A TARDY WOOING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LI, Issue 9066, 11 April 1906, Page 2

A TARDY WOOING.

By CHARLBS W. HATHAWAY,

. CHAPTER Vll.— (Continued.) About an hour before noon, as Wynnie, v under her taskmaster's direction, wa& fold- a ing some clothes. Chris Kenmett 6tepped s into the room, and the girl's hands drop- ' ] ped nervelessly by her side. There was an entry from the back of the 1 bouse, so cunningly liidden that few were j: aware of its existence ; few -were acquaint- r ed with the fact ' that under the closelybuilt tenements of this alley, and those t that branched from it, there ran a uar- i tow passage that came out into a lane lead- i ing to the back. « Of thas passage Chris Rennet had avail- i ed himself ; and so great a change had he 1 effected in his appearance that eveni Macs Marby failed to recognise him immediately, j A flowing white beaid and mustache hid j the lower part of his heavy, unpleasant , visage, and a wig of the same description < converted him into a venerable-looking old 1 man. He made a warning gesture when Alas Marby gave utterance to^ an exclamation at his sudden appearance, and then nodded familiarly. "Hush! All's well, and he is wax in my hands. Where's Beooa? We are ready for her." Where was Becca? Wyainie had asked bereelf this frequently during the morning, but when one of the little boy& made the enquiry his mother answered it with a slap that sent him whimpering away. Airs Marby made a grimace. "Ay; where indeed! She's lost heart, I suppose, or she's got a sailor sweetheart and can't bear to give him up; anyhow, she's taken herself off and left me in.' the luTch," "You should not have let her go!" retorted Kennett, angrily. "Did you mot know that I depended on hex?" "How could I help it?" cried his sister, with, equal warmth,; "the fault was yours; you gave her money (though I warned you not. And then nothing would do but she must go out and epeod it, and treat herself and her friends <fx> champagne,, because, as she told them/ she was going to be made a lady. She must have woke early this morning, feeling out of sorts, for when I came down tne door was open and she was gone — drat iher. ' Chris Kennett slipped his hands into his vest, and glanced around him uneasily. "If she's playing me false " . \ "Not slg," jlvuTs Marby interposed; "Becca wud come back by and by, sonry enough for her folly. Only wait till to-morrow ■' ' Her exasperated hearer stamped and swore in his rage. "Wait, when there isn't a moment to be lost! As soon as the plaguey doctors get hold of him my power's gone. It must be now or never! Everything is ready, aaui why this accursed girl has played me such a triek — I know not." He glaired round the room, snouting and panting with .rage; but suddenly his face cleared, and he pounced- upon Wynnie. She, always anxious to avoid him, had been adging toward the door, but, pay-; ing no heed 1 to her struggles and entreaties for mercy, he dragged her into the centre of the room, "You'll do— l'll have you," he said. "Where's your hat, where's her hat, Randa? Can't you put a decent shawl or jacket on her, and a veil?" Mrs Marby looked from one to the other irresolutely. She may have T)een moved by the frightened and entreating looks Wynni© turned upon her, for she exclaimed :—: — "Oh! no, Chris, not she!" "WomaiOj do you want to drive me wild with your objections?" he cried, Ariously. I . "I tell you I haven't time to listen to J them. It must be now or not at all. Get the girl into trim ; or, if you'll ' not do that, I must take her as she is/ for I say again, I'll not be baulked — my revenge is in my power, and I'll have it!" Mrs Marby ran Eef eye along the row of second-hand garments that hung just ' inside the shop, took down a decent gray j ulster and toque to match, and flung them j to Wynnie, "saying, with a sigh : "It's not that I want to interfere with you, Chris ; but it would* have Been such a capital chance for Becca and she a relation, too, and not a bad sort of girl when she's quiet. What Maiby will say about it———" But she was not allowed to finish what she was saying. . Roughly pushing her aside., her brother snatched up the wrap and urged Wynnie toward the passage; and when, terrified at, its darkness, she would have recoiled,' 1 he seized her by the arm, muttering ourses on her stupidity, dragged her onward. Not till they were close to the rude gate that opened into the lane did he permit her to pause, and then his menacing aspect made the poor child give herself up for lost. He began to see that such excessive terror would defeart his object, and he moderated his tone. "Only obey me!" he said, "and you have nothing to fear. I will bring you safely back to Mis Marby's in a couple of hours if you do nothing to displease me. Leave off torembling; smoothe your hair and your dress, and come quickly wherever I bid you. Watch my lips and be guided by the signs I shaU make to you. Disobey me and you shall pay for it dearly/ "Oh, sir, I can't do anything to harm Mr Outram!" she cried, wringing her hands and retreating from him. She was beam with a discordant laugh. "Idiot! if I -wanted to put him out of the way should I want your feeble aid? Look here," and he held up a sovereign, "do ac yon are bid end ask no questions and this shall be yours; but, attempt any resistance to my will, and I shall be tempted 1 to tie you hand and- foot and drop you i into the river." I

