CHAPTER XXX.—LAURA TRAVERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2507, 9 April 1902, Page 59

CHAPTER XXX.—LAURA TRAVERS.

His first sensation was one of surprise. On the Southsea pier he had been too preoccupied to notice her. Now he realised that the woman was beautiful. Her great dark ejes were lustrous, her hair was coiled in black silky masses at the back of her shapely head ; her body was as lithe and graceful as a tiger's moving through long glass. Her tea-gown of soft clinging silk was the same outrageous colour as the room, but it no longer grated upon him, because it suited her so well. " Mrs Travers," he said, his surprise impaiting a note of hesitation to his voice, "I hope you will excuse my intrusion?" " Don't mention it!" she said, giving him her hand with a smile. "Of course lam very glad to see you. So you remembered afteiwards who I was?" " Yes," he replied, uncertainly, not «emembering at all. It did not matter who she \va«, or where he had met her, although "hers was not a face a mm «hould . finrl it easy to fonjet. "Do Mt clown." «he said, with a motion of her hand. "I only canio b.ick fiom .Southsea last night. I heard that you had b-en ciuising in that beautiful yacht in the Mediterranean. How delightful'" "Vf ry'" he said, absently. He was conseums that his manner mus-t Sbcm gauche, ■stupid, that she must be wondering what on earth had brought him to see a woman he did noi know ; but now that the moment had come, it no longer seemed so easy to place the vc-ry business-!ike proposal he" bad" reht-ar^ed before her. The coldbloodedness of the-thing might make her angry; and o go&d deal depended upon her consent. However, it had to be done, and he legained his nerve with an effort. After she might have !eis cause for offence if the proposal tame fioin an uttei stranger than from an acquaintance whose indifference mu>t •in in*-iil t lo any woman. Xrvimthelc-s." he added, after the mo nu'iii ltad el-ip-ed in which he Irid made up his niiiid, "it Ma.s a costly expedition for me." " Indeed." she said. '-Why?" H': luoked at her; he looked <%' tho ground. "Mi.-, Travels." he said, "be candid. Are you not wondering at tins moment what I w«nt here. You knew that I had forgotten our introduction, although it is a shameful thing to own. I admit, and that in any case I have no claim to j-our intimacy entitling me to call upon you unit sked ; but I am too much troubled to .stand on ceremony, even to be polite.' She was reclining in the aim chair opposite his, a glowing cushion behind hei daik head, a stool Tinder her feet, a half-Miiile as of mingled amusement and interest on her lips. She stirred now. making a rest for her chin upon hei hand, and the' «mile died and the dark fringes of her eyes halfveiled their sciutiny. "You aie in trouble? ' she repeated. "I am soiry for that." " It is very kind of you to «ay so," said the man. "I wonder if you will be still more kind and lister with patience to the story of a fool?" " Have you come on purpose to tell mo tin-, story? " " Will you think me mad if I answer ' yea 1?"

"Go on," she said. " You arouse my piiriosity at least."' "1 am engaged, to be married. " he began, j" to a girl who is very beautiful, of whom I am very fond. While I was away on this yachting expedition, which I had joined at an invalid brothel's request, Sir George foalbiac, the owner of the yacht, began to ibrow out suggestions to me that my fiancee Was insincere. He more than hinted, in fact, that she was merely playing with me, as she had played with every man who had come within her reach. He instanced a scene he had observed between her and a fellow guest at Closters, a country house hvhere we were all staying a little while >" " Closters? " she repeated. '■ "You may know the name, and that of Iny fiancee, Hilda Chevcrley? There wa« a ibel action " [ " The brooch case ! I remember,"' she >aid. "Yes?" 1 "He professed to believe — whether insincerely or not I do not know — tha.t she jneant to jilt me for the sake of an old admirer who had ju«t come into a fortune. I contradicted the statement waimly; it ,w«s at dinner, and the champagne had made ius speak plainer to each other than it is customary to do. I vowed that she gave I oio thought to any man but me. that she j |.