"A SECRET SORROW."

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8609, 13 March 1897, Page 1

"A SECRET SORROW."

BY MRS MAY AGNES FLEMING.

Author of " A Mad Marriage," " Carriedßy Storm."

CHAPTER XVII. (Continued.) 'It certainly has,' answered Captaiu Kaymond, 'until of late. In vain tho ghost has tried to d-ive the party you came with away. Nothing could succeed until of late; ifc appeared regularly every night but all in vain; it tramped overhead, but still they stayed. It frightened them terribly—there can be no boubt of that—but not enough to make them leave. It must have been, indeed, a strong inducement that made them remain here.' This was said inquiringly, as if to draw from Kate an explanation. If such was his purpose, it most signally failed, however. Miss Sidney had no intention of betraying family secrets to the smuggler chief. A few months after he took his leave. As ha.fjSie to go, Kate said— ' I must thank you airain. for the kindness with which you have placed both

these ro cms at my disposal. But as I am aware there is no other room you can use here but this, I must beg of you to occupy it. I seldom or never leave my sleeping apartment, even in daytime, so I be* you will have no delicacy in accepting it.' - - 41 thank you, Miss Sidney.' said the young captain with a smile. ' I willingly accept your offer in the same spirit in in which it is made. I must own lam often reduced to a strait when I wish to read, or write, or remain by yourself. The outer aparimenta are always filled with my noisy craw, so that it is impossible to remain one moment quiet. Therefore I shall make use of this rooom for a few hours each day, but you must still continue to consider it your own. I sha'l now direct Syra to prepare for departure with you, so I shall bid you adieu for the present." During tha few days that regained before their departure, Kate and the smuggler captain had frequent interview. And after each Kate noticed that the fierce look of jealousy increased*') Syra's face. A glance of intense hate flashed from her black eyes whenever she encountered Kate. Tortmred by the pangs of jealousy, poor Syra was miserable in-

deed. Kate noticed her growing hatred towards her wita a felling of sincere regret. She could sympathise with the poor girl, whose pabsionase heart gave, unasked, all her hope of happiness in this )i c into another's keeping. And he— how little he cared for her! It was doubtful whether he even dreamed that that this handsome girl conHl love him. The linhS smile with which he met her, the care'ess glance of his blue eyes, the tone of easy superiority in which he addressed her, left little room to doobt that he considered her a very handsome servant—but still a servant. And had Syra not been blinded by her mad passion, she would have seen, likewise, that in Miss Sidney he only saw a lady- one whom, as belonging to a superior rank, he was obliged to treat as became a lady—one whom, as his captive, he *as forced toveiire for. Bat Syra saw "not this in his frequent visits to her. She saw only the lover visitig his lady-love; and, as she saw him enter Kate's room, a new degree cf hate filledher heart towards her rival. ! When he informed her of bis design of .bringing Kate with him, her jealous fears

