THE BROWN MASK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14473, 13 September 1910, Page 3

THE BROWN MASK.

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

BY PERCY JAMES BREBNER, Author of "A Eoyal Ward." " Vayenne," " Princess Maritza." etc., etc. coprniGirr. CHAPTER XVl.—(Continued). " Your arrival is unexpected, sir." "Yet not altogether unwelcome, I trust," said Sir John, treating her with studied courtliness, a manner he could use to perfection. " I was obliged to como to town, and could not refrain from coming to seo you. You may guess why, perchance '!"

" Has it to do with a young person in trouble?" asked Barbara.

Sir John looked puzzled for a moment, " Oil, you mean that girl who came to the Abbey. Did slio really travel all the way to London to see you? lam surprised She did not toll mo her story, but I told her where you were to be found, never supposing that sho would como to you.' " She came, and 1 have heard her story," said Barbara.

" it bears a. close relationship (<> many another young woman's etory, I wager,'' said Sir John with a smile. "Truly, I was not much impressed with her. It' 1 may bo allowed to speak a word of warning, 1 should say beware of her. She could lie easily, I fancy, with never a blush or the flicker of an eyelid to betray her. No, it. was not about her I wished to see you."

" Then, sir, I cannot guess/' said Barbara.

" I wished to apologise," said Sir John. "As 1 grow older my ill-temper gains on me. I fear. Thwarted, I am senseless enough at times to become like a bullying school-boy. and I say the first outrageous things which come to my tongue, conduct worthy only of a harridan. It was so that night at Avlingford. You were entirely right; I wa; entirely wrong. Forgive me, Barbara."

" I forgive, yes, but you must not expect me to forget so readily," she answered. " Forget fulness can only come with time, Sir John, vou must understand that."

" Perfectly. I do not expect to enjoy the luxury of being ill-tempered without having to pay the prico for it. I only ask that you may not make the prico too heavy. When you choose to return to tho Abbey you shall find a welcome." Sir John did not wait for any answer, nor had Barbara the opportunity of thinking over what he had said just then, for the moment her uncle left her another claimed her attention.

Still Sydney Fellowes watched her. It was evidently not her uncle for whom she had been waiting. It seemed as evident that she was doomed to disappointment tonight. Fellowes was one of the last to leave, and it was impossible that any other guest could arrive now. Barbara dismissed her maid quickly, almost impatiently, that night. She wanted to be alone. Slip expected to have done so much this evening, expected that she would have known her fate by now. She bad faced the worst, she was prepared to pay tho price, whatever it might be, always with a hope that it would not be as bad as she anticipated. Everything was vet to do, tho uncertainty was still hers; the delay pave her lonely hours in which to realiso all that this sacrifice might involve, and involuntarily she shrank from it. She was not less resolved, however, and .there was an added incentive in the fact that the difficulties in her way were greater than she had expected. Sir John's arrival could have only one meaning; he must know, or had guessed, the real reason of Harriett Payne's coming to the Abbey, and had immediately travelled to town to insure that, if he could possibly prevent it, no help should be given to Gilbert Crosby. His apology made no impression upon her, and she believed him capable of committing any villainy to get his own way. Surely, after what had happened at Avlingford, she had ample Teason for her opinion. How was she to meet his designs and defeat them? There was only ono_ way, tho full sacrifice of herself. .Slio looked critically at herself in ;he mirror, dashed the tears from her eyes, and smiled, touched her hair that the curls might fall most becomingly, and turned her head this way and that, coquetting with her own reflection. " Can I smile so winningly that a man will think possession of "me cheaply bought at any price?" she murmured. " I think so, I believe so. I will make the bargain. Whatever beauty I have shall be staked against your villainy. Sir John, and I think the woman will win."

