THE WAY TO WIN,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13702, 19 March 1908, Page 3

THE WAY TO WIN,

BY MADAME ALBANESI, Author of "Capricious Caroline," " The i ; Strongest of All Things." " Susannah and One Other," "Love and Louisa," Etc.. Etc. COPYRIGHT

g ' ■ ' - '"' — rpDBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.]

CHAPTER XXll.—(Continued.) Ronai. uncouth, hitter as this man Dancroft, "as, he yet inspired in her a tense of enormous respect. > Though, of fourse she '""iii not even guess at the influence which she exercised upon him, the did feel, ami in a sentient manner, dial a struggle was going on in his heart where she was concerned ; that it was no (oncer easy or agreeable to him to speak of hurtful things to her: that it gave him no sort of satisfaction to triumph over her. To-night she even realised that lie was wholly out of sympathy with his nothei's attitude also, and that constituted a kind of comfort which Christine 3acorly grasped at. There were in fact many qualities in Dancroft which appealed to her. He was so human, and then lie was so strong, and save where her father was concerned she. felt that he would be unprejudiced. The very hardship of his life had broadened hint and strengthened in him responsibility and his power of reasoning. Indeed', silting here thinking of him and -ealisinu' all that lay before her in the im'mediate future there came to Christine the positive regret that- it was not possible to her to turn to this man lor practical help. She would have done so with full reliance on his judgment, in bis discretion, and, oven strange as it, might seem, in his sympathy ; yet at the mere thought of approaching George Burnstone on the subject which was so sacred, so pitiful, she winced. _ When she lead telegraphed to Sir George ?avin (T that- she would discuss all matters with°bim. Christine had formed in her mind the intention once again of bringing about a separation between herself and this man without giving him any explanation with regard to the Dancrofts. It hail been a natural resolution, but .lames Bancroft's very plainly spoken words ■ showed her that in this she had a duty to others as well as to herself. Therefore,. ilthouHi she hardly knew how, she. would "O through the ordeal of putting the ruth before George Burns! one, she realised that there was no possibility of escaping from it. , . Macintyre came in search ot her as sire sal lost- in the turmoil of her thoughts. " It is getting late, miss, you ought to go to bed," she said. And Christine, got up with a sigh. Sleep would be far from her this night. Still, of course, she must go through the pretence of rinding the rest. Macintyre had arranged to sleep very near to her vonng mistress. The house was so large and so lonely she -thought it possible Christine might be nervous. i , The maid kept awake for a long time lest Miss Christine should call to her, but at last she fell asleep, and so she was not conscious that instead of resting in her bed, Miss Fielding was pacing the next room torturing "anew her .tender young heart with a sorrow which never or easier to< bear. " Once Christine drew near the window and stood looking out. > The .; sound of London traffic was strange to her ears. She missed the sweetness and freedom of Hnnston Manor. Though it was not realIv hot, the night seemed oppressive to her, and she. drew aside the curtains and threw, up the windows to have, as much air as possible. v It, mbdit perchance ' have given her a tangible 3 sense of comfort if she could lave known that the man who had left her an hour or so ago was still walking -ormd and- -round-the square striving in vain to find some means by which he could lift the burden from her shoul3crs - •/' - i i i i - His mother's cunning words had stripped a veil from Dancroft's heart. Though in the first moment he had repudiated the suggestion these words conveyed, yet now he knew that they were pregnant with truth; be knew that it was not sympathy alone, or pity, or a man's' natural repugnance to struggle against a woman which inspired in him such a vital interest in Christine Fielding; it was a sentiment stronger than all these,-stronger than hate, than resentment and sullen revenge— was love ;• the kind of love that is only possible to such a man as he, and which in its intensity carried with it a tragic note. CHAPTER XXIII. , - CHRISTINE DECIDES TO SPEAK. jir George Burnstone had raised his eyebrows when he received a little note from Christine asking him to meet her the next day at the office in the city. He had, of course, intended calling early at Mrs. Dudworth's, but this note addressed from Bedford Square enlightened him that Christine was not with her cousin. At the same time that she despatched her note to Sir George, Christine wrote a few words to Margaret Dud worth, biggin-,' her to come also, if possible, to the ;ity. Her third letter was directed to James Dancroft. She informed him that she would be at the office in the afternoon, and that it might be possible that she might wish to speak to him. She hoped, therefore, that it would not be inconvenient if he held himself at her disposal hiring the hours of three and five. Sir George gathered together various sapers connected with matters he had Men busy with, and he took also a case of old-fashioned jewellery which his oiother had given into his hands the last lime he had seen her, desiring that he should present this gift to his future wife. It had nob put him in a good temper to find himself kept waiting in one of the rooms of the office when he reached the city. He had an irritating pro»entinent that something disagreeable was about to happen, and this presentiment became a conviction when the door opened at last and Christine and Mrs. Dudworth entered. It was not the girl's white face and mterfsity of expression which forced this .'onviction home to him ; it was the look u the other woman's eyes, the nervous, affectionate way in which she clung to Christine. Besides this, there was an atmosphere of preparation which the young awn resented. He advanced bodly to Christine, arid stooping down was about to kiss her when she drew back. Mrs. Dudworth saw the frown contracting Sir George's brows and hastened to die rescue. "Christine lias something to tell you, '-■Gorge,'' she said, "something which she 'eels must be told you without delay. That ' s why she lias brought you here." Sir George looked from one woman to •he other. 'Is it something that, lias just, occurred?" he asked, "or is it something that »as reference to Christine's strange demeanour all through these many months?" "ft is a matter which came to Christine's knowledge at the time of her father's death,"" Mrs. Dudworth answerid. Sir George turned to the girl. ' \ou have been a long time coming ■■« the point," he said. "Of course, I nave known perfectly well that there has been something very unpleasant working in the background of your life, and I confess that I have been very much surprised that I have, not received your confidence before now. Good God .'surely if anybody ought to know what is passing with you 1 am that person, yet how have you treated me? It has been evasion from the very beginning, subterfuge and iven trickery. Since we are coming to :! " explanation of a sort 1 must speak nut. 1 consider I have been very badly treated." Mrs. Dudworth trembled a little. She was quivering still with the agitation which Christine's story had produced. This sharp attack seemed to her not only unkind, but ill-advised:*

Glancing at Christine, however, she was surprised to see that the girl was looking steadily at Sir George, that instead of shrinking away from his anger Christine was prepared to meet it. Whilst she waited Christine spoke. " I do not deny your right to reproach me, yet you have always known that the remedy has lain in your own hands." Sir George Hushed hotly. "Do not quibble with "me, Christine," lie sank "I know perfectly" well that you desire, for some peculiar reason, to change the arrangement for our marriage, and this although you know it was your lather's earnest wish that you should be my wife. Well, before we go any further, I want you to understand that I am not a man to be played with :'no matter what you are going to tell me I do not intend to have the position between us altered. Please understand that once and for all. You are promised to me in marriage, and I claim the fulfilment of that promise." At that moment the door opened and James Bancroft appeared. Just for an instant as lie saw the three standing he drew back, then he entered and closed the. door behind him. "You sent for me?" he said to Christine in a low voice. Christine said : ''Yes. I want you to listen to what i have to say." The two men looked into each other's eves and burning swords were unsheathed and crossed as it were in that glance. A mutua hatred, a mutual contempt and a. mutual arrogance possessed them. Then Christine began to speak, and with a sneer Burnstone ceased to look at Dancroft and gave all his attention to the R'rl. But Dancroft turned his head awav he could not look at her in this moment. (To be continued daily.)