A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LX, Issue LX, 31 December 1910, Page 10

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

(By S. E. Braine.)

CHAPTER I. , THE FACE IN THE MIRROR. The snow was falling heavily as the new owner of Kemerton Hall stood knocking and ringing at his own door. The old Tudor mansion stood forlorn and silent; surrounded as it was by numberless trees in their shrouds of snow, it looked eery enough to be the abode of more ghosts than one. A sense of desolation came over the young heir, and he was glad to hear, after a long wait, the sound of bolts being withdrawn. The door, with the chain still up, was opened a few inches and a woman's voice enquired his bufeinee». "A queer home-coming," thought the young man, while aloud he said: "Kindly open the door and let me in. lam Sir Adrian Haddesley. Have you not had my letter?" "No, sir, there's been none." The housekeeper still hesitated. "Well, I am Sir-Adrian, all right," •exclaimed the traveller, waxing impatient, "the son of the late Sir Gerald, and my lawyers are Kempe and Marshall. Will that satisfy you? Don't keep me out in the cold any longer, my good woman." The chain was let down and the door opened. A pale, gaunt woman of sixty or more stood holding a light. "I beg your pardon, Sir Adrian, but this is a lonesome place, and I must be careful. Yes, I can see your likeness to your father, though it's long since he was here." The dimly lighted hall, of wide proportions, wore a dreary aspect, and Adrian gave a slight shiver as he gazed round it. But the library, whither the housekeeper led him, was quite a pleasant apartment, albeit chilly. It had a large oriel window ; books in sumptuous bindings filled the bookcases, and there were three or four pictures in massive gilt frames. "I'll make the fire in a minute, sir, murmured Mrs Vialls, anu she left the room, while the newcomer, to distract his attention from the cold, turned his attention to the pictures*. The Hall had belonged to the Trevelyans, and these were apparently portraits of some of them. One ot them represented a girl in first flush of youth. "Heavens! what an exquisite creature 1" exclaimed the young man. She was not very tall," and her figure was daintily rounded ; masses of rippling brown hair, held in place by a jewelled comb, ' framed the oval of a lovely, laughing face. The girl's dress was white, and belonged to no particular period; her arms and neck were bare, and a scarf of some filmy material floated around her. She stood half-looking over her shoulder. On the frame was engraved the word "Evadne." Adrian read it, and a look of disappointment, came into his face. He knew that this beautiful maiden must ] be Evadne Trevelyan, the eldest daughter of Sir Ererard, his father's cousin. The girl had been drowned in the lake one Christmas while skating. Sir Edward, to his bitter grief, had no son, and at his death Kemerton Hall, which was entailed, passed, with the title, to a distant cousin, who had taken the name of Haddesley. The 'latter, the father of Adrian, was married to an Austrian heiress, and lived at Vienna. After Sir Everard's death Kemerton Hall had been left to a caretaker and the estate was managed by an agent. Adrian, in spite of his foreign upbringing, was English at heart, and determined to visit his father's country and see his property for himself. Mrs Vialls returned with some fuel, and a bright fire soon gave an air of cheerfulness to the room. As he ate his supper, Adrian gazed continually at Evadne's lovely face; the portrait of the dead' girl exercised a strange fascination over him. The meal ended, he accepted the housekeeper's low-toned invitation to inspect the room she thought of preparing for him. . • >"It's the same your father slept in, Sir Adrian,* .when he came here after Sir Everard's death." "It will do excellently," answered the young man, following the gaunt form of his guide ,up the uncarpeted oak staircase- A. gkostly gloom, seemed to overshadow the house; it was also very cold. . ~" On the first floor, half-way along the corridor,' Mrs Vialls opened a door; a fire was already burning in the room, and he was pleased to see that it was furnished in fairly modern style. A massive wardrobe- and a large pier-glass seemed to point to the supposition that it had not originally been used as a bachelor's apartment. Adrian was standing with his back to the open door, the housekeeper had gone across the room and was turning over some pillows airing at the fire. Suddenly the young man gave a slight start; a look of intense astonishment crossed his face. The pier-glass opposite him was reflecting a figure that was neither his own nor yet the meager one of his companion.' Adrian saw, with fascinated eyes, the beautiful form of a young girl. Her sunny hair was caught up