THE-SOUL OF HONOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13768, 5 June 1908, Page 3

THE-SOUL OF HONOUR.

PUBLISHEj BY 'SPECIAL ARBANGEMENT.

BY'IADY TROUBRIDGE. ' • j [COPYRIGHT.]

CHAPTER XV. Va.wvistkh joked at her hard, and in his eyes for thejjrst time she- saw a want, theabsence of tilt soft glowing, lover-like look which had dt;lt there for her alone. His glancelooked now as it looked to the world, and is Marcus had often seen it. cold, imperscud, self-contained and aloof, a glance that gerned to shut her out. "There nothing the matter," he mid, as she fellbjik vaguely pained, with a feeling as if slohad been pushed off that high pedestal wfnreon ho had throned her, and as she drew back she. was acutely conscious of Marcus' mocking eyes, veiled as they were with ii sham humility. " Well, live you come to ,a decision yet?" said her Ijisband, still keeping. his bird impersonalfdance lixed upon her. " Unless have been so unfortunate as to misunderstand her ladyship," put in Marcus in a maruif that had m it both defiance and irony, " slj has promised mo her support. '• indeed; I hope you were properly grateful." Vaifiister was measuring the young man 'within hostile eye. "I am sure you must havefbeeif," he said, laughing harshly. - " 1 was.

A faint jairpiise was dawning in Marcus' mind. Wis Vannister jealous of the prolonged inhrview? Tie knew not how else to account'for his uttered manner, which he saw was jumbling Honour. "Of cofoe," she said in a- low tone, from which alljthe purpose, all the vitality seemed sonuhiw to have fled, "I could decide nothing, and really, perhaps, 1 should not have meddled in the matter at all." She looked at him like a child seeking encouragement. " Since I asked you to do so," ho said, "you n*ed not apologise. What is your advice?''

" Mav I give it to you alone''"' " No. tell me now. It lias been discussed in front of Quinten, therefore, there is no need for any further mystery." He saw that she was longing to approach nearer to him, and to ask him the reason for Lis change of tone. He saw the unspoken question hovering on her parted lip*; but lie would not gratify her. " (Jo on,',' he said. "I do not- wish Mr. Quinteu to lose through our marriage," she said, with simplicity "that is to say, more than can be helped. 1 should like the position made as easy for him as possible." "I see," he said. " Anything else''" She looked distressed. " Pray, Guy," she said, and Marcus started at the Christian name in her mouth, natural as it was. "Will Won not decide yourself'.'" He moved impatiently. "If I chose to [ could have done so. I heard you 'speaking luently enough as I, came in, but your eloquence" seems to have dried up with my premce." There was nothing for it but to go on. i r Well, it seems to me,*' she said, "that ilMr. Quinten wishes to obtain from you s'vh a large sum of money as £50.000, he sluld be prepared to offer you proof that tjl engagement of Ills is neither hasty nor ilfcnsidered, but that he really loves, this la*, and in order to do this ho ought to sutiit to a certain probation, a. year for instate, during which time you could satisfy yoikelf of their chances- of happiness; but of Jurse I merelv suggest it. It is your affai" "tit at. all," said Vannister, still with thatbuch of bland irony in his voice. "It is otiaffair now." Hcturned suddenly on Marcus, and his manor had gained in cordiality and lost in siiiceily. "Yd have heard my wife," he said. "Her . decisis is as generous as it is wise, and I approv of it. Whatever the future may bring V; can feci we have discharged our duty tfyou/and compensated you for your naturaltjisappuintment. And now having gone su\;u - , we won't do things by halves, we willlet the. reconciliation be thorough and comletc." He net out his hand with something of his -old Rainier, *'< 11 tjfa 'noble fearless Ibk which had won Honour's heart. "As yb see, I am a changed mau," he said, " thlyears have fallen away from me, and perhi's I shall understand you better now. Leius bury our ojd quarrels. We are to ha via- shooting party in three weeks, just, one okwO'of the neighbours, they will' come if oil- out of curiosity, and wo will , carry out My Yannisters suggestion and ask the Widermeres. How will that suit you?" \ "It- will hit me down to the ground," said Marcus That strange, new thought which had Ven keeping him company of late suddeidyjmggeKted to him a plan, which made him etch his breath. Not a fullfledged delibiftto plan, but the merest suggestion as fait as a. whisper in the ear. " I will coi'," he said, and as: he spoke that hidden thinner became more intelligible. I ' '■ •' " Good, tilts remember the 19th of September." 1 " Yes, the l»h," echoed Marcus, mechanically. In spin of his doubts the reconciliation with Vahister excited him, for he knew all thatib might mean, all at least that it mightliavc meant but for that woman in the k-ay. "I shall writ. 1 .-o Windermere, I think," said Vannister.] ' He was an old friend of mine when—wien I cared about having friends, and he Will take the proposal more seriously if it dues from inc. I shall tell him, too, of th< delay I recommend, but T. think we will iltkc it six months instead of a- year." , Marcus repliej in the same conciliatory spirit. , "If you will v.'ite the letter, sir," he said, " I will take it itself to Lord Windermere. I leave for towiito-niglit." Vannister i;.ocled, and with a deep bow to Honour the rung man left the room.

