LADY CAREW’S SECRET

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 12648, 7 January 1927, Page 12

LADY CAREW’S SECRET

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

BY

ANNIE HAYNES.

Author of “The Manor Tragedy,” “The Tale of Lady Hannah, “Lent Lilies,” ‘ Pamela’s Cousins,” “A. Pawn of Chance, &e>, 4ci

[COPVRIC H T.j

CHAPTER XXII. ‘■Thought I was never going to see you again, regg>\” "Dill you?” The girl was walking with a slow, listless step through the • lonie Wood. Peggy had altered curiously oi late, her spirits had become capricious and variable, she was noticeably thinner and paler. She flushed hotly now as •die heard Stephen Crasster’s voice behind her. Since the day when Cheslerbani had so rudely torn the veil trow her eyes, she had avoided liei old friend as much as possible. Today, for the first time, she found herself alone with him. “And it seems to me that our lunch at Talgarth is never coming off,” Stephen went on lightly. “Vou are always engaged.” “Yes.” Peggy’s voice sounded muffled as she turned her face away. “Yes. it is very unfortunate. I was very much disappointed. It is so kind of you to ask me.” “Kind to myself.” Crasster smiled. “You might take pity on mv loneliness, Peggy; more particularly as my time for giving invitations to Talgarth is getting short.” , “What do you mean?” Peggy turned a startled face upon him. Stephen did not answer for a moment. “The Annesley Wards have always had a fancy for Talgarth,” he said slowly at last “I am going to let it to them, with the option of buying it at the end of the year.” “Y’ou are going to let Talgarth?” Peggy repeated iii tones of consternation. “Oh. Stephen, we thought you had come to settle down among us.” “So did 1 at first,” Stephen assented. “But l am beginning to fancy I. am a bit of a rolling-stone, Peggy. And, in any case, if I went on with my profession I shouldn’t have much tiine for Talgarth. It is no use keeping on a big house like that for one man.”

“it isn’t so very big,” Peggy said wisttully. “And why do' you say ‘if 1 went on with mv profession,’ Stephen ?” “ W l.v. because,” Crasster hesitated a moment, he bit his lip. “The fact is mi at Since 1 have corne into money, as rhe country folk . 1 suppose i am getting lazy. 1 leel 1 like to see. rather more of the world. There is an expedition starting for Central Africa ir, a couple of months’ time, and I have a chance of going with it, if I like ” “But you wouldn’t, Stephen,” Peggy exclaimed in startled tones. “I think I must, Peggy.” The girl winked back her rising tec vs. “I don’t see why.” Shephen glanced at her half-averted cheek, at the long upeurled lashes, at the mouth that trembled as she spoke. It took all his manhood’s strength of will to restrain the words . that would have torn the last vestige of doubt from Peggy’s mind, to keep up the light jesting tone that had become habitual to him of late when he was speaking to Peggy. “I think everything is changing, the girl went on, her voice quivering. “And I—l like things to stop always the same.” ’ Stephen’s smile held more of sadness than of mirth. “Change is the law of this world, little Peggy. Haven’t you learnt that, child?” There was silence for a minute, broken by a hoarse sob in Peggy’s throat. “I ought to havj,” she flashed out suddenly. “Antnonv has changed, so has Judith. I should not know either of them now ,and you have altered, and —and Lorrimer.” She dropped her voice as she spoke her lover’s name. , “Surely he has not changed.” Stephen was half laughing, as he spoke, but his eyes showed a keen anxiety. “Or if so, it is only for the better,” he concluded jestingly. * Peggy did not look round, she shivered a little. “Oh, he is only like everybody else. I suppose you will tell me i must get used to it.” “I, at least, shall never change in one way,” Stephen said gravely. “I shall always be your friend, Peggy.” “Oh, you say so now,” the girl answered pettishly, still keeping her face turned nyvay. “But a friend isn’t much good to one, if lie is at the other side of the world.” “I would come from the other end of the world to serve you,” Stephen declared hoarsely. . “You know that. Don’t make it too nard for me, child.” “I should like to make things so hard for you that you couldn’t go at all,” Peggy retorted with some of her old spirit. “Tell the Annesley Wards they can’t have Talgarth; keep it for yourself, Stephen !” “I can’t Peggy. Don’t ask me, child.” Peggy turned took one swift glance at his face, then looked away, her own cheeks paling. But she did not

