ON THE ALTAR OF LOVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19608, 9 April 1927, Page 16 (Supplement)

ON THE ALTAR OF LOVE.

BY, L. G. REDMOND HOWARD.

CHAPTER Vl.—-(Continued.) That very evening, by the last post, there left from the castle a letter in a woman's hand addressed to a well-known London detective agency. . . The butler noticed the address, but said nothing. It was his duty to say nothing, except, like a good servant, to see everything, in case at any future time he were interrogated. Had he been able to see through the envelope, or bad he been curious or even suspicious, and opened the letter with the same positive sense of duty as he felt the negative sense of duty, he would have read as follows: — Dear Sirs,—l should be glad if you would kindly prosecute exhaustive enquiries in the following matter:— A short time ago, as you will see by looking up the papers, there was a mysterious motor accident outside the park gates of Lord Malcolm Vaughan's place. f The occupants comprised John Merton, who was killed, and his wife, a young woman formerly the cashier in his drapery establishment at Wallington. An imp ate of some north of England institution, she managed to acquire some hold over her employer, or vice versa, and it is to the latter" point that I would matters depend tipon this. Possibly the local police or some of draw your attention, for many important her former companions might throw light upon the matter. In any case, you have my instructions to prosecute all necessary inquiries, and I shall be responsible for all expenses you incur in so doing. Awaiting regular reports from you from time to time, whenever you get information of importance, believe me, Yours faithfully, Nita Summers. A postscript giving a " poste restante" address in London, and urging the most " imperative secrecy," concluded the epistle, upon which so much was to depend. In all probability, had the letter been discovered or its contents known to her hosts, it would have meant a very peremptory and unceremonious exit for the sender.

A woman capable of sending such a missive, however, was not likely to be wanting in the duplicity which it presupposed. Hence the complete change, which Fay was surprised to see, in the woman, who had deliberately insulted her, and, in fact, thrown dawn ..the gage of battle. "My dear, I'm so glad they've offered you the job; you simply must' take it. You must not think me jealous or anything like that," began Nita, as she went immediately she had written tho letter—as a matter of fact, still' wiping the wet ink from her fingers. " I am afraid we have misjudged each other," and she went into a long explanation of her conduct. She told Fay—and how was Fay to know that she was not sincere ?—how society is formed for mutual protection, just like a trade union. Just as workers resent blacklegs, so gentlefolk have rerooted antipathy to trade. But, of course, there were exceptions to every rule, and as people got to know each other the " rule of thumb " code of hate made way for real friendships. " Candidly, I misjudged you, child." And she added, "No doubt you misjudged me, too, did you not?" Could anything be more open, inOre honest, more above board, between two women ?

Fay, the very soul of truthfulness and honour, fell as easily into the trap as a hare runs into a noose.

" Please forgive me," said the younger girl. " I know I have no right to be here. I did not try—you know. It was a sheer accident. But the Vaughans are so good, so kind, that I should be only too glad if I could be of use to them just to show my gratitude." " So you will, my dear, so you will. Take the position. I say that a.s a friend, and look upon me as such, and perhaps I can come to see you when you are Lady Caroline Tearle's private secretary."

" Oh, of course! Why, you are on© of the family, so to speak. I shall still be employed," said Fay. " Anything I could do for the family I would. I'd lay down my life for any of them." "You really mean that?" said Miss Summers, her dark eyes flashing fire.. Then it was that Nita the vanquished sought her revenge, the most diabolical revenge one woman can have upon another. ,

" Well, then," said the friend, "swear you will not allow Lord Malcolm Vaughan to fall in love with you. It is not that I want him myself; that's not it. But, oh! don't take offence at what I am going to say. I mean it in no personal or offensive way, but as heir to vast estates. You must understand. Sweet as you are—well, you might even be an angel—but the world is cruel; we can't change it. But the lines of class are very definite. They might be nice to you to your own face. It is not that. But if you are not of the same rank—a lady, in fact—you might ruin his career and jeopardise his position in the countrv. and later his power in politics. His wife must be a lady.'" Breathless with emotion, there followed the Judas kiss: and ,poor Fay, to whom tho very possibility was boyond her remotest thoughts, let alone ambitions, was about to swear when the door opened gently and 4he two women heard the soft voice of Lord Malcolm Vaughan exclaiming: " Where's my little lady ? "

Was it a mere coincidence, or had their conversation been overheard ?

