A NEW SERIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15456, 19 September 1914, Page 4

A NEW SERIAL.

JOHN "WYBERTS DAUGHTER, OR THE ROPE OF PEARLS.

BY A. CORDON" THOMSON". I

(Author of "The Ve-ngcunco of Lot?/* ••Favourites of Fortune," "A Millionaire's Crime," "By llight of Birth," etc-., etc. t CHAPTER XL A COVNTEU*MOVK. Hugh Bcanatoii did not ».dish the posit lutl he- ncctiphM Lis hi* motor-car in kueb a prominent j>loo> as tht» ctowiint termer at the Mar hie Arch. Hp. Under «mtmary fircunistimws. might, have cirtiaokft hUnsttt by rente mferinji that tlte hum ivm t'lii'ly ami the !a>»l<tnru>b;e not yet iwtir. but be «a.s too impatient for this, and initaiitljr bbucd iwfc tialr Marcia but aL*» himself. "Why haif Ete been xueti it foul ».+ to have th«» car elepfeett wlisFi marriage favours, ati"l thr» attract attentionhe iv.sk.jrf litmsetii. The fjapiiig crowtl uf tillers Jr. mwtl, an»{ flrunsfcoa cutild their antl eren Fiear sarvastk* reimick.s nnt«l(j ott every side. Ou«» stout, woman becatap Ter y ay^k-ivs-sive, ajid pointing at him with her umbretta, amiij la«nhter. " a drop 'u (ua 'ot." A cabman ttrivinj; put cried, "■Can't yer st'v, uiL«*w r the tttrl aint *#rf williti*."'

KWen o'clock struck. then half-past, Bcanstnti tnrild .stand it m» longer. Furious with ttitijKH'. he ordered hi* chstaffpttr cu return a* fast at jwwwible t® bk» bcrtet. '\Marcia hit* dmimi me/' be- mattered. between hi» teeth. "hut «>he* shall par for this..*'' white tbc> light in hi* eye* and the expression on hw festfustH were- not pleasant to behold. "It Ints been Mrs. Tcptour l "* doing, hnt in Stauth Africa I will lit* abb? to glean a chapter or twii morp of lier past. and then th wttlj ht* nty tarn." On reaching: hi* hotel be ittseharced fiw ffiotoNcar. settled bU affair*. then drove- to Watertoo Statinn ami joined iha- mail train For So tit ha rant on, en route tor Cape Toarn. Hi* matrimonial schemes for the present had tgnominintwly failed. tint flraiuton n ot the man to readily yield to defeat. Time was on his .side, be- felt, and on bis rotnm t» Engfaml opportunity might ttivvjur feim. lie* did, not write to •; Miwia. for he felt that Mrs Treloor •wettlcli intercept hi* tetter, and also that rfxe. hat 1 , prevented the girl from £««-pinc; her prumise. In this tatte- he was rigßt. rrT»fc although Mr*. Twlottr had caused d'aappointraent, bad been the moving spirit—h» band bod pulled the strings. T'cran fcli t> day after ths* evening spent br Branaton in the Waldorf Theatre. Vtyrltert hud a conference with Mrs Trf-loar. WtWrt appeared to t*> in e.xceMenfc *pirit* that morning, and hit weleotno to Mrs. Tretonr was nnusttutlv gracious. B* seated. Mrs. TreloaP. What I tare- to say wIJI take yome tittle time, and mar pot be- altogether pfeiLflne." Mtn. Tretuttr's curiosity was <rottsed. Mit sh<? shofred nt> stgn, and In «tkn<e ■waited for hiiii to proceed. Ire bw sharp incfctitrpi way hp pvptained that he intended to "make certain alteration* in his household aihrangemeftt*; stated that he tvas tawing for Ihe Continent a hues i immedfateDy, hi* intention being; to shnt up its iwas«» in Park-fane for a time.. "At the beatnhing of the season * r E«*|Jed Mrs. Trolfwr. "J had snth hopes of wciac my ifcar Marem RettEed." ! Mr Wyhert paid no heed t» ht*r Vorsis, hat went on. "It Urn.v ifesirt* that yon, Mrs. Troloar, with your .&nscbter, ehoukl trarel to WeHthonrno •3Ta{|> and reside there during my f absence. All arrangement* for Your rtjmfort bars' alrrody been mad<>. There i* plenty of company in the neigbhourIrwit?. ss you know, nnd tnn ran barn ywrcr Lnndon friends down for weak-end visits." It may he'ejcnFainetJ that Westhmirne Hall wa» a conntry mansion nrhii h Mr •' Wyhert had purchased alone with" a \ laree cslatft Hp had jrreatfy improved I fthd modprttiwi the houw, and now it [ tfjn.«i(trrp<! unc of the finest te>i-' «xences in th«» Southern Connties. W'rsi- ■ bowrnt» HsvJt wa* delightfully aituatod a few mifes of t!w» small town of; Sotitheliff. rmtfr ordinary circnm-1 stances Mrs Treloar rather liketl aitinp;! A* Lady «i(f the Manor, hat her «le«Err«: at hotmd Up in the Lon* | nort "" f

