A LOVE DRAEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13049, 14 December 1905, Page 3

A LOVE DRAEM.

BY OWEN MASTERS. Author of " Tor Love of Marjorie," " Her, Soldier Lover," : " Nina's Repentance,. " The Mystery of Woodcroft," - .. etc., etc.. etc. .. .

SYNOPSIS OF - PREVIOUS CHATTERS.

The scene of the story is in Sussex:, and the principal characters introduced in the opening chapters are Athol Ulenwood. son of Earl enwood; Clyda Clovelley, and Rachel . Clovelley. Atliol (Jlenwood is in love with Clyda. . v ile is oidered to India with his regiment, and proposes a secret marriage,; as his father has formed other plana for his future. .Clyda desires the marriage to be secret,' - and keeps the secret from . her sister, her reason being , that she had been previously married while quite a girl, and she lias made up her mind not' to inform Atliol (Henwood of this important fact. Her sister, she knows well, would have insisted on informing Atliol . (Ilenwood. • Clyda believes that her first husband is dead, but she has no direct proof. All arrangements are made for the marriage by Athol Glenwood,' who sent a letter to Clyda fixing the time and place. This letter Clyda lost and was unable to trace. Arthur Coventry comes to live in the neighbourhood nil a tenant of Rachel Clovelley's, and she and Coventry from bis first appearance feel more than an ordinary interest in-each other. The marriage ceremony is completed, and . Athol Ulenwood leaves for India. After the parting Clyda is confronted by her first husband, Richard Walton, who had witnessed the marriage. The result of this was that Clyda had to make a clean breast of it to her sister, and the sisters have a stormy interview with Walton. - ' CHAPTER VII. IVOR CI.OVKIJjEY. Richard Walton* was in au ugly mood. He had walked into the Park feeling sure of an easy victory. To do him justice, he was ready and willing to atone for the past- since he had seen Clyda. She was a woman that any man might be proud of, and the life of a country gentleman was not to be despised, after all, "The mistake 1 made was that.of going away in the first instance,' he reflected. "And then I might never have come across Ivor Clovelley," he immediately added. " Pshaw! I must .play the game, aud the winning cards are already in my hands!" He had left the. gravelled path, and turned in the direction of the pine wood, when lie heard heavy footsteps behind him and the gruff voice of a man calling upon him to stop. It was Johnston, vhe gamekeeper, and there was fire in his eyes. "This ain't a public way," lie bellowed. " An' you re the same gent that I've seen here before!" • .

Dick Walton faced him haughtily. "Have you been told to, follow nieV" he asked.

"I've got my instructions to keep strangers out of the pine, wood, sir," Johnston, firmly replied, "an' if you keep on trespassin' you'll be made to know that you must stop it. I've already spoke to the police about it." "Indeed! I must commend you for doing your duty, mv good fellow. But yni have made one little mistake. I am not exactly a stranger to your mistress, and may very soon be your master. lour name,' I think, —er —" "Johnston, sir," the keeper answered,his eves agape. ' "Of course. Well, Johnston, here's a sovereign for you, and I shall always remember that you are a man to be trusted! ' Walton passed on smilingly. "It is just as well," he thought, " that I have made two complete sets of plans, and this incident has decided me upon the course I shall take." He went back to the King's Arms, and asked for Mr. Clovelley. The landlord looked puzzled. " Oil, I mean the gentleman who is staywith me, Spalding. We are masquerading under assumed names, you know, or rather, have docked off our surnames, not wishing to arouse curiosity. Mr. Ivor is Mr. Ivor Clovelley, and Mr. Richard.*-— myself—is Mr. Richard Walton. The factis," lie added, in an undertone, "we arc both related to Miss Clovelley, the lady who rules at the Park." Spalding was dumb with amazement for a spell. ■ • . ; , " Yes, sir," lie said. "I wondered why you opened that letter from the Park. I'm very much pleased, sir, that you gen tlemen have honoured my 'house by staying here, and hone you've been ' fortable?" ' ' ",T . - . "Oh, that's all right, Spalding! Ju.tc keep your own counsel for a day or two." "Yes. sir; certainly sir." He remembered that tlie local ' police had made inquiries about his guests, and felt worried He had almost turned them out of his house, half believing that they were gentlemanly burglars. He knew that they were under observation, and was determined to warn the police sergeant not to make an ass of himself. " Here Mr. Ivor— mean Olovelleycomes, sir." Dick Walton's chum paused in the doorway and started when the landlord male use of the name of Clovelley. He was a big,' good-looking, fellow, with prominent, pale blue, eyes, and a rather wide mo'ith that always appeared to be a little bit open. He had a- habit of laughing aloud upon the slightest provocation, and very often , when' the subject was a long way from being a jest. "You are back much sooner than I thought- you would . he," lie said. " I've be,en over to the sports field. There's a flower show or something going on today.' *

" Not much in our lino just now," Walon said. " Come upstairs, Ivor." "1 must liave a refresher first, and a cigar. You know' what I want. Spalding." The landlord evidently did know, and wasted no time in supplying the order. "I'll take a box of these cigars," said Ivor. "Put 'em down to our account.'' lie. then followed Dick Walton upstairs to their joint sitting-room, a grin on his.goodhumoured face.

