COPYRIGHT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11089, 16 April 1898, Page 3

COPYRIGHT.

CHAPTER XXXI.-PASSING" THE LOVE OF ■ ■ "■'WOMAN. Ding Dong I Ding .Dong 1 Tha clock in the tower of the village church was again chiming the half-hour, before midnight, and while the soft musical * chimes were still pansing in the cold air a woman's form: stole fi.bm a shadowy doorway, softly closed the'dodr-behind her arid; locked it, and then-crept swiftly away along the darkest side of the thoroughfare; :< ' : Coming to the way which'led onto the" Mobs the woman pansed an instant as it; irresolute, glancing around her the while, and then gathering courage! from the silence, she sped onward. , v _ Myriads of astral; lamps shone like rare jewels in1 tha blackly-blue firmamen£.,over-« head, and a waxing moon was beginning toclimb the great arch with slow steps. Before and about her all was quietas a plaos of the dead-^all she could hear as she slipped along was the patter of her own swift, light feet-v and the hammer-like throbs of her heart: Presently she was standing white-faced and breathlessly eager at the door of the1 watchman's house.". The small red-curtained window told her there was light and warjmth inside, and she had raised .her hand to beat upon the panels when the door swung back and" revealed the burly form of the watchman'standing inside." ..■■■■■•'■ . ■-■■;•■''■. ■"It's yo\ Miss, ah see," the old man re-", marked in his harsh, .croaking voice, "Ah thowt yo'would come. Well, step insahde; wench i an' werm yore pratty fingers whable ah jus' tak' a look reajwnd." v{■ ' ' •~. , She passed in rapidly, seated herself on ther; chair he indicated, and he tramped heavily put, closing the door behind him;; A minute later, he was back again, and sitting on the opposite side of the cheerful fire. ■v: 'He was fully dressed.in the stout,,tough: garments in which,- as -watchman, he : had -jto-'. face all weathers. Flinging; bis wideawake; h'a't"ob the table, he turned, to the womairi with the pale sweet face,-v." "regarding': her closelyi She had drawn her shawl from^heir; head and face, and was" waiting for" his words. . . ','...,', ■'•■.■" '" ■ -.. : "Weren't yo' frickent" [frightened] "my pratty wench, to come eawt here so tate 1" he began. "_; : • ■ '•■•'* "Not when I remembered you had news—^ good news for me olUMat Shelvocke,"' she answered readily, and'with sparkling eyes. "You know;,wh6re he is? You are. his frierd 1 You will tell me where he is, and that he is innocent of all they say ?" she; • added,1 her soft eyes beauteous face eloquent with her feelings. ■ '■•' ' j '.';■■;. "That's trne, ev'ry word, wench 1" he answered.-less" gruffly'than was his wont to speak. "Th' poor lad's, as innay cent as W little babby. Ah'm here' to watch hisenemies as*weel as to Watch the Moss." "Yes, yes '. But ;yaur :goodfnews 1 " she: demanded. " Tell me something of Mat. Is he safe and well ■?"■' ■~ :. " He's safe enough, an' weel enough, too, wenchl Isn't that, somethin' for yo' to " know ? He's lnnaycecfc, too^ an' wants yo' , to believe it."- ".' "Believe it I ">he cried hotly." "I always believed / it. If you know where he is, and have means of reaching him, will you tell him'so?'"-'- ' '.' -.- :.-'. ,■■■■■.: . ...; ," Ah'll tell him, never fear, my wenctK It'll hearten him up to know there's one wench who thinks weel o' him yet, though' he> gone o'er the say," hsTsaid;. with' bis spectacled ;eyes upon her. V' : 5 ' '*: '■■'"'■■) ," You have something; else; fo%tell 'tne,;Mr!' Bannister 1" Lettice" Forrester 'exclaiine'd^ interrogatively, as,, with her: fingers t lying linked in.her 'lap/.'ahe leant towards him, ... '^Someithin', else,: wench; l'J^hal rejoiHed? musingly, a* -if he-were'thinkingi-: '■'■■*< ?