NEW STORY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 144960, 10 April 1916, Page 5

NEW STORY.

[COPYRIGHT.]

A POWERFUL STORY BY A POPULAR WRITEP..

CfIARMIAN’S LOVERS.

By ANNIE HAYNES. Author of '‘Lady Career’s Secret.” ‘‘Cicely Vibarl’s Love.” ‘'Footprints of Fate,” etc. etc. PRINCIPAL C H A R A CT E H S; Cbarmain Berkeley: The hernine. and niece of Mrs! Marion Cm-v.’liter, Oakicigli Manor, Wynloid. Rita Carpenter; Daughtei ol Mrs. Marion Carpenter. Major Stanley Portal Errington : Whoso evil doings cause Channain some anxiety. Lord Arbntlmet, of Castle Arbnthnut: Channian's grandfather. [vy Ahrutlmol: Cousin to Charmixn. liancee ol Gerald Leicester: Cord Arhuthnot’s late secretary. Sir Hamish M'Tavish. of Castle M'Tavisli; In love with Clumnian. A lick M'Tavish : 11 is scapegrace brother, ■who disappears suddenly. Lord MTntvre. of .Maehin Hold: Friend ' of Sir Mamish. Millieent Mortimer; Becomes Lady M I n tyre. Robert Megnay: Who hates the name i.t M 'Tavish. •leannie Magna,v: His daughter. Inspector George Germain ; Traces the disappearance of A lick. ■SKETCH OF OPENING CHAPTERS. IVe have pleasure in introducing to nut readers another story ol absorbing interest from the versatile pen of Annie Haynes, whose stories are notable for high excellence ol workmanship. For naturalness of sentiment, and tor careful truthfulness to life, her pages have a sotting and atmosphere which enhance the attractiveness and spell of the stoiv. Charlatan Berkeley, poor and penniless, lives with an aunt at Uakhigh Manor, Wynford. who subjects her to insults. While WHiulrnny: through n wood she oncount»‘i> a friend of the lainily, Major who propn.v\s to her. Latrr she decides to marry itini secretly. After the marriage cvromntiy in London, they motor for VnrkMiire. hut before they arrive at their destination the car breaks down. While it is being repaired they have perforce to lunch nt an inn. After luneh they take a walk, and moot a man who accuses Knington of some mysterious deed. Errington strikes the man on the head with a loaded cane, kiVling him instantly. Ghanaian escapes from her husband and returns to Oaklrigh Manor, where she welcomed joyously, for they have news that her grandfather. Lord Arhuthnol, wishes lior to go and live with him. She throws Iter wedding ring into the tiro. Arrived at Arhuthnot Ga.-tle. her grandfather introduces Imr to Ivy Arhuthnol (her cousin), and Sir Hamish M‘lavish. The same evening Lorcf Arhuthnol informs her that he intends making her Ids heiress on condition she will not marry without his consent. This she promises. During an interview with Ha midi’s mother, Ghanaian learns that Hick M’Tavish is missing. When accompanyIng Charniinu homo. Hamish proposes to her. out she rebukes him. Arriving home she is shown n newspaper containing the report of a railway accident; Erringtou's name is among tiie list of killed. Next (lay siie promises to many Hamish. During the honeymoon she -yes a photograph of Alick, ami recogitisos him to he the man whom Errington killed. Shortly after -the homecoming of Sir Hamish and hi.s wife to Scotland, Clmnninn is caught in a storm and takes shelter in a cottage occupied by Robert Magnny any! his wife. She gives her name, ami is surprised to hear Robert denounce the name of M'Tavish. because lie believes it was Aliek wiio persuaded Lis daughter to leave home. The next day Hamish and Cliarmian pay a visit to Lord .M'Jntyre, who lias just been married. Cliarmian is surprised to find that Lady M'lntyre is tiie girl she heard singing at the inn where she and Errington had luncheon. While driving home llamisli suddenly stops tiie conveyance and alighting. aj>proaches a woman whom they have just passed. The woman is .leannie, the forlorn danghtor of Robert Magnay. We have, only outlined the opening instalments of an enthralling story, which contains a strong plot, attractively handled hy the author. The action moves quickly, and the complications in

which the chief characters become involved, hold the render's attention from the. commencement. An unusual lovo interest is well-snstainod throughout. CHAPTER 1. Charmian Berkeley leaned over the stile leading into the Home Wood. Before her the tender green of the young larches made an exquisite foreground, in vivid contrast witu the spring sky: and from her feet the wild hyacinths stretched away like a sea of blue. But lovely as the scene was Charmian saw nothing of it; her great hazel eyes filled with unshed tears, gazed blankly in front of her, her slender ungloved lingers were clutching nervously at the top rung of the stile. it was vert’ terrible to bo only twenty years old, and alone in tho world; to be a penniless dependent, subject, it seemed to her, to everyone’s caprices and vagaries. That had been her life for the past two years ever since she left school and came to live with her aunt, Mrs. Carpenter; nominally to receive "home with her only living relative.” in reality to become that lady's unpaid companion and .slave, as well as governess to her spoiled younger children.

