ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 327, 31 January 1908, Page 2

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

* By MAURICE SCOTT, Author of "Tho Mark of the Broad Arrow, ctc. etc.

PART 10,

But were she to do that, her aunt ivould h'-ar of it. Would .she be left jnino'esled in the old house in the Canonyate? And then her heart fell with a scpsation of dismay. Th • house had been mortgaged up to ihe hilt; there were debts innumerable; all of which were to have seen wiped out by her marriage tc Sir Talbot Hester. But, in th-- circumstances of her supposed death? Again the impulse ;anie to her to confide all to Keith Qeriot. How could she when she loved him*! when hn loved her? Yet he had convinced her ;h ; : was wife to Sir Talbot Hester; that she had no justifiable reason for seeking release from he bond. But what if die were told the story of the real Alison Stanni forth? Sir Talbot might deny it, and Barbara had no proof of her statement. The unfortunate American had carried her • letters and documents with her to her doom. Whether they had been destroyed or fallen into Sir Talbot's hands, Barbara had no way of knowing. And Keith had spoken sympathetically of "poor little Barbara Moray" This made confession all the more difficult. It was appealing for, almost courting the declaration ol love she had seen trembling on his lips. He had told her so positively that allegiance was due to Sir Talbot Hester, he might even consider it bis duty to place her .within the scope of her husband's protection. HeAven forbid ! No, she must preserve her secret, and work out Her own salvation as best she could. Perhaps her dear, dead father in Heaven would watch over and protect his "little Scotch lassie," and guide her through the tangled mazes in which she had so strangely fallen. And then to her bedside came a sweet-faced, gentle-voiced woman, with snow-white hair, though young in heart —Keith Heriot's "big sister.' Barbara could have loved Lady Blair at once—did love her. What jvould she not have given to have sobbed out her >sorro , ws on that tender, womanly "breast? Yet here, again, the Moray pride came between The women of their race bore all, suffered all, ir. secrecy and in silence. Barbara had heard the story of the beautiful Maud Heriot, whose hair had been prematurely whitened by marital grief, the truth of which had aever been given to the world. Such a woman would saj* to Barbara Moray: "You have taken an oath on a bond. You must fulfil it, let the consequences to yourself oe what they may." 'And Barbara's inmost soul rebelled She could suffer poverty, privation, anything short of disgrace; but nothing would induce her to be wife to Sir Talbot Hester. i'Keith," said Lady Blair, the morning after her first visit to the nursing home. "I am inclined to agree with you about your 'Cousin Alison.' Wait, don't rhapsodize Just yet. Have you any immediate plans for her? She,„ will soon be well enough to feaSfe the nursing home.-'"' "That is my difficulty," he replied. i'Her cousins are anxious she should loin them in Edinburgh. 'And the air would be just the thing; only she shrinks from the idea. I feel sure the entourage of music-hall work jars her sensitive organization. Can you help me with a suggestion?" "I was wondering if you would approve my inviting her here,'' said Lady Blair." '•'Here?" "Here—on a visit. Her manner ia beyond reproach, and I noticed she Vinced at the music-hall, so we need not refer to it. Besides she needn't aaeet the crowd. .Kjsith, laddie, I like the little lassie; but there's something in the background of her memory, and the best way I can aelp my wee brother is by trying to and it out." "Maud, you are an angel," was Keith's reply.

CHAPTER XIV, SIR TALBOT HESTER BROUGHT TO THE SCRATCH. "I'm a plain-spoken man, Sir Talbot Hester. I've made my pile on a policy of going straight to the point >vhile others hesitated, waiting for the other side to make the first move and while they've waited I reckon I lave scored." Thus Abner Vansittart, who, as he aimself expressed it, had no notion of allowing any man te fool around His daughter, and break her heart. "Ever since she was born, Sir Talbot," continued the millionaire "my little girl Cora's had everything she's set her mind on—everything that money could buy." Sir Talbot reddened slightly at the implication, yet deemed it wiser to tet it pass unnoticed. "Now, I won't commit myself as :'ar as to say she's set her mind on oeeoming Lady Hester," continued Mr. Vansittart—a shrewd-visaged, jret kindly-looking man, with, a keen aye for commerce, yet a child in the ways of diplomacy. "But you've paid her considerable attention, Sir Talbot, and I'm of the opinion it's time" you and me understood each atfier." Sir Talbot winced. Confound the old fellow for forcing his hand! He had been purposely keeping off while keeping guard that no venturesome knight should enter the lists and carry off the prize. And now old Vansittart was bringing him to book. He must either declare himself as & suitor for Cora's hand or withdraw altogether; and in that case old Vansittart's millions would not go long a-begging. Seven or eight million dollars! Phew! 'And the girl .Was quite presentable—prettv, even. 'And, aftei all his position was unassailable, even if He had done everything orthodox; he would be pitied rather than blamed should anything crop up. Bah ! iWhat could crop up ? Hf

was a fool Co [Worry himself over a fancy! "J—you flatter me, Mr Vansittart," he said, deferentially, his mind revolving rapidly, anrl urging him to emulate the example quoted by the man of dollars —to go "straight to the point"—to leave the other side to make the first move, should there exist an "other side.'' "I—l will not deny that the hope has arisen withir. as that I might count myself in an favourable light with Miss Vansittart and if I have hesitated —I will be frank with you—l have purposely hesitated in putting my fate to the test." "I reckon that's obvious,"- was the elder man's reply; "and as one of the parties most concerned, I should be glad to hear your reasons." "Your daughter is young. I am, as you know, a widower * "That's more a matter on which Cora might be expected to hesitate than yourself, Sir Talbot," retorted the American drily. "True. My chief obstacle is that you are a wealthy man." "H'm! It's the first time I've hoard it suggested that 'Amurrican dollars formed an impediment to marriage in the old country, Sir Talbot Hester." The baronet ground his teeth. Diplomacy would avail him nothing with this outspoken Westerner. The gloves had better come off. "I see you understand me," he said. " Were I to propose for your daughter's hand, I lay myself open to the imputation of marrying her for her money.'-

"Yes, that's so. I don't think it :ould be truthfully asserted that the balance would fall even. Sir Talbot Hester, there's no need to beat about the buak, When you did me the honour of paying court to my girl, I made it my business to inquire into your position. Politically and socially you might be styled—as ive Westerns would say—a big bug! Financially'' The silence that followed was even more eloquent than words. Sir Talbot rose to the challenge. "You mean you would refuse me your daughter's hand on account oi my financial position?" "N-o. I don't go as far as that. Your career proves you to be a very smart man, Sir Talbot Hester—a man with brains, and the capacity to use them. Now, I'm a self-made man, and I'd sooner trust my pile m the .hands of a man whose ability —backed with money—ought to, carry him into the cabinet, than see my dollars dissipated by. a fool in order that my girl might be called a hess.Sir Talbot's face flushed with anticipated triumph. The keynote dominating the millionaire was ambition, and such a father-in-law would be worth having. "Since you have studied my affairs you know why I have held back," he said in low, agitated tones. The stake was a big one. He must deal !iis cards with great care. "And that fact has convinced me you're an honourable man, sir," responded Mr. Vansittart warmly. "Had you been a mere fortune-hunter you'd have proposed long-ago.." (To be continued.)