DRIVEN BY FATE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8740, 23 May 1914, Page 10

DRIVEN BY FATE

[PWIVLISTTED IT? SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.]

11Y. FLORENCE HOPE,

Author of “The Trials of Mad go Moberley,” “Tangled Threads,” “The Brown Rosary," etc., etc. (Copyright.) CHAPTER XlX—Continued. He had vowed to win Phyllie hy fair means or foul, and lio had sucooeded. “1 am his wife, Geoff, ini) wife, and I hato him,” cried the girl broken-

Hatherley’s face grow stern, ho held her away from him whilst ho strove to think, to form some plan to help tlio woman who belonged to him wholly in heart and soul, wrenched from' his arms by a foul stratagem, a shameful plot. How that man must have planned; to have had similar crosses made, howl clever ho was in his devilry; how oould ho cope with such a villain ? and how punish him.? But was it not enough tlmt the woman ho had plotted to. make Ids wife should hato him ? “Oh, Geoff! Gooff! what am I to do?” wailed poor Phyllis, . broken-i hoartedly. “I do not know yet, but I am your friend - still,' dear.- -You know that,] and I will do my utmost for yon,” war the. reply. . ' Hathorloy was thinking hard, lor; kho situation he was facing was a most; difficult one. Ho believed that Grim-i shaw would moot thorn, at the station! in London, furious at his wife liavingi -made her escape from him. Ho would] discover her absence, search for her.j then guess the truth that sho had) gone to her brother. Ho would tri-l nmph over tho fact that sho woukll find Jack gone, and return to tho station to meet tho trains from Ventnor likely to bring her back. Would it be worse for Phyllis to bo <oon with him? What had they hotter do ? In thro train they talked things over, and miserable at tho idea of going away with her husband, Phyllis could see that it would be tho only thing to do. Ho could claim. her hy law, sho belonged to him, ami judgment would go against her. Then, to he seen with hex former lover would bo damning, bad for her, and bad for, Hathorloy. “But Jack —I must know where ho is!” cried the girl, her pitiful eyes upraised to Geoff’s. “I will find Jack. I will let you know at once—a telegram from him, not signed by me; but you will have to watch for it. By eleven o’clock tomorrow morning you shall hear something, I promise. You will have to endure suspense until then, I am afraid. If necessary. I will enlist Mrs Lorrens into our service, and send her down to Marshsea to see you. and toll you about Jack. I .am certain 6lie would help us. You know she name over with me. as the lady she was with decided to remain with her relations out there. Mrs Lorrens is in London now. Who knows sho may have found Jack—has it ever struck you, Phyllis that those two are fond of one another?” said Hathorley.

“I know they are, but she is years older than he,” replied Phyllis. “An uncle has died and left her some money—enough to live comfortably upon. Quite a romance, isn’t it But she will tell you all about it when you two meet. She’s a dear woman, Phyllis.” “The very dearest ; but yon are not to think so,” retorted the girl with' a flash of her old coquetry. As they were not alone, he could not take her ,in his arms and kiss those sweet lips as ho desired, but had to ■content himself with pressing her hand hard in his. , So it was decided that Geoff should be lost to sight in the crowd, and Phyllis should summon up all her courage to face her husband—not an easy thing to do, for the girl guessed that Dare would bo enraged with "her. furious-at her daring to escape him. As they drew nearer to Loudon it was pitiful to see the pallor of Phyllis’s fade, the fear gather in her eyes, and the nervousness that she was doing her best to hide. But Geoff know, and his heart ached for her. If only he oonld kee>p her with him. Ah I heaven, if only she pvere his to guhi-d and keep for always! -‘-‘Phyllis!” he whispered,! crushing her-hand closer in, his clasp. She looked np at him with those pitifully frightened eyes that were bo innnbcent, so pure, so bravo, too. in spite of that look of fear in them, that Geoff caught back the paegjonate words that trembled on his lips, and all that ho whispered back was to, keep up her courage, to be brave. .... “Yea,” she murmured, Pyes, I will try to bo, but oh, Geoff! I —l don’t want you to leave mo.”

