THE BEAUTIFUL PROXY

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143787, 10 May 1912, Page 5

THE BEAUTIFUL PROXY

By E, MURRAY GILCHRIST,

Author of “The Gentle Thespians,” “Lords and Ladies,” “The Wonderful Adventures!” “Beggar's Manor,” “The Secret Ton- , tine, ete., etc.

[COPYRIGHT.]

CHAPTER XXXVlll.—Continued. Sarah Emma moved towards the door. Knowsley and Lord Frederick exchanged a few words, then the latter rose and went to her side. “You've done more for Miss Edgeworth than anybody,” he said, “and it’s only right that you should accompany us. It’ll be a tight fit, since the car was only intended for two; but you’ll not mind the inconvenience?” “Bless me, I’d loro it!” cried the ingenuous young woman. “I’ve often ridden bodkin m farm carts, and 1 don’t mind a bit of squeezing. I’ll put on my things this very minute.” In spite of the tension, not one of those who heard this quaint speech, could refrain from bursting into wild laughter. Some minutes passed before Lord Frederick recovered himself sufficiently to go round to the garage for his car. Charles Knowsley meanwhile visited the office and asked' for the bill. The landlady herself presented it to him with an aspect of outraged virtue. “If your fortunes should direct you again to this neighbourhood,” she said as she handed him the change, “I must ask you to be good enough to take your custom elsewhere.”

She was interrupted by the excited Sarah Emma, whom she had not seen approaching the glass partition. “Come, missis, let me know how much I’ve got to pay, both for Miss Edgeworth and myself. I’m not going to have you railing about being plicated for the rest of your life.” “Miss Cotton,” said the old lady. “Attend to this female, she is beneath my regard.” “Hoity-toity with your line ways!” said Sarah Emma. “Yes, miss, do make out the bill. j*id mind you, we didn’t come in motorcars, though I’m going away in one. We came in a carrier’s cart, , we did.”

Knowsley was mightily relieved when the puffing of the car was' heard, and ho was free to leave the shelter of the inn. Air. and Airs. Molyneux bogged them to wire as soon as they discovered any trace of Anne’s whereabouts, and soon the oddly assorted parly had left the confines ol the little town. For the first hour Sarah Emma’s excitement was almost too painful. But as time passed she began to enjoy the swift motion, and even to beg Lord Fiedorick to command greater speed. “Seems to me we’re going but slowly, my lord,” she said. “I reckon as my Cephas's dog-cart would beat us in a race.”

“Some day, when Aliss Edgeworth’s safe and well, I’ll come to this part of the country and give him a taste,” said Lord Frederick. "He’ll be a proud man, and no mistake!” said Sarah Emma. It was almost noon when thev reached the neighbourhood of Somercato Alanor. The road thereabouts was quite deserted ; not a .liuip'nn creature was to be seen. Outside the inn where Lord Frederick had tarried for a few hours, the car stopped, so that the travellers might partake of some refreshment. For some minutes Sarah Emma had been sniffing curiously ; as she alighted she observed that she felt certain something was burning. “ Tis like damp old wool, and wool and mushrooms,” she said. “1 wonder what’er it can be?”

Tho pleasant hostess mot them at the doorway, greeting Lord Frederick with a curtesy.

“You’ve come at an exciting time, sir. I reckon you’ve hoard as Somercale Alanor has been burnt to the ground?” “Sonicrcale Alanor burnt to tho ground!” he repeated in consternation. “Ay, and that’s not the worst of it.” said the woman. “It seems that Air. Bretby himself went there soon after daybreak, and not alone either. He'd a lady and his Frenchman with hint, and they do say. though whether ’tis true or not I can’t tell, that they’re all perished with the house!”

Lord Frederick waited for no more, but without a word returned to the. car. Knowsley and Sarah Emma followed immediately, and in less than five minutes they had reached the crumbling gateway with its recumbent leaden bulls. CHAPTER XXXIX. After Sarah Emma had said goodnight, Anne blew out her caudle, and sat for a long time beside the open window, looking down upon the silent market place. The lights of the oldfashioned lamps flickered oddly, as though they blinked under tho rich down pouring of tho moon. For once in her life, tho girl was overcome by tender sentiment; the joy of her secret thoughts brought warm tears to her eyes. She had learned that Lord Frederick loved her, and in that flour she knew herself the happiest creature in the whole world.

Resolutely she drove from her mind the recollections of her painful adventures, and yielded herself whole-heart-edly to pleasant thoughts of tho past, ami to timid wonder as to what the future had in store. She summoned up the image of her loving father; she saw his face lighted with pride and joy because she was in sight of haven.

She was too excited to rest; she knew that sleep would be impossible. She would not be alone any more; she saw herself .hand in hand with her lover and husband, walking along paths she kn’ew so well. It was wonderful even to dream of such joy. As she was removing her hair pins,, she hoard the noise of a motor that stopped outside the door, hut she paid little attention to the arrival. It probably brought some enthusiastic travellers who wished to refresh themselves on their northward journey. Their voices, however, made her uneasy. She determined to go to ’ Sarah Emma’s room for solace and comfort. She opened tho door i and stepped out into the dimly lighted corridor. Before she had moved more than a yard, something—a strange horror—sent all the blood flowing to her heart. Her hands rose suddenly to her bosom. Tho leaves of a door near by stood open ; she . heard Bretby’s voice raised in querulous anger. “It’s a cursed thing that we can’t get some decent rest. I’m tired out with this chase!” For a moment it seemed as if she were plunged in utter darkness. She turned blindly and began to grope her way back to her own room. There was a small settee in the corridor—an ancient piece covered with worn needlework. She stumbled awkwardly against this, overturning it with a loud crash. The sound brought Brotby; he laughed shortly, then sprang

forward and caught her by the wrist. She strove to cry for help', but not a sound issued from her pardhed lips. “Come,” he said, dragging her roughly to the room whicli lie had just left. “Come and let me look upon your beautiful face. Why, my dearest Sylvia, I might think that yon were afraid of your devoted husband! Surely you should be proud of one who values you so highly that he submits himself to dll kinds of annoyance for your sake!” ,

The parlour was of large size, a dark funereal place panelled with glossy oak. On a gate-legged table in the middle stood a candelabrum of Sheffield plate with two lights burning. L’Angellier stood beside this his saturnine face distorted with a sardonic grin. “Hors is her ladyship,” said Bretby in French. “We take upon ourselves the duty of guarding her a little more carefully in future. I doubt after all if men are clever enough for her. More suitable would be someone of her own sex. Anyhow, now that she is once again under my protection, I shall take care that she doesn’t escape again.” iTo be continued.!