BETWEEN TWO HEARTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8670, 12 September 1891, Page 3 (Supplement)

BETWEEN TWO HEARTS.

BY BKKTHA M. CLAY, Author of " Fait', but Faithless, "Marjorie Poano,' " For Another's Sin," "Put Asuiulor," etc. CHAPTER XVIII. TIIK LOUD AND THE LADY. Thk guests of tho castlo did nob always either in tho drawing-room before going in to dinner, bub on tho evoning of the day of tho arrival of the American visitors they did do so. Among the guests were a few who had met the Worthingtons in Atncrica, and they had spoken of their high social position and wealth, and had told of the beauty of Mabel, mo that they were certain of a cordial reception even without tho powerful endorsement of the Earl and Countess of Gilhurst, although tho sponsorship of the exclusive mid haughty (Jilhursts unquestionably fixed their position on the highest rounds of the social ladder of tho realm.

Only whispers of what Madge 'might bo ike had circulated through the castle, but j,eso had been of such "a character as to . ou . e curiosity and interest, and to cause ier advent in tho drawing-room to be waited with keen if subdued expectation. And none waited with a greater interest linn the Duke of Warminster, who had more bun one reason for his concern in .Madge ; nit, who, perhaps, was chiefly moved at the nonient by an idle desire to revenge himself or her cool treatment of him in tho gallery. He was an old acquaintance and lit issociate of Henry Van Schuyler, and it uul entered into the schemes of the latter 0 inform tho profligate nobleman of the mended visit of Madge and of her beauty uid wealth. The nobleman might have orgotten the American beauty and heiress nit for the coincidence of his being at GilHirst at tho time of her visit there. Although not yet thirty years of age, the hike of Warminster had already earned or himself a name that was a by-word for ■ice and reckless dissipation. Ho was one ii the wealthiest nobleman in the kingdom ; jut even his vast estates had been unable to .tandthedrain of his enormous wastefulness, itul already the mortgages had begun to •over such of tho estates as were not prosciud by entail. i lifted as ho was with a handsome person, 1 ready .-...wit, anil a singularly persuasive uUlreas, lie would long before have been (riven from society because of his scandalous v>i:i\-es had it not been for the talisman of lii-i great name and wealth,which made him ;he most dtisirable matrimonial bargain in ho marker. Mothers thrust their daughters a him; anil the daughters, alas ! thrilled idi pleasure at any sign ol being attractive l j tin; notorious young nobleman. It was lit tie to be wondered at that his manner toward troincii was marked by an easy assurance that, showed itself in spite of a charming poli-ii of manner. He uns liked by men because he possessed certain 'qualities "that men will always admire. As a boy at Eton, and afterward as a rou air man at Oxford, lie had been Jistinguished as an athlete. He had fought to a finish and whipped a professional pugilist ; he had stroked the Oxford crew in its "most, famous race with Cambridge, when he had wagered live thousand pounds that lit would win by two lengths, and had done it : he had ridden against Dick l.ightwood, of the Guards, over the stillest course that had ever been run in England, for a stake of t n thousand pounds, and the right to be culled tho best steeplechase rider in the kingdom, and had won; ho was always open-handed and generous with his money. An I yet, parents, even in those days, shuddered when they knew their sons had hern selected as hi# friends ; for it was said thai lie had ruined all .who had been so chosen. After leaving college lie had made himself a terrible name in London, and then had gone to take part in the Turcb-Russian war,'in order, as he said, to experience a new sensation ; and lie had conducted himself with a cool, insolent courage in .the face of the wildest danger, as if defying death to reach him. He had fought live duels in the four months of his stay in the Turkish Army, each time with an officer of a dilletenb nationality, declaring, in his insolent, way, that ho was desirous of trying every mode of outfacing death. it was to this man that Henry Van Schuyler, knowing his nature, had written of Madge. it was to him that he had penned these words : —

" she is the most beautiful couture I evet saw, iiml Jut income is counted by millions, but, anjortuii.itfly, vim will have no chance in the because .slk- is already secured by I'evcy Mortimer."

