Love Shakes the Dice.

Lake County Press, Issue 2696, 23 August 1917, Page 2

Love Shakes the Dice.

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

BY AMY MANIFOLD,

Author of "An .Ambushed Foe," "A Prince of Knaves," "Tho Shadow of a Crime." "The Hand of Justice," etc.. &c.

(COPYRIGHT.]

CHAPTER XiV— (Continued.)

She averted her face as she spoke, and so never saw Audrey lose her rich warm colouring—how her grey eyes filled with a sudden wistful pain. "Mr. Hurst told me he meant to remain in Devon," Miss Tressillian said a little huskily. "But, Deborah, won't he change his plans when he finds you miss the bracing breezes =of the North?" Deborah turned then, and looked in a curious, considering way at Audrey's handsome face. "Nay, I would not permit him to do so," she said with quaint precision. '.'And I am not really ill—only run down, I think, and a little worried. I must get kind Dr. Tregarthen to give me a tonic." "Will you take a cup of coffee, my lady?" suddenly said a smooth voice at her elbow, and both girls, starting up, perceived Charlotte Brown,, handsome, sleek, and prosperous-looking, standing just behind them, a small silver tray containing a single cup of coffee in her hand. "Charlotte, how you startled me!" Deborah cried in nervous, vexed tones, her hand going swiftly to her palpitating heart. "I never heard you until you spoke." The woman scrutinized the young girl in an anxious, deferential way, a deprecating expression in her pale and shifty eyes. "I am sorry, my lady," she said, humbly; "I never meant to startle you. I had spoken before I got so near to you, but you and Miss Tressillian," turning a very unfriendly glance on the other girl,- "were too much taken up with each other to notice me." Audrey's firm lips closed in an unbending line. She did not like the redhaired housekeeper. "Take your coffee, dear," she added gently, turning to Deborah; "it smells delicioUjS; and will do you good." "That is why I ventured to bring it, miss," Charlotte said respectfully. "Her ladyship likes my making of coffee." "Indeed, I do, Charlotte," Lady Lansingham said in a sweetly gracious way ; "and I very much appreciate your kindness, but T don't feel inclined for it now.?' ... For an instant the woman's face darkened strangely, then as suddenly took on a suave smile. "Very well, my lady," she responded softly, and moved swiftly away across the hall, carrying the tray with her. "Wait, Charlotte!" called out Deborah, a little imperiously. "Audrey, would you like a cup of coffee after your cold walk?" "Well, I think I should." Miss Tressillian resi>onded easily, dropping down again on the great rug and holding her hands out to the genial blaze. "It does smell delicious, and I never can resist a good cup of coffee." The housekeeper's sharp white teeth closed savagely upon her full under-lip, she shot a vindictive glance at the innocent speaker from under her half-shut lids. "I'll bring another cup. miss," she said in low tones, beginning to move again, "this will be cold." "No, please—don't!" Audrey said, impatiently. "1 will have that one. If it was hot enough for Lady Lansingham it will satisfy me."

"Very well, miss," the woman said smoothly, and turned to retrace her steps. But the coffee never reached Miss Tressillian. The bearer of it all at once stumbled, tripped over a small footstool, and recovered her balance awkwardly, the dainty cup flying off the tray and crashing on to the polished floor with an appalling clatter.

"Oh. ladies, 1 am sorry!" Charlotte gasped out, white to the lips. "I don't know how 1 came to trip up. And such a noise as I've made, too! I do hope 1 haven't disturbed poor Sir Amyas. I'll bring another cup of coffee, and "

She broke off abruptly and stooped to pick up the shattered cup. The door of Sir-Amyas's •sitting-room had silently opened, • 'and Anthony Castlemayne.

