CHAPTER VIII.-AT HOME AGAIN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10589, 5 September 1896, Page 3

CHAPTER VIII.-AT HOME AGAIN.

Cindra's visit and the doubts that led to it were untoward circumstances upon which Sadgrove had not counted. Although it seemed scarcely possible, that anything could happen to suggest her' relationship to Mr Annison, be knew that the chapter of accidents is often one of the most important in the "Book of Life." and until Cindra left England, and Mr Annison set forth upon bis longer journey, it would be impossible to feol absolutely safe: , *

Extremely anxious to ascertain what prospect there existed of Mr Aunuon's speedy departure,' on the day after Cindra's visit, having provided an excuse—never very difficult to find,—he set forth to'Westringham and, admitted by Digby, learned that Mr Annison was better than he bad been Jor some weeks.

"That's good news," said Sadgrove, with the expression of a man trying to smile at a bad joke. " Perhaps yon will tell him that I am here."

Mr Annison sat in his wheeled chair in the front room, 'and Maud, looking deliriously cool in one 'of' the new cotton .dresses fashioned by. Miss Hardinge's, dressmaker, was leaning over a tray full of hawthorn branches, which she had gathered . with Claude's assistance that morning. "Don't run away," cried Mr Annison as she dropped the hawthorn and made towards the door; "stop andhear:what Sadgrove has to say. Nothing very important, I'll swear."

Feeling that one at least of Digby's eyes was upon her, Maud kept her face to tbe wall till the butler quitted .the room: She had become so accustomed to life at Shottenden that it often needed a strong effort to convince her that the past.was. not a chimera. A dual existence sbe seemed to lead—tbe one part of it as real or as illusory as the other. In a manner Robert had .passed ont of her life, whilst yet he dominated it. At home, even during his recent absences, she had performed no act without Weighing its effect upon him; now, instead of wondering whether he would like this.or that,:her movements were regulated to win Mr Annison's approval, or more often Claude's; and whereas the one man had been a.taskmaster to be. propitiated for the, sake of peace and quietness, the other was a. pleasant companion, grateful for the slightest' consideration. Patting aside tbe fragrant blossoms, abe walked to Mr Annison's chair and stood bsbind bim holding the handle* by which Bedison pushed it from one room to the other, and there awaited Roberts entrance.

For a moment his tired-looking eyes blether's, then fixed themselves upon Mr Annison, who having discarded his blankets, now wore a dressing gown with a red girdle, while, his rather long, very straight, white hair stuck out beneath bis black skull cap, and his face looked more like an animated death's head than ever. . ;

Nevertheless, he looked mnch better than on the occasion of Sadgrove's last visit to Shottenden; a startling disappointment to one who regarded bim as a mere pawn in the game, and a pawn which he devoutly desired might bo speedily " t^ken."

" I hope Miss Annison has become accustomed to her new surroundings," he said, bowing to Maud, after greeting his client.

" H'm," grunted Mr Anuison, as if to imply that he had not done so, at all events.

" I will leave yon to discnsß your business without me," she answered. " Of—of course, Mr Sadgrove will stay to luncheon, grandfather."

When Sadgrove had opened the door and closed it after her he came at once to the trivial business which formed the excuse for his visit, and this disposed of, Mr Annison began to talk about Mand. * , . . " A mistake, Sadgrove," he said, fretfully, " I don't find any fault with the girl, a good girl enough, but a man of. my time of life doesn't care '■ for change. Sbe fidgets me; I'd rather be alone. I don't know what it is, but hang me if I can realise that she's

