A GIRL TO LOVE. CHAPTER XV.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9309, 6 March 1907, Page 2

A GIRL TO LOVE.

CHAPTER XV.

By BEETHA CLAY,

"There's one here, sir, firee of charge," sa.d Sam sturdily, amdi his master shook him by the hand.

Thank you, PTke," he said simply, but there was a catch in his voice, and hie eyes were moist. He 'arranged the camellia to his liking. "Yes, I have enemies," he laughed, "and my life is threatened. Famcy that, in thess enlightened days! I am one of the most emvied of men because lam the master of millions. I stand upon a pinnacle — alone. And sometames the loaelim/eiss and coldness of death seems to overwhelm me. You, with some one to love, and some one to love you, can never umdieirstand' the desolation which is mine. If my enemy were to bludgeon me — or shoot me — who would care? Who would shed a single tear?"

Author of "Thrown on the World," "Hex

Mother's Sin," "Beyond' Pardon," "The Lost Lady of Haddon," "Dora Thome," 'An Ideal Love," etc.

NATHALIE LEEGHTON'S PLAIN

TALK.

From eight o'clock in the corning antil two in the afternoon thie soft summer rain had been falling steadily ; the 1 sikies were grey, the birds voiceless, and the trees were Gripping monotonously Yet the earth was delightfully fragrant, and if the flowers drooped under the weight of the rain it was only to ride again, refreshed, and sweeter than before

Jf rice clenched, his mighty hands, ■and the veins swelled in his arms like knotted cords.

"Master," he quavered, "I would fciJi the mam who injured a hair of your head ! Tell me — tell "

■''Nonsense!" Jaepei Trenwith laraghed aloud. "My -automobiife is waiting; lam going to Pendinas.'

Jasner Trenwith was standing at nis library window, his hands folded behind hirr, a smile upon his face and in his eunny eyes. His secretary was busy with a pile of shorthand notes, and, wihen a typewriter began to click, Mr Trenwifh swung round.

The machine throbbed away, and soon Jasper Trenwith was smiling into Nathalie Leighton's cold blue eyes.

"I have obeyed' my lady' 6 behest," He said lightly. "Now, what is her pleasure "

Nathalie made a gesture of impatience.

"An understanding between us upon a ptunely business basis, Mr Trenwith. My father is in London to-day, and I am at home to no onej so there will be <no interruption."

"Not now, Walker," he said pleasantly, "I am sure that we have earned our hinch. Take a couple of hours off duly, and transcribe those notes afterwards The clicking of the machine disturbs me. An excellent morning'» work, thanks to iiys Tain !"

(Continued on page 3.)

The isecietairy knew his master well. He looked his notes away in & private dmawer and siienrtiy withdrew, with a weak "Good morning, sir."

When Mr Walker was gone, Jasper Trenwith took a letter from his coat pocket and for tihe twentieth time that day his eyes devoured every word of it, page after page, until the eighth disclosed the signature of Harry Owen.

•*1 can read you like a book, blackhearted scoundrel that you are !" was 'the concluding paragraph, "and in the event of certain happenings I will s'b.oot you as I would a dog with the rabies, so you know what your end is likely to be. I am quoite awaze that this letter may be construed into one of intimidation, but you are at liberty to take whatever action you like."

Jasper Trenwith replaced the lettfar in his pocket, and again walked over bo the window. His white fingers drummed,, a tattoo on the glass, and his brow was lined with, thought.

"Mad ! mad !" he reflected. "Stall, it is very annoying, and my intentions are so different. I mast treat him with the con tempt he deserves. He 9ays that I ruthlessly rob the rich man, the widow, and tihe fatherless, and then pay a tribute of ten per cent, to the devil. Dreadful . dreadful!"

His face cleared lake magic, and at the same moment a tiny ray of sunshine pierced the gray clouds. A shaft of golden light trembled in the falling mist, then deepened and broadened, until the mist was gone, and the dividing clouds revealed a glimpse- of blue heaven. And soon the birds were on the wing again, and in the air and in the trees were singing.

"And thus the future lies before me," Jasper Trenwith saad.

There was a knock on the door, and \e turned to find the butler regarding him apologetically.

"Luncheon?" Trenwith anticipated »ndulgiently. "Too lobe now, Peters. If I go past the regular hour, my appetite goes, too. Besides, SI" have an engagement at Pendinas. Order the automobile for twenty minutes to three."

