DOORS OF DESTINY

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1932, Page 11

DOORS OF DESTINY

Ba

Constance Bromley

r CHAPTER XVlll.—■(Continued.) ' "Who the devil’s that?” Le cried tagrily. ’ “ Jarvis, my lord.” f “Confound .you, what want? Can’t you understand orders?. I.J . * you I didn’t want to be disturbed. “There’s a woman here, sir, with a message from the-Towers. .It s very important, sir, and ,1 thought J. d better tell you at; once, theres.-been a burglary at the Towers—and- she says a- secret safe has been .broken open and rifled—the ond behind- the picture in the gallery, sir—. An amazing change'swbpt over .Lord Stoneleigh’« features; He thrust- Hope from him, and ,wiped, his brow-with an unsteady hand. Who could this mysterious visitor be. who knevv the existence 1 of’ something of which he believed-himself solely; aware? - ID a spirit’ from the grave had confronted him the Earl-could not have been more ahakeri-'thari he was in' that moment. ' “ Show., her .up into.the library,” he commanded hoarsely. /‘‘/Very good, my lord.” Lord; Stoneleigh controlled himself withAneffort.and- stopped to pick up Hopb^s.‘‘cloak which , had fallen to the floor.-/ j ‘‘ Chance has played a winning hand for. “you, filter all,”, he said bowing, with; mocking - courtesy. “It is unfortunate that our little evening should have been so -abruptly terminated, but for the moment I’ve something more important to consider thana charming, self-willed ladyl Good-night, Miss Sterling; my man will call a taxi for you.” Unlocking' the dopr'. as he spoke , he waited-'fat? her to pass out. i , “ That ’ will not be , necessary,” a void? said Quietly. “ I have a taxi wilting below for Miss Sterling.” Lord 'Stoneleigh stared in amaze-ment,.-while Hope ran and flung herself into Mrs Bruce’s arms.

“What tomfoolery is this?” he exclaimed./ “This woman is a dresser. What Is she doing in my flat?”

Mrs Bruce put a protecting arm about Hope. “ You need have no fear, Lord Stoneleigh. The secret safe behind the picture in the gallery at the Towers is quite safe. ThOre has'been no burglary. I sent a false message in order to gain admittance ,to your flat, that was all.” “Who ar'e you?" he asked in a hoarse voice. “ There was but one other person knew of that secret safe besides myself, and she—is dead." "No, — S he is not dead, although your treatment was enough to bring about het- death. She has lived to another suffering at your hands.” A sudden slow dawning of recognition passed -over the Earl’s now pale features.

«My god! Helen I Yes,—l remember you now, —you are Helen.” “The woman you knew as Helen died twenty years ago—the night she discovered your treachery. My name and identity mean nothing to you now. Do not try to discover them.” Stoneleigh. was rapidly recovering W composure. ? You are Mrs Bruce, a theatre dresgey; that is enough, isn’t it?” “ Quite—and content to be a servant —to Miss Sterling.” “She is fortunate in finding someone whose.experience should be invaluable in helping her to avoid the pitfalls that beset the feet of pretty young girls!” said Stoneleigh, with a sneer, “ Rather unfortunate you did not have such a tutor yourself, is it not?”' But the-woman known as Mrs Bruce eared nothing for the sharp arrows of his cynical Insults. She had opened the book of her life at a dark page, stained with sin . and shame, that she had hoped never to. look upon again. But what' did ft matter, since it was for Hope’s sake she owed*allegiance, and love.

Gently she took Hope’s arm and they went down the stairs together, out to the waiting taxi. “I’m going to see you home, dear.” she said. “ You’ll let me, won’t you?”

Hope- clung to her, tears choking her utterance.

■ l ?Oh,' please, please,'don’t leave me. Stay with me; I am so frightened!” In the taxi Mrs Bruce took the agitated girl in her arms and let her cry away her fears on her breast. Her heart gave a great throb of joy and thankfulness!- Her girl needed her! Oh, God, let her atone to her for the •In of that bygone day! Let her be with her daughter; open the way of future happiness for them both! , After; a .while'. Hope Spoke. i- “When I saw you in the doorway I knew.-l had nothing more to fear from him, and yet, if you had not come—”, •he shivered. “How did you know?, What made you come?” Mrs Bruce told her quitely, that little Billy was really her saviour, and again Hope - marvelled.

“But how is It you had the-power . to do what you did?” For a moment Mrs Bruce longed-to tell her the truth, but the cold reality Df the shock it,would be to her child froze'the words on her lips. She had no right,to - darken this girl’s young life. She had chosen the way of the iransgr;.-.sor—she must accept -her punishment. “I knew Lord Stoneleigh—intimately—many years ago. You may imagine that I am not proud of the acquaintance.. Try to think of me only as a poor woman who -has sinned, and who- has paid the penalty of her sin Biany many times." “Indeed I will,” cried Hope, . "nor seek to- know anything of your past life that may cause you one pang to recall I It is enough-that you have saved.me from—Heaven knows what miseries!" i Hope’s-voice choked and she reached up to the pale face above her own and kissed the thin cheeks, tenderly, reverently. That night Mrs Bruce shared Hope’s bed. at her lodgings, and as she lay beside her daughter, for the first time in twepty years she knew the infinite joy and peace that cpmes to a mother as she listened to the soft, .regular breathing of her child asleep, .