CHiPTER XVI. ' As soon as hejwas gone she crossed the room with quick Impulsive steps, carried on by an inlolerabl sense of fear and loneliness. ! "Guy, what live I done'/" she said, eagerly, "I . harejtuken too much upon myself. I have vejed you and upset you in some Way, tell he. I cannot bear that strange look in yjur eyes." His manner repulsed Iter befo-rt lie spoke. "You grow faicil'ul, my clear." She fell back. j

"Then it is ljue. I have annoyed you, but how—dear Uiy; 7 told you I had many faults. I shal often act' stupidly and crudely: but if.vnti will tell me it will bo all right, only ion't shut me out. 1 can't bear it." *, There is nothing to bear." "Yes, there is, I can bear the irritation in your voice, You arc resisting me in some way, scorning me, too ; but if you will not tell me, why, then, 1 must endure- your (silence, that is all. 1 win bear most things-:," she added under her breath, "unless these ivonderful weeks have made me forget the way." . VMinister crossed the room quickly. She lid not turn her head, but heard his quick breathing close at her side. He put two itrong hands on her slight shoulders, hand* that gripped her like iron. " Look at rue," he commanded. She flung back her head and remained so, .hardly breathing under his burning look. [From her white rounded neck the lace collar Veil away, only his pearls clasped the gleaning whiteness. Her eyes melted into his. V" Honour," , lie said, between his teeth, '\iad you ever seen Marcus Quinten befie?" I'lie white face crimsoned, the throat queered, the eyelids fell. le was answered, and her audible reply he lordly listened to at all. "what makes you think that, 1 wonder," .sheltered. "Sever mind why I think it, I ask you haveVon ever seen him before?" Somthing in his tone told her that if slie niW owned even to a previous acquaintance nth Quinten after having greeted him. as a stUnger, it would mean the loss of all that rtWence of his for her which made life deal Besides explanations would follow, anihow could she explain? .She wis too flurried and bewildered to nnderstuil that all this was nothing jti> the definite thrible step away from him she would tali if she lied to him. In truth the position vi-x appalling, for her husband's power of Ascornment brought an unknown factor intotthe case. If he had not been so quick tuuotice 'her embarrassment she \

would have, had time to plan, but as it was she had just promised Marcus, solemnlypromised him to keep his secret, and it seemed impossible to break her word. Her mind, usually clear and straightforward, was confused, puzzled, shaken; she knew not how to decide, and did not realise that the simple solution of the -whole matter would have been to have turned to her husband and said, "I told you once that sad story of mine, which you "yourself said reflected no discredit upon me. He is the man who brought this suffering upon rne." It seemed to her that her resolve to protect, him forbade her to be so frank, and besides, although Vannister was too noble to blame her for having been duped by a blackguard, she knew that the hateful story irked his proud sensitive mind all the more because he never spoke of it, but shut it away with something like horror. And she loved him so that she could not bear his thoughts of her to change. Ah! how she loved him, with the simple fond clinging love of a child mingled with the deep self-realising passion of a woman. It was a crystal river of devotion that she ''-poured at his feet, and now she must choke that clear stream with a lie.

These thoughts ran with lightning quickness through her mind, a swift maddening current of thought which left her stupid and blind, and so she fell from that high level of truth and purity which had sustained her hitherto. A moment later she had stooped to a lie. The words sprang out hurriedly, chokingly, frightening her as she said them. "No, no! I never knew him. How could 1? Why should I?" His grip relaxed, lie put her from him. "You believe me?" she gasped. No." .So it was all for nothing that hideous lie, and yet she dared not take it back, not even when his arms stole round her and lie drew her to his heart.

My love." he said, gently and pitifully, "you are not trusting me, you are not fulfilling those words of yours to me under the stars. You are keeping something back from me. No—don't speak." He touched her lips with his hand. " I cannot hear it again, that want of truth in the voice 1 love, but wait, think—l remember— I do not doubt lightly when I love so deeply, hut, Honour*, I must have truth if our love is to be the living, exquisite thing which is all we either of us could tolerate. T must have truth in small things and great. Take time, my darling, and then come to me again, and show me all your heart, for, believe me, nothing short of this will satisfy me." '

Ho put her gently away, and she broke from him weeping. . Already the shadow of that evil man had come between them.

After this scene he ignored the whole concern, relegated it with that splendid selfcontrol of his to the background of his thoughts, and apparently occupied himself with preparations for his shooting party. Honour's invitations were at once accepted. Lord Vannist-er's hasty marriage had caused comment, and some disapproval, but he was too great a man not to be privileged to bo eccentric, and a wave of curiosity had swept over the country which Was now at length to bo gratified. The party was to be a small one, consisting of two or three local big-wigs, a Lord and Lady Mernncourb heading the list. He was First-Lieutenant of the County, and a man of property equal to his eccentric neighbour's. .He was also useful and public spirited in a somewhat narrow and pompous fashion. His wifo was the type of aristocratic respectability, one of those many women who arc the backbone of England. Her thoughts began and ended with her husband, her home, and the duties of her position. To her mind her husband was that great man, that embodiment of patriotism and genius for whom England had long been waiting, and she was filled with wonder that his remarkable abilities were not more generally recognised. She loved the country and detested London, but she made a yearly pilgrimage to the capital, and presented a daughter annually.to her Sovereign. They were countrified looking girls, as much like each, other as peas in a pod, and as simple at 24 and 25 as differently brought up girls at 12 and 14. This party afforded a striking contrast to' tho Windermeres, and Lady Mcrrincourt. who knew Lady Windermere by name only till then, shrank back into her shell at the How of restless talk the other scattered around her, and looked with hidden disapproval at the magnificent clothes and air of worldliness which enveloped the gushing, lady. Hyacinth, too, came in for a share of this disapproval, although her manners, though sparkling, were perfect : yet exquisite clothes and dainty jewels offended Lady Mcrrincourt's oldfashioned ideas. They were fitted for 8, young married woman she reflected on. that first afternoon at the- tea- hour which assembled them, all in tin; great hall, and her eye wandered, from the dainty figure with its crown of golden hair and wild rose complexion, clothed in garments suitable indeed, for Hyacinth wore a§dark violet tweed, fashionably mads, unlike her own girls in their country-made skirts which by contrast seemed to tit clumsily round their broad flat waists.

(To be continued daily.)