VIOLET FORSTER'S LOVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14747, 1 August 1911, Page 3

VIOLET FORSTER'S LOVER.

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

BY RICHARD MARSH, Author of " Twin Sisters," "A' Boy&l Indiscretion," " A'. Spoiler of Men." "In Pull: - Cry," " Miss : Arnott'a Marriage," ■ - " The Garden of Mystery," - \ V,' Etc., Etc. ' ' • . COPYRIGHT. ' CHAPTER XXlV.—(Continued.) "I . know what you think, and I know why; you must forgive me if my thoughts 10 on a different plane. You consider one man only, there's nothing that matters except him; to me there's a very great deal. I'm a soldier; to me the service is first and last; my regiment is all in all." "Do you think I don't know that?" ' " That affair of Beaton's was bad enough. It's a tale which will be told of the regiment for many a day; but if it's going to be reopened I don't know what will become of us. I honestly do not." " You don't believe that justice should be done, even if the heavens fall?" '■'I'm not sure that it is not better that one man should suffer, even though unjustly, rather than that a great and glorious tradition should be dragged in the mud and made a mock of." ! ; > • , " Your sentiments do you infinite discredit; I wonder, since you hold them, that I ever let you speak to me." ' , "Yes—well, I do hold them, and I'm going to continue to speak to you whether you let me or not." • ! ; i " You haven't got your medicine." " Young Tickell has made an announcement to the mess which is likely to cause trouble. He laid a cheque on the table, for the amount which was in the pool that night, and he said that, as circumstances had arisen which caused him to doubt, he felt that he would like the money to be held in trust till the point was finally decided," '*'*'* > '* . • "Bravo, Jackie! Conscience moves .in a mysterious way; that really is medicine." " Yes, I thought you'd think so. It does not occur to you to think what the young gentleman's action means for the rest of us.". . ; " I'm hopeful that it. will cause your consciences to move in a mysterious way; I've always insisted that the age of miracles is still with us." " Tickell as good as said that he doubted that Dodwell and Draycott had said the , thing: which was not, and ■if we had not all of us behaved infamously." "You prefer the French point of view of the chose jugee. Isn't that the phrase with which they decline to let injustice be set right?" " The thing's done, that was bad enough; but if it's all going to bo re-opened it may be made infinitely worse. Tickell's action practically laid an unpleasant imputation upon every one of us." ; -. " I shall write to Mr. Tickell and tell him how glad I am to find that, there is in him the makings of an honest' man." , "What did you say to him that night at the Avonham ball?" Although the . major paused for an answer, none came. " I believe that what you said, whatever it was, was the direct cause of his present action. Now what did you say?" The lady rose from the couch, with a smile which, this time, was childlike and ■bland,'; ' 4 • " I say that. your medicine has already, done me good, and' I think that the fresh air of the heavens may do me more. Regent's Park is within easy distance. Would you favour me with your society if I were moved to stroll in it? I will go and put my hat on." She turned again just as she was leaving the room. "By the way, who is the correspondent who has favoured this I • morning's Daily Screecher with that mysterious communication do you think it was manufactured in the office? I fancy : that mysterious communications sometimes are." - 1 "You credit me with _ a knowledge of journalistic methods which I don't ; possess." "You saw it?" He nodded. 'What do . you think of it?" " I would rather not think of it at all." " That seems to be your attitude in all such matters. You're like the ostrich who thinks that he hides himself, and escapes from an unpleasant predicament; by hiding his head in the sand. You see, I've got to think." "Then, if I were you, I. shouldn't." " The Daily Screecher says that a correspondent has favoured them with an account of certain extraordinary occurrences which took place at Avonham on the night of the Easter ball. If the statement is true, and it seems to bear on it the hallmark of truth, then it throws a very lurid light on the continued mysterious disappearance of Captain Noel Draycott. It goes on to say that searching &nd exhaustive inquiries are being made info the statement, the,' result of which will be published in an early issue. In the meantime it assure;? its readers that: sensational/; and even astounding, developments may shortly be expected. I suppose you are capable of telling me if you think that that communication was manufactured in the office." > The major showed a disposition to fidget, on which the lady commented. 