OUR STORIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14393, 7 January 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

OUR STORIES.

!'HUNA GILROY." I

CHAPTER XV, tOOHNG-FOR THE fLOST HEIR. Nearly one-half of the able-bodied men in Ailasay Home* Farm volunteered as searchers,, and-having been given instructions by tho doctor, started acroS9 tho lull* towards Ailasay Cmtle, seaitching every possible corne and crag, every bum, every glen, as thy Irene, for the missing child, Duncan. All that dreary day the island ra scoured by men who knew every nou band crSuuiy, but no trace of the last heir of Ailasaybcg Qoukl be found, dead ur alive, and ulicu the cloak of I darkness again fell it brought only tho bopekaanosd oi \icap-iir to the Castle. Mis Giiroy had persisted on personally thanking tho crofters whom the doctor had summoned to tho search, so awful was the intensity of her grief and so eloquect the erident sincerity -of her grutitude, that not one oi theso rough, great-hearted islanders bui would havo rejoiced at the finding of tlte *ihild. The thing that puzz!e<i most of thera woa thut they not found his body nt the foot of some dis or scaur, bat tho only conclusion they could coma to was that he had wandered far a Held and fallen into the Ailsuay river, which, poured its floods into the Atlantis four miles to the north of tbo casilo. The idea that the buy tod been kidnivpped flashed across tho doctor's mind. If tliig were so, however, in all probability he was well cared for, and it irouhf be cruel to raise hopes in the mind of tho child's mother when at best the hope was probably the creator of thought. Mr Gilroy had, on the doctor's recommendation, offered a largo reward for the finding of bis grandson, dead or alive, olid this had brought more recruits from among the crofters to" the band of seorohers. Every possible place was searched, and each time the searching parties returned unsuccessful only emphasised the doctor's theory of kidnapping. He determined to mention the theory to no one until he had spoken to Ronald, but *lii« resolution was curiously frustrated. Ort Saturday morning he had gone to the Castle to Beo Mr Gilroy, who was still prostrate. Then he went to meet tlio ladies of the family. After tho ordinary greetings had been exchanged, Hrait remarked, "Do you know what wo were discusjust now, doctor? We all think that someone on the island has taken , Duncan, and that tlsev are keep-'ntr Wm out of rßrenge." "I wonder "what you must.think of us, doctor, after all you have dons?" broke in the widow impulsively- "I know you think the islanders incapable of it, and they have behoved nobly in aiding in the search. But Huna has told yon, and you must awful -things of as." "My dear Mrs Gilroy," replied the doctor, "I am pleased you hare told me; The s&i&e idea has been in my ntind, but I wanted to speak to Ronald first on the subject before moving in- the matter. You see, if the boy has been kidnapped he's safe enough; it he itasn't, well, what good wotild be done by raising your hojjes? Ronald is to be back tin's afternoon. I wired far Mm, and I expect he will come straight over .here on arrival,, that is if I don't go over to Ailasay. Yea; I I'd better go over." The widow looked up; a gleam of hope seemed to come into her sorrowladen eyes, and the stoicism and lethargy of despair vanished as she said earnestly, "May I go with you doctor? Can you. drive Huna and me over with yon? I cannot sit here moping and brooding so long as there is a vestige of hope." "Perhaps Captain Maclaine. will not be very pleased to see us at Ailasay," said Huna coldly. -"I think be might come here. He is a-viator of this house, but you know, Gladys, we are not on calling terms with his mother." "Oh, rubbish!" said the doctor testily, his hatred of conventionality rather, getting the better of his natije politeness. "Aunt will be pleased to see you. She <has sent over to Fingaldalo . twice a day to bear how the search ins got on, and" when I saw her j€iterday die was in the deepest distress over tJria fresh sorrow which had fallen on-yon here." ; So it was arranged that the doctor should drive Mrs and Mima Gilroy over .to Ailasay to interview the young chief in the home of his fathers. On the back seat of tbe dog-cart sat Huna, proud and silent, biting her Hps to keep back lier vexation winch her visit to Ailasay House was causing her. She felt that this was indeed a htunilifltion, and she steeled her heart and set her lips in her determination that . she should return disdain for disdian, condescension for condescension. Mrs Gilroy sat in the front of the dogcart beside the doctor, a flush of exeitement begotten of hope resting on her cheeks, and acoentuating rather than diminishing the careworn look on ier face with its crown of golden hair and its' sad beautiful eye?. Somehow she felt a strange ddmfort sitting -there beside Dr Aiistair Maclaine. There was a native strength and a perfect fenrleamess about the doctor's every word and movement that inspired confidence, and of late he had be«i to the widow her comforter and her mentor. You had only to speak" to Aiistair Maclaine to feel the sympathy of fc's i voice. It was deep and full and _mnsiral in the truest sense in that it lay like a balm on the wounded hesrt, ! and there was not a woman or a. child, ; eye, or a man even, in the island to : wbom the doctor wa3 not the consoler, i But there was an eloquence in his ■ voice and- eyes when he spoke of Mrs Gilroy that told a tale which the doctor, being one of those healthy n-imir - 1 people, not given to over much self anaira's. had npver dreamt of. "I feel terrible," said Huna, wfo Bad been only nerved to the visit by the pleading tears of lier sister-in-law. 1, 1 expect Mrs Maclaine will resent ov visit, and—and I don't know what will happen." The doctor Half-turned in the dogcart, "I cannot allow yon to say so. Mrs Maclaine is a very dear relative of mine, and has the of hearts for human sorrow and suffering. She is the most- womanly of woman, and she is a mother and will understand. You think dx> iB proud; but why should she not be proud? Ar-_-we not all proud? Is pride such a deadly sin? Vanity may be, but prid? is the greatest incentive to good in this world. Forgive uie if I am personal and rude, but is it not your pride that makes you doubtful of ui:.visit. My ar.nt—l liavo iilwi'TS c:;H ti lier so although tlio j:c!iticiis'ii;> ;j ir.nro diotant —feels for Mrs G:!r X ir<\=t keenly. So <lo wo r.1'.." 'i' ll doctor paused. Then added. -'Aye. f would give my right lwr.d to d;:d t!:o laddie.'* Afc this remark Mrs C r !roy looked at the doctor as if intending: to spe:!lr. lint the words irhn lever they wrrc never came, only, there was fomth'nir in the look which sent tlie doctor's pulses tingling and hi? heart running riot to surli an extent that for the re-rr-:~'l<*r tho d~'V? li~ .«=ooke no more. There ; s infectious in silweli as speech, and his two companions did not break into the doctor's reverie, beins probably too •Teen in their own meditations, and all «rere evidently relieved when at last

