A SPLENDID SILENCE.

Mataura Ensign, 26 April 1913, Page 8

A SPLENDID SILENCE.

CHAPTER XXVI

[Pubiisheit by Special Arrangement.]

By MAUD MEADOWS

Author of "A Million of Money," "The Dukedom of Portsea," ''The House at the Corner," "I Charge You Both," "One Life Between. Etc.,

Even. when, one truly and devotedly loves, constant attendance upon an invalid is apt to become very trying, 10 times more so when the invalid lies a helpless, speechless log. Tli« Earl of Narfafiborougjb was, of course, surroiimlwli by nurses, and a.l 1 the tedium and disagreeableness of ii-ursiiiig was taken off tho hands of those who were nearest audi dearest to' liim; but, at tho same time, he craved for their constant society, for that of 'his young wife more than of any other individual. Tiho power of speech, for. tho time being at all events, -had left him; his hearing, however was unimpaired, and: he ooukl write, though feebly. Ho had been given.,a poroj&in tablet and. pencil, and upon this ho a&kfHl questions almost from, morning until night. Both Douglas and Vera were assiduous in their ateutions upon tho ea.rl, 'and t!ie beautiful young countess, i-showed Jiersplf a very woman in the best acceptance of the word. By day ■she was ever aaid anon with him, ami by night, excepting that there were nurses 'always within call, she allowed no one else to minister to him. "I took him. for better or for worse,'' she said to the great physician, who overy other day, in consultation with the family doctor, visited him; "it's not his fault, poor dearest one, that it is for worse." "Tho woman is ian augel," thn physician said, to the doctor; but tho family doctor, curiously enough, made no reply. The earl had been ill for oyer live morths, and things liad, dragged 'along very dreariyl at the Castle, wheal a. paragraph in the newspaper, which, of course, had no interest for Lady Northborough, gave Douglas and Vera something to talk about. "Fortune," at ran, "it is said, when alio deigns to smile upon man or woman, seldom does so ini a miserly manner. Mr Wilfred Havener is to be doubly congratulated. HLs last book, 'Nature' —during, clever, some say outrageous—has run into its sixth edition, and must have brought him. a fortune. For his next publishers are competing, and as much at £SOOO has been mentioned as having been offered, and hiss' collection of stamps, supposed to have been destroyed in the frro in Gray's Inn, a collection the value of which it almost impassible 'to state, has been saved." "I wish uncle were himself, and could. 1 understand all that this paragraph means," Douglas said, as he and his wife sat over their breakfast. He has never quite given Wilfred credit for all he has done, simply and solely because his name has been mixed up with that of that woman Fausteen O'Neil. By the bye, what a long while it is since 'anything has been heard of her. I sometimes voncer whether we have not done her an iniustice. ■ After all, excepting in suspicion against her with regard to Lady Golister, what had we to say that was detrimental to her? Nothing!" "I have always been rather sorry for her." Vera answered, "although I have only known her by name. I suppose, dearest, your cousin will now be quite a rich man?" Lady North borough entered the room as Vera spoke. She was looking pale and tired. Her almost unremitting attendance upon her invalid husband was telling upon her. "Who will be quite a rich man?" sho said, brightly. "Very nice for someone, whoever bo is." Douglas rose, and went towards her with the paper. "Someone, I think, whom you know only by name,' 1 ho said. "My cousin Wilfred, he—but perhaps you would 1 like to read the -ara. ra-ph." Sin took the paper, read the pana- ; 'aph. then looked up, a wonderfully u luti.' ;1 smile upon her face; 'Hov,- proud his wife must he," she ■;rr. ', la/ing the paper down, so gently clit,.. one might almost have thought she ''.©erred it something sacred. '•--is wife," Douglas repeated; "he has no wife. My cousin is unmarried. M.'.is namo has been coupled with a wo,man's, certainly. At one time we feared he might marry lier, but lately siio seems to 'have dropped out, it might almost be said, of the world. At all events', nothing has been heard of her." Lady North-borough, drew a long breath. "Was' she so very—undesirable ?'' she asked. Dbugiaa would hava spoken, but Vot.i stopped him. "We know nothing against her," sho said. "The earl was prejudiced because she was companion to Lady Golister, who moved in rather a fast sot, and because tehe seems to have been the most beautiful and the best-dressed, woman in whatever society sho moved, her appearance and 1 her costumes were always chronicled in!i'o society papers; but that surely is no sin." The countess smiled. "I do not know," sho said. "It ia always in tho eyes of the world, it is not, a sin to bo beautiful ? A plain woman has credited) to her every virtue under heaven; but ono who has beeai' made perfect, endowed and grace and beauty, is generally looked at askance,' especial--v if ono is rather poor, and rather rdo-no in the world. Most folk are sorry fc4* plain women. I think I am most sorry for the bfi.vuiifui. More sorrow, 1 think, comes into their lives, and when their loveliness fades, life must bo a tragedy.'' "Why?" Vera asked. She drew a breath rather hard. "Because a beautiful woman is generally loved for her loveliness. When that goes, love goes; a plain woman is loved far herself." She mad tho paragraph over a.gaini; .sho seoniod very much interested in it. Even when she put tho paper down she seemed deep in thought, and Douglas and hir, wife chatted together. "It i<s strange," tho countess said, looking up after a time, "that I should never have seen this cousin of yours, this Mr Wilfred Davener. Does he nover visit at the Castle?'' "Vei'y seldm," Douglas returned. "My unela and ho are iwfc sympathetic. I fhi ' my uncle's fault, he has nevej ite just to Wilfred." The ©yes flashed. far so'pe re tie seemed quite put out. i "I hati» —a hate injustice," she said, j paaMonateiy..' "Oh! I havo known ; what it i,3, but there" —v/it'b ft laugh—- ! "you aro not. I -am sure, interested in j my affairs. Now for my letters. Quite ja budget, I declare." I She turned them ov.-r, pushing back her chair rather -abruptly at the same i time. The paper of all tho envelopes was very thick, many of thorn had ; crests upon them, one a ooronet. ! Sho knitted her pretty brow, and i seemed thinking deeply. "Who sorts the letters?" she asked, abruptlv. "Thompson," Douglas returned, look-