- '': •: "Yes, you' have mbrfrhews fof me,"-she' answered, with her starry eyes ■bn.'the 6ld? mans. face.' " What? you' have - tolcl |Se" already;makes my heart glad to:knp^;ftai" there is more,: is there:,,notj; Yon /could; have told me "all this In your, note^r-ybu. would not have brought-me here at such anhour simply to tell me that Mat is safe, and well and innocent. ■'. What, is. it 2 You must tell me !'■ .; .:' .: :; • ; -The fair girllwas so earnest in her: plea; and bo agitated in its utterance that she rose to t her feefc,~ and with outstretched: hands and appealing face topfc a step towards the old watchman.' :-^ For a moment he stared at her in silence • once -he halfrstarted to his feet, and then' restraining, himself with an effort, he said slowly and huskily^1 /:'■.-.,. •■ . "Ay, ay, wench I- There is aome'at moor. to tell.. Mat Shelvockt axed me.to thank.yo'., for what you had done for him, an' he towd me to ax yo' to forgie himfor the way-in which he misjudged and condemned the truest and prattiest wench in. a' O'sderi Green." ; ■ ..'•-, ' ;.-? _ "Mat said these things? "she demanded ' half-incredulously, as ahe took another step towards the old man. "For the sake of Heaven do not' mislead me, now Once we were sweethearts, and I loved him with all my heart* and soul. Then, without any apparen^ reason, he threw me off, ignored mebroke our engagement, made me the target at which all who knew me could throw their offensive remarks. I was alone in the Tillage —without friends er relations—was groping blindly in the dark—not; even knowing why Mat scorned, me!" ,» i' '■ ■.; ,/v '• It was a shame, waach! "the watchman R3severated, with hnsky sternness. " It's'nb* wondfsr yo' should gei to hate the mon yo1 once were so fond o'." • "No, no 1 Not that!" »ha cried. "Even now Ido not blame him. There must have been some reason for what Mat did; He had foes, as I had. They were against us both. I love him still—shall love him till I die. If. I only knew whsra to and him, and thought he oared for me still, I would follow him to the end of the world." With & gesture of loving despair she flung hersslf back on her chair and covered her ..; agitated face with her hands. Adam Bannister : watched her in silence for some moments, but when he noticed the suppressed sobs' that shook the girl from head to foot, when he marked the convulsive rise and: fall of her 1 bosom, and sa,w the warm tears; trickling through her brown fingers, he ijumped erect," crossed the'floor, and tried to comfort her. "• ■•■ " Poor wench! Poor wench!" he muttered thickJy, «is his bands stroked Lettice'» fair hair. "Cheer up I Don't give way. Mat Snelvocke loves you yet!" .-,, . .'. ...; Suddenly the crying woman grasped the big hands fondling'• her tresses; her sobs ceased, and she struggled to her feet; an aspect of great amazement and bverpowering gladness on her face,' An instant she stared at the watchman, arid then her voice broke forth. ' ' ''..'.', "Mat;. Mat I Thank God you are here!" Then her strength gave, way, the little' room whirled round har^ and but .for'his strong Rrasp she would have fallen. When the girl's eyes grew clear again she found herself lying closely'clasped in Mat Shel« vocbe's arms, with his !ip3 to her own. ■ ■•:■■• The tangled mass of shaggy grey hair and beard was lyiug on the flaga, where he had ibrown it. * - Whito-faced. and tearful, yet happy beypnr) tbo telling in cold word?, the pit-brow girt nestled in her lover's arms while they 1 alked. of the trials." and troubles of the-past faw. months. ;With fill his old faith in Lattice restored, and his love for her blazing anew like a fire unto which fresh fuel; has been added, Mat took his sweetheart into, his confidence acd told her all there vw; to tell. ; . Fir3t, he spoke of the causes which had iiapclled him to end thair engagement. He :old her of the anonymous letter he had received, of his visit to the'stile, on the Moss whsn he had seen her, t>.o. thought and firmly' believed, with Levi Blackphaw. He spoke of the wonderful resemblance •the unknown woman bore to her, of the comfiroraisicg conversation he. had overheard, l>er.ce.