' ;V ntl m - v y she said. JlviAt f*» "it nee! led." [ft- returned. I afn fchink'ng nfc* city child's prospects 3lr \Vybert," wk ttw» reply. tv'ifE jxva ta that .subject next *' answered \Vybe rt . "Became of mv health ! itm leaving London for a warmer climate The recent painful ocemrrence hats given your nerves such -a sdtocfc that your i Eoctor fja> pr**srribet! absolute r*wi. These excuses J' [ |{ «f» as well as any other. Nobodv them, hut they servo a* a rearKtiarel to Mirer an unpleasant retreat." ."Of poarse i will make all nectwsarf amin-retl Mrs. Tfeloar. Ye*/' returned Wybert, blandly, "nntl sfrra(> that art* imnftwsarv; I car safety trn.-Jt yon for that. Next' a« ta Marcia, ' and hi? looked keenly' at b» twnpamoii. it your desire" that »hr should become the wife 0 f Huch Hranston •*'' At hi* word*, fear, almost horror *honrcd itself on the face of Mrs loar''So'" she uttered hoarselv, ! *a tnoßKamt time* no! Snrely, Mr WvWt. Vutt do trot desire s M( .h a marriage to take prater" It can be of no interest to yore." Wybert smiled, and leaning back in rls c.*ba*r sai't ; I hare no desire to interfere tilth 7»trr daughter - * fnfcur»\ Firtt it certainly nppearst to he her intention to marrv f? canst on." '■ \on are rti istaken," exclaimed Mrs TV*'t»»i»r. " .Martin U ifcritwl to *S : r Kdward D<>tmi.vin." < V , - v '" bitighed drily a* he HBsnwd, haw shown her devotion bv having wrd meeting* with B;im«ton. Every rrinvc tf'at Branston hit* made in London is know,, m ,-. lfe taken out a special; marriage licence. and arranged with the Vicar of St. MarvVt to perform the ceremony. The suine dav. an.ompanw'd by ht» newly-married ■wtu. he satis for C*i»> Town. Your L'ht*'r ha* come under )»w influence. ""'I deceiving yot:. She nril be his ti'Tc by thw time to-rnorroiv unless you can, hy & counter move, prevent her BNwS'OiC him." His word* affected Mrs Treloar deeply. and the trnth of them she never doubted. AIE her native fiicr'4y Uf frave the u h«»n» *he .-iineerety fnv>'d from lw<«»nnn{; tii<? wile frr <t mvttt she know to he a se.>rfrtdre!. tfe wo»d«t have hfren an c«,v /.Hitter i-'tjr her In h:iv>- t»» «'Sl<laiite # ( to \\rfwrt that :.fie „f Mark nfiay. afia* Rran<*ton. had rrnt oivn T.rirsrte transurtion with this man prevented ,*aeh a fonr-e. -Marrta, ;-ha!' not nsarrv Hii'h Heavert tviff " mf> j„ a fat* '" y ,IP:,r ' fronl s,lth _ l)onhth's.-i the power you inroke will nitE yon, ' kju-I Wyhert with a Fi'it yort wiH perhaps forgive me tor wntißz otit an earthly method whieh -Kf ty tn he even more snotfwfnl." Mr.< Trefoar was re;idy to accept hLs ;i ilree and Wyhert eon tin tied: •• %oi t irnnt me,. » ctmniny fir ennt>»n«. i fr.ike your daughter uith you and leave!