were confirmed. - •He can't endure to bo parted frcin the man he loves,' she exclaimed, bitterly. ' Many and many a time ho went before, leaving me here to wait for his return, unthouKut of unoarod for. And she she does not, she cannot loye him as I do, I who would die for him joyfully. Bu' she shall never be his bride—no, nevei! if 1 ha^e to slay her in hia arms,' Little dreaming of the reso'ution of the girl, Kate sat one evening alone in her little sleeping chamber, her chin resting upon her hand, her eyes fixed vacantly upon the wall, her thoughts of Syra and the young smuggler chief she so passionately loved. . Her own feelings towards him it would ,Se hard to analyze. Shs despised and loathed the profession, but in spite of heraei'f she admired the man; she shuddered a 9 sbe thouahtof Jus crime, but some i r ,-e8 tible sympathy drew her towards ,i m There was little danger of her f alinn in love with him; she would as soon have dreamed of becoming a smuggler herse f; tut still something she could not account for made her like him. Sometimes, if bj ebance he ever alluded to the past, bis voice would become so. inexpressibly s «d that it w^ntto her heart, and looking into h<s mournful blue eyes, she would lave a «gn, »nd wonder what R reat sorrow he, so young.could have met W1 ' Perhaps, like others', he has levedand. ■ loot,' thought Kate, as she mused. I i wish I kn«V. And Syra poor hadenied; child, with ber fiery Southern blood and her passionate nature, what will become of her? I wonder if he knows she loves him. 'i will speak of her to him the very next time I meet him.' She rose as she spoke, and pushing aside the heavy vefcret curtain, stepped to the outer room. she did so, she perceived to ber surprise, it was tenanted. Sitting an the table, his head leaning on his hand, his fair, clustering locks pushed impatiently off his white forehead, his large eyes fixed on vacancy, sat, the object of her thoughte. In the full Klare of the lamp she could see distinctly the noble contour of the heart, shaped like that of a prince—the fine features, classic as those of a Grecian statue, now wore a look of such deep, £ settled, immovable sorrow os Kate had 1 SwJWitnessed before. He could not t seeher where he sat. and she had a. full I oppo»ta»ity of watching him unnoticed, i The look, «rf profound sorrow went to he, ; heart, it wasao seldom he looked Him— I always aay,.aVways animated, only sometimes the drear;j%expressio» would come, as though the world were after all, a blank °Kate'shrank from, ifttrudiOß then, when his thoughts were .evidently Jar ■away, Aocordinly she retreated behind the curta na, when the door opened, and fcyra entered. .„, „ „ • Well, Sjra, what is it?' sai* the

yoone'chief. . i Hermossaewas a tnfting one ; etxcPßntly sho Lad entered more to see if Kate were with him than for any other Pl"!ssoon as Bhe wa« gone. Kate.stepped out fcMid stood before him .'. \ • AL"' Mis« Sidney; 1 he said, nwnjf. • Svra i'«s just been here to know, if yo^ wfflhate' jour books packed to gojn boaid ? I answered yes, in yonr namej notwishin«to, diß. ty rby°u-', T am .- ' Thank . tou, 1 b*^ Kate« /. a? 3> you did «. By the way, captain, v Syra W%i^ff "P^ted, in surprise. 'I neftT^ked ber. Of course she must "JJfflS'i.wn pale and thin of late/ remSk ged Kate, seating hersetf ' I fear she has go * the disease of^e heart i \yh a tp I i\o not understand, said the youag chief, in a tone lhat convinced Kate bis thoughts were wry little of, y 'ri'mea;ttthafcl think she is in lore,' said Kata, making-, a desperate resolve to say the wt )rat at c «nee. ' Captaia Eaymo. ud uttered a prolonged ' Oh!' , ' „.>., ' I nevep-Mvas in lore myself, said Kate, laughing, * ( but Ib< »Ueve fcyra has fallen

into that unhappy state. I wonder who is V' the happy man.'j ' • Really M amforry I cannot tell you,' said Captain' Raymond, smiling. 'I'll, make enquiry, if you like.' ' Oh, no, by no meana —pray don't trouble yourself,' said Kate, hurriedly, now thoroughly convinced how little he cared for poor Syra. 'Perhaps. lam mistaken. We start to-morrow, do we notP' she asked, anxious to bhang* the snbject. ' To-morrow night, heaven be praised,' replied Captain Raymond. * I fthall not feel like myself until I am once more on the deck of my good Teasel.' Thus ended Kate's conversation concarniDg Syra. In the bustle and harry of departure, sho saw little more of him ' for some time after. Twg days later, Kate sat in the cabin of the ship. It had been fitted up in the most elegant style for the reception of • Mm Sidney, and, as far as outward comfort went, htr nnole's stately mansion . of Dirritola did not surpass it, O.d Mo 1 had been leftbebind, by her own desire, but Syra accompanied Kste. Whither they were bound she had not asked, and aft*r being on board awhile, she felt little inclination to ask-being ■" prostrated in.body andmind by stasickness. And ho Kate Kaney was on the blae sea, in a smuggler vessel, outward bound. --