-was faithful, and would be the first to greet •me on my return. Dalbiac seized upon the •{phrase .and proposed a wages. He bet me that I would not" marry tie fiist Woman who greeted me after I set foot on soil. I was excited — and I accepted."' I The woman's hnlf-vpil°d regard did not falter. She seemed to find him interesting ■ — something of a curiosity, perhaps — a Siunian product which sbe had not come across before. "That was rash, wasn't it?" ' "It was madn€«s" he responded. '"Hilda was not there. Her absence wos Quite innocent, I d'scoveicd afterwards. She had gone to Ireland to see her hi other, anel the telegram warning her of mv arrival Lad Veached her too late. You were the fir'-t (Woman who greeted me on mv return." " I."' she exclaimed, and smiled. '" How uncomfortable for yon! Then you have los. your bet ! You will have to pay £10.000 !" "I cannot pay it." leplicd Saville, huskily. . " I am a poor man. Do you understand now why I have ventured to call upon you? " " No." sh«> said. " Think. I beg of you." "I do not understand you." she persisted, staring at him blankly. He could not look at hei. His eyes fell ; he drew on the carpet with his stick. "A man must not -have a debt of honour which he cannot pay. It is nece«saiy that —that I should not owe it. Mrs Travcrs, am I mistaken in supposing that you are not very rich?*' " You are correct." she said, quietly. " I Bin hideously poor." "Do not be offended with me. I beg of you I '" — he took courage and looked up : at last ' he had found the coldly businesslike tone which had seemed so easy in anticipation. " The fact of it is," he continued, " I desire to luv a commercial proposal before you. Although I canuot pay iBIO.OOO in a lump, I have means, which I pope to increase by a salary. Are you w'illmg to go through a form of marriage with me in return for an income during my life of £300 a year, and an insurance policy for £3000?" The woman did not an«we v for a moment. He fancied thai she had turned rather White. '"It is a stiauge proposal.'" she said, "a rery strange proposal. I presume that you are seiious? "' " Mo c t «eriou«-." " Do you lemember that we know nothing of each other — that you had forgotten mv very existence when we met the other day? " w-at eloes that matter?"' he asked , quickly. "Of course you understand that I used the term ' form of marriage ' intentionally. I do not seek to influence your Jife at all. any more than I desire you to influence mine. We should separate after . the ceremony, which could take place at a I Registry office, and we need never see each other again. You would go your way, I < Should go mine. The £300 a year would be secured to you under a marriage settlement." A faint laugh broke from the woman. " You are certainly bu«iness>-like," she fcaid. ! " It would be absurd," he said, colouring i slightly. "to attempt to introduce sentiment into a matter which is solely a question of exchange. A marriage certificate would annul the debt I cannot afford to pay ; £300 a year would buy you flowers, luxuries, even comforts, perhaps, which you do not possess. We can all spend more money than we have. This addition to your income would make your life more Egreeable, at a cos-t, after all, infinitesimal to yourself. " She sat up and linked her hand 1 -, which looked milk-white beside the flame-colour of her dress, around her knee. "Would the co«t be infinitea-imal? " she asked, dreamily. "I am not so si. re of it ! iDo you think I am an old woman, Mr C.ire w ? " If in the daytime looked a little worn when the world wa« going against her. in this light, dressed to advantage, she looked •what she should be: a worn.in, not a gul. at the handsomest lime of life — a woman of passion, "who had learned sympathy through suffering, who knew hei self and the .urorld, and men. " What an idea '"' he said. "Of course J[ don't think so !"' " Doesn't it seem to yov. then." she s-aid, "' that my freedom — my freedom to give anyrelf away — ; s not to be K o lightly parted .ivith? — that I may not care to live the rest of my life alone? To you this would mean nothing.' 1 There was a spark of fire in hc-r fine eyes. *• But I am the woman. If I took your money. I should feel bound to .respect your name." He stirred beneath her gaze with a little uneasiness ""It is tuip."' he «aid in a low tone, that these grounds foi objection on your part iid not strike me. But I hope you will