from the house of death and wended her way with rapid, unhesitating footsteps through the dense woods surrounding Faulconbridge. By a little gate on to the moor n man stood waiting—a man with bloodshot eyes and haggard face. "Well!" he said hoarsely as she came up. "he's gone, I suppose. 1 heard the bell tolling for the- passing of Sir Amyas Castlemayne." She nodded and laughed in a hard way. '"'Ave. the weakling's gone and the bell lias tolled. Soon it will ring out a welcome to the new master of Faulconbridge—Sir Anthony Castlemayne. And by and bye—who knows- -wedding hells mav chime and two fair estates be joined in one. Then your chance will lie gone, my friend." "My God! I'll best him yet!" Lansingham snarled. "One obstaclo.to-day has been removed from our path. Twr moro still block it ; they, too, must b

removed." Tlio woman nodded thoughtfully. "Ono will soon vanish. I hope," sh said coolly. "Tho air of Devon does no suit the Young baroness; she is rapidly losing strength, and the learned doctor puts it down to a weak heart. Should she not live, Lansingham will be yours." "Aye." lie said gloomily and with an irrepressible shudder. "I may after all rule at the old place." "You may!" she echoed scornfully. "My friend, you will, and I with you." Their eves' met as she uttered that sinister declaration—hers flashing malignantly, his full of an awful, nameless fear.

looking rery stern and haggard, softly crossed the hall and spoke in curt, low , tones to the two girls. [ "Come," he said softly; l, ho has asked for you both—and—and the doctor thinks the time is short." "He is conscious, Anthony?" faltered • Audrey. ! "Thank God, yes; his mind is won-' derfully clear," the young man said in ' deeply moved tones. "Come," growing curt again as he moved towards the sitting room door. "We must not delay." j With lowered heads and stepping very softly the two girls followed him in: Charlotte Brown pausing in her work of collecting the fragments of china, watched the heavy door close silently upon them. A cautious ring at the great door bell caught her ear even as she ruminated—arresting the words on her lips; she set down the tray and stole to answer the quiet summons, opening the massive door in a very noiseless fashion and finding herself face to face with Lansingham, who stood there staring at her dully—an awful expression of anxiety in his dark eyes. "Well?" lie whispered hoarsely. "What news?" She looked at him frowningly, coldly condemning her craven partner. "You've been drinking again," she said in low, angry tones. "You'll ruin all with your folly. Listen! the boy's dying and they're all with him. Go now," throwing a quick furtive glance liehind her—"l ought not to be here. Meet me at the little gate leading on to the moor in two hours from now. We can talk safely there, and," with curi- [ ous emphasis, "I have much to tell you, I can assure you," sneeringly. "I have not been wasting my time." \ "I'll bo there," the man promised sulkily—a quick little shudder running through him as he met her searching glance. "Aye, mind you are," the woman retorted curtly, and closing the door as I gently as she had opened it, went back ! to her occupation of picking up the I fragments of the ill-fated coffee cup. , Very still and quiet lay Sir Amyas, his eyes closed as though in slumber—his hand clasping Anthony's with feeble force. ! Kneeling at the other side of the bed, Lady Castlemayne had buried her face j in the folds of the silken counterpane and was sobbing in a subdued, heartbroken way. The gentle old rector had drawn the two girls away to the window. Dr. Tregarthen stood close beside the young lad, his fingers on his flickering pulse. But Sir Amyas took account of no one just at this moment, save and except the handsome, reckless cousin he had loved so well and trustingly. ' "Anthony," he said faintly, his dim I eyes opening and looking straight up into the'kind, sorrowful ones above him, "will vou make me one promise before i go?' - ' : Anthony's fine face grew palo as death. His lips closed in a grim line • as he lient his proud head and spoke . in bushed tones. j "What is the promise you would have of me, Amyas?" he said, laying his tender hand on the boy's clammy brow. : The lad looked up at him in an in- j tensely wistful way. "I'm asking a bi}i tiling, Anthony." he said quietly, "and I am hoping yon i love me well enough to grant it for my ■ sake. I want you to promise mo to j give up cards and racing." 'I—I might not be able to keop the promise if I made it," Anthony groaned, "but I'll try to avoid the things that tempt me, deal lad—l will indeed!" A smile of angelic radiance rewarded him for those words. •'l'll- trust you-Anthony," came j the fluttering words, "and I'll pray fori -you. ami be—with you- -when temptations come. Mow dark it grows!" he j out then in dreamy tones. "1 j think if you will—hold my hand—l shall fall asleep." Even as he spoke his glazing eyes closed, only to open again in a higher and more glorious world. A while later. Charlotte Brown. hooded and cloaked warmly, slipped out'

CHAPTER XV.-HER OWN MISTRESS.

