THE STRONGER PASSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19488, 18 November 1926, Page 20

THE STRONGER PASSION.

BY ROWAN GLEN.

CHAPTER Xl (Continued.) Because ho was no dancer, it was against his will that Macßao had promised to be present at a ball held in the Royal Stag Hotel, in Dochrine; a ball arranged to further the financial interests of a local Cl HtfLd been going through days of halfiwretchedness when his over-present hatred of Mr. Justice Hart represented all his world. . ™ • i ~ ■ He had seen little of Elaine, and this perhaps because he bad not sought her out. But he knew that she had been much in Maurice R-ollingward's company, and he knew, too, that the latter's friendship with Lilian Mailt on seemed to have been set aside temporarily. It was with no good grace, thersiore, that he dressed for the dance in Poehrine; and with no good grace that, arrived at the hotel there, lie found that, as one of the local lairds, he was expected to display an enthusiasm and a geniality entirely opposed to his mood. Elaine, so it seemed, had fallen away from him. lie could think of no other phrase describing with any adequacy her altered attitude. Since his motor-trip with her, Uiey had not met, save when a third party was present. Neither had he spoko'i wifci niately to her father, nor 'o Rolling \'-ard.

But though dancing held tin appeal f< r him, and though he knew himself to be awkward in a ballroom, he did dance with Elaine twice in the first part of the programme" —danced with her as though they were the merest of acquaiii'../.'ices. Macßae had not thought it possible that the girl who admitted her love for lum could be so cold; could maintain for so long her attitude of distrust. As skilfully as might be, he strove to draw her back toward their old j.'oUng, but just as skilfully—find much moro definitely— she refused to be so drawn. And then, while he was searching for lier, keenly desirous to discover whether or not the change was genuine and was meant to he permanent, he came on her and Rollingward. Before ho saw them, and while they were unaware that anyone had disturbed their privacv, he heard Elaine say: "Very well, then, Maurice! If you re content with my conditions, I'll do what you and father want. Clamour in his brain, Macßae moved forward. . He saw Rollingward put his hands out to Elaine to draw her close to him. She was apathetic; resistless. Slowly, Rollingward lowered his face to hers. Eire seemed to run through Macßae then. " What's all this ?" he demanded, jis he stepped toward them. What s the meaning of this?" For a second or two the others regarded him almost incredulously. Then while Elaine, with the colour Hooding her lace, stirred, Rollingward rose and answered their questioner irritably. I'or the time being be had discarded his customary geniality and boyishness. "What's the meaning of this? he repeated. "I think it s i who should be asking that —I, or Elaine here. I d like to know by what right you come barging into a private conversation. I didn t think that spying or eavesdropping would have been iu your line." Macßae bowed slightly.

"Thanks. I'm neither a spy nor an eavesdropper. I was searching lor Elaine, and I hacin't thought io find her in this part of the hotel. I was on my way to the lounge. If you don't understand my question, Rollingward, then Elaine certainly does. He turned to. her and knew instantly that she, too, had resented his question. Worse than that, her pride hud been stung. She felt as Rollingward felt —that she had ben chicled unjustly and highhandedly; that she had been made to appear foolish, "Elaine?" Macßae asked. "What am I to make of this ? " She moved white shoulders and it was ■while watching her as she strove to control herself and to answer him* calmly that Macßae know at last, and quite certainly, the meaning of that subtle change in himself which had given him so much cause for worrv of late. His mental blindness was over and done ■with.

Coldly, cruelly, perhaps—and convinced that there was "no slightest possibility of his affected sentiment ever becoming genuine—he had planned to make this girl care for him. Till now he had been helped in his scheme by the comfortable assurance- that not even so wonderful a girl as Elaine Hart could draw him, either willingly or unwillingly, toward love. But he knew now, and, knowing, v.'as dazed by a jumble of lights so perplexing in their brilliance that he almost cursed that brilliance.

On that night when he had first dined at The Lodge as Sir Charles Hart's guest, he had recognised, as indeed no one save a dullard could have failed to recognise, that Elaine was a girl fashioned to create «oft havoc among men. He had studied her, then, without the slightest Sicker of anything beyond interest and that admiration, which it was natural for him to give to all beautiful things.

He had looted that beauty; her gentleness; the allure of her personality; and her general desirability. Now she was desirable in no general way. He desired her; loved har; wanted her to share what remained of his lifeetory.