(the course he had pursued in reference to herself.-- ■■ ■ . ..' s.. ..., . . Then he alluded to the troubles that folJowed; bis flying visit; to Llandudno, at Naomi's request; hi« uncle's mysterious death; ihe eogineman'a statement at the inquest which seemed to have-drawn so much, suspicion uppn himself; and, finally, he mentioned the receipt of the second anonymous ! coftmumcation signed " Only a Friend;" in i

consequence of which he had gone away7not i to appear again in the village till he came as •'Adam Bannister." V !' ' "I wrote thai;' letter. Mat," Lettice said, quite proudly."" I heard scores of things you' could not hear.and knowing: how innocent you were of all the,evil things imputed to or snggeated against you, it maddened me almost. Bat when I ••.heard'that'.you had rnn away to America, and taken.all that money with you, I was sorry I had written that letter." , . ... ~ .".-" " Not sorry to know that I had placed myself beyond the cunning; schemes of my enemy or enemies, dear sweetheart ?" he whispered, with a loving'kiss. -. '"; "Not that, Mat! " she cried. "But to go away to America at such a" time seemed an' acknowledgment of ; guilt, That hurt me beyond all else." : ' • "Bnt I was cornered and helpless. If there was guilt anywhere I knew iVwas innocent of it, but I couldn't fix it on, anyone else. I knew also that I had some.crafty.and merciless foe to fight agaiustv'aud I"took crafty and merciless steps for my own sake." " Bh: to fly away and then come back hare, dear?." she queried, in loving alarm. " Have you not heard that a warrant was issued for your arrest?" .'• .' ;: *" : :;'f Ye?, t know;; perhaps that is why lam here. , But, Lettice, you..may rest-.assured that I,am.in no] danger. Wihat have Ito fear ?■ Nothing!. But someone: else may ■have reason-to;hope the will: never come out." ■ "Bat if Levi Blacksoaw shoaid see you, Mat ? " she asked, as her little hands tightened apprehensively around his 'neck*. "He is a ;bad man, I feel sure, y He bates you, too, I am sure, and'would not spare you! " . 7 " I do not fear him. :i'have seen him since I came here—spoken to him, several times, and he'seems to suspect nothing. ■H« has I mnch'moTe reason to feel, afraid of mcV darling. .I owe.him one debt',, and will nob forget to,:pay him when tha 'time,: arrives. He wrote that slanderous letter which idrove. me from you; dear; but why it was written I have yet to discover." ■ ■ ~- Then he told Lsttice'of the previous night's discovery, when he played the part of eavesdropper upon his cousin and the unknown .ipoman. ■' . . .-';, ■''■:■'■•■; '■'■'''•(''-. ; ■ :.."■ " Thiß is where yon must help me?: sweetheart," he added. "l!i;is not pleasant work tb.pryinto the secreta'ot Levi private ; life, little cause as we have to consider him. But there, may be more in this clandestine love affair of his than?appe*rs on |he surface, and situated as I am at present, Jt c?n afford to neglect" no possible clnß.--Yoa willhelp me, dear 2" - . "-■:■'':■■■'■ ; -■'■■:.■. :;.'.■■ J'Need'.you ask, Mat?" she 'answered: readily. 4 " Tell me what I am to do and I will'So--.il; if it is possible J" r ' ■::,?' MJ(PPsitioa: here as fw;*tchma)n,: «7hile' it ■eriaplep me.to see ;much-ralmp'st:fall .