FOR HONOUR OR DEATH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14359, 31 October 1908, Page 2

FOR HONOUR OR DEATH.

THE STORY OK A "WOMAN'S LOVE. By DICK DONOVAN, Author of " For God and -the C'7/ir," " From t!io Bosom of tho Meop," " Storniliglit," " Tho Ivord Laird," " Without Faith or Feat," ''Jane Shore," " Br.sile the Jester,' "In tho lied Dawn," "Tho Great White Hand," " The Star o[ Fortune," " From •tho Ciulcli of 1 he Sea," ''The Alluring 'Flame," " Pages from an Adventurous Life." CHAPTER lI.—A LITTLE PEDIGREE. 111 the interest of the reader it is necessary that ;t few brief biographical detail oi Jasper Allport should' lie given here, for ho was destined to play ;i strange part in the thrilling drama, the prologue to which was enacted on that memorable night of Lady Liwlmark's ball. He was the son of a deceased naval captain who had distinguished himself, and ultimately succumbed to malaria, caught in tho discharge of his duly r on the West Coast of Africa. His wife had died three years before, leaving liini with a son and two daughters, who passed under (he care of an aunt and uncle. This uncle—Timothy Hugon by name, winch indicated Norman extraction—was the brother-in-law of the. 'ale, captain, and. being childless himself, had taken great interest indeed in his nephew and nieces. Mr Hngoti was it lawyer ni a somewhat old-fashioned type, but enjoying a Jargc practice in Hie town of fcoiilhampton. lie was a Southampton man, and represented a very old and very distinguished Hampshire lamily which had fettled in the comity a century or so after the Norman invasion, and took for its motto the somewhat- proud and pretentions one of "Trinnipho morte tain vita" ("I triumph 1 ill death as in lite"). 'Timothy Hngon was an exceedingly proud man, and having distinguished himself greatly indeed as a lawyer, he had been much souglit after, for he boro the reputation of being one of -the most, successful men •in his profession—at anyrate, in that part of the country. It was paid of him that ho knc.v tho secrets ot every family o( importance in the titrco counties ot' Hampshire, Dorsetshire, and Wiltshire. His discretion: however, begot him the confidence of everyone, and clients never hesitated t-o confide thear affairs to him. As Captain Allport died a poor man, his orphan children were solely and wholly dependent 011 their aunt and uncle, and as Lawyer Hngon was passing rich, the future of the children seemed well- secured. Jasper was particularly favoured by his uncle, who regarded him with undisguised pleasure and pride; and yet ho treated him with a certain amount of sternness, even severity—at least that was the ' general belief. But Mr Hngon calculated everything with a judicial mind, and he ruled his household with the same inflexible rule that he applied to his large ste.fi of employees. Ho was nothing if lie was not mathematical, and he did not believe in leaving anything to chance. Sentiment found 110 favour with him'; he was unemotional and impassive, at least outwardly, as a marble statue. Hi.s " unstained honour" was with linn a delicate point, and any man who had ventured to so much as hint at anything that would have reflected on that honour would have had a ■' bad time of it. For Mr Hngon was an unforgiving man: he bore the reputation of being a capital friend, a dca'dly enemy; and as an enemy ho was pitiless and merciless. This was, perhaps, not quite consistent, for he was a strong churchman, prominent in all work of charity, and ever ready to assist the cause \ of the Church; but at least it was human, Mr Hngon was anxious that his nephew should distinguish himself in whatever walk in life lie might 1 select, and with that end in view lie sent him to Winchester School, and finally to Cambridge for a term or two, but .though he was diligent he did not attain any honours, and was removed in order that he might enter his unclo's office for a probationary term. But Jasper showed 110 strong leanings for the law. fie had expressed a desire to enter either the army or the liavy, but Mr Hugon pooh-poohed this; ho said that the prizes in either of those professions were too few, and that it was the desire of his heart that Jasper should aspire to the very highest position the legal world had to offer. "Your future is in your own hands, boy." 110 remarked with the sternness 1 which characterised him wl;en he was urging his own opinions. "I want you to remember this, and also to remembei that you represent an ancient and proud family. So long as yoti do nothing tc dishonour the name or to disgrace yowrsolf you will find in me your staunchcsi supporter, and my advice and purse wil ever be at your service. But the slightest swerving 011 your part from the path ol rectitude will be fatal to your interest! §0 far as I am concerned. . Duty and honour must be your watchwords, ant I will tolerate no laches of any liiml however venial. I hold that no youtl brought up as yon have been brought nf

