THE SOLITARY MEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13925, 5 December 1908, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE SOLITARY MEM.

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

BY FERGUS HUME.

Author of " TOe Mystery of a Larisom Cab," "The Crime of the 'Liza Jane," "The

Dwarf's Chamber." " The Sacred Herb." Etc.. Etc., Etc

SYNOPSIS.

; Captain Huxham, owner of the Solitary i Farm, is rather amused at the request o» . the Rev. Mr. Pence for his consent to a marriage between Mr. Pence and Captain '■ Huxham's daughter Bella. His amusement, however, is changed to anger when he near I that Bella, really loves one Cyril Lister. He swears that his girl will never marry a '» Lister, and rather startles Pence by sug--1 Keating that Pence may marry Bella it ne .. throws Lister into the river. Pence meets Bella, , proposes to her, and is rejected. lie tells "er that if she marries Lister her father will leave I s her a pauper, and in his anger informs her ot , the. oiler made by her father. Miss Hixham did not credit the story, but she was pun led at her father's attitude towards Lister. .Mrs. t-op- : porsley, sister of Captain Huxham, is introduced , into the Btory. She is a widow, and engaged to be married again to one Hairy and, a cripple musician. CHAPTER lll.— (Continued.) For quite a week after bis interview ' with the captain, and his futile wooing of Bella, the lovesick preacher kept away from the farm and attended sedulously to his clerical duties in connection with Little Bethel. The truth was that he. felt afraid 1 of Huxham, now knowing what use the captain desired to make of him. For this reason also Silas did not report that Bella was engaged to Lister. He feared lest Huxham, in a rage at such disregard of his wishes, should slay the young journalist, and perhaps might, in his infernal i cunning, lay the blame on Silas himself. At all events, Pence was wiee enough to avoid the danger zone of the farm, and although, after reflection, aided by jealousy, he was not quite so shocked at the idea of thrusting Lister to a muddy death, he vet thought it more judicious to keep out'of Huxham's way. The old mariner, as Pence knew, possessed a strong will, and might force him to be his tool in getting rid of the journalist. Silas was wiser than he knew in acting eo discreetly, for the sailor-turned farmer was a more dangerous man than even he imagined, despite the glimpse he had gained of Huxham s possible iniquity. „ ■ Things were in this position when Bella, rendered reckless by her father's indifference, actually met Cyril Lister in a secluded nook of the corn-held, and on the sacred ground of Bleacres itself. Usually, the lovers met in Miss Ankers' cottage, or in Mrs. Tunks' hut, but on this especial occasion the weather was eo hot that Lister proposed an adjournment to the open field. *'"¥ou will be Ruth, and I Boaz," suggested the young man, with a emile. Bella shivered even in the warm air into which she had stepped out of the malodorous gloom of Mrs. Tunks' hut. " What an unlucky comparison," she said, leading the way along the bank of the boundary channel. "Ruth left her people and her home, to go amongst strangers, and earn her living as a gleaner." ■ " But she found a devoted husband in the end," Cyril reminded ,her. "Peace and happiness also, I hope,' sighed Bella. " I have plenty of peace, but very little happiness, save of the vegetable sort." " When we are married," began Lister, then stopped short, biting his moustache— '.' we shall be very happy," he ended lamely, seeing that Bella looked inquiringly at him. " That is obvious, since we love one another," she said somewhat tartly, for his hesitation annoyed her. "Why did you change the conclusion of your sentence?" Lister threw himself down on the hardbaked ground and under the shadow of the 11 blue-green com stalks. " It. juet struck me that our marriage was very far distant," he said gloomily.. Bella sat beside him shoulder to shoulder, and hugged her knees. 