The Paignton Honour

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1937, Page 15

The Paignton Honour

By ALICE and CLAUDE ASKEW.

Authors of "The Shulamite," "Testimony," etc.)

Chapter Twelvc Continued. "Mr. Mortimer would like a word with you flrst, sir. He asked if he could see you alone. Shall I sho.w him in here?" "Very well, Fenton," said his Lordship, with a sigh relapsing into the chair beside his desk. "Yes, .1*11 see him here. Show Mr.. Mortimer up." The footman departed and shortly afterwards ushered Owen Mortimer into the room. Something of a change had come oVer the general appearance . of the flnancier . in the course of, the last month or so. He seemed to have thrown off a certain proportion of his rough ways and blatant, self-assertive manner. It may have been that association with a- better clasS of people than those with whom he had frequented for so many years had this effeet on him, allowing some of the finer ■ traits of his najure, those which were natural to him as a gentleman born, to .come to the surface. , Marian niay have had a hand in this change, too, though quite unconsciously. In her presence he had always striven to modulate his voice— to keep a guard upon his tongue. He no loriger offend- ■ ed her by riide staring or oyer familiarity, and indeecl, she was often quite .pleased to talk with him on this subject or that, to listen to the tales of his • wanderings in far-away countries. And sometimes she would think that he was sad, . or, that there was a weight upon his mind. But, if it were so, he never attempted to take her into his confidence, and she felt that she had no right to question him.

The business, such as it was, that had brought Mortimer to Wandsborough House, was q«iickly settled; It had to do ' merely with the Deep Hanger Gold Mine. 7 A question has arisen," Mortimer said, : whether you should not be invited to join the board. The idea is that you would likie to be a director as well as Sir Mark Thorndale, who as you know has taken up the mine warmly. However, Paignton, if you'll take my advice you'll keep out of the concern.,; There's no other reason, of course, beyond the •faet that you are interested at the present moment in so many companies. It doesn't do to go too fast. I'm giving you this advice because I expect you will hear in a day or. two about the matter." "I shall just send the letter on to Mr. ■ Musgrave," replied Lord Paignton. "You know that I always leave myself in his hands."

"Well, I want you to write a note as well, telling Musgrave that you'd rather not be a director," said Mortimer, . leaning over the desfc and drumming upon it with his fingers. 'TU dictaite the letter for you if you like, and that will make it all right." • 1 ■ j He spoke with his usq.il decision, and Lord Paignton, who hatad letter- writing intensely, sighed, but obediently dipped his pen in the ink and prepared.to write ss he was bidden. . , Ihe letter written and entrusted to Fenton to post, Lord Paignton sighed again, a sigh of relief this time, and foliowed by Mortimer, soiight the society cf the ladies in the boudoir. Lord Paignton had intended to say nothing of his daughter's engagement, or rather semi-engagement, but his riature was so open that the keeping of a secret was dlmost kn impossibility for him; Ihe consequences being that, before Mortimer took his departure that aftemoon, over a whisky and soda and cigar in the smoking-room, whither the two meri had. adjourned, the story was allowed to leak out. Mortimer received the news with surf prise and annoyance, which he made no attempt to conceal. ; "Good gracious, Paignton, you don't mean to tell me that you've \ given your consent to such. an absurd engagement? Marian"— his voice shook as he pronounced the name-r"Marian and such a mah as Basil Heath! Why, the thing's farcical, ridiculous. I tiever heard such abject rot in my life." ' : . ; He threw down his half-smoked cigar impatiently, and rising, paraded the room with long strides. A deep colour had suffused his cheeks, the veins in his forehear stood out prominently. He clenched his fists and muttered to himself as he walkied. j Lord Ifaignton stared in wonder and siuprise. He had not the faintest idea why the news which he had just imparted should have been received so badly. What did Marian's engagement, to

v;hosoever it might be, matter to Owen Mortimer? Haven't I warned you hundreds of times" — Mortimer turned fiercely and spoke without any effort to weigh his worcLs — "that every cadging fortunehunter in London would be after your daughters? And, of course, that's just what's happened, and you must allow her to be caught by the very flrst that comes along with a good-looking face and a plausible tongue. Heavens above, man, have you no sense in your head— none at all?" Mortimer had poured out the words thoughtlessly, speaking exactly what was in his mind. He realised now that it was not possible, even with Lord Paignton, to overstep the mark. The latter drew himself up with a queer but not undignified, assumption cf pride. "Forgive me saying so, Mortimer," he said, "byt this matter is none of your business. You have no right to make any comment upon it whatever." Mortimer saw that he had gone too far, and said more than he could afford to. Furiously indignant though he was, raging internally against the folly of the simple old man, certain hopes and aspirations forming in his brain imexpectedly cast down and shattered, Mortimer was yet impelled to restrain himself and make apology, He did so, not with the best grace, yet what he said was quite sufficient to restore Lord Paignton to his usual equanimity. His Lordship hated anything approaching a scene or a quarrel, and he was always ready to go miles out of his way to avoid one.

"That's all ■ right, Mortimer," he said heartily,. "just fill your glass again and take another cigar.' We're not going to quarrel, oh, dear no, because of my girl's love affairs. Only you remember that I always said that both Marian 'and Amy should marry for love, and I never go back on my word. in ' any case; there's to be a: year's delay so that they may be quite certain of themselves." "A year's delay! Very much might happen in that year— very much was bound to happen. But Owen Mortimer, with the knowledge that he had acquired oi Marian's character, knew that she would not change. Her love once given was given for always. Mortimer left - the • house that afternoon, friendly relations with his host completely restored. But as he drove citywards in ' a taxicab, the deep colour returned to his cheeks and he drew hiis breath in short, quick gasps.

"The fool had done for himself now, he muttered, "hopelessly, irretrievably. If he knew— if Marian knew— wliat . this engagement means! I might have stemmed the flood— before it is too late. I'd have done it for her sake— for Marian, the only woman who has touched my heart for years. But I too, was a fool— yes, a fool"— he .ground out -the words from between his teeth— "to have imagined that she might grow to care. If I'd known I needn't have troubled about the Deep Hanger Mine; I needn't have kept Paignton out of it. But it, doesn't matter— let things go as they are. A few inore months of merxymaking— and then —the flood."

Chapter Thirfeen. IS IT JEALOUSY? , The Cowes week and then a month on the river at Henley were followed, for the Paignton!sv:jl>3^;^ trip to ■ Switzierland. Bruce, who ty'as keen oii mountaih climbing, had sUggesffed the idea. Of course Doreeh"went too, her mother aceompanying her aS'chaperon. Sir Mark had business to attend to in England. The pleasant little party was completed •by the company ■ of 1 a;ydung man named Richard Gaisford, for., whom Lord Paignton was ,trustee, ' and to?: all intents ahd purposes, guardian . Richard Gaisf ord^r Dick, as he was universally called— ^ was::'an orphan, his father having died when he was quite a small boy, and -liie' mothe. quite recently. .It was, indeed to take him away from mournful surroundings that Lord Paignton had suggested that the lad should be invited to join the Swiss expedition. Dick was in . his twentieth1 year, and when he came of age he was to inherit a very large propterty estimated at considerably over a quarter of a million. He was a high-spirited boy, and a great favourite with Marian and Amy. (To be continued.)