the journey was finished and tlie doctor pulled up his liorue ail front of Ailasay Houso, and helped the ladies to alight. iluil a. bolt fallen from the blue it oouid not luivo caused more excitement among tho Ailasay housaholu Uiun tad the arrival of th-o "Castlo ladies." To say that Mrs Madame -was surprised wliun sho wiia informed tliat tho doctor and two of the Aiiasaybeg ladies were ■waiting in tho drawingroom would only faintly describe li-.-r astonishment. At first a feeling of resentment entered her mind, and she began to stiffen as only a proud woman can.' "How dare they ciu«r tho houso of Ailasay unb.dduu. Aiistair had no right to bring there hero," sho reflected. But if this was tho first feeling, the moment sho entered the draw-ing-room it all fled at the eight of the young widow clad in the deepest of mourning, her sweet face worn and n-y\n i-y w'ith sorrow, and tho hectic flush of excitement on her pale cheeks. '•Forgive us, Mrs Maelaino," sho commenced impulsively as the elder woman entered tho room, "but I begged the doctor to bring us here to see if Tho Maelaino can help me in any way in the terrible afiliction that has come upon us.- You are a mother, and you know all it means to a mother to lose her husband, atid Mow my only child. It is terrible: I feel I will go ined/'

"I am scrtj, lww 6orry you can scaroely understand. It Beems all so dreadful. A curso seems to rest on Ailasay late," said Mrs Maclaine with deep fceliag iu. bur tout, leading the young widow geiitly to u seut. Huna stood irresolute, half impelled to embrace tho woman she had come to frown dowu upon. The doctor considerately witlidrew. When he returned later with Ronald* the looks of all showed that that half-hour's talk in the Ailasay drawing-room with the tear in the-eye and tho sobbing catch in tho roice had bound tliein together in the mystic unroii of common suffering, and driven mvny for ever the clouds that severed the two Ailasay Isle families. The hostess was eager to forget the ill-will and deepest: resentment which she had harboured against the family of Iter visitors, and by her present sympathy to efface from her own memory the'dark hopes she had formerly chcrised, hut from which she now recoiled with horror and regret. And Huna and her sister-in-law felt a flush of shame when they recalled how, they had in their own minds pictured this tenderly sympathetic lady . with her sweet, soft voice and bet 1 beautiful, sad face with its pathetic smile of pity as & proud, unbending woman, nureed bv the narrow world she ruled into insular ignorance, disdainfully regardless of the feelings of others. Ronald had been at tho kennelß, which lav some diatanoe to the back of Ailasay House, when the dogoarfc arrived. At- the doctors request a messenger was sent for him, and he quickly biade his appearance, wondering what could have happened to brine: tho doctor and the ladies to Ailasay Houso. A strange shyness had attacked Ronald, and he felt quite nervous at the thought of meeting Huna in has own ho\i9e». . ' . On cinierjng the bouse, she went straight to the library, where he was told the doctor was waiting to see him. "Wdl Aiistair, M he asked as he shook hands cordially with the doctor. "I ho&b yon bring good news. You have Mis and Miss Gilroy with you, X believe." • . "Yes, Ronald," replied the doctor, •'Mrs Gilroy has come to beg your, as- ' instance to find the boy. She thinks ifcrt a word from you might nerve the searchers to freslv efforts, though I kr.ow they have searched long and earnestly; For the last day or fro, hon-cver, I have had a growing suspicion that some one has found th- 1 Cyild and is concealing him as an act of vengeance against the Oastle people If I knew a man who would do Lhis.