THE SIGN OF SECRECY

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143673, 18 December 1911, Page 5

THE SIGN OF SECRECY

Or “THE DARK TIOI’SK OF iXACUK,” By EDCi.Ui I‘ICKEItIMi, Author nf “A J’l AcciK-or,” “A Witness from the Draw,” “Was She (Aiiky,” “Murder will out,” ■'Dick Beresford’s AVitc. etc. CIIAPT ICR ll.—(Continued.) There was a fascination in the eyes which Lok> had t.xvMvJ t<i sue!; gee- I purpose many a t that Ixud De \‘ay I'.cs had inund them iriT'i Jihm, a winning charm in !mt manner uliicii i|J I the liern* naiurr oh'* pO>u- ad. tiii’t had won hi.' aumiraiion, and In* made no mtuplcs in showing it. lie and tile Spanish siug'*r were the best of 1 !’i ; .'nd>, at.d il hmi gratified him to listen t-n Ivr purring endearment-, and p: uimshim, oi fa itlduluess. Jin In Id the papm at- ;;rin\ length, regarding the Bnma ihmua's photo u ilicjlly jn I rojih ml; it. "I doubt whether air-.om- would look at your likmie'..-; twice in urn years time.’’ In- muttered. “kola Salvador, at twenty-three is everything onto could wish her. Bala Salvador, at thirtythree will ho a wist], a 1 >inr ilond ereri.ure to he carefully avoided. And she is confident that 1 am to make her my wife. Trustful woman.” and ho laughed unpleasantly. “1 dare say I have promised her that—rum lues reminded mo of it often enough. hut it is a promise I have made to so many oil:<T "nod looking women that ” No was interrupted in his murmured soliloquy hy the frou-frou of a woinaaT dress as she crossed tin- library, unseen hy horn as he lay in the deeply recessed window, and lie resinned his careless attitude of ease, dropping the paper to the fh>or with a. half supprosed oath. Then a pair of while hands wore rest in" on id* shoulders, ami ho glanced up into the dark eyes that hoot over the head oi the couch. *•1 Imne juat boon looking at your portrait. Lola,” ho said languidly. “finding fault with it -it doesn't half do you justice. Como and nit down ho.ude mod’ The dark cos wore sparkling merrily, ami a ripple ol laughter. clear as iho trill of a nightingale, answered ium, then dm was ny his side, loaning up lo ins lace, in a po*e oi exqumiio grace. / “And everyone- says my poor portrait is boauiiiul," she jvmmci, “all Km yon. i.s it that you aiv so hard to please?” “idioiographs arc never satisfactory,Ju: -couiimied. “1 muse get Danvers to pauu jour likened—l want your Mail m it, and that a where the camera fails., l‘li t>peak to him about it, and your picture shall go ro Deere Abbey.” She clapped Imr haneb ghcfully. “And J. snail wonder in the years to came whether i really was like my portrait. When I am old and grey l can. point my friends lo what i was when you married me.” “ilk not a hud idea/’ lie replied drily. “Duo J. aun t think wo will dismiss ii. Is your esteemed uncle anywhere about Hie house? i want to speak Lo him. 71 “Does that moan that I am dismissed ? 1 she asked pleadingly, as she .laill her cheek again*!. urn. .av you so cruel that you would deny me even a little time alone with you. 1 ' Jt breaks my heart that I am noi always at your side—and you would send mo from you.” .lie had bent forward kissing her, so that the quick subtle look of angry suspicion was not seen that came into her eyes. “You know' I -don’t mean anything of the sort,” he answered irritably. “Why ammo me of warning you to go? I can talk to Kglesias at any time.” 4 *jJ.o is expecting that.” ‘“What do you mean?” lie demanded. drawing away from her caress. “Is it not natural that he should? He is my only relative in the world, and ho would sneak to you of our marriage that should be soon,” sho answered slowly. Do Vayner hit his lip. and half closed his eyes, as if to hide, the moaning in them. “Signor Jfglesias is very kind,” lie replied, after an instant of thought. “An excellent undo I have no doubt, hut T think yon and I can settle our affairs without his help. Rh?” “Vi's. qniP • easily,” she answc red ; “indeed, are they not already settled? But he would know when our marriage day should be. Is not that a natural wish ? v “I suppose so.” replied Dc Vayner, indifferently. “Lot me see now, aren't you duo in Madrid in July?” ‘‘l have determined to break my contract with .Signor Lopez. lie is' inconsolable, hnt what of that? I shall sing no more in public.” “And Lopez was to have given ypu five hundred for each appearance. It strikes mo that you hate acted rather foolishly. Lopez will probably go to low over your broken contract.” Lola made a gesture of scornful indifference to the prospect of the Spanish Impresario’s resentment. “Would you like me to remain as I am then? One to whom the brutal public pay money that they may gaze on her, and Ibto-n to her voice. I, who am to be your wife. No! No I It was of that I thought when 1 refused to appear at Madrid.” “Well, T suppose yon know your own business better than I do,” ho answered coldly. ‘"lt's none of mine, certa-i nly.” She was gazing up into his face, and for the second time there had oorno into the dark eyes, shadowed by their cruel lashes, n look that might have warned him, but he affected not to notice it, and there was a little pause. “I have been thinking about our trip to the Mcditornrmoan, Lola,” bo said at length. “I don’t know that it can bo managed. I hope you are not disappointed.”

£i Tell me tho reason for breaking your promise,” and tlie words see-mod to lv> hkssed at him. “My health. I have no other reason. Besides, I don't know that I promised,” he replied. Lola was about to answer biin when the sound of the library door being flung open caused her to start from her Tiiuguk-hing posture and move to tho window j whilst Do Vaynna muttered an 'execration at tho interruption of their totc-a-tole. There was au angry look in Ids face as- he recognised tho intruder, who was Phillip He Vaynes. “’.tinzught you wore alone. Algy,” said the" latter, casting a glam# at, Lola, who returned it gravely. “Do you want to sec me particularly?” asked his cousin icily. “I dare say Aliss Snlvados won’t mind going away if you wish to say something privately.” “For five minutes,” and ms Phillip -raid this Lola glided past him, and v/as guru l , her bright eyes flashing a .muling look at his pale lace. “Now tell me what, you want." exclaimed Lord De v aynes hall angrily. “L thought we. had come- to an understanding yesterday—l mean as regarded your constant demands upon me.” “For God’s sake don't take that tone.” replied the other. “1 am half, out of my mind v. ith worry. Even if we are. not fraud., we are the same ihsh and bleed, Algy. You don't want the name of ihe Dt* Va\nrs dragged through the mud. Sandowu wa# heathy a "head—here's the wire I found waiting when J came in just now. and it means something v, erso than death for me. I want you to lend me a few i'liudred.s, and ! swear thF shall he tho last lime i'll ever Double you.” “There L no imcd t*>r you \o lie theatrical, and all Gat kj/. of thing." reuiied De V>vucg “You have been on* flic verge of sou-'dc cnee or tv. before. Von mean me to liwder/teini .hue irdes.-, ( give yon a eimqim- it ..old 1 be civing. f«u* yen know you have no ini.-.uion m returning the :r.,:mv Hum I have of paving orf ihe SaHma! ['Flu--well. I was saving, mile W. f r. ai;: you a gree-u- ei the few hundreds you require you will cut vour threat ? Weak-minded impossible bte:i, of your stamp aiway-. threaten ‘hat kind of thing, and always think [■fiver of it. Bui. lioues.ly 1 shouldn't : regret your doing so, aki.ough ( rather doubt your pluck." I /Io be continued.)