CHAPTER XX.—(Continued.)

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 44, 5 April 1884, Page 4

CHAPTER XX.— (Continued. )

Silas lay back upon the pillow with a placid smile on his honest face. " It will work out beautifully, after all. I ain't a bit afeard but it will," he murmured. " And I reckon it's all the good Lord's answer to little Franky's prayers for poor old Si." *• It was a long three hours before his solitude was again relieved, but Silas bore it without the slightest impatience. He rested quietly, picturing Franky's transport and his own delight in claiming the muchcoveted reward, and that was entertainment enough. The young man himself showed far less patience under the suspense when he at length presented himself, bringing with him some food of invalids' fare. "Now," he whispered in a quick, eager voice, " while they are both up at the lookout tell me all — what you mean by saying you have looked everywhere for me, and how you came to know Miss Yerrington." •'But first you must answer my question," declared Silas, stretching out his hard brown hand yearningly. " You are really Conway Searle ?" " X thought you had no question about that," returned the other, smiling faintly. 11 Yes, I am Conway Searle." "The Lord be praised! God bless that sweet Helena Yerrington," ejaculated Silas, sitting bolt upright, and seizing both his hands. "I can say 'amen 'to that with all fervour," declared Conway Searle. "And now relieve my suspense ; tell me how you knew her — what has happened during this long blank of my enforced absence." "Then it was not of your own free will ? I could not believe it was. Oh, sir, but how that angel has trusted you in all the black looks and foul reports." 11 My blessed Helena ! But tell me— tell me all — do not keep me on the rack. I thought my hasty letter would make sure of her relief from anxiety."' "She's never got a letter— never aline from you, but she's kept her trust all the same, where there's plenty other.? would have turned false to you with the rest," averred Silas, solemnly. "That young villain, he never carried the letter then," ejaculated Conway Searle, fiercely. " I reckon it's an old villain is at the bottom, but there's time enough to look that up. What we've got to hurry about is getting word to that sweet creetur before her heart breaks over the trouble," said Silas, energetically. "She's gone wandering over there in foreign parts to see the other chap, I suppose, and make sure for herself. Poor soul — poor soul ! I misdoubt how it's ended with her." " Will you tell me something I can understand ? I think this rambling talk will drive me crazy. If Helena has had no letter and no pansies all this time, what does she think of me?" asked Conway Searle, feverishly. And then Silas, perceiving how keenly the youth suffered, rallied his wandering thoughts, and told the whole story in his own terse, significant way. More than once he paused to look commiseratingly at the young man's drawn, set face, full of pain and dismay, and to catch his flashing glance of indignation and anger. When it was ended there was a little silence, and then Si Green's hand was wrung almost fiercely in Conway Searle's grateful grasp. "God bless you, Si Green, for bringing me this story. I have been cheated and cajoled long enough. If the man had twenty times his claim I should not give it at the expense of Helena's suffering. You a iall have your reward. Honest fellow, you have found Conway Searle truly. Oh, my faithful true-hearted Helena !" " What does it all mean ? Did you really buy a ticket for Konrade Earle '1 And who is the man ?" " Yes, I bought the ticket. I was a blind tool in, I fear, unscrupulous hand?. And yet the pansies were always sent, you say. I bought the ticket because Duke here wrote and asked me to. It was for another—undoubtedly that other used it. I drew out the money as was requested of me. It was given to me, and the one that gave asked it back for a short time, and I never dreamed of refusing it. I obeyed, too, the mysterious summons that took me so abruptly away, because I believed it my duty, and of vital importance. But I stipulated that Helena Yerrington 's alarm should be relieved by a glimpse of the truth. I have been deceived. And now, if I am not released by fair meanrf I will try other ways. You and I are surely equal to making our escape, if needed." " How glad I am ! oh, how glad I am '" reiterated Silas Green. " Shall you tell Duke what I have told you ?" " I shall have a serious talk -with him tonight. Until then let him remain in ignorance of this understanding of ours. But rest assured this dreary old light-house shall not hold us long. I have been dreary and impatient long enough before this, but now I am roused to resistance." Silas waited anxiously that night for Conway Searle's return from the long interview which was to be held at Duke's midnight watch. Ht> heard the slow footsteps pacing above, and pausing every now and then as if the twain were in earnest exultation. But the moment Conway appeared Si grasped his hand, and asked in an anxious whisper : "Is it all decided?" " We are to leave here the very day that the light-house keeper goes, and he assures me that it will be this week," returned the other in the same suppressed tone. "What are they to each other? What makes Duke such an enemy of the keeper's ?" ventured Silaa. A weary sigh was his answer. "I trust I shall know before long, but it i« all a mystery now. I have been brought up on mysteries, and you cannot tell how I hate them. And yet I have tried to hold fast my faith in him." " In Duke, do you mean ?" "Yes. But he knows to-night that I will no longer be blindly led at his beck — that he must give me a lucid explanation if he expects me to follow him any further. Ail I can think of is my Helena torn by cruel doubts, distracted by wild fears. What if she should yield to them at last V •"Sbe never will. She is one of the few Wessed women the Lord sends here and

I there just to show how human nature can be made into a true and noble pattern. I toll you the first minute I clapped my eye on her I knew her for the true grit kind. Bless her sweet face ! I can seenow just how she looked when they were all hammering at you. What a kind of shining light there was in her eyes when she declared your innocence !" " My darling ! my blessed Helena !" murmured he, in a voice of mingled transport and rage. ' ' Oh ! how can 1 bear the time and space that intervene between our meeting ?" It was almost morning again when Conway Searle was roused out of the troubled sleep into which heliad fallen by a hand stealing softly over his face. "What is it?" he whispered, long habit having taught the caution. "I beg pardon," returned Si Green's voice, in the same key. " I didn't mean to wake you ; I only wanted to make sure." " Make sure of what, man ?" " That I had found you. Please just tell me once more you are Conway Searle. Now, it ain't all a dream, is it ? Oh, it does seem too good to be true !"