THE IRONMASTER'S DAUGHTER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LII, Issue 9221, 17 November 1906, Page 2

THE IRONMASTER'S DAUG HTER.

By OWEN MASTERS,

Author of "ClycUi's Love Dream," "Nina's Repentance," "Her Soldier Lover," "The Mystery of Woodcroft," "For * Love of Marjorie," etc. s CHAPTER XIV. * A SERPENT IN THE GARDEN. 1 ■ I An English June in the heart of English country was a revelation to Pauline Reitz. She Knew that June was a pleasant 1 \ month in America, before the summer heat had come upon the land. There were mild and balmy days there, and the scent or turners, and the song of birds ; the garden mould had a pleasant smell, and just then the morning glory would be peeping in at her windows, even in New York. But June in England! It was like a prelude of paradise — and, June at Birchdene was the most perfect June of all. The tiny village nestled in a valley, the irregular streets were dotted with quaint cottages, each with a garden in front, and a garden at the back. And such gardens ! They were not weedy little patches, but reached away to the fields beyond, and were one mass of delightful growing things. And the front gardens were one tangle of picturesque disorder. Flowers everywhere, flowers of every kind, and every hue, and the fragrance and color were bewildering to the senses of the stranger. At the end of the village were the houses of the doctor and the clergyman, and on the hill stood the gray old church — at least, the little that one could see of it was gray, for the walls were robed with ivy. Surrounding the village were the homes of a dozen gentry of the old school, whose cultivated grounds made of Birchdene a perpetual garden. And beyond the dark woods, a mile up the winding white road to the hills, was the mansion from which the village took its- name — the home of the Treasidya. Pauline saw all these things, and at last believed in the fairyland beauty of England. Her eyes sparkled, and pleased exolamations now and again passed her lips. Frank Stark watched her gloomily. "There's nothing so very remarkable," he grumbled. "It's very peaceful, and pretty on a small scale, but no active mind could endure a month of it. - It seems to me to be asleep around here, and these aren't the days of dreaming. Might do for a cracked poet, or an old lady who'd been disappointed in love. But you wait till the winter comes, and the streets are a foot deep in mud. Give me city life." But Pauline would not believe. "Papa," she said to Chester Stark, "I believe that I am half English; these scenes (have been familiar to me in my dreams. Look at that narrow lane, that winds like a white ribbon; and the tall hedgerows on either side, and the green banks speckled with flowers." "We Americans axe half English," Cheater Stark answered. "The same parent stock." "Perhaps my motJier was an English, woman?" Pauline hazarded. Frank Stark laughed unpleasantly. "You've seen these things in a picturebook, Pauline. 1 don't like you to go back on your own country, and your own people." "I'm not — I'm not I" Pauline protested. "But this is my home in the future, and I love it already." The party were driven to Birohdene, where everything was ready for the reception of the guests. Enys Tressidy was waiting in a flutter of excitement to do the honors of the house. But, oh, it was simple enough. The Americans were quite at home, and dropped naturally into the most comfortable eeats in the room. No Jldiglish stiffness — no formality, no no-n-sense of any kind. And Pauline took Julys into her arms, and kissed her with wild impulse. 'i love you," she whispered. "I can't help loving you, you are so much like Dick." Chester Stark went up to Mr Tressidy's room, and was there for an hour, while Dick showed Frank round the stables. Jb'rank knew what good horse-flesh was, and he was in his element. After' luncheon Dick conducted Pauline and his guests to Pauline's little home, right in the middle of forty acres of pine woods and ornamental gardens. "I bought the place out and out," he said, "so that it should be Pauline's own. 1 have had the house surrounded with a piazza, and made to resemble the country homes in the States. I thought Pauline would like it bo. When Pauline has no use for it, a tenant can soon be found." lie looked at the girl, who was clinging to his arm, and her soft eye.* <shone back into his. "All very prettily arranged," yawned 3?rank Htaa-k. "I guess this rural felicity is getting on my nerves. These are elegant trees around here, and for singing birds you've got ahead of us a long way. How do you come off for mosquitoes?" "Oh, we have a few, but they are comparatively tame," smiled Dick. While Pauline and Enys inspected the furnishings of the house, the men talked and smoked. "It seems a pity to have fixed up this place if you are to be married so soon," Chester Stark observed. "It was Pauline's wish." "Pauline knows what she's doing," Temarked Frank. "There's many a slip, you know." Dick didn't reply. Frank had a knack of saying unpleasant things, and hi* father was continually on thorns. "You shall show me the works to-mor row, Tressidy," he said, a bit later. "I'm interested. I want to see how you've improved upon us. Then I shall have a run over to Paris. I guess I won't worry over this part of the world."