lag somewhat surprised, at the question. "Why, is anything wrong, Lady Northborougii ?" She took one envelope up and brushed it. "No, nothing,' she answered, "f thought the envelope had the mark oi a staine d finger upon it, this ib all; out 1 was mistaken, it was a shadow." She turned tlio envelopes over again, now and 'then glancing up, as though undecided. The she began to cut them. 'lnvitations, invitations," sho said, as though to herself. "Why will folk keep inviting me when my dearest one is so ill and 1 have no heart to go out? it strikes rile as heartless; or do they tiiink I am a social butterfly, who has no love for her nest and her nurseling.'' Douglas, and Vera, glanml at one another and smiled. A butter (ly on a 'test with its nursling was certainly funny. L'lily Northhorongh en me to the last ie&te.r, and started dramatically. "From my Aunt Fleauor,'' she said, hall'-aloud. "Then she is back in. Frigland, and, of course, dear grandmamma. Oh! I must go -and see them if dear Lord North borough will spare me for a day." Douglas said nothing; but he looked interested. So tin* beautiful countess had ® grand mother. That wa.s .sii.aetlung, at all events. Sim opened the envelope And k out the letter. Douglas was noi. prying, but he thought he caught sight of a, rather distinguished, crest. Was it possible that Mrs (Jhampneys, after -all, had 'been a somebody even before *the married the earl? The letter wa.s short, and silo erun:hit in her hand with a painful crjr. "No had news, 1. hope?" Vera .said, sympathetically . She seemed hardly able to speak. "Th<\ worst!" she said. "My grandmother, my dear, dear grandmother, whom 1 love so dearly, i.s art the point of death. A fever caught in Rome. Oh I what shall I do? I must go to her; and yet how can I leave my husband P'' There was a very puzzled look on Douglas' face. "My uncle is in no danger," ho said. "Of course, if a. relative is so ill, you will wish to go. 1 will ordur the carriage and mako all arrangements while you say good-bye to the earl. Ho will feel your loss terribl.v, i am sure; but he vyill, no doubt, wish you to go. You will leave your grandmother's address, »o that he may write." The crunched paper in her hand seemed clasped yet more tightly. "She is fti the Savoy now," she answered; "but I shall move ilier to a nursinglwime, of course—Cavendish Square, I suppose. Oh! hotv can 1 go?" She rose quite unsteadily from her. c/fiair. crossed to the fire, put the crunched note and envelops into the heart of it, and watched it consumed. When nothing of it was left slue foroed a smile. "I will go «<ndi break it to him," she said. "Give mo as much time with him as you can and half an hour to dress. I shall not take my maid. Sha would only be a trouble when there is sickness. Forgive me for upsetting you, and for heaven's sake taka oare of my dearest!" She went from tha room* as she spoke. Douglas turned to his wife. "I do not understand it," he said. "1 saw plainly, or think I did, the crest on that letter, whiah her ladyship says came from her aunt, and! if it waa not that of Lord Wenrnouthshire I am very much mistaken. Why does he write to her? And why does she immediately invent a sick relative and fly off to town. I always thought there was something strange about Mrs Clianipneys that was. I am quite sure of it now. But what can Lord Wenmouthisihire have to do with it? So far as we know they were strangers when they met at our house." If Douglas had only known it, Lord Wenimouthdhire had nothing whatever to do with tho hasty journey of the Countess of Northborougii. Only, any port in a storm is good. The letter of hia loxdship's was tho only one that bore a London postmark, and was just a polite inquiry after the health of the earl. But Lady Northborougii had her own reasons for fibbing, and was very a.nximia to go to town. For wliart reason was besti known to, herself.