THE MILL-OWNER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1624, 29 April 1919, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE MILL-OWNER.

Py V. B. FUNBBON. Author of "The Miier E»rl. - ' "Tk« Cb«ic«." "The Spin •! tk« Colo." etc.|

(All Rlikti Eeitrrtd-l CHAPTER X. HEART STIRIMXGS. Now that they were near the house there became visible signs of commotioa and excitement, a little group of servants at the frout iloor, lights shining U many wisdom, a man on horseback ruling away down the avenue, that " seemed to indicate Panaris"s absence was already causing alarm. Without locking at her companion, without seeming to be aware that he ■till accompanied her, Damaris walked •richly on, yet all the time she reMined acutely conscious of his ppHtSKC Then as they drew nearer still, some of the group by the front door seemed to become aware of their approach. It wa< the batler, Martin, who saw them irst, though in the darkness he failed to revognise who it was. "There's some one coming up by the teasis court," he said. "Well, cow," said Damaris, looking at Clifford with an affectation of rarcK laanicss, "I do not wish to be hard on yao, for you have certainly found the wav here much better than I could have done bv myself. No, I do not want to be hard on you, but this is your last chance. Bun." For a moment again they looked full at each other; their facej flushed, their " eye* intent and SDzry. It was Damaris who looked awav first, and the flush on ker face faded and shrank till there regained only one small spot of crimson to the eentre of eaeh cheek, Clifford said bitterly. •'Now then, I sec you are quite deterajacd I shall not leave you till you have bad yonr chauce to denounce me; no doubt it will be fun to you to see inc mm." "To me," she said* coldly, "it is »erely disagreeable to have to do this pcli'(-.'iinn's work." : She walked on quickly. It had been :['m tort of last hope to" her that even at the last moment he would attempt to sake bis escape. But instead he remained obstinately by her side, and be aeemed to her to have grown huge and formidable, to tower above her and spread around her as if he were the whole world to her, so that for her there • eon 11 be no escape from him. It seemed to her he hemmed her in, he pressed her, eaompassed her about, till even her pride vanished in her fear. Once again the impression came to her that to save herself she must destroy him. For a moment she viewed herself and him as .' two antagonists in some eternal duel, ' and it seemed to be borne in upon her ' that only in bis destruction could she ' Sad her own safety; that if Damaris Blwoo.l was to endure, Clifford Brown must cease to exist. Her resolution became firm and settled. She felt her pride of personality, her self-respect, could only be restored when he was enduring in a disgraceful . arisen severe and condign punishment. **-I will see him in the custody of my Mi servants," she said to herself with ardent desire; "I will watch them hand him over to the police." By now they had come together into I the light from' the open front door, ami Martin, the butler, catching sight of them, cried out excitedly: ~ » "Why, why, here is Miss Damaris li&fcerself1 i&fcerself comeback again." 2MmmK clamour of little cries and exclamaof astonishment broke out from Blithe rest of the group, but Damaris hurhed Khem with aa imperious gesture as I the swept through them, and, still close- " fy followed by Clifford, entered the house. Without pausing she went through the outer hall into the inner hall, where a brisk log fire was burning, and where it was the custom to assemble before dinner. The word that Damaris was back had raw through the house like wildfire, so that already all its inmates knew of her return. She, Clifford still beside ler, stool quietly in the inner hall. Behind them the servants—sonic half dozen men and two or three women —who had Ven grouped outside aud who had followed them into the house, stood clustered together at the door of the outer hall, quite blocking the entrance. In front were other servants who, at the aews of their young mistress's return, had come running from all parts of the house. From one of the rooms opening aa the hall Mrs Mitchinson now hurriedly emerged. "Oh, Damaris," she cried, catching eight of her, "are you really back} Oh, "hew frightened we have all been—what has happened I They found your chauffeur. Are you hurt at all) Damaris made no answer, but, with a slight gesture, indicated Clifford standlag beside her. "Ah, who is this!" said Mrs Mitchiason.

Dftntarlt for a moment did not answer. She looked around and saw that •■every side her servants were grouped aad watching, surrounding them. A ■Mtmentary wonder crossed her mind as to where her unele could be that he had Mt appeared with the rest, and then ■he glanced at Clifford. He returned tor gaze with smiling ease, and it seemed to Damans it was some other Damans who suddenly laid her hand upon kn arm and cried out loudly: "Come and seize this man. He is the burglar who broke into the house; te has tried to rob me again to-day." Still holding him by the arm, ber jgteved hand gripping his sleeve with a certain wildness of strength, she waved to the servants with her other tond. "Come and take him—£loo to a#y of you who takes him." But they, in utter bewilderment, knag back gapingly, amazed, and knowtog not what to do, or whether they really heard and saw correctly, or suffered from some delusion. While they ■till hesitated, Clifford bent down ami Mid to her very softly and gently: "But why not play fair? How can yon sec me run to advantage if you hold me like thisf'' "Oh, I hate you!" she burst out with a heaving breast, wrought up now to cling to him to prevent his escape, even though he should shower down blows with all his force upon her. She fait that nothing—nothing at all—would ever make her leave go. "Oh, I will never let you go," sho said through ber teeth.' ■ "Ml remember what you say," he answered, quietly. The bewildered servants still hung waderided, though now some of the ■u were pushing forward, while some Of the women were huddling together, and preparing to stream. Mrs Mitchinson, clasping her hands, appeared to tie looking round in astonishment to find someone who was not present. For, perhaps, the tenth part of a second or to nobody moved, and then, before Damaris understood his intention, Clifford bent bis head and pressed a fervent kiss on the gloved baud with which she held him. Uttering a low, startled cry, Damaris leaped away. He bowed to her and amiied, and turned towards the door. "Stop him! Stop him!" screamed Damaris. "£SOO if you catch him." "Ah, I command a rising market, } tee," said Clifford, and with another

bow to her he turned and ran up the great hall stairway. -j This was so unexpected riat for a moment no one moved, and then Damaris leaped forward, waving her arms excitedly. "Follow him! Follow him!'' she cried; "he'll try to jump out of one of the i windows. Wilson, Potter," she directed; two of the grooms, "go out and watchi the windows, and catch him if he tries! to climb out anywhere. You others follow him up the stairs." "What consummate generalship," j .said a smiling voice from above, and, I looking up, all saw the fugitive draw | back from the bannisters over which he had been leaning, aud disappear i down one of the corridors. "After him," Damaris cried; "£jQO if you catch him." "Come on," shouted Martin, whose slow and bewildered mind had only now grasped the situation. But butler as he was, he had courage enough for a battalion of soldiers; and he waved to the others to follow him. "Come on, we'll catch him," he shouted. (To be continued.)