, to-riu»rrotv inorrutiu; by an eurly train for Halt. Ihe jjav ltran-.-tctt wilt tints be d» >ertrd a secontt tif'i" . am! .\l;nvia will be >afe. After he !-hs left Ktitthvttd comes your opportunity to have y«>nr daughter marrit't! belor>> he returns."" To this .Mr.-. 'Tretoar •'eadtlv ant! thtt_s_ whilst |srattsti>tt in ht.s ntotftr w.-j.s waiting: at th>* Marble Arch, the refractory Mari-ta was beint; cimveyed by her mother to WestlKiurne Hall. tMiat ii'asniK Mrs Treloar eave to tier daughter for their sudden «h>parture front town, are best known to herself Marria at any rat" found it impossible to t'S'r.vtie from the watchful . e.ve.s of her mother, anil had sntb nlv v:et»t-Ht to tii • inevitable. "I'ltus while Mr. Wvlwrt was abroad, his household sertlet! down at Wi-stbourne Hall for a .on« and initetutite visit. CILVITKII XII. A DK.>PKR VTK ItF.SOI.VF-: BY V lIFCKLKSS MAX. Harry Onslow, who had playetl such an unselfish part towards Kthe!. was atxaut tw<i nty-tive yea's of a»e, fairly iriMxt-ltwkjiiy, as has lieeii said, and *it rather a tltspositiou. fie was an electrtcian, in the employment : i)k a firm of manukactiin is of electric appliances, and was rising ; n l,u I>ro . ti.-s.sion. Hp was ot' an impulsive nature, inclined to act rashly ami without re«at«l to consequence-,. His character lacked that firmness which unities the trma «n a straight cotir«i>. while hts liattrp impetuosity lead him a«s readily to clii as to soosL Hts nalure was one in which lay EttPtil jKvsiliilitits. p(.»ssibi lit ics w 11• t-11 tHiiflit faisp liitn to tho pinnaclfe of his anibitiuit, a or lead him to dissipation or cntne. Wrl.'-ffiucateil and a dilijrent 5 m but little with lib fe.tow pinptoyeeji, and in his loneliness his imtid rernltetl a«ainst the circum*cri»(«l Circumstances which prevented f» lar >" V,n ~ oi'jbil ions ideas. On tht> day <»f the dinner partv lip wa* Iw,k,n e his best, and anix-aml in hi|£h sprits. Ho r»rabe<l t \lr* Cinvn's cßohirit;. and :le!ij.»lite<l that ladv hv the h P art,n«w ~f his attack on the salmon whtch sho had procured for his wpotial

