BY DEVIOUS WAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10410, 7 April 1897, Page 3

BY DEVIOUS WAYS.

BY CHARLES CMVICE, iitborof "Justa Girl," " Queen Rati," "In Cupid's Chains," "The Outcast of the family," etc., etc

CHAPTER XLll.—(Continual.) JfoRA and Denis spent some of their honeymoon—the latter part—in London ; and it as not the least enjoyable of that deleet- , jb 0 period, for it is pleasant to share one's happiness with one's friends, and Nora Pennison discovered that she had a host of them. The Lady Nora was made as much of by lociety—with the capital S— Olive Merton had been, and her crowd of courtiers had by no means diminished. ghe and her husband did not, however, confine themselves to fashionable entertainments ; and the little suppers and outings with Mr. Sedley and other "professional" friends were perhaps enjoyed more keenly than the most brilliant receptions, at which flora was the acknowledged queen. At some of these cozy little affairs there was present a white-haired, sad-faced old an who sat very silent, and was rather (bsent-minded, excepting when Nora ipoke or looked his way; then his rugged face would grow bright, and an affectionate, wistful expression would come into his eyes. No one knew anything more of him than his name, bub all of them lilted the silent, self-contained man to whom Denis Dennison »nd his wife were evidently very much attached. One evening Denis and Nora were walking from their hotel in Piccadilly to one of theso sappers. It was a beautiful evening, and so »arm that people were driving from the theatres in open carriages. As our happy pair stopped on the edge of ths pavement at St. James'-sbreet to let (|h carriages pass, one of them pulled up jupfc in front of them. Nora uttered a faint cry and pressed Penis* arm, and, looking up, ho saw Spencer Foyle and his wife seated in the carriage. They were in evening dress, Blanche richly and handsomely attired, with diamonds— opals—sparkling at her wrists and on her neck. It was evident that, though ashamed of her father, she did not disdain to share his wealth. But there was no light in the eyes to match that in the gems she wore so liberally, and the face was pale and weary. Discontent and the wretchedness of an unloved and unloving wife spoke from every line of

it. As her listless glance fell upon Nora, she altered an exclamation and caught at her husband's arm. They heard him curse her under his breath, and saw him shake her hand off. Then he saw them. For a moment he shut his teeth close, and a look of hate shot from his eyes; but instantly it disappeared, and, with a cynical smile, he raised his hat and bestowed an exaggerated, mocking bow upon them. " Poor Blanche!" murmured Nora, under her breath. The gaudy carriage with its powdered lervants moved on, and Denis, with Nora's arm pressed still more closely to his side, went on to their party. It was at the restaurant where Sedlay and Nora had supped on tho night she had learned that Denis had gone to Australia; ind they sat at the same table, with another joined on, for Sedley had got quite a littlo party together. There were the managers of the Duke's and the Empress, Miss Temple and Miss Yorke, Johnson the stage manager, and Oulmer. It was a delightful supper, and Nora enjoyed the talk of " shop"—theatrical people, like those of the law, always talk "shop." It was like old times, and recalled the days of her triumphs, to hear the gossip of the green-room, and the prospects of the new plays and new actors; and she looked from one to the other with rather a dreamy smile on her lovely face. " I suppose there is a good deal of excitement. about Dora Moberley's benefit, Flaxton ?" said Mr. Waltord. " Oil, rather !" said the manager of the Empress. " You see, she was very popular. Confound that Irishman for running away with her!" Denis laughed, and Flaxton coloured and looked rather embarrassed. "I beg your pardon, Dennison ; though, by George! I expect Walford has 'confounded' you often enough for the same reason." "Indeed I have," declared Walford, with his courtliest bow to Nora. "The stage never suffered a greater loss than it did when MissMerton loft it." Nora smiled and blushed. "I haven't heard about Dora's benefit," ihe said. " Well, it's only just been started," said Flaxton. "We thought her many admirers ind the public would like to give her a lend-off and the profession— is very much liked, you know, by all of us—" "Indeed, I know it," said Nora. —" Yea; the profession will bo glad to !ielp toward buying her a handsome prelent." Nora leaned forward eagerly. " That is delightful!" she said. " And it is to be soon " Well, yes; it ought to be before the wedding, I believe 1 ; in fact, Mr. Donovan — by the way, what a splendid low comedian he would have made, eh, Johnson? — informed me that they were only waiting for your return to Ireland." Denis nodded. "That's so; we're going to give them the biggest thing in weddings that you ever heard of." _ . "Except your own," said Walford, with another bow. "The profession is very keen about it, and we have had offers to play from all the prominent actors and actresses, What we want to do is something out of the ordinary run. Can you suggest anything, Walford ? said Flaxton. Walford knit his brows in proper stage fashion. He could not eat a piece of toast without citing the action the dramatic effect. "Er— beyond the usual thing, he said. " You can only give them a melange —a good variety, you know. If you could get some big performers— really big, you know—that would help boom the thine." " Hem-yes," said Flaxton, " Whom do you suggest?", Walford mentioned the names of several famous actresses and actors. Then suddenly he glanced at Nora, who sat attentive and deeply interested. He glanced at her, then at-Flaxion, and back again at Nora. "What is the matter?" she asked ; for she was a woman, and keen-eyed, as we

