APPLES OF GOLD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14345, 25 October 1910, Page 5

APPLES OF GOLD.

By JOHN K. PROTHERO

Author of "An Eyo for an Eye,” "Tho Way of Transgressors,” "A Strong Man Armed,” "A Modern Esau,” "Tho Silent Wit- - nct-s,” “A Woman’s Love, etc., etc. [COPYRIGHT.] CHAPTER av i.—Continued. Leam loved Jim Cartaret. Tlie hig man returned Her passion, and only waited an ..nporiumty to declare it. louc ior an iiu longing, Leam oarc uoi giant it, ior tear unit- imviug won ins uivc siic nngtit lose it Uirotigli Jxmuairil. uin.c all women of strong passion and primitive stieiigth, Jueuia was superautiou*. *-it uio jnoment nor cuy ol love was at nor ups sue icarea nor uooui wouiu lull, ana xtancaJi'a, tvnom she naa aesuoyea ooay aim soiu, woiuu striKt*. inat tiini count loigivc lien sue never ior u moment uurea to nope, a simple, nonest, miu sningiu-iivnig man, »«>»v couia no i mu it in ms Ufa. t lu puruon such as biier Aim so vvnenever the big man journeyeu to u mteiaoies, pm a turO on aer uoaiie, ana sent ior Axiiroia to ue with uer. , _ ino uoy worshipped Jim. ’X lie big man was a hero to linn; he was never urea 01 listening to his aaveuture*. “lou ve oeen in jimgiana a long time now, &aia i,cam one ,nu:rho<pi, quite six moiuns. arcii l you u>ugmg to get uaen t\> your Ueioveu .Mie wa.> iooxmg charming in a lea gown or lose-euioureu cliinwii, a nuot oi ner lavoiinte carnations at Her oreust. * i>o.” He looked her through and through, ''luiguimi hoids a mac-star ior me, greater even limn me laseination oi me wilds. ' "\\ hat s a loue-star, Jim?” asked boy Harold. • ftoineuiiiig very wonderful, bright, shining, irresistible, something mat holds your eyes anu grips your heart; something that keeps you prisoner even against your will. •‘Hoes it hold you, Jim?’’ “Ay/ Boysio.” “And when you leave England will your Jode-star come too?” “If I thought that—” the big man paused. * ‘Ton’d be happy, Jim:'” “Happy!” 'lucre was a thrill in his voice tnavsent the blood racing through her veins. “I'd give all I posess to have tiie lode-star, Boysie.” “Would you give up all your money and go poor ana hungry?” “Every penny—and bo the richest man on earth.” “Would you fight for it, Jim?” “To tho death. ’ Boy Harold nodded. “It sounds like a fairy tale. Is Lodestar the name of the Princess?” “You’ve guessed Tight, Harold.” Ho lifted tho hoy on his Knee and gazed over the curly head into Loam’s troubled eyes. ’ , “And is tho Princess guarded by dangerous dragons in an enchanted castle?” “Sometimes I think she is.” “Why don’t you kill tho dragon, Jim P”, “JitYhides- away from me.” “Perhaps, Harold,” Leam spoke, softly, “the Princess prefers to stay in her enchanted castle.” “What—instead of going into tho world with Jim? You're the Pnnco, you know, Jim.” “I’m afraid Princess Lodestar will • have nothing to say to me, Boysio. I shall have to go to a far country by myself.” “She’s a stupid Princess, anyway, if she doesn’t love you. Why don't you get a trap for the dragon, Jim?” ■ “It’s a lame dragon, Boy, and‘doesn’t 1 walk.” “Sharp teeth and claws, Jim?” Harold hugged himself in expectation. “Yes,-and a tongue like a sword.” “But you could cut it but?” “I will—when Lodestar sends for me. Yon sec, I can’t kill the dragon unless siie gives me permission.” I “Then she’s under a spell, Jim, and you’ve got to break it. Lodestar’s enchanted. “I wonder.” Ho watched the woman in a low chair by the window, j a tender, wistful light on bis face; 1 something ailed ibis beautiful imperious woman. There were times when she must be afraid. She would start, flush, gaze half panic-stricken at the i door; then hasten from the room as if | some snuffling tiling of terror wore outj side. If only she would confide in him, I tell him all her troubles, trust in his I Iovc( liis strength and'his courage to i protect her. ! Learn sat and listened to their talk. ’ And the sins of her past boro bitter friiit. If only she were worthy of him —if only she dared to take his love. “And if you killed tho dragon, and 1 won Lodestar, where would you take her, Jim?” “To tho far north, where the stars diine like diamonds. We would live in n spat dear to me for years—-in a little rhanty that lies in a clearing at tho . edge of the forest, which stretches northwards and a wilderness of poplar, spruce. Jack Pine and Tamarac trees, on and on to the North Pole.” “You’d Jive there, Jim, in that shanty?” Harold grow breathless. “I was then l each winter for three . years. I remember I went one night to a- small lake to get water for the house. Wo had to cut a hole in tho ice to roach the water. It was a wonderful night. Under my feet tho snow was dry and crisp, frozen by the cold, so that it ran off my moecassins like sand. To the north the forest lay, a dark lino, cut clear against tho snow, the trees grey, indefinite, shadowy; between them one caught a glimpse of the depths of the forest, an endless maze of purple woodland. A hig, full moon, high in the sky, caught a pine branch here and there, the shadow of the branch falling on a bank of snow splashed with silver, reflecting a sky ablaze with stars of changing colour. The night was still, not tho whisper of a breath stirred the branches. I stood looking at it a long time, until my eyes caught one bright spot between the trees, a dab of orange yellow that seemed at first outside the picture, but gradually grow into harmony and dominated the whole. It was the light in tho shanty window—my home ! ’ ’ “And the light was like Lodestar, eh, Jim?” “Yes, Boysio; only Lodestar could call me across the earth—and the light in my shanty didn’t carry so far.” “1 think,” Loam spoke softly, “I think your shanty must he tire most wonderful spot on tho world. 1 should like to see it.” His eyes met hers. “You’d tire. You’d weary of the monotony. There arc times when the wind moans and sighs in tho tree tops, and the howl of the wolf comes Very near.” “Thoro’d ho a fire in the shanty, Jim—tho light would always shine through tho window.” She had risen, and camo towards