and trained as yon have been trained should run oft tho track upon which lie lias been placed. What you've got to remembei', therefore, is that you hold your own destiny. See to it that ymi don't mar it." Although this admonition was not without its c.ltect on Jasper, it did not make him take any more kindly lo the routine of a mouldy law otticc. Further • than that, tho exacting nature of his uncle's rule proved a. little irksome. Jasper had a healthy mind and a vigour of constitution that struggled lo find vent in such pleasures and pastimes as a young man so endowed would naturally incline 10. But his uncle had somewhat original views as lo how a youth should spend his time; mid ho galled him at times hy repeating as a sort of wearying refrain ; Remember, sir, you are a dependent. You might have been a street arali but for me; and my money will only pass to you 011 condition that you implicily obey my rules' and injunctions." ) There were times when, silently and secretly, Jasper felt half disposed io rise in rebellion and take his chance nf carving out a. way for himself. But he struggled against that feeling, and for tho sake of his sisters, to whom he was passionately attached, he. resolved to endure. It was with a 6ense of profound relief, however, that he heard' his uncle announce one day that lie had arranged to send him up to London, where he would enter the ollice of the well-known firm 'of lawyers, Winton, Calthorp, Win1 ' ton, and Ashley, whose practice embraced 1 . every branch of the legal profession. I Here Jasper was to gain a general know- [ ledgo of the law and to study for the ' Bar, anil he was to be under "the care 1 of Mr Winton himself, the head of the j firm, and a friend of Mr lltigon. i In making this arrangement there is no ' 1 doubt. Uncle Hugon believed lie was doing | tho very best thing he could do for his ' nepliew. He recognised clearly that if the lad was to aim at the plums -of the ' legal world he must take his stand in ! tho metropolis. Mr Winton was a strict business man, and exacted from all those who served him an unswerving fidelity 1 lo duty: but in other respects he was 1 easy-going; ho was ft bon vivant, fond of J company, and accounted one of the best J judges of a glass of .wine and a good : cigar in alt London, He took a' great . fancy to young Jasper Allport, who was permitted to dine almost daily with the • rich lawyer, and was allowed a good deal ' of latitudo and many privileges. As may 1 ; he supposed, Jasper enjoyed, his freedom, The restrictions which had made his life ' in. Southampton, so intolerable, and the ' reiterated admonitions of his uncle, wck now things of the past, and though Mi Q Winton occasionally cautioned him against • some of the pitfalls into which a yomu j man exposed to the temptations of Lon j don lifo is apt to fall, he did not inter fere with his freedom of action. Bui ' Winton'had great faith in his pupil. " Hi •j is a fine lad that," he used to say wit 1 a some pride. " A fine lad.. He's got stuf; ■® | in him, and will make his lie is 1 j a high principled boy, too, and I car ® imagine him preferring ran and poverty '} rather than sully his name." ' This will serve to show the cstimatioi i- in which the lawyer held his charge, an< ® those who knew the young man's histor ; t and hi.s connections were not slow to pre diet a brilliant 'future for him. c Jasper first met Olivia Lindmark a J* Mr Win ton's house. Lady Lindmark an< • the Wintons were well acquainted; in n deed, they were, on terms of rather inti a mate friendship. Almost from their firs IS meeting Jasper fell under the influene l " of Olivia's fascinations. He was a sus y ccplible young man; but even if he hai ;s not been so it is doubtful if he couh 't have been thrown in contact with Lad; S Liwlmark's daughter and have remainei " indifferent to her. For some time, how :e ever, lie kept his feelings