"SIR MORECAMBE'S MARRIAGE"

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13728, 18 August 1908, Page 6

"SIR MORECAMBE'S MARRIAGE"

[(Published by Special Arrangement.)

BY FLORENCE WARDEN,

Author oi "The House on the Marsh,"

etc., etc.

LCOPYBIGHT.I

CHAPTEK XXll.— Continued. Sir Moreeambe came on to the path, so that only a narrow flower-border rose between him and Mr. Herrick, who was now joined by his wiie. "What are you doing bore, Sir Moreeambe y" "I've come to have a last word with ; Pamela, before giving myself up." "Good. Why didn't you make up \our mind to that . belore?" Pamela interposed indignantly. "You know why he didn't, lather." she said. "You know it was at my earnest request that he went away." Mr. rlerriek grunted. "Whatever you ])ersuaded bin; to do didn't keep him out ot mischief, it M'i'ms," said he drily. "I've been in no worse mischief than driving a motor-car, Mr. Herrick." said Sir Morocambe, coldly. "Then th" newspapers have lied more than usual," commented Mr. Herrick, drily. "And \ou, who know me. can believe a newt-paper reporter beiore me:'" s-ud Sir Moreeambe, hotly. • Mr. Hc-rrick frowned. "Not in all circumstances. Mut i can't understand a man submitting to hrin<; in cv <>d of two murders without com in«, iorward and giving his accusers the lie." "Well, that's just what I'm going to do. Perhaps you will understand my wi^U <o see Pamela and, my family before giving myself up.',' Mrs. Herrick, less stoical than her husband, gave a taint moan. "Will you give yourself- up!-'" she said. "Ye^." "And be hanged h" "I hope not." "Hush, mother," said Pamela, sharply. "Woll. Sir M"oreosiml>e, you l;;;ve been much maligned il you are not guilty," .■said Mr. Hurrick, coldly ; "and at least jou have done a great deal ot mischief here. My daughter has suffered th° most cruel injustice through you." Pamela spoke out. "Thrqugh her own fault," .she said boldly. "Remember that. My plan didn't work out in all ways as well as it ought to have done, but it's unfair to blame Moreeambe ior it." 'AYell, 1 suppose that's true. Sir ?t!oreeambe, you appear to have bi'^ll \ery unfortunate. I'm suro 1 hope your luck is going to take a turn now." said Mr. Herrick, still in the same dry. hard tone. It wa» natural that lie should feel very acutely the position in which his only and beloved daughtt r had !><•< m placet! through her infatuation ior the baronet, and Mr. Herrick could not but resent the suffering which he could not prevent on the part of Pamela. To see his beautiful daughter drooping day by day under the misery and shame of the story ; to know that the situation was hopeless except in tincase, which seemed to grow more and nV>n.> unlikely, of S«r Moreeambe'.being proved innocent of the charge against him ; these had been trials severe enough to test a father's patience: but when a fresh charge Avas brought against the baronet, and wlir-n it began to look as if he had been devoting himself to another woman, m the person of the Miss Minni" PottsPalmer of whom the papers gave accounts, his anger had burst all bounds, and he had freely expressed the hope that Sir Moreeambe would be hanged and out of the way as soon as possible. Mrs. Herrick, when her husband tlnic .showed a little less malevolence in his tone, spoke her mind with more freedom than at first. "At least yon might have shown a ittle more gratitude. Sir Moreeambe," she said tartly, "than by flirting with it his other woman." "What other woman:-'" asked Sir [Moreeambe, puzzled and surprised at this fresh accusation. '"Oh, hush, mother!" said Pamela, quickly. But Mrs. Herrick wee? on — "This Miss Potts-Palmer whom the papers call 'a pretty blonde with dove's e^es.' Dove's tyes. indeed!" added she. sharply "Oh, hu^h, nioUur." said Pamela, ill great distress. *'ji I'm not jealous. if 1 don't mind " "Then I'm jealous !\>r you," retorted her mother. '"When your own reputation has suffered through what you've, done for Sir Moreeambe. I think he might have spared jou and us all Irom reading s-m-h things about this '•dove-ey d blonde,' and the interest she took in you !" Pamela turned to Sir Moreeambe with earnest eyes. ''I've never been really jealous, Moreeainbe," she said gently. "1 knowit wasn't your fault it Miss PottsPahnor liked you. And if only she can help you, as you say' she is trying to do. to prove your innocence, why then I'll thank her myself with all mv heart." Mrs. Herrjek, however, objected 1o this meek attitude. "You won't be asked to do that, it she does succeed in getting him off," sho said rather drily. "These Americans don't let concealment, like a worm in the bud, Jeed on their damask 1 cheek. She speaks to the reporters as if she looked upon Sir Moreeambe as her property ." Sir Moreeambe was somewhat bewildered by all this, since he hud seen but few newspapers during his wanderings compared to the immense amount oL journalistic fiction concering his adventures which had been eagerly devoured by his friends. "Pamela," he said gently, "is too noble to be jealous, and too truehearted herself to be ready to suspect in*' of nn faith." i Mr. Herrick moved impatiently. "Pamela is a fool," he said, gruffly. There was a moment of awkward silence, which was broken by an exclamation from Mrs. Herrick. "Hush!" she said suddenly, with a frightened look on her face. Sh" had heard the sound of footsteps on the gravel, and, although, owing to the thickness of the trees and e\ ergreens they could see no one, they were all aware that more than one person was approaching tho front door of the. house by way of the drive. Pamela, with a white, drawn look of anguish on her face, made a sign to Sir Morecanibe, to en tor tho houso by the French window of tho study, by which she herself had come out. "Come into the house." whispered she coaxingly. as she laid her ha ml on his arm and looketd imploringly up into his face. "Just for a few minutes."