She was strong in her determination, yet she sobbed herself to sleep. Not having been a frequent visitor at Aylingford Abbey in recent years. Lady Bolsover knew nothing about the company so constantly assembled there, nothing about her brother's pursuits and interests. That he must have fallen behind the times and become uninteresting she took for granted ; nothing else was to be expected of one who resided constantly in the country, she argued ; yet she admitted to herself that Sir John looked a fine gentleman as he passed amongst her guests, and was rather surprised to find how full he was of town graces. After all, he was the owner of Aylingford, a circumstance which marked him as a man of importance, and some of the scandal which had been attached to his name as a younger man had not died out. She heard one woman inquire who he was, and, receiving an answer, said quickly, "The Sir John Lanison, do you mean?" The interest displayed rather pleased Lady Bolsover, for surely fame, however obtained, was preferable to insignificance and nonenity. She therefore received' her brother very graciously when he called on the following morning, and felt very contented that he should have chanced last night upon such a brilliant evening, and must realise how big a position his sister filled in the social world of London. If she had been inclined to despise him for burying himself at Aylingford, she was conscious that he had never looked upon her as a very important person. Sir John was full of flattery this morning. He regretted that his niece had a headache, but it enabled him to have his sister to himself.

" A few days hero, amongst men and women of wit and standing, would cure you of your absurd love of the country," said Lady Bolsover. "At least it has done wonders for my niece," he answered.

. " Surely you have, not come to drag her back into exile!" Sir John smiled. It was evident that Barbara had not entered into an explanation of her reasons for leaving the Abbey.

" No, I think she is in very good hands for the present, She appeal's to have many admirers." "Can you wonder at it? She is as pretty as a picture, and when such a picture has an exceedingly heavy golden frame—"

"My dear Peggy, you hit the centre of the target with tho first shaft. For most of these admirers the frame is the chief attraction. In this fact arises the difficulty of my guardianship." "Barbara has spirit; you must not draw the rein too tightly or she will kick over the traces," said Lady Bolsover. "Exactly, and show herself a true Lanison," said Sir John. " I propose to let the reins hang very loosely indeed. Let her have her own way. She will find it so uninteresting not to meet with any opposition that she will probably end in doing exactly as I wish." " And to whom have you decided to marry her?" Sir John held up his hand with his fingers apart. " There are at least five to choose from," he said.

" All country bumpkins who affect outrageous clothes and delight in muddy boots?" inquired his sister. " On the contrary, they arc all lovers of the town, whole-heartedly for King James, and with those convenient morals which go so far to make a gallant gentleman." " You pique my curiosity." " Then I do you a service, and would not spoil it by satisfying that curiosity," said Sir John. " Watch Barbara, and you may see my little comedy in the playing, for some of these five arc not infrequently your guests."

Lady Bolsover found her brother entertaining, and it was late in the afternoon when Tie spoke of taking his leave. " I will let Barbara know ; she will like to see you before you go.'' A servant was sent to inform Mistress Lanison of her uncle's- departure, and in a few minutes he returned to say that Mi stress Lanison was out. "Out! Where?"

