ALL OR NOTHING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 576, 14 June 1913, Page 6

ALL OR NOTHING.

(Copyright.)

A. THRILLING ROMANCE, —♦ ——— By the Author of "A Bitter Bondage," "Two Keys," "Stella," "T&e Unknown Bridegroom," &c, PART 7. ' And just at that moment he meant ivhat he said. The graceful ligure, .n ■ her flowing white dress, the :juecnly head with its orange wreath ;he dark, passionate face with its ;low of love—all pleased him. As ic raised a glass, of Madeira to his .ips,- he repeated to himself that lie .vas not tired. "A toast, Evelyn," he said, with >. gay laugh. "'I drink to the fairs: and most loving wife in France." "Am [ that, Ciive ?" she asked, -aniestly ; and lie laughed again at ..he pathetic tone- She smiled. "1 shall understand you hetter in time than I do uoif." she said, as du selected for him the ripest peach. "Our characters are so difxreut, Clive. Y.m are so brilliant, careless, gay, debonair ; I am intensely tragic. I know it. I have no moderation in me ; I am all extremes.. I love, suffer, enjoy, and ■ rieve to excess. I wish —how I wish !—I was more like you." "You are a thousand times better . s you are," he said, abruptly; "a .iinan like myself would never have ittracted me. Here, Gertie, let papa i.e you some grapes. What is the ■.natter, Evelyn ?" For she was looking away over Lhe trailing vines. "It is Lugui wants to speak to yoa," she said. And at a look from his master the servant came up to him. "I am wanted en particular'business. It can never be, Evelyn, that they have come ?" Ker heart sank again when she saw lis handsome face grow pale. "How much he lears !" she said to herself. "How much he dreads !" ''ls it two gentlemen that want me ?" he asked, impatiently. '"No," was the reply. "There is one person waiting, and he is no gentleman." "Send him here," said Mr. Noel, resuming his seat. "A reprieve, Evelyn ; it is neither father not brother." Then across the sunlit terrace ;ame the gaunt figure of an English servant man. He bowed respectfully to Olive Noel, and looked in mute wonder at the beautiful lady and the e-hild. "Why, Yarrow !" cried Clive Noel. "What in the name, of all that is nost wonderful has brought you her.c ? Yarrow is my father's valet," le added, in a low voice, to Evelyn. "Bad news, sir," said the man—"news I do not like to tell you." . "Surely the old place is not burned flown?" cried Clive Noel. "There has been no accident at Gothwic Towers, has there ?" "Not at : Gothwic Towers," was the brief reply. Looking at his father's old servant, Olive Noel saw how pale he svas, with a scared expression. He poured out a tumbler of wine, and put it in the man's hand. "Drink that," he said ; "then you will be able to speak." Yarrow drained the glass, as though he were thankful for its contents. "It could not well be worse. Am I to speak here, sir—l should say, my lord ?" Olive Noel looked at the man, evidently thinking +>-e wine had afEected his reason. "Lord Gothwi' 1 and your brother, Lord Noel, left Gothwic Towers en Monday to visit you. I travelled with them as rr.v lord's valet. TLie journey., was a safe one until within a few miles . of Paris, then an accident happened. There was a collision, and Lord Gothwic was dangerously injured. ;' lie. stopped -abruptly, his lips turning whiter. "Go en," cried Clive Noel. " My father was injured—my brother" —•- "Your brother was iuils.'.," -:-y- • the man, solemnly. "He'was er.:e,'<ed underneath a carriage. I •■•?-■'■ over to England for my lady. a.: came on here in search o: you. Olive Noel cove-red his t::<-c with hi:: hands, "and-for some moment:; Kpoi.e no word. He we.» now henr t-.i t .'■'•' oe.rldo.-;, nenl even in the •:■::••:. r.':o •.-.'. of sc.row he ci:\": not forget lh.'it\ "There is a train icavin ■'. (';.;•;.ne. in one hour Ire-rea this," nal.i -■ a.i row. "and if yen. myunnl, \v : r-'.i ' see your father alive you must, U ., vel by it." "I will," he replied. "Do not g back to the house, Yarrow ; go •■: to Carbace. I will follow irnm'din tely.*' Even in that moment he did run forget prudence. He did not wie;': t'.e servant to know what relation tee beautiful lady and the little cr.1 ! .. : held to him. "I must go at once," he ie.id t..,his wife, as Yarrow disappeared. "Do not be frightened, darling. I shall come back soon." But she clung to him, weeping, crying out that he was going front her, and that he should never see her again ; crying out that there waide ath and danger ; that the air around her waC growing dark ; clasping her white arms arounel him, clinging to him with sobs and tears. He bent over, touched by her distress, whispered sweet words, th:-,t were like music to her, kissing her trembling lips and her weeping eyes ; then he caressed little Gertrude. "Take care of her, and yourself, too, my darling, until I come back," he said. And the last glance he had of his wife was as she stood in the ilo.ving white dress, with the orange blossoms in her hair, her beautiful