Grace's daughter; as unlike as one woman could be to another. One blessing she'll soon be married " " I—l beg pardon," Sadgrove stammered, "I beg pardon; married—already?" i '"It's early days, of course, but there!? marriage is a lottery anyway. If two people meet, a thousand times they don't find each other out till the knot's tied. Miss Hardinge's brother, a capital fellow, off to Australia again in June; depend upon it he'll take Maud with him. Here every day of hia life, they are always about together. Yes, it's bound to be a match, Sadgrove, and a devilish good job, too." Meanwhile Maud had sought her own ■ room; where she waited eagerly, now the first shock was over, for news of Robbie. But when luncheon was served and she met Kobert in the dining room, Digby also was present. " I am sure Mr Annison would like yon to see the gardens," she said, with an apprehensive glance at the butler as she rose, and as soon as she reached tbe doorstep turned to Robert eagerly. :" Tell me all about Robbie," sbe whispered; " I ani djiDg to hear how he is." "Oh, he's all right," was the answer, as they entered the front garden beside the house. " Did you see him this morning before yon started 1" " You know I don't sleep at home," be said, never' raising his voice above a whisper. " Sleep 1 I don't sleep anywhere, what with my infernal cough and this anxiety." , " You promised you would see him every day," she cried, reproachfully. " Has he got a tooth yet, Bob ? It was three weeks yesterday since I kissed him. Ifc has seemed lika a lifetime. I cannot teli you bow detestable it all is. And you declared it wonld be at an end—all this wretchedness—by now, or I would n6ver have come. I must see him; I will see him." "Madness! Think of the risk," he answered, looking moodily at the ground. "I don't care," she cried, completely carried away by her desire to take Robbie to her breast again, "as if I were nofc used to risk by this time; and it may go on for months—even a year. You deceived me about Mr Annison as about—about everything else." ■'" I didn't," he said, " I was fool enough to believe Richardson, that's all. It's no use grumbling now; here you are, and here > you've got to stay." j "Not unless I see Robbie! " she "answered, stopping and looking foil in his face. j "Oh, see him, and be hanged to both 'f ■WWITJ^W.JJJffI| I ffULIIMJ.WWI||J||||a|l^,.|'p..««W|afVT'*^^la^™^[^°-*"''":--1':A1

you. ' Only for heaven's sake be cautious, What's this.foolery about Hardinge ?"

"He is always here," she said, with a sudden revulsion of feeling, breaking into a rather self-conscious laugh. " I cannot help his coming to see me. Bob, Mr Hardinge means to ask me to be bis wife "

"I know that, confound it. Annison has just been telling me. Well, you can say no, I suppose." " Ob, yes, I can say no. Bufc Mr Annison won't be satisfied by thafc. He will want to know the reason."

"Tell him the true one. Say you don't care for the fellow."

She flushed to the roots of her hair. It was impossible to avoid a comparison between the two men; the one an upright gentleman, the other a callous scoundrel. Notwithstanding her own guilt, Maud could appreciate Claude's character, just as an inartistic dauber may admire a noble picture. . .

'" Yon can worry through," Robert continued, "i£ you set your wits to work. Keep tbe fellow at a distance; any woman can keep a man off, if she likes, as easily as she can lead him on. Easy enough to dispose of Hardinge, the difficulty is to get rid of Annison." He paused a moment, then turning towards the hOuse again looked at hor closely. "Asheis so much better, I wonder you don't get rid'of that nurse. Well," he added, " I shall be down again in about a week, and then we oan talk about it " As he spoke they turned the corner towards the door, and saw Claude strolling leisurely in its direction.

"This is Mr Sadgrove," she said,hastening to meet him, and after bowing stifly to Hardinge. Robert entered the hall, put on the light overcoat he always wore in fiGe weather, and raised his hat as be passed tbem on the way to the lodge gate. " No," he heard Maud say, " I cannot drive with Winnie to-morrOw, Mr Hardinge. Any day next week, bnt to-morrow I intend fco go to London—shopping." " Isn't Satnrday a bad day for that? "he asked, " Winnie will be wofully disappointed. Won't you postpone it till Monday." "No,-1 intend to catch the 9 o'clock train," she insisted," there will be plenty of time before the shops close." * ' Having dismissed Claude more quic.ly than usual, she went to Mr Annison's,room:

; she said, "I want to go' tjjj town to-morrow. This Wsstringham dressmaker maybe all very well, but I have seen, an advertisement iu The Queen, and I want to try a frock from Bond street, IE I may." Mr Annison was always liberal as a man m ay be who never ■ spends • halE his income.

