THE BEAUTIFUL PROXY

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143771, 20 April 1912, Page 5

THE BEAUTIFUL PROXY

R. MURRAY GILCHRIST, Author of ‘'The Gentle Thespians,” “Lords and Ladies,” “The Wonderful Adventures!” “Beggar’s Manor,” “The Secret Tontine, etc., etc. [COPYRIGHT.] CHAPTER XVlll.—Continued. Knowsley spoke so quickly that his words were almost incoherent. The wretched girl could restrain her tears no longer. , She covered her face and began to cry bitterly. As he tried vainly to restore her calm, the maid Sorly entered the room. “Oil, my dear lady,” she said, in great distress. “You can do no good with giving away in this fashion, roor Miss Edgewortli will he quite safe. She’s bravo enough; I’m sure no real harm’ll come to her.” Knowsley stared in bewilderment. “Miss Rage worth 1” he exclaimed. “Why, surely this is Miss Edgeworth.”

Sorly bit her lip. “There, I’ve lot the cat out of tue bag!" she said. “But I've thought for certain as you d. recognise her ladyship!” Overwhelmed with a strange commingling of feelings, in which relief perhaps predominated, Knowsley turned to leave the. room. Lady Delaval, however, begged him to remain until she had told the rest of her story

“It was a wild scheme of Aunt Caroline’s,” she said brokenly. ‘‘She saw Anne, and finding that she resembled mo marvellously, induced her to come to my assistance. Anne is strong and brave—we believed that she could repel him—could make him understand the impossibility of my ever living with him. X was disguised; I intended to pass myself off as Anno until all was safe and quiet. And now he has taken her away, how or where nobody knows.”

For some time the astonished young man remained with her striving t'o allay her fears. Ho advised her on no account to disclose her identity to anyone else.

“It is best that you should continue to appear as Miss Edgeworth,” he said.

“I know it, Charles.” she replied. “It must never be told that she was in his company.” “I wish I had tho right to protect you, Sylvia,” he said gravely. “Everything seems in an inextricable tangle. All that I can do is to join Lady Caroline and her companion in the search.”, “Oh, you are good, Charles,” she faltered. “But 1 am afraid for you. Never let yourself fall into his power I” ! “I’m not afraid,” said Knowsley, grimly. “I’ll leave you now, Sylvia; 1 mean to start as soon as possible.” CHAPTER XIX. As the hours passed, and Bretby did not return to Bocrton Castle, Anne’s distress lessened, and she even began to feel a curious interest in her own situation. ‘ The view from the leads was superb, the air bracing, the murmur of the sea very .pleasant to. her ears. Garnett appeared early in the afternoon with a luncheon tray. “ ’Ti? like a picnic, and no mistake,” ho said. “1 hope your ladyship is feeling, more settled. I’m sure this is a brighter spot than Somercale Manor, where I’d the honour of meeting you before. You’ll maybe get quite fond of it in time.” “You think it probable that I shall stay here for some time?” said Anno. “After all, it is possible that I may get used to the place. I should like to examine the island. When the tide is up there's surely no possibility of my escaping!” “Not the least, my lady. Well, since you're so contented in yoiy mind, I daresay you might take a stroll now and then—with me to look after you.” Anne repressed any sign of distaste. “Y’ou are most kind, Garnett,” she replied. “Can we go now—this very afternoon?” “Sorry to refuse, I am,” he said. “We'll see what , to-morrow brings. I can only promise it at high tide. Your ladyship won’t tempt me to play the master false?” Anne shook her head. “No. I shall not attempt that again. Your devotion to Mr. Bretby is too fine a virtue for corruption!" Ho stared, unable to understand this change of attitude. Not until evening did she descend to her own room. Her eyes were sparkling brightly; she bore no resemblance to the pale, frightened creature Bretby had borne from Delaval Hall.

“I wonder—l wonder,” she said musingly, ‘‘if my . good friend Mr. Molyneux was wrong, and if after all I can act? There's no questioning iha fact that I deceived Mr, Bretby—he has not doubted for n moment that 1 am the girl ho married. The problem is—am I to continue the deception—temporise—keep him at arm’slength for a while ?” Then suddenly came a tap on the door, and Garnett’s sickening voico was audible. “Dinner is ready, your ladyship, and I was to ask if you’d come down at once, Mr. Bretby being sharp-set.” “Mr. Bretby!” cried Anne. “Has he returned?” “Awhile ago, your ladyship. I didn’t expect him to-night, but he came by boat.” For a brief while Antic’s new-found courage failed her, and she found herself unable to reply. Garnett tapped again, this time impatiently. Anne surveyed hdr image in the mirror again. “Yes,” she replied. “I’ll come. Stay a moment. I have forgotten the way to the ground floor.” He went-before her with his caudle, passed down the staircase, and opened a door on the further side of the hall. The room beyond was not without a certain dignity, being well-proportioned and handsomely furnished. On an oval table that stood in the midst, soft lamplight fell on silver and antique glass. At the sound of Anne’s entrance Bretby rose from n scat and moved within the radius of the lamp. “Your ladyship docs me great honour,” he said. “Had I really believed that she would favour me by eating at the same table, I would certainly have changed my clothes.” “No matter, Mr. Bretby, ” said Anen coldly. “Your style of dressing is absolutely without interest to me.” “My dear Sylvia ! Surely I’ve never heard you say such a thing before. Is it irony, coquetry,- or what?” “It is simply—indifference,” said Anne, coming like a fair vessel into the circle of light. For once Brotby was taken aback by the sight of her feminine loveliness.

“Ton know how to sting,” he stammered. “I’d not expected your tongue to- he so barbed after onr interesting journey here.” Garment came in with the bit cKshes, g.nd aion. declared that the meal was

served. Anne scarcely touched the food, but Brctby ate his almost with uncouthnoss. He was certainly a very handsome man, and had it not been for Che peculiarity of his eyes, Anne might have given him some meed of admiration. But, however poor Sylvia might have been influenced by their strangeness. they had not the lease effect upon Anne. In short, she thought them ugly in the extreme, and,, quite unintentionally she told him so in plain words, after one of his long searching glances.

“Dear me,” she exclaimed. “What extraordinary eyes you have ! They’re like the eyes of something deadl” Her words angered him beyond endurance; he left his chair suddenly, came to her side, and placed a hot hand under her chin. To his surprise and consternation she returned his gaze without the least flinching, and showed not the least sign of succumbing to any magnetic influence. For a full minute he stood; it was Anne's slowly awakening smile of derision that at last obliged him to draw away.

“You’re acting!” he muttered. “By —, you’ve a good pluck I” lile swore again and declared that he would soon bring her to reason. Anne rose, hiding her excitement as well as she could. “We shall never agree.” she said. “So why pretend? Your presence, is very disagreeable to mo, and I shall no longer stay in the same room. If anything, can make my detestation increase, it is your use of violent language.” (To bo continued.!