CHAPTER XIX.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13841, 22 December 1908, Page 6

CHAPTER XIX.

CHAPTER XlX.— Continued. "On Thursday morning you Mere nuiet and abstracted, I remember, a» though there were something on your mind." , . , Margaret started slightly, paused. musing. , . i • >) "\Vas I. J Yes, I was thinking"When I asked you to accompany nw to itanelagh in the afternoon, you refused, baying you would be occupied with your dressmaker. Did you go to ;\ ou r dressm aker ? ' ' "No," she said. He was so afraid she would tell him a he that he drew a little breath of relief, and hope reawakened in his breast. , „ "Then you were not out at- all on Thursday 'afternoon V" "Yes, 1 was." His heart sank again.

"Alone?" "Yes." "Where did you go, Margaret." A sharp cry broke from her; she clasped her hands. "Oh, I sec it all; I sco it all!. I could not think before; the shock stunned me. No, this is no work ot chance, Aubrey. Some enemy is trying to separate The whole thing i& a cruel plot!" "Why should* you have an enemy.'' he asked, sombrely, unmoved. 'What have you ever done to anyone.^ "Listen," she said, excitedly. On Thursday morning while I was iv breakfast a young woman called to seme. She professed to come from Madame Clare, but it transpired that she had nothing to do with Madame Clare, and had only made use ot the name to gain admission. Directly we were alone she said she had brought me a message from someone who knew me in the past, and was anxious to sco me on a matter of urgent importance. I was requested to meet him at four o'clock that afternoon in the first-class waiting-room at Charing Cross, and warned that I should regret it if I failed to keep the appointment. I did not intend to go, and- said so, but after all I changed my mind and went. I waited from five minutes to four until five, but nobody came. At the time I could not account for this apparently senseless hoax, but now the motive is plain enough. Charing Cross at four o'clock! You notice how' the place and time coincide with those 6f the telegram. Evidently the person who sent the telegram to Clive Northcote was the person who decoyed me there at the same hour in order that it might look as though I had gone to meet him." Heseltine was watching her, his face immobile, his locked hands hanging between his knees. • "What was the name- of the man who sent you this" message?" "The girl did not know, or pretended not to know. She said she had seen him at the Charing Cross Hotel in answer to an advertisement." "And you kept an appointment made in such a way! Why did you?" "I — I thought he might have something of value to communicate to me concerning the claim." "A man with any genuine business would have called on you or your lawyers instead of approaching you with such melodramatic mystery!" "I suppose it was very stupid of me to fall into the trap, but — but I was so anxious not to miss anything im- v portant. You can understand that, can't you -?" He w^s silent as she paused^ hoping for* a reply, and her voice grew- shrill -with unspeakable anguish. - "Aubrey, you don't think* 1 have invented this story ? K ' "We- were together all the morning," he said steadily. "If it is true, why didn't you tell me and ask my advice? It would have been the natural thing to do." "I was particularly requested to mention it to nobody." "But why such obedience? You made no prdmise of silence to anyone; it was not at all necessary to consider yourself bound by the demands of this person. The right course would have been to communicate the message to me or to Gerrish instantly." "I didn't think," she said, after a moment. "You didn't think!" he repeated with passionate contempt. "You didn't think!" He did not believe her. She pressed her hand to her heart. "I never guessed that the most wretched moment of my life would come from you,'.' she said. "Ring the bell if you like, and ask the butler whether it is true that a young person called to see me on Thursday morning." "It isn't worth while," he answered wearily.- "I do not doubt that a young person called." "And you can find out from Madame Clare that she did not send anybody." "I do not doubt that either," he "replied. "Oh, how am I to disprove this cruel accusation if you take that tone!" she cried. "I seem to be in a net — a net! My enemies have played their game well indeed!" "Who are the.se mysterious enemies?" ;;idon'tkiinw," she said forlornly. £or I. His voice was grim. "Unless Quanborough " "Quanborough is a gentleman. He does not conspinv" ''You are right." A light leaped into her eyes. "There is the cunning of a woman m this— the cunning of a woman who hates me because — because she loves you !" For an 'instant she thought she had regained her hold of him, for he caught at his breath and looked at her strait" - jy ; but it was a false hope. His fact hardened.

I have no reason to believe it. i\o he said, "you cannot say I have not shown the greatest confidence in you but love should not destroy n mans reason. 1 cannot— T dare 'not accept your explanation of this larfair.

)ou (; mil," she cried, wiklly, " vmi mu*t ! Oh, Aubrey, i s our love to end like this.'' I could have lived without you when you came; I had nevei known love; but you have made youiBolt indispensable to me; you have taught m<? what it is that J need above everything on earth. Will you leave me now!"

"I gave you the Jove of my life " he said, "and you have deceived mo heiirtJu.ssl.v, abominably. I would have Forgiven \on nineh. but there is one iliinii at leiist which no m;ui ot honour can lor^ivc. Our cn-agcineiit is> at an end.

"Let me swear to \ou on my knees. Aubrey!" "No, don't humiliate \ourself vainly," he said. "Remember you were m\ future wile an hour or two ago, and spare us both further shame and pain." She looked him in the eyes, and suppressed the words she was about to utter. She saw that it was useless to appeal. "If I were djinu." fch<* «*'«• "1 could only repeat what I have already told you — that your kissrs are the first man's kisses I have ever known. But if yoti have made up your mind, as 1 set- you have " She made a hopeless gesture, and a fatalistic look came into her eyes. He bowed low without -a word, and left her.