CHAPTER 11.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11818, 16 November 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHAPTER 11.

LAWRENCE WBYVILLE's THREAT.

'Will you never be kind to me, Gladys ?' said Lawrence Weyville one day as he walked by her side in tbe lane toward the lodge (much against her will he had overtaken her and accompanied her on a visit to Oliffdea). 'I have boen your patient slave, have never offended you, have sought to win yonr favor in every way, ani yet you seem to dislike me more than ever/ It was a month now since her marriage. Since then Lawrence, though devoted in his attentions and making no secret of his love for her, had certainly always behaved with kindness and respect. But — she knew not why— ra secret aversion was in her hea*t a shriuking

loathing, a belief tbat in some way he wan not what he seemed. For her mother's sake she had borne with him . But she was prompt to n?p in the bud any conversation which promised to verge on, love-making. 'Don't, be sentimental, Lawrence,' she said, with a tantalising- laagb. 'You remember onr compact. lam jsqre that I am everything that is friendly.' A cold glitter was in his eyes as he answered : j , 'Friendship is all nonsense. You know well enough that both 1 and your mother intend you to bo my wife, and, ia spite of all opposition, that is what yon will be in tbe end. All this coyness of yonrs is my , own fault. You want a, bolder wooer, who will snatch kisses from your ripe red lips, and plead in passionate words/ To escape hita she sprang into a barn by tbe wayside, through which she knew that the Lodge conld be reached by a shorter, path, but be was after her in an instant, and suddenly passed his arm around her .waist and caught her wrist tightly with, bis die* engaged: band, . . 'la it not so, darling consin ? he cried* bending his face down nearer to her own. She drew back as far as she could,. but her efforts , to free herself from his clasp were utterly futile. •Yon are a coward, Lawrence Weyville !' she cried, 'and do gpntlenian 1 Yon know well how I despise you— tbat I only suffer yonr presence because of tbe relationship between a 3. Unhand me, or I shall scream for help !' He langhed chucklingly. ♦Help !' be cried ; 'wi:at help can yon expect in this lonely lane ? You ought to know how unfrequented it is — you who tised so often to meat Colin Ramsey here wben you were supposed to be visiting yonr friends or indulging in solitary rambles/ ' Her "heart leaped within her? How much or how little did ho know ? But she kept op her courage bravely. 'I warn you,' she said, 'that I will expose you everywhere unless you unhand me at once ! After this 1 will be careful to avoid all chance of being atone with you ! Yoj cowarci ! Help ! help !' For he had bent suddenly, and succeeded in lightly sweeping her lips with his sandy monstache. As if by a miracle, help was near, in* the person of tbe very nian whom, of all others, Gladys would not have chosen for a deliverer. None other than the Earl of Featherstone. As be leaped through a yap in the hedge, he did not panse 'to disc-ira who her assailant was, but, 6eizin t > him by the collar, be swung him round so that "he fell in tbe road, where Le hy large and limp — like another Pt-cksciil. 'How dare yon, you ruffian, mole-t this young lady !' cried tbe tad. 'Be off ! Why, bless me ! is uot this Mr Lawrence Wej'ville, yonr cousin. Mias Heathcote ?' She had clung naturally to the peer's arm for a moment ; but she stood now pale,, agitated, scarcely knowing whet to. e»y or do in soch a strange rliieajtra. 'Yes, tbat is Mr Weyville," she said; 'and he has very much aonojed me. I am sorry for all that' bad bappened, but I will stand insults from no one !' Lawrence had picked himself np now, and had taken mental stock of the muscular proportions cf the handsome earl. He decided tbat it wonld be b'-st — at present, at any rate — to make no show of retaliation. He raised, his hat with mocking polit*te3B. •Goo/i day, sweet, coz,' be said. 'I leave jou with a more acceptable escort. Later'on I will pay off the score I owe you. As for you, my Wcl, W3 can arraDgu tl.is matter wheu we meet alone.' 'Why m t iiow, Mr Weyvillfi ?' said Loid Featle-nione, witb pr^oking calrunees, 'If Miss Hettlscute will ou:y walk on and wait for m° at Darrel's Corner, you can say anything you please at once.'" Bqt Lawrence Weyville waß not of tbe same mind. He muttered something under bis bfeatb. and witb an impatient gesture turned and passed rapidiy toward Offfsea. Gladys walked silently for some time by the side of In i champion. I It vias a n.oj-t awkward position for botb. If it hud b'vn an ordinary tramp from whom be 1».»J s<,\V. her, all would bavc been well ; but to hfcro knocked down the cous.n of the girl whom be hoped to win i«i Jbis own v.as rather a complication of siYaiis. 'However, Gkcys broke the ice after *while. !

•I am so aorry tbat all this happened, Lord Featberatone,' she said ; 'it may have bean foolish of me to call out, bat I have taken a great dislike to my cousin, and when, he tried to kiss me, like an ill-mannered country lout, 1 lost my presence of mind and cried out.' 'It is just as well that it did happen, perhaps,' replied her companion, 'as it will prevent annoyance in the fnture. But I regret it for ruy own sake. I wisbed to keep on good terms with vonr mother, in hope of some day being on better terms with her daughter.' Gladys blushed deeply. She had expected this for along time ; but, nevertheless, her wife's j heart revolted at being thus constantly exposed to offers of love from others. 'I hope mamma will see things in a proper light,' she said, lamely. He misunderstood hsr meaning ; ia the depth of his passion for her he took her words as an encouragement, however small. 'Miss Heathcote— Gladys 1' he said, as they reached the gate of the Lodge, which was shielded from all view of the house by dense shrubs, 'grant roe one moment before jou go in. Yon are - you must be aware of the dearest wish of my heart — to, make you my wife, to love and. cherish you forever, to guard you from all harm, to devote my existence to your happiness !' I know I am much older than jon, but my deep and abiding passion shall make np for all deficiencies. Tell me, Gladys, dear one — will, you give me the right to protect you? 1 tears glistened in the young girl's eyes. She knew that this man was good and true 1 , that he meant every word that he ultered, thathis love was honest and beart-felt. t She hated the task before her of wounding one who truly' loved her, but it must.be done, and she did not hesitate. . - . 'Lord Featberstone,' she said, 'I regret so much: that my mother'B sfleuce in- regard to me has caused mo to «peak. t dihlike fcT give you pain, for I feel sure that yon are a triie and noble gentleman ; but I am — I am betrothed to Colin Ramsey, and can listen to words of love from no other man. 'Let as be friends,' she added, placr ing her little band on his as it lay on the top of the rustic fence, clutching the woodwork in his sorrow ; 'believa me, I have never hinted that I could accept the honor you have offered me;. Prey do not blame me.* 'I do not blame you,' he said, hoarsely, as he raised her hand to his iips ; 'but, I blame your mother very much. She might have spared me this humiliation and paia. Good-by, Miss Heatbcote! When we meet again I sbatf, perhaps, be more in 'my right mind, and be able to congratulate you.' He pressed her hand and we.nt, and as she sadly passed in at the gate she saw tbat be staggered in his walk, and that his head was bent lew.