face turn.Kl lowarnn aim. As he saw her then, so lie saw her until the day he died. CHAPTER X. The September sun shone warm and (right on Gothwic Woods. The The summer had been so glorious that not even yet had the green leaves begun to fall. The trees were in full glory ; the stately oaks in full majesty ; the rippling foliage o£ the tali, graceful elms still unthinncd. The maple trees, the slender lirch.es, the larches, the beeches and sycamores yet wore their summer dress, and over all the sun shc.nc' warm and bright as in the long days of June. On this September evening Gothwic Towers looks especially lovely. ": he :: unbeams fall upon it with a golden glint. The wistaria is in fall flower. Gorgeous passion-f:<,w--rs open their hearts to the sun. The. last roses ' of summer shed richest perfume on the air, and crimson leaves, on the emerald trass. Dinner is over, but with so bright a sun the ladies have, with one. accord, left the drawing-room and and strolled out into the gardens. Lady Gothwic sits under a large copper beech tree. With her is Lady Vane, who has been for some time on a visit to the castle, and Lady Ralston, wife of Lord Ralston, who was universally considered the queen of the county. The three matrons are eagerly discussing the merits of their neighbours, and the different characteristics of each come out in strong colours. Lady Gothwic has a kind word for every one, even for fast Maude Adams, at whose name all ■ virtuous eyes were cast up to heaven. Gentle Lady Gothwic even spoke kindly of her. Lady Vane was curions,- inquisitive, haughty, and proud to the last degree. "I cannot agree with you," Lady Gothwic," she was observing ; " in my opinion ail the. wretchedness of the times springs from want of exclusiveness. I object strongly to what is called the aristocracy of talent or genius. There is but one aristocracy—that of birth. If my hi.tier's son turned out to be a great artist, must he sit down at my table ?' Ridiculous ! On the same principle I object- to Maude Adams. She is, to use the horrible slang of the day, " fast ;' but my objection to her arises from the fact that her father's first wife was an actress. Imagine, an actress ! And people positively expect my Florence to associate with her." ' 'There is a great deal in what you say," observed Lady Vane, languidly ; "but you must remember few pedigrees are as ancient as your own, Lady Ralston, and few as honourable." A compliment which delighted the mistress of Bethany Hall ly"The Ralstons have always been exclusive," she said, complacently. "In the family annals we have not one single record of an unequal marriage ; that is ■•mething to he proud of in these levelling times. Do you not think so, Lord Noel ?" Lady Ralston turned, with what she considered a fascinating smile, to the young man, who was passing the little group. He bowed most courteously, saying : "I have not the pleasure of hearing what you said, Lady Ralston." "I was merely observing that in the whole history of the Ralstons there is not one single record of an unequal marriage, and I contend that in these fearfully radical times that is indeed a crown of honour." "Had her ladyship been observant as she was proud, she must have noticed the cloud that came over . the gay, handsome face. "You agree with me, I am sure," she continued. "Lord Gothwic and I think alike on most subjects." "When beauty and wisdom agree," he replied, with a »mile, "who shall differ ?" "Are you one of Miss Adams's admirers, Lord Noel ?" asked Lady Vane, who was beginning to tire of her companion's tirades. "She has a magnificent figure, and rides like Diana herself," he said. "'Did you never hear that her father's first wife was an actress ?" asked Lady Ralston ; "positively an actress." The flush on his handsome face deepened. He would.have given the world to have looked calm and collected. Lady Vane's quick eyes noted that flush, and she decided in her own mind that the young man must be in love with Maude Adams. "If so," said her ladyship, " farewell to Lady Ralston's grand scheme." As they were speaking, there came slowly along the garden path the slender, graceful &iure of a young girl. She was an aristocrat from the crown of her queenly head tc the pretty little feet, whose step was at once so graceful and sc easy. All the marks of good race were upoii her ; she had little, delicate ears, that were like pink shells ; small, slender hands, with rose-tipped fingers, and little feet. Her face wais very lovely ; delicate and dainty, with bright eyes, and iips like crimson flowers. A low brow, with straight, clear eyebrows ; beautiful waves of chestnut hair crowned it like a diadem. A lovely, piquant, high-bred face, the great charm of which was its laughing sunny, bright expression. The eyes, were full of laughter ; the red, ripe iips had beautiful dimples, that came and went. Looking at her, one said, invoh»tarily, "The gir likes mischief." And indeed, Florence Ralston, despite her aristocratic face, was fond of amusement as any schoolgirl. She looked particularly well that evening. She wore a pretty dress of white silk, with a pomegranate blossom in the bodice and another in her hair. The very sound of her voice t ild what she was ; there was no passion in it, no low, veiled tenderness • it was not one ol those rich, low voices the French call