"I guessed you'd given the game away, Dick, so run up our bill a couple of pounds with Spalding. No hesitation whatever!" "Shut, the door, Ivor. T wi.sh that you wouldn't go the pace unite so fast. No, I don't care to smoke so early in the day. And oblige me by stopping your insane laughter for a while.' Ivor bit off the end of his cigar with a growl. . , "Very complimentary, T must say! A man with my prospective income can afford to do pretty much as lie pleases! Well, v,'hat's the news?" "My wife disowns and defies me." "Phew! What's to be done?"

"I have given her a, few days to consider matters, and in any event you must disclose yourself, Ivor Clovelley, and prove that yoi' are the rightful heir to Clovelley Park and all that appertains (hereto. Everybody being under the impression that you died before reaching the mature age of one year, your father's entire earthly, possessions are being enjoyed bv your cousin. Miss Rachel Clovelley—lie old story of the wickedness of an ambitious nurse, etcetera, who. is fortunately alive and willing to tell the truth, and who has also done her duty to you, with the help of an equally wicked husband, so far as in her power lav." Ivor Clovelley laughed loudly. "Which isn't saying very much,'' frowned Walton. "Tf you didn't bear a strong resemblance to the picture of the late squire, 1 should almost doubt you!"_ Again Clovelley laughed, hilt his fair face flushed a duskv red. '

"I should quarrel with anybody else. Dick," lie said, "but I've got so used to your insults that they fall harmless." " You daren't quarrel with me, Ivor, and I freely confess that, my whole fortune is centred in you. I am finding the money .and the brains to engineer this _ thing through, and from the very first it, has been agreed that I share equally with you in the net result. 1 shall require that reduced in writing. L figure upon getting four or live thousand a. year, and intend settling down and becoming a respectable member of society. You follow me?" " I wish you wouldn't bother me- with details. My head won't stand it'fell me what is to he. done, and I'll do it. ' Tie gnawed at his moustache. "The thing is a good investment for you, any way. How much money have.you advanced? Iwo hundred pounds?" ... " Two "hundred and . fifty—every cent -of which I was : possessed. When I met. with you in New York- you were penniless, and' even thinking of working your passage borne in a cattle boat. You recognised in me a Britisher, and after hearing your story I gave you a square, meal and five dollars "Oh, dash it!" Ivor's face flamed red. "Just drop that stuff, will you'/"

" I merely wish 1 to refresh your memory," proceeded Dick Walton, coolly. "I don't care for your contemptuous reference to my small investment. You have absorbed ,it gladly enough. To finish I gave ' you'money, and you showed me certain documents. The name of Clovelley worked upon me like a charm.: I had married a young! lady named Clyda Clovelley years before, anil left her— own cousin. Until it. was too laite I thought that I had secured the-heiress.; But that, is ancient history. J did a good stroke of business after "ail, and I; am here to claim my wife and live, the life of a country gentleman." . "I wish you luck.Jjun sure. J can only say that you are in a naistv temper this morning." "Nothing of the kind, Ivor. lam a man of business, and a bargaiu is a bargain. Now shake hands, and I'll smoke one of your cigars." Ivor Clovelley haiuded the cigar box to his companion rather sullenly. He began to fear Dick Walton, find consequently to hate him. ~ "Very lints tobacco," Walton observed, sniffing at the cigar he had selected. "Mr. Spalding is evidently a judge." He lighted the weed, and continued: "We must now take the bull by the horns, and call upon the Clovelleys' old fmmily lawyer—or shall we first pay Miss Rachel Clovelley a visit, and break {Tie news to her gently?" N "I should' advise the latter course," Ivor said. "I am inclined to be a bit sorry for her " '■ ' Walton laughed: softly. . " And you would probably prefer going alone, Ivor? If it- could be managed !" He gazed reflectively nit the blue smoke cur'i rig upward, "I should; have some hopes if you .weren't quite so much of a savage. You are cousins,» and since you beheld her you have worshipped at her shrine, but I am afraid that she is as far above you ais the stars! I must keep an eye upon you. however, or this sudden infatuation of yours may upset mv plans. Pevsonallv, T "don'tcare a red cent what becomes of her. since she so plainly shows, her dislike of me."' (To be contained daily.)