1 "Why should it be far distant?" ehe inquired. "If I love you, and you love me, no power on earth can keep ps apart." "Your father—" " I shall disobey my father if it be necessary," she informed him serenely. Lister looked at her through half-shut eyes, and noticed ' the firmness of her mouth, and the clear, steady gaze of her eyes. "You have a strong will, I think, dear," he murmured admiringly. "I have, Cyril—as strong as that of my father. When our two wills clash" she shrugged—" there may be murder committed." " Bella '."—the voung man looked startled—" what dreadful things you say." " It is the truth," she insisted quietly; " why shirk obvious facts? For some reason, which I cannot discover, my father detests you.'* "By jove!" Cyril sat up alertly. "And why? He has never seen'me, as I have kept well out of his way after your warning. But I have had a sly glimpse of him, and he seems to be a jolly sort of animal— l beg your pardon for calling him so." " Man is an animal, and my father is a man," said the girl coolly, "a neolithic man, if you like. You are a man also, Cyril—the kind of firm, bold, daring man I like. Yet, if you met my father, I wonder She paused, and it flashed across her brain that her father and her lover would scarcely suit one another. Both were strong-willed and both masteriul. She wondered if they met, who would come out top-dog ; so she phrased it in her quick brain. Then abruptly she added, before Cyril could speak, " Be quiet for a few minutes. I wish to think.' Lister nodded, and, leaning on one elbow, chewed a corn-stalk, and watched her in silence. He was a slim, tall, smallboned young man of the fair-skinned type, with smooth brown hair, and a small, drooping brown moustache. His present " attitude indicated indolence, and ho certainly loved to be lazy when a pretty girl was at his elbow But on occasions he could display wonderful activity, and twice had been chosen as war correspondent to a London daily, when one ■ or two of the little ware on the fringe of the Empire had been in progress. He was not particularly good-looking, but the freshness of his five-and-twenty years, and the virility of his manner, made women bestow a great deal of attention upon him. i Much more than he deserved, in fact, as, until he met with Bella, he had given very little attention to the sex. He had I flirted in many countries, and with many women; but this was the first time he lind made genuine love, or had felt the genuine passion. And with a country maiden, too, unsophisticated and pathetically innocent. So he meditated as he watched her, until, struck by the firm curve of the chin and the look of resolve on the tightly-closed lips, he confessed privately that if the country maiden were placed in the forefront of society, the chances were that she would do more than hold her own. There were Joan of Arc-like possibilities in that stronglyfeatured face. " But, upon my word, I am quite afraid," he said aloud, following up his train of thought and speaking almost unconsciously. " Of what?" asked Bella, turning quickly towards him. "Of yO'J. • Such a determined young woman, as you are. If I make you my wife, I know who will be master." "My dear," she said quietly, "in marriage there should be neither a master nor a mistress. It's a sublime co-partnership, and the partners are equal. One supplies what the other lacks, and two incomplete persona are required to make one perfect being." Lister opened his brown eyes. "Who told you all this?" "No one. I have ample time to think, and I think." ( "You asked me to be quiet, so that you could think," he remarked lazily ; " may I ask what you have been considering?", She surveyed him quietly. "You may ask; but I am not sure if I will reply." " See here, my dearest"-—Cyril struggled to his knees, and took her hand firmly within his own—"you are altogether too independent a young woman. _ You always want your own way, I perceive." "It will never clash with yours," said Bella, smiling.

