ALL OR NOTHING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 593, 13 August 1913, Page 6

ALL OR NOTHING.

(Copyright.)

4By the Author of =• "A Bitter Bondage," "Two Keys," "Stella," "The Unknown lirid'groom," &c,,

PART 21-. " I have a favour to ask Mrs. Morton," said Lady Mackin, at length. "We have a large party at Creedmcor. Could I prevail upon you to Tew Miss Morton to spend a low ri.iys with us ?" "You have no idea," said Sir Edward, eagerly, "how much pleasure you will confer upon us if you say 'Yes.' " "I have* no right to deprive Mabel of society," thought the lady, "if I am dead to it myself. Yet" "I should consider myself honoured indeed, Mrs. Morton, if you would accompany your daughter ; but, knowing your invariable reply, I am afraid to ask."

"I never visit," replied Mrs. Morton. "While I fully appreciate your kindness, I am obliged to decline it. But for Mabel that is quite another thing. What am I to say to Lady Mackin, Mabel ?" "Say, mamma, that there is nothing I should enjoy more than a few days spent in what really seemed to me a paradise."

Lady Mackin looked pleased. Sir Edward Peckham highly delighted. Mabel did not appear to notice him, or to look at him at all. "If you are willing," continued Lady Mackin, "we will call for Miss Morton on our return. W T e are going to Ravenswood, and shall probably remain there until the afternoon. We will, be here by four o'clock, if Miss Morton will have had time for her preparations." So it was arranged. When they rose to take leave, Evelyn Morton bent again over the child named Clive.

"Will you kiss me, Clive?" she said, gently, and her voice was like fhe sweet and broken music of a dream. Then they went away. "Mamma," said Mabel, with a misehiovoil's smile, "what will Mrs. Welford say ?" Mrs. Morton smiled. "Mabel," she said ; "where has Sir Ifdward Peckham met you?" "At the Creedmoor fete," she replied. "I danced with him twice, f think, and he was very kind to me."

"Y'ou never mentioned his name to me," said her mother. "Did I not? I-suppose I never bought of him," was the frank reily. "1 remember that he said, in spite of all difficulties, he should make his way to Beechgrove. I had forgotten him. There were so many strange gentlemen at the fete." "Do' you like him?" asked Mrs. Morton, quietly, after a few minutes' pause.

"I do not know, mamma. I have not thought about him. Yes, I think I do like him. He is very clever, and very good." "He is very handsome," added Mrs Morton,

"Is he?" asked Mabel. '".I did not notice his face."

Then Evelyn Morton sighed, for she saw that her daughter loved Leonard Ainsleigh so well that the faces and the manner of all other men were a subject of profound indifference to her. CHAPTER XL. Carsbrook had no words in which to express its feelings. Miss Lewis's jam was spoiled, Mrs. Elderly's store-room untouched, and Mrs. Welford's lace all unmended. These ladies sat in state, clad in rustling silks, and trying to look as though they were accustomed so nothing else during the whole, long bright July morning. Then to their mingled anger, perplexity, despair, and wonder the Creedmoor carriage dashed back again, with Mabel Morton by Lady Mackin's side. Mrs. Welford's feelings were too much for her ; she forgot her laces. " It was only friendly and neighbourly," she thought, "to go and tell Miss Leyton the news." She had recognised Sir Edward, and she remembered how the girls had said laughingly, at Creedmoor, that she nad made a conquest of him. Now she came to remember, Lady Mackin had said something of the kind herself. Was it possible ? Could it be ? No wonder she hurried to the Woodlands, eager to tell the news. She found Alice in the highest spirits. Dr. Ainsleigh had called that morning, and "had really been most attentive."

So that the intelligence did not electrify her as Mrs. Welford had anticipated. In fact, Alice could think of nothing and speak of nothing but Dr. Ainsleigh. When Mrs. Welford tried to impress what she had seen upon her, Alice said, impair ntlv :

"Mabel Morton may do as she likes, and marry whom she likes, provided always that she does not interfere with Leonard Ainsleigh. The world is large, and she is free. Let her do as she likes—if only she likes not him."