In the great library at Faulconbridge quite a number of people were assembled one afternoon just a week after the death of young Sir Amyas.

On this day the little baroness came of age, and entered into her inheritance, but there were to be no rejoicings, no festivities—at least at present—the girl had insisted on that—to her all mirth and revelry seemed curiously out of place in that stately house of mourning. "Later on my people shall colebrato my coming of age, Cousin Horace," she had said with quiet decision when Lansingham had attempted to combat her resolution, and had spoken of the disappointment of the tenantry. "I could not bear to feast and make merry just now ; I can think only of the dear lad who has left us, and of his desolate mother. Her great trouble seems to have changed her, she is so different, so very gentle and sweet, that I begin to love her, and would not for the world wound her sorrowing heart or do anything that would jar upon her. No, we'll leave all rejoicing until the summer comes, Cousin Horace; perhaps," with a faint sigh, "I shall bo in a more energetic mood then, at present I find myself inclined to avoid any unnecessary exertion." Horaco had looked in an anxious, solicitous way at her sweet palo face. "I'm afraid Devon does not suit you, cousin," lie had said slowly. "I suppose that is it, but soon I shall become acclimatised, and then I shall me all right, and quite ready to take up all my responsibilities." She had laughed and flushed redly as she spoke, but the sweet colour had faded almost as soon as it came, leaving her very wan and shadowy-looking. That air of weariness, of lassitude, was with her even on this day of freedom from all restraint, when she became absolutely her own mistress, under no obligation to yield obedience to either guardian or chaperon. Yet she did not seem elated, Anthony Castlemayne, watching her intently, decided; a curiously troubled feoling possessing him as ho marked the pathetic droop of the girl's slight figure, the peculiar pallor of her beautiful face, the tinge of grey round nose and lips. There were other eyes in that quiet room fixed upon the young peeress. Mr. Hawson, sitting with a pile of legal looking documents in front of him, kept peering over his glasses in an uneasy way at his fail- young client. Horaco Lansingham, his chair pushed back in a shadowy corner, sent shrinking, furtive glances constantly in his cousin's direction. Mrs. Hurst, who had been specially invited on this auspicious occasion, glared in a gloomy fashion at her. Future daughter-in-law, while John, a stjirdv, homely figure, stood close beside Deborah's chair, his honest, eyes fixed very gravely on her serious youiifi

fa co. "What would you like to do. Lady

Lansingham?" Mr. Itawson wan saying slowly. "Will vow decide to take ii|> your residence in the splendid old house that owns you as mistress ?" With a quick shiver Dehorali stretched out her little hand and clasped IV.ulv Castlomayno's, and in that minute her eyes met Sir Anthony s almost appealingly. "No, no!" she said hurriedly. ' ' could not go to Lansingham just yet, it—it would depress me." Dr. Tregarthen, watching her from the distant window, folt intensely dissatisfied and concerned. Ho saw that her nerves were curiously unstrung. "Would von like to pay your good aunt in Cumberland a visit, little lady"" Iw blurted out in Ins usual direct fashion. "I do think you are finding the air of this fair Devon "I ours rather trying. A short sojourn up in the North might work wonders. "Verily thou art right, friend, put in Mrs. Hurst grimly before Deborah could answer. "The little maid misses the northern hreex.es; aye, and the .simple life to which her worthy aunt accustomed her. Most certainly De b(mih shall r..turn to Lazonby, and

John and 1 will accompany her. Shall it not ho so, my son?"

"Nay, I will wait a little while before 1 journey to Cumberland. Mrs. Hurst," sho said gravely. "I don't really feel equal to the journey, and Aunt Miriam has promised to come down here to mo. 1 had a letter from her only this morning. She is most anxious to bo with me. Someone," flashing a quick, reproachful glance at the austere Mrs. Hurst, "must have told her I had not been well."