* Ronnv, the Island of Ailasay, your island, Jrould bo too 'small to held hint." . • . . Tha doctor spoke with some heat, stfl'i Ronald looked at him for a Ifccc.ent as if lost in thought, then.fpmarked "'Whit yon say is possible but not probable, Aiistair. I scarcely th;iik any of my people would stop t-o that ' "At first I thought so too, Roniiv,*' 1 sik] the doctor, 'but it seems pqui'- v improbable* that the boy could hiive vanished like snow from the hill t-de as hf has done except on my theory. I'oor Ettle> chap, he might easily liafe fal.'en over isome of the crags or into some of the oorries, hut then we tou! 1 hire "found his body, for X "fell >° 1! AJnsay, I have hsen out with the searchers, and there is not a crag foot, a c-orrie, or a burn that has not btin searched again and again." ; 'l "hope you haven't mentioned your tTirughtsto Mrs Duncan Gilro.v. It would Be worse than cruel to raise her hopes only to have them dashed J x> tho ground again," said Ronald. "I did not reauire to," was the ooctor's reply. "When the idea became fixed in my mind. I determined to mention it to yoii first before suEgest'njr anvtlxing io the Castle people, "but Mrs Gilroy and her sister-in-law had ev ; - dentlv been struck with the same idea, for she mentioned it to me, and then asked me if I thought you would assist them. I knew you would if you could, so I brought them here." "I am glad you have, for I -would do anything to find the lost boy, but I suppose we had better go to the-"drawing-room now." ■ So upstairs the . two kinsmen went, both in a siDgnfertr pxciitw! st.->t". although their oiitivafvl demen-nmit- <T'd not betray them. Th* lost- heir of Ailnsabeg sliolild linre liron i:ptierni"-t in . their minds, but if truth be t«ld. the lost hny was hut the iincl.-lfoiui'l in -front of wlm'h was. in each cn.si\ the fair fiicp of a woniiin. , They ftmnd the t-br?e ladies sitt : nK close "torrethet* in tlip drswinji-runiri. and as ftonold and thf doctor entered there was.a tini"k concenlmptit of cambric that was eloquent of the feast of sympathy. - "Ronald shook hnr.d* first with AJrs (lilroy and then with Huna. and as h : s fingers of the latter . mirrmurPd in a lov/ voioe "I am ad 1 to see you leje, Miss Gilroy. More i than glad." ' Huna seemed to oe at a loss for a moment as to what to say, then she remarked with an obvious effort to control lier voice into a- casual tone, "Gladvs wished your assistance, Captain Maclaine, and 1 came with her.' Ronald looked at Mrs Gilro.v. inquiringly, but before that lady could speak, his "mother broke in, "Yes, Bonny; we hare been talking over the disappearance of little Duncan and Mrs Gilroy thinks' that there is a possibility tlint some one is hiding the child. I hone it may bo so, but it .seems almost too good to be true.- ! But'voii agree with Mrs Gilroy, doirt I you Aiistair " she said turning to the I doctor. ~t "Yes, Aunt, replied ths latter; 1 (1p ai'd fcbp more T think of it the moTe roMv'nocd I am that this tlieory is There is just n possioi.ity. sa;d i R.'.r.ald "bu* I hi-setv-li vm, Mrs i;'i- •' rov 'lo not build on. it. 1 would give r,»'vt.Vj>2 to he al.h- to hold out hone, J,«t I dire not do it. It would not- he fa;- or honest." Poor Mrs Gilrov! Porlisps Ronald n-a> a little cruel in throwing cold Wiitor on her new k'ntl'.cd hope. A tenr 'ratherrd in lie- eye. fid licr vone trembled in spite of l.c effort to master it as she replied. -Rut T will hpoe T most hoi>?. It would kill me if I didn't-. But you will help me, won't von?" . . "Auvthinjr nnd <»Torytiune T can do will* 1)? done. I will ner®oinlly to tli'«e lenders o F tl" 1 rrnfh«T» pjrt.atioa most likely t ; o- harbour malice

