HIS LAWFUL WIFE.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 14726, 3 August 1921, Page 7

HIS LAWFUL WIFE.

(All Rights Reserved.)

By JEAN MIDD LEM ASS, dutbor of “The Yellow Badge,” “In Storm and Strife,” “Hush Money,” “Thetfase of P avid Lisle,” “ A Life’s Surrender,” &c.

.Published By Special Arrangement.

CHAPTER XlX.— (Continued.) She was, however, awakened from her reverie by the startling question: “Do you’ know of any reason why I should not have married Phil?’’

It was Ninette’s turn to be surprised. “No, dear —no- I know nothing. That’s what seems strahge. If there is a mystery, surely, as Phil’s sister, I ought to be told what it is.” Kitty burst out laughing. Ninette was apparently very ignorant. She had no further fear, so could afford ;o laugh'. '-. , '' “You silly! You little moped, silly darling ! What have you been pondering over? What mystery should there be, save that in which every love affair is enveloped?” “I don’t know,” murmured Ninette. lam sorry that you think me silly. Forgive me, but love affairs seem very odd.” She looked so perplexed and helpless that she was once more affectionately kissed.

“Stop till you have a love affair of your own,” said Kitty. “I wish you had; you would be ever so much brighter. Whaf has become of that Lionel what’s-his-name? He seemed rather smitten. Does he ever put in ; an appearance?” Ninette turned away, and arranged her pillows.- It was the fh*st time Lionel Travers’ name had been mentioned to her since that unforgetable afternoon; and it was almost more than she could bear, and meanwhile keep up. the outward semblance of serenity, ft,

Haying giVen the pillows a good twist, she managed to say, without very much Alteration in her tone:

“He has not been at Kelton for months.”

. She did not, however, succeed in deceiving ‘Kitty. “Now I have got at it,” s h' e thought. “It is Lionel Travers’s absence, not mine, or the marriage with’ Phil that is making this poor little thing look ‘green and pale.’ ” Nevertheless, she did not consider it wise to proclaim her discovery, but went on talking cheerily. “And the girls —don’t they come and see you?” “Oh, yes, often—very often; they are so kind.” “I wonder if they will go on being kind. My, don’t they hate me. Won’t they sit up when they hear I have,married the doctor!”

And Kitty laughed heartily. What Lionel Travers himself would think when he heard she had married the doctor, had more than on«e perplexed her; and the thought of him made a dark shadow creep across her brow, even though she -was laughing the while. But he was not in the neighborhood—Jhat was a comfort.

Although his absence was evidently regretted by Ninette, it was a boon to Kitty, yet— — “Love affairs were mysterious,” Ninette'was “right. She began to think there was one here. .Why had Lionel Travers absented himself for "months? Why was Phil always testy and cantakerous when the name of Travers was mentioned? Could it be that he had refused to give his sister to Lionel, on account of some prejudice or knowledge ha.possessed? She would not ask him the question direct —that would not be wise; but she would set herself to* find out. It had invariably seemed to pjease\ him when she encouraged any . disparagement of the Travers family. She would go on doing this in a more •aggravated form, and see what came of it.’

“Wait and watch, and ask no questions,” that was ever her motto in connection with the doctor.

For a while the two girl-friends were both very silent; and Ninette lay very still, feeling peaceful and helped by Kitty’s presence. “I believe, if I go away, you will go to sleep. YVon’t you, Nini, darling? Do try!” “I like to have, you with me,” whispered Ninette; but it was evident that she was very tired. “I won’t go away for long. I’ll go and get you a cup of tea, and bring one up for, myself at the same time.” '

To this arrangement Ninette consented ; but when, at the end of a quarter of an hour, Kitty returned, it was to find the fragile, worn-out girl fast asleep. Late on into the day did Ninette sleep until long after the newly-married couple had breakfasted, and the doctor had departed on the round of visits that would not, perhaps, be so much neglected now that- Kitty had come back to Orchard Cottage- In evidence that there was about to be a change in the doctor’s habits, his middle-aged substitute was told that the tipie for which he. had engaged him having expired, > his services wore no longer required.