^hat; transpires.on th.c v Mpss---preysnts me,frbnL seeing, what goes pn,.beyond my ken" , Ypa ■mustepma. to-my aid, LsUfcoV'. .. ■■< '.. :. "I;:, only awah your; instrnefcioris, dear "Well, in the first place you'must cease, work ' entirely 'at ; the colliery, and cievote ■■■ yourself to Ihe work I shall mark out for.you;* Now that you are my promised wife you willnot scruple to avail yourself of all-means to establish your 'future husband's innocence'?" '■■;: ;" Certairily not, Mat,r.;'she afflrtned-firmly and solemnly. "I will, spare nothing"'•' for your-sake." - .;• . ~;',..;.-.,.., '■•.;_. ■;,'-:■ . "Ikhew I could depend upon yon, Lettice. And now as to our plans. I haveiplenty bL means at my command still, and you must .use them ungrudgingly:when/therejs anything to be gained. Tc-morrow.you can tell •the manager, or send' wore! to him, that you are leaving your wt>rl£—- r -" ', ; > ■: \ ; : . "And then", Mat ?"; she asked, eagerly. "Then, dear one,, you will Rift but who is this woman I mistook for you/ :'• Her name isClars, and that.of her Vhusband isFarnell; fie is an old man, I imagine 'theyvhave only been recently married, and: I fancy they reside in the neighbourhood, somewhere; 'iYou^ follow me clearly? "he queried, with glowing eyes. ;V- v (■>" ':.■■.?■..:%!■,■ '■' [■:-,•■,' ~,, "I understand,; Mat," üba said, lowly. • V The work is not 6f the 'pleasantest kin<l, but we cannot: afford ,to be over-nice abbnt ihat now. I hate this Blsckshaw, and, if he went but of hia way to-lower :me;in. your-. ieyes f 'jaeat77-to:: gutter ,b i ase;iJies.rßbdutnie id'" . part;^W,^'.^/iir^da: 'anyiiftig! "a^: :-wbmiani ; ,. ;maj:,; ; t6■'.,...unmask ;£tine vineeriiag; -Ji :;, :^r C:^C v.',<- -~'■' t '. ■'. ; '■ ~" P: p i what.•:l..suggoafr,! j;hen,. Lettice.f' he' said,, proud of bersehfchnsiasm-, as he kissecU •b4r.'s P-kxA whenr-you have discovered w.ho=? •this woman is I- shall bivaother^-andi'per-' aaps. more difficult^.wbrk. for you'to under-" i;ake." ri; ; r ::i'■'■.';'■'' >;;■■;'■:-"-* --v?;:;,' ■■•:< >-■■::.- ■l| 'fit Bhail not be a^aid)'" slie^answered" "bravely,. »INowthat, rkhow,iMat,ttiatyou; do not.despise me'lcwqui'd -lay down*.my life' for your sake." She nestled closer to him as,! she added in more tremulous accenfe, flf I, ■were only satisfied thatyou'were's^fe-'here^i -dearest, I, should be happier'than 'ever I ; ■dreamt of being.again!"" *. ' ; . ; "Then let mci tell:you more in order to > give you "that satisfaction, Lettice," he hastened to say. "Do you' know that I have never heen out of Englanfl-tliongh twb .letters of mine posted in". New York'.r^che'd my cousins. Those. tw^b jettets were.written '

for the purpose of throwing my foes off the scent; and that they succeeded in achieving their purpose my presence here and our reconciliation proves." ■"But the letters! How did you arrange about thßm, Mat I she questioned, with a woman's curiosity. "Oh, that was easy enough, as you will I see in a mdment. As I hung about Liverpool undecided what course to pursue I chanced to make the acquaintance of a gentleman who was going :out to the United States. It j was then the idea came to me of those letters .to Miss Shelvocke and Levi Blackshaw, so I vamped up some story which satisfied the gentleman, wrote the letters, and got his promise to post them in New York." ' '"I see! I understand. But^that explanation scarcely satisfies me that you are safe! here, Mat," was the girl's reply. "If Levi Blackßhaw were to penetrate your disguise ! : If, the village sergeant were to learn of your masquerading 1 What then, dear?"' "Black3haw cannot injure me further!" Shelvocke cried