voile ; it was clear and riante r with sweetest and most ringing laugh that ever came from * young girl's lips. As she came slowly along the garden path she saw the group of ladies under the large beech tree, and an expression of comic horror came. over her face. "My daughter is looking for us, Lord Noel," said Lady Ralston. "Will you be kind enough to tell her where we are ?" '"'That ruse is transparent enough," said Lady Vane to herself, with a smile, as the young man hastily obeyed the command. He was only too pleased to escape hearing any more of Maude Adams's antecedents. The words he muttered between his lips were not altogether complimentary to the mistress of Bethany Hall. "If the man had slain his grandmother, instead . of marrying an actress, she could not have spoken in more tragical tones." But the graver thoughts died away, as he looked at the bright, smiling vision before him. "Now, Lord Noel," cried a clear, ringing voice, "I say no, at once. You have come to tell me that I am to go to mamma. I flatly refuse. Before we left the drawing-room I heard three reputations slain and offered up on the altar of scandal. I prefer remaining here amongst the flowers. If you were really goodnatured, you would ( 6tay with me." "Perhaps my style of • conversation would please you no better than that of the august conclave I have just, quitted," he replied, laughingly. "Can you—pray do not be shocked—can you talk a little refreshing nonsense, Lord Noel ? If so, I ask no more." "Candid friends tell me I seldom talk anything else," he replied. "My father, for instance, has never given me credit for talking sense." "I hear nothing but exceedingly sensible remarks all day long,", said the young girl. "Mamma drops words of wisdom continually, hoping I shall treasure them, but I never do." They walked »iowly down the broad path that led to the lake, away from the beech tree—a fact which Lady Ilatstpn observed with a very complacent smile. They went down the moss-covered steps that led to the water's edge. The lake lay before them like a sheet of burnished gold, for the sun was setting and the water-lilies slept tranquily on its bosom. 'How beautiful !" cried the girl. "I always think, Lord Noel, that Gothwic is the loveliest spot in I;he wide world." "I think so, too," he retorted, "while you arc in it, Miss Ralston." "I did not ask you to flatter me, when I asked you to talk nonsense," she said, more gravely. "Gothwic is beautiful—every one says so." And suddenly it occurred to him that perhaps "every one" had suggested that the beautiful young girl by his side would make a good wife for its heir. He looked in her face as she was bending over the water, and contrasted har with his wife, with her dark, passionate, beautiful face, her grand, noble intellect, her tender, loving heart ; this young girl, so fair, so dainty, so free from all passion, with laughter in her eyes and smiles on her lips. Something like himself, gay, debonair, and fond of amusement. It was well that the woman who loved and prayed for him, so far away, could not tell his thoughts. For Lord Noel had said to himself, as he looked at the dimpled lips : "I believe, on my honour, she would have been the most suitable wife for me -after all. No passion, no wild worship, no tragical love or sorrow, but a pretty, laughing girl, who can understand a jest. Evelyn is always in the clouds." And he, who never spared others to gratify himself, bent over the water, pretending to fear for his companion, the fate of Narcissus. "I used to think Gothwic the dullest place in the world. Miss Ralston, and now I .shall always like it. I wish T could have seen you with your eyes long ago." "I see everything coleur de rose." said Florence, "being somewhat of a philosopher in my way, although I am young. I have made up my mind to enjoy life. I have but one ; the spring and summer of it will be short, and I mean to enjoy it, ;;.•• the birds and butterflies enjoy sunshine and flowers." "If you mean to do that," he said. hastily, "you must steer clear of U. ; grandes passions. You must havi? nothing to say—for instance—to love." "Why not?" she asked, with the prettiest blush and the brightest smile. "A whole train of horrors follow it," he said, gravely. "Not where it is wisely placed," she retorted. "Horrors only follow what may be revered mamma < - nli:- ' misplaced attachments,' and we had better not talk of them, Lord Nod. Young people, well brought up—to quote Lady Ralston again—have nothing to do with such things." "I wish to Heaven I had not !" he muttered, between his teeth. "Did you speak?" she asked, looking up quickly at him. " Would you like one of those lilies?" he said, abruptly. "How beautiful they look in the golden glow of the setting sun !" "If you can manage it without falling in," she replied. "I am fond of flowers ; but I think I like them best in their places. I have no sentimental love for them. For example, I would not have you drowned, or even fall into the water, for the sake of gettinK a Wy for me." He laughed aloud. "I do not think you are sentimental over anything," he said. ;To in: Continued i-