CHAPTER VII. lady Caroline's new secretary.

Whether it was by accident or by design that Lord Malcolm Vaughan had used th 6 quaint expression, "Where is my little lady ?" at the very moment he did Fay could never quite mako out. Neither of the women had heard him knock and enter, and neither could say whether or not he had overheard their conversation.

Had the door remained open and Nita, in her anxiety to nip in the bud all possibility of romance, allowed her voice to penetrate into tho passage ? That again was a mystery. Nor could either of them discover from tho man's subsequent remarks a clue either way. The peer had a volume of poems under his arm. He handed it to Fay, with a casual remark about their beauty, and then asked Nita to coma down and discuss a picnic for tho morrow with his mother, and with the utmost courtesy escorted her to the drawing room. As soon as she was left to her own thoughts Fay tried to sum up the situation in which she now found herself.

Only a few days ago, falsely accused, she was living in the very .shadow of the prison cell. Then had come Merton's offer—or rather threat —of marriage, by which she had been saved—or rather, again, thrust into a deeper hell. Then, within a few hours of the supreme sacrifice, the act of God had occurred by which Merton had been sent to his doom, and she herself snatched as a brand from the burning, though only to find herself a beggar once again. Yet, even at the moment of darkness, a light shone from behind the clouds, for sho not only found friends, but —could it be ?—lovo as well.

The wonderful courtesy and respect of Lord Malcolm Vaughan she had, of course, noticed from tho very first. But the first words she had overheard told her that there was something deeper and stronger below if—something of which she "felt herself unworthy—something that was too glorious even for hope. At least, such was her feeling; and then the words of Nita came back to her. Evidently sho did not think it beyond tho realm of possibility, or\she would not have uttered the warning.

Then carno the tragedy of tragedies. Even if he loved her, there was that terrible bar of rank that separated them. She'was no

A THRILLING ROMANCE OF LOVE AND INTRIGUE.

(COPYRIGHT.)

At least—and as the words seemed to poise in mid-air before her mental vision there came a distant recollection of long, long ago—before the days at the orphanage—a large house, servants, horses, carriages, gardens; but whether it was fact or fiction, romance or reality, she could not say. Besides, what means had she of ever finding out ? To all intents and purposes sho was no lady, and that's all there was about it—however delicate her hands and skin were, however sensitive her nature, however aspiring her soul. Yet Nita was a lady by birth, but—well, there were things which this woman could do which Fay would rather have died than do. What, then, was a lady if one might be a lady without knowing it and go by that name, yet not behave like one ? It was a problem which, alas! has troubled more women than Fay, and been the insurmountable debacle of thousands of broken romances. But she did not seek to solve it. The hard facts of life were what she had to face. If a gentleman would be ruined by marrying one of her class, then, whatever it might cost her, she would see to it that no one, least of all this wonderful man who had been so kind to her, should suffer by her selfishness. She did not care if this meant a victory for her rival. If it was an unalterable law of life it was quite sufficient. But was it ? The next day Nita Summers left unex« pectedly for London, called away upon an important matter of business. At least, that was what she tokl Lady Vaughan, but the explanation did not seem to have convinced the latter. "Business," said Lady Vaughan, as her son told her. "Why, what does Nita know about business ? I did not know she had a business." "Ah, well, dear," replied the boy, "I suppose sho must try and make ends meet somehow.