To-day matters had been worse than usual, ami Charmian fell desperate, her small cousins had been more than usually tiresome; tlie girl had for once forgotten her role, and spoken sharply, threatened punishment. The scene bail been interrupted by Mrs. ’Carpenter, who had taken the part of her spoiled darlings, and who-c stinging reproof to Cliarmian bad sent the girl mu with smarting ami scorching checks. So absorbed was she ill the roeollection that she did not hear the sound of footsteps on the .risp short glass.

Sin.' »tar(oil violently wlicn a mini -poke just behind her. "U'liat is ii f (Iharmian. 1 caught ono glimpse oi your taco ns you rushed from the house, ami it made nif out short my call un your cousin ami iuilow you. M hat i-. wrong?” ■'Fverything.” Charmian answered sullenly. Sim did not turn her head: after that first stun she had not irouhlefi to change her posit ion. •■K.iervthing'" the man repeated. ‘■Rut what specially to-day. Charmian?”

' Aunt Marion wa.- horrid.” the girl answered, propping her small rounded chin on her hands and resting her elbows on the .stile, '■More horrid than usual. 1 mean. I wish I were dead. Major Krrington."

F.rrington glanced at the girl’s downbent head, at the chestnut hair gleaming beneath the shabby toque. His expression chanced and softened. He drew nearer and bent over her.

•(live it up. Charmian.’ he whispered. ’’Why should yon submit to your aunt’s whims and caprices!- 'lhe world is made for the young and beautiful. Idle is waiting for you, Cbarniiiui—life and love.”

Charmian did not answer, .she did not mnvo. Slio might not oven have heard the low carming iwio, so motionless did she remain, lint hot- eyes grew misty ant! dreamy: some of rite pain and anger died mil oi mem. .Major Krrington was very near her non, slits eonld smell the faint odour of the eigars ho elfected dinging about his tweotl etiat : his fair cloudy-ctopped head bent over hers. "Charminn, Charmian. J love yon. I want 'you. Como, give me the right to proton you from your aunt, from the whole world.” Still Charminn was silent, hut very slowly she turned and looted into the face of this lover of hers. Bvery line of it was familiar to her, the wellformed aquiline features, tins, pale heavy-lidded eyes. .Major Krringion was a good-looking man: certainly. Keener eyes than Charmian Berkeley's might have boon pardoned for overlooking certain signs round the mouth ami eyes that spoke of innate coarse m:

.of crucify. fhannian at any rale item* dreamt ot‘ such cnialnio.s in her lover. yet, with his eye.s on her>. she hesitated. Lillie she kneiv ol tin 1 world. conventual in its simplicity us her life had been hitherto, sum" instinct warned her that her feeling for .Vajor Stanley Hrringion was not low. HratiHide there might he, for until Hiring* ton eame to Oakleigh iho kind words tlint fell lo her lot had been lew and far between—gratified vanity undonluedly there was that the man whom rumour bad spoken of as her cousin ftita’s admirer should preU-r the poor pennilo.ss dependent ; hut of real lore, none.

Still Charmian wa.s only twenty, she emild not hear to think of the barren dreariness that lay before her if she refused Krrington. if he went away. i'lrrington saw the hesitation in her eyes, he caught her hands in his, "I love you. Charmian.” he said softly. "I love you, you will come lo me. you will let mo teach you In he happy.”

Charmian’s little hands felt icy cold in his clasp, hut there was yielding in their touch, in the sway of the girl’s light figure towards him. Krrington k.new it., and triumph gleamed in his eyes. Thou there wa.s the sound of footsteps. one of the keepers was coming down the path in the Home Wood, they could hear him whistling a popular air. Charmian tore her hands away, she drew upright. "1 .don't know. I must have time to think. ’ Krrington's face darkened with anoer; ho muttered something under his breath as the man came by. glanced a little curiously at them and touched his hat.

Charmian’s yielding mood had passed. She turned quickly back towards the house. Krringion kept pace with her. "Why should vott wain time, Channian Y” he pleaded”. “Trust everything to me; I will take care of you.” "How?” The girl’s clear eyes looked at him with disconcerting frankness. Ho hit his lip. "My motor is waning outside the park gates. We should he in k/ondon in an hour; there our marriage could take place by special license, a few hours later we should be in Yorkshire,,where a friend of mine is lending me a house. And there—there 1 want to spend our honeymoon in making you happy,' Channian.’’ A faint flicker of colour flashed across the girl’s fair face. Only she herself knew how alluring was the prospect held out to her. To leave Oakloigh Manor behind her for ever with tho memory of tho slights and humiliation she had suffered there. To bo a player in the game instead of a, looker on it only that faint doubt with regard to Stanley Errington would not make itself felt. -r x i She put out her hands as if to keep him away. “No! No! must have tii»o,” she said incoherently. L must have tunc to think, to make up my m The major’s heavy eyelids dickered. Time to think was just when he would have, denied her, had he been able. ■ “I have been very patient, Uharmian ” he said, the disappointment in his tone making itself felt. "But-I .cannot wait for ever. T

"No! No!” Tho girl interrupted him feverishly. "Toil shall have your answer very soon now—to-night I will write.”