by a jewelled comb, the counterpart of the one in the picture; her face, lovely as a dream, was pale. She wore some sort of a dark wrap folded about her. Adrian's hetrt seemed to stop beating for a few seconds ; his head was in a whirl ..For the face he saw in ;the mirror was that of\ the beautiful girl whose young, bright life had come to so sad an end years before. He could not be mistaken; he had studied the portrait in the library too closely for that. It was Evadne; whose gentle spirit was to all seeming still wandering about the home of her childhood. For a moment or two the eyes of the pair seemed to meet and hold each other in the mirror. Then the reflection faded away, and Adrian was brought back to things mundane by a prosaic question from the housekeeper. "Will, two blankets be sufficient for k you, sir?" M^ffes— no — I don't care," he answerand, turning, went into half-expecting to see the had just startled him into dusk. But he could him ; as she lifted to his, it seemed

to her new master that a look of ap- 1 prehension was lurKing in them. "is anything tne matter, sir?" she asked. Sir Adrian, hesitated; something, he knew not what, restrained him irom siueotioning tne woman concerning what ne had just seen. He enquired instead : "Who used tins room while Sir JlJverard was alive?" "Well, sir, before she died, it was Ins daughter that slept here ; poor Miss T Evadne.'" CHAPTER 11. A VISION IN THE MOONLIGHT. The new master _ of Kemerton Hall was dining with Uoctor Selwyn and his, uaughter Olga, who lived at Langley, a couple of. miles away. The doctor had called on him soon alter his arrival. Olga, who was twenty-eight, ana beginning .to be nervous about the future, received Adrian with cordiality. She was tall and dark, with a fine figure and a thorough knowledge of how to make the best of herself; a first-rate musician, too. The conversation turned upon the Hall. "Ah! you should see the place in early spring, &ir Adrian 1" said Olga; "it is a dream of beauty 1 What a pity the old housekeeper is such a bearl she lets no one but my father, in his capacity of doctor, set foot inside the house." "Have you made an> plans yet?" enquired Doctor Selwyn ; "we are all hoping that you mean to 'set your house in order' and settle down here! among us." "I should like nothing better," answered Adrian; "but there is my mother to be considered. She would never be happy out of Vienna, I fear." "You yourself seem so thoroughly English that this reaUy seems the right setting for you," observed Olga sweetly; "it is quite strange to think of you as half Austrian by birth." "Indeed, I feel altogether English," returned Adrian. As Miss Selwyn left the room she gave their guest a winning smile, and in the parlor began straightway to build a matrimonial castle in the air. "He's decidedly good-looking, >v * sne thought, "and must be extremely wefl off. I wonder if he is engaged 1" In the meantime Sir Adrian was talking with his host about nis' predecessors ac .Kemerton, Hall. "As you say, it was remarkable that the Trevelyans should die out so rapidly,'.' remarked Doctor Selwyn; "you know the history of the family, I suppose?" "Well, my father generally avoided speaking of Sir Everard; they did not hit off well together for various reasons. I know, of course, that there were three daughters." "Yes, and all came to grief, sad to say. Evadne was drowned, poor girl ! — such a beauty as she was, too! Then Lilian married, and died, and her haby as well; while Monica, a romantic, illbalanced creature, fell in love with a young artist, a detrimental,' and eloped with him. I believe Sir Everard never forgave her — partly, I fancy, because his wife sank under the accumulation of disasters." "What became of Monica? Is she still alive?" » "I believe ao, but her husband is dead." Doctor Selwyn lighted a fresh cigarette. "They had one child, again a daughter." "If there had been a son in the place of one of Sir Everard's three daughters I should not be here!," remarked Adrian; "you don't know where these living relatives of mine are now, do you?" Doctor Selwyn paused for a moment before he replied. "Well, I did hear 5 that Mrs Allison and her daughter were living at Geneva,-- but that was a year ago. JBut to turn to another subject" — he spoke in a jesting tone — "you have not come across the famous Kemerton ghost-yet, have you?" Adrian started slightly and answered evasively. "Oh! have I inherited a family spook? How interesting 1" * "The villagers declare that the ghost of the drowned Evadne haunts the Hall. Some of them have seen her quite plainly." Adrian had a feeling that his companion's eyes were covertly watching him; somehow he did not feel inclined to tell Doctor Selwyn aboub the strange reflection in the mirror. H© answered lightly, and then (turned the conversation. Reviewing