Whether he did or did not mean to act a upon his savage threats, Wynnie knew c that any further opposition, on her part a ■would be in vain. Slipping on the ulster and drawing the veil of the toque over her B white face, she permitted herself to be c led into the lane. c There a well-dressed but reckleas-look- c ing young fellow was lounging and 6mok- 6 ing. He threw his oigaar away as soon t as he found that he was no longer alone, 1 stared insolently at Wynnie, and would have accosted her, but was prevented. 6 "Keep your place," said Kennett, sternly; "you are here as a witness, not as a principal. If you speak without my permission you shall forfeit your hire." "By George ! lam not accustomed to be talked to as if I were & dog," was the ] angry response; but it ended in a low i muttering, and not another word was 6poken .till a carriage that was waiting not far off was driven up, and Wynnie handed into it. Kennel* took hie place beside "her, compelling his associate to mount the box with the driver; but why she was being taken on a. journey was a question that soon ceased to perplex the young girl. All thoughts of her own extraordinary position 'had vanished as 6he discovered that tihe carriage was already occupied. Harold Outram was seated In it, his eyes glassy and lustreless; his features' almost corpselike on "their hue ; yet, by the ease of the j attitude he had assumed, and his repose of manner, preventing anyone who might look into the vehicle from suspecting that there was anything amiss. Wynnie joyfully ejaculated his name, but he did not seem to hear hear. In spite of t>h& presence of Kenn/eftb she. ventured to touch his hand timidly, and ask if he were better ; but the enquiry had to be repeated before he made any answer, and then his courteous, "Thanks, very much,; I had an excellent passage," was wholly irresponsive. "He does nob understand me," she eaid, disconsolately. "So much .the better; he will understand enough for out purpose. Let him be:*' "Will he ever get well again?" she asked. "I hope so; well enough to be guided into the path I shall trace for him.- My vengeance would be but half complete if Harold Outoraan were to die too soon." Kennett was talking to himself more than to Wynnie, who could not follow the train of evil thoughts that filled a mind diseased with brooding on fancied injuries. To her, tlie journey — 'though it did not last for more than half am hour — was a terrible one. Urged to push tEe horse to its utmost speed, the driver Tattled the vehicle along the -rough country lanes, and who but Wytnmie knew or cared that every ]olt inflicted torture on the Bruised and inflamed brain of Harold? They stopped ; at a sign from Chris Kennefcfc the mystified girl alighted and accepted the arm oi the unknown, who had ridden on the box. But she did not look to see where he led her ; she did not listen to what he whispered familiarly in her ear. She was gazing over her shoulder; for Mr Outram reeled as soon- as he stepped out of the vehicle, and would have fallen, but thafc a watchful eye was upon him. He was faint with an exertion for which, in his stafe, he was totally unfit, and there was a pause, dtoring which he became so faint and; helpless that Kennett trembled with impatience lest his vengeance should yet be frustrated. But, revived by inhaling some powerful stimulant, Harold Outram allowed, himself to be led on. He- was not absolutely unconscious, for he answered when spoken to, and by the painful contraction of his brows it was evident that he was endeavoring to shake off the numbness in which his mental faculties were enchained; yet a stronger spirit than his own was dominant, and he was unable to shake off the spell. And now it was Wynnie who drew her hand across her eyes and looked wildly, wonderimgly round her. They had led. her into a ruinous little country church ; they had placed her at the entrance to the chancel, side by side with HaTold Outram ; and an. old., old clergyman, deaf, and wheezy, and tremulous-, assisted by an equally aged countryman, who combined the duties of sexton, beUringer, and clerk, was droning through the opening sentences of the marriage services. dose by, alert and watchfu^ stood Christopher Kennatt. It was in obedience to has whisper that Mr Outram knelt, and it was his iron grip that forced Wynnie to her knees, when with a gasping, "It's not right — oh! it's not right!" she would have drawn back. Had Harold Outram no knowledge of wliat he was doing? Some dim perceptioni of the nature of the •ceremony & which- Ec was taking so important a part must have entered his mind, for when he was asked for the ring, and Kennett, execrating himself for Having neglected to provide it, drew or rather dragged one off Harold's own finger he asked, confusedly: — "Is it for her? for Cyrilla?" But he testified no surprise wheai his questions remained) unanswered. He stood or knelt as he was bidden, repeated mechanically the words dictated to him, and signed hk name in. the register legibly enough to enable anyone who knew his signature to recognise it. "And so this happy affair is terminated," said Kenmett's witness, airily, "and Lt only remains for us to congratulate the bride. Allow me to be the first to do so. Permit me, Mrs Outram, the honor and pleasure! He was putting back the little spotted ireil that hid Wynnie's face, intending to kiss her cheek, but with a start she reMilsed ham, and stared dubiously at the j ring on her finger. Oh! it was but a I nockery of a marriage, a grim jest playid by that dreadful man for some wicked )urpose that was hidden from her. She, he poor flower-seller, the drudge of Mrs ilarby, actually married, and to a gentle- ' nan, a real gentleman like Mr Outram! ' )f course, it was impossible, and the only hing she could do was to be passive. By nd by she might know what it all meant;.