not let them =tand in the way. I 'honld be immensely grateful to you if you could | oblige me, and by-and-ijye I might -cc my I way to increasing your allowance. You would not find me ungenerous. " She rose and frtood befoie the fire. "The money would certainly be useful," «>he admitted. '" It tempts me — it tempts me ! Don't think lam meicenary. Since you have told me «o much I will tell you something. I am eating up capital in thi& little flai , which I am renting furnisher!. When wliat I have is gone 1 do not know what I shall do. If you weie Mephistopheles himself you could not have come at a time when yon v, ere more likely to prevail !" He did not knosv what to =ay. so ."id no-thi-ig Perhaps his fate l«i\ in her npxt rvfrds He went off into a chiv-d»eim, w( lidering what Hilda would think if c he know that he had ju«t a s ked another woman to marry him. '" Do you expect me to give you my answer now?" she a-ked E.bnipth "I should be glad of it. Mr« Tiavcis. Naturally. I am very anxious." She tinned towards him once more. The Le-it of the fire had left a flush upon her hitherto colouile&s cheeks. " now cool you are !" she said, with <-i)d den vehemence. " One would think that I was a piece of china, which you proposed to jbuy ! But I am flesh and blood." i>he f-tiiick her brpast with her open hand. " I can't sell mv liberty without reflection, like thi*. ' if she expected that her passmen would strike an answering note in him she was H.istaken. " If you would like to think it over," he s '"I nrentlv. lam quite willing, of course. 1 ■!•):. i want to be inconsiderate It is wry kind of you to -tc — " he moistmcd hi*- li j j&- • — " io fake my piopo>al seriously Will you let me know to-morrow? Would that 'b«* too soon?" " To-motrow will do. Come at the same hour, and my decision shall be ready for % iin."' "Thank you." he said. "Once more, let me express niv gratitude for the consideiati')ii } cm air showing me. T shall be here" — lie glanced iv the clock — "at 4 o'clock tomorrow. Vray think of my pioposition as kindly a« you can." He had men tci go. The object of his visit ww t i« explained. There was nothing to wait for as far as he wa>- concerned She setmed of a different opinion. Her 1 1 ii 5 curved in a curious smile. Probably Hip \ws ii-,ed to mo!? attention from the other sev than Saville seemed likely to give h:r. and was amused at his unconcealed indifteienc — or piqued. ' .Vie you going already?"' she said. ''Sn down a moment, and let me give you a cup of tea " Her hand was on the bell. "If you are not in a hurry,"' she added. "1 am not at all in a hurry," he answered, civilly, sinking down again, albeit w.tli some reluctance, for he was in no humour, .it this tragic period of his life, for light conversation with any woman. "You are very kind. "■ Oh. kind, kind, kind '" she exclaimed. ■" Don't say that any more. Why shouldn't I be 'kind?' You are offering a competence to a beggar, and I ought to think myself very lucky." She sank down on the end of the eomh nearest to his chair- so near that he could see the rise and fall of her biea^t, and breathe the fragrance of her h<ur. "■ Tell me <-omething about yourself,"' she said. "At lea^t. wp may take a little inteic«t in each othei. What will your fiancee say Io this move of your*, pioviding thnt I agree?" " Ah. d'in'l j«k me thnt." he replied with a deep breath. " I dare not think of it." "If I nt'ie in \our pi ite I <-h(iuld run awa\ with hei — and go abiticiil. <md kct\e the dtbt unuaid'"' '" You arc not a man," he 'aid " And women have no sense of honour ! That i< the ciy. isn't it?" He smiled at her as she sat watching him earnestly, hei elbows on the end of the couch, her chin supported in her favourite attitude upon her hand — smiled foi the fiist time since he had been in the room. " 1 should not have been rude enough to say that ! A woman would not have been so foolish a*, to contract the obligation. It is nitn who do these thing 1 -." " How you must believe in her ' How you must love her'" she said softly. His eyes glowed. " Yes." he said, looking away fiom the woman to the fire, " I love hei " " And you will nevei — nevei be her husband, and >he will proba>bly many somebody else — because you mu^t pay your debt of honour! Oh, you fool!" He turned his head sharply "Why aro you trying to tempt me" " Because I know you won't yield '" ''Why are you toitunng me, then?'' She laughed a soft, low laugh of enjoyment "Ah. now you are awake! I wanted to aiouse you — that was all. You were too cool and self-contained, my friend. But you are human after all. it seems." " God knows, I am human enough," he tasd. brokenly. ] " And therefore to be consoled !"' He hi< head. "Nevei. No other woman can take her place." " Bv-and-bye you may look at thing* more clieei fully. I hope so. ' '-he replied " You are too young to talk a 1 - though youi life weie over."' The tea came in She poured it out, and he ro<-e to take his cup from her. " Make yourself at home," she said with an arch expression, " and try those cakes. What an extraoidmarv afternoon this has been ! Do you reah«e that you hare just proposed to me? "' *' Yes ; don't you? T won't have anything to eat, thank you.' *' Hare you had anything to eat to-day V ".Jsot much, eeTtainlv."' "I thought not! You will be ill. Why take life so seriously? It is only a comedy after all ; and then — the cm-tain falls ! ' " You are a bit of a philosopher, I see " "Do I look like one?" she asked, laugh-