proudly; "and I have reason for believing thai Sergeant Koberts wouldn't try. More than that I prefer not to say at present." "But the. other and more difficult work ' ypa spoke about, Mat ?" :-,' . i '■.' " Yes.there is^fhat to consider. If possible, I want you. to become a resident in ! prsden Hall. I want you to be located there j for a time as. a, housemaid, servant—any- i thing, bo long'asyou can watch my. cousins and their doings, goings ; and comings,1 Lettice ["• j "It; will be easy; to get inside the Hall, I Mat," she rejoined quickly, " but ■ not j pleasant, for I hate thatmanlike poison, and i Naomi hates me as a" woman only can hate a I £ucces3fnl'rival." i "Ybu surprise me, dear, when you say it j would be easy to establish yourself in my j ■ old quarters; How could you manage that ?"' Mat asked. I "By accepting the offer Miss Shelrocke j has-been kind enough to make me several tiaaes lately. She went out; of her way one day to teirme that I was much too pretty j and refined for the pit-brow, and she desired me to'accept a situation as her maid." ■ •' "The devil!" fell from Mat's lips in amazaV " Naomi hatea you, Lettice ! Hates you because I love yon; and when she made such an off sr she had some deap-laid and carefully-considered scheme in view. What could"-it be, I wonder ? After hearing that, • lean hardly.aak yon^to go." •" I scorned to. go before, Mat," Lettice responded quickly, " but I am eager to go now. If I can assist you it is my duty to enter the Hall; and you have but to say the word. With you near to- counsel me, I shall come to Bo.harm." .; " You are right. You shall go. Remember, to-morrow ycra leave the colliery." ; ".. He.rose.and:kisßey.her, and then replaced the . masking ; hair and beard and spectacles. .Glancing at'his watch, he'say that the'mid..night hour-had":.pas^ed long, ago, and together they passed forth, into night. .'. .-,- A quarter of an hour later Lettice Forrester had crept' back unobserved to her lodg'ioge, and was stretched.on her coucb, tired, wondering, and .supremely happy. • Heaven in its mercy had sent Mat Shelrocke back to her, and she was glaa with a gladness too deepand sacred for mare speech. CHAPTER XXXII.-THIS COMING OF MR '- ■.-'.', ■.■VARNIE. '■ ■' •. ' Another week had drifted by, and the passing of that little number of days Had proyided another item of interesting talk for the gogsip^oving folks of Orsden Gresn. The handsome pit-brow girl, Lettice Forrrester,, bad resigned her employment at the [colliery on the Moss, and while the curious !■ among her acquaintances were still wbnderj ing why she had'taken that step, and what she intended/to do in future, they were rather startled to liear that the girl had already entered the service of Miss Naomi Shelvocke, and was even then under the roof of Orsden VHaii.' .' "■;;;;-?..-. ," ■ ' '.-' ,■ • ■ ■ j.: That unexpected occurrence did much to ! j revive, the old. interest in the young, woman, j The majority of the grown-up villagers could j still: recollect the way in which she had drifted to Orsden Green, and settled down .thereat the urging of old Aaron Shelvocke; ■and it was only :a matter of recalling the events of yesterday to-remember that Miss '/Forrester had 'once been engaged' to the*late '/master;-'6f^ Orsdeh Hali's!fayourite;ceFitieyif:.'.' ;,'; j And no'w:the,hanaspm:e lags .ibad seen 'fib'to <,ieaye ~th^..pit-top, an^ accept; service as. a .•meniakdiuder ;the,;banner-of-.^he,prpud.ajD.d,'. fbeautiful;Naoms. -AH this struck the simple -and'curious folk as being singularly■remark^ble,";andc / hence they; -discussed the /eyeny'y^ikh'alabrity and'eagerness. ' ;(: '" ■' ']''~ ;A!mbng''thoEfe who' heard oFth'e'" faefwith .'some Wonder; was Layi )Bla(iksha'w h'linself.' jComingiritb the^all'bne^dayat no!on, hS had 17 ,found..,Lettice,. .Forrester domiciled .there, stripping about /the .old house in..the pmart .trappings of a.lady's.maid, which set bfE her lovely face and; splendid: figure to perfection, -and evidently■: at horns amid her new surroundings. : : ■,:-•: ■ ■ . The mere sight of Miss had stirred in his mind' a host of old thoughts— | the sight of her walking calmly, graciously I 'and'prettilv. about tha place had aroused alj '