"Yes, but Well, only yesterday we had arranged for a picnic, I thought, for to-morrow—was it not 1"

"A wire came, dear," said Lord Malcolm Vaughan. -"And as soon as she had read it she became ouite white, threw it into the fire, and explained that she would liavo to take the next train up to town. You were out driving at the time, mater." The old lady just raised her eyebrows and shrugged her shoulders with an air of passive resignation and relief. "Well, well! Nita is a strange girl—very unlike her poor mother! I'm sure I wish her the best of luck in life, but she seems to go the wrong way about it. Perhaps she is the type of the modern girl. If so . But there, one must not bo uncharitable." And then she looked tenderly at her son, and said: "I do not think, Malcolm, that she would make the best mistress for Vaughanhurst. Do you love her? I think she is in love with you, anyway." This gave the son the opportunity he had desired for some time to speak, to his mother upon the all-important subject of matrimony.

"My dear mater, any'of your guests are, of course, welcome, but don't ask more of me than courtesy as far as Nita is concerned. I arn quite aware that she is looking for a husband—or, shall I say, an income ? But what has she to give in return —affection, love, sacrifice, do you think? Why, there is ten times more character in Fay's little finger than in Nita's whole body." "Yes, she is a sweet child. I too, fell in love with her at first sight." And without saying a word more the old lady walked through the conservatory into the grounds, lost in thought.

A few days later Fay was well enough to go out into the garden. A princess of the blood could not have been treated with more consideration. She could not understand it. She was a stranger—to them, and yet these people seemed to vie with each other in putting thir wealth, their time, and their comforts at her disposal. It seemed to be part of their code of life, and the mains reason—strangest of all—the fact that she was quite unable to repay them in anything but words of gratitude. She was lying back in the sun, resting, with the nurse at her side, thinking how wonderful the old class, so misunderstood to-day, was now that she could observe it from the inside, when she saw Lord Malcolm Vaughan coming across tho lawn, a letter in his hand. "Ah," he said. "I have some good news for my little friend." "Indeed!" said Fay. "What can it be?" And she glanced at the postmark. "This is a letter from Aunt Lady Caroline Tearle," replied Malcolm Vaughan. "You know my mother spoke about her tho other day as wanting a secretary for her charity work?" "Oh, yes, of course," replied Fay. "But I did not think that you would take such trouble so soon. I it as a sort of abstract suggestion." " Why, nothing that we can do, my mother and I, would be a trouble as far as you are concerned. She wrote the very n<jxt day, telling her all about you, and my aunt has fallen in love with you, too." The accent Lord Malcolm Vaughan placed upon the last word left no doubt about his meaning. The nurse suddenly remembered that it was imperative that sho should rush into the house to see about certain prescriptions. and they were left alone. Lord Malcolm Vaughan took tho letter out of its crested envelope. "My aunt, you know, is the most decent soul —has a heart like a mediaeval saint, though she is a woman of the world to her finger tips. But let me read it out—may I ?" "Oh, certainly!" replied Fay. Ho skipped a lino or two —just family affairs—and then, picking up the item referring to the secretaryship, continued: " 'Now about your little protegee, dear. Why, of course, I shall be delighted to have her. When can sho come? I am ready for her at once. I will get a room next my own for her, because, to tell you tho truth, I want her to bo a companion as well, and a friend. If you like her I know I shall like her. I am especially glad that, as you say, she has a sweet disposition. It means everything when dealing with such matters as I am dealing with. But for goodness' sake don't let her think that I am doing this out of charity. As it happens, sho will find that I have lots of work for'her if she is not afraid of work, so that she can feel she is earning her salary.' The words were like a soft summer breeze upon her soul—this ieeling that there were people in tho world who could appreciate her—that all her struggles to build up her character upon an ideal had not been in vain! For a second or two she could find no words, and then, as she managed to get out a simple "Oh, thank you, thank you very mucri—it. means salvation to me," two great salt tears welled up into her eyes, blotting out the landscape, and then rolled down her cheeks.

Lord Malcolm Vaughan did not speak. He understood, and was silent; but she felt a sort of golden link being forged between their souls.

After all, his aunt's kindness was only the reflex of his own, for were not the words he had just spoken merely an answer to the sentiments which he must have dictated to his mother when sho was writing to her sister, Lady Caroline ?