When Ninette at last came down, gowned as-V.'ual in white, she looked very sweet, and more like her old self than she had done for months.

Her long sleep and Kitty’s caressive ministration had already begun to tell. .. ,

They had only just finished luncheon, and were enjoying their post prandial Mocha, which was an institution at the Cottage, since the doctor allowed little or no wine to be drunk, when Mab and Di arrived at the gate. In a moment their quick eyes recognised Kitty. Perched up in a dog-cart, as they were, they could see all over the drawing-room.

“What an inconvenient, moment!” exclaimed Mab. “Oh, Di, I wish to goodness we had not sent the letter.”

“Never mind, dear, it can’t be helped now. Let us hope that good will come of it.”

And no further time being available for colloquy, they went into the drawing-room, by the window Ninette opened for them. “Goodness, Ninette, how much better you do look!” was the immediate exclamation.

“I am only just down; have had such a long sleep,”, answered Ninette. “Beside”—and as she spoke she laid her hand on Kitty’s arm and drew her towards her—“besides, let me iptroduce you to my sister-in-law, Phil’s wife.”

Kitty was very grateful for the clasp of Ninette’s hand, for she knew quite w ( ell that it was given in order to show these two girls, who disliked her, that they would be perforce compelled to receive the situation pleasantly. That announcement startled them was evident, so much so that they fell against each other in an outburst of sudden surprise that was worthy of the. comic stage. In a moment, however, they, recovered themselves, for the instincts of the gentlewoman were always keenly alive in each of them. Mab, freest of speech, was, as usual, the spokeswoman. She held out her hand to Kitty.

“I congratulate you,” she said. “You have married a charming man.”

Di followed with a but she only murmured something unintelligible that was supposed to be congratulations. I’hen they crossed over to the further side of the room, as though desirous of getting away from the subject. Perhaps they were both a little disappointed, for, without acknowledging it, each had fostered the latent hope that she might one day be Mrs. Wrottesley. When is girlhood without a dream? But it was fully dispelled now; and as they began to talk rapidly, no one suspected that it had ever existed.

. “We are very early visitors,” said Mab, Di, as usual, following suit with little chirps; “but we have only come for "two minutes.” “You’ll have some luncheon,” said hospitable Ninette; then she coloured up, wondering whether she had any longer the right to ask people to luncheon in her brother’s house.

“No, dear, no; impossible—thanks. . We came by Burnside to leave a note for mother at the Vicarage; but we are bound for Melcombe, to meet a train. Luncheon at home 2.30.” “With youf guest?” “Lionel.”

4 Ninette clutched the back of a chair near which they were standing, and tried very hard to appear indifferent, but she paled.

Kitty returned the courtesy of the handgrasp by coming to the rescue now.

“Mr. Travers coming! What an agreeable addition to our Burnside society ! How glad you must be !” Kitty, nevertheless, regretted his advent with all her heart.

“Yes, but we must not stay to talk of it, or we shall be late for the train. Ta-ta!” and they went off as in a whirlwind, very glad to get away, and quite sorry that they had come —more sorry still that Lionel was coming in response to a strong letter they had written him telling him how ill Ninette was.

“And now this woman has sprung a surprise on us,” said Di. “Married to the doctor too! What will Lionel say Eh, Mab?” “I don’t suppose it will make much difference to him; but I wish we had not written just at this inopportune moment. It teaches us not to interfere. Eh, Di?” Thus annoyed, they prattled on as they drove to Melcombe, neither heeding nor caring how much the groom at the back of the dog-cart heard of the conversation. They were just in time. The train steamed into the station as they drove up. Lionel stepped out of a first-class smoking carriage, looking somewhat anxious and haggard. He had been pining for a siglit of Ninette during all the months of absence; but how could he approach her after that painful interview with her brother? Now, however, if she were ill—dying, perhaps—every difficulty

must be waived

He tried to be cheery with hi? sisters, but they saw how changed he was. They scarcely, however, as cribed the change to Ninette, and were thoroughly puzzled by® the whole complications. Notwithstanding their mannish habits, they were very womanish at core—certainly too much so to keep startling news on the tip of their tongues, and not come out with it. Before they had driven out of the station, where the groom was left, to follow with Lionel’s luggage in a fly, the marriage of Kitty to Phil Wrottesley was announced.

