APPLES OF GOLD.
By JOHN K. PROTHERO.
Author of “An Eye for an Eye,” “The Way of Transgressors,” “A Strong Man Armed,” “A Modern Esau,” “The Silent Witness,” “A Woman’s Love, etc., etc, [copyright.] CHAPTER X v iiT. —Continued. But Loom could not, sho dare not obey Cartarot’s command. She knew she was plaving a foolish game, that it would have* been better policy by far to have soothed Kincaird into a quieter mood, or failing that, have dared him to speak out—and then defied him. But she was afraid to run the risk; it seemed to her the one chance of salvation lay in forcing Kincaird to sii lonco. She had coerced him before, she would do so again. She would cow him back into the brain-fuddled 1 state from which the shock of seeing her in Cnrtaret’s arms had roused him. “I toll you he is mad. No. no, ho shall not speak. Jim, don’t listen, if you love me do not listen,” and she clung to liim, slinking and terrified, He soothed her kindly and with infinite patience, the while Kincaird stood watching them with tortured eyes. She saw his pain, and with her evil instinct realised that, could she sustain the agony, his new found faculty of speecli might snap once more. Sho had reckoned without Cartnrot. “Pair play’s honny play, Loam. ‘Don’t muzzle Kincaird. Let him speak; I’ll punish him for his lies later.” “Leave us alone, and he can say what he likes.” “I’ll not be left,” Kincaird’s voice was shrill with terror. “I tell you she'll try to murder me as she tried before. Help! Help!” be tried to scramble to the bell. His cries brought the servants to the door. “Lock it,” said Jim laconically. Then, when Loam had obeyed: “Sit there,” he put her in a chair, “and don’t move. Now .then,” he fared Kincaird, “what have you got tq say ?” ihcre was a note of finality in Ins voice that Lcnm recognised and obeyed. Useless to fight longer, the game was out of her hands, in emesis had struck home at last. It was not long that Kincaird was speaking, but it seemed to Learn a lifetime. He did not spare her, his brain galvanised into activity, was malignant ns bis tongue was bitter. Jim learnt the story of i.cam’s married life according to Kincaird, including the Trefusis incident, and the details of old Meredith’s quarrel with his son. “And then, having broken old Richard’s heart, sho did her best to break mine,” the relentless voice went on, “She bad made use of mo. I was a tool in her unscrupulous hands, to do her wicked work. She swore to marry me, and when the wedding morning came, instead of a bride she gave me poison. Ask her,” his lean finger pointed in accusation. “Sho dare not deny it. I had the marriage license in my pocket the day I was struck down.” Jim Cartarcfc turned to Lcnm, ami at the look on his face the woman made a desperate rally,.. . “It’’is a lie,” sho said slowly, “a baseless and cruel fabrication. \)hy should I 1 have promised to marry him? Ho speaks of a bribe. For what object.” she spoke to Kincaird, “should I bribe you?” It was a shrewd thrust, and one the solicitor had overlooked. To prove his ■ case, to show that Loam was an utterly unscrupulous woman he must inculpate himself. She bad bribed him to 'forge a will; if he admitted the forgery lie proclaimed himself guilty. “Why don’t you toll us, Kincaird?” she mocked. “What did I bribe you to do?” Slie had never looked more lovely than at that moment; her sinuous, 'graceful figure in the rose-coloured gown held his eyes, her beautiful face with its coronal of red gold hair inflamed his blood. He could not lose her, rather would be perjure himself for ever than give her no. Jf he told the whole truth, the whole story, CarItaret would leave her, and then, then 'she must come back to him. “You bribed me to forge a will,” ho said slowly, “the will of Francis Meredith.” , , , “And you did?” Cartnrct asked the question. , , . . “Yes, I did. The will under which .Loam inherits Whiteladics is « forgery. Tho original—” he paused, cowed by |the hate in Lcani’s eyes, i “Yes,” she asked, with a sneering laugh .“where is the original? You caidt tell us—you don’t know? See ,how tho whole talc crumbles to pieces. .Francis made his will in Kincaird’s office; Kincaird drew it up for him, and ho left it in his charge. What has lie done with it?” “Meredith did not leave it with mo. “Bah! The notion is ridiculous. Your story is worthless, absurd. There’s not a shred of evidence from cad to end of your tale.” , “And yet you tried to stop me from telling it.” “I did; and why? Because I was ashamed that my vanity had led me to accept your attentions, your admiration and your flattery. Because I was ashamed to own'that at one time 1 had permitted you to pay me the atj tentions a woman should not accept from any but her lover. 