In other words, the letter was not so much an appreciation of her by an unknown third party as a declaration of his own inmost feelings toward her. Oh, the rapture of the moment—none but a woman can understand it—-when a man first opens the portals of his heart to the woman he adores. A gentle pressure of the hand, a smoothing of her pillow, and the adjustment of her rugs—nothing more—but it was enough. They knew they were in love. , , , The formal declaration, the fated words of the ritual, when he would ask her to be his wife, would follow in due courso. But in the meanwhile each would keep the glorious secret of their love ono from the other, deep in the treasure house of their hearts.]

A week later, the doctor declared that Fay . was well enough to travel, and it was at once arranged that they should all go up to London together. It was long before their usual visit to town, for they generally spent half the year in the country, and Fay at once protested against the plan. Lady Vaughan, however, with the subtle diplomacy of her kind, was ablo to assign a thousand and one different reasons why their visit should this year doincide with Fay's convalescence. . , Lord Malcolm Vaughan, too, declared that nothing would keep him away from a mysterious school friend who was coming back for a year's leave from the Andaman Islands, and was probably arriving by the next boat, but he was not very circumstantial when his mother, who knew all his friend?, cross-examined him innocently. 1 ..-an. When at last, cornered, he said, Why, you remember Smith, mother; you know old Smith," both laughed, and Fay knew that she was experiencing yet another o! their thousand acts of kindness. Fay had never seen London in her life, save "the sights one gets in story books at school and in the few novels she had been able to read in-her spare time after her work was done at Morton s. Wonderful as it to the humble provincial who first approaches it with_ the awe of a Dick Whittington, it is ten times more wonderful when seen through the eyes of the class whose riches and positson has made it what it is, and this was the first glimpse which Fay Merton—oh, how she hated the name!—was destined to get of the great Metropolis. At Vaughanlrarst the family up a certain amount of the old-wor d pomp, but the relations between master and servant were more or less intimate, as is the case toward old retainers, but in London it was quite a different kind of pomp. They were met at Paddington by a liveried chauffeur and footman, silent as the grave and obedient as machines. A valet stepped out of the limousine, and after a few words with Lord_ Malcolmn Vaughan went to look after their luggage, while they stopped into the car and were whirled into the traffic like a ship along a stream. • It was night, and the great buildings looked like gigantic cliffs on either side of them, and to Fay it seemed almost a miracle that there was not a collision at nearly every street corner. " She was too moved to speak, and her hosts, guessing her looked on, benignly smiling. Gradually the traffic became thinner, the shops gave way to private houses, the buildings grew further apart, and here and there great open spaces appeared—the fashionable squares she had heard of so much. At the corner of one of these tne car stopped. . Immediately, almost by instinct, as the footman, springing from his seat upthe steps below the portico, touched the bell, the door flew open, revealing a spacious hall flagged with white marble and decorated with stags' and boars' heads and those of other wild beasts.

"Hero wo are! This is Aunt Caroline, child—your future home," said Lord colni Vaughan, and the next moment it seemed to Fay as if she had suddenly, like Cinderella, been turned into a "lady and entered the fairy palace.

Lady Caroline Tearle, though about fifty, was the sweetest old lady that Fay thought she had over seen, even in picture-books —tall, slender, and graceful, and with an ever-present smile upon her lips that looked like sunlight on a stream. Lady Vaughan introduced her protegee. "So this is the wonderful child," began Lady Caroline Tearle, "of whom you have been telling me in all your letters. So they had written several times, then. Every moment Fav seemed to discover new evidence of their kindness to her. How could she ever be able to repay them! Without further ceremony Ladv learle advanced toward her and kissed her, just as if she had been one of her own , family. "There! Now we are going to be the best of friends, are we not, dear ? I'm going to make you feel at home at once, and for that reason I have asked a girl whom you have already met, and who has been raving about you to me " Someone who knew her! The next moment the mystery 1 was solved, for Ladv Tearle continued: "Why, Miss Summers—Nita, of courseshe's staying here for a few weeks. Aay felt as if she could faint. Even Ladv Vaughan and Malcolm winced, visiblv. "Why, what is the matter?" said Lady Caroline, as if she had made some faux pas." (To be continued daily.)