THE LUCK OF THE LINDSAYS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12622, 6 December 1926, Page 4

THE LUCK OF THE LINDSAYS

(PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.)

BY

MARGARET TYNDALE.

[C O P Y R I G H T.l

CHAPTER XXVI—THE LUCIC OF THE HOUSE. It was Julia’s only regret that her widowhoow forbade tier wearing the orange blossom and veil of which she had also been deprived at her first, marriage; but, nevertheless, she decided that lor very joy in the crowning of her heart’s love her wedding should be just as brilliant as the former ceremony had been severe. From Paris, therefore, came a gown of wonderful shellpink satin trimmed with little cascades of pearls and lace, that set the girl dancing with pleasure as she feasted her eyes upon them. From her hat depended a veil of beautiful filmy lace that had been in the possession of the Lindsay family for generations, for Julia had determined to be as “bride-like” as possible. Phyllis Montague was to be her lady-in-waiting, for tho girl felt that she could never forget as long as she lived the kindness that had come to her from utter strangers in the hour of her bitterest need, and Jack Montague and his wife were consequently among the most honoured guests at her wedding, while it really seemed as if the bridegroom endeavoured to outdistance even Julia in bis attentions to them.

Lady Violet Gilderoy was scarcely less welcome, for she and Adela had now become fast friends, both realising that the years had brought out qualities all undreamed of in the days that were gone. Rumour had coupled Lady Violet’s name with a certain Sir Maurice Harding during the past season, but perhaps only Adela fully realised that, in spite of the fact that Stanley Gordon had proved himself so utterly unworthy of her love, there could never be anyone else in her life, and although the years that came after might deaden her sorrow, they would never diminish the fidelity Of a woman who had once been thought to be a mere soulless butterfly, whose whole thoughts were centred upon the gaiety of the world in which she moved and had her being. Edward Conyngham had prevailed upon his cousin to promise that she would go abroad with his. mother during the winter, since he believed that Lady Conyngham would miss him a great deal at first, and Lady Violet who, it would seem, had secretly dedicated her life to the service of others, gladly arranged to do so. Rut if Edward had believed that she might forget in travel the thoughts that pursued her while at home, he was destined to disappointment, a fact of which he gradually became aware, and reading it by the light’of his own experience, he came to understand the depths of an affection that kept its subject bound with strong chains even to the grave. The wedding-day broke fine and warm, for the autumn had brought with it an Indian summer which cast a spell over the earth, causing it to blossom afresh in the glory of the radiant sunlight. Julia was up with the lark, and insisted upon putting •in an untimely appearance among the guests assembled at the Priory for the day’s ceremony. “You should be up in your room,” laughed Adela, as the girl insisted upon taking her usual place at lunch. “You are not supposed to be seen until you stalk down the aisle, you know.”

“And did you really think I was going to stay up there all by myself, while you people are down here haring a merry time? No, thank you all the same! I played shuttlecock with the silly little piece of chicken that Andrews imagined was the only thing I was entitled to, and flew down here as fast as I could tumble to escape from her utterly shocked expression. Poor Edward! It’s a shame he can’t be here, too; but I expect he’s enjoying himself anyway. Hello, Norah! It will be your turn next, I’m thinking. My word, I never thought Donald could blush so! You will have to hurry if you are going to fulfil your duties properly, won’t you? Oh dear, Ido believe I am beginning to get nervous 1”

She looked down suddenly at her hands, now empty of the emblem which had brought so much sorrow into her life. But to-day she only remembered that the man she loved was to place upon her finger the pledge of their mutual love and faith "until death did them part.” “Phyllis!” she exclaimed, “which is my right hand and which is my left? I have got stage-fright, 1

think —I can’t really tell which is which. If you see mo looking helpless, please, give me a pinch on the left arm, then I’ll know which one I am to hold out for the ring. I feel just as if I am going to have a tooth out. Don’t you think I could have chloroform, and just wake up in time to cut the cake? Oh, Ido hope Edward’s sword will be sharp—though really I think a hammer would do better to break through that terrible erection. It doesn’t look possible that there’s all sorts of nice things underneath that marble surface. It would have been much better if I’d kept to my room after all; I’m much too excited to be allowed out so early in the day.” Donald at this moment made a hasty departure, for his duties as best man necessitated that he should seek out Edward Conyngham as soon as possible; but he had felt compelled to put in an appearance at the Priony because he knew that Norah Beechfield was to be there, and matters had already been settled most satisfactorily for Donald in that quarter, so that he contrived to see the girl he was to marry the following spring as often as opportunity would allow. An hour later a truly radiant bride passed down the aisle on her husband’s arm beneath the crossed swords of the officers of his regiment who had formed themselves in two lines, constituting a glittering archway for the happy pair. The ceremony had been a perfect success, in spite of Julia’s fears to the contrary, and she neither forgot which was her left hand nor the proper response to make at the correct moment.

Then the carriage door was closed, and they drove back through the verdant lanes to the Priory. On entering, Edward had taken Julia’s hand, and he still held it in a silence too deep tor words, for lie knew that the sacredness of those few momeiiTs would never return so poignantly—the first moments after they had been made one in the sight of God and man. Then, as the old Priory came into view, lie- raised his wife’s hand to his lips. “God bless you, Julia,” he said fervently. “And God keep us both one in heart and mind for ever.” And the girl who had been, but a little while since, all chatter and laughter, said never a word, for her (husband’s prayeT was echoed with truest earnestness in the depths of her soul. Adela was one of the first to return from the church, and she greeted them with a fund of secret thankfulness that the frail bark of her stepdaughter’s happiness had at last sailed safely into port. Had she been able to choose, she could not have wished for a better husband for Julia than Sir Edward Conyngham* and she knew that this feeling was shared by him who indeed Shared every thought. Then the wonderful cake was cut and healths were drunk, and Julia’s eyes grew very tender as she listened to the speeches of her husband’s friends, and realised in what affectionate esteem they one and all held tho man who had chosen her—all unworthy as she deemed herself —to be the dear companion of his life. • And when the healths had all been drunk, Edward Conyngham proposed a toast which came as a surprise to all present—the Luck of the Lindsays. Alec himself replied, eager to abow his appreciation of the man who was now his eon-in-law. He told them all how the atone had been lost, and how its disappearance had caused estrangement and sorrow in the familv, which, however, had at last been ended by th«* timely intervention of a man who was then little more than a stranger, but who had shown himself worthy of a nearer and dearer title.

“Therefore.” saTd Alec Lindsay, “if it is your pleasure to honour myself and my family by drinking this toast to the luck of our house, I would ask you to couple with it the name of one of the chief factors in to-day’s ceremony —the name of Sir Edward Conyngham.” And for some reason Julia’s eyes sought those of her step-mother, while as the two women realised how utterly different their lives would both have been without the timely intervention of which Alec Lindsay had spoken, they silently raised their glasses and drank to the luck of their house and to the man who had brought it back to them again. (Tho End.)