Ho not only assented, but proffered another cheque, which Maud, always looking forward to a possible rainy day, took care not to refuse. Already she had a considerable sum hoarded in case of need.

" You mustn't go alone," he said, when he had signed the draft. "Better take one Jof fche maids." 7

Maud's face fell. "As if I were a child and wanted a nurse !" she cried, petulantly. " You will be'like a child in London," Mc Annison returned. ," You'll never find your way about alone. Besides, a girl of your age can't go abont town by yourself." " Oh, then I had better not go at all," she said. " I have set my heart; upon this frock, but—but unless I can go by myself I will stop at home."

" You make my head ache," answered Mr Annison, "Do as you like, only for goodness sake don't worry me." Though she bad gained her point; an absolute necessity; she saw that ha was annoyed, but once alone, Maud forgot everything but the joy ; of holding Robbie in her arms once more. She went fco bed with a light heart that night, and roae on Saturday morning as if she had not a single weight upon her conscience. . .■ ■.

The carrifig*. cama to the door, and on the way to the station she mapped out her day. Sbe would take a cab to Bond street, order her dress, without loss of time, then take another cab to Wellington road, aad stay at home until tbe latest'moment, returning to Westringham only in time for dinner. Having taken a return ticket she reached the platform as the train stopped, and camo f acato face with Hardinge. His tall hat, black coat, and bran new dogskin gloves told her his destination at a glance. He looked very handsome tbis morning, his smile alone was enough to raise one's spirits, but for the first time in her life Maud wished him further. There was not a minute to spare, he followed her into a firstclass compartment, the door wa3-slammed, the train started.

"I found tbat I was absolutely obliged to travel np this morning"." he said, and she laughed and tried .to lock pleased, and wondered how to get rid of bim at tbe London terminus,. \ . •■

" Now," sho said, immediately on alighting, " I want yon to call me a hansom, Mr Hardinge. I have a lot to do, and—and I don't inteud to waste a minute."

"Yon shall not waste a second if you make me your pilot," he answered eagerly. " You aro a perfect stranger in London, and I can save'yoa no end of time and trouble if you will let, me." . ',

"By transferring it to you. You little know what you are oifering. Bnt I decline to take advantage of you. Kindly call a cab—you know that shops close early on Saturdays.'" .■ . . " Therefore yon will have your afternoon free. You have never been to the Academy; you won't know where to get your luncheon. Please tell me where I may call for you— you can't shop after 2 o'clock." Maud's vision of a long day with Robbie faded; she dared not pretend that she bad an engagement for the afternoon. " Ob, I can't; tell where I shall go last, Mr Hardinge. I—l will meet you " " Where ?" he asked, bailing a cab. "At—at Burlington House, say; at .2 o'clock.'' .

"So you know Burlington House," he answered as they stood beside'the cab. "Pray, how is that. I thought you had only been in London once, then merely passing through." '•■'.- ---"Do you imsgine hone of my schoolfellows told me about the Academy 1 " She asked quickly. " I will take a cab. Now, pleaso, I must go to tbe dressmaker's," She clrova. away with a. sense of immense relief, accompanied by bitter disappointment at this curtailment of time at borne. But having hurried through hsr interview st Madame Pelisse's, Maud took another cab to Wellington road, and found Martha on ths point of leaving the house with Bobbie. "Well;" cried the nurse7in her rough', familiar way, " anyone can see you haven't been fretting .about" us,-.'has she, Robbie, dear 1 Anyone can see that." ■ How strange'it seemed, to be at. home again, amidst the surroundings of her former uneventua! life! How sbe laughed and crind by turns as she played with the child, parried Martha's questions as to her return for good, and counted the minutes as they fled alltoo quickly ! It was time to set forth again before sha seamed to have bson at home an hour, but still Mand 'stayed on till 2 o'clock scracli; the time appointed to meet; Claude; '

"Yon don't give us much of your company, does sb*?, Robbie, ?" said Martha. " Anyone can see she don't care for w."

