M WINTHROP'S BRIDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13780, 19 June 1908, Page 3

M WINTHROP'S BRIDE.

I!'' '} |BY OWEN MASTERS, " i • AntJ V "The Heir of Avisford," "Nina's £' \ "' Keifence," "Her Soldier Lover," "A I \'<\ jtlne Lost and Won," "Clyda's - ', ' j j" Love Dream." etc. iLove Dream." etc. 'CHAPTER IX.—(Continued.) I'Btqessage was flashed to Euston, and 1 PiTMttS soon following it. During the frtWt of the. journey he held his watch f- .in ' S And,* and when tho fingers pointed 1 ' to l i 4»« devoutly hoped that the train I |'l fcyVhl Sybil was travelling would be 1 *'' an iotSite. Then ho pictured the scene " i at sus| ' Two or three officials, accom " & h '' panied a policeman, were watching for • " • the io«Lg train. The passengers alightf, > ed, aaflfc-oung woman, attired in a.dust- ; cloak ft) a cream hat, was stopped, questioned, I conducted to the stationmas- '. tor's pr o office—a prisoner! | : '~ Paul iped up, and paced the corridor of the 11. His face was moist and cold. : ; ; 'Anothoiour and a-half. An eternity! • ..But Sj had perhaps evaded detection. . Perhaps e had alighted at Willeeden. A : '" stop wtnado there for the collection of ' tickets. ' At laie was standing under the echo--5 ing arc of Euston station, and endeavouring) collect his scattered senses. I: ; What i eking whistles, tho thunder of : moving ggage, bellowing travellers, and «houtinbabmon— it seemed that pandeI moniunfd been let loose. He questioned an offi'c and tho official referred nun to : the inq? office. The inquiry clerk knew I : . nothimbout the matter, and Paul went * : to the ironmaster's office. Yes, a lady had be.lctained, but no more information V could I liven, and he certainly could not '■ see , tWy until something definite had been rived from Warwick. - PauUved, and almost swore, but he r'- was oh id to wait, and it seemed that tho ■'■ ' tolegrajwas never coming, Twenty— = tweWe-thirty minutes, and then he was tk to an anteroom at the end of a i ranee offices. A big policeman guarded theM Paul passed within, and stood i facing|e indignant and trembling Sybil. ;l< Was mistaken, or did tho white, an- - V "ffuisMaoe appear relieved when-she boi : • held fc She spoke, and her voice was : ::, vibrafvith pain. .• "IT thought it was Althorne, Sybil? Xo •; (lone am guilty of this last outrage. &-"• Yoa<Ml not come to further trouble - ■'■ throiFmo. If you can forgive and for ! ' tret e sweetness of your disposition is ; . simplangelie. Sybil, neither Letha, nor I : - will'lnve any wrong of you. What do : I wain To see von safely through this troubb & r on if you are the legal wife of V ■ Georg Alhorne— ; .',;.■' Stoshidered, and checked him. "flu %•& been very good to me, Paul v Grcrile, pd you have been very cruel, • too. Ho long am I to be kept hero a . Vi< '•'■',..„ ~-, T „ '■ . "You a free this moment, Sybil. I was 'K so-afraid iat you would como to some V harm: arLetha— . . "It wis thoughtless of me, I admit; ' but I didi want mv plans to be interfere - with. I-1 glad now that you have com Ml this no and bustle are confusing, and I am not ell. Mr. Greville, I want you ',< to send a egram to Mr. Winthrop. Shall we go no" « ,■: . . , He 100 I at her a trifle suspiciously. ■'■"■'■''. Surely tjo could be no guild in those childish, jistful eyes. • : " Come he said simply. [r . When by were free from prying eyes % he spokefcain, and his voice was - hoarse with emdn. ' | " Sybil will trust me, won t- you? . ■ p-.. "I*wi£d to last night, only yea were—' 5 j }'-' ' C "Nevemind; I was.insane for the moment. ' Ire's a refreshment-room. Will you havpmething? Then we can talk." He piled open the swing-doors and Svbil fofed him. . . _. ' ""A nicosy corner there. Make yourself constable, and I'll bring the tea over ' to you.' half a dozen telegraph-blanks i He feed half a dozen telegraph-blanks and hard some to her. % "I ml telegraph to Letha. Here's a pencil—rite your message to Mr. Win- '?:' throp."