DRIVEN BY FATE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8739, 22 May 1914, Page 8

DRIVEN BY FATE

[Published bt Special Ap.uaxgehFiXT.]

E t FLORENCE HOPE,

Author of “The Trials of Madge Moberley,” “Tangled Threads,’’ “The Broun Rosary,” etc., etc. (Copyright.) CHAPTER XIX.—MORE TREACHERY. “Yes, I’m hotter now —I fainted, didn’t I? Ah, I remember, I came to geo Jack, my brother, and you told me he had gone. Was he quit© well then?” said Phyllis, looking up in the doctor’s face. “No, X should not ©ay that, hut better, oh, yes, or I should not have let him leave. But candidly, Mrs Grimshaw, I should have wished him to stay longer. Your husband, however, wrote saying he had been hero long enough, ho considered, so Mr Wentworth left us a month ago.” “And his address, he is in London, I suppose?” questioned Phyllis. She was beginning to understand—and the truth was hitter as gall to her. Dare, her husband, had married her, but would do no more for Jack. His promises—boh I they meant nothing, nothing at all. “Yes, I believe he went back to town, hut I have had no further communication with him since he left. 1 am very sorry for your disappointment, Mrs Grimehaw, surprised, too, at your coming. I thought your husband would have told you “Mr Grimshaw tells m© nothing, but why did you not answer my letters?” cried Phyllis. “I received none, none from you,” was the reply. Then Phyllis closed her lips; there was nothing more to say. So Dare had kept her letters back. He could do so mean a thing as that I “You must not go yet, Mrs Grimshruw; do not thank of it. You are upset,’ said the doctor, as he saw she was preparing to leave. “Thank you, hut I must got back to town by the very next train. I’m sorry 1 dismissed the cab; it is so far to the station,” answered the girl, looking very whit© and weary. “You shall have my motor-car. 1 will order it at once, if you really must go,” said Hr Branecombe. “You are very good. Yes, please let me have it, I shall bo grateful,” said Phyllis. And so in a few minutes she was being whirled along the white dusty road tip to the station again. The sea lay sparkling in th© sunshine. little whitoeailed boats tossed on the foam-crested waves. Tentnor was looking lovely as ever, trees were bursting into leaf, the May blossom, white here, crimson there,- and the lilac and laburnums were pushing forth their glorious flowers, scented manves and golden rain. Alas! Phyllis noticed none of tho beauties around her. Hot tears of anger and bitterness filled her eyes. She was smarting under this fresh trouble, this new blow that had hit her hardest of all. She was so helpless; sho had married to help Jack, sacrificed herseit

for him, and what a sacrifice it tra® no one but herself would ewer know. She was more penniless than when a poor hard-working girl, for the little money she earned had been her own. Now

She clenched her hands, and hit her lip in the passion of her trouble. She hated Dare Grimshaw, hated her husband !

A hired cab was coming down the road, driven fast; evidently the passenger was in haste to reach his destination, and unconsciously Phyllis turned her eyes upon the person inside, but already ho had seen her, and loaning out made violent gestures for the motor-car to stop Then it was that Phyllis in amazement recognised Geoff Hatherloy* One look was enough; all was forgotten, save that he, the only man she had loved truly, was before her. She sprang out of the car, and gave him her hands. She wanted a friend so much, she was distraught with misery, alone, unhappy. < ‘ Phyllis I I am on my way to see Jack, and ask him for your address—he is at the hospital?” stammered Hatherley, scarce knowing what ho said, desperate to take the girl in his arms, comfort her in the sorrow that had made its mark on her exquisite face, for she was lovelier than over, and tell her that he —even now, in spite of all—would bo true till death. “It is no use you going to tho hospital. Jack has gone. lam hastening back to London to se© him. We will go together. Yes, i can return w|tk you in your cab ; then we can talk.” With rapid speech and movement Phyllis dismissed tho car, and stepped into the hired cab, Geoff by her side. He took her hands in his, holding them close, and for some moments neither could speak; their hearts were too full for words, they were together, and, alas I —divided, for Dare Grimshaw’s shadow fell between them. “My God!” uffcispered Geoff. “ You —you car 3 still,” answered Phyllis under her breath. “Care I I love you, shall love you till death,” was the passionate reply. The temptation was too strong, he had her in his arms, and she did not resist. She felt safe there, it seemed her rightful place, and she clung to him despairingly. Let him kiss her as he would, cyos, chocks, "throat and lips, frenzied kisses that had hunger and thirst in them, and a terrible longmg“But why—why did you send back tho cross? Ah, Geoff, that did it all. What could I do? You were faithless, it did not seem to matter much what I did, I just had to think of Jack. I had no one else, and so—so

She was sobbing ont her anguish, still clinging close about him. ‘‘l was never false; I sent’ back no cross. See, put your hand here, my darling, can’t you feel it against my breast; but mine to you, that came back, and broke my heart. How could you dear? How could you?” Hurried explanations followed. Geofl vowed he had had no thought of any woman but Phyllis, was working for her, living for her, and her alone, and then the truth began to dawn upon them both that there had been foul play, and a fiend had parted them, and that fiend was Dare Grimshaw. (To be continued.)