THE TRACK OP THE STORM.

Otago Witness, Issue 1899, 13 April 1888, Page 29

THE TRACK OP THE STORM.

A NOVEL.

By BORA RUSSELL.

Author of " Footprints in the Snow," " The Broken

Seal," &c, &c, &c.

[The Right op Translation is Reserved.]

dear. Ddn't think of me now; Mrs Marks will take care of me until you think we can be married,"

" But, Jack, let me think. I shall wait a day or two; and then, write to Prissy," " Why wait a, day, or two, Lucy ? " " Yes, please, let us wait a day or two, until— it is all over," and Lucy gave a little shiver. " Oh, Jack, death is such an awful thing, I think 1 Poor mother's death — I never told you about it, did I ? And — and though I am so happy to be free, I am sorry for poor Sir William, too."

" 'Tis a little tender heart," said Jack, kissing her sweet' face, which 1 was wet with tears. " Well,' I don't pretend to be sorry that poor Sir William' is destd — in fact, lam most awfully glad. It may be wicked, but if it is wicked I can't help it."

" But I am afraid it is wicked, Jack."

'• Oh, nonsense, dear ! Isn't it far better that an old fellow like that should die, than that they might be able to tell any lies and scandals about you 1 They won't be able to do that now, I shall go away from here tomorrow, Lucy. lam determined upon this. I will go back to my old rooms in Upper Berkeley street, and we must keep all the time I have speflt here a most profound secret. Then you, dear, go to Prissy and your father. Don't have them come here, and Mrs Marks telling all about your brother. You know how she would go on."

" Yes, they had better never come here. I agree with you there, Jack."

"Of course they must not, Lucy. Miss King, the pretty music -mistress, and her brother^ must ' vanish into thin air.' You must never see any of the people about here again." "No," said Lucy, thoughtfully, and her eyes fell. She was remembering Luke Smith and his wasted love, and wondering how it would end.

But Jack was too excited to rest. He asked Lucy to telegraph to his landlord in Upper Berkeley street that he would be there the next day. He sent for his doctor, and told him he was going. " It is impossible," said the doctor, gravely. " It is a fact," answered Jack, with a bright smile.

" You are much better," said the doctor, yet more gravely ; " but if you move in your present condition you will soon be much worse. As a medical man I forbid it. I appeal to your sister here to forbid it." "Very well, doctor, I forbid it," smiled Lucy. " Jack, you are not to go."

And she persuaded him, after the doctor was gone, to keep quiet at least for a little while longer. •' Now listen to me, dear Jack," she said. " I will stay on at Mrs Peters' for the next few days, and then I will write to Prissy, and go either to Aunt Louisa's or straight home. I will say nothing about you being here, and who can know ? Does this plan set your mind at ease ? "

Tney settled it thus at last. Jack was to stay where he was until he could move without danger, and Lucy was to go to her friends after poor Sir William's funeral was over.

" But I shall come to see you sometimes, all the same," she told Jack ; " and— and Jack, after a little we will go down to Northumberland together — you and Prissy and I — and stay there until "

" You are my wife, my darling. My Lucy at last!"

" And you, promise me never to go away from me any more," said Lucy, laying her hand on his shoulder, and her cheek against his; "always together, Jack. Won't that be the way 1 "

" Yes, always."

" Till we are quite old," said Lucy, tenderly. "We will live at the Grange, Jack, won't we — our own dear home ? "

" Yes, my sweet darling." They planned it all — their home by the Northern Sea, and the love-dreams of their youth fulfilled. They were like two children, so joyous and full of hope all the evening after the news of Sir William's death had reached them. When the first little shock was over, I am afraid poor Lucy made a very bad widow.

" I am ashamed to feel so happy," she said softly to her young lover, and Jack, we may be sure, had some tender word to whisper in reply. It was not until she left him for the night and went back to her lodgings at Mrs Peters', lower down the street, that she began to feel some remorse for her conduct to the dead man.

" I hope he did not grieve about me," she thought, sitting down alone in her bedrooir, and thinking over her brief married life. " I suppose I should not have left him ; but I could not stay. Poor old man, I dare say he meant to be kind; but— but it was too miserable, after I knew dear Jack still lived."

But still her heart reproached her. " The shadow oloak'd from head to foot " brings strange thoughts and memories to our minds. Forgotten words of scorn and hate ; unkind deeds, neglected love — we think of these when that grim visitor is near. "I might have made him happier," many a woman sighs when the black pall hides the familiar face. And Lucy sighed too — and then fell asleep and dreamt that she and Jack were children again together, p|aying on the Norliumbrian shore.

(To be eonim-iced.)