! -V ■'"• --, „ , .'. . ;■ This ps bit the work of two minutes, and shiomnanded Paul to read it. He ' ■ obeyed,nnd itared at her in doubt and '''■ : " . perplex*'., 1 '■■■'■'. It rea thnU- ■ , " I anlin Lddon. Urgent business mat- ;: ter. ?ick pis evening.— wife, : SrniL."-, 1 , ■.. ■;'■';'■■;,' '• : . ' "Ymr.trustn me is very short-lived, she sail wistfty. ■ , For answer s placed George Althorne s 'letter before b— letter which he had 1/ found in the-ve, and which was signed ?" George Glendifng. He could not bring t\ ', himself to sped and she smiled sadly into • ; his eyes/ albeihe colour mounted swiftly . . to her face. "!'"'-;■' / '" Send off telegrams," she whispered. \ "I won't ran ay." Paul rose atjleffc the room. How could . - . she explain aw that terrible letter? And 'yet she had ned the message to Mr. j ■!•; Winthrop—"lr wife, Sybil." ' ! * '..•" : '\ i '. -' __ ■ ■ i ,- ;;: : lAPTERX. ■'■' TEE LITTLE OP IN WABDOTJR-STREET. r-. The teiegra: despatched. Paul returned ', to thri refresh ut room. Sybil looked up ;->vi brightly. ' ' I', "Are you dsfied, oh, unbeliever?" she IV:• : "Are you alile. oh, uubeiiever?" she asked with a file. '. "As far as ve gone. lam entirely in " r ~ your hands n* Sybil, and await develop- .',;■: ments. The ter which I feared would ' utterly s'qitelc'ou has had just the oppo- •;-'. site effect." I ;: ' ,; "I am glajttat you found it, Paul,' she answered lushing and smiling. I ; :i •That's bet*- Don't call me Mr. Ore- i * tville again," [l he heartily. " Well, I've '■■ !'«.' ■ ■ Jsent your tolixm to Mr. "'vVinthrop, and a '' >f>' somewhat ksjhy one to Letha. I filled V up nearly a en blanks. I told her that . you ajid'l v:-.going shopping, and thateverything v. all right, etc. Now lam awaiting ord." r Sybil was rawing on her gloves itv ftoctively. 3' blue eyes were shining as he had nevieen them shine before, and '' a soft -flusl lautled her fair face. Alt ■y 'it once she meed up anxiously. "One qu<un, Paul. Have" you had any news of'ur chief engineer?" "You meaAlthorne? He resigned yesterday, and!new.man has the appointment. At pent he is detained by the police— dej know exactly what for, but j>- it isn't ha rg> guess it. Tho man is half, if not who mad." /:; She bit.j lips, but did not answer. Nevertheleslhe news was not displeasing. j ,-. "You arinder my orders now, ,Paul. (. .• I'am readjp go." r \ Ho jump up with alacrity. "I will 'y you in all things, Sybil. '; I haven't Iso light-hearted since I was a hoy." \ ".' '. They lei he refreshment-room, one of ' ;'■ Sybil's ban resting lightly on Paul's arm. ''['■:' Sho was lung up at him brightly and i i "' smilingly, '■; ';':''' "The fi) 'Siing required is a cab to ". take us ■ toFirdour-street," she said. S; v.. , Paul pro ity signalled to one, and into I ;.-;'.-•.-it they scribed. .;._ . "What liber?" called the cabman. 3 ;;.:'" "Never id the number. Just drop i j. us at the cord-street end." ; Away wif the hansom, and hardly a • : .'■ word_pa?seo>tween them until thev were ;| 'i treading thflasi-icaJ pavement of Oxford/'i' ;. sttffet. { " II "You sceto be familiar with this part '■fl ' '-,'of the worl' Paul remarked. "'I should {■ be.bopeiesslosl; in five minutes." >\l "I lived re until 1 was seventeen." V;fM': I : '.-' "Oh!" ' whistled. "So this is War-dour-b-treetpd— Hello!" [f, Sybil hastopped in front of a small |p.;; ' hook and sibnery shop, over the window ,• of which se faded gold letters announced the name /'Alice Glendinning." ■_.' • ". Sybil laijsd softly, but she was breath- - " lug in quidittle trasps. : * 'Come iPaul." she said. Paul fe|ved her,' bewildered and exJ{ <r ti I>cctant, ie interior of the little shop > , .}'"><-. darkjut- ho saw two girl assistants behind tl counter, and an elderb' lady \ making fttic efforts to lift up a heavy { ! -;'■ lK»riier»i [that Sybil could pass" through i aud intone sitting-room beyond. Paul :,: *'""at tour assistance, and' Sybil fluug HfflSsf'V.'V/ °