The next morning the Americans accompanied Dick to the new works, and Chester Stark was enthusiastic in his way. "You have- your father's genius in a j practical sensa," was all that he would j say. "I <un more pleased than I can express, because you are to be Pauline's husband." But that wijue evening Frank Stark had a plain talk with liis lather. •'I'm going away to London, and thence to Paris. I can't stand this," he said, sulkily, and without preliminaries. "You can't stand what?" demanded his father, with glinting eyes. "This business of raising up your own B'ranKenstedn. But perhaps you don't care; your day is past, and mine's only just begun. A man of sixty doesn't look at things like one of thirty. Tressddy's corraled the Russian contract we've been trying for — I saw it to-day with my own eyes. He has done this with our brains and our money." "Not a cent oJ your money or mine, Frank." "What about Pauline?" "Pauline is to be his wife. All t/foat he has is Pauline's." "I'd have married her myself, sooner than have this problem to confront. He'll got on spending her money till nothing'll hold him. There ought to be a stopper put on it." Chester Stark was both angry and worried. "Yiou could not marry Pauline," he said huskily, "and you know it. I have schemed for her happiness, and I have won." "At the expense of your own flesh and blood ! Why should this penniless Britisher step in ?" "What is done can't be undone. There's iroom for twto ironmasters on the top of the earth. I am satisfied." "Well, I'm not, and I shan't take it lying down. Pauline's money ought to be in our firm. As her trustee you are bound to have it safely invested, and it should be withdrawn from wild-cat schemes." "Wild-cat schemes?" "Isn't Tressidy underselling. Isn't he working at a loss to cut everybody else out?" "I don't believe it. Besides, Pauline is of age— ishe is six years older than her real age, in a worldly sense Now let me hear no more of this nonsense, Frank. I've made a soft bed for you, and you'd best rest easy." "And now your chucking prickles into iti" Frank was in one of his worst moods. "A waif from the Lord knows where is put before your own son; she's always been a thorn in my side, and now she's at the bottom of threatened ruin. If I married her " "For God's sake, stop! Fool! Fool! Do you know what you stay?" Chester Stark was in agony. Hi 3 son turned upon him mercilessly. "I've suspected something for a long time. Now c«ut with it, father. I suppose I have a right to your confidence/ h© added bitterly. "And I'm ready to bo hard hit." Chester Stark paced the library floor. Tressidy had loft them together after dini<er, to show Pauline the conservatories. !To paused at the window, and looked ever the Lawns, towards the woods — now dim and mysterious in the soft twilight. A young moon -was rising in the opal sky. "Yes, it is your right to know, Frank, but I have put off the evil day from time to time, and now- - He resumed bis pacing, and his son waited. Then with bowed head Chester Stark spoke swiftly — hoarsely, not daring lo look at Frank until he had finished. "Now yon know all," he concluded defiantly — truculently. He stood with folded arms, his head thrown back, determination showing in his eyes. "And, by God, sir, if I have Ejay unpleasantness — if Pauline is meddled with by you — I'll shoot the top of your head off ! I have done my best by you ; I have pampered you too much, and put you into a man's clothes before you were able to wear them. You am a cold-bloc ded, selfish scoundrel !" Pnank was livad. "Thank you, father. I guess I'll pack up and go home." "You can go to Hades for all I care." Frank reflected, if a whirling brain can ltflect, his heart seething with Tage and bitterness. His father still held the reins, j and the purse-strings, too, if it came to i trouble. He would have to be discreet. "I jauess I ain't upset half as much as you are, father," he said. "I'm hard hit, and you must make allowances. Shake b hands, and let's forget it " Chester Stark sobbed. \ "It's all my fault, Frank. I don't, mean what I say when I out loo&e You know i that, boy." "I'll go away for a week, father. 1 can't tone down in ten minutes T'll start right away. You can explain as you like to b Tressidy." ? And ho went out with a black scowl. and a sickening pain in his heart. r [To be continued.)

Realism on the stage is the rule nowadays. Real cows are to figure in "The Bondman" at Drury Lane. The next stage innovation (says a wit) will probably be real actors.