know. Mr, Walford coughed—the stage cough of hesitation. "Out with it," said Sedley, with his usual abruptness. " No; meet—meet me on the Rialto, and I'll tell thee more business, Walford. We can see you have an idea. Don't let the novelty of the visitation overcome you, old man." "My dear fellow, 1 ' said Walford, with beautiful humility, "I have an idea; but it is too stupendous a one, so—er audacious, that I'm afraid to voice it!" 11 Then write itdown on a piece of paper,

mocked Sedley. " Well," said Walford, as it driven at tho Bword's point, "if you must—and Lady Nora will pardon me—it is—this: that we humbly beg and pray Miss Olive Alerton to appear for the benefit of her friend, and for one night only!" Nora sunk back and turned crimson. Then a faint smile began to play about the j corners of her mouth, and she stole a shy and timid glance at her husband. Denis was taken aback for a moment or two. f Then he laughed arid looked at her with such lovo and pride that Culmer's sad eyes f blinked. I " Whatwhat would _ your father and > mother say ?" asked Denis. I ■ " Then you don't object, Dsnnison ? said i, Flaxton, eagerly. ~ , i "N-o," said Denis, "not if my wife does Ik no'-" j& " And you, Lady Nora they asked, in a & kind of chorus. . , j§. And as if they re»d the answer id her ;>; • eyes, they began to clap their hands. ® Culmer cleared his throat. _ M " I—I," he said, in his timid fashion, " I ii ihould like to take some seats." "Oh, no you don't)! YouVl tako fch® i& whole theatre, Mr. Culmor. We know you I" ||£«' laughed Walford. feii: " Yes," said Culmer, meekly ; " but I needn't sit in the whole of it." 1 What a house it was 1 • What, fabulous prices had been paid for erea the lowestII - . . "

priced seat! There was royalty in » box, societywith a very large capital S—nob only in the stalls and dress circle, but in the upper boxes and the pit. And the people ; will it ever be understood bow it was made possible to cram them in, or how they could have remained together good-bumouredly through that long night's entertainment! It was varied enough even to please the most ardent admirer of variety but the two items of that monster programme were the song and dance of Dora herself, and the " snow scene" in which Olive Merton had won her first and last success.

There was a great reception for Dora, but the immense crowd reserved their greatest enthusiasm for the moment when the slim figure, in its worn dress, emerged from the wings, for the moment when the white and lovely face was raised with its thrilling sadness to tho eyes of the audience which had waited and waited for a sight of it. In a side box Nora's father and mother and Lord Larry looked down at the girl they loved— at Denis by their side, Denis pale with pride and love—and could scarcely believe that this was their Nora. _ And she played the wonderful scene with greater force and more pathetic charm than ever she had played it before. There were tears in plenty; and they still shone in the eves of men as well as women as they rose to shout and cheer and wave their handkerchiefs as Mr. W'alford led her on to receive that spontaneous tribute rendered by a vast and hearted audience, nob only to the great actress but to the woman. Those cheers will echo like marriage bells through all the rest of Nora's life, and those tears will glow with a brilliance which not even the opals from the now famous mine can outshine.

Some months later there was a houseparty at the Hall. Lord Larry's parties had always been very enjoyable, but since Lady Nora had become the mistress of the old place they ranked among the events of the shooting season, One afternoon, just before tea-time—that cozy hour when the men come in, wot and a little weary, to find the kettle singing over its lamp, and the women-folk looking domesticated and demorely smiling over the tea cups— visitor was announced Major Warner. It proved to be our old friend, who had attained to his majority, and, alas! that peculiar wisdom which follows a youth of foolish dissipation. Ho was looking very old, not a little grey, and much thinner than when we saw him last.

Lord Larry received him with Irish cordiality, and when he heard that the major was on sick leave and was searching for his lost health in Ireland, insisted upon sending for his portmanteau.

The major took his cup of toa from Nora's hand, but did not recognise her in the very least, Indeed, it was not until after dinner, when the gentlemen had lured some of the ladies into the billiard-room to play pool, that ho seemed inclined to remember the squabble with Denis and the resulting duel. It was evident that he bore no malice.