CHAPTER 15. Mrs Bruce parted from Hope after breakfast the following morning, Happier than -she had been for years. Instinctively she felt her daughter was beginning to care for her, and one day she might feel constrained to tell her the truth; She dreaded a separation now—she. knew Hope was everything toher. ’ • _ . “Shall I call a. taxi for YOU? aste Hope, at Mrs Miggs’ . dMrs “Oh no thank you,” protested Mrs Bruce.’ “The walk will dQ ®Vllttte and I shall have time to do my W bit of Chopping before going . on to xne , %-alk a" erecVheat little figure quietly Sorbed in black For she could Mt have put BW 1W «• Jed her go - reluctantly. Something about - Mrs Bruce h& d faughWt the nirl's heart-strings, and it was not merely gratitude.. for hU rescue from Lord Stoneleigh. . . On- this, matter .B.uce had wisely counselled . 'silence. Lo „ stoneleigh is not likely to refer to it, she said, “and no one but you and I need know what actually £ a P • Hope agreed, while Mrs Brucejnentally decided that Billy should know that Hope had gone home, as Lord Stoneleigh said. Mrs to her rooms and found her there. (Surely the good. God would forgive theserilttle white lies in defence of he Mr? 1 Miggs announced a ° aller ’ .J gentleman'of the name ■of Lewis Golding who was waiting in th® par lour to -see- Hope. The.^cardwjlc|h he nrcsented was inscribed Managing DiJecto?, The Diamond. Film Company, Lt Hope entered the parlour, . transformed out. .of ajl g Mrs Miggs had allowed her to arrange it exactly as she pleased, and. so bore the impress'of her artlts ‘2. ta ri _ and individually, in a way rooms do, breathing in some subtle way the atmosphere of those who dwell in them. Lewis Golding stood upon the rug before the fireplace. . He was the kind of man who would have stood there if a bright fire had burning. coat tails lifted! Such waHope’s impression as she greeted him. She liked his face, which was pleasing and open, and she felt that any business transacted v r ith him would be honest and straight. She knew what he had come about, for the company had already corresponded with her about aking the leading- part in a new historical film which they were shortly to produce, and had sought Mr Fravne’s permission to accept the offer, so long as it did not interfere with her work at the theatre. .... , “Ah, Miss Sterling, good morning, he said -cheerily,.'extending a podgy palm. “I hope you’ll excuse the liberty .of this early, call, but the ‘early bird' you know—and I came to the concluison if we were to do any business together it would -only be by a personal interview. You know what I have come to see you for. I want you play the leading role hi our new film, The Secret of the Castle.” “Yes,” Smiled Hope, “I guessed that was the reason of your visit, but how do you know I shall be any good on the films? It'ls one thing to sue-' ceed on tha stage-and quite another to be a successful screen artiste.” “Ah, my dear Miss Sterling, our producer has been In front to see your show for three nights in succession, and nothing will convince him that the film will be any good Without you! You are just the type he is looking for. You may not know it, but. if producers don’t get their own way about things, they raise a dickens of a fuss, they do really! They ■ make up their minds they require a certain artiste; to fill a particular part, and there’s an end of it. -They refuse to start on the film until they’ve got what they want. Now will you play this part for us?. We are prepared to fit in the filming with your stage engagements, of course.”.

Hope hesitated. “Well, Mr Golding, I should like very much to play the part if you think I shall be successful in it.”

“My dear Miss Sterling, we film men ’are not such bad Judges, believe .me. If we like to take the risk, why should you mind? I assure you there’s absolutely nothing for you to worry about, we’ll do all that." ' “l wish I shared your confidence,” laughed Hope.l “Trust to the producer; that’s what you’ve got to do. You can’t see yourself, but he’ll soon put you right where you need it, that’s his job.” “I have heard that Mr Meredith is a wonderful producer." “So he is, and so he ought .to be. Costs my company two hundred and fifty pounds a week.” , R JTt would be splendid experience to work under him, I think,” said Hope thoughtfully. “You’re right there, Miss Sterling! and if it’s fear of turning out a fros<; that is making you hesitate, you caii. cut out your worry right here. Mif Meredith gets wonderful results; he’*! done it before with girls with half your looks, and a quarter youjj' brains.” i

“Oh, Mr Golding, I don’t deserve such high praise.” “Don’t you? I wish other ladies I’ve had to deal with were as modest as you are! Well, sign up with me to appear in this film, and then we’ll see who’s right—you or me. Why. I have to make decisions every week involving thousands of pounds, and it I wasn’t right nine times out of ten my company would go broke in no time.”

"You compel me to believe in your judgment,” said Hope, with a smile., "In the face of your statements it would be foolish for me to refuse any longer." “Now we’re getting to business," exclaimed Golding, drawing forth a contract form from his pocket. “Just run your eye over this and see that It’s in order.

Hope examined the painted form with close interest. . “I - think you are treating me handsomely, Mr Golding, she remarked when she had finished. “Then you’ll sign It?" “With pleasure," Hope assented, oh which the film magnate broke into a broad smile of content. Promptly he produced a fountain pen and pointed to the places requiring her signature. Like all his race Lewis Golding was a clever business man, and he knew perfectly well that the handsome salary his firm were prepared to pay for Hope’s services would be money well spent. As he pocketed his portion of the agreement he extended his hand cordially. "Here’s wishing you another big success, Miss Sterling." "Thank you. said Hope, simply, shaking the proffered hand. .(To be Continued.) .