I OirE* iiow-a-dnvs { think of ' , .* a "' f«rp«'ii. " it's all " a,E,f,n «i l nfwit with thnn; hnt mark mv wordt. if „ wife feeds her hiisb-iml wet! she ran dn a* she pleases with him. and all lor hrn Hood too." .Harry laughed, and turning to Mr k «l that gentleman's opinion. I fie latter <ou«lird depreeatinafv l«for«» <>j>eaktn<r, then said: ' To my way of thinking there's a great deal of truth in ills Green's tvoril*. • said that Indr, "Gror»o speaks from experience. He knows that hB wifo never advLsrd him to do anvt?wns that htv rejirefted. She wns a good woman to you, George." Thi* the Imrtier was constrained to admit, but the admission bv aiMrne: Not_ to say hnt that there are others in tho worftl a* good, even u n " d he giamed , That lady sighed, and auer a httlo began to relate sioriet «» hvr own girlhood, and of the admirers who had soughi to gain her | kavonr. fo ' °. H , :n,n *i hare l»een verv much in lore w«th C.reen," rernnrke<l Harrv a j smile flitting across hi«t features. " I .. (;ret V.' to meditate, as the recalling of her youthful affection* was ti matter of difficult v. "T en n't say a.-, 1 wns. >lr *On«low " She renlwd- •• I never did hold with love [ nonsense. Ii makes. n >en rooLs. and women «illv Xnt tfnt I re f or tf , i either yourxelf or Kthel.'' ; Kthel coloured slightly, nnd Tlnrrv lananed; then he Itecnme verv grave | "hil<. Mrs. flre»-n ramhlwl on from one subiC'Ck In another. j " Josiah." referring to her dead hiKthand, was a «ood man in the mnin. nut very eontradietorr." Mr Fmp mnrmnml something, and Mrs. Green continued: 1 . .woiih! contradict his own shadow if it hnd spoke to him. He was' great at arguing, was Josirth, nnd it wan grand to henr him on politics, thongh I did not agree with him on lust Mibjcci, and never could." " Jlr Green had a mind of his own 1 suppose, ' said Harry. ' "He had that, especially on finance. Josiah conld Jiettfo evorvthing nl»>iit taxes and the national debt, bnt tet him out with balf-a-crown in his pocket, and when be earoc hack he never eon Id cccount for tho money. Eren on his iVathbed he argued with me. just fore be was took, abont h's funeral. Had Josiah heard the angel that came down from H-aven to call liiin lu« would hnve raided in argument even tii"n." Thus did Mrs Green run on while the three lingered orer th» meal, until she rrwte to clear away. While the ••rod lady was hurtling about, a-rsisted h\~ Mr Frisp. Ethel and Harrv wen. left a'one. Crt«rersat:on. however, did not flow freely between them, for there was a certain amonnt of restraint on both sides which led to forma' questions and answers. In reply to Ethel. Harry declared

t.lat t!u r be no datmer ill her ilcim; out occasionally, as lio did Hot believe that any effort had been made to truer her. It is quite lijiht; Marry, that the denr -should <_'o out," piii. in 3lrs 'it-en. avrain entering the room, "hut 1 doit t like the idea of her jroiiiji alone. C enld yon nut tall of an evening vonrseif and take Ktlul to tho Park, which is lovely as I saw it yesterdav r" !•"> litis Marty readily assented, at the sam-.- time •;lancin;r at Kethel to observe now she received the proposal. After thi.-: Marry spoke of his hopes, plans. and ambitions and schemes lor t.ie future. and l*.thel related many of h' r experiences of fashionable life "and soc-ietv people. to the delimit of .Airs. f<reen. \ ividlv she liitured life in her '"M'.'V in "I'ark Lane. ami uhilo Harry Itsionotl lie thought of what l.tluv had iii(-ct|—huiuo. Iriends. a hie of ea-p and pleasure, wealth sufficient to jiratily every ilr-.ire. oven caste, which counts lor so much. had bren threw it away. All this rather than marry a innn she disliked. "Would not a woman capable of such a sacrifice hp 'apable or even a greater for the man sue loved. 'I he thought afforded him •nucli food for rellecliou in the days that followed. When .Mr Frisp and Harry left the bouse thp kind-hearted barber pressed h:s hospitality upon his voting coinpnnion in tlio shape of sumethin>r to drink, which the latter declined, and. after faying «;nud-n!»lil (o 3lr Frisp.. started on his way home. 'I lie distance was not jireat. ami hp soon reached a bhii k of mansions, or rather flats, where lie occupied a room. Letting himself in with his latch-key, he lifiht-ed the «£as. The lijiht showed the apartment he entered to be of ordinary size, ami fairly well-furnished. The' floor was corpred with wax-cloth. while hero and there a ruji liad been thrown clown. Stretching right across the room, a I'll in I font of the two windows, was a Ions? bench. On it stood uianv articles, or rather instruments, in" a halffinished .stale; brides these was what looked like workmen's thiols of a verv dertcato nature. A tabl t . stood near the centre oi the room, ami on it iay a number of drawings wifh drawing materials, ami several ?cchiiienl-li:rtk>ug books Reside the iir t . phif-e. which was lilted with a immature tonkin*: rattle, stood a nicker asm chair, and in ene corner a bt'tUioa'l M.Tt>oncMl hv liojivv curtains.