The vomit; nobleman had read the letter, uml had put it aside with the bored air of a nun who has always had altogether too easy a time in his conquests to be .spurred to any extra exertion. Nothing but the iceling that Madge belonged to another o.ive any Z'j-t to the thought. The fact that I'ercy was an ckl .-choolfcilow and college-mate did not deter him from thinkin'' for a few moments that he would try to take the American beauty from him. But it was out of reason for him to burden his mind with any woman who was not right under his' eyes, and so he had almost forgotten Madge until she was announced by Lord Gil hurst, as an expected visitor at the castle. Then had come the chance enwintering iii the gallery, with her rebuff of him. From there he had gone to unearth Van Schuyler's letters, and now he was awaiting the coming of Madge, with his mind lixed on the thought of conquering her.

Meanwhile he had beet) more in Madge's thoughts than he had any notion of. After leaving him in the gallery, Sibyl had told Madge all that was said of him. She had told .-hitdderinglv of his vices, and had painted him as the wickedest of men ; and •Madge had wondered that such a man ootud lie tolerated at all, and had spoken her thoughts'very freely. iill, at that, to Madge's wonderment, Sibyl had begun to iind excuses for him, and to tell (if those qualities in him which made mini like him; and, little by little, the Grange truth began to shape itself in Madge's brain that this sweet, pure, sunny eiciuire was attracted by the wild, wicked nature, even while she shuddered at it. She feared the man because she feared that sin, might some day show her heart to lain tor him to laugh at. Jn lief calm strength, Madge had no fear of die man ; but, on the other hand, she had not the loathing of him that his deeds jti■'tilled, because it seemed incredible toiler that so fair an outside could hide so wicked a nature as Sibyl had first depicted and then defended. She knew the exaggerations of retold stories, and she believed the bake of Warminster to by either a contemptible wretch like Van Schuyler, or a maligned man, "whose strong nature led lain into excess.

She told herself that she would study him i" the interest of Sibyl, mid she determined to question Percy about him. But when ?!>o met Percy for a few minutes before goii'i: down to the drawing room, something *u*g l: «t-ed what was to her the more important topic of the .draped picture, and she broached it. in her own direct way. " Percy," she had said, " 1 have seen the pictures; I have seen that one of Lord Lionel."

" Upon my honour !" Percy had cried in a sort of dismay, " if I had not forgotten all about, it."

, " It wan outrageous thing, Percy," she hid said. /

•'So it is; but it is a sort of fetish in the ' : >"iily, unci I don't think of it."

" IVrcy," -she had said, her brown eyes taking on the deep dark colour of intense fueling, " i munt Jut your mother know that m .v fiill.tr is a farmer." Percy hud smiled and patted the little hand that was resting 011 his arm. " I have already told her, dear. I have ,' l! l litr, without any sort of reservation ; although I did explain that in your country :° be a farmer did not mean the same as to 'fi oiio here. You must not forget, my " hi'.ljii!, that there are class distinctions here, "'"ild be as unfair for you to judge of us ( for us to apply our rules to you." ~ ' But," Madge had replied, proudly, m father is a farmer, and I must have ib k »'Jwn to all that lie is." 'Where in all England," ho had asked, 'jn"i"gly, " is there a haughtier pride "< that of my farmer's daughter? Bub Joji shall announce ib where and when you "I. my darling. I told my mother that ) o, jr father was the peer of any man living, 'J'' so 1 think he is ; and if we lived in those r days when men offered battle in support !l, i opinion, I would throw down the {.aiiiiUet on that issue." r ' n f? e iaughed, her good temper all re--10 ret ' lj i' the tribute to her father from her

