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Southland Times, Issue 11341, 26 December 1889, Page 4

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Abkows iwxsacE Heast. ... 1 Absorbed in 'these sad thoughts, she j WM ufacouscious of time passing, unconscious too of the arrival of a stranger; at J the house, until Frank eager and excited . burst into the room. J 'Mother, will you come down % Whom j do you think ia here? Sir Clifford Westray. He is ■' so good and kind. Come down aid to him. He will . not leave until he sees you.' She rose like one in a dream. Was nothing but the name of Westray to ! fall upon her ears ? Would they - come one by one uutil the wronged mother herself stood before her to con- ' front her with her sin ? ' Even in his glad excitement Frank noticed the tottering step, the pallid . face, the trembling h<tndß. * You are ill, mother/ he said, with \ earnest solicitude. 'What is it ? I never. ■ ■aw you look so before,' ] * It is nothing [more than usual/ she made answer, quickly. 'Where is Sir ' Clifford Westray? 1 J ,-...,,.,..,. ; , .; « He ism the drawingroom. He has been in quite an hour; I would have come foe you sooner, but I always expected you to come in/ ; She made no reply for a moment.then bade him go down, and she would follow him in a few minutes. She must have a brief interval wherein to compose her unstrung nerves. Once more she must trample upon her heart's weakness, and appear unmoved, calm,and self-possessed before a stranger, . When she entered the drawingroom the two were standing on the hearth, talking earnestly, but directly the door opened Sir Clifford Weßtraj took a step forward. Would she ever forget that; sweet, kind smile, that eaanest eye, that noble grace of mien? fche scarcely heard his words of courteous greeting, she scarcely saw the chair he placed for her; the room swam round her, her whole soul was absorbed by but one thought. There they stood — cousins/ but unknown to each other—the possessor of West Court and its rightful, but unconscious heir. Now that she looked upon ' the face of Clifford Wflstray, reading there what manner of man be was, hert&3k seemed ten times more hard, The restoration of the one would be the downfall of the other — which would be the greater evil? 'I trust you will forgive my intrusion, Mrs Wareham/ said Clifford Westray, with his sunny smile. ' I expected to have seen your son in town, but unfortunately missed him, so I just came straight on, sure of finding him here. Melnotte, the famous French painter, is in town, and I have some slight acquaintance with him. I know where he is to-night, and as his' movements are uncertain I came down to see if Mr Wareham would return with me to be introduced to him. He ia dining tonight with my aunt, at her house in Prince's Gate.' ' You are very kind/Sir Clifford/ was all she could command herself to say; ' Not at all. That is a very little thing, and it may be of use to your boy by and by when he goes to study in the French school. Melnotce is a very good fellow, and devoted to his art. "Veil, Mr Wareham, we must go now, if we are going. You will excuse me running off with him so unceremoniously, Mrs Wareham V 'Surely. Go and dress quickly, Frank, and do not keep Sir Clifford waiting. I am deeply indebted to you for your interest in him,' Bhe added, lifting her deep, aad eyes to Clifford Westray's noble face. • Some day he may be able to repay you.' ' Some day, when times are bard, he will paint my portrait for nothing,' laughed Clifford Westray. 'I am daeply interested in your son, not only on account of his undoubted talent, but I have a personal liking for him as well.' 1 Have you ? * I have indeed/ he answered, sincerely, ' He loves you, Sir Clifford Westray. I have often heard him say so. Will your aunt be quite pleased to see him ' ' I can pledge my word f>r it, Mrs Wareham. Lady Adelaide will at once make him thoroughly welcome and afc home.' ' Is it Lady Adelaide ? — Lady Adelaide Westray V she asked, her pale face growing paler. ' Lady Adelaide Westray. Possibly you may have heard Fred speak of ber. She is a great favourite with U3 all.' Mrs Wareham rose.and walking over to the window, looked out upon the narrow street with eyes which saw nothing. Was the responsibility about to be lifted fiom her shoulders I—the1 — the whole matter taken out of her hands ? Mother and son were about to meet without any planning or action of hers. What then] She turned her head presently, and looked into the face of Clifford Westray. He never forgot that look. It haunted him for days. But, if she were about to speak, opportunity was denied, for Frank, cap in hand, and with an ulster over his evening dress, reappeared, saying he was quite ready. She looked at him with a long, keen, penetrating look, wondering, perhaps, if he was going forth from ber for the last time. 