“I'll come- to you wherever I am. If you call to mo—a letter, a wire will bring me, remember, my darling. 1 am yours until death,” was the fervent response, and a. gleam of light crept to tho girl's eyes, a faint flush of colour to her cheeks.

“Gooff, it will be too late to go down to Marshlands to-night. \V© stoll probably, go to the Grand Hotel, that's where Dare always stays, so wire to mo tbearo, before ton if -possible, as wo may be leaving by eleven to-morrow.” said Phyllis. Ho promised to do so, and then for tho remainder of tbo journey, but a tew minutes, they wore silent, asilencc fraught with pain and anguish. Non:—aoy. thoy had arrived, tho train, rushed into Waterloo station, and stopped with a jerk. Phyllis put her head out of tho window and shuddered as she beheld Dare Grimshaw standing with watchful gaze upon tho' carriages. “Ho its there, and I am ready to face him,”' she said steadily, for her fears were giving place to anger that burned in her heart, that sho had been caught through tho foil lost treachery. ‘‘See,”' she said, “there are ways of Leaving tho train by both doors; ho will not you see you if yon get out that side.”

How brave sho was! thought Geoff. One, long look of infinite love, and trust..,* clasp,.of .the hands, and they had parted, and left the train by different doors. Phyllis went quietly up to her husband" who had not yet seen her. “I have come back,” she said coldly; 1 “you could have saved me the journey if yon had chosen to tell me Jack had loft Ventnor by yonr orders.” Hare gripped her arm, and not deigning to answer her, led her roughly -awav. .

She sank back in the cab he thrust her into, and. hoard him give the order to the Grand Hotel. Then sho was right, and To-mbr“r6w' sho would hoar from Geoff, she 'thought.

Just as the cab was starting, as Fate ,would have it, sho caught sight of illatherley stepping into a hansom, and 'to her dismay Dare Grimsliaw saw him Too.

Turning fiercely upon his wife he asked her if they had met. “Yes,” she answered, “wo met at Vcntnor, for lie, too, had gone there to .seo Jack.”

For tho first moment Phyllis thought iher husband was going to strike her; .his face was awful in its jealous fury. “'An arranged meeting, of course, but the last time you and,he will over 'meet. I’ll lake good care of that,” he 'hissed in her car, and spoke not another word.

CHAPTER XX.—AN INTERCEPTED LETTER.

Yes, indeed, it was so. Agatha Lorrens had inherited a fortune that would bring her in three hundred a year. She had travelled to England with Hathorloy. anxious to hear more than the formal letter of a lawyer, which had boon forwarded from one place to another until finally it.reached her in South Africa, could tellhfir. Now she was waiting anxiously to hear news of Jack, also of Phyllis, from Geoff, who told her ho would seo her directly ho returned from Ventnor. . . „ .

These two had become close friends, and had confided in ono another. It iwas a relief to Hathorley to bo able To speak of Phyllis and her marriage, to a woman like Agatha, who could sympathise and, understand a man’s .feelings. Now he had more to tell 'her; tho, tale of treachery that had broken the engagement, and destroyed in a blow all their hopes of happiness.

So after leaving Phyllis, Geoif went ;straight to. the hotel, where Agatha ■was staying, a quiet one in a street {leading out of tbo Strand, I It was late, past 9 o’clock, hut he felt he must see her, for she might by chanco have news of Jack.

“Oh, Dr Hatherloy, back so soon, and how is hep And What news of (Phyllis? Toll me quick. Something Jlias happened, I see it in your face/’ ;si 10 exclaimed, as sho drew him to an : alcove in the public drawingroom, where a few stray women sat, most of I them tired out after their day’s sight(seeing in London. , . “Yes.” said Geoff, “something has happened. You shall hear all. Are 'you afraid to come out with mo on the 'Embankment. We can’t possibly talk ihere.”

“I’ll come. Wait in the hall till 1 (join you,” answered Agatha, and a few minutes later was ready in coat I and hat, putting on her. gloves as she went. ' | “First of all, do yon know Jack's address? Ho has left Ventnor, and 1 must find him to-night,” said Geoff, ( after receiving Mrs Lorrens’ permisi Sion, to smoke.