speak, anfl they walked on in silence, past the Heron’s moat, with its’ giant bulrushes and glory of golden kingcups, to the Dower House. The dowager Lady Carew was sitting out on the lawn. At sight of the two .figures beside, her, Peggy's face ■ altered curiously, her. footsteps faltered, she glanced behind as though she would willingly have turned back. But it was too late; already she had been seen, anil Ghesterham was coming to meet them. “I didn’t expect you to-day,” Peggy said as he greeted them. “I thought you were in London.” • “Did you? That isn’t a very warm greeting Peggy. I found my business could wait awhile,” Ghesterham said carelessly, as he took possession of her, and he and Crasster exchanged a curt nod. ‘‘Y’our brother and I have been having a business talk, and now Lady Carew has asked me to stay for lunch.” They all walked back together to the weeping willow, where, the. dowager Lady Carew had established herself, her stepson beside her. He looked up as they approached. “What is this I hear about you letting Talgarth, Crasster?” “I don’t know what you may have heard,” Stephen laughed. “But I am. going to let it to the Annesley Wards.” Sir . Anthony looked at him. “I thought you had' come to be near your friends. We looked upon you as a permanent neighbour.” “You are very kind, all of you,” Stephen responded, speaking with apparent carelessness. “But I find that I am lost without my work, and it is better to wear out than rust out, Anthony. However, it is possible there may be a hitch vet; tlie Annesley Wards may draw bach.” “1 hope they will,” Sir Anthony said heartily. “We can’t afford to spare you, Stephen, things have gone crookedly enough of late, goodness ’ knows, without that.” His eyes went across to his future brother-in-law, who was standing by Peggy’s side a few paces away.

Sir. Anthony frowned as be noticed the girl’s freshness and innocence, the man’s coarseness, his marks of evil living. “Ghesterham,” he called out suddenly, “I hope it isn’t true you have given the Westerburys notice* to leave the Hofne Farm, and that you are letting it to Hiram Lee.” “Oh, yes.” Ghesterham affected to laugh, though there Was a gleam in his eve that betokened anything but amusement. “I may put Hiram Lee in to manage it. I think 1 shall until I. see liow things turn out. Hiram has come into some money' from a distant relative lately; he has turned over a new leaf.” “He has need,” Sir Anthony said significantly. “They are a bad lot those Lees, Ghesterham. lam sorry to hear they are favourites of yours.” Ghesterham darted a swift look at him, frowning the while. “I don’t know that they oan be described exactly as favourites of mine,” he said shortly, “but I don’t forget old Iriends. And I used to spend a good deal of time here when I was a. child, Sir Anthony, a fact that has probably escaped your memory.” ' “Np I I remember you well enough,” Sir Anthony contradicted. “'But I don’t know where the Lees come in.” “You wouldn’t,” Ghesterham said gently, “but I had rather a bad time of it at Ghesterham in those days. I was only a bit of a boy, you know,” he went on in his slow, drawling tones, “and my grandmother was dead, iny grandfather turned me more or less over to the servants’ care. My happiest days were spent in the Lees’ cottage, playing with old Betty’s grandson, Ronald. Hiram, Jie was a stripling then, was very good to us both, to me and the boy Ronald. Even if the Lees have managed to fall into disrepute with the good folk of the neighbourhood, I can’t quite forget them. You wouldn’t wish me to, would you, Peggy?” raising his voice as his fiancee sprang from her seat on the table and came towards them. “Wouldn’t wish you to forget the Lees?” Peggy repeated doubtfully. “N—No, I suppose not. Not if they were really good to you, Lorrimer. But I don’t like them. That old Betty Lee always. frightens me. I shouldn’t care to see much of her myself. She looks a dreadful old woman, I think. But don’t let us talk any more of the Lees: I want some tennis, Stephen, and I will take you and Lorrimer, Anthony.” “It is much too hot to play,” Sir Anthony grumbled. But as usual Peggy had her way. She had the first serve. As Stephen stood opposite to Ghesterham, and the latter raised his arm to take the ball, Stephen for the first time caught sight of the Ghesterham star just above the wrist. It was, as Lennox had said, almost identical with the mark which Crasster himself had seen in the very same place on the arm of the man who died in the Abney Court flat. (To be' continued.)