her. arms round the old lady's neck and cried hysterically: "Dear— auntie!" " I got both your letter and telegram this morning, darling," said the lady. She glanced inquiringly at Paul over the rim of ; her spectacles. " How warm you are, child! Sit down and rest and cool yourself. I hope you haven't brought bad news/' ' -; .';;.- " Oh, no, auntiegood news—glorious news!l mean as far as I am concerned. I have been under a terrible cloud." "Then \ the news is good for me, too! What.a little. enigma you are. This gentleman slie added tentatively. "Is, Paul Greville, auntie. And this is my aunt, Miss Glendinning, and this was my home until I would bo a burden upon my aunt no longer." _" A burden ! Nonsense! Mistaken notions of independence. Yet it is a gloomy place in which to spend ono's life. To an old woman it matters nothing, but girls want brightness and variety." She turned to Paul. " I must thank you, sir, on behalf of my niece. She is very dear to me, and you have been so good to her. You seem quite liko an old friend— have heard so much about you in Sybil's letters." Paul was fairly puzzled. There wasn't a glimmer of light yet, and his head was dizzy. Sybil, laughed and cried, and she declared that she felt like a creature with Wings. Miss Glendinning carried her away to take off her hat and cloak, while Paul went into a tiny square behind the sitting-room to cool down a bit, This was called the garden. Phew! If it was hot in the country, it. was simply sizzlbg here. Heavens of brass, m which glared a savage and pitiless sun. He selected a shady corner, sat down in a rustic chair, and smoked a cigar. No matter how hot or cold the weather," a smoke is always soothing to a healthy man; it stimulates the jaded brains and lulls to _ rest the mind overwrought. The cigar consumed, he was .mechanically diving into his pocket for a new one when ho heard Miss Glendinning'g voice: " I've sent Mary for some ices, my dear, but you can have anything you like.' Lend me -a hand with this table,'and we'll carry it into the garden, -where it is so much cooler." Paul sprang up and did the needful carrying ; then followed a- great clatter of china, and tho feast was ready. "We can talk here without- fear of being overheard or disturbed," observed Miss Glendinning. " I've already given Sybil' a bit of a shaking up. It's like this, Mr. broville—you men- make too much of her, and she isn't half so saintly as she appears to be." " '' I don't know," Paul answered ruefully. "I've called her some hard names." "And some nice ones," Sybil said halftearful ly. " . . " She has always over-estimated the power of money," continued Miss Glendinning severely, and I was afraid that no good would come of the .marriage between her and Mr. Winthrop. lam" "Auntie, I won't listen to this," Sybil said angrily. " One moment. I was going to add that I am surprised that the marriage has turned out so well. I was present at the wedding, Mr. Greville, and 1 was firmly under tho impression that my niece was marrying a- rich man for a fine home. You see, her life had been so hard. Her mother died when she was a mere baby, and this was her home until she elected— against my wishes—to earn her living among strangers." s" Plucky thing to do!" Paul said. Miss Glendinning smiled. - '" Of course, you will champion her in everything, Mr. Greville." . " Everything!" "You have a passion for youth and beauty —most men have." .