lo himself i- except perhaps that they betrayed him ii ' v his manifest desire to be in her presence T lo.he privileged to be asked by her t< h perform some little service; and the wa; 1- in which he followed her with his eyes 'fi She, 011 her part, certainly showed is partiality for him, which caused a grea 5, deal of heart-burning and jealousy anion it . the other young men who were all read, 7 lo precipitate themselves at her feet shout 1- she condescend lo command them to d a so. " ie tn moulding Jasper Allport, Nature ha. ': done her work with 110 niggard hand. II ;e had a f'.ne figure and good features.' Hi is hair was dark, and his deep-set, thought d ful eyes had a tendency to win one's con ie fidence by reason of the open-mindednes and honesty of purpose which seemed -t s, be clearly indicated ill their uiiflinchin =s expression. It war, difficult to look i is those eyes and believe that there was an} hi tiling mean, dishonourable, or cowardl ?r in the youth's nature. ' d As young Atlporl's acquaintance wit :o Olivia had strengthened he began to groi r- bolder, and said and did things whicl st unless she had been singularly obtus< ill could leave her in 110 possible doubt thri st he was falling very much under lie if influence';, hut until the night of the ha ts no word of love had crossed his lips, id Mr Winton was not slow to notice ho' id circumstances were shaping theinselve: il, and one day lie said tn his wile— :h "That hov is smitten with Olivia Liiu ip mark. I admire his taste; she's a fin

girl, and would make him a capital wife. 1 1 should be glad to see them make a match i of it. But 1 fancy my Lady Lindmark 1 has rather lofty notions about her i daughter, and poor Jasper , will not have ] much chance." 1 : chapter, in.—aTie-siiufflixg i OF THE CARDS. . ' ' After that mutual confession of love in i the conservatory, Olivia studiously : I avoided Jasper Allport for the rest of the ■ night; but when the birthday festivities t came to an end and the last of the guests 1 were departing, she snatched an oppor- • tnnily to whisper lo him hurriedly— I " Be silent and cautious until I give j I you leave lo speak. 1 will be true to ' you," She afforded him no chance to reply, for . she sped away lo bid the last of her t guests good-night; but he felt supremely ' liappv as he leaned back in the hansom that conveyed him lo his lodgings. „ He dreamed; dreams; he made resolutions; 1 life was before him. He was still a 2 youth; he had lusty health; he came of • a long-lived stock, and his people, if they 3 attained to 110 very high pinnacle, had r in many cases distinguished themselves, s He would distinguish himself, He had - 1 a tremendous incentive now lo put forth 1 all his energies, to exercise his talents e to their fullest possible extent. There 1 were tho Bar and Parliament open to e him, and he knew that he could count oil 1 llie encouragement and practical assistance - of his proud old uncle in his struggle, I up the social ladder. Full of these . dreams and resolutions, ho sought his - bed as the fold grey light of the bitter e winter morning was beginning to assert, e itself. That night had been the happiest e night of his lile; with the new day he would begin his start fo'r the social 0 up-lnnd which he determined (0 reach, g and the beautiful woman who had told is him to hope, and vowed to be true, if should he proud- of him. e v When Olivia gave him her pledge—for II pledge it certainly was-she had been •t carried away hy ' an emotional feeling, ;e which was succeeded by rather serious y reflection a day or two later, when, havis ing recovered [10111 the excitement and if exhaustion consequent 011 her birthday it festivities, she calmly reviewed the incid dents of the preceding months. Although it it is a woman's peculiar privilege to change « her mind, more especially in the affairs of ie the heart, she could not he altogether .1.1 indifferent lo Carl Goldsehmidt's claim to y some consideration. He had charmed n. her, not to the extent that Jasper had fe done, but she had openly accepted his 10 attentions; indeed, had encouraged them, ie and she knew that in the circle in which Ir she moved there was a prevailing opinion st that Carl was (he forlunate man. She ig had been congratulated hy her girl 11- friends; her mother had acknowledged r- him; and on many occasions had cx:it pressed tho wish that Olivia would defile nitely make up her mind to accept