The Iratler arrived, amdl Jasper Tnenwith unlocked a cupboard containing some old wine. He selected a bottle of port, and, having filled a tumbler, took a copious .dxaiughit. He smacked his lips, and breathed a long sigh of satisfaction.

"It is only in very (recent years that I have occasionally stood in need of a stinralamt," he murmusredL "One needs a constitution of iron to endure the constant strain. This feeling of nausea is new to me. But lam better now." -He paced the room. "I am wealthy beyond the vdxeams of avaniice; I am the iron king, and the coal king, and the financial king, the king of everything but a certain woman's heart! Why will men measure their strength against mine? One more mastenly stroke — only one more — and' I have done!" • /

He pducjseeu ±naray Owen's letter from his pocket tand carefully consumed it in the flame of a match. Has brow was carelined and dark again. He looked oMetr than his years.

A clock cbdmedt (the half-hour after two, and 'he opened! wide the French window. The earth lay now in a Maze of sunshine, and with a sense of exceeding joy he inhaled) the scented summer air. He left the room for the verandah, and from the verandah went into £he conservatory, still muttering his thoughts aloud.

"Only one move triumph — only one more. I seem to stand alone, my hand against every mam. I wonder if I have- a real friend in the wide world?" /es, sir — me," said the voice of Sam Price.

The gairdener appeared from behind a big palm, and touched: ids cap. His jaw was set square, but there was a steadfast ligijfc in his eyes.

Jasper Tronwith was startled ; then he laughed.

"*I want a camellia, Ptrioe. Ah, that ia indeed a fime flower! You must not pay any attention when I am speaking my thoughts aloud. The habit is a bad one, but it affords me relief. Still I thank you, Piioe, and I believe that the woids came fiom your heart."

"Try me, sir." Sam's voice was hoamse. "A good man like you ought to have nothing but friends.

"And yet I have bo few! People talk, arid taJk, but in their hceirte they fear me, and fear breeds hatred. For one true Mend 1 I would give half my foitiulte."

"Yes." He nodded, but his ©yes were becoming serious — almost mournful. i "'What do you intend doing?" She looked him squarely in the face. "You 'hold us in the hollow of your hand. Will you give us a chance to redeem Pendinas, or is the crash <to com© soon? I -want you to know that marriage between us is an Tifctar impossibility. The vary idea is revolting. I am sure that I hate you because I fear you." His face whitened, and he looked away. He thought of his conversation with Sam Price. There was real anguish in his eyes. •'You are honest, ait any Tate, Mies Leaghton." "And I wish you to be honest with me." The carmine sprang into her cheeks. "Mir Pelbam will be home soon — I heard from him yesterday — and 1 some arrangement can be made with you about the mortgage unless you are determined to turn us out of Pemdinas, from motives of revenge." " Revenge! he repeated sadly. "How can you associate revenge with me — and with you?" She shivered violently. "Oh, don't ! lam always .terrified when you purx like a great cat." His face reddened with resentment and auger. He jumped up, and walked towards the window. The landscape was blurred to his bumiing orbs. "You speak of PeJhsam and the mortgage in a breath/ he said, without looking round. "Ask — are matters settled between you, then?" "You are treading upon delicate ground." 'I am sorry." He continued to look out of the window for some minutes longer, and the silence seemed intense to Nathalie.

" I can't bear this," she whispered, at

"Forgive me. I have been thinking it ail out, and my decision is "made. You snail not be turned out of Pendinas, Nathalie." He spoke softly, and came back to his eeat. She felt that 'his luminous eyes were banning into her very soul. "If I .have ever coveted Pendinas, it has been tor the jewed it contains. I have loved you unselfishly, but I have been too sure oi the prize. "Without you, Pendinas wouMi be hateful to me. When you name revenge in the same breath with a love like mine, you do not xunderetand, that is all. Nathalie Pendinas 6haU be my wedding gift to yon, no matter whom you may mamry." He rose and 6adly took her hand. "Good-

" If I have misjudged you, Mr Trenwith — if I have been unkind 1 " She faltered. "I am amazed — bewildered. I must have time to think it over." As she concluded, he had reached the door. He looked back once, then bowed his head amd passed out of the house. "Victor Pelbam," he murmured to himself. "Always in my path. A passive sort of foe, amd never dreams of harming any one. But for Mm — but for him " He set his teeth hard. "He cares nothing for Nathalie^-my beautiful Nathalie, and "he shall not maarxy her."

(To be continued.)