CHAPTER LXVII. FIGHTING FATE.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 107, 20 June 1885, Page 4

CHAPTER LXVII. FIGHTING FATE.

" At las!; the clock chimes at the hour That brings my lovo to me I" Anon. Ix tlio next room Hilaria hoard the words. Her heart sc6med to actually cease beating. So it had come at last ! Now she knew ! After all her patience, watching, she knew. It had been as bad as that, then. It had been murder! It was for this he had said he was content to wait. She clasped her hands tightly over her bosom as she stood erect, straining her ears to catch more. But thoro camo not another word, save Orimes's muttered curse as he left the room. She rushed into the salon. On the floor, prone and panting, lay her mistress. She flung up the window, letting in a cool, fresh breeze ; then hurried back to the prostrate figure, lifted it up, leant the dark head on her knee. When consciousness returned to her she sprang orect with a shrill cry. " I must go back— home, to Chicago. I must go at onco. Help me to pack. Don't say anything about it to Mr Grimos, if he should come in. He might not like it. But help me. I can't do much myself. See how I am shaking yet ! Help me ! Do, do!" In her feverish eagerness she quite forgot that she had wished to keep Hilaria in ignorance of her relation to Grimes. She became oblivious of everything save that a great blow was threatening her, and that she must escape it— she must ! By returning, and in some indirect way making restitution, perhaps peace would come to her, perhaps he would Ho quiet in hie grave. If not she would go mad. But Mr Grimes did not return. That she would really leave him he had not the faintest fear. She was too infatuated with him for that. After all she had done, after going eo far, she would not turn bank. Such a night as these two women spent in preparing for flight — busy, energetic, unresting. By dawn they were on their way to America, bag and baggage. !THow the days crept by at Gage's— the slow, weary, hopeful, hopeless days ! Over the grand house lay the shadow of death. On receiving the sad' news, as gently written as tender heart could suggest, Captain Costello and Kitty had come on. Of bourse there could be' fib planning now as to- when Vella would return. In this hour of glbpm her place was' with her friend. One day the doctors said, "He will live," and again, "There is little hopes.'* Miss Dorothy had gone to stay for 1 , the pr'eseiitf ;at CosfelloV th&y ,told Vella,' Chrisiimas came anfd'went, almost. unnoticed. 1 'O'fCMiritamenotidinga., DeJ tyftvea m^de^tffjiiW vigorou'e and fruitless Hear oh,