"Imagine a girl whose mother must have some reason for shutting herself up being raised to the position of Lady Peckham, of Castle Peckham ! It shocks all my notions. Miss Leyton—it does, indeed. There she sat by Lady Mackin's side, beautifully dressed and looking really more like a young princess than anything else. Depend upon it, if she is brought out at Creedmoor she wiU marry well." But Alice was too happy that afternoon to be spiteful. Dr. Ainsleigh had praised her appearaace ; praised her dress, and had madt

himself amiable in many ways. Alice's hopes were raised ; sinthought that the dinner party has not, after all, been given in vain, the real fact being that Dr. Ainsleigh, remembering his coldness oi that same evening, had many doubt? as to whether lie had offended thf heiress or not, and went to tin Woodlands purposely to see. "I wonder," said Mrs. Welford. "i I called at Beecngrove, whether 1 should be admitted or not ?" - She made the attempt. With iui mind full of prying questions that she intended to ask. and observations she intended to make, suggestions she wished to offer, and advice she meant, to give, the lawyer's win wended her way to Beechgrove. Great was her wrath when the usual answer was given that. Mrs. Mortor was particularly engaged, and eouh not see any one. She vowed ven ireance against mother and daughtei both. Who was Mrs. Morton in deed that she should treat a lady in this abrupt, uncivil way ? Befi.re she returned hr.me thai even ing, in little more than half a dozer words Mrs. Welford had managed t< sow the seeds of doubt by askine who Mrs. Morton was and what could be the reason she shut, hersell up in that mysterious way. There was a brilliant circle at (Teedmoor. The great writer. Lord Liverston, was there, and wherever he appeared brilliant people gathered together. Sir Hulston Wynbourne, the great statesman, with Lady Wynbourne, his accomplished wife. There was Lady Geraldine Somerson, i graceful and talented writer .'ount Bernstoff, an eminent diplomatist ; Countess Pascals, a beautiful Spanish woman, un pen passee, but magnificently handsome still ; the sisters Wynyard, Theresa and Arabella —the one a beauty, the other a blue ; Sir Edward Peckham ; Monsieur de la Crox, a gallant and accomplished Frenchman. A brilliant circle, wherein the fresh, pure young loveliness of Mabel Morton was warmly welcomed.

Lady Mackin wc.s besieged with questions. "Who was she ?" "Where did she come from ? M "Who was her mother ?' There was no end to the interest excited by that fair young face and graceful girlish manner. Sir Edward was enchanted. He never left her side when it was possible to be near her.

From the first moment lie saw her on the day of the fete he loved her with a love that grew in intensity until it filled his whole heart and soul to the exclusion of everything else. He had travelled—he had been much in society—he had lived in London and in Paris, but lie said to himself that Mabel, so sweet, so bright, in the first flush of her young beauty, far excelled all others. "He looked at her and loved her. Before he had heard her rpeak, without giving any sign to betray what was passing in his own mind, he had said to himself that she. should be his wife if he could win her, and no other.

The more he saw of her during the fete day, the stronger grew his resolution. He was charmed by her high-bred grace and innate refinement.

"I have met with royal duchesses before now," he said to Sir Henry, "who have not a quarter her grace and her good breeding, to say nothing of her beauty. Who is Mrs. Morton ? Does any one know of what family she comes ? That girl has the bearing and carriage of a

"Mrs. Morton came here a perfect queen." stranger," said Sir Henry, "and a stranger she remains unto this day ; she declines all acquaintance. lam of your opinion, though ; I believe her daughter has good blood in her veins. I should not like to sav what I suspect, though." "I do not care," said the young man, hotly. "1 understand your hint. I do not care. I hope to make Miss Morton an offer of marriage if she will listen to me, and I shall think myself the most honoured and happy of men if she consents."

"You intend to make Miss Morton an offer of marriage ?" cried Sir Henry, astonished.

"If she allows me the opportunity," he replied ; "and I shall ask Lady Mackin to help me find it."

"I have seen Mis-s Morton half a dozen times altogether," said Sir Henry, "and I have formed my own idea, of her character. If she cares for you she will marry you ; if she does not shs would not marry you if you were King of England." "I must hope she will care for me," he replied, gravely ; "I shall do my best so make her do so." But Sir Henry, remenil:cri:i? Mabel's face when IT. Ainsleigh was talking to her, felt doubtful. "1 am not very sanguine ;■ s to your success," he said. Then in a rich, cheery voice Sir Henry rolled out the grand old words : "Shall I, wasting in despair,. Die because a woman's fair ?" Sir Edward Peckham laughed. "'Nav," he said. "I shall never tie that. I love Miss Morton. She i: ; the only woman I have e\ er met win has completely satisfied my fastidious taste. If she will marry m.\ tant mieux pour moi ; if not, as ] shall never meet any one like her, J will go unmarried until I die." "If she be not fair for me, What care I how fair she be ?" sang Sir Henry, smd again his youns friend laughed. '"Not that, either," he said. "Sh< will be fair for some one else, and J shall always love her beauty. Ii she will not have me for her 'over, perhaps she will let me be he' friend." "If she refuses Edward for the sak< of that good-looking young doctor,' thought Sir Henry to himself, "sin is a foolish girl." Sir Edward told liis story so wel