the events of the evening later, Olga felt very well satisfied with the impression she had made, for Adrian had seemed delighted with her singing. But Adrian, as he drove home, was not thinking of her at all. Strange to say, his thoughts were of one who was beyond the reach of human affection — that is, of Evadne Trevelyan. The remembrance of that lovely face was continually in the young man's mind. "She haunts me as well as my house," he told himself, half-vexed at the absurdity of what, after all, must be mere fancy. Arrived at the Hall, Adrian let himself in, and went upstairs. At the end of the corridor was a large oriel window, and a sudden impulse moved himto stroll along and look out of it; The moon shone out, pale and frosty ; there was but a faint glimmering light in tho passage. Adrian opened the window and leaned out, his eyes wandering over the shadowy white expanse. Over yonder lay the lake where, at that fatal Christmas season years •before, the eldest daughter of the house lost her life. Suddenly the young man gave a start. For at one of the windows of the west wing, which jutted out at right angles, Adrian saw the ethereal face of Evadne herself. She was looking upward at the stars shining in the cold, clear sky. *" Greatly agitated, he left the window ! hastily, and made his way to a door, which apparently led to the west wing. Phantom or no phantom, he would try and have speech with Evadne. But the door was locked and the key was not there! CHAPTER 111. A COMPARISON OF THE HANDKERCHIEFS. As Martha, the housekeeper's niece, put the toast on the table the next morning, 'Adrian said abruptly:

I "Please ask Mrs Vialls for the key I lof the door at the far end of tne j corridor upstairs — that leading to tne vest wing." / "i.*es, sir," murmured the girl, in a faltering voice. j Her master glanced at her; the color had faded out of Martha's fresh cheeks. "Evidently she has seen the ghost," ' ne tnought. Mrs Vialls came in presently. • i am sorry, sir, that the key to that door has been mislaid, ' ' she said ; "1 have always gone in by the one downstairs." ,"oh, very good," answered Adrian; "it is only that I want to do some exploring presently." " "Yes, sir, that part of the house is the oldest, and it wants renovating badly," observed Mrs Vialls placidly; "Mr Symes is here, and would like to see you when convenient." "Oh, ask him to come in," said her master, who was expecting his agent. Symes had managed the property during Sir Gerald Haddesley's lifetime. After an hour had been devoted to business, Adrian asked: "Do you think it would be possible to let the Hall?" The agent rubbed Ms chin with a dubious air. "Well, Sir Adrian, it might let, but it's a big place and wants a lot spent on it." His eyes wandered to the portrait of Evadne. "Perhaps you know, sir, what folks say about it round here?" "Oh, yes; they say it's haunted," replied Adrian, "but, I say, Symes, have you ever seen anything?" "No, sir; but something did puzzle me a bit about three months ago, when some repairs had to be done. I went through a door on the first landing into thj west wing " "The door wasn't locked then?" "No, Sir Adrian; and on the ledge of one of the windows I found this," and Symes drew out of his pocket a laceedged handkerchief. Adrian examined the dainty scrap of cambric; embroidered in one corner .was the initial E. "Queer, isn't it, sir?" remarked the agent; "same initial," and he glanced again at Evadne's portrait. "Oh., I dare say there's nothing in it," said Adrian carelessly. "May I keep this, Symes, for the present?" "Oh, you're welcome to it, sir; 1 just thought I'd show it to you." His employer tucked the tiny handiierchier in nis pocket. Had it really belonged to Evadne r\ It was very strange. Symes hesitated, then continued:' "I wondered, sir, whether the doctor could throw any light on the subject, sir." "What doctor?" enquired the other." "Doctor Selwyn, sir. A little while back I heard he was here for several days, attending Mrs Vialis, though 1 nevor could see myself there was much wrong with her." Adrian was rather surprised that Doctor Selwyn had not mentioned that lie hg-d so often visited the Hall, but supposed that perhaps the housekeeper did not wish her new master to imagine that she had bad health. The conversation concerning the ghost dropped, and Adrian went with lus agent to "inspect certain alterations he was making at a farm a mile away. Keturning by himself, he passed tlae village enurch, and heard his name being called out in a gay, clear voice. , Olga oehvyn was standing m the porcn with a great bunch 01 hothouse flowers in her hands. "Oh, Sir Adrian, you are the very person we need. Do come and help decorate tor Christinas." Olga looked remarkably well in her winter furs, with a glowing color in her Handsome face. Adrian