ALL OR NOTHING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 577, 18 June 1913, Page 6

ALL OR NOTHING.

(Copyright.)

A THRILLING ROMANCE, . 4 By the Author of—"A Bitter Bondage," "Two Keys," "Stella.*' The Unknown Bridegroom," &c, PART 8. "It is the one serious defect in my l.ru-iitter," she replied. "Some girls ..-p.eii or languish through life. I -rein to laugh through mine." "1 ehould uncommonly like to ;.vii;h with you," ho cried. Then u-ddcnly he paused, afraid of saying ..n r>i:rh, -while she blushed and tut Lti:i lower over the clear, deep lake. CHAPTER XI. Lord Noel enjoyed the half-hour that followed perhaps more than he had enjoyed. anything of late years. Florence had a keen sense of the humorous —perhaps rather too keen. She had been a great deal in society, and was a ciever mimic. Without being ill-nat-'irod, she could imitate the peculiarities of some of the ladies she had met to perfection ; and it was all done with such sunny smiles, such good-tempered, goodhumoured manners, no one could be oSended. It was a new sensation for Lord Noel He had amused Evelyn, and he remembered how often he had laughed when she failed to see the humour. She was too sensitive, too hi,;hly wrought, to have the same keen sense of the ridiculous as Florence Ralston had. More than once a hearty laugh from Lord Noel testified to his intense enjoyment. Once Miss Ralston looked up in alarm. "If mamma hears you laugh, Lord Noel, I shall be obliged to join what you call the solemn conclave. Mamma has a fixed idea that laughter is indecorous. 1 have to refrain from many an innocent piece of amusement on that account. In good society young Jadies should never exceed the regulation simper." "How is it that I never met you before to-day, Miss Ralston ?" he asked suddenly. "I have been to Bethany Hall, and I have seen Lady Ralston there, yet I never saw you. How was it ?" Again the bright face flushed deeply. Florence knew the reason perfectly well. In those days the Honourable Glive Noel was nothing but a younger- son, without fortune or position, and as such highly ineligible. Now it was quite another thing; It has been one of Lady Ralston's favourite ideas that her beautiful Florence should marry the future Lord of Gothwic. Now Olive's brother George, though upright and honourable, was »»ot the man to win the heart of a gay, lively girl like Florence.' He was too sedate, too serious, too quiet.; in few words, whilst Lady Ralston made much of him, invited him constantly to the house, and did her best, after the most elegant and approved fashion, to bring Florence and George together, Florence on her part disliked him, and was not slow to 3how her dislike. She felt some little compunction when the news of this terrible death reached her. "Poor George !" she said, naively. "I really could not endure him, but I am sorry he is dead." She was curious to see the brother who succeeded him. Rumour had given him the reputation of being "always successful in love." She Heard, too, that he was very handsome, very gay, careless, and generous, whereas pose George had always kept the accounts to a penny, and was terribly methodical. Lady Ralston was not the only one who looked upon the union between the two families as being a "most excellent arrangement." Lord and Lady Gothwic wished it, too. Now that Gcn-ge was dead, they rlcoutly hoped that Olive might all in love with the beautiful and •apricio.:s heiress of Bethany Hall. Nothing had as yet been said as to such an arrangement, but the seniors thoroughly understood each 3the.r. This little dinner party had teen given during Lady Vane's visit to introduce the young people to c:ch other. What rumour said, "that Lord Noel had been a little wild," did not si arm Florence. It rather enli .need his value in her eyes, and on this, the occasion of their first meeting, she was quite ready to please and be pleased. She liked him at first sight. He was so different from her solemn end somewhat pompous parents. She wes not afraid of talking to him. )f she used one of the words in vouo more expressive than elegant he ; ; I rot look horrified, as Lord and a'y Ralston made a point of doii ;. In uhort, it was a complete ■■sc cf liking, if not of love, at first Liht. To Lord Noel this' young girl who I -ved laughter was a new revelation. • clyn was not much given to it. he- smiled often a beautiful bright : m ic that was like the glow of sun ::hir.c on her dark, beautiful face ; j nd on very rare occasions a laugh that v/rts sweet as the chime of a silvery -I.ell rang out. But she \ as cot like Florence —nothing ever escaped her. Wber« others saw nothing at all, she saw cause for amusement. Tc L3»k at her face and laughing eyes was enough to make any one feel ■ happy for a whole day. Lord Noel was charmed with her. A girl that could amuse him so that hours passed like minutes was something like a girl. . He remembered how long and dreary the hours had grown at Carbacc—how Evelyn's passionate untiriner We wearied him. A second time that evening Lord