" Oh, I know I am unreasonable," she had answered; " but it just made my American blood boil to hear that story and t® see the evidence of tho bigotry of caste that would not only drive a good man from his home and his rights, but would perpetuate his story in such a shameful way. I shall not be satisfied until I have let it be known out of my own mouth that I am the daughter of a farmer, and am proud of it." _ " Tell it when and how you will, my darling," he had answered, prouder of her for that spirit than if she had been of tho blood of kings. The oxcitcmont of that conversation had detracted nothing from her glorious beauty, and the drawing-room that had murmured with admiration of Mabel's fair prettiness, was hushed into wonclorat hoi- radiant loveliness, as she Moated into the room, a dazzling vision of perfect beauty. "By Heaven !" muttered Guy of Warminster, as his eye fell upon her, " the gates I of Mahomet's paradise must have opened go let her out. What a face! what a form! Percy, I am entered for this stake !" He watched her with an avidity quito new in his experience, and noted the easy grace of her manner as one after another was presented to her. lie waited until the ladies had been presented before he put in his claim of acquaintance ; then, while tho gentlemen were crowding about her for their turns, ho pushed his way nonchalantly to tho front, and in his assured way, though quite without that half-insolence that was common with him, he said : " I claim recognition, Miss Racburti." " You have met before exclaimed Percy in surprise. " This afternoon in tho gallery," answered Madge with that royal composure none could afl'ect better than she, and which made her so securely -mistress of any situation. "I felt obliged to dismiss his lordship then, because 1 had not yet been formally presented as a guest at the castle."

(JIIArTKu XIX. MADGE ASSKUTS HEtt HUMBLE BlKTll.

The explanation was made with an indifference more cutting.to the duke than any show of coldness could have been ; and it was no sooner made than Madge turned to one of the other gentlemen, anil continued a conversation that had been interrupted by the words of the duke.

The thing had been done that hud never happened before : the duke of Warminster, without being treated with any sort of rudeness, had yet been made of no consequence ; and it had been accomplished so deftly that ho was tendered powerless to recover the position ho had sd carelessly assumed. Several times lie essayed to lead the conversation, and, with one less brilliant than Madge, he must have been successful ; but she, quick to realise that a sort of duel was in progress, used all the power that, nature had bestowed upon her, and, without any seeming effort, compelled the conversation to run in the channels she selected.

It was a trial of strength and she was tho victor. He knew he had been defeated, but he neither resented his defeat nor lost aith in himself. He simply admired Madge the more, and was spurred to greater determination to succeed. Nob that he purposed a long siege ; for that did not enter into his calculations ; but he realised that he musb approach her in some other way. He had had it in his mind to make himself her escort to dinner, a thing quite within the possibilities for him to accomplish ; bub after this encounter he shrewdly forbore to attempt it, and gave himself up to waiting with the best, possible grace for the opportunity to enter into better relations with her, whom ho styled " the proud beauty." It meant a great deal when Guy of Warminster would put himself under such a restraint, and to consent to wait and watch and study the means of a conquest. They who knew him well would have said that so set a purpose with him would certainly be accomplished, whether by foul means or fair.

The Earl of frilhurst was .in accomplished host, who understood the art of creating conversations among his guests when he saw that any sort of constraint had crept among them, and as the advent of the three Americans had caused a little of that feeling he set himself at once to remove it, and accomplished it so skilfully that by the time the tish had been removed the conversation was general. Perhaps Madge would have forgotten all about her determination to announce her parents if it had nob been recalled to her in some way. It was recalled to her, however, in the most direct manner by a question of the countess. The conversation had come around to a general discussion of the discovery of a famous and exceedingly valuable painting by one of the old masters in the lumber room of a lonic disused castle belonging to the Duke of Warminster. " That reminds me," said the countess, during a slight lull in the talk, and directing her gaze at Madge, " that you looked at the Gilhurst portraits this afternoon, as my niece tells me."

" Yes," answered Madge, a slight flush rising to her cheeks, Miss Grayson and i looked at them."

Lady Gilhurst smiled at Sibyl. " You had un able cicerone," she said. "Sibyl, I think, knows the stories and legends of the Mortimers as well as any member of the family." Mo one, Hot even Fercy, had watched Madge during the course of the meal, and particularly during this conversation, as closely as the duke, who, with a pertinacity that surprised oven himself, kept his thoughts and interests bent on the beautiful American, who seemed so utterly unconscious of his presence.