"Why not'" . " Because you will always wish to do what I desire, and I will always be anxious to act as you indicate. You have youir line of life, and I have mine, but the two are one."

"Humph! At school I learned that two parallel straight lines never met." "Ah. Euclid was a bachelor, and ignorant. They meet in marriage, for then the two lines blend into on*. What's the matter?"

She asked this question because Cyril ! suddenly let go her hands and swerved, blinking his eyes rapidly." "A sudden flash almost blinded me. Someone ie heliographing hereabouts." He stood up, considerably taller than the already tall corn, and stared in the direction of the manor, shading his eyes with one slim hand. " There's someone on the roof there, and—" Bella pulled the sleeve of his coat, with a stifled cry. "Oh, sit down, do-, sit down," she implored. "It must be my father on his quarter-deck. The flash, perhaps, came from his telescope, and if he sees you—do sit down." Cyril laughed and relapsed into a sitting position. _ "Dearest, your father cannot harm me in any way. I have heard of his quarter-deck. I suppose lie has it to remind him of the bridge of a steamer when he was skipper." "I hope he hasn't seen you," said Bella anxiously, " for then he would come here, and" " Let him come, and then I shall ask him to let me marry you." - "He will refuse. He wants me to marry Mr. Pence."

"What!" Lister frowned. "That half-baked psalm-singer? What nonsense, and what cheek. The idea of that Pence creature* aspiring to your hand. I wish we could marry at once. But" He paused, and shook his head. Lines appeared on lib forehead, and a vexed, look in his eyes. "It's impossible," lie said with a deep breath. "Why is it impossible?" asked Bella imperiously and very directly. ' "My dear, I am' very poor, and! just make enough to keep my head above water. Besides, there is another reason." "What is it?"

"I can't te!l you," he said in a low voice, find becoming suddenly pale "no one but the wearer knows where the shoe pinches, you know." «< "Cyril." Bella wreathed her arms round his neck, " You have a secret. I have noticed several times that you have been worried. Sometimes you forget everything when we are together, and your face becomes like that of an old man. I must know your secret, so that I can help you.'' " God forbid." Lister removed her arms, and grew even paler than hei was. "The kindest way I can act towards you, Bella, is to go out of your life, and never see you again." " Cyril, how can you when I love you so."

Would you love me if you knew of my troubles?" J

" Try me. Try me," she implored, clasping his hand warmly. "There are some things which can't be told to a woman," he said sternly. " Tell them to a comrade, then. I wish to be your comrade as well as your wife. And I love you so that anything you say will only make me love you the more. Tell me, Cyril, so that I can prove my love." J

"Upon my soul, I believe you'd go to —— with me," said Lister strongly. "Yes, I would. I demand, by the love which exists between us, to be told this secret that troubles vou so greatly."' Lister frowned, and meditated. "I cannot tell you everything—yet," he remarked, after a painful pause, " but I can tell you this much, that unless I have one thousand pounds within a week, I can never marry you." "One thousand pounds. But for what purpose?" "You must not ask me that, Bella," and his mouth closed firmly. "Trust me all in all, or not at all," she quoted. " Then I trust you not at all." " Oh!" She drew back with a cry of pain liko a wounded animal. fn a moment he was on his kneeis, holding her hands to his beating heart. "My dearest, .if I could. I would. But I can't, and I am unable just now to give vou the reason. Save that lam a journalist, and your devoted lover, you know nothing about me. Later I shall tell you my whole story, and how I am situated. Then you can marry me or not, as you choose." " I shall marry you, in any case," «he said quickly. "Do you think that lam a poor, weak fool, who demands perfection in a man? Whatever your sins may be,, to me you are the man I have chosen to b9 my husband. We are here, in the corn-fields, > and you just now called me Ruth. Then ' like Ruth, I can say that ' your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.'" , -

" Dearest and best," he kissed i.or ardently, "what have I done to deserve such perfect love'/ But do not think me so very wicked. It is not myself, so much as another. Then you" "Is it a woman?" she asked, drawing back. b

Lister caught her to his breast again. No, you jealous angel, it is not a woman. The thousand pounds I must have, to save but that is neither here nor there. You must think me but a tardy lover not to carry you off, forthwith, and "—he rose, with Bella in his arms— ifc'ii impossible

'' Do carry me off," she whispered, clinging to him. "Let us have a Sabine wedding. As your wife, you can tell me all your secrets. , ~ . " Bella, Bella, I cannot. lam desperately poor." '' So am I, and if I marry you my father will leave all his money to my aunt, for he told Mr. Pence so. But what doeji poverty matter, so long as we love one another with all our hearts and souls?"