Carl, [h To Lady Lindmark he seemed lo be a iff model young man, and knowing, as she is did, tint he was heir to wealth, the match in seemed a most desirable one. ty As for Goldschmidt himself, ho most certainly believed that he was the chosen 311 one, and he had acted in every way as id an engaged lover. He lost no 'opportunity ry of being with her, and though by a e- pleasant fiction he was supposed to be engaged in business, with his father, be at concerned himself but little about busi;id liess; leisure and idleness had more 11- attractions for him. He had given some ti- handsome presents to Olivia, and oil many •st occasions had enjoyed the special privilege ee of a seat in the bindmavks' carriage, when is- her ladyship and her daughter drove in ad the park. Id Carl liked to consider himself " a man lv about town." It did not indicate any ed very lofty aspiration, but it was in accord w- with his. temperament, and it gratified his If, vanity. Vanity was a' consuming vice in with him, and it led him into many :e, extravagances which his indulgent father, to instead of checking, rather pandered to. ay Gpldschniidt senior was himself a vain !s. man, and very much given to ostentatious a .display. Carl was a frequenter of the 'at stalls of fashionable theatres, and he had ng been known to boast that he was a shining ily light among thc'prctly actresses of the ild metropolis. His strongest weakness, howdo ever, was sport so-called. He was always a conspicuous figure at champion pigeoned shooting matches— or -pigeon slaughter as Ie it should be named, for it's barbarity and lis cruelty do not justify its being placed in the category of true sport. Billiards and cards also found favour with him, and it !SS was a tradition among his friends that he sometimes won and lost largo sums of ng money. It was his proud boast, also, m that lie could tool a pair of roadsters \.' 1 '.V- most men, and he had even essayed to drive a four-in-hand with some credit to himself. For two or three years lie had J' l been a member of that tremendously 1W exclusive coterie the, Elysium Club. H was a club of "gilded youths, scions of se > noble houses, who boasted of their blood 1!lt ' and pedigree. 11 had bcrn irreverently declared that it was harder lo' gel admission into the Klysium than into Paradise. But Goldschmidt, although he wasn't a scion of a noble ..house, and had eS; very plebeian blood in his veins, had managed it—how was a mystery even to I( '' his intimates, for around the Elysium was " ie drawn a ring of steel, so to speak, and - few indeed were those who coiild break through it. l'iches will do many things, but something more than riches was required to enable one to gain admission tc that select circle. liven to be allowed tc partake of the club's hospitality, fo; which it was noted, was regarded as a privilege only a little less distinguished than to be invited tn a royal levee. Certain people who had time enough on Iheii hands to enable thorn In interest themselves in other folks' business expressed surprise when they heard of Car] Goldsehmidt's election, for it was something more than a legend that no one who wa< engaged in trade was eligible. It wai clear, therefore, that a point had beer stretched in Carl's favour, and envious ones sneeriiigly whispered that Gold schmidt senior had won over the gilder snobs of the Elysium. If that were true . ! it proved that, after all, the Elysiim could be bought. 1 , Apart from lioklschmidt's position at i i the son and heir of a wealthy trader 1 there was a certain, personality about him' a personality and .force of character thai among a certain set. not. only attva:t« attention but commanded respect. Gifte< 1 with a good presence, and. well endowec ; with more than an ordinary share of self ; assurance, he was not content to take ; , j back seat, Those who 'had a mind t( [ might twinkle, hut for himself he wa; resolved to shine as a star of tiw fe magnitude. Sell-assurance, when backct , up by a full purse, is a tremendous power - It will ho gathered from ihess detail that Carl CJoldschmidt stood out ii striking contrast to Jasper Allport; 110 | lo the disadvantage of the latter 'oy air I means—at any rate, not among these wh' preferred good metal to liiu?l. The live , : of tho two young mcl , ] KK ] vlm j n diii'cien , ! grooves, while mentally they were, differ ontiat-rd in a very marked nlaiinei • ; Jasper was not content to fritter uwa ) J>is .life in idle frivolities. He attache [ more importance to the gift. ot lifc. an. if h? had bonn allowed to follow the ben of hi,s own inclinations he would hav (•lotted to ,'orvo his oiieen and country 1 lie calling of the soldier or sailor ha a fascination for him, but as circuu stauccs eeemcd to have, destined him f<: a legal career he wa.s applying himse assiduously to his duties, and gave' distinct hromieo that some day he migl distinguish himself, l/'l il not'be thou'gl that, he was averse to entering in!