1 love you so,” she turned to Jim. “I hold yon so much dear than ever before 1 could not hoar you should hear that I was vain frivolous, hungering for compliments, eager for flattery But now you have heard, and I— she paused, “I love you,” she cried with a gesture of her wonderful white hands, “and vou will forgive.” “Ay, but he will remember that you kissed mo before you met him, that your arms have been looked round my neck ,vonr face close to mine. Take care, Cnrtarct, she does not tire of you and fling you aside. Take enro she does not wreck and ruin you. “Words,” Lea in laughed, “all vain words—you have no proof. Take him away, Jim, put him out of my sight. He spits venom like a snake; like a snake ho should ho destroyed. Take him away.” Kincaird made no resistance. lie had shot his holt, and something told him it had gone home. If Learn were not for him, she should not ho for any man. Carlaret did not love her as he' did. She might steep herself in crime to her lips, hut at word or look ho would come hack to her. And, in tho ultimate, Kincaird hugged the 1 bought closely, at tho finish she woubl com o' bnok, and knowing all lior plottings and intrigues, he would forgive—ana love her. .
Ay, surely she would come back to him' He would bide bis time. Noble, discreetly silent as to what he had'heard from his post outside the door, assisted his charge hark to his room, and Jim was left alone with Loam. _ , t . Straight and tall she stood, her head hold high. “Jim,” sho cried m a low thrilling
voice, and waited for him to take her in bis arms and whisper that he believed in her, and would believe against the world. But the big man did nothing of the kind. “I want you to toll mo the whole truth of the matter. Learn,” ho said. “That chap was lying part of the time, not the whole.” “You believe him against mo?” “No.” ‘ .that then?” “My dear,” ho put bis hand kindly on her shoulder, “you’ve certain things to toll me—l want to hear “I’ve confessed that I tolerated Kincaird’s admiration.” “That’s nothing. I want to know about the will. Loam, you can trust mo? I love yon well enough to accept vour faults, your failings—tor you have Loth, my dear, in uncommon degree. But there must be no deception. Was tho will forged ?” She met his eyes steadily. If she confessed the truth—and she was moved to do so—sho would strip herself of her fortune, her position. She and her boy would be beggared. Moreover tho confession might enlail terrible coneqiuuices. She might be brought to trial—sentenced—imprisoned. He seemed to read her thoughts. “There are always ways ami moans of arranging matters, I.cam. If as Kincaird lias stated, Francis left his property to someone else—.” Ho paused. “No one is likely to make trouble, Lcam. it is sometimes easier Than people think to right a wrong?” She did not answei. She was adding tho chance in her brain, the chance for and against so desperate a course as confession. Suppose she gave up her money, modi* restitution, confessed all. and then having given up tho world lost him! ll w;w too tcniblo a risk. Her knowledge of men did not include a nature largo enough to forgive such sin as hors. He would turn against her; put her from Iris heart. He would perhaps keep to the letlrr of Ids promise, and make her his wife, but there would be an everlasting barrier between them. But if she did not confess, the memory of Kincaird’.s accusation, the suspicion it engendered would die away, and ho would love her to the end. “I have told you everything,” sho said. “Jim ?” He kissed her. Mortal man could not have refused,' but bis heart was heavy ,his ardour chilled. “Trust me, Beloved,” he urged again .and under the spoil of passion, she might have been persuaded, and have worked out her salvation and her happiness. But the god of Luck, having been outraged by persistent appeals, did her an evil turn, and at the moment when she might have spoken, hardened her heart. The maid announced a visitor-—Guy Gordon, the witness of tho missing will!
(To bo continued.;
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH19101028.2.44
Bibliographic details
Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14348, 28 October 1910, Page 5
Word Count
1,608APPLES OF GOLD. Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14348, 28 October 1910, Page 5
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