"Oh!"- Cyril clenched his hands desperately. "Do not tempt me. Only one thousand pounds stands uetween us. If I had that I could make you my wiife within a week. I would steal, or murder, or do anything in the world .to get the money and remove the barrier. But"he pushed her away almost brutally, and frowned— "you are making me talk rubbish. We must wait." "Until when, Cyril?" she asked sadly. " "Until Destiny is kinder." [i "You will tell me" "I tell you nothing. Give me one kiss, and then good-bye for — He bent to touch her lips, but was caught and hurled back. Bella uttered a cry of astonishment and dread, for between Cyril and herself stood Captain Huxham, purple with anger. CHAPTER IV. SUDDEN DEATH. "Y' shell not kiss m' gel, or merry her, or hev anything V do with m' gel,' said Captain Huxham, in a thick voice. "Oh I saw y' fro' th' quarter-deck with m' gel. Jus' y' git, or—" He made a threatening step forward, while Cyril waited him without flinching' What would have happened it is hard to say, for Captain Huxham was in a frenzv of rage. But Bella, recovering; from her first surprise, threw herself between the two men. "Father," she cried passionately, "I love him." "Oh, y' do, do y'?" growled the fireside tyrant, turning fiercely on her, " an' arter I told y' es v'd hev t' leave the swab alone. Did 1.. or did I not?" " Yes, but you assigned no reason lor asking me to avoid Cyril,, so—" "Cyril! Cyril!" The captain clenched his huge - hand, and his little eyes flashed with desperate anger. " Y' call him Cyril, y'— " He raised a mighty fist to strike her, and the blow would have fallen, but that Lister suddenly gripped Huxham's shoulder and twitched him unexpectedly aside. , "If you blame anyone, sir, you must blame me." " I'll break yer neck, cuss y','" raged the older man. Cyril shrugged his shoulders, indifferently. "You can try, if you like, but I don't propose to let you do it. Come, Captain Huxham, let us both be reasonable and talk matters over." - "Y're on m' land; git off m' land," shouted Huxham, swinging his fists like windmills. Go, Cyril, go," implored Bella, who was terrified lest there should be a hand-to-hand struggle between the two men. That was not to be thought of, as if Lister killed the captain, or the captain killed Lister, there

would be no chance of her becoming the wife of the man she loved. - . "■■-" "

'"I am quite ready to go," said Cyril, keeping a watchful eye on Huxham; "but first I should like to hear why you, sir, object ,to my marying Bella." He spoke quietly and firmly, so that theTLevel tones of his voice, and the admirable way in which he kept his temper had a cooling effect on the enraged sailor. <...;. Huxham, born bully as lie was, found that it was difficult for him to storm at a man so cool, and calm, and self-controlled. " Y' ain't m' chice," said he in lower but very sulky tones; "m' gel's goin' t' merry th' sky-pilot, Silas Pence." " Oh, no, she's not," said Lister smoothly; "she will marry me." "If she does, she don't get no money *$ mine."

"That will be no hindrance," said Bella, who was rapidly regaining her colour. "1 am willing to marry Cyril without a penny." "Y' shent, then," grumbled her father savagely. \ • -•:'-'' " I have yet to hear your objection, sir.''' " Yer name's Lister, and—" The objection was so petty, that Bella quite expected to see Cyril laugh. But in place of doing eo he .turned white and retreated a step. " Whatwhat do you know of my name?" he asked, with apparent ner- 1 vousness.

"Thet's my business," snapped Huxham, seeing his advantage, "an' I ehen't tell y' m' business. Y' git off m' land, or—" lie suddenly lunged forward in the attempt to throw Lister when off his guard. But the young man was watchful, and, unexpectedly swerving, dexterously tripped up his bulky antagonist. Huxham, with a shout, or rather a bellow of rage like a wounded bull, sprawled full length amongst the corn. Bella pushed her lover away before the captain could regain his feet. " Go, go. I can see you to-morrow," she said hastily. " Y' shell never see the swab again," roared Huxham, rising slowly, for the fall had shaken him, and he was no longer young. " I'll shut y' in yer room, an' feed y' on bread an' water." If you dare to say that again, I'll break your head," cried Lister, suddenly losing his temper at the insult to the girl he loved. i

"Oh, will y' ?" Huxham passed his tongue over his coarse lips and rubbed his big hands slowly. Apparently nothing ■would have given him greater pleasure than to pitch this man who dared him into the boundary channel; but he had learned a lesson from his late fall. Lister was active and young; the captain was elderly and slow. Therefore, in spite of his superior strength Huxham judged that he had that was risky to try conclusions of sheer brute force. The captain therefore, being a coward at heart, as all bullies are, weakened and retreated. "Y* git off m' land," was all that he could find to say, "an' y' git home, Bella. Es m' daughter, I'll deal with y'." " I am quite ready to go home," said Bella boldly " but you are not going to behave as though I were one of your, sailors, father." . . ■•... . .

" I'll do wot I please," growled Huxham, looking white and wicked. Bella laughed somewhat artificially, for her father did not look amiable. "I don't think you will," she said, with feigned carelessness. "Cyril, go now, and I'll see you again to-morrow." t i \

(To be continued on Saturday next.)

«JBLISHED V BY SPECIAL AERANGEMEOT.