against the Ailasuybiiv household, and J. will obtain tlio minister's permission to make a general upjveiU lii churcii after tho service to-morrow," said lloiiald, and tlio intensity and sincerity «i liis anxiety was apparent- in his manner and tone.

"ii anything u.ll bring back the boy that will/' said Aiistair, and the others agreed. After itoxtic further conversation tho doctor ami tlio two ladies took thou* departure. During tho discussion Huna had scarcely spoken, aoid with this extraordinary giiyncss which so injquenlly attacks a strong man in lovo ? itonajd barely spoke to her. But a third party saw and noted all that passed. •Thus it- happened that almost as soon as the sound of the doctor's trap rattling down, the avenue had grown faint, sud Ronald had rejoined lua mother in the drawing-room, she went up to him, laid her two hands on his shoulders, and looked up into his handsome, open face with its fearless honest eyes, and smiled nt him wistfully. He bent down and stroked her soft hair, on which the burning fingers of sorrow had left their white marks, and k!ss=d her on the forehead.

"My boy, my bonnio boy," she whispered.* "Toll ine." "I loto her, mother, darling," he replied softly and trembling, liis whole heart beating iu convulsive sobs lest the mother that ha loved should be sadden-ed at the thought. "May God forgive me for -what 1 have tried to do to forco my "will and not His will. We are truly in the hollow of lifs hand, and Ho knows best," she said slowly after a. pause. ''l was afraid you would bo -angry" said Ronald,-winding his arm round, his mother, and kissing her again. "Once I would: but somehow -all the evil that I liavc hoped for, more indeed lias fallen upon the Ailasabeg people, and now I feel as if ifc had all come as an answer to my prayers, and that T nm alone responsible, and I would givo all I possess to undo'those months of hatred and death." (To be continued.)