CHAPTEK XIII.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LI, Issue 9081, 2 May 1906, Page 2

CHAPTEK XIII.

A STANCH FRIEND.

More afraid of being recognised by this man and betrayed to Ohm Kjennett than even of being seen by the Aydens, and denounced as an eavesdropper, Wynnie crept back to the sleeping children as softly as she could. But ere she- could close the door sho heard herself called, and knew it was by t!he tenant of the upper story.

"I bade you ask Mrs Ayden to come to me!" she was impatiently reminded. "Go and hasten her. I bare contrived to cut my hand badly, and must have it bandaged."

Wynnie, perceiving that the speaker's handkerchief was twisted around her lef c hand, ventured to off«r her own servi' i es.

"Gome, then, if you think you ai\> skilful enough to do it properly; it will spare my mother's i-erves. But where is Bhe? Did you deliver my message ?" "Mrs Ayden was not alone," said Wynr>ie, as she deftly bound up the -cut. Sh» had so often been., called up to to tie up the hurts the little Merbys contrived to receive and inflict in their rough sports that she had gained some experience, and could play the doctress with steady hand.

"Not alone!" was sharply repeated; •'who was with her-— one of my sisters?"

"Yes; and — but I do not know his name. I think it must have been her son."

This was heard with a scoffing laugh

"My mother has -no sons. The man yon s>aw will cost her I—nay,1 — nay, has cost her— more than any son would have done. He has duped her— Jied to her— robbed her of her fadth in her own offspring, and yet she believes in him. Heaven help her — and me!"

The next moment two angry teans that glittered on the eyelashes of this strange being were brushed away, and sfoe was asking if .he had left the house, when Wynnie came back to her. "But of course h» had not!" she added, starting away from the girl. "I might have guessed that from your looks. Why did you not say so at once? Why did you not warn me of my cianger? Are yon playing me false, too, and trying to iXuxm me off my guard witih smooth words and a pretense of trying up my hand? Is it only give ham time to steal upstairs and pounce upon me?" Wynnie would have protested indignantly that she disliked ard distrusted this msr too much, to assist him in any way, but ere she could open her lipr a sound below made her companion beat a re treat.

She, too, dreaddng recognition more than ever, hastened to shut herself in with the children, and as en© was turning her key she heard the heavy bar dropped with a clang into its rest, and the bolts shot home.

What tragedy lay behind the dread that made the tenant of the upper story imprison herself, 'and evince such terror of one wifeh whom" her relatives were evidently- on the best of terms?

Wynnie's sympathies were with the girl, in] whose threats she seemed to read the passionate misery of despair, rather

than the violence of ill-temper or incipient madness She" could not have put her belief into words ; she only knew that all hex pity was given to the one, all her hate and fear evoked by the other.

A little later on footsteps passed her door; the heavy tread of Mrs Ayden, and a stealthdei 099 creeping after it. They proceeded to the upper story, and the mother was heard entreating her dearest child, her good little Linda, to admit her.

But no matter how carelessly she plead«d } not a word of Teply could she elicit.

Presently another voice— one that Wynnie remembered well, though its tone of insolent familiarity was now subdued and mournful — exclaimed :

"She is ill! She has fainted! She will die unless we force our way into the Toom. Only give me leave and I will do it instantly !"

But with the cry, "You must not think of it! She is armed! She is dangerous!" the speakers drew back.

There was another* whispeired consultation — another entreaty to Linda to satisfy her friends that she. was 6a fe and well ; but sti]l she preserved that obstinate silence. The footeteps returned to the lower, part of the house; and' Wynnie fell asleep in the midst of her astonishment at the extraordinary scenes passing in this quiet, commonplace household.

No one made any allusion on the morrow to what had occurred. Mrs Ayden/s always anxious features looked a trifle more careworn, and her tall, spore daughters spoke querulously, as- if they were harassed -as well as fatigued. Once, as 6he was waiting for warm water for the children's bath, Wyanae heard Miss Ayden say to her sister Betha: "This will cripple us for months; but how could we Tef use dt, when it is through her, and only her, such trouble has come upon him?"

However, Wynnie's hands and thoughts were too full that day to leave her any time for dwelling on, the mystery that surrounded the occupant of the upper story. The flick cmld was seized. w*a croup, and' for some liours his life hxvng in the balance; but he rallied toward evening, and the doctor, who had been^called in paid his devoted aiuree a well-merited compliment when he asserted that her untiring efforts had saved the child. "Why do you harass yourself to death for an urchin who, unless he belies Ms sex, will not reward you with a spark of gratj-

tudeT' demanded Linda Ayden, walking

into the room in the middle of the night, when everyone else had. gone to Bed, leaving Wynnde to keep ihe vest of the vigil alone.

But the weary eyes brightened, and it was with a smile she replied :

"He loves me a little. See how he clasps my hand even, while he sleeps! It is so very nice to be loved!"

"Is it?" responded Linda, with a scoffing 6mile. "Do you not know yet what always follows love? Ingratitude, contempt, and sometimes hatred. If you must have something to cling to, let it be a dog or a bird, # for if they turn upon. the. hand that caresses them you can have your revenge; you can kill them."

Perhaps the reproach as well as astonishment she saw in. Wymvie's glance had a stronger influence than she was aware of, for the next moment she was saying :

"But I did not come here to teach you worldly wisdom. I came to take your place while you get a few hours' rest. Are you afraid to let me do co? Do you think, with my mother and sisters, that I am dangerous ?"