professed ins willingness to be made useiul, and followed Miss Selwyn into the church, i'lie pillars were already wreathed witn green ; a couple or girls and a f air-hair-ed curate were putting up a text, and a severe-looking lady in spectacles was decorating tlie pulpit. "J. am uoing tne chancel," said Olga, leading the way up a side aisle., bne did not want to have to introduce Adrian to Muriel Daunay, a pretty girl, only nineteen — one of the two assisting in the decoration. Of course, the Daunays would get to know him sooner or later; but Olga was a practical young woman and aware of the value of a good start. Adrian was presently sent to the vestry to get a vase filled with water; Oil Lis way lie stopped to pick up a handkerchief lying 111 the side aisle. "It seems to rain handkerchiefs today," he thought. "I suppose this is Miss Selwyn's." The initial was an O, but something struck the young man's attention; he pulled out the handkerchief given him by Symes and compared the two. The embroidery corresponded exactly; it was evident that they must have come from the same manufactory. But Evadne Trevelyan died years previously ! If, however, the handkerchief marked E was, not Evadne's, who could have dropped in the deserted west wine of the Hall? "On, thank you; I am always losing my handkerchiefs," cried Ulga, presently. "Father brouglit me a dozen of tnese from Paris, and they are nearly all gone, I regret to v say." Just then Lady Daunay, who had stopped nor carriage at the churcn, rustled up 'to the pair, and Olga was, obliged to present the new owner of Kemerton Hail to her. Her ladyship, all smiles, called up Muriel, and before she left had given Adrian a cordial invitation .to lunch on Boxing Day. "Interfering old cat," thought Miss Selwyn. Still, it was something that Sir Adrian had promised to spend Christmas Day at their house. " "My brother Dick will be down tonight," she said to him; "you will like him, I feel sure; also an up-to-date aunt of ours, JVlrs'Le Marchan't." Adrian thought of Olga as he tramped ' back to the Hall., What a bright, jolly girl she was; and sang well, too. But he was not in the least in love with her ; the maiden he pictured to himself as sharing his life was gentler and more yielding — willing to be guided, instead of feverishly anxious to lead. Oh, if he could but meet with someono like Evadne ; she in very truth realised his ideal. As he was walking along tho soKtary road the young baronet hummed Vhe words of a new song by Russell Phil-* lips, called "How Shall I Know?" They were these: —

"Hast thou a. dream that comes in tender seeming, Comes in the hush of sunset afterglow ? If tis of me thy happy heart is dreaming, How shall I know, love how shall I know ? i "Hast thou a thought, a thought when thou art lonely, When day is done, and the woodlands whisper low ? If tiiat sweet thought is all for me, me only, How shall I know, love, how shall I know ? "Hast though a love within thy true heart dwelling? If tis for me, for mo, the love thou couldst bestow, Lift thy dear eyes to mine, thy heart's sweet secret telling, Then shall I know, love, then I shall know." It is not to be supposed that Adrian had reached the age of twenty-seven without having experienced a touch of the tender passion. As a" callow youth he had fallen in love on an average unce a week ; then at the age of twentytwo he had formed a deep attachment to a young Hungarian lady of good family, whose beauty and wealth attracted a host of wooers. The fair liona, after enjoying the attentions of her numerous swains for two or three seasons gave her hand to one of them, therefore her choice did not fall upon Adrian. For a long time afterward he was exceedingly wretched, for his was no slight and passing attachment j and he had been in no hurry to love again. The days were so short that it was nearly dusk when Adrian reached the Hall. He had a fancy to open a small gate, of which he happened to have the key, that led through the grounds to the back of the house. As he strode along, upon passing round some bushes, he was surprised to see a dark figure flitting on ahead. Adrian wondered who it could be; it was too active for Mrs. Vialls, and too slight for the robust' Martha, her niece. He gave chase ; the unknown quickened her pace, 'and he lost sight of her. Then he suddenly pulled up at the back door, and Mrs. Viafls came forward. "Did you wish anything, sir?" she inquired. "Who was that who just Avent into the house?" eagerly. "There's been nobody here, sir, since Mr Symes," answered the housekeeper, quietly. CHAPTER IV<. THE MYSTERY REVEALED. Christmas Day started with a mist, but the sun bravely held to his post, and, driving the Fog Demon away, remained master of the situation. But his beams did not destroy the hardness .and crispness of the snow, and people