He had noticed the flush with which the reference trt the pictures had been received, and with an effort of memory he recalled the fact that he had seen these two standing in front of the picture of Lord Lionel. It seemed to him, too, that, he remembered that the ladies had looked disturbed at the lime. What caused them to look so, or what caused the Hush now, he had no notion whatever, no theory even; but ho was acute enough to feel that he might gain something by calling particular attention to Madge. " Yes," he said, in Ids half drawling manner, "I came upon the ladies just as Miss Grayson was recounting the story of Lord Lionel."

Madge glanced quickly at Lady Gilhurst, expecting to see something like annoyance shown on her face; but instead of that she saw an expression of halfsmiling pride and satisfaction. "Aft !" she murmured, "the one blot on the Mortimer escutcheon."

"A blob to be proud of," declared the dowager Countess of Penrose, with her grand air, and lifting her hawk-like profile in her haughtiest manner. There is bub the one blot, and you do well to display it conspicuously." "As a fair lady might wear a patch of black court-plaster 011 her cheek, to make the whiteness more pronounced," drawled Warminster.

"Well said, very well said, indeed! Very witty, upon my word !" cried the Ear! of Gilhurst, smiling at the duke.

" Very witty," murmured the guests, smiling, too. "Very witty, indeed," said Percy, who, besides Madge, seemed the only one to see the veiled irony of the duke's comparison, " but it would appear to me that by the same logic a man should commit a crime in order to show how pure his life has otherwise been."

••Tub!" said Lord Gilhursfc, poodnaturedly, "you are in ■ training for a diplomat, Percy, and you arc bound to twist anything. What do you say, Miss Raeburn ?"

" Why," answered Madge, with an easy composure that hid the indignation she felt, "i do not believe in patches of courtplaster—" "Mature has relieved you of the need," interjected the courtly old earl, with a stately inclination of his head. "Thank you for .'suggesting that," said Madge, smiling, for it seems to me, to make use of Mr. Mortimer's phraseology, that by the same argument there is no need of any" blot on one's escutcheon. I should not feel proud of a patch on my cheek, nor a blot on my escutcheon." " But," said Lord Warminster, "I think you miss tlio real point, MUs Raebum. If I understand the Countess of Penrose, her position is that it is extraordinary that a family of,.such antiquity as the Mortimers should have but one blob on its escutcheon. Am I right, your ladyship?" and ho looked with ft bow at the dowager countess. 'i|J[uite right,; myjord, quite so, indeed,'-' was'the impressive answer. Everybody looked at Madge,to see how she would answer now. She exchanged a glance with Percy, who nodded and smiled almost imperceptibly.

"Why, then," said Madge, "I can only agree with her ladyship that it is not less than extraordinary that a family can have existed so many centuries without having been guilty of any greater crime than I understand Lord Lionel's to have been. For if Miss Grayson told the story correctly I am disposed to praise him rather than condemn for what he did." /body looked with one accord to Lady Gilhurst to make answer to this, and she, at tho first thought, had opened her lips to speak. But she closed them again, and held them together with a tightness that pressed them into a straight line. Tho Honorable Miss Fortoscue, who had passed the age even of hope, and to whom marriage of any sort was abhorrent, according to hot* own statement, took it upon herself to answer for Lady Gilhurst, and said, acidly : "Could any crime be greater than that which strikes at tho purity of patrician blood? Lord Lionel* married beneath himmarried a farmer's daughter." Lady Gilhurst turned pale and looked uneasily at the proud face of her son's Jianccc. Mrs. Worbhington and Mabel exchanged glances of pleased malice. It seemed to them that Madge had fallen into a trap of her own making, and from which she would find it difficult to extricate herself 'without loss of prestige. Madge's lips parted in a smile, but her brown eyes lighted up as she answered : " I suppose an American can hardly judge of such things as you do. In ,my country they arc rather given to laughing at a man who has nothing else to recommend him than the length of his pedigree. And, as for me, I am the worst judge possible of such a case as Lord Lionel's, for, you know; 1 am a fanner's daughter." A ripple of laughter ran around the table. They believed she was jesting. It was simply incredible to them that tho radiant beauty, with her queenly, aristocratic air, could be the result of anything bub many generations of idleness and luxury. " In that sense," said tho Earl of Gilhurst, "I suppose I am a farmer, since I own farms."

