THE Temptation of Mary Barr.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 12863, 23 May 1905, Page 6

THE Temptation of Mary Barr.

Author of "A Splendid Heart," "A Woman Scorned/ 'Brave Barbara/ " A Kinsman's Sin," " So Like a Man," etc., etc.

CHAPTER XXXlX.,— Continued ,

iMiary's heart still beat nervous- ' ly, thouglT there was nothing in { this j, to link it with herself; the mere sigEf of Carina's name perturbed her. She folded the paper and sat back in the corner of the jolting omnibus with closed eyes. Wihen she reached the end of her journey a young man „ got down from the top of the) vehicle very quickly* He j followed her, . although. Mary was ignorant of this, and as sjhe pushed her way hurriedly through the crowded streets, he kept close beside her. iWhen at last she paused before the door oi the place where she lodged, , Tom Carter found courage to speak.

"SYKss 'Mary," he said, nervously ; and as Mary gave a great start, and turned, he caught his breath)— "it 4s you, Miss Mary. I was almost • sure, but not , quite ; still I follered you, miss, for I've tramped. miles and miles to find jvou. Oh," said Tom, with a break 1 Ltf his« voice, "it wasn't kind of jyou to go as you did go, and ! never to tell me one word ; and you promisee 11 * — you promised, 1 — ( — " vMjary was too startled at first to speak ; then , the pleasure the sight of him signified to her sent ihe blood coursing through her veins wildly. I "Oh, Tom, Tom !" she said, "it [is good to see you ! Oh, Tom !" Iler voice faltered ; she had to turn away her face, for tears were blinding her, and sobs were chok-

ing her. Tom held her hands, and said he hardly knew what.

"Let's walk a few yards this way, Miss Mary," he said ; "it's quiet-like here, and there's something I must say to you." Miary turned obediently ; she felt like a child that has been punished in near touch with forgiveness, with happiness once more. And yet — she argued quickly — it was absurd to let this chance .meeting, with Tom signify so much to her. "How did you see men— what were 3-011 doing there, Tom ?" she asked, in a whisper, * after a long, time.

"I'd been to report to her ladyship, M!iss Mary ; she's a stop£>in' in that big hotel, and every night she ejxpects me to go and tell her if I've learned any news of you." Tom paused a moment. , "Sir George,[ he's there, too." 'Mary winced ; she wanted to speak," but} she could not ; and Tom, feeling by instinct what was in her mind, spoke of her husband.

":He's got on fine, considerin' what a bad time he's ha;d, but, of course, he don't get strength as fast as he should. "faint likely as he will so long as he's frettin' as he does fret." "Fretting ?" asked Mary, in a tremulous whisper.

"Yes," said Tom Carter. v Then lie looked at the girl. "Can't you understand that, Miss Mary ? It's you that he wants. It's ,my belief that Sir George is just breakin |his( heart because we've none on us been able to find out where you were. There, don't take on so ; I didn't mean to upset you. Why, you know, I'd go through fire" and water for you, don't you? Ah ! Miss Mary," the young fellow went on, "it hasn't been life at all since that day you went." Mary controlled herself. She put back her veil and dried her tears.

"Tell me about — about Iyady Susan — about everything, Tom," she whispered. Tom gave the history of the clays since she had left the White Priory. Whenever he spoke her husband's name she winced and thrilled, and when he came to that visit of his aunt, Harriet Carter, to Yelverton, she put out her hand toward him, and Tom tool* it in his toughened one almost reverently. "She went too late, did Aunt Harriet ; she couldn't do no harm — indeed, silie did good ; but that's not for me to tell you, Miss Mary. Now, you're to let me know just what you want. If I'm not to tell them as I've seen you, why I'll not so much as breathe ' a wofd, not though it go against me to see her ladyship with tears in her eyes, and Sir George>— < — "

Mary broke in' suddenly. "I can do nothing to-night, but tomorrow — to-morrow. You must go now, Tom, my dear, good friend."

vShe cluing to Tom's/ hand a while, ' and then, just as he was turning away, she drew him back.

"No," .she said, in a stifled sort of voice ; "if they're su'fEeriugt— if they're anxiojiis' — tell them. I have made them suffer too much already."

She moved away, '. and' Total watched her ring the bell of the diifl-looking house, and waited till she had passed in. Then, with an exclamation which was like a sob in his throat, he went out into the crowded thoroughfare, and, picking omt a smartly horsed hansom, he drove back as fleetly as he could go to » that big hotel. It was late when he arrived, but Tom | was by this time well known at the hotel, an d\ consequently his name was sent up to Lady Susan Minster at once when he said his business was urgent.

The answer was that he was to go up immediately to liVr ladyship's sitting-room. The hour • was late when Tom Carter drove back oiiee) more to

that house in the crowded quarter where Miary was staying, but to his aatislaction he saw a light in the doorway, and so he rang and gave 111 a note from Lady Suaan.

Mary had told him that she was called "by her old name of Mary Barr, so Lady Susan's note bore this superscription. . "Please let it be given at once," said Tom, and Uien he turned away to seek his own lodging, with his heart so full that every now and then his eyes were misty with tears.

\Mjary was not in bed ; she had made <no attempt even to prepare tor rest. She was walking to a n d fro the narrow room, with its scanty furniture, when the servant brought her Lady Susan's letter.

At- sight of the dainty, old-fash-ioned writing Mary's lips quivered. She couldi hardly see the words at first, her emotion was so great, but when she had read through the little letter she .pressed it to 'her lips. )

"Beloved child," Lady • Susan wrote, "thank God, I know where you are ! I shall be with you as early as possible to-morrow morning. Please, dear one, make your arrangements to come away with me at once. To-night I shall sleep happily for the first time; since I lost you, Mary ! I long to hold you in mv arms !"