greeted each other with smiles on their faces, and mutually agreed that they were having a good old-fashioned Christmas once more. Adrian had taken kindly to his English home and new inheritance, and it did not disturb him that he had to eat his breakfast alone on Christmas morning. He wafted a kiss in the direction of Evadne's portrait; each time that ho dined at home, the young baronet indulged in the whim of raising his glass and drinking to her. Ah, if she could but have descended from the canvas, a living, __ breathing reality ! Olga Selwyn, witty and vivacious as she was, had not the grace and bewitching charm of the maiden in the picture. Adrian opened his letters, of which there were several, mostly with Austrian postmarks. One, bearing an English stamp, looked as if it might be a Christmas card, but when he tore open the envelope he stared at the "card" dumbfounded. For it was nothing more nor less than a photograph of Evadne Trevelyan, taken, evidently, from the picture on the wall opposite him. On the back was written, in a lady's handwriting, "Wishing you a very happy Christmas." Adrian «at there looking from the photograph to the painting ; how well the copy had caught the airy grace of the original ! But who, in the name of all that was puzzling and extraordinary, could have sent it to -him? How could anyone know of the strange, almost uncanny attraction Evadne's portrait had for him? Adria* was thoroughly bewildered, andj for lack of better -explanation,, decided that hi a "Christmas card" came from Olga Selwyn. She might have selected the photograph, thinking that he would be interested to have a memento of one of his own pictures. Adrian went to church, and sat in what is known as the "Kemerton pew. The Daunays, a large party of them, were there, so was Olga, Avith her aunt, Mrs Le Marchant, and he joined the two ladies when the service, was over. Dick Selwyn, a handsome young fellow of five-and-twenty, was awaiting with his dog, Rough, at a discreet distance from the church. "A merry Christmas, and many of them, all to be spent "m England," was Olga's arch greeting. It had been arranged that Adrian should lunch and dine with the Selwyn's, so he and Olga walked back together, leaving Dick and Mrs Marchant to follow. Miss v Selwyn denied all knowledge of Evadne's photograph ; she appeared to bo as much puzzled by the mystery as the recipient himself. "[ suppose you know that that portrait was painted by the artist who ran away with Lilian Trevelyan?" she remarked. "No, I did not, answered Adrian ; "I looked for the name, but it did not appear to be signed." "Sir Evernrd had the signature painted out," said Olga. "I suppose he. could not bear to banish h*is daughter's portrait, and didn't want to -be reminded of the man wJio painted it." Adrian spent an agreeable day wfth the Selwyns. Ole;a had arranged that everything should be as "Christmassy as possible, in order, «o she merrily declared, to give a total stranger a liood idea of how the day was spent in England. A Yule log burned on the lire, and the plum pudding was brought in li'azinc: radiantly. At length Adrian took his leave. It was a fine frosty night, and it had !>er»i decided that he should take Dick Sohvyn's biVycle and ride home. There was a moon, and the roads were good. Dirk jokingly offered to lend him a revolver, and Olga, standing at the dt\)r with an Indian scarf thrown round

her shoulders t advised him, if attacked, to pretend that the cycle pump was one, as some one did she had read of. Adrian thought, as he rode home, what a jolly Christmas Day it had been. Olga was certainly very captivating;' how well she looked in that yellow taffeta gown, with a twisted band of yellow velvet fastened with a diamond clasp in her dark hair. She would make a handsome and capable mistress of a large establishment. Still, Adrian was not in love with her as yet, and he did not simply want some one to do the honors of Kemerton Hall. He desired more than that. As Adrian let himself in he became conscious of a smell of something burning. At that hour of night this could only suggest one thing — that is, a fire — and he became alert at once. In the interior of the house the odor was stronger ; he rushed upstairs, shouting loudly to arouse Mrs Vialls and her niece, who slept on the top floor. "Mrs Vialls! Martha! Get up at oncel" yelled Adrian, rushing up to the top story and hammering at the doors indiscriminately. Martha put her head out of one, crying, in a frightened tone, "Oh, Sir Adrian, is the house really on fire?" "Yes; something's wrong; dress as rapidly as you can and come downstairs." Having thus seen to the safety of his limited household, the master of "Kemerton" dashed down again to his own floor, determined to batter in the door at the end of the corridor and get into the west