THE BEAUTIFUL PROXY

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143762, 10 April 1912, Page 5

THE BEAUTIFUL PROXY

By R. MURRAY GILCHRIST,

Author of ‘'The Gentle Thespians,” ‘'Lords and Ladies,” “The Wonderful Adventures!” “Beggar’s Manor,” “The Secret Tontine, etc., etc. [COPYRIGHT.] CHAPTER X.—Continued. He came to her side again. “If that's your decision, 1 have nothing to say,” he muttered. “I'm not going to start cursing and prophesying—. you’ll find me quite placable, ‘l can bide my time, Sylvia. I usually get what I want—l wanted you once and I got you. I’m not so sure, however, that 1 do want you now. You’re so different, so very different. In tnose days when we were so happy, you were the most tender and yielding of creatures; now I see some promise of the virago.” “Why are yon wasting words?” said Anne coldly. “Nothing that you can say will ever alter my decision. Go; it is intolerable that you should stay in the same room!”

He laughed drily, then turned his back and moved a. step or two towards the window. “So you refuse definitely,” he said. “And you dismiss me from your house.” “I have nothiug more to say,” Anne replied. “Save that I never wish to see you again.”

He wheeled round suddenly; she recoiled before the evil triumph in his face. Before she could cry for help he had covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief that was saturated with some drug. She strove to struggle; with each instant it seemed as though the strength left her limbs. At last her movements ceased, and she. fell heavily forward into his arms, to be laid with no little roughness on the settee.

“Poor fooll” ho said under his breath. “To think of her opposing herself to me!”

The scuffle, slight as it had been, had awakened Lady Dclaval. As he stood, looking amusedly upon Anne's recumbent figure, the door of the dressing room opened, and she appeared there—a slender, shrinking figure in white. A hoarse sound burst from her lips; she strove to move forward, then her own strength gave way, and she tumbled to the floor. Mr. Brctby was unconscious of a witness until startled by the noise of her fall.

“By Jove!” he said, “we shall have to get out of this 1 Before daybreak I meant to be a hundred miles away 1” He opened a wardrobe, and after throwing several garments upon the floor, brought to light a sable motoring cloak. Without any hesitation he fastened this upon Anne, then lifted her in his arms, and carried her to the balcony. Then he took the sheets from the bed, tore them savagely into strips, and with some difficulty lowered her to the ground, following himself by climbing down the ivy. Some short space was spent in untying the knot, then he took her in his arms again, and leaving the garden passed acress the park to a strip of woodland that strctchod alongside the highway. Now and then he chuckled with tile thought of what confusion might already bo filling Delaval Hail. CHAPTER XI. When Sylvia recovered consciousness she found" the room empty. Some minutes passed before she realised what had happened. She tried the door, found it locked, then stumbled across to the open window. Nothing was to be seen but the dancing forks of lightning. For a long while she stood there, gazing blankly. The shock of Anne’s disappearance seemed to have deprived her of the reasoning faculty; it was not until her maid Sorly entered the dressing-room that she realised the necessity of some immediate action. The good woman cried aloud when she found her mistress’s bed unoccupied, then she came hastily to the doorway of the bedroom. “Thank the Lord you’re safe!” she cried pressing both hands to a comfortable bosom. “Never have I had such a turn in my life! Oh dear, but it has been a night—never in all my time have I been so thankful to see the dawn break! ’Twill be day in half an hour.” Sylvia turned slowly. “Something has'happened—something terrible,” she hesitated. “I have had a shock—”

“Nothing matters so long as your ladyship’s safe,” said the maid. “But do you come away from the open window—for sure you’ll get your death of cold. Madness", I call it, you standing there with nought but your nightgown on 1 I wonder at Miss Edgeworth’s allowing you, that I do!” ’ “Miss Edgeworth is gone,” moaned Lady Delaval. “I was wakened by a noise, and I got up and saw Mr. Bretby in tho room, then I remember nothing more 1 1 ’ “The villain!” said Sorly, turning towards the bed, and seeing that it had not been slept on.' “The rank, wicked villain—he’s taken her away, thinking she was you. A fine kettle of fish, and no mistake!”

She found a dressing gown, and insisted upon her mistress donning it then and there. “Lady Caroline’ll have to be told at once 1”

A minute later they passed along the gallery to that lady’s door. Sorly tapped gently; it was immediately opened by Lady Caroline herself. Slit was half-drcsscci —-it was apparent that she had not been able to sleep. “What is the matter?” she said, hoarsely. “Something must have happened; you are both trembling.” “She has gone—he has taken her aw;ay,” stammered Sylvia. “I saw him but I could do nothing 1” “My God!” cried Lady Caroline, wringing her hands. “What must wq do? It is too awful to think of!” “The best I can think of is for the alarm hell to be rung,” said Sorly; “and all the servants set a-scarching. Ho can’t have got far away with the poor young lady; belike they’re in the park still.” She withdrew. Very soon afterwards the house was filled with the clamour of a great gong. A crowd of men and women in various stages of undress gathered together in the hall. Lady Caroline gently drew her niece into the bedroom. “You must stay hero and let me tell them,” she said. “Don’t bo afraid, my dear, I’ve no doubt that all will be well.”

Despite Sylvia’s agitation, her aunt was obliged to leave her alone. After locking the door she went quickly down to the hall.

“Lady Delaval has disappeared !” she said. “Someone has entered the house and taken her away. Sho must be somewhere in the park. Every man must search lor at oncel” Exclamations of distress arose j the

.young countess being a favourite with one and all. The women retired to finish dressing; the men rushed out. Lady Caroline wont back to her room, and found Sylvia kneeling, praying. She stooped and drew her to her feet. “Y'on musi’nt give way like that, my dear child.” she said soothingly. “Remember that wo have a secret to keep. I am not afraid of any harm befalling Anno Edgeworth—she is brave and high-spirited.” Sylvia covered her face. “We have behaved wickedly to her!” she said. “It was unpardonable to place her in such a position!”

“Nonsense, you are talking wildly. Of course, if we had foreseen what has happened, we should have been altogether to blame. As it is, well, it is very unfortunate, hut I haven’t the least doubt thaF she’ll be all right. I shouldn’t be at all surprised if she is found and brought back very soon.”

“You're not afraid that he'll harm her. Aunt Caroline.' Oh, you don’t know him as 1 do.” “Well, my dear, when yon were with him, he never actually abused you. All that you had against him was an unconquerable disgust.”

“But I knew—knew from the first that he was a fiend incarnate. If anything evil befalls her—if he kills her —it will be 1 who am her murderer.”

“Y’ou are hysterical, my dear Sylvia. For Heaven's sake don’t speak so excitedly. Think what a sensation would be made if anyone hoard you!” I’io be con'uiiued.i