/> soa: of t-h-j gaieties of the wo'.lopolis. Tl:ei j was 110 indication ol morbidiicj.s or niurosi | im.-'s in hlrt disposition: and while, pe' i hap.s, lie ivould have refused, lo beconi j a mere dangler 011 ihc skirts of the | de.-s of pleasure j !4 .' mudil not l;a\ > refused to'.gain smnc' kuov-t.-Jgn of (1 1 '• i''•( Iwhirl of what i; known "m-in j life.'' l'tit his acqiiaintaie e with Uliv ' \ produced an entire chain.*.? in him. It wi ! > scarcely to ho wondered at that he shotil i create a sort of ideal woild in which lb • lady of his drc.itns reiened .supreme. There could he no doubt that o!iv jjiSt had lie.-n chzs.kd by (lold.-ciimidt *. ft I?| a time, iit leas!, lie had fiisnnated he Inn the giammir had worn away, ai %§ when J.-Hper cam.', into her life In ||fj womanly in-tiu4s had cuabkd her • appraise :\o two men at their true vain with the. result that she set Jasper his $ : *jj above C.til. The night ot tho ball hr sieJ brought mallei's to a crisis, and hi

woman's heart, found (1110 expression when „ she 'was led into con(e-si 1:1,5 io Allporl lhat she loved him, though at. the moment she had not concerned herself with the probable consequences of the stop she was taking. For wmc days she heard nothing of, her two admirers, hut a. week after the eventful liigiit Gokk.himdt called ® upon her. Although filie received hin\ « with apparent, graciotisness, he was quick to pc-rccive that he was not altogether a welcome guest, lint lie had gone there with a ti.\cd resolve, and determined not to bo turned from it. For some time tliey discussed the incidents of the ball, until, seizing an opportunity when the small talk began to llaj;, he «i<]; " I want- now to have a little corious convorsntion with you, Olivia, if you are disposed to listen lo me." Her face (lushed as she answered lightly: "W'hy. Carl, I didn't, think it was in you to'be serious." "Oil, yes, it is, and I'm going to bo • very serious now." "But. I don't want to ho serious, I cannot cet the delightful evening out of 0 my head " | r " Yes, I can understand that, It was 1 ™ a. delightful evening; neitlwr of us is f likely to forget it. Still, you know, / there's another side to life. A few davs 1' ago you were a girl; now you are'a woman in the eyes of the .law, and I C trust lam not eiceedmg my privilege in jl asking you to rememlwr the position in 1 « which wo stand to each other," I n "What position?' 1 she gasped, catch-1 t ing her breath and betraying confusion. " I thought my meaning \vould be clear. YOll surely cannot be indifferent to the deep regard I entertain for you"; shall I put it into plainer language—for the love 1 bear you?" Her' distress now was obvious. She was suddenly callefl upon to face a difficulty for which she was hardly prepared. And yet she must have known that, sooner or later, some explanation would be necessary. " I shall be more than pained," she said, still confused, "if you have taken our foolish flirtation seriously." " Foolish flirtation!" 'Yes. I have been foolish. You have just reminded me that I was a girl a i'cw days ago, and that now 1 am a woman. Girlish frivolities can surely he forgiven." " lint do you really want mo to believe that you have wantonly trifled with my feelings?" ( " o'n, no, no! Don't put it that way, please," she cried in distress. '"What i have always thought was that v.'c were just amusing ourselves with each other." " If you put it that way," he answered with some display of sharpness, "you must speak for yourself only. With me it wasn't a question of ailuising myself, as you call it. I regarded it as a serious matter, inasmuch as we were making our fate. You couldn't possibly have mistaken my attentions; they were the at- ■ tentions a man pays lo a woman whom he wishes to win for his wife " " But, Carl " she ejaculated distressfully; hut with a wave of his hand he > indicated a desire that she should not 1 interrupt.