wing. How a fire could have originated there,, a deserted quarter, was. a problem indeed. What was that he heard? A cry for - help? Adrian had a sudden feeling that he was about to unravel the mystery, that enveloped the old Tudor mansion — the mystery connected with Evadne; and all at once, whom should he see coming hurriedly along the corridor to meet him but Evadne herself! He stood still and gazed at the apparition. "Help!" she cried; "for Heaven's sake, come at once!" "Evadne," exclaimed Adrian, holding out his hands entreatingly ; "are you indeed Evadne?" He felt as if his wits must be deserting him. Here was the Evadne of the picture; no spirit, but a living, breathless, beautiful girl. "For pity's sake, don't waste time," cried the apparation imploringly. "1 am not the person you take me for, but Evadne Allison. My mother is in one of the rooms yonder; will you help me to get her to a place of safety?" Without waiting for an answer the girl turned and ran down the passage again, and Adrian followed her. What an extraordinary thing it was to think that Sir Everard's daughter and granddaughter should actually be under this very roof, and in hiding! Suddenly it flashed across Adrian's mind that Doctor Selwyn had that night said that he had something special and important to tell him. Perhaps he knew the secret and was about to disclose it to him. But Olga had come up, and the evening had slipped away without another opportunity occurring for the doctor's communication. The west wing was filled with smoke, and the flames were making rapid headway; the woodwork^ being very old, burned like tinder. Adrian realised that both he and his conductor ran serious risks in entering that part of the building. But he followed Evadne closely, and above all thoughts ot possible danger was ' the ecstatic one that the girl whose face he had seen reflected in the mirror on the night of his arrival was no pale denizen of another world, but a living being, like himself ! It would all be explained, later, no doubt, by what strange tissue . of events she came to be in hiding under his roof; in the meantime it was enough to know that Evadne — if not the Evadne of the picture yet one like her — was alive! Before the fire-engine could reach Kemerton the west wing was doomed. The fact of its being Christmas night caused some delay in the arrival 01 the firemen, who had mostly been mer-ry-making, and Adrian esteemed himself lucky that the main body of the picturesque old Hall escaped. How the fire originated could only be surmised, but the conclusion of those most nearly concerned was that poor, half-wit-ted Mrs Allison, wandering about as she did sometimes, when a fit of restlessness seized her, had accidentally ignited something with her candle. 'The mystery was now at an end, for the liidlxLQ-pla.ce of Eradne and iK'X mother was destroyed. The two were bound to throw themselves upon the kindness and hospitality of Sir Adrian, who was, indeed, only too pleased to do all 111 his power for his newly found relatives. Doctor Selwyn, who had been in the secret all along, told him that, after the death of her husband, Mrs Allison's mind had become unhinged. Her thoughts dwelt continually on the home of her childhood, and her longing to return to it became so intense that the doctors at Geneva warned Evadne that unless taken there her mother would probably fade away. The girl was at her wits' end to know how to manage this. Mrs Allison had always spoken of .the Haddesley's as interlopers, and Evadne shrank from asking Adrian's father for help in the matter. However, she took her mother back to England, consulted with Dr Selwyn — who, by the way, wjis the person who gave her the handkerchiefs, one of which was found by Mr Symes — and >yon over Mrs Vialls. Finally, the travellers established themselves in the deserted west wing of the Hall, the rooms selected having a secret staircase leading out of them, communicating with a small room under the roof, a priest's' '."hiding-hole." Mrs Allison grew better, but any talk of leaving Kemerton seemed to aggravate her mental disorder and throtf her back into her former distracted coml'tion. Dr Selwyn came to sop her, tinder cover of having Mrs Vialls for a 'patient. Evadne could not keep entirely out of sight, and the extraordinary resemblance that she bore to her aunt of the same" name caused it to be reported that the ghost of the dead Evadne haunted Kemerton. The e;irl thought it best to profit by | this belief; her mother possessed the jowollrd comb that had been the elder Evadne's; and 4 to heighten .• the illus'on, Avhen ''it was warm enough, she dressed in wiiite. She had nearly, by the way., been caught by Adrian, upon I the evening of his arrival, when their eves met in the mirror ; but, slipping into a doorway, she escaped nis notice.