lt> Lady Jlai'km iliut. :-he consented to take li iin in ilerchgrove ; mrUiermore. she sem him into the seventh heaven of delight !>y promising I.e. invite Main 1 ' In ('rc-edim >< .r for a f<• v» days. There Sir Kuwurd had picuiy "i opportunities of tryiii:.-- in win her infections. How well in- inod wo • -li> but. himself I; ii!■■>%-. He si tida <j t-v■ ■r> word. i-vory w-isi?, every »!»•. ii •• . !>< word she said (ii hint, i-very snub she :;ave him. N f . M.i! N r v.-iierv :In was. if possible If Wa: by |;er side I'll1)11 i111(-11 i : ill- <■: iii 1 i-d tlir I'm >lll evi ry one ei--c .-fcined in i,- ni < • <>: i t of ii . I i lie heard her Vniee, la other sound reached his ear. Mr:. r.i'iiwni!!:: , s beautiful idea, of hniii' w;,s carried out. t.o perfection by liini.

Alas ! that was all wasted mi Mabel—Mabel, whose heart and .''.mil were so full of another that she rarely gave . one thought to liim. She had an idea that lie was very kind to her, very attentive to her, hut that he loved her never dawned upon her. Although it had never been told in words, she had some vague idea that all the world must know she loved Leonard, that all the world must know he was to her what no one els« could ever he.

So this wooing of Sir Edward's went on, to the geoeral edilication of the beholders. Some said Mabel was clever, and was playing her cards well ; others that she would not have him. Every one Was more or less interested in the matter, eicept the one most concerned. It happened one evening that the :onversation at Creedmoor turned upon books, and some one mentioned "Spirit Voices." Lord Liverston said that he would give much to know the writer, that he should like to touch the hand that had traced such wonderful words. Mabel, who was seated on a pretty little couch, which was drawn close to the table, covered with books and engravings, heard the words. Her heart beat, her face flushed, a light, glorious to see, came in her dark syes. Sir Edward, who was near her, spoke. She raised her little hand with a gesture for silence. She listened with rapt attention, her face glowing with delight. Sir Edward watched her jealously the whole time.

"Do you admire Lord Liverston so much that you do not like to miss one word he says ?" asked Sir Edward.

She smiled —that sweet, bright smile that maddened while it charmed him.

'"I was not thinking of Lord Liverston himself," she replied, "but of what he was saying." "I have read 'Spirit Voices,' too," lie continued. "Would my opinion interest you ?" "Indeed it would !" and the dark, eloquent eyes were raised without the least embarrassment to his. CHAPTER XLI. "I think it is the most beautiful book I have evW read. Like Lord Liverston, I wish to touch the hand that traced thoughts. It is full of grand ideas. It is written by some one who has a most beautiful mind and a most glorious soul. lam a better man for the reading of it." Her whole soul seemed to flash from her eyes in the grateful look she gave him. "Miss Morton," he said, gently, "you know the writer of that book?" "How can you tell ?" she asked, in surprise.

"From your face," he replied

"You should not watch my face so closely, Sir Edward," she said, with a smile. "Even if it has told you that it will tell you no more."

Evening again ; the large and brilliant party of quests are assembled ia the drawing-room of Creedmoor. Dinner is over, but there are yet many hours of the long, bright, July evening to while away. The French windows arc open ; many of the ladies prefer the cool shade of the garden trees to the drawingroom ; amongst others, the beautiful Spanish countess, who was looking her best, in a dress of rich amber silk and a suite of superb diamonds. She had bpen playing her eyes and her fan against Sir Edward all the evening, then gave it up in despair, saying to lierseK that he had no thought save for the golden-haired child, whose dark eyes never sought his. She turned the whole artillery of her charms against Lord Liverston, who was. perhaps, not' unwilling to add a Spanish chapter t«» his many experiences. The biue Miss Wynyard was hold in:; forth volubly to Monsit-ur do "n Croix on her favourite subject, the "Capabilities of Woman," and the unhappy Frenchman was compelled ic> listen pniiiely, while his eyes wandered eont in ually in search of a youngrr and fairer face.

Lady Mackin was "resiim:"---name given to a quiet. siolen n\< minutes —in the most comforts arm-chair that even thai hixuri drawing-room could furnish. Mabe! was about joining the h.isir;. on the lawn, when Sir Edward came over to her. ! "I)id I ever s'uow yoti my aiinins. Miss Morton ? It is quite a curiosity in its way." "A compliment to the friends v. im.-e portraits it contains," she -aid. "It, was not meant for my lri'-uus exclusively," he replied. " I h;m amused myself by making a collection of faces and classifying their under different heads—grave. say plain, beautiful, ~vve'e. etc. noun you like to see i't ?" 1 ' As he held the album in his hams.politeness demanded that she siioua accede. Near one- of the large bnv windows—large enough, indeed. w form a small room—stood a little stand and an easy-chair near it. Sn Edward '.vent there, and laid the al butt! upon the table. j(To be Co n tinned).