"Let me finish; then yon shall have your say," lie went on, ''J. repeal that L have for a lony time regarded yon as my uitun: wife, and I have, acted towards you as one who stood in the position of your accepted lover. I nay accepted, because both yo i and Lady Lindmark have acknowledged me in that position. On your birthday night a consideration for your feelings restrained me from wishing to force my company upon you to the exclusion of others. Your position as hostess and heroine of the evening was an exacting one, and etiquette demanded that, your favours should he impartial. .fudge, my astonishment, therefore, when 1 saw that you allowed Mr Allport to monopolist: so much of your attention. 1 vantnmi ■to suppose that yon would have accorded me the proud privilege of tailing you down to supper, lint you ignored me, and allowed an adventure:'—r" _ She broke into protest at this. She had up to this point kept herself.in subjection by a tremendous effort ot will under the castigation he was administering, but the term" "adventurer" stung her beyond endurance. She sprang to her feet. Her face was dyed scarlet, and her manner clearly indicated that she would not brook' insult with impunly. "I won't sit here," she exclaimed fiercely. " an<V hear you speak in snch a. shameful way! Mr Allport is no adventurer; lie is'a gentleman!" " I hope • I also am a gentleman," answered Carl coolly, and shrugging his shoulders with an appearance of nonchalance. " I therefore apologise; I withdraw the term 'adventurer.' I know little or nothing of Jasper Allport, but if I am correctly informed he occupier, a subordinate position, a clerk or something of the kind, in a lawyer's oftice, and that ho lias neither means nor prospects." Olivia was stung almost to tears; she was afraid to trust herself to speak. She turned to the piano and toyed with the leaves ot a volume of music in her cfions to conceal her agitation from him. Carl continued still in an unemotional way :■ "It I was surprised that you should have allowed Mr Allport to usurp my position in escorting you to supper, i was still more surprised when I saw you leave the room with him in, as it occurred to me, rather a stealthy manner. Expecting to find you in the ballroom 1 went there, but found it deserted. Then soma I instinct lold me. you were in the coilr pcrvnlory; believing I had. a right to no so, I followed, nnd I. vitnesed the love--1 making between von,and my rival.' j Olivia found her tongue now. I>ne ? could endure no longer. _ "Well, and what about it: she fskeel ' anirrilv, while her eyes Hashed out the , indignation she felt. Ho. rose from his chair, and moved towards her, stretching forth his hands, 'i and with real or feigned emotion said: „ "Olivia, 1 didn't come here to quars re i W !h you, but to ask you for anexplav nation—to learn my tate, in fact." ,( His tone and manner calmed her, and , she said, sympathetically, though she did not take'his outstretched hands: " Carl, I am truly sorry if my foolishly nces has misled you. I confess I .have | 3 liked you, I have enjoyed your company ; but l" am sure, quite mire, we should iS never be happy together." £ "Wliv?" he asked, quickly. She was puzzled, and looked confused again. i "Because f am sure we should not,' was the be<jt answer that came to her (• if was a. womanly answer. 111 lie smiled rather bitterly as he replied: !(1 "And yet, unlov, lam greatly mis taken, you luivo known me more year< "* than vo'u have known Allpnrt months." so • 1 iy "Perhaps that is the reason, she re j« - maiked flippantly. bo The remark had such an effect npoi in him that the muscles about his montl h< visibly twitched. He turned towards tin window for a moment cr two," tliev wheeled abruptly and faccd her again lit* was a little excited, and he spoki willi what seemed to bo difficulty, iii though overcome bv his fwlings. c " l.ook here, Olivia, - ' he said, " havi ce some regard for my welfare. I love yoi —love the very ground you walk on,—inn you kijo\r it."

-'MVT■ 4?<7i«TaiswfWitrfTSCi! Sire shivered, and there was a catch in , her breath as she answered liini, I "I am sorry, Carl, very sorry.' i "Why should you he fiorry?" j " Bkiiusc—because —"' ' " But you have encouraged mo; you have given me hope; you have led me to believe my love was returned Why this sudden rupture? Have you thought for a moment what the consequence will be? Do you suppose I ain callous? Do you think I can part from you without a- ; pang? You liavo been my hope, my dream. If you send mc from you it ■ means that you wreck 11:0. I shall go to • the devil!" [ There was an impressive earnestness in i the way he spoke, in' the. way he api poalcd to her, and nnablo longer to keep I her feelings in subjection sho burst into ; tears. I "You ought not to say that!'' she sobbed. " 1 have been foolish, I admit. ' I didn't know my own heart. If I niarl ried you wo should spoil both our lives. ; We are not cut out for each other, I am ; convinced of that. Let us recognise it I before it is too late. Let its at least be r good friends, though we cannot be lovers, t A girl is apt to be mistaken. I have been t mistaken. Forgive mc." "So [lids my dream," he sighed. I Then, with a rising inflexion in his voice, v be added, " Yon think, you didn't • feel all this until 1 a. week ago'when you allowed Allport to come between us." "Oh, yes, Carl!" she cried. "I have s seen for a long time that our tempera- • ments are antagonistic. I am not at .