'You look well, Frank/ she said ; then turning to Sir Clifford Westray,she added, with a faint smile, c we need not be ashamed of him to-night. He will pass muster where he is g"ing.' *No fear of that, Mrs Wareham. We shall all be yet prouder of him some diy, I prophesy. Good-evening, then. I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again.' « I fear not. Good-bye, Sir Clifford Westray. God bless you.' He looked surprised at the unusual words of farewell, but made no reply, only warmly clasped her hand. Then j the twain left the house. * Your mother does not look -well, my 1 boy/ said Clifford Westray, as they " walked together up the street. 'I hope you intend taking her out of town one ' .of these days. I wish I had it in my ( power to ask you both to West Court.' | ' She is not well. I have noticed a great change for a few months back, • She leems unhappy, X wish I kaavjt

! what to do,' said the young artist, with J rearunxiety. ; 'You must b 8 very good to her, Frank, ■ said Sir Clifford, calling him "by name for the firßt time, 'Am I right in thinking that she has sacrificed find borne a deal for you 1' ' tehe has,' returned Frank, and his voice shook. 'I am only beginning to realise now all she must have sacrificed and suffered. For nearly twenty, years,Sir. Clifford, she sapported herself and me, by her own exertions. It was only two years ago, before we. came to, London^ that an old lady whbin 'we knew in the place where we lived before left & "portion of hef means to nay mother ,thus : relieving her of some anxiety. But for ttiat happy bequest 1 should never have been able to follow my art.' • Ah, never mind . One day it will be your proud and happy privilege to do honor to the dear woman who has dane so much for you. May God spare you to each other until that day,' said Sir Clifford ; and then their talk drifted to other subjects, and the time passed quickly until they reached Prince's Gate. " Bosamond Vane's thoughts followed them there. As she sat by her lonely hearth, she tried to picture the scene in Lady Adelaide's drawingroom". Would mother -and. son meet as strangers, or • would the mysterious bond of relationship between them prove stronger than all, and reveal each to the other in a "moment? These thoughts occupied her whole heart and soul during the hours her bay was 'abaehb irom her. "When midnight approached, hope had almost died in her breast, and she was sitting with bent head and hidden' face, when suddenly the familiar grating of a latch key told that be had come back. 'Not in bed yet, mothei V cried the young, cheery voice. 'I am sorry lam so late, but I have had such a splendid evening. Oh mother, I wish you had been there ! I wish you could see Lady Adelaide Westray ; you would change your opinion of the aristocracy. She is just like an angel.' I 'And the great.painter 9 Did he take much notice of you?' she asked, feverishly. 'Yes, he was kindness itself, bir Clifford introduced me to him as if I had been his own brother, and Meinotte made me feel as if I conld do something great some. day. He talked so encouragingly. Fred was not thsra, but his sister was. ' She saw the slight shadow gather on his brow, and divined its cause. The sight of Ella Westray had once more awakened in his heart the pain of an unavailing regret. ' Did you speak touch to Lady Adelaide, Frank V ' Not very much. You. see I was occupied with Meinotte a great part of the time, and her other guests claimed her attention. But she looked at me very kindiy, and once when I met her eyes I saw them fill with tears; Sir Clifford spoke of it afterwards when we were walking outside. He noticed it, too, and told me that he thought she must; have been thinking of her lost J child. Had he lived, Sir Clifford says, \ he would jnst hive been my age,' (To be continued)