Noel said to himself : '"That is the girl I ought to have married. That is the girl I shoulr have married if I had not been a simpleton." Lord and Lady Ralston accepted an invitation to remain all night at Gothwic, for the aay that began in sunshine ended in a storm of rain. The earl would not allow his guests to leave him. A messenger was despatched to Bethany Hall,, and the consequence waa a most delightful evening. Florence could play well at billiards—Lord Ralston had taught her—and Lord Noel was so charmed that she played several games with him, Lady Ralston thinking that though at first she had rather discouraged this taste in Florence, still it had all turned out for the best. When the billiards were finished with, Florence, at Lady Gothwic's request, went to the piano, and here again she proved herself irresistible. No dreamy, die-away love songs for her ; she sang some stirring ballads with spirit and energy. She sang "Bonnie Dundee" until Lord Noel was beside himseH with enthusiasm. She sang some of the old Border ballada and some romances of "Bonnie Prince Charlie." "And not one »ingle love song," said Lord Noel, *■ Florence arose from the piano. "We have had war, loyalty, history, and never one line of love or romance." "I do not believe in it," she said, "and I only sing of what I believe." "You do not believe in love, Miss Ralston. Take care. Cupid is a most malicious boy ! He will have vengeance some day for that defiance." "I repeat it," she said. "I dare— I defy love ! I shall not have lived my life in vain if I show the world that it is possible to live and be happy without sentimentality, nonsense, or what you are pleaded to call love, Lord Noel." She looked so neautiful, with her face all glowing t*:e dimples round her lips, her eyes full of laughter and defiance, that he forgot himself. "If I might teach you," he whispered. Then what there was of truth and honour left in him rose to the surface. "I do not mean that," he said confusedly ; "but I could enjoy seeing you defeated, made captive, and married." Looking at her, he saw her face and neck covered with a burning flush ; her eyes dropped before his. He did not see them that night again. "We have talked nonsense enough for one day, Lord Noel," she said, passing him without one glance. "Good night." And she left him charmed, dazzled, and fascinated. Of all the varieties of women he had seen and admired this one was new to him. A girl who could positively amuse him, who would not flirt, and who made the hours pass like minutes—what would he not give for a wife like that ? Then the ladies all withdrew. Lord Gothwic and his son were left in the drawing-room alone. The harvest moon was shining now ; the storm had passed over, leaving a fair sky, and the night wind heavy with the odours of the freshened flowers. "I think," said Lord Noel, "that I will have one cigar out in the grounds. The moon shines so brightly—it is quite tempting after the rain." "It was a fortunate storm," replied the earl. "I have not enjoyed an evening so much for a long-time. Miss Ralston's music was superb ; it made me feel young and vigorous." "She sings very charmingly. She is a very nice girl." said the young man. "A nice girl !" cried the earl. "When I was a young man, sir, we found warmer words for such as Miss Ralston. Olive, a word to the wise is sufficient. "A look often suffices," said his son, lightly. "But I am not wise, father." "Florence Ralston is a lovely girl. She is a thorough patrician—highborn, high-bred, and accomplished." "Yes, she is all that, and more," said Lord Noel. "' She is the queen of the county; there is no equal to her. Besides which, she is Lord Ralston's only child, and heiress of Bethany Hall. She will have a splendid fortune altogether. " "She is what one may call a very fortunate young woman," argued Lord Noel. "A word to the wise, as I said before, Olive. It strikes me very forcibly that beauty, fortune, and all may be yours for the asking." "You think Miss Ralston likes me —would have me, sir, if I asked her ?" cried Lord Noel. "I do, indeed," was the smiling reply. "Such things are, in my opinion, best left alone. I dislike all matchmaking, but I must say this—the dearest wish of my heart would be fulfilled by such a marriage. I would rather see Florence Ralston your wife than see you wedded to any other woman living. If you should contract such a marriage, I pray God to bless you, my son." ,: 'I have never thought of such a thing, father," cried the young man, shocked and startled. '"Time enough, my son,; time enough, Olive. It seems to me that my dreams ov<?r you will all be realised at last. If you marry Florence Ralston, with her fortune, and yours, there is no position in England to which you may not aspire. Go and smoke your cigar, dream pleasant ireams, and good night." Lord Gothwic went away with a smile on his face that had not been there for years. Mechanically enough Olive ligm,ed his cigar and went out into the grounds. The bright, tranquil moon was sailing in the clear sky, the trees looked like silver, the flower? were all asleep. The solemn, fragrant calm was all