Years of suffering had taught him to bear pain with a certaia stoicism arid, as he had said slangily once, to bluff things along. That training helped him loyally now, and he was able to watch without flinching the eyes of the woman whom he loved, and tc hide any sign of tumult which was shaking him when she said: "I agree with Maurice—-Blair. I don't 6ee why you should be. putting the questions. Still, I'll answer the one that I expect you've g;ot at the back of your head. Maurice and I are going to be married." "You're what?''

"We're going to lie married." "Elaine | But this is crazy stuff you're talking! Look here, we've got a chance to speak nbw when there's no one around except our thrca selves. Let's be dead honest. I don't know, Rollingwaid, what you've said to Elaine, or what she's said to you about me. But if she hasn't told you that, I asked her to marry me and that she agreed, then she should have done that."

"She has told me, Macßae, but she's told me, too, that there wns no real engagement between you. You'd fixed to announce that—and then things sort of came unstuck. I can quite understand that you must feel a bit sore, but you can't blame Elaine for having changed her mind. You can't blame me, either. I asked her to marry me. before you came on the scene. .So there yon arc!" " Yes," said Macßae. " So there I am ! Eut —are you content, Rollingward ?" "What d'you mean ?"

"Are you content to marry a girl who, n day or two ago. vowed that she was in love with another man ?"

"Now, look here," said Rollingward, "I'm hanged if I'm goincr to stand that sort of thing, Macßae. It's insulting to Elaine." Macßae shook his head.

"I wouldn't willingly insult her for the world/' he answered. "I'm merely being what I said I would be—frank. Elaine, haven't you anything to say ?" She laid a hand on Rollingward's sleeve. "Nothing, Blair. You've heard everything that matters. There was no engagement between us, and I've told you that i m going to marry Maurice. I don't want to lose your friendship, and I'm sure -1 aurice doesn't. You've both got on so •® r that it 'ud seem a dreadful Py if this—this spoiled evervthinpr. It's to kn 8 Z l ' et 38 yet " You ' rc the only one

rem!rke2 at '" A t s e e c 0 nd y , ° f , U ! " Macßae Elaine?" • secret engagement, He glanced at ftollin^rd. RollinSrd ° U iLh aVe better luck 'than I, S aS there'fc p8 + v n i eone elso ' U turn op, ana mere U oo a third wutaal under-

(COPYRIGHT.)

standing—that 13 properly understood by only one of the parties." lie had spoken inore harshly than he had intended, and, as lie saw Elaine wince, remorse bit at him. "I didn't mean that, Elaine," he said. "I spoke like a cad. Will you forgive me She nodded. "Thanks!" he remarked. "Now, I'll say only one thing more. When Mr. Rollingward and I talked about you some time ago, he spoke like a sportsman. He told me that till an engagement between you and me was definitely announced, he'd consider that the field was open, and that he'd a right to trv to get vou for himself. '•Well, I'm going to say exactly what he said. I think he went further than talking about the engagement. I think—you can correct me if you like, Rollingward —he held himself free to strive for you till you were actually married. It's the same way with me, and just as there was no self-conceit about his statement, so there's none about mine. You understand, don't you —both of you ?" "I do," Rollingward answered. "I'll answer for Elaine. But I hope to God, Macßae, that you haven't a hope." Macßae's big shoulders rose and fell. "It's such an infernally queer world that one never knows which way the fatecat is going to jump." lie said. "But though we don't know how things will pan out, we know how they stand now. I feel, somehow —this is the stark truth, Rollingward—that though neither you nor I aro worthy of Elaine, she's my mate. That's a strange thing to say, but I believe it." He looked straight into the girl's eyes. "I believe it. Elaine!" he went on. "This —this talk we've had is another mile-stone on our road. I suppose we've struck what reviewers of novels call the eternal triangle. I'm going to work in that triangle till one side of it is knocked out. I mav be the side. I don't know. I'll say this "though—putting the big thing on one side for the moment, I want friendship to remain. How about you, Rollingward ?" "About me? Oh, I'm the same. Why, dammit all, Macßae, I like you!" " And I like you. I suppose I should hate you but I don't. There's one hatred in my life and that's enough." He put out both hands and both were taken.