1 "It's no use your shuffling your feet, or looking down at your boots, or. fingering your tie; everything is quite all right. Will you please tell me what you think." " It's difficult to say." " That means that you think there is a bona-fide correspondent, and that the communication is genuine." . " I'll put it this way. It's a wonder'to me that something hasn't peeped out already. You and I know that the facts that the papers have got are not the real ones. There are—how many persons? goodness only knows! — are in a position to supply' them with something which ,is a great deal nearer the truth—the whole truth, that i B -" r it"And you think that one of those persons has?" "Who knows? So far what struck me most about the matter is, that in spite of the boasted Argus eyes of the newspapers, how easy it is to keep > things from them Even the approximate truth of what took place at Avonham would make, if ' they knew it, the-fortunes of half-a-dozen journalists, and in America they would have got it, long. ago; it's possible that here they're going to ,get it now." .. The girl's smile had again become wan and faint. " You're a comfortable counsellor; that paragraph in the Screecher gave me. my headache; your medicine did it good, but now it's as bad again as ever. I don't think that I care to stroll in the park, even with you." - " Whether you care or not you are coming. Go and put on your hat, or, am I to carry you off without it?" ' " The girl hesitated then, without a word, , quitted the room. ' She ' was absent some minutes— hat is not put on in a second. When she returned there was something! about her eyes which filled -the major with I uncomfortable suspicions. In silence she led the way downstairs, and he followed: ;It did not promise to be a very agreeable ~ Stroll, although the weather was fine. He seemed to find it hard to make conversation she certainly declined to help him. They were into the park before a dozen sentences had been exchanged. Then, when they had walked quite a little distance without a word being spoken, all at once, as if moved by a sudden impulse, she made an effort to" relieve the situation. "If we. walk on much longer, mumchance, like two dumb statues, people will think one of two things, either that we are marriedl've been given to understand that husbands and wives never speak to each other when they take their walks abroad— else that we have quarrelled. | He bore himself as if ho had. a poker down his back, and .his eyes were fixed straight in front of him as lie replied: '•I've not the least objection to their I thinking the first." . "I daresay; but I have. Will ( you ] please talk to me about the weather." Before he had a chance to air _ his eloquence upon that well-worn subject, something happened which rendered it unnecessary- for him to say anything at all. A taxicab had gone rushing past, and as it massed its occupant, a lady, put. iipsiiii

, :out ? her. head to 1 look >at s them. The 'cab; had not gono another 60 4 yards * before J she stopped it. As they approached sha ~ . was standing on the footpath, with tho * * obvious intention of accosting' them. Her l , i' tone, as she did so, was enthusiastic. .; , 1 '! "Miss Forster! This is a pleasur3." \i '* •' *' Judging from the expression on the* young lady's face she was moro than ■ doubtful if it was a pleasure which was , common to them both. . ' "Jane Simmons!" she exclaimed. .. ' The other shook her .by no . means >• ill- Vlooking head, and; she laughed. _ ' " Not Simmons; my name is Spurrier, :• Julia Spurrier. Most fortunate my meet* ••" ing you like this, Miss Forster; I have . for some time been most anxious to have . ' a talk with you; is there anywhere where • I can say .a 1 few words to you in private? I believe you will regard what I have ' to say as of the first importance to you, Miss Forster. I know what I am saying." ' _ _ ' ..CHAPTER XXV. ' r " JULIA SPURRIER. ,' ■ Miss Spurrier was very well' dressed ; as . regards appearance she was really ' smarter than Miss Forster. All her ex- ' tremely nice clothes looked as if they had come from the hands of artists, and her hat was a dream. She stood with one ' 1 well-gloved hand resting on a long-handled ' parasol—it was a sunny afternoonwith,, one champagne-coloured shoe she seemed to be describing figures on the ground; her head was held a little back at an angle which became her; it was not easy to recognise in this elegant personage Jane Simmons in her cap and apron. Major Keith, who, with his - old-fashioned courtesy, stood with . his hat in his hand, ■ seemed as if he did not know what tot make of her; while possibly the singularity of Miss Forster s bearing was owing to the fact that she was between anger and amazement, with possibly a touch of fear lurking in the corner of" her heart. " She seemed to be in .'doubt as ' • to whether it would be better and wiser to enter into conversation with this diß-v V , reputable person, or to pass contemptuously . on. When at last ; she did speak, ■" it was with the plain intention of giving the other to understand that she , was , ' to keep what Miss Forster considered her place. -, . ;': ' ■■. "Have you' anything to say to me? * Can't you say it here ?'' .•; ."In the presence of Major, Reith The lady swung her parasol in that gen- , tleman's direction,, and she beamed on him. " Oh, I know you, major; you're ' „' • not the only officer in your regiment with. . whom I have the . pleasure ; of ' being acquainted.' With one of them I've been ' - on quite intimate , terms—asic Miss , For- y.: - ster. It's* about him I wish to speak to her." , The ;major, noting his companion's dis- ,' tress, made a , somewhat blundering ati tempt to come to her rescue. ; "If I'm in the way, Miss Forster, pray . command me.. : Shall I walk on,' or would you prefer that I should stay?" ' . Miss Forster still seemed to be iff ' doubt; her words were ; scarcely friendly.' " Major Reith, I've only seen this per- ■ . son once in my life. ■ She was a servant at' Avonham on the night• of tho Easter ball—or she pretended to be. . Her con- .