APPLES OF GOLD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14343, 22 October 1910, Page 5

APPLES OF GOLD.

By JOHN K. PEOTHERO, Author of “An Eyo for an Eye,” “Tho Way of Transgressors,” “A Strong Alan Armed,” “A Modern Esau,” “Tho Silent Witness,” “A Woman’s Love, etc., etc. [oopyhighi.] CHAPTER m v .—Continued. Dynvor did not argue tho question, but suggested a motor drive to Richmond ,with dinner at the'‘Star and Garter.” Lovo was at iter best that evening; her face flushed to a delicate rose pink; her eyes ablaze with excitement. She drew the eyes of men as with a magnet, and yet despite the knowledge of her beauty she held herself in perfect sell-contni.. Dynvor felt his epicurean interest in her quicken into something dangerously near emotion. Ho actually debated the possibility of seriously making love to her. But one thing seemed wanting—tho spico of rivalry. He seemed to have the field too entirely to himself. Lovo never mentioned Rodney these days. The young engineer appeared to have been forgotten. Tho stage and her desire for that profession held first place in her thoughts. Dynvor encouraged her to coquet with tho idea, though privately he determined she should never seriously entertain it. She would get tired of it, he decided, just as she had got tired of Rodney.' Ho was piqued she should have .so soon developed into the commonplace and decided a week-end in Paris would do him good. In other words he wisiicd to discover just' how strong a hold I’ovo had on 'him.

Tho week-end lengthened into a fortnight; he came back to London eager to see love and over an epicure in sensations, delighted with the eagerness. Ho arrived one Monday evening, and was told by the inimitable butler that Mr. Dare was waiting to see him. Rodneys’ first words found Dynvor indifferent:—.his last left him breathiess —in a white heat of rage. “I’ve come to tender my resignation, lord Dynvor. The iron mines really need mo any longer; tho machinery’s in place ,and the manager can look after the working himself. I’m going to Africa to report on a gold property,” “Very sorry to lose yon. Dare—lint glad your prospects seem improving.” “Thanks very much, it will bo a fine thing for me, if the mine pans out rich. I have a fourth share in it.” “And when do yon sail, Dare? I hope you aren’t leaving London just directly P” “Next week, I hope.” “Quick work, but then you’ve a free lance, no home tics or anything of that sort.” Rodney flushed and laughed._ “I’m making ray home in Africa for the next year or two, Lord Dynvor—” Ho paused, then fixed the other with steady eyes . “I’m going to marry Love tho day after to-morrow.” CHAPTER XV. “A HUMBLE AND A CONTRITE heart.” Lord. Dynvor’s absence at first had found Love indifferent; She remained indifferent for throe days, then pique touched her, followed closely by a sudden strange distaste for Chelsea, and an impatience with Mureila and life generally. At tho end of the first week she grew genuinely perturbed. Ho must, she reflected, be ill Mureila was not sympathetic with her anxiety, bu consented on some pressure to inquire as to what had happened to his lordship. Through the agency of tho agile Ucnthorn she discovered Dynvor had gone abroad—the date of his return uncertain. Love shut herself up in her room for an afternoon and evening when she heard. It came as a shock to her to realise just how large a part the Wolf had played in her. life. Existence seemed hopelessly tamo without tho fillip of his brilliance. Her heart sank at the prospect of a waste of days in which slie ate and drank and slept and tried vainly to recover that zest of life which was her chiefest charm.

He had gone without a word, dropped her without a shadow of excuse or regret. She remembered with a certain bitterness that he had treated her in tho same fashion when a little child, she had mot him in Wales. How dare he do it? Her cheeks flamed her eyes flashed, how dare he I Sho had not let him know how keenly she enjoyed his companionship—that was the oiily balm she could find to heal her wounded pride. She had not known it herself—it was a revelation.

She emerged at dinner time beautifully dressed, and apparently in the highest of spirits. “Another new frock, dear?” the patient Afurelhi asked. 1 ' “Why not?” Lovo flushed. “I dress to please myself,” sho added emphatically as though contradicting an assertion to the contrary. “And I like to look nice whether anyone’s here or not.” Alurella sighed, and made no further comment. Her heart was sore for her girl. She felt that Dynvor had made a dangerous impression, and her courage sank at the thought that ixivo must suffer. After dinner the girl made a startling state. . “I’m going to see a theatrical agent to-morrow. Aiurella. 1 cant live, tins life of idleness any more. Will yon come with me?” . „ , “You’re not thinking of the stage again, Love?” “1 am,” her lips set tightly. Ivo always longed to he an actress, and ever since I saw mv darling mother’s portrait, L determined nothing should stop me. ' Alother was an actress, Mureila years ago. Her picture is at Dynvor Ciistlo. Such a lovely face, such a wonderful face. If only—if only she had lived. It’s—it’s so lonely for a girl without a mother, Alurella. ’ The woman made a step forward, her face working, her lips n-twiteh. “Aly dear,” she put her hand timidly oil the girl’s shoulder ; “my dear—if you could—if you would. Oh, Love, Love couldn't you sometimes think, just for a moment, you’re my child, and talk to me as if 1 were—your mother?” Her voice sank to a whisper, her eyes were wide with the longing that consumed her soul like a fever. “I had a daughter once. _ A little baby girlie with golden hair like yours, and'eyes. oh. Lovo, such eyes! I lost her, dearie, lost her; you don’t know, please God you’ll never know, the ache, the emptiness, the hunger, here.” She put her hand to her heart with a gesture that checked the rising irritation of the girl—impatient with ;,*mth’s dislike of a display of emotion. “If I could fool her lips on mine—her arms about my nock. Oh. Love, if I could win her back, my child, my little baby girl.” “You poor dear.” Love patted her chock caressingly. “You poor Alurolla.”

Tho woman trembled. “You wish you mother wan alive, I.OVC?” Sho nodded. “How much nobody knows, Mnrclla.” “You can’t talk to me as il—” Sim opened her arms with a smile if infinite tenderness, and drew tho girl towards her. larva suffered but did not return the caress, Ihe old fierceness that at times alarmed her, swept over Mnrclla. She kissed her hands, her hair, held her closely,murmuring low and passionate words of tenderness. “Let me go, please,’ ’Love struggled to her feet, "and don’t do that again. It’s—it’s absurd. It does you no good to fancy I'm your little dead baby, and 1 could never, no, never for a second,, imagine yon were my beautiful young mother. It's ridiculous, Mnrclla,' she touched the woman lightly on the arm, so that she faced the mirror. Tho picture of Muriel in all the witchery of loveliness that the painter had so cunningly transfcrris] to canvas flasiicd before (icr: tho sallow face of the woman at her side, tho thin grey hair, the stiff hind; dress seemed more than ever hideous. “It’s laughable.,” she cried, and shook off Mureila’s clinging fingers. For n moment the woman wrestled with an overpowering temptation to tear off tho disguise and stand triumphant and victorious before tho girl. The soul of her yearned, her heart turned to water within her. Why should not she. proclaim her, flesh of her flesh, hone of her hone;’ The old devil was conquered, tho demon of drink slain. Why then should she hesitate? ' A moment only, and then she put temptation from her. T.ovo must never know slip was her mother; for, knowing, she would have to leave her child for over. Only by sacrifice could she atone. She made no further appeal to Love, and reading the distaste in the girl’s eves denied herself the “good-night” kiss which of late had been permitted her. She made no complaint, spoke no more of her lost child, lint her care for tho girl’s comfort redoubled, her solicitude was sleepless. Love was surrounded by affection ! , (To bo continued.)