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Taranaki Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 10653, 30 June 1896, Page 4

.oked up, and glance at bis faco .r that he brought mportant tidings. Her — .. began t» beat so rapidly that she could not command n rter \oico, and she bowed and , pointed to a cbair in silence. The baronet sat dowD, brushing the vain-drops from his heavy beard, a subdued light smoldering in his eyes. " Mrs Kent," he said, as he drew a package from the breast of his coat, "at last, madarae, 1 bring you tidings from your son." " Thank Heaven !" cried the mother, extending her hand for the letter. He gave it to her, but he grasped her hand, and held it as he did so. "Mrs Kent," he proceeded, ''one word of explanation is needed before you read your letter — I have letters also from Clifford and my sister. I don't want you to be surprised, madame— but the new 3 my letter brings is most astounding. Miss Florence — I hope — I hope yon will help me to break this news to your mother and father— to plead your brother's cause, rather, as he has commissioned me to do " " Sir Arthur, pray, pray do not keep me in suspense !" urged Mrs Kent, while the old man roused up, and stared about him like one bewildered. " Speak at once, and let me kiow tho worst." " The worst ." repeated the baronet, With a short laugh. " Well, there's no telling in what light you may regard it. Mrs Kent, your son is married 1" " Married," echoed mother and sister, In one breath. '■ Married, madame," responded the baronet, nodding and smiling, " which acconnta for his long delay." " And pray, Sir Arthur," said Mrs Kent, a trifle coldly, " whom has my son married ?" " Mrs Kent, cacnot you guess ? nor you, Miss Florence 7 He has married my sister Edith !" There was a dead silence for fully teD minutes, and then Mrs Kent spoke. " I am very much surprised, Sir Arthur," she =aid. " But not very much pained, I hope, madanie," he replied. " Well it pains me lo know that I have lost my son's confidence, 1 she continued. " Why should he marry your sister without his father's consent ' " And make himself a beggar for his folly," broke in the old man fiercely, as ' tho whole matter reached his comprehen aion. "He has lost his prospective title and fortune by this raah step." Sir Arthur wheeled around in great concern. "My dear, dear air, I hope not," he . cried. ""It was a rash step, Til a''mit, and why they should have kept it secret from me — and from you — I'm at a loss to understand. Bat I hope your son's expectations are not invoked." " They are involved," growled the farmei, " for Sir Eoger Penryth ha 3 always insisted that Clifford was not to marry without his full consent; indeed, the woman was to bo of his selecting. And now he will certainly burn up his will, and make young Walt Ingram his leir, and cut my lad off with a shilling. Now, I have not a word to say against the lad's choice, Sir Arthur," the old man went on: " to tell tbe troth, I'm a bit flattered on the whole. Your sister is n fine woman, and good enough for ray son; and if they have taken a liking to each other, well and good. Why didn t they announce their intention, and Sir Boger might have given his consent. What reason wag there for this underhand work — rnnning off to foreign cities and marrying in tecret 7 Js that the way well.bom British women do 7"' The baronet s face whitened, and that greenish ring began to make itself visible about his tet mouth, but he answered, quite calmly: " No, Mr Kent, it is not the way; it is not the way my sister should have chosen. Her conduct puzzles me sorely Bnt we'll hope that Sir Boger may not carry out his intention. When he has seen Edith, he may change his mind."' '' He won't change his mind, Sir Arthur; you may take my word for it. What d«es the boy write, Jane ?" Mrs Kent looked up from the letter she was reading with tears in hor eyes. " Not much — only that he is married and he begs that we will forgive him," ohe said, sadly. " And when does he come home 7" " He says nothing about coming," " Well, he shall come, and that soon; if he doesn't, I'll stop his allowance," replied the old man, Bharply. The baronet moved uneasy, and a grayish pallor settled on his face, but he spolre not a word. " Mamma," said Florence, in a low voice, unable to repress her impatience any longer, " is there no message for me. Does Clifford say nothing about — about —poor Ulric?" " " .Not a word, my love." " It is strange; perhaps he did not Teceive my letters." " I am sure he did, Miss Florence," the baronet Bpoke up, •• for Edith mentioned something about a letter of yours the last time she wrote to me. 1 1 is rather strange," he added, reflectively, •' tbafc he says nothing about Dlric — and they were great friends, too, I have heard. 1 suppose, however, ho has thought of nothing bnt his own selfish pleasures I beg your pardon, Mr 3 Kent, but I am afraid Clifford has been a little too wild of late. Edith hints at something of the sort in her letter, and gives me to understand that; she would never have consented to this secret marriage, enly for Clifford's sake. She loved him, madame, and she wanted to save him. 1 ' " Well, there may be something in that," cried the farmer, softening perpectibly; " and if it turns out to be so, why Sir Arthur, 1 shall respect your sister all the more — if she loves my lad — and all that. What do you say, Jane? His eyes were full of tears as he turned them on his wife's face, but hers maintained their cold, sad expression. " I have nothing to say," she answered auietly *if my son is married, I trust he may be happy, and I must try to make the best of it." "That's what we'll do — make tho best of it," put in Sir Arthur. " And now, suppose I slip across the channel, Mr Kent, and bring the foolish couple home vrith me at once ?" " I wish you would, with all my heart Sir Arthur," said the farmer; but Mrs Kent only bowed, with that still, icy look ill her eyes. The baronet however, took tbe bow for consent, and went on, eagerly: " Very well, I'll do it. Let me see; there are ten days more before the trial

— ample time. I'll start to-night, and bring them hsme to tlic Hall. Then, if you think h a wise step, Clifferd can tnke his wife to see his uncle — what's his name ? Ah, yes, Sir Roger Penryth I do not think he'll cut him off, for his wife's sake, after he has once seen my si3ter." In uccordance with this determination Sir Arthur did start that night, and took ship for the French shores the following morning. On the very day before the trial he returned, but he ilid not bring the married pair with him. They had loft Paris, ho explained to the disappointed patents, when ho reached that city, and al) though he lost no time in following them, they had taken ship for Syria before lie could come up with them. Edith always had a mania for travelling, and he supposed, making a joint concern of their two small fortunes they had started for a prolonged tour. It thus turned out that November drifted by, and December came; and the day preceding the trial dawned. Sitting in his small, bare room that chill winter morning, Ulric Wycombe abandoned the glimmering hope that he had cherished half unconsciously through all the weary weeks of his imprisonment — the hope that Clifford would return, and in some way clear up the mystery. Bnt Clifford did not come and to-morrow his fate wonid be knovr. Well, he must meet his misfortune like a man. No regret was visib.e on his pale face, no sign of guilt or trepidation, as he sat before a rude stand, which was covered with books and papers. The winter morning slipped along, and the prisoner opened his small book Bible, and read oa undisturbed until the souud of a distant voice aroused him. "Mr Wycombe! I say, Mr Wycombel' He arose, and crossed to the grated window. Closely pressed against the I bars, was a small, sorrowful face, and a chubby hand tightly grasping a cluster of pink hyacinthß was thrust through the aperture. (to be continued.)