Site quickened her steps. "'Co! Go! Now! If they should sec us from the house- ”

The major hesitated, but there was no indecision in Chnrmiau's eyes as she motioned him hack.

"Until to-morrow, then.’; he murmured as he waited. "Ah! Charmian, you will—you must bo kind to me now.”

C’harmian hurried on. Oakleigh Manor was a lug imposing-looking house, with a square ornate portico over the front door. Charmian turned round the corner of the house to a side entrance. liefore she could reach it, however, one of the Erench windows was thrown open and a voice spoke imperiously. ‘'Charmian!”

The little vertical frown between the girl’s level brows deepened, for one moment her soft curved lips quivered. For two years she had trembled beneath this woman’s frown, but with this last interview with Errington a new element had entered into the situation. Charmian had gained at least a measure of courage. She braced herself to reply steadily "Vcs! Aunt Marion!” "Who was it who was walking up the park with you just nowr”

For an instant Cliarmian paused, the impulse to prevaricate was strong upon her, but her ncw-foimd strong!n prevailed, and she spoke with au amount of decision that surprised Mrs. Carpenter, though in her own ears her voice -minded weak and shaky.

"It was .Major Errington, Aunt Marion.”

"Major Errington, 1 told you so, Rita. What is the moaning of your behaviour, Charmiani' lam perfectly disgusted with you! I raunot imagine what Major Errington can be thinking of you!” All Charmian's new-born courage deserted her. "I—l don't ktaiw what yon mean. Aunt Marion,” she faltered. "Major Errington walked up with me.”

"And what had you hoeu doing to attract him, to induce hint lo do anything of the kind?” went on .Mrs. Carpenter in a loud, angry lone- "I vein not have it, Chiinniaal .1 have told you "

•■Hush, mammal” a soft voice spoke behind Mis. Carpenter. Hila (.iii pouter was as great a contract to her mother in appearance as could he imagined. Aim. Cal pentei was tall and dark and imperious-look-ing, her daughter u, small ami fair, with tiny aquiline feature., only reilccuicd from insipidity by a pair of big hino eves which could look innocent anil haliyismy confiding, if their owner chose, hut just now. were surveying ChannianV confusion with a malicious smile.

"What is the use of talking to Charmian?” Ifita went on. ‘’.S/ie cannot help that misleading pathetic manner of hors, and if .Major i‘.i ringtou lias been taken in”—her voice quivered in an eiicelive little sob as she applied a cobweb . handkerchief to her eyes—‘‘l—l don't suppose it is any uso blaming (.■hannian,” she finished.

-Uu. Carpenter';) eyes Unshed. Dear as her younger children were lo her, Kita was tin idol. .Major J'irrington’s attentions had aroused nopes in riotJi mother and daughter, and .Mrs. Carpenter knew that itita » fanny had neon caught. She hail seen, too, liial ot lal* the licKle major had wavered from his hist allegiance. Unit lie had transferred his attentions to hot niece, though she was tar Iront gttc-sing how far manors had gone. , She waved Channnut aside. "Von hear your cousin pleading for yon, poor ill-nsed child! J wonder it does not go to yoar heart. Hut you nave no sense of gratitude, no thought of the home 1 have given you fin the past two years. Co, now, I will speak to you to-morrow.”

Charmian knew that imperious lone 100 well to disobey. She hunicd along the terrace, her heart swelling as she thought of that word "gratitude,'' and recalled her life oi servitude since she came to Oakleigh. airs. Carpenter laid her hand on her daughter’s arm as they turned back to the drawing-room. ".The shall go, my darling. She shall no: spud your prospects. 1 will scud he-- away tomorrow."

Kita was still gently dry me her lives. "Oh! you can't mamma," she said peevishly. "Where would you get anyone who would look alter the children for nothing as Chanuiau does:'’ "1 don’t know. - ' .Mrs. Carpenter hesitated. In her cooler momenta she was fully aware of Charmian's value, and (juito aware ot alt that she would lose if slip dispensed with the girl’s services. "At any rate," she exclaimed, her face brightening, "your Aunt Klennor has often said how pleased siie would he ;o hare the ehih’ren for a long visit. _ 1 will wire lo her at once, and (Jiarmian shall take them down the day after tomorrow.”

In the meanwhile Charmian, with her flaming .cheeks, had gained the shelter of her own room. She went over to her table, and took a sheet ot paper from her shabby little writing ease; then, without giving herself time to think, to change her mind, she wrote just four words:. ”1 will come.—Charmian.”