- .. duct on that occasion was of ,a kind which ; makes it amazing that sho should have' - the assurance to address. me now." ( / Miss Spurrier showed no signs .of be- ,f ' ing hurt ?by the speaker's candour; she only laughed. - ""It's hardly fair, Major Reith, for Miss Forster; to put' it like that. ; You will, of course, recollect the robbery of the ladies' jewels, actually from , their bedrooms, when they were fast asleep. You remember how all the jewels were found again in a leather bag— was. rather a funny story." She - turned to the girl. . - " Miss Forster, shall I tell him all about; it? I'm convinced that it would tickle him." A flush had come over Violet Forster'* face, her cheeks were as scarlet as they had just been white. Not only her lips, ; her .whole frame seemed trembling from : . . : head to foot. Miss Spurrier observed her with malicious amusement; she remained , all .smiles.. • .. t , v . " Why, Miss Forster, how red you' have • ' . j' all at once become, and only a moment ! ago I was thinking how ' pale you were. Doesn't ' a touch : of colour become ; her, Major Reith?" - The major looked extremely uncomfortable, as if he did not know-, what to make ' \ of the position. Miss Forster . relieved him of his perplexity. "I think," she said to him, "that I will hear what this person has to say. She can come with mo. in this cab to my rooms, and may I ask you to accompany , us? I have reasons for wishing you to do so? Get in." - . She ordered Miss Spurrier to enter the cab very much as she might have dona if she had still been Jane Simmons. Miss Spurrier laughingly complied. "What funny , ways you have, , Miss Forster. If you would let me tell Major Reith that story he'd think they were funnier still." Miss Forster, following her into the cab, chose to sit with her back to tho -driver; the major, entering List, was placed in the seat of honour by Miss;" Spurrier's side. - • When .the cab reached . Cobden Mansions and the passengers had alighted, Miss Forster "said to the, major, . - . as she opened the door of. a room which was just inside the hall: , -: t , "This is meant to b& used as a recep-tion-room for visitors ■ to tenants of. tho flats who do not wish to see them .in their own - apartments. I I am going to take this person with me upstairs. i"; Will . v you wait here till she has gone or till I send for you?" The major expressed his perfect wil- . lingness to. await the lady's pleasure, and the two\ women . ascended in the lift to j Miss Forster's flat on one of. the upper floors. So soon as they were in, Miss i Forster's manner, entirely changed. ■ All * signs of confusion or distress vanished, | and she assumed what was almost an air of truculence. Closing the door, she pointed to a seat. - jj "Sit down." The visitor obeyed. "Now, ■ Jano Simmons, or whatever you call yourself, you say you've been looking for ma. I don't know what truth there may be in that, but I do know that I've been looking for you, and now that I've found you we're not going to part until we've come to an understanding." " That's what I want, Miss Forster— | an understanding." 1 "In the first place, before you leave 1 this room, you're going to tell me where j Sydney Beaton is now." . j The visitor raised her grey suede-cov- I ered hands with what was possibly meant to be a gesture of ladylike amazement. " How odd ! How extremely singular ! What .a coincidence!" 1 " What's a coincidence —and odd— singular?" Nothing could have been grimmer than the tono in which Miss Forster put her : ' question. She -had taken up an attitude before the empty fireplace which was almost masculine", and again there was something . which was almost masculine in 1 tho curt, unceremonious fashion of her -H speech. " Nothing could have been in more ; 1 striking contrast than the other's airs and I graces of a fine lady. _ 1 " That you should have said such a. \ thing as that to me, about, dear old SydI ne V-""> . Miss Forsf-o.i' bit her hp.. Ml t " Have the goodness not to speak of i| , Mr. Beaton in my presence by his Chris- pi tian name." m |l "My dear Miss Forster, why not? |l When he and I have been such friends. | I've always' called him Sydney." _ I|| " Whether that is or is not a lie, I || : am not in a position to say. You'll 1 speak of him as Mr. Beaton to mo. Wher« |J is Mr. Beaton?" |j| ''That's what I said was so odd, so gin- IS gular, such a coincidence, that you should 1 put such a- question to me, when one of . B 1 the chief reasons why I was so anxious to H have, a talk was because I wished to put If ' exactly the same question to you—Where 9 is Mr. Beaton?" . || "Do you mean to say that you ' don't , . 1 . • I know?" • |i "I've no more idea than the dead." I :■ "You did know." v > iff "Up to a. certain" point of course 'I 1 knew." jyi'j "Where was ho living when I saw you u ' , pj \ last?"v fl / s I < , (To be continued daily.) *"/'.*'/ Iw| | Warner's Rust-proof Corsets are jvorfael M . .Examples of the fccienco of corset' |