"My old rather !'* he said, at last. "What will he do when he knows I have married an actress ? It will kill him sure as the moon is shining. I might have had Bethany Hall. I might have married that charming girl. T might have had one of the finest fortunes in England ; and I have lost all to marry an actress. Evelyn had more sense than I. She said I should repent, and Ido repent ! I have been a simpleton ! No man ever gave up for a woman's love what I shall have to give up for Evelyn's ! Was it—is it worth the price ?" While, with a gloomy face, he asked himself the question, Evelyn, his wife, knelt in the moonlight, her beautiful face raised to the clear skies, praying God to send her husband, her love, safe back to her. It was a matter of surprise to no one that when morning came Lord Gothwic earnestly entreated his guests to extend their visit, to send to Bethany Hall for all that was needed, and remain at Gothwic at least for a week. '"I have not felt so well or so happy for years," said, the old man, "as I did last night, listening to your daughter's music, Lady Ralston. I was young again. When I was a boy—ah. me, how long it seems since !—the wish of my heart was to be a soldier. When she sang ' Bonnie Dundee ' the years fell away from me, and the days of my youth came back. Let me have the same pleasure again. I have no daughter of my own ; spare yours for a short time." And Lady Ralston, who desired nothing better 'than to remain at Gothwic, graciously listened to the bumble prayer, and consented to remain with her daughter for the space of one week. Lord Olive Noel heard the news with mingled feelings of pleasure and alarm. "Unless I am careful," he said to himself, "I shall get into some terrible scrape. It is quite evident they all wish me to marry Florence, and a glorious wife she would have been for me. It is equally certain that I can do nothing of the kind, having, like a simpleton, already ' pledged myself to fate.' " At the same time, he felt equally pleased at the thought of having such a companion to enliven the dulness of Gothwic. Lord Gothwic was rapidly recovering, and the daily routine became almost more than Lord Noel could endure. Pompous grandeur and quiet, humdrum virtues, he said often, were not to his taste. Yet he was obliged to remain at home, to he the right hand of the earl, his father—to take upon himself certain duties ; and though, as he declared, it was eminently respectable, it was altogether an unmitigated bore. But Gothwic illuminated by the smiles of Florence Ralston was quite another thing. When time was spent with her, its rapid flight bewildered him. 1163. "I should not mind being cast upon a desert island with you," he said to her one day. ''l should not imagine you are ever dull for one minute." "Dullness seems to be your bete noir," she replied. "No, Ido not think I am. Why should I feel dull ? I am young and happy, without either thought or care." "I wonder," he said, curiously, what you would do if any serious trouble came to you?" "Bear it and laugh on," was the careless reply—words that afterwards came to him with a sharp sting of pain. They neither of them thought or noticed how they were enjoying each .other's society. In many respects they were so exactly alike. There could be no more dangerous companion for any young girl than Lord Noel. Most women pronounced him irresistible. It was not only the handsome face, the careless waves of chestnut hair, the deep, rich voice, the gay, debonair manner, the genial laugh, and seeming generosity ; there was a certain fascination about him which has no name. If he asked a favour, it was impossible not to grant it. When he wished to make himself agreeable to any woman, he had a fashion of seeming to enjoy her society that was more nattering than any words eould be. Until she died Florence remembered the long mornings passed amid the stately trees of Gothwic Woods, when she sketched and Lord Noel sat watching her ; the sunny afternoons loitered away in the fragrant conservatories ; the drives and walks ; the long, bright evenings, when they two walked alone under the beeches. During those days—they only numbered seven, yet each one seemed to contain a year of common happiness—Florence Ralston did what she had always declared she never,would do —fall in love with the handsome, indolent, pleasure-loving debonair man, who wooed her with admiring looks, if not with words. She did not know it at first ; it never occurred to her that the happiness she felt in his society arose from the fact that she loved him. His voice had a different sound from any other ; she soon learned to distinguish his footstep : she caught herself continually repeating his words, dwelling upon what he had said ; yet it did not occur to her that the love she laughed at, defied, had mastered her, and made her its own. "We have but three days more to stay at Gothwic," «he said to him one morning as they stood on the terrace, where she had been feeding some white doves. "I wonder if I shall ever see such sunsets again ?" "Are you really sorry to leava us ?" he asked. (To In* Continued.)