come over Lyle's voice and manner. ‘‘Oh ! you must be pleased. Bo you won’t he alone after all ?”

“Oh ! I didn’t mean to be that, my dear. I’ve no great fancy for my own company, especially at such times. Derrick doesn’t say what took 1 irn to London only—but, Ive got his letter somewhere. I think there’s a message for you in it.’’ Bhe fumbled in her pocket and finally produced a missive. At that morn; nt a servant entered with a lamp, and Lyle ordered tea to be sent up. Then she drew a low-cushioned chair up to the fire, using a hand screen to shade her face from the glowing fin me:?.

‘‘Perhaps you won’t care to be bothered hearing it,” said Mrs. O’Neil. t ”t. h. y es,” she answered calmly. (To be Continued.)

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