"Not for a moment," she was> warmly assured. "You have been very kind to me, and I am sure you would not hurt a little child!"

"Thank you," said Linda, simply, but her lip was quivering, and feeling that it would be cruel to appear to doubt her, Wynnie stretched herself on the sofa.

But she could not sleep, and as soon as day began to dawn she rose to resume her place beside the bed. Twice while she lay with closed eyes the strange creature,, who appeared disposed to be her friend, had come and leaned over her till the apparently -slumbering Wynnie became so nervous she could scarcely refrain from starting up or CTying out. Yet Linda Ayden's intentions must have been friend^ j ly ones after all, for she went quietly back to her seat as soon as the child stirred and hushed him as tenderly as Wyande herself. When she went away it was to return with coffee and biscuits, and insist upon their being swallowed. Whether it was luecause they were absorbed in their own anxieties or thai they were so oblivious of the wants of their handmaidene as too many of their sex contrive to be, certain, it is that Mrs Ayden and her daughters seemed to forget that wynnie was as liable to fatigue, and hunger, and thirst as themselves. It was the- eccentric; Linda who was mindful of her needs and who supplied them. "You brought no clofihes with you," she said. "Perhaps you only intended to remain here for a night?" "I did not expect to stay here at all," was the truthful response. "But my sisters must be mad if they ! think they can properly attend to these mites till they are more robust! Their friends are wealthy, and will not object to pay for your services. You ought to stay — you must stay. If your parents will object " "I .have none," Wynni© interposed. "When you. send me away I don't know

where I shall lay my head, for I am determined not to go back to my old place, and I don't know a living soul -anywhere else." Linda eyed ncr sharply — nay, suspiciously. . "You were sent away from your jsituar tion for dishonesty. I have always thought as- much. Why not be candid and confess it?" "I have nothing to confess ;" and Wynnie, though she flusoed deeply, met that distrustful gaze fearlessly. "I came to London, with a person who was too ill to travel alone." "And your mother sanctioned it?" "I have no mother. I have had n» home since the death of old Dame Harris, who found me half drowned among the wreckage from some great ship that went

down in the night, with mo one saved from

it except the child who was too young to tell anything but her own name. Oh, why do you ask me questions that make me call to mind .how friendless, how uncared for I have been? Untaught becauti* there was no one to teach me — a*f dead', half clothed, because there was no one to cane whether I lived or died." "Foolish little thing," said Linda ; ' 'you grieve when you should rejoice. If yen are left alone in the world, think wholly and solely of yourself; it will save y<iu from a thousand pangs. To be geuewus and unselfish, and to devote yourself to

otheins, is to heap upon, your own head sor-

row unutterable. But you minister those children and pay no heed to my maxims."

"I was thinking how I shall miss their loving little .vays ana ta<--r U sses whtu Mrs Ayden sends me away." "Oh, foolish Wyinoie, harden your heart against all such thoughts, and listen to me. While you are useful we 6hall keep you here; not. for your sake, rememberj but for our own. I shall sug.gest it, and though I am not supposed capable of having a voice in. the domestic affairs, why, as I shall offer to pay half your wages, my mother and sisters

will agree to the arrangement."

In her gratitude Wynnie would have kissed the hand that lightly rested on her

shoulder, but it was snatched away.

"Don't I tell you that it is solely to please myself? — solely because it is such an immense, relief to have some one in the house who neither dreads nor shuns me. Besides, you ' have a face that has not been educated to deceive; if you were to go "over to the enemy it would betray you against your will."

"Come to my room some evening," Linda commanded before she departed. "You must have decent clothes if you are to be an inmate of such a respectable establishment as the Misses Ayden's, I

dare say I can find some of my own that will fit you." She must have carried her point, for two or three days afterward the elder of the preceptresses informed Wynnia that, as she appeared disposed to make herself useful, she and Miss Betha would retain her in their service for the present-, always supposing— this was an afterthought — her references proved satisfactory. That evening Wynnie was summoned to the upper story, and quite a pile of useful clothing placed before her.

She clasped her hands, and her eyes danced with joy at the sight. To wear the pretty dark dresses that Linda had taken the txouble to alter for her, and the daintily made and trimmed under-gar-mente, which looked as if they .had formed part of a trousseau, transported the girl who had never known what it was to be clad neatly and well.

"Are all these mine?" 6he asked, scarcely venturing to touch them. "My own, my very own? I can hardly believe it! I must be the luckiest girl in the word !"

But in an instant her voice changed, and her delight vanished!.

"I forgot; I mustn't take them. Mies Ayden 6aid she should not keep me unless I could provie that my character is good ; and who would speak a word' in my favor but those I dare not apply to lest they should insist on my going back to miem ?

"Take my gifts as freely -as they are bestowed," responded Linda, imperiously. "If they will trust him, they shall also trust you. If any more questions are put to you by my mother or sistens, refer them to me."

Wynnie, speechless with ecstasy, began to collect her new wardrobe to carry it away, but <le6istei& to kneed down beside the donor, and, wrapping her arms around her, gave her an ecstatic hug.

"I can't find words to thank you. What makes you so good, so generous to me?"

"I don't know. Now, go away, you are hindering me!" but as Linda pushed the girl from her a tear fell on Wynnie's upturned fa-oe, and she knew that even while 6he was repulsed ehe was beloved.

(To be Continued.)