his curiosity, and ,the instant he met his cousin his feelings of inquisitiveness found a ready vent for themselves. It was , evening, and : tha cousins were sitting m the drawing room together, Naomi amusing herself 'af the piano, while Lavi was turning the pages of an illustrated magazine. Suddenly looking up from" the periodical, Blackshaw. remarked, half-flippantly -. I_l was surprised; Naomi, to see your new maid.' . "Indeed. Why?" ;; ■"." ' "Some women would not have proved themselves so generous and forgiving as you have done," he retorted,, with a sneer curving his hard lips. "You amaz3 me now, Levi. I was not aware that there was anything especially generous or forgiving.in employing a very handsome and well-mannered girl as my i maid." • • i "I didn't think of it in that way. For the moment I only thought of her as the pit-brow girl our cousin loved-and once intended to marry.- If I was amazed it was only because I imagined you two .were sworn enemies, between whom' all friendship was impossible." - • quailed a little beneath his naked thrust, bit her lower; lip in silent chagrin, then she plucked,up spirit suddenly, saying as she stared at him with flashing1 eyes • " You must.be anlidior, Levi, not io see why I have brought her here." ...." I- do not see,": be said, doggedly '■'-.' V Then let me tell you. You may have been successful, my dear cousin, in driving a pair of,fond lovers asunder, but lam not yet' assured thai: 'jovtr cleverness enables you to make them love one.aribther the less; Sometimes I imagine that there may be some truth iv the song which says in such a pathetic strain, 'Absence makes theheart grow fonder* ] but of that youareiuuttoubtedly, a better! judge than myself, my_ dear Levi:" . I " How dare you taunt me with that ?" he hissea. ".If I contrived to part Mat and Miss'! s orrester, who was it to plaase 1 Mv self or ! you?" - ■•■ -. '■• ■ ■'•.-■ '■- ;". "j "Pardon me, but that is not the point we i began to discuss," Naomi responded with'l s^uave sarcasm. ■» I understood 'that we were 1 debating the wisdom. or unwisdom of bring- I ing that woman here. I think it is a wise i j step, andl am aboat to tell you why I think, j ."That.is exactly what "i desire to know' ■ Naomj, he snapped out sharply. • "Then listen- Even if the seas divide our cousin- and my maid, how do we know that they are not in reality closer to one \ another —in- more intimate acquaintance with each other than we are, living ! under.the sanie roof." ?\ . " You imagine they are friends again ? " he j queried, with, an incredulous sneer;- '' .'' " I imagine. ..it. rpay be possible. Slat's != position jmjgat drivp JSim. to 'do ' straogs ' things, and,l am; as firmly'■ assured.as I live* that.ith.is; woman .knowsiiyhere our relative ! is, and what he is doing:" - :■■■■■'/- : "By heaven, Naomi, that may be sol" he whispered in an eicited- undertone. "I never dreamt>6f looking at the matter in that light." ■;,': -,;.;1;:;-. :; V ■ • ■ "There are so many things possible, Levi " I she rejoined sarcastically, " that are not dreamt of in your system, of philosophy. I.' have brought Lettice. Forrester into this ' house not to wait upon .myself so-much as to I watch her." £ i " Well, you cannot have discovered much ! yet, as she only entered your service so re- I cently," he sneered; hart dod a trifle by her success in their logomachy. "I have difcbvered. - much—or.' g.t least noted one small thing which must mean much." ■■. . ■~, ; ~.