" We're almost certain to meet ,again to-night," he said, "■ but we won't be talking again as we've talked now. But you'll remember. Rollingward, that I'm up against you?" His hands dropped back to his sides and for some moments hung there limply. Then as Elaine's eyes met his, the hands clenched.

Turning about, he walked toward the improvised ballroom, and finding Lilian Manton there, asked Iter to dance with him. She consented at once and when the dance was over surprised him by saying:

"I wonder where Maurice Rollingward has got to ? He and 1 had supper dance together, and I haven't seen him since. Have you, Blair?" " I'm sure I caught sight of him somewhere," he answered. " You like him, don't you, Lilian?" " Yes," she said. " He's so enthusiastic about everything. When he told me yesterday that he was a couple of years older than me, I could scarcely believe it. Yon like him, too, don't you, Blair?"

"Of course I do. He's a thundering good fellow. A bit irresponsible perhaps, but he'll settle down later." Rollingward and Elaine came into the room then and Macßae, ' having handed Lilian over to her next partner, went from the hotel.

He was glad that he had booked no more dances; was glad that he could go back to his island home to light, out alone there the bitter battle of his thoughts. CHAPTER XII. ' " A SET-BACK. A grateful letter from William Noakes in which the ex-convict made out a case for himself *by comparing his start in life with ' the start which Macßae had had, set th<3 latter studying anew regarding Mr. Justice Hart. It so happened that he met the judge that evening when both had gone to Doclirine to replenish their tobacco store. Outwardly affable, they repaired to The Royal Stag and there—nervous tension urging them toward recklessness —they drank locally-distilled whisky, till un accustomed quantities of the spirit affected them both. The judge passed from unexpressed suspicion to expressed belief in his com panion's enmity. Macßae, on the other hand, perhaps because he was a younger and more active man, or perhaps beoause he had eaten a sandwich meal by the burn side an hour previously, remained the cooler of the two. , In any case he remained calm while the older man grew -incautiously garrulous. " You can tell me if I'm wrong, MacRae," the judge said, as they were preparing to leave. " But I've got it into my head that ever since we met you've been fooling me. You needn't look at me like that—as though yon didn't understand. I know, of course, all about your supposed love affair with my daughter, and I know, too, that you must feel pretty wretched because she's going to marry young Rollingward. But it. goes deeper than that." " What does?" Macßae asked.

Having* glanced around, Harfc learned forward and tap-tapped on the table by which they sat. '' Your hatred of me," he said. "It's net a bit of good your saying anything. Macßae. You do hate me. I know it! I've felt it <for weeks. I don't know how 1 know it, but the knowledge is there. I've a fair working acquaintance with modern slang, and I've sensed that you've ' had it in ' for me ever since we met in your house. Am I right, or am I wrong?" "Wrong, of course,. Sir Charles," MacRae answered, and laughed. " Why! What a ridiculous idea! Have it in for you ? Why on earth should I have it in for you ? But I thing I know what you mean. You're thinking that I'm bearing a grudge agaiijst you because you sentenced me to a term of imprisonment which I didn't deserve ?" " Exactly."

Macßae was 'what is known as a straight man, but in his dealings with Sir Charles Hart he had lied time and again and had assured himself that the lies were justified. " You're wrong then," he said now. " If I've a grudge against you, it's one which I'm sensible enough to know I shouldn't have. You told me that you were working for Maurice Rollingward as against me in our mutual desire to marry Elaine. Beyond that there's no grudge." " I don't believe it," Hart insisted, gloomily. " I don't believe it, Macßae. I'm sorry, because you saved my girl's life, and if that had been lost; every happiness I've got would have been lost, too. I wish I could think that you weren't my enemy." , Macßae lighted a cigarette and, before replying, put his foot- on the burnedout match

" The sooner you switch your thoughts round, the better," he remarked. " Honestly, I can't understand your position. As I've said to you, and as I've said to Elaine, you were merely doing your job when you sent me to quod. It's perfectly true that I thought your summingup harmed me in the jury's eyes, and I did feel a certain resentment, once I began to realise the pleasure of prison life. Still, it's repeating myself to say that all that's over and done with. We've been friends since we met up here, and I hope the friendship will go on." " I don't know," Hart said. "It would be good for my peace of mind if I thought that we were real friends, but —I don't know."

lie was still unconvinced when they motored back up the loch road. (To be contimied daily.)