THE PAINTED VEIL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1329, 17 May 1918, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE PAINTED VEIL.

[Hy SYBIL CAMPBELL LETHBRWGE. | Author cf "Middle Life," "The Shoreless Sea," "Love and My Lady," etc.] JA'J Rights Reserved.] " Lift not the painted veil xvhkh men call life."—Shelley. chapter xvur. MR OAGWAY IK AFRAID. ] 1 oi- .10(0, received by Eldred Sarter the following morning, did not surprise him. lie had, indeed, expected it. For a couple of days lie gave her no sign, then he wrote'a formal letter hoping that she would soon be restored to health. He had been a fool, he told himself savagely: he had frightened her, had put her on her guard. He had lost control of his usual temper, he had shown fury, and therefore weakness. lie resolved, with a grim smile, that ii, future he would keep his anger, as Napoleon put it, beneath his chin, and then lie would be master. Involuntarily his hand strayed towards the pocket where Jay a note from Mrs Archeourt saying that she would receive him that afternoon, as he requested. There was an interview before him that would require a calm and judicial attitude. Mrs Aichcourt would, ho felt instinctively, be quick to seize any advantage that he might give her. His (letter ashing her to see him on a matter of urgent importance had been interpreted by Betty to mean that either he wished to explain why he had "taken up" Laline Dagway, or else he was coming to plead on Laline "s behalf for forgiveness from Mrs Archeourt. And Betty, who had been highly incensed at the encounter with her former friend, intended to tell Mr Sarter quite plainly that she did not choose to discuss Miss Dagway, that in so far as"she, Mrs Archeourt, was concerned, Laline di«l not exist. She had composed a dignilied but stinging little speftch that should show Sarter how presumptuous lie had been, but when he came he gave her no opportunity of uttering it. His heavily-featured face was set in an expression of blank impassivity, his eyes looked forth with cool aloofness upon the world, and his mauncr matched them. Betty received him in her own sitting-room, a room furnished in blue and black. The carpet, the huge cushions upon the, pale blue sofa, the narrow curtains framing the three tall windows, all were of sable line. Mrs' Archeourt in her widow's garb fitted well into the picture. "You were surprised to get my letter, Mrs Archeourt,'' said Eldred Sarter; he went straight to the point, tmt Betty was prepared for him. "No, Mr Sarter, I do not think I was," she answered quietly. ''You came to speak to me about Miss Dagway. '' He had not expected this prompt understanding, but it did not disconeert him. Settling his massive, misshapen figure against the pile of black satin cushions, he smiled at her quietly. "Right,'* he said, "you are quickwitted, Mrs Archeourt, and yon have intuition. Two days ago, you cut Miss Dagway,-and i want to tell you that you must, not do it again."' The yellow-brown eyes looking at him from out of Mrs Aichcourt's pale face glittered. '' Rather a strange word to use to me," she said quietly. "Miss Dagway is a stranger to me, and such she will continue." "Not if you are wise,*' said Sailer. "You can't afford to make an enemy of me, Mrs Aichcourt." She smiled; her smile conveyed a doubt whether to consider him mad, or outrageously insolent. "You are angry with Miss Dagway, because yon think that she diil not behave with perfect propriety whilst she was at Droma Castle," pursued Sarter, unmoved by ti.at smile. "Her running away one night with Captain Hartram, even though she thought better of her folly and returned, you cannot forgive. And yet, it was very useful for the captain, afterwards, that little escapade, wasn't iff But for it, there might have been some very painful consequences for him.'' Betty listened, her hands lightly folded in her lap, the smile of twofold meaning still upon her lips. When, however, she would have spoken, Sarter checked her. "Wait," he said. "Mrs Archeourt, you were angry with Laline Dagway, you hated her, because you thought that yon hail been fooled by her and by Captain Hartram. You loved him—oh, please don't mistake me—you loved him —you probably love Hartram still, in that perfectly correct way that women of your type do love. But—your vanity is great and overwhelming, and it was wounded. Mrs Archeourt, strange though it may seem, Laline Dagway is devoted to you. Your treatment of her the other day nearly broke her heart. It shall not happen again. Henceforth, you have to show the world that there is absolutely nothing against Miss Dajfway, even though she did not eventually marry Captain Hartram. 'You will take her back—as your friend.*'