•/■'■. •\ ; ■■■•' ",. '" .-;.., " ":Indeed! ; , Yoa intereit nie.now." - i" ! " Note; the apjgarance,ef' the woman care- ! fully the next time yon see her. A'week or two ago she was white-faced and wan, sad- I and trdubled '. in spirit, likeohe who ! had passed through a Severe illness .which i amicted both body anS soal.. Look at tier •' ! now, and you will find her bright-eyed and ' radiant,;with a tongue as lighi as her foot— I in a word, a perfect -picture of healthy and ! handsome womanhood.: Need I tell you ' what that meansJ" -.'-,. He shuthis mouth n>mly, and the lines! about it g^ew.hard and merciless.:, .'" Heii ■thought a moment "or: twp ■'before he spoke f : Thenhere,rnarked,with;affeQteiiinciiffereiice: !' :" It may .mean > one .of. :several:.;tbiDgi?;- i Naomi.-,. She has.-perhaps pured herself of ! her iancy.for our absent friend, and-solacedl !■ herselfi'after-thw manner of her 'kind, with a new lov^r." .■''•■-'■• '-/; ; -.- -.-:•• -y; '-:-•■■ ■■,: ~-■■, i,<\. "Nonsense;!■''";.""liknow■■;a woinati when r! meet pneVand she;iMijqt!one;pr'the ssprt:wn6 mistake a bnndle pf 'yfea^'^er^esfpr/aheaif. i The change m her simply'rneabs that' your ,'- ---■ neat .experimentiiaile^,;. in .some -way, -Mat-! has communicated withhis,» wce theart."- ' "His former sweetheart,-you mean?" he corrected her.- • ■■■-::::-/K^^- ■'' .'-■■•"■ : "No, I mean: h?« present one," «he insisted; r. "■' •'■'■■'; ■"'■■■-/ ■ ■;- i:'i-" ;■ ■■■■ :' ■ ! "Well, wa mast watohT I'lie said, slbwK ' giving, way to her .pertinacity^ ?'lf. letV g come to her here we shall know what s; ens .'totake.":.'..,j.';>.:'...>;■.-..- ,'.-.■■.."../.. .'.-.j^ :; "You would open them?;" she whispered, j

"Why not? Having gone so far, are we to become qualmish now at this stage of events ?"' ■ ' -■•■ .: Shß dia not respond. -She bad turned on the stool and "was bending over the ivory keys of the piano, -with a straDge expression on her finely-moulded features. That prcudsouled, passionate-hearted woman was not all bad, nor even bad by preference; and at that moment the. nobler and the baser ! elements of her nature seemed, to have! chosen her beauteous face as a battleground. Levi watched- her,' understood, and i wondered. Then he «aid with a low, hard cynical laugh:. '■; "You are thinking-deeply, cousin, but it is not necessary to oSeryou a penny for your thoughts !" : " Why? " she cried, turning round swiftly upon him with a completely changed face. " Are my thoughts/so valueless as that ? " "It is not that they are valueless, Naomi, but that they were .plainly written on your face a moment ago for anyone to read them." •■ ■■ ,-.. " And you read them ? " she asked coldly " I did—l think." • - " Let me hear what you were able to read." "You were thinking of an impossibility; you were picturing, mentally, yourself and Mat throned'here in love and power, and, myself 'and that.maid of yours elsewhere— .anywhere, so-long as, .we were out of. the' way, as you/merely looked upon us as dis-, »turbing elements." , \.", .'-,,■, "And yon imagined-I was fooh'sh to broodover snch an idle fancy ? "she queried, with a curious smile lighting up her handsome features. " Yes, foolish. That is the right word. If two cousins ever reign^here they will never /be Mat and yourself r :;I thought that dream of yours was over and,done with." " Perhaps ir, i?. -StiH, -it is' pleasant to dream, is it' nbt»,j'^yen you, Levi, coldbloode.d and calculating-'as: you are, cherish . your dreams." What -if- they should prove I foolish and idle as well as mine?", !,• A. temptation to make & stinging retort stirred him;, but her quelled it and Baid blandly: ■ . -..