"I must nofc stay a minute, longer," cried Maud, ■■. and -taking - the -. child, kissed' bim again and 'again,- at lost tearing herself away »nd setting forth ia another cab r,o-Burling-ton Hous-*, where sbe';fo__ct Oiauds pestered by a" crowd of catalogue vendors, gazing impatiently down Piccadilly. Stepping to the pavement, she handed ths cabman his fare. He held the cola in his palm, and looked at it with supreme contempt. .7

* " Another sixpence, please."

Claude stepped forward. .' "Let me Bettle with him, Miss Annison, Where have yon come from 1 ".. ,

But already Maud's purse-was in her hand; and the readiest coin transferred to the cab•man's. ' ■ '•

" Do you know that you gave the man half a crown," asked Claude, as the man drove away with a grin." 7

"If it saved a dispute, it was a good bargain," she answered, hastily, and they walked together, towards Piccadilly Circus, lunched at a restaurant,. and hfterwards spent an hour at ths crowded Academy. Difficult to imagine tbat Maud was tbe same woman who parted regretfully from Robbie a few hours ago! She always lived very much in the passing moment, and Olaudo for ono would have been surprised to bear that she had a care in.the world.'

On the journey down he talked of nothing but life at Melbourne, which, to judge from his description, was a heaven upon earth. " By the bye," he said as they walked from the station to Sbottenden, "Is Mr Annison anything of a Sabbatarian, because I—l rather wanted a few minutes serious conversation " -,':''

Maud remembered Robert's injunction. Perhaps she had scarcely done her best to keep Claude afc a distance. Bat honey is sweat, the sun does not shine every day and Maud waa nothing if not human.

" I think it would be advisable fo wait— your conversation 'cannot be so very important, and if it is, s*perhaps it would be as we'll nofc to bother bim at all," she answered.

" Perhaps you are right," he said, offering his hand at the door. "I will take your advice at any rate,, I will wait until Monday.

(To is continued.)

that year tbey bad . 1523 members wifch a capital of £17,931; in 1876, 1583 members, and a capital of £20,078; 1877, 1594 members, £22,087 ; 1878, 1630 members, £24,344 capital; 1879, 1647 members, £26,315 capital. In 1880 they had loet in members, which numbered 1566, £28,685 capital; 1881, 1531 members. £31,050 capital; 1882, 1550 members, £33,618 ; 1883. 1644 membcru, £36.618 capita!; 1884, 1628 meurtisrs, £37,620 capital; 1885, 1597 members, £39,773. Durim: fcbese 10 years there was an increase ■of 77 members, and an increase in capital of £21,792.. He thought this was uofc so bid for tha Oiago District or any other district. The average age for 1875 was 35 years 5 weeks, and for 1885 37 years . 4 weeks, or an increase of two years for lO.yearr. Tlie average ago for the second period (from 1885 ,fco 1895) was 37 years 10 weeks. Tu 1886 tbey reduced the entrance. fees one-half, and tbey then commencad fco make members, and had continund to do 80. Iu 1886 tbe membership, was 1580, aud tbe capital £42,345 ; 1887,. 1656 members, £44,906 coital; 1883, 1708 members, £47,601 capit*l ; 1839, 1801 membsrs, £50,265 capital; 1590, 1853 members', £53,602 capita! ; 1891, 1912 members. £53,146 capital; 1&92,- 2041 member-:, £59.305 capital; 1893, 2L19 ri*e*.-ib--r», £63,417 capital ;■ 1894, 2174 members..£6s,4B4capitt!; and 189S, 2211 members. £5&929 capital. This was an increooe iu capital of £30,000, and >et notwith-afcan-lin--; all this they were toid by two or tlire-v faildiats tb,*., they bad to raiss .'their coutri-. bufcioa*. i.'i'his meant £3000 a year, and still they ware told.by these worthy gentlemen that tbey would have fco.ir.crease their contribution*!, or .they would shortly go to. the wall. He maintained that good mauagemeufc w_s aa good as contributions,". aud the Ota-jo Manchester Unity had been well managed. Tha amount of money they had accumulated during 20 years showed tbat clearly. *