She turned her face for liU inspection, and their eyes, met. "No." he said slowly, averting his. "I shouldn't call you a philoMsphei." " What, then " "After all. I will have a piece of bieod and butter, if I may. " "What then"' " >he reiterated. "You ate '.■'oi a cov. cird, are you? " "I hope rot. I don't set up for being a phy^:og,nimi«t, Mis Ti avers. I should viv tiiat you weie am thing but pp.^ionle*«." "I wonder if that is a compl-ment, oi vn insult," <he mu.sed aloud. "" A compliment, of e-our-e. A female stoir would be monstrous surely !*' .She was well pleased with him, it wa^ evident, though she feigned a sigh. "Ah. I have had a haid life. " she «aid '' J don't ihink anyone coulel ha\c taktn it with indifference. I wa- mimed too 3on i :, and I iiad a bad husband." " I am -oriT," he said, politely. ■" No, you are not."' she said ' " You are n llv trying ;o be civil You don't eaie a *ei.ip ;<b<>'it mv p;i>r. Yon haven't a^ked ;• single f[Uejt:on ' I might not be respectable, eve;i. foi all you know ! You are self-i-l>— X- ;''l :-"-> a:;:" He flushed. "7 beg youv p.ij.lon if I have done amis 1 -. Would you have been better pleased if I h;.d insulted you with such a, question? I am r?u;e there ib no occasion to ask it. "And il doesn't maliei to you, in any c;;«e. e-'>? "' \ on will bo n im r. imc," he answered, gravely. "\{>u hope --o, you mean' Perhaps I fell ill have- nothing to do wah you.' He could no 1 , smile or attempt to keep pace with hei lighter mood: hi« <>wn was far too seriou- — U-aak 1 . H'> wished sincerely indeed that she would let him go, and it wa<- with a subdued si^h of relief that he put ln^ teacup down, and took advantage ot an opportunity to rise once more. "I am afiaid I have paid you a mott unjiiMifrVble visitation." he said "Then may I come to-moirow, for your answer.':" "Yes, to-morrow, ardent suitor, she repliid. in sudden mockery and bitterness. " Good-bye, and pleasant thoughts '" "'J lifi-e are none left in vhe world for me. ' he said, " but I should be grateful for you' he 7 r; — vpry grateful."' He shook hands with her a little more ■waimly than when he bad entcied She heMtaied on the threshold, then went to the hall door with him. Wop t you ring for the lift?" she said. " It"s a long way down." She returned to the room rather mechanically, and stood by the file with one clipper resting on the curb Her eyes sought their own rather thoughtful le'flection in the gla" '• Now, why did I ask him to come back?"' she mused. " Why didn't I give him his answer on the Will somebody tell me why? You are a fool, Laura. Be sincere at any j-ate with yourself. You knowthat you wanted to prolong the situation in order to see him again !" She turned away with a deepening of the thonghtfulness- in her eyes, and strolled about the room. A restless fit had overtaken bei She ciumpled the handkerchief in her hand to a ball. " I didn't know that he was like that ! I didn't know that he was like that ! Th;s is no drunken vacuous boy. If I weren't so poor I would tell him— no, I wouldn't !" A lambent flame played in her eyes. "He is tou handsome. And he scarcely noticed me. Even when I made him look, he looked aw-iy again as though he did not know that I had a sex' The gill is good-looking — Daibiac said --.o. and I have- seen her portrait* — but he can't have her. Will he cry for ever for the moon?' She d'opped on to the couch, nestling luxunou«ly tmoug the down cushions. " Yes."' «he murmured, " will he erv for ever for the moon? It would be amusing to tonsole him. He is younger than I. but what of that? He doesn't know it, and a girl would not play her cards as I can. I am glad that I told him to come back r> She ios C pies.er.lly and wiote a note to Dalbiac. "Dear George, — Youi biid is snared. He has just left me. I am to think over his proposal, which surprises me immensely, of course, and give him his answer to-morrow. He is terribly cut up. I think you are a brute. However, don't forget that you have promised me £500 a yeai ! "I will let you know when the wedding day is fixed. Good luck to you — Sincerely yours '"IaAI-bk Travkr.s." " P S.— He is a stick, but I am half in love with him ' I never met a man with such fine eye«, wh>, could do .-o little with them Why didn't you tell me that he wj<- the handsomest man in London? I appiove of the girl's choice What woman would look at you while he was theiel'* (To be continued )