THE TRIALS OF - -MADGE MOBERLEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2541, 26 November 1902, Page 59

THE TRIALS OF - - MADGE MOBERLEY.

By FLORENCE HOPE,

Author of "Tangled Threads," " The Brown Eosary," &c, &c. [Copy, bight.] synopsis of previous chapters. Chapters I to 111. —Madge Moberley, plain but fascinating, is travelling to London to take up a position as governess. Her brother Phil is to meet her at St. Pancras. -The train stops at Kettering and^she is left alone, but on its moving again a man with a dog-whip jumps in. "When London is reached he secures a porter for her luggage. Phil is not there, but a gentleman named Christopher Keane comes up with the news that her brother is unavoidably detained. He takes Madge to see the shops, and then they meet Phil at a restaurant, and after luncheon Madge takes train to Wimbledon, and nearing "The- Towers," her new home, in a cab,- sets a woman's face peering at her through some bushes. Later on in her own room, she hears footsteps stop outside the door, and opening it sees the figure of a woman just disappearing. Madge falls asleep in the schoolroom, and wakes up, to hear the swish of a gown und the door closing. She rushes to her bedroom and locks the door just as a scream rings out, followed by a heavy fall. She is sot allowed to see the mistress, and is depressed by the shadow that hangs over the home. Entering the dining-room one night she finds the prostrate form of a woman, a dark crimson stream trickling from her lips. Chapters 111 (continued) to V. —Madge discovers that the dark stream is not blood, but port wine. In an instant the mystery of the scream, falls, etc., is clear. The mistress of " The Towers " is a drunkard. The nurse informs Madge that only Kent Rocbford, a cousin of Mrs Lovell's, can manage her, and also advises her to keep out of hia way. In an album Madge discovers a photo, of her companion of the train. She does not like his face, and throws the book down as the original of the photo, walks in, followed by Mr Lovell, who introduces them. It is Kent Rochford. Madge leaves them, and is going upstairs, when she finds Mrs Lovell peeping from her bedroom door. In low,-agonised tones Mrs Lovell asks if Kent Rochford is downstairs. She says he treats her like a dog, and also beats her. Next day.he and Mr Lovell leave for Paris, and in^ bidding good-bye to Madge he puts his hands on her shoulders and says he has a good mind to kiss her. Madge meats Christopher Keane, who is assisting a local doctor. He asks if he can be her friend, but it is something deeper than friendship he craves. They reluctantly part at " The Towers," where Madge finds Mrs Lovell at the piano, and is invited to join her.