," And for sterling goodness." " Do you believe my niece to be good "I am sure of it." v, '" Then I shall lecture no more. Sybil, let me look at my poor brother's letter again." She turned to Greville. " I have heard under what circumstances you found this, and that my brother has been in your service for quite a long time." Tears glistened in tier eyes, and her lips quivered. Itis dreadful to think that one of the brightest intellects God ever created should, have been accidentally ruined." , "I grant you he is a wonderful man," [ Paid said. "I honestly believe that I owe my entire, fortune to him. As a matter of truth, we are partners, and a large sum of money will be his by right'very'soon. He, however, scoffs at the,idea of it, but I am determined that he, or his next of kin, shall have every penny that is theirs. How much? Oh, it will be a matter of thousands of pounds—a hundred thousand, possibly." Miss Glendinning gasped. : "Don't look at me, Mr. Greville. I am not the next of kin.. My brother has a child." " So I gathered from that letter," Paul said awkwardly, "and a wife somewhere lady who is remarkably like 1 Sybil. Confound it, I believe I have solved* the tangle! His wife is, perhaps, another aunt of yours 1 —or a cousin with the same name?" " Young man," the old lady said. "Sybil was Miss Glendinning when she married Mr. Winthrop. Are you utterly dense?" " How is Paul to know?" Sybil interpolated. " I have kept? him guessing at riddles from the hour he saw me." ■ Paul looked from one to the'other in the direst bewilderment. "i am completely perplexed !" "Then let me dissolve the mist, Mr. Greville. My niece, Sybil Winthrop, is the only child of your'late engineer, George Glendinning. Her mother died very soon after Sybil's birth. Within a month of his wife's death George Glendinning met with a terrible accident. He was struck on the head by a piece of living machinery, and when his physical being was restored Ids mind was a blank. For nearly 20 years ho had to.be kept under observationunder actual restraint. Finally he managed to elude bis keepers, and although some of the brain-cells appear to have recovered their normal state", lie is subject to all sorts of hallucinations. There is no doubt that ho believed Sybil to be his wife, for she is just what, her mother was 23 years since. He fersot that many years had passed away— "forgot that 'his wife was dead. He bought Svbil's picture at the shop of a Dover photographer, and began to imagine things and to brood." "Good heavens!" muttered Paul. His eves were fixed neon Sybil's face. * " And I did not "know that my father was living," she put in. "We never thought, that ho would leave the asylum alive," Miss Glendinning continued "sadly. " It- is amazing that lie should have been able to do his work so well, and to have deceived you, Mr. Greville." "Do his work'well, Miss Glendinning." Paul echoed. "The man is a genius! He located a coal-bed, and insisted that it was there in face of endless opposition. When the shaft was half completed we came- upon a water spring which flooded everything at the rate of sixty thousand gallons an hour, and everybody gave up the job except your brother. " His marvellous engineering skill overcame '-he obstacle, and made my fortune— and his own, too." He looked at Sybil, and his voice broke. "At last I understand. What a dull-witted, suspicious brute I have been !" "The noblest friend that woman ever had !" Sybil said, with swimming eyes. It isn't a bit difficult to guess the end of it all. Under the skill of a great London surgeon George Glendinning was completelv cured. Paul and Letha were married in the autumn, and the woman who prayed most earnestly for their happiness was Sybil, Mr. Winthron's bride. THE END. NEW STORY. The opening chapters of a charming new serial story, "Hugh Gretton's Secret," by Effie Adelaide Rowlands, will be published on Saturday. This is a delightful love story, and those who read the opening chapters will be certain to follow it with interest to the close.