CHAPTER 111.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11818, 16 November 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

CHAPTER 111.

glady's revelation.

A bitter resentment against her mother rose in Gladys' heart. j Why* for her own selfish ends, should j she work all this misery ? 6he resolved j to be hnmble and submissive no longer, j Her mother was lounging in a prace- j ffll attitude on an easy chair, with a novel.in her lap, when , Gladys entered. She was. startled — indeed, dismayed — at the manner and voice of the young girl as she said : ♦Mother, I mast beg of yon to do j me one piece :of jastice. I have this day been subjected to much annoyance, and also deeply pained. Your nephew Lawrence has insulted tme in the lane just now, as if I bad Jbeen some' low, country hoyden who had encouraged bis attentions. The consequence was that' Lord Featberstone came ,to my aid, and, not* recognising my assailant, knocked him- down, as he deserved/ 'Knocked Lawrence down !' cried Mrs Heathcote, aghast, as ahe ro9e from her chair. 'Y<»B ; and then, walking home to protect me, be took, .the opportunity of J making me an offer of marriage, which I promptly refused.' ! 'Refused 1' echoed her mother. 'But why ' 'Hear me out, I, pray. Mamni3,' exclaimed Gladys, 'I refused him ; nevertheless, I feel great sorrow for him, for lam sure he really loves me. I told him I was, not to blame but you : that you should have explained to him tbat I urn engaged to Colin Ramsey. If I am an impediment in your way, I have already told you tbat I can obtain a situation, as I certainly shall do in auy c»B9 if my cousin persists in his odiuna attentions.' Before her mother could make any reply, Gladys had quitted tbe toom and la»tened to her own, Bhe was but just in time to c.-capo a

why '

meeting with Lawreuce. He came in hot and angry, and inclined to bully ; but Mrs Heathcote's words and manner soon put a step to anything of that sort. 'What is thi* I hear of you, Lawrence ?' she cried, reprovingly. *I am qeite ashamed of yon ! I have told you over and over again what a sensitive girl Gladys is, and yet you behave to her as if she were a dairymaid, or worse/ Lawrence laughed derisively. (to bk continued. )