WITH ALL HER HEART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11822, 27 November 1901, Page 3

WITH ALL HER HEART.

BY CHARLES GAEYICE, Author of " At Love's Cost," " Love, the Tyrant," "The Shadow of Her Life," "A "Heritage of Hate," "Nell of Shorne Mills," " Just a Girl," Etc., Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER NLH.—(Continued.) Fichtixg for breath, Cottie sped off and ran for the road. As she did so, she saw Sidney Bassington hurrying through the wood; but she scarcely noticed him, and had forgotten that she had seen him. before she had gone many yards.

The earl sank into a chair and leaning on his gold-headed stick looked thoughtfully at Geoffrey and the man he was attending.

" Let him lie," he said. " You can do nothing until the doctor comes. Besides, what does it matter? 'Twere better that the poor wretch should die. But no; he will be wanted to tell his story, to prove his case. Now you, young sir, be good enough to attend to me and answer my questions," he added, sternly, addressing Geoffrey. "Do you know anything of these papers?" He tapped the pocket-book and bent his glittering eyes on Geoffrey's face, somewhat bruised and bleeding by his encounter. " No, my lord," replied Geoffrey. " This man must have stolen them. You will know best whether they are forgeries or not."

" Leave that to me," said the earl, curtly. "You have been this boy's companion for some time. I want to know who and what you are; for your evidence, too, will be of some value. You've given me your name as Bell; you have said that you are this boy's brother; but I suspect that that is false; it must be false. Who and what are you?" . Geoffrey stood, the colour coming and going in "his face, his lips tightly set, his head bent beneath the weight of shame. Then he raised his head and looked at the earl steadily and sadly. " I have no name, my lord," he said. " The name of Bell belongs to me as much as any other; for my father gave me none. That father was your brother, Lord Starborough; I am your nephew, the lad who used to stay at the castle years ago. When I learnt the secret and shame of my birth from Mr. Oldham, I left England. It was in Australia that I met the boy, Ronnie Lorton. We were fond of each other, we are fond of each other still; and we agreed to pass as brothers. There, in a few words, is the story of my life. I had hoped that it need never have been told, but fate has been too strong for me. I shall not long trouble you with my presence, my lord. I am going to leave England with the woman I love. The boy was to have gone with me, but"—he sighed heavily— fate has taken him from me. His good fortune will separate us. There can be no friendship between such as I am and the heir to Starborough ; though, go where I will, happen what may, the boy will always be dearer to me than a brother." He turned away to hide the tears which eprang to his eyes, the choking in his throat. The earl regarded him calmly but keenly. Not for a moment had the old man lost his calmness and self-possession. " So vou are my brother Reginald's son, are you?" he said, with a stately dignity, " I thought there was something familiar in your face. lam sorry for you. But for this stain on your birth it is you who would be my heir." He looked at" the tall, stalwart figure, the handsome face, with something approaching wistfulness. " Yes, you would have been my heir. We are all the sport of the gods who must laugh consumedly over their human comedy! You'll be good enough to let me know of your future movements. You've been a friend of the boy's, have dealt kindly with him, and have protected him: I am grateful, and you must permit me to show my gratitude." He was silent for a moment, then he said again: " You are my brother Reginald's son. Give me your hand. My brother Reginald and I quarrelled—he was" mad about some girl— tried to separate them. Ah, well! it is all past; but the evil consequences remain, and it is you who suffer. No matter, I will tiy and make it up to you as far as 1 can. You will not leave England until I give you permission," he added, sternly. " Give me your band on that." Geoffrey felt choking again as he advanced and held out his hand. The earl's fleshless fingers ciosed on it, and the glittering eyes seemed to soften for a moment, and something like a sigh escaped the thin, bloodless lips as the two men looked into each other's eyes. " I'll carry this poor fellow into the other room," said Geoffrey. " Yon couldn't lift him," said the earl and his eyes gleamed with admiration as Geoffrey picked up the emaciated form and carried it into the next room. As he was returning. Mrs. Farren entered the cottage and groped her way to the middle of the room. The earl rose, and with stately courtesy took her arm and led her to the chair from which he had risen. " I came to see you, Mrs. Farren," he said. "There has been—an accident. Your son-in-law, Lane, is in the room next door ill. Do not be alarmed. We have sent for a doctor- This young man has been attending to him." "He is in a faint," said Geoffrey, "and is very ill, I am afraid." He stopped dead short, for at the sound of his voice Mrs. Farren rose, with her hands outstretched, groping her way towards him. " Mr. Reginald !" she exclaimed. "You've come back ! And yet, no; Mr. Reginald is dead, I know. Who is it, then?" " She recognises you by your voice," said the earl. "It was she who went with your father mother when they—disappeared. She aided and abetted them. But don't be hard upon her, she was fond of your father." Geoffrey took the woman's hand and pressed it, " I am not the Reginald you knew," he said ; " but his son. You are Mrs. Farren. I remember you— "> "His sou!" she broke in. "Mr. Reginald had a son! Then I ought to give this to you. I've kept it secret, as I promised your dying mother. I've kept it secret all these years. It was wrong— was wrong! For it left his and her name under a cloud. But I promised. Speak to me again!" " I am the son of the Mr. Reginald you ; knew," said Geoffrey, scarcely knowing what | to say. She nodded with an air of satisfaction, and \ going to one of the old oak chests with which nearly every cottage in the district was furnished, deftly unlocked it, and taking from it a paper, groped her way back to Geoffrey and put it in his hand. Geoffrey looked at it in a confused way. " What is this?" he said. She sank into the chair to which the earl led her and looked round with an expression ot satisfaction in her sightless eyes. "It is the marriage, certificate. Your mother gave it me when she was dying. You are the heir to Starborough— you are Mr. Reginald's sonl have kept the secret for fear of offending the earl, and I tell it to youl give it to you now. It is your right and due.'' Geoffrey stood as if he were turned to stone, his face flushing one moment and paling the next. It had come so suddenly that lie could scarcely credit the evidence of sight and hearing. To do him justice, at that moment lie cared nothing about his heirship to the estates and title of Starborough ; he was only conscious that he was no longer nameless, but that at the altar he could confer upon the woman he loved, an honoured name. The earl went slowly towards him and took the certificate from his hand. For the first time in this history, his calmness and impassivity, forsook him. ! "By God!" he exclaimed, " you are the heir! This is a certificate, of marriage in due form. If you are my brother Reginald's son, my nephew, you are the heir to Starborough!" Geoffrey fought for breath. "I!" he gasped. "The heir! Then —what about Ronnie? I'd rather" The earl waved the certificate. "With this in existence they boy has no claim." He swung round upon Mrs. Farren. "Were, yen present at the ceremony? Speaks woman!" "I was," she said. "It was a secret marriage. Mr. Reginald was afraid of offending you— was somo talk of another heirl heard Henry Lane and Mr. Sidney Bassington talking about it— Sidney Bassington promised him money

a large sum. But it does not matter what they say or —I was present at the marriage, and there is the certificate." The earl laughed —a mirthless laugh, one full of cynical relief. "Thank Goo.. I'm scot of that fellow," he said. " A mean hound— lawyer's clerk! I should have found it difficult to rest in my grave with that fellow reigning at Starborough. Come back with me to the castle," he added, addressing Geoffrey. Geoffrey passed his • hand across his brow. lie was confused and bewildered, but he still thought of Ronald. "Butßonnie*:'' he said. The earl shrugged his shoulders. " He will come to the castle," he said. "You will find him there."

(To be continued on Saturday next.)