i AlHhat was nidst kind, courteous, "'hospitable, were John Gage, and his daughter to the Costellos. If Owen had been the son of the host, he could not have bden nursed with more aesiduous attention, more constant care. And Vella? Who shall say all that, in those dragging hours and days, the young heart had to bear ? The terrible knowledge which' had been forced upon her. Marc and Evelyn — Marc and Evelyn ! Over and over, and always united, the names rang through^her soul in never-ceasing repetition, sad as a knoll of death. So very thin she grew, so fragile, pale, large eyed, Evelyn became alarmed. "What is the matter, darling?" she would ask. " You are turning into a veritable little spirit, I shall be afraid that some day you will vanish into air." But here the girl would laugh, and shake her head and vow that she would live to be as old as Methuselah's cat. But all the time the heart in her bosom was like lead. What could she do in honour, she asked herself a thousand times a day. And ever came back the same sad reply : " Be silent." And silent she was, Now and then came letters for Evelyn, brief, affectionate— nothing more. Not as he would have written to her, Vella know, Evelyn spoke of him frequently, now that the ice was broken, and occasionally gave Vella his letters to read. The sight of the bold, clear writing, the dear name at the end, were like death to her. Like death ? Ah, no ! The thought of death held for her no terror, only a pleasant dream of rest. Bather like lite, as bitter and unbearable. And now New Year's was over, and the first month of the year v/as in its prime. A cold, eerie, leaden -sky ed day was this. In Evelyn's own pretty room sat Evelyn herself, and with her Kitty Costello. Hore, in the coziness, and warmth, and firelight, one would never dream how dull and grey were the heaven aud earth without. Light hearts had both girls, for to them had come different but joyous tidings. Owen was out of danger, and Marc was coming back. '■I wish we knew the particulars about the shooting," Kitty said. And she lifted her little white hands above her nut-brown head. " What we do not know we can easily guess," answored Evelyn. The document which had been forwarded to Chicago, the lawyer who had drawn it up, both had testified as to the discussion which had led to the attempt at assassination. Though what power Owen" had held over Claflin to induce tho latter to dictate a statement o f any sort, they could not over so faintly surmise. "Yes," assonted Kitty. "And lie is better; he isout of danger. Isn't that good?" "Very, very good!" Evelyn absented softly, more sympathetic than ever because of her own glad-heartedness. In the sick-room across the corridor Vella kept watch. How she wished that the nurse would soon relievo her, that she might como ovor, She did not want to tell her that her letter of this afternoon had told her Marc was coming— might, perhaps, be hereto-night, " What are you looking so grave about now ?" after a silence Miss Gage queried gayly. > Hastily Kitty dropped her pretty grey eyes, which had been fastened wistfully on Evelyn's pure, fair face. 41 1 daro not tell you," she laughed. " In silence is safety.'' Evelyn said no more. Perhaps upon her dawned a faint idea of the truth, And just then the door opened softly, and Volla came in. " Has the nurse returned?" asked Evelyn. " Yes." She flung herself down on a low, broad lounge diawn up near the fire, and sank back among its heaped cushions with a very little sigh. " Tired, dear?" questioned her friend. She brightened up. "Oh, not" And if her smile was less swift; and sunshiny than of old, it had gained new depths of tender sweetness. "Is Owenawake?"queriedKitfcy. "May I seo him V " Yes, he is awake, and looking like himself. I think it would only do him good to see you." With a happy heart Kitty sprang up and hurried from tho room. And then Evelyn rose and walked over to tho hearth. She would tell Vella now. For her sake how glad she would be ! Not that she had ever seemed to care to talk much about Marc — but then she was such a mere child, one could not expect that she would understand. But the words died on her lips as she looked down on her. Was she ill ? What had changed her so of lato ? She was woefully altered, and yet how lovely she was, how epirituellel, and luminous-eyed, and winsome. In the lamp-light her bronze-gold hair was yellow as riponed corn. Above the bluo-black dress she wore hor face looked startlingly colourless. It held never a tinge of its old wifd-rose bloom. Almost black just now looked her great shining eyes. "Vella," Evelyn said in a quiet voice, " I want to tell'you some good news, dear." Some good news ! Ah, she knew what that meant, she knew ! Only something about Marc would she call good news. She clasped her hands tightly to keep herself from crying out at any chance word or statement. "Yes?" Evelyn knelt down beside her. " I know you will be so glad for my sake. You are my only confidante, you know. It is this," pushing back the gleaming curls from Vella's white forehead, and looking down with ineffable delight into the brown eyes lifted to hers, "Marc is coming home!" Oh, what was that to her ? To her ! But not to the most friendly gaze do we bare our bruised hearts, still less to the jealous, one of a rival. "Is he?" And not another syllable could the brave lips utter. "Yes, my letter came by the afternoon post, so I had not before a chance to tell you. It was delayed so he may be here any hour— probably to-night. To-night ! A quick, low cry of astonishment broke from Vella's lips. Out of her full heart her hostess laughed merrily. " Yes, I knew you would be surprised. I really expect him to-night. Darling, am I not ja happy girl to have such a lover, and to love him so ? " " Indeed you are !" came the tremulous, earnest answer. But often as Evelyn* spoke of her great love for Marc, she did not mention his for her. , Intensely truthful by nature, she could! not assert the same, for deep in her soul, I think, she knew that between them stdod, ( would ever stand, the image of that first love of his, spectral, fair$ even in falsity imjjerishably dear. • / I Truly, as with ,Marian Erie, " The joatarabta of her soul had pourea j them- '• ■ , iseltes • J -'-i •'' - And risen self-orowned in rainbow. Need she ask" u "Whoorownedher?"