" I have made inquiries, my lady, but no one seems to know," said the servant. " Madam wont out with her maid quite early this morning, but returned shortly afterwards. A young person who came to see her yesterday came again to-day. just after noon, and it seems that Mistress Lanison went out with her. The maid left the house barely an hour ago." Lady Bolsover looked at her brother, who glanced swiftly at the servant, Lady Bolsover understood, and told the servant to go. "What can have happened?" she. said as the door was closed. " Nothing serious, 1 warrant, my dear Peggy. Like all your women, Barbara is enjoying some harmless intrigue. Do you mind that day at Aylingford when I horsewhipped your first admirer? How old were you then ?" "But Barbara — " " Young," said Sir John, " and to indulge a frolic has taken advantage of the loose rein. You will find her in her room presently, with her head still aching, but slightly better, and to-nightshe will be as radiant as a young Diana." " I trust so." " Take my word for it, Long residence in the country has not made me forget that I once understood women very well," and with a smile Sir John departed. CHAPTER XVII. UARHARA-'S SKLIT-SACRIFICH. There were few coaches and lackeys in the square when Svdney Fellowes left Lady Bolsovci's. Hastily taking leave in the hall of an acquaintance who seemed inclined to bear him company, he hurried awav, too much absorbed in his thoughts to think of the dangers of the streets for a lonelv man at that hour of the night. He went quickly to Pall Mall, and entered a coffee-house there. A man at once rose from a corner to attract his attention. It was Martin Fairley. She evidently expected someone tonight," said Fellowes in a. low tone as they sat down together, " but I cannot guess who, nor whether it was man or woman. Of one thing I am certain, whoever she expected, Mistress Lanison was disappointed." " Who was there?" Sir John Lanison for one, Martin. No. his niece did not expect him, nor Lady Bolsover either. Hjs arrival was a surprise to both of them." " And to me," Martin answered ; but it is bad news. What brings him from Avlingford? Can Rosmore be in town? '" No that is impossible," returned Fellowes. "He is busy with preparations for tho assizes, and is in command of tho military force placed, at the disposal of Judge 'Jeffreys. For the present Rosmore is tied to the West. I would ho might find a speedy grave there." . " Kir John comes like an ill-omened bird ; I wish I knew his reason," said Martin thoughtfully. "Hid he speak with his niece?" ' JV "A few words only, and there was the courtesy as of strangers between them. I could not hear what was said, but it was nothing that had any special interest for Mistress Lanison. Her expression did not change." "Do you imagine you can read her so easily?'' "Ah, Martin, I know; there is no imagination in it. Were I cunning with a brush and colour, I could paint you a thousand of her expressions and tell you the thoughts which lay behind them all. I am a lover, remember, with all a lover's quick perception, although tho lady I worship thinks no more of mo than of the soiled glove she casts aside." Martin looked at him for a moment in silence, and then laid his hand on his arm. "Soiled gloves go in pairs, Master Fellowes." " You mean " There is small difference sometimes between a lover and a madman. Had I my fiddle with mo I might play to you all that I mean." Fellowes drummed with his fingers on the little table before him for a moment, and then seemed to shako himself out of a dream. " There must be too few women in the world, Martin, when the desire of so many men are for one. To-morrow —what must bo done to-morrow?" " I shall see her to-morrow afternoon until then I cannot tell what is to be done. A message will find you at your lodging?" " Yes, I shall wait. If I do not hear I shall make some excuse for being at Lady Bolsover's again in tho evening." Outside the coffee-house they separated. Where Martin went at nights Fellowes did not know, nor did he inquire. Fairley could find him, if necessary, and that was enough. Neither did Barbara know where Martin lived, or she would surely have sent him a message next day, for long before noon she had made up her mind to act without delay. Tho coming of Sir John was as ill-omened to her a,s it was to Martin. In some manner, she was convinced, his presence in London nearly concerned her, and much might depend on her promptness in carrying out the resolution she had made. So she awoke with a convenient headache, and had tho news conveyed to her aunt. Then, assured that she would ho left undisturbed, she dressed very carefully, anxious to look her best, and even practised her most winning smiles before her mirror. Her maid, who could be trusted and was a child of intrigue by nature, loyally assisted her mistress, and they were able to leave the house together without hindrance. Calling a coach, thev were driven to the Temple, where Judge Marriott had his lodgings. Barbara had determined to appeal to Kim. If he would, he certainly could save Gilbert Crosby, and, if she hoped to so persuade him that tho price he asked for his help should not be too heavy, she was prepared to pay whatever price ho demanded. In imagination she saw herself his wife, and though she shuddered at the thought she never contemplated stopping the coach and going back to St. James's Square, her mission unfulfilled. "Judge Marriott has left London," said the servant, when Barbara inquired for him. "When does he return?" The servant did not know. It seemed evident that his general instructions were to be reticent concerning his master's going and coming. " I must see him without delay on a matter of tho gravest importance —the gravest importance to him,'' said Barbara, and she was surely speaking nothing but the truth, for the easy winning of her must be of great moment to any man. " Can you tell me where I shall find him? Has 'he gone to Avlingford Abbey?" The man thought not, but his imagination did not appear to help him further than that. . " It is most important," repeated Barbara, and in her hand was a golden bribe. "I ought not to givo any information," said the man, " but you say it is important to my master. He has set'out for Dorchester to deal with some of the rebel prisoners there." " You are euro ho goes first to Dorchester?" "Quite certain, madam." Barbara was deeply thoughtful as the coach drove back to St. James's Square, An unforeseen obstacle was placed in the way of her self-sacrifice, an obstacle so great that it did not seem possible to overcome it Was Judge Marriott's absence of her uncle's contriving? It did not seem probable, but she was m the mood to connect him with all disaster, and when, on returning to the house, she learnt that Sir John was there with Lady Bolsover, her suspicions seemed confirmed. Barbara was the more determined to defeat his schemes. She would certainly ha->-« sent to Martin had she known where to find him, but as it was she was obliged to act for herself. (To be continued daily).