Then, later, Martha, who chiefly waited upon Mrs Allison and herself, told her how attracted Sir Adrian was by Evadne Trevalyan's portrait; and Evadne, the second, just to mystify him, sent him by mail a photograph she had of the picture. Doctor Selwyn had advised Evadne to let him tell Adrian of their presence in this house, and — authorised by her — intended to do so on Christmas day. * But somehow Olga always bore the young man away upon some pretext or another, and Dr Selwyn found no opportunity. Perhaps, seeing through his daughter's manoeuvres he did not make any special effort to get Adrian to himself. A son-in-law of that sort was not to be picked up i every day of the week. Olga, by the I way, had been kept in ignorance of the fact that Mrs Allison and Evadne were domiciled at Kemerton Hall; she did not know that, all the time, a rival was living under Sir Adrian Haddesley's very roof. Evadne was much alarmed when the new master and owner arrived, taking them by surprise. She became doubly anxiousi to leave the Ball — to be living there under false pretences seemed dreadful now that Adrian was there. Besides, they might be discovered at any minute, for, although the door leading into the room they occupied, was kept locked, the new owner might take a fancy to break it open. Perhaps he did not know of the secret staircase, and the way to get to it, but, in any case, traces of their, occupation of the apartment would be plainly visible. Besides, Mrs Allison^ once content to sit and brood over the past, as long as she was at Kemerton, had developed a restlessness which made the situation doubly complicated. • The night of the fire, Evadne, waking up, and being conscious that all was not right, found the door unlocked, which she knew for certain she had secured before retiring to rest. Her mother had stolen out by herself. "It was very unkind of you not to trust me from the beginning," Adrian told Evadno reproachfully, when the following day she confessed to him exactly what had happened. "I wish I had," murmured the girl. She did not like to tell him that she had been prejudiced against the Had--desleys, by what her father and mother had quite unjustly said of them, that she feared to confide in him. "But henceforth and forevermore we are going to be friends, are we not?" pleaded the young t-.in. "You will let me help you to t-ke care 'of your mother, won't yo' .J. J After all, we are cousins, you should remember." "How many times removed,- 1 wonder?" remarked Evadne, with a smile. How adorable she looked ! Adrian fell more deeply in love every minute. Instead of gazing at the portrait, he now had the living Evadne to look at, and the end, as Dr Selwyn, Mrs Vialls, and even Martha, forsaw, would probably not be long deferred. The former very quickly came to the conclusion that his daughter, handsome and accomplished as she was, would never be invited to become the mistress ' of Kemerton Hall. "It was a strange ending to your first Christmas Day in England," said Evadne, one afternoon, "to come back and find your house on fire." "Some blessings come disguised, ' retorted Adrian; "I shall always look back upon it as the most fortunate Christmas I ever had." » His eyes said plainly, "Because I met you/ and Evadne colored, for she read the message in them. She looked so lovely that the young man could no longer restrain himself; in passionate words he asked Evadne to be his wife, and crown his life with the happiness that was in her power to bestow. The two were in the study at the time, and very soon the pictured Evadne was leoking down upon her young namesake and neice, as blushinsr divinely, she allowed Adrian to fold her in his arms. Outside winter held sway, but in the hearts of the two who were plighting their troth to each other it seemed as if spring with its young brightness had already come, and the -song of the mat-/ ing birds. ' J "May next Christmas find us /ogether, my sweet," murmured Adi/an tenderly, "but with a closer tie" to /bind us." / "Let us spehd it at Kemf/rton," answered Evadne softly, and ttie lips of tho pair sealed the compacj^