!, P.P.G.M. Bro. Sligo seconded tha motion, bufc thought that afc the present time ' thoy should deal only wifch the question of benefits. He'thought it would be well fco decide that. That- was a preliminary question And should come before the scale of contributions. He had, however,- no complaint to make aboufc fche si-ale of bsnelita. Their s:a!e wan uiriob more liberal j thaa tbe majority of the benefits grouted in. I New Zealand. . Instead of iucre?."i*ig their beiiK-fcs there wis the question as to h 1 wisdom lof dec-reusing the funeral auil isic....-:ss payj meats. Single men had always the opportunity lof remedying their position.—(Lau'-hSsr.) Tbo increase that single men paid over micrind men wms, bo maintained, very slightly i'elfc. He did not say that there should be any increase in the coi-.fcribut.ious. P.P.G.M. Bro.: Chapman moved—"Thafc the good and welfare.of, too district demanding that every metuber .should receive the benefits for which he conferi jutes, aud this met-.ting being of opinion that t'a. accomplishment of sucil . a result requires, primarily, a scale of contributions ouch as competent authorities will cer-

that tbey. hid buen responsible for bringing aboufc a conference specially called to'obtain au adequate and uniform scale, that their owu delegates had supported Table I; that they could uofc go back on it, and thafc the diSerence between thafc and their own scalo was only very trifling, and it waß due to the other districts that they Should adopt ifc. With reference to the contributions, be said there was no getting away from bhe fact that with the present scale of conttt'bufcions 16 oufc of 27 lodges showed a deficiency despite tbe fact thafc the district bad been earning interest at nearly double fche rate afc which the scale was calculated. The whole of the profits thafc appeared to have been accumulated could be tfac»d fco the high rate of interest thafchad been obtained in the past. In tbe fufcure they shonld look to no assistance from thafc Source, bufc would have to rely entirely upon the contribution*; ; and ifc was absolutely essential fchat tbey should he made adequate. As regards the question o!. secessions, it was abundantly clear tbat fche members who were lost were the young members who.had never drawn anyfchiug from the funds—fcbafc was, fchey were lot-tag the good, lives-and refcainiug only the bad. Hence, although there was au apparent gain from secessions, every secession waa a source of weakness.

Bro. S.mitu said the Albion Lodge were paying sufficient contribution*, and they were nofc inadequate.

Bro. Gow intended to vor.a agaiiint any iicrsnce of contribution*!. He thought the con--.tribiitioua wees far, too much already. Ifc would be far better to reduce the sick banefits than I/* raise tbe contributions. . ~ ,

After some furfchec discussion, fche amendment was put aud lost;.

Bro. Milleb moved as a further amendment—" Thafc this meeting is of opinion that a scale* of benefits should be prepared whioh our pr*)ssnfc contributions are adequate to secure." Bro. Gokdon seconded . tbo amendaieut. w'ni'jh ou' being put as aj-ainiifc this motiou wss declared carded ou the voice**. Ifc was subsequently put as the substantive motiou aud agreed to.

The nuetiug then fcainiioated,

Simon S. Harfcmai*.,'of Tunueltou, West Vs., has been subject to attacks of colic about oilco a-year, and wonld have to call a doctor and then suffer for aboufc 12 hoars'as much -w eor;« do wheu they die. He was taken recently just the same as st. other times, and concludo-i to try Chamberlain's Colic, Choler*, and Diari beea Remedy. Hesays: " I took one dose of it, and it fcave mo relief iu five minutes. That is nior** than anything else has evor dohe.for me." For sals by all'leadiugchemists. ■•'■, — In ihe days of William the CouqaerpP ifc was mora daiigeraus to kill a rabbit tbf.ij'"a man. X murderer could escape with payiiieiifc of aline, a rabbit slayer was put to death; ° Nisoro and Br.Aitt's " Standard "Seeds arc unequalled for quality of strain. Their produce •"ake3 nazes, everywhere. 3