But as he reclined in the cosiest of cozy chairs, and sipped his gin and seltzer— gouty subjects only drink ! —his wandering eye chanced to catch a pair of foils and masks which hung Upon the wall among ancient and modern weapons and curios. He smiled, thon laughed outright.

" Those foils remind me, Donnison," he said, touching Dennison's arm as he passed near the chair.

Denis smiled back and nodded.

" What fools we were I" said Warner, with a comfortable shrug of tho shoulder— the shrug with which a man surveys a folly from the safe distance which Time creates. "You might have killed me, or I might have killed you I" Denis nodded. Some of the other men looked at the speaker curiously, and Warner, with the communicativeness born of a good dinner and the Dennison port, went on :

" Dennison and I wore actually idiots enough to fight a duel I" he said. Everybody stopped playing and gathered round, cues in-hand; and Warner, pleased with the interest he had excited, cleared his throat and assumed the well-known air and tone of the raconteur.

"Yes; fact. it was all about— What the deueo was ib about, Dennison ? I forgot. I'm afraid that I had had too much of the wine-cup that day. I was trapesing about with a man named—named Foyle or Boyle—l forget his name, too—and we came to loggerheads with Mr. Donnisoo here, a'nd nothing would do but we must fight 1" He laughed, sipped his ascetic drinksoapsuds and water he called it— looked round with a smilo.

"We decided to fight with swords. I'm sure 1 don't know where lie got 'em from. The other man, Foyle or Boyle, managed it; and I was so—so—well, off my head with the claret, that I tried to do Dennison an injury," The auditors looked at each other with a surprise almost amounting to incredulity. " There is a certain lunge which I picked up in Spain, and which I flattered myself was not to be parried this side of tho Pyrenees. I tried it on our friend Dennison, and found my match. He slipped under my tierce and spitted me—actually spitted me 1 1 was in bed here—oh, a deuce of a time, wasn't it?" Denis nodded again. The others exchanged glances. Near to her husband's elbow stood Nora with her eyes downcast, a pretty littlo blush coming and going on her face. Warner rose from the chair with the slowness of the invalid, and reached the foils. "I wonder whether I've forgotten that lunge l" ho said. "Do you mind trying, Dennison ?" Denis took tho foil Warner extended to him, and the rest made a circle of keenly interested spectators. The two toon removed their coats, fell into position, and commonced. Warner's hand had not forgotten its cunning, and Denis felt a littlo curious as to the result of the famous movement. It came suddenly, swiftly, and, amidst a buzz of excitement, Warner's point touched Denis on the breast.

Warner stared with surprise. "Georgo! that's strange!" he said. " You let mo in that time. It's lucky you d id n'tdo so when we wore figh ting that night, —well, you would have been a dead 'un !" Denis looked down for a moment. Then he signed to Nora. She stood still a moment, then she came forward; for, with her, obedience followed love.

" You try," he said, quietly. Warner stared. " Can Lady Dennison fence ?" he said.

" A little," said Denis. "And you will rea'ly try it with me, Lady Dennison ?" said Warner, delightedly. "It is a great honour!" " My husband wishes me to do eo," said Nora, modestly. "At least put the mask on said Warner. But Nora shook her head, and fell with infinite grace into tho first position. Warner followed suit, and the duel commenced. The spectators held their breath and pressed as close as they dared, and a kind of gasp escaped their parted lips as Warner suddenly and swiftly made his lunge. Then, to the amazement of all, his sword was seen to fly from his hand, and Nora's point was touching his breast. A storm of delighted applause arose ; and Warner stood staring with a benumbing astonishment for a moment. Then he went up to her and looked at her steadily. "By Heaven!" he exclaimed. "It was you I fought that night ! It was— was! I remember the parrythe thrust 1 It was you! And"his face grew crimson you —you—are Nora Neil!" There was a dead silence, as the poor man stood abashed and humiliated. Then Nora extended her hand and smiled upon him. " yes, major, it was Nora Neil who fought that night; but it is Nora Dennison who fights you now, and who, having fought, trusts that her old foe will forget and forgive, and prove a friend." As Denis told the story —shielding Warner all he could—Warner bent over her band and raised it to his lips ; and being no longer a fool, said, with manly frankness:. " Lady Nora, to be vanquished by you must be every man's fate; to be your friend, his greatest pride and happiness 1" [the end.] On Saturday next the opening chapter! of a new and interesting tale by that celebrated writer of light' literature, Mr. Charles Garvioe, will be given in the columns of the New, Zealand Hekald. The now tale is a thoroughly enjoyable one, and bears the attractive title of i • ■ i , HEART'S DESIRE." V}'.'