NELL OF SHORNE MILLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11149, 23 August 1899, Page 3

NELL OF SHORNE MILLS.

BY CHAKLES GAB VICE. Author of "Heart for Heart," "Her Heart's Desire," "By Devious Ways," "Queen Kate," "The Outcast of the Family," etc., etc., etc. CHAPTER XXXYll.—(Continued). At this moment ft "Coo-ee!" sounded through the wood—an impatient and halfindignant " Coo-ee!" It was Dick, and he approached them, yelling: "Nell! Nell I Where on earth are you, Nell?" They had barely time to move before he was upon them. "I say, Nell, where on earth have you been? I'm starving— Hallo!" he broke off, staring first at Nell's red and downcast face, and then at Drake's smiling and quite obviously joyous one. " What—"

Drake took Nell's hand. "We quite forgot you, Dick, and everybody and everything else. But you'll forgive us when you hear that Nell and I have ——" " Made it up again!" finished Dick, with a grin that ran from ear to ear. "By George! you don't say so? Well, I said it was only a tiff; now didn't I, Nell? But it was a 'pretty long one. Eighteen months or thereabouts, isn't it?" For a moment the two lovers looked sad, then Drake smiled. " Just eighteen months too long, Dick," he said, " but you might wish us joy." " I do, I do— I would, if I wasn't starving!" retorted Dick. "While you have been spooning under the spreading chestnut-tree, I've been wrestling with the electric dynamos ; and the sight of even bread and cheese would melt me to tears. But I am glad, old man," he said in a grave tone—" glad for both your sakes; for anyone could see with three-quarters of an eye, to be exact, that you were both miserable without each other. Oh, save me from the madness of love!" "There was a very pretty girl by the name of Angel at the Maltbys' dance," put in Drake, musingly; "a very pretty girl indeed, who sat out most of the dances, if I remember rightly, with a young friend of mine."

Dick's face grew a healthy brick-dust red, and he glanced shyly from one to the other. "Well hit, Drake, old man!" he said. " Yes; there was one, and I've seen her in London once or twice—"

" Oh, Dick! and you nevpr told me!" said Nell, reproachfully. " 1 don't tell you everything, little girl," 1.0 remarked, severely; "and I won't tell you any more now unless you come on and give me something to eat. See here, now ; I'll walk in front, and promise not to look round—''

Nell, blushing painfully, looked at Drake appealingly, and he seized Dick by the arm and marched him off in the direction of the lodge, Nell following more slowly. As they entered, the nurse came down from Falconer's room, and Nell enquired after him anxiously. " Ho is much better, miss," said the nurse; " and he asked mo to say that he should be glad if you and his lordship would go up to him." Drake nodded, and he followed Nell up the stairs. Falconer was sitting up, leaning back against a pile of pillows; and he greeted them with a smile—the half-sad, half-pa-tiently cynical smilo of the old days in Beaumont Buildings—the smile which served as a mask to hide the tenderness of a noble nature. Nell came into the room shyly, with the sadness of the self-reproach which was born of the knowledge that her happiness had been gained at the cost of this man who loved her with a love as groat as Drake's; but Drake came up to the bed boldly, and held out his hand.

"We have come— thank you, Falconer," lie said in the tone with which one man acknowledges his debt to another. "No, not to thank you, for that's impossible. Some things are beyond thanks, and this that you have done is ono of them. You have brought happiness where there was nothing but misery and despair. Some day I will tell you the story of our separation; but that must, wait. Now I can only try and express my gratitude— He stammered and broke down; for with Falconer's eloquent eyes upon him, he realised the extent of the man's self-sacrifice, and it seemed to him that any attempt to express his own gratitude was worse than absolute silence. Can you thank a man for tho gift of your life? Falconer looked from one to the other, the half-sad smile lighting up his wan face. "I know," he said, simply. And indeed he knew how he should feel if he were in the place of this lucky man, this favoured of the g'ods. " I know. There is no need to say anvthing. You are happy?" tlis eyes rested on Nell. She slipped to her knees beside Hie bed and took his hand; but she could not speak; the tears filled her eyes, and she gazed up at him through a mist.

" Ah ! what can I say?" she murmured. He smiled down at her with infinite tenderness.

" You have said enough," he said, simply; "and I am answered. Do you think it is nothing to me, your happiness? It is everything—life itself!" His dark eyes glowed. " There is no moment since I knew you that I would not have laid down this wretched life of mine, if by so doing I could have brought a moment's joy to you. And I have made you happy at a much less cost."

He turned his eyes to Drake with sudden

energy. " Don't pity me, Lord Angleford. There is no need."

Drake took his other hand and pressed it. " You must get well soon, or our— happiness will be marred, Falconer," he said, warmly. Falconer nodded.

" I shall get well," he said. "I am better already. We artists are never beyond consolation, Art is a jealous mistress, and will brook no rival."

"And you worship a mistress who will make you famous," said Drake, Falconer smiled.