"But I do nob mean that," answered Madfre, calmly and proudly. "I mean that my father is a genuine farmer, who no longer does severe work, it is true, but who has in my recollection walked behind his plough, and milked his cows with his own hands. And there is nothing in all this world that I inn so proud of as my dear futher, who is the noblest of men."

It was as if a chill had swept over the brilliant company. A few, like the Dowager Countess of Penrose, and tho Honorable .Fortescuo, stared at Madge as if .she had been another Gorgon who had turned them to stone ; but the majority cast their eyes down, not during even to look at the hostess, whose haughty pride was so wellknown.

And Lady (Hihurst was pale, and a tremor shook her. >Sho cast a glance at Percy. which was half pitiful, half reproachful, and then steadied herself and spoke distinct!}', tho company listening with a wonder that nob even their careful breeding could altogether hide.

"Other countries, other customs, Miss ftaeburn," she said, with dignity. "You are the best possible proof that the farmer's daughter of America is not tho same as the farmer's daughter of England."

" By Jove !"' broke out, the young Marquis of Ruck wold, who had all the evening remained in a state of burning but dumb admiration of Madge, " if English farmers' daughters were like Miss Radium they'd festoon a man with flowers instead of draping him in black, whenever he had the luck to win one for a wife. They would, by Jove !"

"Gad! she's a plucky creature!"' murmured Guy of Warminster to himself as ho devoured her with his eyes.

" Thank you, Lord Rockwold," laughed Madge, as easily and lightly as if she had bub just announced herself of the most ancient lineage. " That is very complimentary, but I am afraid it is revolutionary."

Every bod looked at Lord Rock wold, the men in envy that he had said so good a thing to the beauty, and the women in scorn of his bad taste. The young marquis, for his part, was so overcome with his sudden and unexpected brilliancy that lie became a prey to the most painful and exquisite confusion, and continued to turn hot and cold all the remainder of the evening. •• Nevertheless, Lord Rock wold is right," said the Marl of Gilhurst, the first feeling of consternation over Madge's announcement having given place to a renewed admiration ; "and if 1 were a young man, and was so fortunate as to win such a farmer's daughter, they might disinherit me and drape me in all the crapo of the kingdom, and I would not mind. For the first; time I comprehend the composure with which Lord Lionel is said to have <rivr-,n up everything for the sake of his bride."

The old nobleman laid his hand upon his heart and bowed low to Madge, his formal gallantry sitting well upon him; and Madge flashed a glance of gratitude and pleasure at him, which fully repaid him for the greatest sacrifice of his pride of blood that he had ever made.

" No man ever yet could resist my niece," murmured Mrs. Worthington in the ear of Lady Gilhurst.

It was said with an air of warm admiration, but underlying it was a tone of melancholy, as if the speaker had been unable to suppress certain unhappy recollections.

"She is very fascinating," answered Lady Gilhurst, ignoring any hidden sense in what had been said, though the impression of it remained, as a subtle, unrecognisable perfume will remain after the bearer of it has vanished.

l'ercy had remained silent throughout, lie would have liked nothing so well as to come out as' the champion of his worshipped Madge; but his judgment had told him that unless she needed his help it would be wiser for him to withhold it, and the result had justified him. He saw her by force of her courage, wit, and beauty pass through a dangerous and trying ordeal, and emerge with renewed eclat. Then he hastened to change the subject of conversation.

"Father," he said, "speaking of farms, reminds mo that- I heard something this afternoon about a projected riding party to the Old-hill farm to-morrow." ■

" Warminster's idea," answered the earl, "but! fancy wo shall have to give it up now, unless, indeed, our American friends would like to go in the drag." " Ah, ves," said Lady Gladys Penrose, sweetly, "you don't ride horseback in America, I believe." Lady Gladys had been the beauty before the advent of the Americans, and consequently was the least bit soured toward them. Moreover, she could ride well.

