"A SECRET SORROW."

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8607, 11 March 1897, Page 1

"A SECRET SORROW."

BY MRS MAY AGNES FLEMTNG.

Author of " A Mad Marriage," « Carried By Storm."

CHAPTER XVI.

(Continued.) 'What can bo the cause of this? thought the carl, bewildered. 'Is it possible that this plae is cnchan ed? It would hare been impossibl for her to escape herself, and if Kato Sidney had returned to resoae her, they would not take the trouble to fasten the door again so securely. On the contrary, they would most probably hare lingered here, anticipating my return. Then, again, it would be impossible for her to ride to Dirrito'e since, much less to walk there and return with a reinforcement to rcscu*Alice. Strange, straugf! Whal; is to be done?' He paced up md dowa the floor, lost in thought. At length, starting from Ins reverie, he exclaimed— ' Yes, desperate as is the ven'ure, 1 will risk it. I will ride to Dirrro'e, and see if they have arrived there. It they have, and this story is rumoured abroad, I mast fly, at least for tbe present, until this affair is blown over. Captain Hamilton for Cuba. I can accompany him, for, in any case, my business requires my presence there Boon; and by romp there now I can escape detection, and likewise arrange my affairs. Then, too, we Shall probably arrive before the smuggler's cutter, and I can see that every possibility of the return of those two under his charge be cut off.' As he spoke, he rode forward in the direc'ion of Dirritole, cautiously keeping as much as possible from observation. As he en teed the forest path he en* countered the young gentleman in the ragged attire who had brought Janie's note to Kate the preceeding day. The idea instantly flashed across bis mind that perhaps he might give him some information. . . ' Hillo.boy!' he called. • Have you seen anyone pass this way lately?' The boy started for a moment, and as ho recognised thß earl he gave his headpiece a jerk, and answered— • I hadn't seed nobody since I seed the young lady.' • What young lady?' said the earl growing pale. •Miss Kate Sidney, wot lives up there, poin'inqas he Bpoke towards the mansion, the peaktd gables of which could be disme three bob—leastwise, she didn't, but t'other nice youn* woman did,' ' What;' exclaimed the earl, in a tone that made the young gentleman start back in alarm. ' Do you mean to tell me they were both here ? Speak, sirrah!' • I'm blest if I know, 1 replied the owner of the ragged garments. ' Anyways. Miss Kate Sidney was here. I seed her with my own two blessed heyeai; and t'other ona rut me three bob. As if you calls them both, they were here and no mistake.' In his consternation, the earl forgot to ask when he had sesn them— for the idea that it could have been the «*y previous never entered his mind; and th« young gentleman, under the impression that the earl knew the time of their meeting, never dreamed of le'lmg him. Thus both laboured under a mutual misunderstanding. What was to be done? The whole affair was piobably known by this time not only to the house at Dirritole, but also at the Pines; and even now his name might be loaded witn execration. He cou'd not venture to return home just at that time, when every voice would be raised agamst him. What, then, was to be done ? He might fly, but what a triumph they would give his enemies ! He gnashed bis teeth with r ßge at thought. No, they should not think he had fled through fear —some other xpendient must be adopted. If he left EDgland now, in a few months this affair would be nearly forgotten, and be miubt return in peace once more. True, his favourite scheme of uniting his son to Lord NettervM's daughter would have to be given up, and the infamy of his base conduct might stul cling to him; but that could not now be avoided —his sin had found him out, Besides, he was wealthy - and the world is ever partial in judging the crimes of the rich. He would write to his countsss, under the pea that business so urgent caled him away as to render it out of his power to visit her b.fore his departure, and thus the disgrace of hiß flight would be hidden. These thoughts flashed rapidly across his mind; and turning to the kniiht of the raggod garments, he said— ' Can I trnst you to carry a note from me to Lady Danemore, boy?' • If you'ii tip the neefuU. I'm your man, said the young gent, coolly, determined to have his p»y beforehand, least the countess should treat him as Kate had done* „ i 'You should teach your tongue ahstle more respect when addressing me. said the earl, haibhly, as he tore a leaf from his tablets, and began to wri c. ' Nobody neve? teached me no perliteness,' replied the young gentleman in the torn unmentionables.' I's willm to learn, 'cause as how I hain't goi nothin else to do. If nobody won't lam me, 'tain ttr be expected I'd b* particu'arly podite. I he earl took no notice of this reasonbly objection to his want of' periiteneas, but wrote rapidly - , 'My DBiH Madoiine,-Business of the utmost importance calls me from home; so urgent is it, that it is impossible for me to have the pleasure of seeing you before my departure. I hope to return in a few weeks. Meantime, I remun, your affectionate husband, Bbginald Ai-va, Earl of Danemore.' Carefully foldingthis, he threw the lad a sovereign, and as he took the note, the earl said- ... ' Mind, fellow, and de lver this faithfully, or you shall repent it. And—hark ye!—say nothing of having seen me here. ■ If they ask you where we met, say at Stanton, atChesben— any where tenmi es distant. Remember!' he ,said,warnuu>ly. All right as a trivet :' was the answer, as the tattered garments were put in locomotion, and the young gentleman in • side them drew himself up in the conscious dinity of being sole owner and proprietor »f a sovereign ; and cocking his nose in the air' he turned out ten toes, that peeped from his worn out shoes like so many muddy small potaoes, and marched towards Dirritole, The earl watched him until he disappeared, then, turning his horse in the opposite direction, rode rapidly away. And when the sun arose next morning, the Earl of Danemore stood on the deck of the merchantman, in full sail for Cuba.