“Why, no. I know nothing about him. Oh, Dr Hatherley, what has happened? You make me anxious,” replied Agatha. Then he told her everything, how he had met Phyllis,'the last person he ex peeled to see, and the story she had told him. “How terrible! What manner of man can this Mr Grimshaw be? His behaviour sounds like that of a man I once know who would stick at nothing. His name was Dare, too—a strange coincidence. Dr Hatherley, we must find Jack do-night. I -shall not return to the hotel until wo have done so. X shouldn’-t sleep. Ho might be ill. Oh, what shall we do?” At the thought Agatha quickened her step. She was agitated, troubled, and not wholly for the sake of Phyllis. “ Wo’could make inquiries at the flat,” suggested Geoff. “ Yes. Let ns drive there at once. The porter may know something. Ho would not go back there, at least, 1 shouldn’t think so. Oh, think hi him turned away from the hospital before he was fit to go. 1 can’t bear it” cried Agatha.

Geoff hailed a hansom, and they drove quickly to Chelsea.

The porter welcomed them cordially, bnt declared lo knew nothing of JMr Wentworth. He bad not come there. “ Perhaps ho has gone back to those old lodgings, where we firsf met. They aro in Hammersmith; let ns go there,” said Agatha, and through the still busy streets they rattled over the stones, the wood pavement, and stones again, then whirled round. a ! corner into the dull, narrow street, with the shabby stucco houses, that brought memories to them both. It was here where Geoff had met Phyllis for the second time—her© whore his heart had opened to the first thrill of love. The house looked dark and uninviting, but on- the top floor, through tli© dingy drawn blind, Agatha could see a light shining. That was the room that Jack had had before. Was he there now ?

Her heart beat fast. The hoy was very door to her. She owned it now, though of course it was foolish to dream of anything between them. She was far too old, and yet She was powerless to speak when tho door was opened by a slatternly woman, with a coarse face and features that looked sodden by drink, and it was Hathorley who made the necessary inquiries.

“Aye, sure, and he’s ’ere, but not for long, I should say ; he’s dyin’, that’s what he’s doin’,” said tho woman, in a mixed dialect of Irish and Cockneyism.

■ Agatha shook from head to foot, and her lips quivered. “ I am a doctor; please let me go to his room, and this lady will com© with me, but you know Mrs Lorrens,” said Hatherley. Tho woman peered into Agatha’s face curiously. “Aye, aye, conic you in. The lad’s (lyin’, 1 tell you. I’ve done what I could for ’im, but he’s past much doin’, and he owes three weeks’ rent, and ever such a bill for milk, that’s all he’s lived on. Well, come along up, it’s the top floor he’s on, but he asked for his old room, ns it was empty X let ’im have it. I tould him whiskey would do ’im more good than London milk, but ho won’t so much as taste a drop, and there lie bo is as weak as a rat, with a cough that tears ’im to pieces. You can go right in, doctor, and you too, Aire Lorrens You look rarely well, ma’am, and young—l shouldn’t ’are knoweet you,” "declared tho woman.

Jack Wentworth lay there asleep, and alone.

Tho room was poverty-stricken, almost bare of furniture, tbe one window open, and tho gas flaring in the draughtHatherley turned down the hissing flame, and" then joined Agatha, where she stood by the side of the narrow bed, looking at Jack. Geoff was .shocked at the change in las friend, holtor-cheeked, emaciated, black shadows beneath the eyes, sunk-en-chcstcd, he looked as if he had truly como to tho end of his tether.

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Agatha. Lorrens fell on her knees, her hands clasped upon the side of the bod.

They had noglectc-d him, they had left him alone, perhaps to did Ho began to cough, just short hacking barks, feeble at first, but becoming a paroxysm that awoke him. Moaning, he opened his eyes, and hia ga/.o fell upon the woman ho loved. Was ho dreaming? Ah, yes, it must ho a dream, come to taunt him in his loneliness, and sorry need of a friendBut what was this? Cool soft hands were 'touching his own, somebody wap raising him up, wiping his mouth, hold \ng a drink to his parched lips. “There, you are better now? Why didn’t yon let ua know. Jack, none of us knew that you were ill.” “Mrs Lorrens 1 and—Geoff!” gasped Jack.