Iho room w;in not tl»i» homo of one nhr> sought hi\my. m>r was it tile home of n! dreamer, hut of a pnu iienl innh. and it is the nrncueal Hum who makes hrstorv. Harry was aiul every spare moment In- hid was devoted to the study of electiiciiv. He was in the employment of a jinn of reputed high *tinul:n<r_. and his prospeets were of the brightest. Throwiii" hiin~e!f into an arm <-hnii\ he lighted a pipe, and heyan reviewing recent event<; nor did lit' retire to rest nntil a Into hnsir. In tile dnvs that followed ho did not for»et hU promise to Mi's Green, and his evening walks with Ktliel soon I>oeamo a recognised rule, proved a source o? iihk-Ii piea-ure to both. Clianre jienc: ally makes a ninn fall in love for the first time. Though lie know it not as yet, the seed hnd taken root in the heart of Harry Onslow. \\ hatever the consequences be, ho was in love with Kthei. The urent tidal wave of love was rolling in. which, in its course, sweeps away the land marks of most- lives. Ethel trusted Harry implicitly, and believed .there wns 110 one like him. while he, on his part, wns inspired with new feeling which had- taken possesion of his lioin«r, namely. love for this airl whom he had 'irst met in so strange a manlier. One eVeniiift they had made their wav l«» Claphnm Common, which tho huilder '•yen yc| low not surrounded with 1. lupous hJockfs of fluts. They \voi*o sannterinji over the {jrnss enjoying the ci;oi hreer.o and the .->ti!l sliim . when Harry asked,: •Do you ever retrret. Klhel. hnviny lett votir home • " He always called her K'hel. and >o did Mrs (.'reen liv the srrl's own desire, the name Wybert hoißg mentionetl. "" No."' she answered briuhtiy. '"why, fhcnld I'i I was miserable there- 1 am happy now." '• Yon_don't regret your loss of wealth md all Us aci'onipaniinent<; ' Xo." was her prompt replv. '1 am now enrninE jny livinji." she'added, with a touch of pride. "Tt wns verv kind of you to find out aJ>out Felix." ' Kthol had one day expressed a desire to know if Felix had returned. 4 in<l ' Ilarry lr«m etif|niries hrul lenrned that! he %vas still detained in South America. . would return home," I -sail! klhel thiiuuhtfuliv. Harry was silent. In his lieart he die' not echo her wish, for he feared that the return of her brother would mran the k*« of the j»irl to him. for she would pass out of his sphere of life I here was n hrief .silente. Neither vsnrke tor a time. j