Betty shifted her position slightly. On either cheek there burned the red spot of anger that. Barter's plainness of speech had called into being. "Never," she said. "Never, never, never!'' He rose and went over to her, stood beside her, looking down into the beautiful face, with what resembled pity in his eyes. "I'm afraid," lie said, "that yon must. One moment, Mrs Archcourt, there is something that I wish to tell you, and I can prove beyond the least possibility of doubt that what 1 say is true." He bent down, so close that his lips almost touched the sweep of yellowbrown hair, half concealing the delicate little ear, and he whispered something that drew a sudden, half-choked cry of anguish from Hetty Archcourt, and she shrank ill honor from her companion. "No, no," she murmured hoarsely, "it's —it's impossible; it—it can't be." "But it, is," came the inexorable answer. " Listen, and I will prove it." And, against, her will, even holding down her hands with ruthless strength, when she would have fain have hidden her anguished, shame-stricken face in I them, Eldred Barter proved beyond all doubt, beyond all possibility of it, to the wretched woman that what he said was true. About half an hour later, Eldred Salter left the great, house in Belgrave Square, feeling that he had tortured a fellowcreature almost beyond the limits of endurance. He had expected to conquer Betty, but her surrender had been so abject that it had made him uncomfortable. How she loved Hartram, he thought, with envy of the man who had won such love; how absolutely selfless must, her devotion be! Her one thought had been of him: she had been ready to make any sacrifices, provided that they were neccssury for him.

Three days later, Lalino Dagway received a letter that amazed her and, but for the fact that she, was sorely troubled about other things, would have made her intensely happy. For it was from Betty Arclicourt. It expressed deep

sorrow for that disastrous meeting at The Laurels, and it begged Laline to forgivo and forget and to dine with the writer the following evening. "I have been frightfully unhappy," wrote Betty, "and am so still. Be and come to me, Laliue. I know I have treated you unfairly." To such an appeal Laline's generous, impulsive heart could not he deaf. Her answer was as loving as the most contrite person could desire. It was written with a sincerity that brought an uneasy flush to Betty 's brow. She remembered how transparent (save in one matter) Laline had always been, how guileless, ready to believe all that was told her. She knew that Laline was overjoyed at the reconciliation, and Betty's heart reproached her as she? thought of how it had been brought about. But to poor Laline, ignorant of Eldred Sarter's guiding hand in the matter, Betty's letter came as a ray of light when the darkness was thick. Her father had written to her, a desperate, incoherent letter that had seriously distressed her. She had gone to him; he had told her, without any preamble, and in a way that left no doubt in her mind as to tlio truth of what he said, that unless the three hundred pounds were forthcoming, his arrest was certain. Laline, horrified, overwhelmed by the disclosure, had realised that there was but one thing to be done; her father must apply to Arthur, his son. Vehemently at first Mr Dagway had refused; at last, however, he had appeared to assent. He promised to write to Arthur, and Laline, to keep him to his word, told him that she would return to Emberton Place the following day to hear what his son's answer had been. What he had done, how ho hail brought himself within the grip of the law, anil how three hundred pounds would free him from it, he refused to tell, and Laline did not press him with questions. She felt it would have been of no use. The fact that disgrace threatened him was sufficient.

Just before she set out for Emberton Place, Laline received Betty Archcourt ",s letter. It cheered her and gave her, sTTe felt, strength to meet whatever blow Fate had in reserve for her.

Of late Mr Dagway had taken to remaining in his room; he lay on the shabby old couch, drawn close to the lire that Miriam Cowden kept supplied with coals in a spirit of reckless generosity, and he ate languidly of the meals that that devoted soul prepared for him. No longer did he absent himself in mysterious fassion for a day and a night at a time; the shadow of a terrible fear hung over him, and he could not dispel it. Constance, fat-faced, pallid, and imperturbable as ever, opened tiie door to Miss Dagway and gave her friendly greeting. "He ain't a bit better," she observed, "alluding to Mv Dagway —"just mopes and mopes. Your brother's with him now, Miss—just come." Laline shivered suddenly; she had not expected this ordeal, but she went upstairs with a certain quiet dignity of bearing that impressed Arthur Dagway when he saw her. He, had expected to find her in any mood but this one of grave aloofness, as she greeted him calmly, and then spoke to her father. "Well, papa, have you told Arthur what you want?" she said. "Does he know? "

Mr Dagway's uuwholesomcly pale face grew a brickish red. "No, no; no need to worry him," he answered hastily. "By the time he came here, all—all was settled. Thanks for troubling, Arthur, but you needn't now. I won't keep you, you'll want to be off to the bank." "Well, if I can't be of any use," began Arthur, his dark eyes, so like his sister's, surveying her keenly. "I hope you're happy in your job with Sarter," he said; "he's a splendid fellow to know, Laline."