She talked On some lot time longer, sweet, bright/ girlish confidences. But not /one word more did Vella hear — riot one I Marc was coming back to-night—to-night ! He must not see her, oh, no ! He must have learned to care for Evelyn by this. If he had still loved her he would never haveasked Evelyn to marry him. She must not come between them now just when life looked so bright and smooth before them. She must not— she would not ! But oh, it was hardhard 1 that she must not look upon his face, hear his grave tender voice — dare not ! Distinctly came back to her that night on Lake Michigan. Above the blue sky and below the bluer water. And the song which floated up to them. And how he had caught up one line and repeated it, his poetic face, full of light, bent down to hers. " I love you now, I love you now 1" A sob, stifled at birth, broke from her. Alarmed by her long silence, Evelyn leaned over her, stopping short in her blithe chatter. "Vella, you are ill!" decisively. "I know it. You're not a bit like yourself lately. At first I attributed it to the shock about Mr Costello, but now that he is out of danger, you go on looking more like a snow- sprite than ever. I'm going to send j for Doctor Hunt." , " Oh, please no, Evelyn ! I am not ill. Perhap3 though, "a sudden thought striking her, "lama little bit hungry to see Voyle and Aunt Dolly." , "That's it! you're homesick! Of course you are. Why didn't I think of that before ? I suppose because I didn't want to, knowing what would be the result," And now Vella was feverishly anxious to follow up her advantage. " Yes, you have all been good, far too good to me, but I think I must go back. You know Aunt Dolly has been my mother. I would eo love to see her— and Voyle ! I think, if you don't mind, Evelyn — 1 will go tonight — now !" " To-night ! Petite, you're crazy 1" "No, no !" laughing out and speaking quite breathlessly. "But if I am homesick it will do me good to see those at home— and the sooner the remedy is taken, the more rapid the cure !" " But papa will never hear of such a thing ! Tonight— the idea ! Why, the Chicago train leaves in two hours. The Coetello8 will bo going in a week or two. If you are bound to go, wait and travel with them. Your aunt is at their house, to which you, too, would go." Such a queer mood as she was in ! Evelyn had never remembered seeing her so gay before, at least not since their schooldays. She flew round making preparations lightly as one winged. Her laughter rang out loud and sweet. The rose in her cheeks deepened to carnation. Her eyes were full of streaming light. • "Oh !" Evelyn cried suddenly, " I knew there was some very particular reason I had for wishing you to stay. Marc is coming — you must wait and see him." Brighter grew the girl's eyes, more glowing her cheeks, as she replied that even for that she could not stay. She liked the fun of going off in a hurry like this. It was a sensation on a small scale. But the girl only laughed out again, a little too loudly for the mirth to be purely spontaneous, and vowed that she was not one of those women between whose " yes " and " no " Cervantes had declared he would not undertake to thrust the point of a pin, that when she had said she would go' she was going, and now to pack her trunk ! And all this in the cheeriest manner imaginable. In vain Evelyn argued, insisted, and entreated. No, now that she had got the idea into her head she was going, it was no use thinking about it. The excitement of going off with so little premeditation would knock the blues out of her brain. She had been troubled a trifle with them lately. " But papa will be wild with me if he returns and finds you gone," implored Evelyn. John Gage was out at a political banquet. "Thank him a thousand times for all his kindness, and say good-bye for me." And in another five minutes she was in her own room and half through packing her satchel. She insisted that the Costellos be not informed of her intended departure. "Mr Costello would only want to come and take care of me," she said, " and 1 would not take him away from Owen just now for the world." Half an hour later she said good-bye to her friend. The thought of Marc's coming alone kept back Evelyn's tears. " I did so want you to see him !" she said as she kissed her friend for the dozenth time. "I am sure you would like each other so much. I shall tell him all about you." " Don't !" Vella cried, sharply. " You must not— indeed you must not, my dear Evvie. Don't mention me to him— don't let any one do ifc. I can't explain, but there are strong reasons why you should not. Oh, believe me ! if you let him know of— of me, the knowledge might ruin his whole life." Evelyn stared at her in blankest amazement. " What are you driving at?" she asked, slowly, at last. Vella tried to laugh airily, but it was a miserable attempt. "Never miod. Just do as I say. Don't speak of me to him— don't let anyone else. I'm not joking, dearest Trust me enough to obey blindly. I know all this sounds mysterious, but you will do as I ask, I know —won't you 1 Promise !" Evelyn was almost frightened by her excited vehemence. What had changed Vella so ? Was there insanity in the Vernell family? That seemed the only possible explanation. " Promise !" Vella repeated. "I promise," mechanically. "There is the carriage. Good-bye, dear !" " Good-bye !" Bu t so bewildered was Mies Gage that her friend had kissed her, opened the halldoors, and was down the steps before she could fairly realise that she was gone. Just as Vella entered the carriage, another drew up at the curb-stone. From it a gentleman descended. The light from a street-lamp fell aoross ! his face— a dark, grave, handsome face, shadowed by a great sadness. " Marc !" But the word was a whisper. He ! and she must not go to him ! He had loved her firBt, besi ; but he had asked Evelyn to marry him. Pride beat back her passionate, rebellious, loving heart. "Make haste!" she cried to the coachman. She could not wait to see Evelyn open the door for him—behold the meeting. The carriage rolled away. And within a white-faoedLwoman crouched down in the darkness, in her tearless, anguish praying, Heaven raadly fos deathr-for death I (To be Continued,] '

A railroad etrijce— a s'qilisftn, ; > , ; Th© t;ype righter—Thelprq'o.f -reader. " , ' ' Cdrisols have advAnce'dto 98^ j N6w Zoa- ' Ian4 securities unchanged,