at present she was too thoroughly bewildered to do aught but obey her tyrants and - await the result. Some one — was it the old clerk? — presented Wyiiinie with a -slip of paper, which, ehe afterwards discovered to be a certificate of the maTriage ceremony haying been duly celebrated. Not knowing its value, she was content to courtsy hex thanks for the gift and carefully put it into her pocket. Her bridegroom had already left her side. The damp, musty atmosphere of the church increased the oppression from which he was suffering, and, supporting himself by catching at the pews as be went, he had returned *o the porch of the building, and dropped on to the stone bench within it. This little church stood nearly a milefrom the residential section of vie vil- • lage. It was perched) on the summit of a gentle eminence, and commanded a glorious view of hills and dales., woods and fields. The soft, sweet air that played around it lulled the throbbing pain that was fast driving Harold Outrani into madness and cooled the fever lurking in his blood. Leaning back, so that the breeze played fieely on his temples, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the boon of a brief Tespite from the sufferings that had hitherto proved overpowering. The little, old clergyman and his clerk hung their gowns in the vestry, locked up the church, and trotted away by another door. They saw nothing extraordinary in the bride and bridegroom lingering a while in the porch, nor undeaistood that Wynmie had followed Mr Outrani thither to avoid the audacious stranger whose attentions frightened her. But now she was tapped on the 6houldeT by Christopher Kennett. "Come! you must go back to Marby's; then you'll be at hand whenever I want you." "But Mr Ou*ram?" she ventured to Bay, "who will take care of him?" A demioniac smiAe contorted the heavy features of her hearers. "We'll leave him to be found by his affectionate friends. I have no further use for him."' "Leave him here — alone?" "Why do you repeat my words?" sue was asked, ferociously. "You are to do as I .bid you.- We started with that understanding. Here is the sovereign I promised you; take it, and be thankful; and there comes the carriage; go and get in>; you .have done a good morning's work foT me, and perhaps for yourself, too } a<nd you shall Teap tfhe advantage of it by and by." "Where's that fellow got to?" he deimanded, suspiciously. The said fellow had watched bis opportunity, and sneaked into the porch to negotiate a loan from Mr Outram on his own account;' but started away again guiltily on hearing himself called. Assuming a jaunty air, he sauntered dowin. the path, enquiring if he was to have the gratification of driving back to Dover with the lady. The' only answer he received was a distrustful look. Away strode Kennett to the porch, and was back again before Wynaiie had been prevailed upon to put her hand into the gloved palm offered to assist her into the carnage. "There were two rings on his fingers— the one a broad band of gold, the other a large diamond. The first was used for the marriage, But whesre ifl the other?" Without waiting for a reply Keomett seized the younger man, by the throat, exclaiming, furiously : "You have it! It was to steal it that you stayed behind. Give it up ! give it up I say, or "