Laline agreed. "I am very happy," she said politely: "it was a chance in a hundred, my getting such a good j'osition."

"Well, we needn't keep you," broke in Mr Dagway with nervous trepidation. "Good-bye, Arthur —thanks again.''

Arthur shook hands with bis father, and then took Laline's slender lingers in his.

"Good-bye," he said, studying her intently. "You've had a hard fight, Laline, and you're plucky; I don't know anyone I respect as I do you." Astonishment at this unexpected praise kept Laline from replying. Her father drew a sigh of relief when the door had closed upon his son. "He's safely out of the house by now," he announced with satisfaction. "Laline, there's something I must confess to you. I've not told Arthur a word of what's wrong. T sent for him, because I thought, if I didn't, you might go to him and tell him things that he's no right—l mean, no occasion, to know. Now don't begin to scold me, because it's useless. Listen to me, that's what you've got to do." . A feeling of hopelessness overcame Laline. To deceive, to walk crookedly, seemed in her father's nature to be a desire that he could not resist.

"I couldn't tell Arthur," pursued Dagway, his voice rising peevishly, "that I'd had a. cheque given me for 30 guineas, and that I altered it to MOO ■ —yes, you needn't look as though you •were going to cry, my dear; that's what I've done, and I'm sure I wish I hadn't, now that there's so much unpleasantness over it. It was a loan — that 'a what I took it for —and —and it would have been repaid; but now—now —the person who has it has —has suspicions, and-—and threatens me with making inquiries, and —and that's what I want to prevent. Give me the money: get it somehow, La line. Barter —he'll listen to you—it'—if you say it's for yourself.'' Laline brushed the suggestion aside. "Tell me who gave you .')0 guineas," ! slip said. "Who is it that you are cheating of £.'tooi" Mr Dagway shut his eyes and gasped several times. "That's why 1 can't toll Arthur,"' he moaned at length; "he's so hard, so cruel, lle'cl stop my allowance, he'd see me. in the workhouse lief ore he'd help me again. He's told me before that if he found mo only encroaching, asking, perhaps, just a little more, he'd let me starve —rot in (he streets was the way he jud if, the bruti —and now, now, if lie knew that I—l'd done this: '' He paused; Laline bent over him, and in her anxiety seized him by the shoulder and shook him. "Tell me who you have cheated," she cried, a dreadful fear in her mind. " l'npa, tell me.'' He opened and shut his eyes again, twisting himself out of her grasp. "Eldred Barter," he muttered, "and that's why Arthur would never forgive me. 1 don't know if Salter himself will. Laline, Laline, you'll help me? You won't let them drag your poo* old father to prison?" Ife began to weep weakly. Laline turned away, a honor too great for words held her.

"1 —I've spent it —as 1 ought not, 1 know," piteously avowed Mr Dagway- — "play (taid drink at one time) ruined me, my dear. Money simply leaves 'me; I don't know how it goes. It's

awful, frightful, to think of the expedients to which T'v been reduecd. I've been unlucky all my life.'' lie bemoaned himself steadily until Laline, rousing herself, told him that she would see what could be done, and then she left him. Downstairs, in the hall about,which there always hung the scent, of cooking, -Miriam (Jowden- awaited her. Laline, half stunned by the appalling fact that it was Eldred Sarter whom her father had robbed, would have passed Miriam, but the latter detained her.

"He has told you what is wrong?" poor Miriam said with white lips. "Miss Dagway, you are going to help him?"

Laline looked at her distrustfully. Had her father, she wondered, made a confidant of this woman? Did she know that Stephen Dagway had sunk to the base sin of robbing his benefactor. "I can do nothing," Laline said coldly. "My father wants money. I have none to give him." Mrs Cowdcn gazed at her, then she put out a hand and drew Laline close. "He never will tell everything," she whispered hoarseh". '' He—he always keeps something back. Did he tell you that, if he didn't, have this money—if he couldn't pay it to those who demand it of him, hje—he would be arrested by the police." "lie told me that," said Laline reluctantly, "but——"

"Did he tell you that the charge upon which he would be arrested would be one of murder?" iTo be continued.)