Not perceiving, a-> blie did what hud happened, Moreeainbe was at first about to yield to her request. lint at* that moment there darted out from behind the evergreens the fi«;ure of the chauffeur, Morton, who shouted: "Here lie is!" and then ran b.irk at once on perceiving his" mast or and nii^lrevs at the drawing-room window. Pamela uttered a cry of despair. "Come in, come in," whispered .she. in almost hysterical grief and dismay as she tried to drag Sir Morecambe towards the study. But, understanding now to whom tlu (hauffeur had addressed his words. Sir .Moreeambo gently but firmly resist ee her appeal. "No, my darling, no." he .said. 'Don't ask me to do what I can't do. I've yielded to your wishes as lon» as I could. Let mo act a man's part now." Mr. Herrick, who understood what Avas going on, approved the baronet'? course. "That's right," said he. "Stand up to them now, and have it out. IJ you're not guilty, prove it. II you're uuiltv — uiiich Heaven forbid — why, let I Ju'M: |)i'o\e it 'f they can." But J'amela. bobting and clinging. to !:<.•!• lover, not give up the struggle. She appealed to his love, his gratitude, to his kindness, not to yie himself tn> — \et. He kissed her tenderly on tlie forehead without a w ord. lint the manner in which he bhook his head iwA gently tletached her hands, which he kissed as ho did so, showed her that he had made up his mind. A moment later, as they had all exjMTte'l, a poliee-ofji'eer came quickly out from behind the evergreens which separated the group at tlie window from the group at the front of the house. "Sir Morecambe Crake r1"r 1 " said tin eiiicer as he darted Jorwitrd. 'i he baronet met him quietly. 1 -. You've come to arrest iiie; v " he'said. "Very soi ry, sir." I'he man sahited resjiectfidly us lie s}>okv v . '"Tin not." said Sir .Mor<-cnnibc with a iainl smile. "I'm delighted to he ftl)!»" id g»>t it oath. Am /to walk!'" "No, Sir We have a tly waiting outside the gates." '"All right." He turned find raised his hat to the Herricks, who woe standing, frightened now that the t'niiig v/a*done, at the drawing-room Aviudow. Pamela, with a cry. ran forward :"ii lei! into his aj - ms. "Don't," he whibpeiod. "You don't want me to make a 100 loi mvselt. do you?" She raised her head, gare him one long look, and then, without so much as tho word " Good-bye," staggered away from the house. And Sir Moroeamho wondered, with a chilly feeling at his heart, it' even Pamela had begun to doubt him. (To be continued.)