him. The spell of adventure was on her. Her wild blood answered to his. Out there among the eternal snows, away from tho sins and follies of tho city she might grow nearer to him, she might purge herself of the past: Sfshe caught her breath at tho thought of life with him —tho one ,the only man that she could love. She set her teeth, and would not think upon the past. Como what might she would not give him up"; Harold obedient to a whispered suggestion from Jim, went off to look for mines in the garden. The man and tho woman wore alone. Cartaret came swiftly to the point. “Leam—you know I love you.” “Yes.” Her head wont up, but the colour flamed in her cheeks. “You love me? I know you do I’ve read it in your eyes those many weeks. I’ve known it Loam, and yet at times I’ve feared it wasn’t so. Why should you care- for me, my beautiful darling. Yon have the world to choose from. If I could only tell you ail J felt. I’m but a clumsy, awkward fellow, but I’d put my mrlrhcncath your feet, Leam—don’t keep me on the rack. 1 love you—i love you. 1 shall always love you. Will you give yourself to mo?” She swayed towards him, his voice thrilled her. She longed to cling to him and rest herself on Ins strength. And yet—and yet—she paused. “Loam, speak to mo.” She put her hand up to her throat, and her lips opened, hut the words would not come. There was present to her in that moment all the evil and wicked things that she had done. They stretched before her, a wall between her and him—a harried ’twixt her and love. “'loll him,” a voice cried within her, “tell him now, before it is too late.” But she did not listen. She conk* not find it in her to confess. 'lhe soul of the woman was on fire, “Leam—” and now he was beside her. his arms about her. his lips seeking hors and taking no denial. “Here, here,” he cried, and drew her head upon his breast. “Best here, beloved. where no one can hurt or harm you.” And then she lifted her face and kissed him—and for u space the work! faded; she forgot all tilings past—to come—she lived only in his embrace. “We will go together,- my heart, to tho ends of tho earth. We will leave the city, and set out for the free spaces, tho wild expanse. Leam, will you come with mo?” “I love you,” she cried. “I love you.” “You’ll marry me. When —” And as the answer trembled on her lips there came a sound that sent the blood from her cheeks, and laid a cold hand on her heart. A shuffling sound as of something trying on lame feet to reach the door. 'Nearer and nearer it came. And then tho door owned —on the threshold stood Kincaird, a gaunt and haggard form, pointing an accusing finger. He commenced to speak I (To be continued.)