“Yes, old chap, we’ve been searching for you, and found you at last. Don’t talk, I’m going to got you some medicine, and leave Mrs Lorrens with you. Ah, that’s right, it’s good I to seo you smile again. Ta, tad I’ll soon b© back.”

Making a sign to Agatha,. Geoff quietly left tho room, and Jack, with that smile still on his suffering face, lay still, one of Agatha’s hands clasping his. )le was not to dio alono, then, like a deserted dog, ho was glad of that, and his dark eyes turned gratefully to the woman beside him. '

When Hatherley returned, he found the room transformed. Agatha had not been idle, hut tidied tlje wretched place, and leaving the window open, had made a fire that burned brightly on the hearth.

Money can do so much, and the landlady was ready to do anything in her power, after gold had passed from Mrs Lorrens’s hand to hers. Clean linen was brought up from the drawing-room floor, towels, fresh water, pillows, and Jack already looked a shade better. “You are going to have a sleeping draught before we go,” said Geoff, opening the packet ho had hrougi. in with him.

“I’m not going. I’m Jack’s nurse,) come to stay,said Agatha decidedly. “No, no,” remonstrated the invalid,, feebly, “I’h not so bad as all that.” “Nevertheless, I am going to stay here to-night, and the doctor can call in the morning,” said Agatha, hang-, ing up her coat and pulling the long' pins from her hat. “May she really stay?” asked Jack,, turning to Hatherley. “I can’t prevent her, dear chap. She is a wilful woman, and must doas she pleases,” replied Geoff. So Agatha stayed, and when she Jayed her cool band upon Jack’s burning forehead, and told him he must obey her and try and sleep . again, ha whispered: “It is heaven to Have you here—yes, just heaven.” It was late when Geoff left them, and then he went at once to the Grand Hotel. People were flocking in after the theatres, there were supper parties going on, the place was. brilliant, with light and gay with laughter. He was told that Mrs Grimshaw had gone to her room long ago, and that Mr Grimshaw was out. Could he leave any message?, “This letter, which 1 must he given into Mrs Grimshaw’s own hands; to no one .else—you understand?” said, Hatherley, slipping, a piece of gold) into the man’s hand with the letter.

. “Yes, sir; certainly,, sir; it sha.lt be done.” replied the man, scenting a love affair that probably he supposedl would end in a divorce suit., For fear the letter might fall into Grimshaw’s hands. Geoff had only written a few words, and those stiff and formal. Dear Mrs Grimshaw, — Your brother’s address is q, Lenton street, Hammersmith. He is ill. but in good hands now. I think you ought to see him before you leave town if you can. —Yours very truly, Geoffrey Hatherley. As he quitted the hotel, Dare Grimshaw crossed the pavement, and for the second time that evening saw the man he had so cruelly wronged.

So he had been to the hotel in his absence, had probably watched him go out, had seen his wife. They were carrying on an intrigue—lovers once, lovers always. Well, they should find that Dare Grimshaw was not a mari complaisant, hut a man who would exact his rights, and no other man should step in between him and the woman who belonged to him by law. As he passed into the hotel his glance fell upon tho hall porter examining a letter that lay in his hand. Dare Grimshaw’e sight was sharp; he saw the address, “Mrs Grimshaw.” and quietly laid his hand upon the missive, saying: “For my wifethanks, I will take it upstairs to her. We shall be leaving early to-morrow. The luggage must be got down by 10 o’clock. Good-night.” “Lord! What was Ito do? Well, it ain’t my fault, anyhow,” muttered the man, as he hurried forward to answer a call.

But Geoff Hatherley’s note was never read by Phyllis, and by halfpast 10 the following morning Mr and Mrs Grimshaw were on their wayl to Marshlands, to the old house with! its dreary look-out upon the creeping waters, and the mud flats, where; Dare intended to keep Phyllis a! prfisoner. (To he continued.)