Lily of Mordaunt. By Mrs. GEORGIE SHELDON,

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11581, 13 October 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

Lily of Mordaunt. By Mrs. GEORGIE SHELDON,

Adthos of " Winifred's Sacrifice," "The Magic Cameo," " Brownie's Triumph," "Stella Rosevelt," "Queen Besa," Etc., Etc. CHAPTER XLIX. Continued.

ERE it all trup, could you bnre it,' Arley interrupted, with shining eyes, yet trembling like a leaf ; and the beautiful Lily of Mordaunt knew that it was true. Without a word she fell back in her sister's arra=), limp and white, and Arley was dismayed. She put out her hand toward the bell-rope to summon aid, but Lady Elaine stopped her with a gesture, : •I shall not faint,' she whispered. 'I shall be stronger soon, but, oh ! tell me, can it be true f 'That Wil was not killed ; Hint he had a dreadful fall, but a blessed tree saved him ; that Indians, instead of a wild beast, picked him up, braird and broken, and carried him far away into the wilderness where they have held him as a captive ever since ? Yes, dear, it is all true, only I cannot stop to tell yon half, for Le i 3 waiting to do that. But I am so glad that I was chosen to bring you thp.se blessed tiding?, for yon have given me back so much of happiness, and I am nearly wild witb joy to think that the shadows are about to be lifted from your life.'

'Wil here ! my own noble-hearted Wil, <>afe, and waiting to see mo • Oh, Arley, I feel almost as if earth and

sense were slipping away from uiu 1 Hold me close, dear ; let me feel your arms clasped tight about me, to assure me that it is not a vision of my imagination. Ob, tli.uik Heaven !' The gentle girl was utterly strengthless for the time being ; she could not move, she could scarcely think ; yet she was conscious of the one transporting fact that her dear one was not dead, that he lived and loved her still, that he bad returned and was even then waiting to clasp her to his fond heart one- more. Arley was very much disturbed by her helplessness, and, laying her gently down upon the conch where they had been sitting, she brought a flask of can de cologne and bathed hpr face and hands, after which she wvnt for a glass of wine, and made her diink it. This treatment seemed to have the desired effect, for Lady Elaine began immediately jto rerover her dormant energies. A realizing sense of the great joy that had come to her began to aasert itself ; impatience to see the returned lover seized her; the pathetic look which had overwhelmed her beautiful face began to fade away ; the light of a great-happiness came back to her j eyes, and her lips, though still tremulous, regained something of their usual brightness. - 'I am better,' she said, sitting 1 up , j but she seized the flask of cologne which Arley still held, and drenching her handkerchief, bathed her face and head, and eagerly inhaled its pleasant perfume ; but she was still trembling in every limb. 'I am afraid that I have told you too suddenly,' Arley said, regarding her anxiously. 'I know I made a bungle of it, and it was the hardest thing 1 ever did in my life ; but Wil is waiting for you. Darling, now you will forgive me for being so cruel as to ask yon to dress so gayly ; but I could not bear that Wil should see yoa in mourn- < ing for him.' Lady Elaine caught her about the neck and gavt> her a little hug ; then she laughed aloud — such a happy, tho.ugh somewhat nervous laugh, as had not escaped her lips for many a long month. 'Bring me a glass, please/ she said, a beautiful color coming into her cheeks, 'for I cannot trust to even your perfect taste now; no, indeed, I would not have had him see me in those dismal robes for anything Ah 1' she continued, looking into the hand-mirror which Arley had brought her, 'I cannot improve upon your work, and I might have known it, for your taste is faultless.' 'My taste faultless?' Arley cried gayly. 'I have but made you look as nearly as possible like the Lily of Mordaunt, who was the cynosure of all eyes at the ball at Hazelmere. Now, dear,' she added, more gently, 'are yoa ready ? Shall Igo and bring Wil here to you, and then go and break the news to Sir Anthony and Lady. Hamilton?' 'Yes ; but — oh, Arley, can it be trae ?' Lady Elaine cried, brokenly, j growing white again as the lilies upon her bosom. / I 'You must be calm or I' shall not go for him,' Arley returned, almost sternly; 'and just think of thd suspense tiiat he is enduring all this time.' 'True,' was tbe more composed response ; 'I was selfish not to think of that myself.' Arley bent to kiss her sister, and then went to call the waiting lover. Swiftly along the corridor she ran, and then went do»vn a side staircase to an entrance facing the stable. Here sbe rang tho coachman's bell, ) and then, opening the door, stood waiti ing for Wil. i Presently sho saw him coming, bnt I he staggered almost like a man intoxiI bated. He was deathly pale, and she saw that he was almost as unnerved as Lady Elaine had been in prospect of this reunion. 'Stop!' she said, firmly, as he would have rushed past her without even asfcj ,ing wh^re he shonld find his loved one. 'You must not go to her like this - it has been a fearful shock to her already, and if you are not calm she will bo ili.' 'I know, but I thought you wo«ld never cone,' Wil answered, putting his hand to big head in a dazed way ; 'and I can hardly believe that I am home after oil — I am almost afraid ihut I am asleep and dreaming, and shall wake up to find myselt in that wretched wigwam in that wostern wilderness. But I will not be so weak,' ikj added, straightening himself resoluteiy ; nnd Arley turned without another word and noiselessly led him up the stairs and toward her sister's boudoir. Sho softly turned tbe silver handlo and opened the door, and there, standing in tho middle of the floor in an eager, listening attitude, her scarlet lips parted, her bine eyes shining like 6tarß, her spotless dress trailing about

her, and tbe lilies on her breast quivering with every pulsation of her heart, was tbe loveliest vision that sbe had ever beheld. Pushing Wil gently within the room she closed the door, the happy tears raining over her face and her heart full of wondrous joy. She went to her own room, and, while dressiug herself iv festal ro es for this glftd occasion, gathered something of more compo'sture, and then went to break the news to Sir Anthony and Lady Banailton, which sho succeeded in doing with less excitement and abruptness than when she had told hpr sister. Who can describe the joy that reigned at Mordauut Houoe that night? No one could do justice to if, for the reunion was one or" tbose blessed and perfect events which weak words are far too feeble to portray effectually. When all had grown somewhat composed after tbe exciting meeting, bir Anthony, in a broken and trembling voice said : 'My boy, you know 1 used to say that I did not btiHeve in a GoJ — a personal neing, who loved and cared for human beiDgs as His children. I said and believed, or at least tried tv satisfy myself that I believnd, tint the lawa of natare were all the God thcivj was, and that religion and the worship of a Supreme Being was but a mere sentiment. But the l'.fft of this jSt-ar girl,' taking tho hand of Lady iJlaiue, who was sitting beside hitn, 'during the past year, and now your wonderf ol preservation, with a.l the attending circumstances, and your return to us, have convinced me to the contrary. Henceforth,' he continued, reverently, *1 shall confess my bt-li >£ ami trust in an AllWise Ruler, and my future shall be s]ient in His service, to prove my grati<tude for this dupretnts hour of my life.' Lady Elaine lifted his trembling hand to her lips. 'Dear Sir Anthony,' sho said, while grateful tears stood ia her lovely eyes, for he had often grieved and wounded her by his skepticism, 'this is the crowning joy of all !'