CHAPTER XVII.

KATE ON THB SEA,

Slowly and wearily the days glided by to Kate in her subterranean prison—seeing no one but the old woman and the young Rirl, Syra, Her ejea yearned to look once more upon the blue sky, to breathe the fresh air, and catch a glimpse the world once more. Here!ays were spent almost continually in thinking of Alice, whom she still imagined a prisoner in the manor; and then her thoughts would revert to her uncle, and her cheeks would flush with the boDest glow of indignation, and her eyes would flash, as she thought of his baseutss Then at times her thoughts would rerert to the young rover-chief and the girl Syra. How came he, so young, so refined, so handsome, so noblelooking, the leader of a gmg of outlaws

—a crew of blcodthiraty MmugleroP Bht had often heard of Captain Raymond^ Weard him spoken of af a demon in man's form—one whose deeds of blood might make ihe firmest, heart quail, and the strongest cheek b nijch, and now she had seen him—could it be?'

Could those blue eyes, so beautiful and sad, everflish with the light of murder f Cou'd those hands, sma 1 and delicatelyshaped as a girl's, erer shed a fellowcreature's Hood? Could tbat voice, so* gentle and musical, ever shout the deathcry of the smugglers P Oh! no, no, no 1 Kate's heart recoi'ed from the thought. Whatever fate had driven him here from the society of the highborn and refined, to which she felt he ought to belong, he ■on id never become a de'iberate murderer. And Sjra, this dark-browed, wild-hearted, passionate child of the South, dying with lore for him—WOttld he erer care for her P

Kate sighed as she thought of that im« pusive young heart ponring oat its treasure* of lore at the feet of one who she felt sure, would nerer regard her v other than a servant. Poor Syra! the great, mournful black eyes won d light acd spark c wiih joy at the mention of that loved name, and her dark face would flush with deepest joy st the thought of his return home. Everything bis hand had touched was sacred in her. eyes; everything was arranged for the sole purpose of affording him p'easure. The wild, untaught child of, naiure worshipped h'm as an Eastern devotee does his idol; she knew no other god but him; willingly/joyfully, she would have lain down and died at hia feet, ha Ihe commanded it. And all tbi* tima she clung, as a drowning man will to a straw, to the hope that he would low her yet. He was not made of marble; he could not always withstand this wild love given him so freely ; she was young and fair, and worshipped him. Oh! surely, rarely that heart she would have died to MY* would lo»e her jet, Of late, Kate had avoided mentioning his name to her.

For some time after his departure, Syra would Bit by her side talking or him alone for hours; bat once, when Kate accidentiy remarked that one so young and handsome might win the heart of the fairest lady in the land, the girl's fierce black eyes emitted a •harp flub, of jealousy; and from that day forward ler manner towards Kate changed. She grew cold and reserved, never speaking, unless to answer a. question; and then if it related, even in the moift distant way, to the young chief, the ■amo suspicions light kindled in he? eye. Ka'e well knew the reason of this change, and might have smiled, perhaps, at the idea of her being in love with Captain Raymond, had she not felt her lonely situation too keenly. Syra'* readiness to converse had at first made the hours pass unperceived; but now with no companion save her own sad thoughts they dragged on like ages. The effect of confinement, and brooding in silence over the restraint of which the was too proud to complain, soon betrayed itself in her pale cheek, listless eye, and languid step.

(To be ContinnedO