THE HEIR OF

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9480, 7 December 1907, Page 2

THE HEIR OF

AVISFORD.

CHAPTER XVI.

JEAN'S SHOCKING SUSPICIONS

May had- just finished writing a let j ter to Norman Dudley, when old Jean j entered the room, and announced that , tea, was waiting. "I will be with you in a few minutes, Jean," the girl said, with the slightest show of annoyance at being interrupted. She had just put iwr name at the close of the. letter, and wanted to read it again before enclosing it in an envelope. This is how the ?etter to Norman Dudley ran: "Dear Norman, — I have heard f rom ihe gipsy, and he predicts great things for me in the future. lam to be rich and famous, and all this through the instrumentality of some greao personage. I was half- inclined to smile at it, when, behold I Lady Margaret Drysdale appealed upon the scene, and offered me her disinterested patronage. One would think at first sight that there was some understanding between her ladyship and Kabdal, but that is quite impossible. It appears that Mr Livingston — Ihe vicar has the reputation of being a meddlesome busybody — lias been sounding my praises, and aroused the interest (;f Lady Margaret, who makes a hobby or discovering and assisting struggling singers, musicians, artists, and authors Well, Lady Margaret has been good enough to promise wonderful things for me, on the condition that I leave Avisford at once.

"I fancy I can' see you start when you read this ; but, however, my lover, if you really care for me as much as you pretend to, I won't go. I have discovered that my ambition pales before the love you have taught me. You put certain questions to me this morning, and I feel now that my answers were both unkind and selfish; the very idea of leaving Avisford and you at t.nce frightened me, and I know ncnr Ihat I could doc do it without a bitter pang. I would rather stay here and work in the old way, and some day help you to work, also, as you said I might do.

"There, I cannot write any more at present in this vein; I would rather tell you all about it, if you will come to Glen Cottage, and I know that you will. Yours very sincerely,

MAY FORREST.

"P.S. — I immediately took a violent dislike to Lady Margaret Drysdale, Have you ever met her?"

May sealed the letter, a strange, Lappy feeling at her heart, and an added flush to her rose-leaf face ,'t would be well to mail it at once, and then Norman would get it that evening. She wanted him to know that she was not so vain and selfish as she must appear to him now.

She put on her hat, calling to Jean that she was going to the post-box afc the end of the lane, and would be back in five minutes. Then she hastened away, with light feet and a bounding heart. Oh, it was good to have some one to care for her, and good to knowthat she cared for some one! Therms was new beauty in the. narrow grassgrown lane, in the high hedgerows; in the blue of^the summer sky; there was new music in the drt.ning of tho bees, and in the murmur of the summer wind among the glancing leaves of the trees.

She dropped Jier letter in the box and heard it. fall. At six o'clock the postman would empty the box, and at eight or thereabouts this letter would be delivered to Norman Dudley, at the Lion Inn.

May went back to her tea> and the old Frenchwoman watched her narrowly. She was curious to know why the great lady from Penrhyn had called upon May, and she had something on her own mind, too;

"Is everything well with you, dear]' 1 she asked at last.

May started almost guiltily. "Everything is well, Jean. "Why do you ask? Oh, I had quite forgotten to tell you that Lady Margaret Drysdale had proposed certain things iv> me as regards my future. She has made a very flattering offer, which, however, I shall not accept, Jean. I j shall write to-night, declining her ladyship's patronage,'* She sprang up £.nd put her arms about the neck of <he Frenchwoman. "Dear old Jean, the most faithful of women, I hide nothing from you. Mr Dudley asked me to v>axry him this morning, and I have just mailed a letter to him, and my reply is yes. It may not be for a year or more, because, we are both poor; but I am happier now than I have ever been in my life before "

Jea<D uttered a sharp ejaculation. "The villain ! The coward ! Sit there, my child, and listen to me. It is pity that things have gone so tar, and it is hfird that I should have to shatter this ha; py dream of jours; but it has ever been the same — smflinpr, hand some scoundrels make trusting girls the playthings of an hour I"

May listened in amazement — halffrighttned, half-indignant. "Jean ! Jean !" she exclaimed.

"Hush, dear' Let me finish. This Norman Dudley is not Norman Dudley, at all. He is not a poor man, or a writer, cr anything else that is honest. He is Squire Avisford's son, and his name is Guy Avisford. He is at the Hall this very moment ! The milkman told me all about it tihis afternoon, and the vicar has confirmed the story. He came while Lady Drysdate. was with you, but would not stay." She vrung her hands. "Ah. it is ter-

(Continued on page 3.)

rible — terrWe, if you care; but it i* Prc\ '"deuce i The village is just simmering with excitement; to-morrov or the r.ext day it will blaze out, and after that how many pitying words will be spoken of you, and how many people will laugh at you — the peopie whom you haM i never liked? Don't

you see now why tMs Lady Margaret came, here? She has heard of tkc-i shameful conduct of the squire's son, and she is sorry for you. She offers you a helping hnnd, dear ; take it, and let us quit this place forever !"

May was too dazed to answer for a little while, and her face had become deathly white. If she could only recall that letter. Jtan's glittering eyes were watching her, and Jean's tongue was running on.

"Hush !" the girl said, almost sternly. "I shall believe nothing jet, and no wrong has hc&a done; I have written to Mr Dudley, and I shall not lose my faith in him yet." She went to the music-room, and waited. When Norman Dudley — or Guy Avi&fcrd — had read her letter to him he would surely come and explain. She remembered his honest, steady eyes, his strong, resolute face. Ther? could be no dishonor there. Aa for Lady Margaret- . Her lip curled with bitter contempt. Why should this woman dare to interfere? Surely. Norman had not prompted her to do this 1 Surely, the gipsy was not in the conspiracy! Why should Norman Dudley h_ve pretended to care for her? Why should he have won her love? If he was really the son of the squire of Avisford — well, there couli be nothing further between them ; but she would hear the truth from his own lips, -and then go on the desota+p. way before her.

iTo be Continued.)