" We are content, though she should deny us so much as that," lie said. " Art is its own reward."

Nell rose from her knees and stole from the room. When she had gone, Falconer raised his head and looked long and seriously at Drake.

" Be good to her, my lord," he said, very gravely. "You have won a great prize, "a ruby without a blemish; value it, cherish it." Drake nodded. "I know," he said, simply. Nell stole into the rooirt again. She was carrying Falconer's violin carefully, tenderly. She put it in his hands, held out eagerly to receive it, and he placed it in position, turned it swiftly, and began to play, his eyes fixed on hers gratefully. Nell and Drake withdrew to the window, their heads reverently bent. He played slowly, softly at first, a sad and yet exquisitely sweet melody; then the strain grew louder, though not the less sweet, and the tiny room was throbbing with music which "expressed a joy which only music could voice.

Drake's hand stole towards Nell's, and grasped it firmly. Her head drooped and the tears rose to her eyes and soon began to trickle down her cheeks. The exquisite music seemed to reach her soul and raise it ,to the seventh heaven, in even which there are tears.

" Drake!" she murmured. " Drake!" "Nell, my dearest!" he responded in a whisper. Then suddenly the music ceased. Falconer slowly dropped the violin on the bed and fell back, his eyes closed, his face as calm as that of a child falling to sleep. "Go now," whispered Nell: and Drake stole from the room, leaving Nell kneeling beside the musician, who had apparently fallen asleep. Drake went down the stairs like a man in a dream, the strange, weird music still ringing in his ears, and walked up to the Hall.

. The countess met him as he entered, and he took her hand and led her into the library without a word.

"Oil, what is it, Drake?" she asked, anxiously; for she knew that something had happened. t jg ' ' He placed, her iin one jof the big easychairs, arid stood before - her, the light of happiness on his face.

"I've something to tell you, countess," he said, "I am going to be married."

She smiled up at him. "I am very glad, Drake. I have expected it for some time past. What a pity it is that she should have had to go." "She! Who?" he exclaimed.

For the moment he had forgotten Lady Luce.

The countess stared at him. " Who?" she said, with surprise. " Why, who else should it be but- Luce?"

His brows came together, and he made an impatient movement. " No, no!" he said. "It is Nell—l mean Hiss Lorton." She rose with amazement depicted on her countenance.

"Miss Lortonat the lodge?" " Yes," he said, impatiently. "We were engaged nearly two years ago. There was a—a—misunderstanding—but it is all cleared up. I want your congratulations, countess." She was an American, and therefore quick to seize a point. "And you have them, Drake. That sweet, beautiful girl! lam glad! But but—"

"What?" he asked, impatiently. "But Luce!" she stammered. "We all thought that'" " You are wrong," he said, almost hoarsely. "It is Miss Lorton. Go to her at the lodge, and—" He said no more, but went to the writingtable.

Lady Angleford, all in amaze, left the room.

He took up a pen and scribbled over a sheet of note-paper, then tore it up. He filled several other sheet's, which he destroyed, but at last ho wrote a few words which satisfied him.

Then he remembered that he did not know Luce's address; and, for want of a better, he addressed the letter, announcing his engagement to Miss Lorton, to Lord Turfleigh's club in London; and, like a man, was satisfied.

Was it any wonder that Nell should lie awake that night asking herself if this sudden joy and happiness that had come to her was real—that Drake loved her still—had never ceased to love her— was hers again? Perfect happiness in this vale of tears is so rare that we may be pardoned for viewing it with a certain amount of incredulity, and with a doubt of its stability and lasting qualities. But Drake's kisses were Still warm on her lips, and his passionate avowal of love still rang in her ears. And next morning, almost before they had finished breakfast, down came the countess to set the seal, so to speak, upon the marvellous fact that Nell of Shorne Mills was to be the wife of the Earl of Angleford.

Nell, blushing, rose from the table to receive her, and the countess took and held her hand, looking into the downcast face with the tender sympathy of the woman, who knows all that love means, for the girl who has only yet learned the first letters of its marvellous alphabet. " My dear, you must forgive me for coming so early. Mr. Lorton, if you do not go on with your breakfast, I will run away again. I am so glad to meet you. Now, pray, pray, sit down again." But Dick, who knew that the countess wished to have Nell alone, declared that he had finished, and took himself off. Then the countess drew Nell to her and kissed her.

" My dear, I have come to try and tell you how glad I am! Last night Drake and I sat up late talking of you. He has told me all your story. It is a romance— perfect romance! And none the less charming because, unlike most romances in life, it has turned out happily. And we are all so pleased, so delighted—l mean up at the Hall; and I am sure the people on the estate will be as pleased, for I know that you have become a general favourite, even though you have been here so short a time. Lady Wolfer begged me to let her come with me wanted you all to myself. Not that I shall have you for long, I suppose, for Drake will be sure to be here presently." (To be continued on Saturday next.)