"I did." John's mother returned coolly. ".Miss Hallam will come to us at the farm: she will be warmly welcomed. And thou also. Deborah, if thou earest io come," she added as an afterthought, and with an evident effort to speak cordially. The girl, flushing painfully, shrank a little nearer to Lady Castlemayne, her sweet eyes ever avoiding Sir Anthony's steadfast regard. "Thaiik you, Mrs. Hurst," sho faltered out; "but I have promised Lady Castlemayne to stay a little while longer here. I—l shall be over every day with Aunt Miriam and talk ovoi and arrange my plans with her; but I , will not leave Faulconbridge at once." Mrs. Hurst's bard face gloomy with evident disfavour sho eyed th l hesitating speaker. j "1 wonder at thee, Deborah," Mrs. Hurst said severely. "Surely thou has not forgotten that the time draweth near for thy nuptials." "Mother! Mother!" John Hurst burst in hurriedly, "this is surely not a fitting occasion to discourse of joyful celebrations."

'•John is right," Deborah interrupted with a littlo hysterical laugh. "By and by will be time enough to .speak of such matters."

Mrs. Hurst, disdaining to indulge in polite farewells, stalked from the room, followed after a whispered word or two to Deborah, by her*gravo and unhappylooking son. Shortly afterwards the doctor and the old lawyer took their leave, Lansingham departing also only a few minutes later.

Sir Anthony had left the room with the doctor and Mr. llawson. He remained at the great hall door after they had done, so deep in thought that he started violently when ho felt a slight touch on his arm and found Lansinghani at his elbow. "I'm off,"-the latter said easily. "I have a long ride before mo right over to Barraeott; it will be quite dark before I get there." "Aye, I suppose so," Sir Anthony returned abstractedly. "Lansingham," he went on abruptly, some inward curious force impelling him to speak out to this quiet, smiling man besido him, "I'm not at all satisfied about my ward."

Lansingham's heavy eyebrows were arched in an expression of questioning surprise.

"Your ward?" he repeated softly. "1 quite thought you wore free of that responsibility, my dear Castlemayne." Sir Anthony reddened vexedly, quick to detect the covert sneer in that softly-spoken reminder. "I had not forgotten that my authority is at an end," lie responded coldly. "I am troubled about Lady Lansingham," he went on grimly, "and if she does not improve in health very soon I shall talk the matter over with her aunt and insist upon her seeing a specialist." Lansingbam's eyes glinted in an ugly way under their heavy lids, he moistened his dry lips with his tongue, and was silent for a minute, lighting with the demon of anger which possessed him. "Aie you dissatisfied with Tregarthen?" he asked presently in very quiet, even tones. •'Not at all," brusquely. "But Tregartlien is bothered about Deborah; ho said as much to me only this morning, and suggested further advice if she did not, improve." Lansingham nodded gravely. "1 hope it's a case of meeting troubles half-way," he said softly. "My idea is that my cousin's heart is not very strong, and so she has felt the shock of the poor lad's death rather keenly ; also that the Devon air docs not suit her, and that she is decidedly run down and out of sorts."

"J hope so hope you are right." "My dear Castlemayne, I know I am right. When the aunt arrives on the scene we shall see a change at once, anil as soon as Deborah is safely wedded to her rustic- betrothed she will regain her former healthy frame of mind and lose all her present hysterical and mot bid sensations."

liaising liis eyes as he spoke in a swift furtive fashion to Anthony's fine lace, he missed nothing of its sudden pallor, and of the fierce expression in the grey eyes of the grim sot of the

tii-in lips. lie knew, as lit! Hashed that quick glance, 4 hut the shall so cunningly sped had gone straight home, that his companion's heart was lull of wild and ngonizing pain.

''So!" he mused in an uneasy, restless fashion as a minute later he stepped briskly down Ihe wide carriage drive—"the girl lias really caught his wandering fancy, he actually imagines himself in love with her, eh r" I must, manage to see the invaluable Charlotte and hasten her a little in her present work. Deborah's in a dangerous mood, loo; she's fallen under the spell of Caslleniaylie's fascinations and is not inclined to judge him as severely as when lil'sl he appeared on tile scene. Confound him!" savagely. "If I could only make her believe some discreditable tali' about him, some ugly stories of his gambling and racing days, she'd never loolc at him again; and lie, finding she despised him, might take to the old life and give up the role of Saint Anthony."

(To be Continued.)