- all the sort of woman you should i marry?" f "But what can yon know of Allport?" a Im asked quickly, thinking he could g score a point by the question. "More than you think. There's a subtle something in a woman's nature a B man can never understand, a something 0 that enables her to understand the true e feelings of her own heart. Up to a " certain time in her life she may believe '' that she is in love; then suddenly she awakens, as it were, front a sort of '■ dream state and realises that she has £ ben amusing herself with shadows. Forgive me, Carl dear, if I have done you a II wrong, ncinembcr I was a girl—l am d only a girl yet—but somehow I seem to have come to a clearer understanding of things, and I tell you again you and I e would never he happy together. You will soon meet some one else you will 0 like far better than you have ever liked me." "All this is mere sentiment," he retorted with some warmly, " and though , it's far from my wish to. offend you, I cannot helo adding t!u,t it's twaddle. It's e the sort of argument that a woman always uses when she wants to throw over the ' man whose love she has won for the '' sake of another whom the thinks she likes better. But in 99 cases out of a l " hundred she's wrong, I love you, Olivia, on my soul I do, and I ask you, plead to you, pray to you, to be true to me i[ you don't wish me to go to ruin," lt! He had approachcd her as though lie intended to take her in his arms, but she recoiled from him : his words had stung ° her, and his offence was not mitigated by the pathos of bis appeal. The situation was a dramatic one. The nerves of each were strained to a pitch of painful . tension, for though Carl was by nature flippant and insincere, there is little „ doubt that lie had in his way become 1 very fond of the girt, and he felt his dis- •' appointment keenly. But she was angered, and her anger would have : found oxpression in words had not the 3 " door opened at that moment and Lady rs Lindmark entered the room. She displayed surprise, on seeing Carl, for she e- was unaware of his presence in the house; theu, as she noticed that something was m wrong, she exclaimed— h Hullo! what's the meaning of this? io Have you two been quarrelling?" !n Olivia felt so embarrassed that she "• couldn't reply, but Carl up and spoke his mind.' lie explained why he -had as come >hero. and told her ladyship of the little love scene he witnessed in the conre servatory on the night of the ball. It 3u was a revelation to Lady Lindmark, for id' Olivia had conccaled tiio matter from her mother. Alfchoneh lim >/Iyeliu) had

, never been able, so far, to quite malco up ! her mind tliat Carl was a desirable lius- ! bainl' for her dauglrtcr, her feelings underj went a revulsion us she now learned tlmt I Olivia had elooped eo low—according to her ladyship's view—as to accept Allport's attentions, and C.'avl Goldschmidt at, once went- up in the anxious mother's estimation; wliilo Jasper Allport sank to a correspondingly low scale. Her ladyship was shocked,' her sense of dignity outraged, and it was speedily made evident. that- her sympathies were all with Carl. "This comcs of my not having resolutely set my face against- Allport's admission into our circle," sho began severely and loftily. "1.1 is really disgraceful, Olivia, that you should have forgotten i your self-respect to such an extent " (■ Olivia did not give lier lnot-hor time to finish the sentence. Her feelings had been rackcd enough already, and she was determined not to submit to be lectured in the presence or Carl Goldschmidt. But sho could not trust herself to speak, for the teara were, -welling to her eyes, and she abruptly hurried from the room. This movement 'was so unexpected that it created an awkward situation, until her ladyship exclaimed: "Well, upon my word, this is most painful! lam distressed beyond measure, and truly sympathise with you, Carl, But it will he better to let her calm down. The excitement of the last few woolcs has turnedi her head, I think. You mav rest , assured, however, that I will ncver'coun- , tenancc Jasper Allport, and he must bo , taught his proper place. Olivia is quite dependent upon me, and if die goes against- my wishes she will find herself 1 penniless." Her ladyship spoke with £cmc displayof warmth and excitement, while her an- ' , noyance was obvious. Nor was she ap-. [ poascd by Carl's reply. "I hope, Lady Lin'dmark, you will not tako this matter too much to heart," he said. "It is trno it is a terrible blow to me, and may have a serious effect on my future; imt. I must bear my grief like a man. If Olivia prefers Allport, so be it. All is fair in love and war. It . may not bo quite in accord with human t nature, but I shall not regard Allport- as , my deadly enemy, On the contrary, if I , can be of service to -him I will gladly da [ what I can." [ Lady Lindmark burst into tears, and, ! taking Carl's head between her hands, [ she kissed him on tlio forehead. 1 "Noble, generous, magnauimous boy!" she murmured bet-ween her sobs. "You _ mustn't let this little rupture affect you I too much ; and, depend upon it, I will [- bring Olivia to her senses, or if I can't my 5 son shall. I sliall write to him to-night 3 and tell him to come to England with all , speed. He has great influence over his , sister, and nis counsel may prevail if * mine does not." i (To be continued,)