•■ ■ ■ ' >. | "Forgive me, Na6mi,;if I have wounded "I youin'ariy way. We cannot afford to quarrel. ' iWe must: not quarrel: After all,-you must* I admit that ■the-'/heacr and front of my ! offending is that I' cannot forget that I love i you:".';., .. ... .■-.■ ;... ' ■ "There is nothing to. forgive, .Levi," she said, more amiablyv, ; " Perhaps we are both to blame at times. ..Anyhow, I do know, that I sometimes feel sorry for us both." j She extended her sofcfingers, and he.wrung' | them warmly. To him she was still; as ever, ; the very queen of womankind, and ihher the j best and dearest of ■ his: desires were bound ' jup. •■ ■■■■:■ . ■ --,■'- J ' " Shall I take you to the theatre, Naomi ?"1 ••me asfceft tenclefly: ; "" Meife^arioperi coin-'■ '; pany .ajt.Coleulough this wejefc,"' '' ,' ,' V v"-i j;-? " Not r tb-night,v, thank .you! '". . Jt^have an r engagement; at Bispham, Granger this even- i iag at 9^i, Perhaps ; .you. will -take!me there:- j The FameHs-invited you, I know." | "Noil no I Not- there!" he cried. '"I! hate those people and abhor their displays." I She nodded graciously to her cousin, and I went to her room to attire herself. "A little ' J afterwards she drove away ia the carriage 1 j leaving; Levi Blacksbaw standing on the j threshold, watcning. her away. He was tnrn- ' . leg from the door of the Hall to make his j j way back through ,tbe great vestibule when a man's form came.forward out of the dark- ' ne ( ss and called to, him: . '" Mr Blackshaw, I must see you ! " •-■ " You, Varnie—arid here!" Blackshaw exclaimed, in a -low tone of • chagrin; ■. "Curse you : for an as>l Didn't I tell you (never to show your face here ? " ■■'■-■.■■. j. "^°n'*y^?%?:'.s>e^!me;..' ; sir 1 I'' ; the', man (Whispered. He'yrsa, swarthy-skinned, blackj;haired;. : bleak-eyed,., and a. aneaf 'of jetty j;beard.enveloped his l: chin and throat; had j Peady, shining.eyes, and a. nose of the true Jewish cast. ; ■,<; v... . - .' , .'. }'~ "Why see you? Go——" .... .'■'., , Levi stopped suddenly; and muttered j words died in ; his;'tbrpat' as the door of the Vestibule opened and .a. maid's head" j peered forth.; She muttered a hasty apology jon seeing her master there, and he extricated j himself from the dilemma by sayingaloud jin his pheasant'tones^, ' ' ".'" i;;■ ;" .Gorne;in.:Mr,-^ariniie. '"i ~wilf >talk !the> j;matter over with you ißmy.private room,';, j ■-• , The the hall |.smilingly; and Stt?Bl&ckshaw's »i'fe?^assed'Into the^cbusev " ;As tfiay went up the Broad;- j -shallow, •;old-fashionecl y:': staircaße with its I Po°L dei9?s'Ka^s't^ £ ak j | a woman's fair, fape ..peered.after 'itnem from} !.onejqf,the rpomsjbelpw. , o .„' ~ .V •; It'was Lattice Forrester. Standing besideJ i ; one; 6f 'the :wiridows-^which"chanced to-be j bpeh— to watch the1 departure of-her l) ! mistress; the how maid had aesn the swarthy :i ; indiyiddalgtart.'forward, hadJ,fieard him cair'i Ito Blackshaw, had ciaught^ Levi's angry ex- ; ! clamation,. and how' was. w,atchjhg them ! j ascend the stairs with' a wondering expression ' on her sweet face. ~ ■ ' ' ■ i Where before had: r.she scan ;that man ! Varnie?- >Why was(Blackghaw afraid of him > coming'there ? Why had-Blackshaw- changed -j his tone so suddenly and «takea him to his j .room 1 ":' :v i;'■'"'' '■''■- ■"■ '■':'■.-■ •■■'-■ I

A moment shs wondtred, and then with a grave.a resolute faca, she followed them up.the stairs, treading sofcly as a bird. (To bo continued,.)