" If the horse be gentle and well trained,' said Mabel, "I get along very well. I would rather go horseback if possible. I have looked forward to doing so, in fact." Mabel had really learned to ride in a riding school, and had often been complimented on the excellence of her seat and the beauty of her figure on horseback ; so that she looked forward to something of a triumph over Madge, though always with some uneasiness lest her cousin, who seemed never at a loss, might, after all, be ablo to ride. Madge, however, who could not think with equanimity of riding any other horse than Black Dick, had never joined any of the riding parties at Newport, and now refrained from saying anything.

Percy remembered the leap on Black Dick that hail first introduced him to Madge, and smiled ab the notion of Lady Gladys that Americans could nob ride. He said nothing, however, and Lord Oilhurst answered Mabel. " We shall have no difficulty," he said, " in finding gentle horses for you and Miss Raeburn—that is, if you will also ride," and lie looked questioningly ab Madge. Madge's heart sank ab the thought of a gentle horse, and she determined to bid l'ercy see that she had one with spirit. She answered the earl, however, that she would be pleased to ride. " If you have no habit," said Lady Gladys, " I can let you have one of mine." "I have one I have never worn," answered Madge. True to his purpose, Guy of Warminster had watched and listened with an appearance of listlessness that was not at all in harmony with the increasing eagerness of his interest. In love ib could hardly be said such a man as he could be, but with every turn of her shapely head, every movement of her round, white arms or gleaming shoulders, every tone of her rich, mellow voice, every flash of her great brown eyes, every play of her ripe, red lips, his passion had grown more vehement and imperative.

His she must be, by fair means or foal, and as fairness in such matters was very little in his way, he thought mostly of tho foul. 1 When the riding party was talked ola thought had dashed into his brain, and he had listened intently to learn whether A 1 ridge was a good rider or not, his instant thought having been that she was not. Unintentionally she deceived him, as she did tho others, by her indifferent demeanour and by her declaration that she had a habit she had never worn. v . Ah, inbeauty!" he muttered under his tawny moustache, " to-morrow we shall see if I cannot improve the relations between us. j It's a most infernal risk to put that dainty body of yours in; but the greater the danger the greater the gratitude to your fortunate saviour." After dinner ho whispered a message to his valet, and later in the evening retired to his apartment for a few minutes. _ A bulletheaded and unmistakably horsey individual was waiting for him, and pulled at his closecropped hair as a salute to the nobleman. " Mister Donby said as 'ow ye wanted me, ycr lordship," he said. " Yes. Would you like to earn a sovereign, Spider ?" Spider grinned like one who understood something of the ways of the nobleman. "It won't be much trouble," said the duke. " " You know we have a riding party f to Oldhili Farm to-morrow,"

" Yes, yer lordship." " Well, I want you to find out which horse Miss Raeburn—one of the American ladies—rides to-morrow."

" Yes, yer lordship." " And in the morning I want you to contrive ib somehow so that sho will get Tangent instead of her own hoiso." Spider turned pale and passed tho back of his hand across his mouth. "Them Americans don't know nothin' about ridin', yer lordship, he said, hesitatingly. " Well?" demanded his lordship, curtly. "If you please, ycr lordship, he'd kill her, he would." "I'll look out for that," was the short answer. " You see that she gets the horse, and I'll be responsible for the rest." Spider cowered like a man in fear, but answered : " I don't dare to do ib, yer lordship. That Tangent's a born devil, that nobody but you ever could ride. Why, he's too much for mc." " Are you going to do what I say?" demanded his lordship, in a cold, harsh tone. Spider shrank back from his master, and moved uneasily from one foot to the other. " It'll bo the death of her," he repeated. "Are you going to do what I tell you?" was all his master vouchsafed.

"If you says so, I s'poso I've got to," answered Spider, huskily. "Ah! that sounds more like it. And mind, you fool ! that the tiling is well done or I'll— But I fancy you will do it well, eh, Spider ?" " I'll try to please ycr lordship," answered Spider. " Take a ylass of that cognac," said the duke, motioning toward a decanter, "and here's the sovereign. Do tho thing right, and I'll make ib two." Spider took the sovereign greedily, tossed down a glass of the brandy, and hastened away. Now, my beauty, until to-morrow," said the nobleman, drinking a glass of the potent, liquor in his turn before going back to the drawing-room.

[To bo continued.]