“Great Heavcfe: Rut it is Impos siblel Why, she is- ” “\Vhat, Lionel? Why should she not marry the doctor?” He had recovered his equili forium. “I thought she was already married,” he said, quietly. “A widow,” suggested Mab. “A widow, is she? Well, as long as Dr. Wrottesley knows all about her, it does not matter to us, does it?”

CHAPTER XX

DOUBTS AND DIFFICULTIES

Lionel Travers was exceedinglyannoyed at having allowed his emotions to overcome his discretion, and thus involve him in a fresh complication, which his coming into the neighborhood of Burnside must at that particular moment inevitably bring about. After dinner, finding that his mother was in very fair health and had made no special petition for assistance from him in the direction of the estates, as he sat alone cracking walnuts and sipping sherry', he was revolving in his mind what cogent reason he could give for departing on the morrow. That such a step was cowardly, he could not help recognising; but surely cowardice under the circumstances was better than an exhibition of bravery that might lead to.a disagreeable quarrel. So prompted reason; but Lioni'l Travers, though a slight, almost ef-feminate-looking man, was no coward ; and in this instance the longing to see Ninette once more was very’ strong, though he felt that to bring it about would Be by no means easy. It was quite impossible for him to go over to the Cottage and call, now that he was informed' that Kitty had arrived there as its mistress.

Philip Wrottesley’s suspicions about the story of his presence with her in the wood would at once be revived ; he would decide that he had come there solely on her account, and a serious dispute would be the inevitable result.

What puzzled Travers even mon than the manner by which he wa to find his own way through a'mazv. of difficulty, was how this mqrriage had been brought about. “Where was Harry Jackson?” The vicar’s nephew had been a friend of Lionel Travers since they were boy's together; and, though blaming and condemning him for the many shortcomings of his manhood, he had stuck to him as had but few others, and on several occasions had helped both him and Kitty with money: thus he knew him well. “Had she divorced him, or was he dead?”

Not an. allusion to the subject had he heard, which was strange, considering that several men in the set tp which he belonged in London were acquainted with Jackson, and the chances of his escape from justice had been very frequently discussed. “Surely,” thought Travers, as he finally rose Trom the table, and, having lighted a cigar, sauntered out on to the terrace. “Surely she cannot be so rash as to take it for granted that, having escaped to South America, he will never return. She would venture much to get a good home and a new name; but the doctor is a sensible man and reported to be honorable. He would not lend himself to such a fraud; and Kitty assured me that he knew all about everything in connection with her and Jackson. But does he?” And, putting this question to himself, he stopped suddenly in his walk, seized with an almost overpowering horror at the idea of Ninette—sweet Ninette —being mixed up in close relationship with a woman whose good name he believed was irretrievably tarnished by falsehood and intrigue.

“Dr. Wrottesley had married this adventuress whose past, supposing that Jackson were hot dead, might one day be brought so prominently to light that the whole family, even Ninette, would, in the world’s opinion, be tainted by it; and the representative of a good old county family the heir 'to Kelton Court and its broad acres—was considering the question of asking this girl to share his home and life! Was it wise? Was it the act of a sane man?”

Thus suggested prudence; but love is seldom prudent, and Lionel Travers’s passion for Ninette was scarcely likely to be crushed out because prudence suggested that it would be awkward to have Kitty for a sister-in-law.

Away with base thoughts that could suggest the desertion of Ninette! She must be saved from becoming entangled with Kitty, if it were by any means possible. (To be Continued .) L.W.- —18.