If you were rieh. Han-v. what would'you like best to have?- asked Mliel with a ihv. K'anco at hor companion. "The nicest and most lovinn- "irl in tho world for niv wife." ° " "Wiorc won!d'you find this treasure 0- ' she asked again, with just a slight gleam <*i mischief in h#»r oyevs. "She is walking by my side now." ho answered, putting his arm round her and drawing her close to him. " I love you. Ktliel. l)o you. or can vou care for me a little Y' Harry. Ido | o ve you. and have done so over sinre the" nighfc we met on AVestminster ]sridge- - ' " Kven though I am \>oor and onlv a tradesman "If it were otherwise T might not care so much for you as I do." She spoke simply nnd unafFecitiliv. and her jovcr drew her still closer to him as ! he said: " I do not value wealth for mere wealth .« sake, nor to gratify inv own ta..trs or desires, hut hccnuse it 'would enable me to place you in the position to wnicji you are entit!ed. nnd to surround you mth what you were accuse Uimetl to in ymir father's house lie paused, nml Kthel. with hor b'u o ev.-; lixik! on his !:.ec_ answered: I" mind riches -ire as"?ofiatetl n-Jth niisery, nnd poverty with happi--11C55. -II •' Would yon wait a year or two for me. dnrluig he asked. ' \es. Hairy." she replied simply. My own darling exclaimed the a:>!"nt youth, and regardless of plaee surrounding, lie i.>„k her in his urnis and kis«e<l her airain and again. A hnei silence followed, and then iV.hel said"l vinild not like you to toil and slave lor wcaiih alone: it is dehnsinn-. A venerable teacher of mine, whom "l love.! mueh. often said: 'The way to riches is a tee;, nml hmir. very long, and even lie who reaches, the tup does '<> w:'.l, totteriii;: step* nll ,l w l lit( . h;lil . round his I,row. hi the strie-.de vouth ; '-lined with all its idea's. There s a royal run.! but he who leaches the tfoal oi riches l.v that path rides rough, "hod o\er bis iVllow-v lc:i\-es eonst-ienee b> the way. and :s .-oltloin free from sin. ' The words are {rue. -- replied Harry. ' Snei-e'-s (or one means ruin f., r nthers. Sl>;l. for your sake, | will trv! ni any rate, ti, make the most of the taunts Heaven ha- bestowed 011 me." Ji you were us- wealthy as Hindi lirauston I eould not like you bettor , than I do," she said. • vo " , » ! >"-y me. poor a s 1 I am y' be asked eagerly, • ■ ~,,,1 t |,„ s ~ the future .Yes. - ' reniied Kthel tpiietlv. \ n d again the :n-»|ent lover pn'-sed his kives on her lips. When the livo reluriie,! to Thorne-si . mi"' brfike ib- news. ~{ meisi to Jlr, f.'i.in, t lt-i t ';,i| v -lj.. • 1 i"il • eiy iiuir .-jitrpri.-e.

. "h » .!y what I expected and ! jiuped lor. Kth' l. mv dear, llarrv will | make you a good husband." And" with j tears in her eyes she took the girl in hoi- arms and kissed her. Thus the engagement was ratified. Harry fully explained his position and Future prospects to Mrs. Green. whom iif- regarded as standing in the position o. guardian to Fthel. and that iadv gave it- as her opinion that the marriage should take place without delay. At first it was decided that the two fiuiuld rent portion of .Mrs Green's house in 'lhorne-st.. hut an uncxnccted occurrence prevented this. A sister of Mrs. Green's, who had recently heen leit n widow, sought to ioMj her relative in house-keeping. She had two grown-up daughters, who desired to earn their Jiving iii London. ii s Green naturally consented. Marry therefore rented a pretty cottage near (lames Hailwav Station, feeing the Common. iMrs Green superintended the furnishing, and all being ready, the wedding day was fixed lor the first of .Time. The marriage was celebrated by the incumbent of the Parish Church which ' thev attended, md a few friends of Horry's witnessed ihe ceremony. As the little party emerged from the •Jittrch. hihel all smiles, leaning on the 4i in of her proud and happy husband. Mie sun, which had been flooding*tho lingy .street with its light, sudden'v iisnppcnred behind n heavy black cloud. 4 vivid flash of lightning burst frnui Mi.-- heavens, struck atid split one of tile Irecs close to tile church, and almost iinnediateh- a peal of thunder, loud and VlTible, reverberated overhead. The <ir:>ui> at the entrance of the church «tood terror-stricken bv its unexpected •UMdenness. ''lt is an omen of evil." whi=pered shn verger's wife, and the ruddv face-of Mrs Green beeame pale, but Harrv sanded his newly-made wife into the uniting earriage. and the two were Inven nwnv to begin their new life Thus was tho daughter of Wvbert the millionaire, wed. Oo lie Contihued.')