THE HEIR TO THE THRONE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10923, 12 November 1913, Page 8

THE HEIR TO THE THRONE.

(By ARTHUR W. MARCHMONT.)

(AIA Rights Rsbbbtbb.?

CHAPTER XXIIT. , MURIEL INTERVENES. Muriel Maltravers was at the front door as I left Evala, and I hurried to her, judging that Valtoun would not be far off. As my course was now definitely taken, I was anxious to explain "the position to him and get away from The Chase as soon as possible. * , , She turned as I approached and her sharp eyes and quick wits read my looks instantly. "Is it really possible?" she .asked. "Is what possible?". "That-yon should think of li*ving The Chase at such a time?" "IJiope that Valtoun will stay." "Of course, ho will. He has promised me. Oh. you needn't look so surprised. He is a rational person, and ns soon as I explained things to him, ho said that ho must stay. And now I want to talk to you. Come out on the lawn, where we can't be overheard. I stopped! in the hall here to make sure ; that tjiere was no eavesdropping while you were with Evala," sho said as wo went out.' Her face was unusually serious, and we walked the length of the lawn in silence. "Do you remember our former talk when we met by Stanmore Church? I advised you then to give It up. I told you that Evala cared for you, hut that sho would sacrifice everything for her country. Has your masculine intelligence grasped the full significance of that fact yet?" "I quite beliovo it, Miss Maltravers." "Is that why you are going to desert the woman you love at the very moment of moments when she most needs you?" V . '' "That's rather, a harsh view of my notion." "Then, pray, what is it but deser--lioiT? I don't suppose that for an instant you think it so. In all probability," you are rather pluming yourself upon your self-denial, your Quixotism, . and * your exalted motives, and telling yourself that you are helping her out of a difficult position. Such silly tilings are done with lofty motived Just look at ■ this one. You are acfing for all the world as if you were being frightened away by the bark of that conceited puppy, Count Lugo." " That is not my reason." "" Oh, dear, you are very nearly hopeloss, Sir lan. " I'll tell you what your reason is, as*-you term it. You have done all this for Evala and placed her under a huge load of obligation; you are dyinw to stop here in order to be .able 1 to nelp her; you know that if you asked to stay she could not refuse you; and so you thiuk it right and proper to pretend to her that you don't wish to stop, lest your presence hero should, make things more difficult for her in regard to this stupid Tlirone business. Apparently, you can't see that, her difficulties will not bo one jot less if you go away, while her danger will be infinitely' greater." " Valtoun will be hero." "Can't you' see a fact until it hits you in the face? Don't you know that . Evala is just as eager to have you here as you are to stay to help her ? But, of course, she can't ask you.% What you ought to have done just now was to tell her bluntly that you meant to stay here until she was out of the wood,- and that if that Lugo or anybody else raised any objection they might go—well, where he's due to go when the time comes." " It is not for me to force myself—" "Oh, dear, oh, dear, you are really too stupid for words" she broke in. "Don't we women like to be mastered? Go back now and tell her you've changed your mind. You'll make hor the happiest girl in the country." I shook my head. "No., I have done the best thing—the only possible thing." "Isn't that like a manl 'I have said it; therefore it is best,' " sho cried, mimicking my tone. "If I didn't know you were not a coward, I should think you. were afraid, Sir > lan. Wait, though." She paused and looked at me intently, and her tone changed from raillery to seriousness. "You may be a coward,, after all. You may etill thmk that you can win her and! are afraid to trust yourself near her'; afraid, lest you should tell her of your love. If so, then I too say, go—and never come back. So '. long as Evala Relieves that' this conspiracy is for the good of her country, she will never conBent to he your wife. Never 1 She will promise to marry this fop, this Lugo, just as she would marry a costermonger if she believed it to be right and necessary for her country. If you are afraid to see her engaged to him, then go. But don't forget wishes you to'stay and help her; not because she cares for you, but in spite of it, rather —because she believes you can help her cause. Are you brave enough to play that part, Sir Ian?" "I, scarcely know how to answer you," I said hesitatingly. "Could you face the ordeal of being with her constantly, yet always apart, separated by a barrie'r neither time nor effort could hope to remove and helping her—not to be happy, many men could face that—but helping her to sacrifice her happiness by marrying such a man as Count Lugo?" I winced as if her words were knotted whiplashes. "If she wished it, yes," I answered, gritting my teeth at the prospect. " There 1 Fve been serious long enough/' she cried with a sudden change. "If I go on, I shall make myself as miserable as you look. I'll find Lord Valtoun for you "; and with a burst of laughter this strange girl, mixture of frivolous impetuosity and shrewd seriousness, turned away. But she was back directly, her hand outstretched. "You—you mean it? You are sure of yourself?" she, asked, her tone tense and very earnest." "Yes, on my word." She held my hand a moment, looking at me searchingly. "How you must ' love her 1" she murmured under her breath. Then like a flash she changed, her eyes beamed, and with a smile she hurried off. Had I done right to give such a pledge? Was I really sure of myself and able to bear such an ordeal as she J»ad outlined with such gripping shrewdness? She had read me riglitly; it Would not have been difficult to set my Own desires aaide to secure Evala's happiness; but to help' in sacrificing her to such a man as I believed this iiugo to be 1 Ten thousand times harder to face. I winced at the mere thought of it 1 To witaerts day by day the work of sacrifice; to school my tongue to treat the man with courtesy; to bear with patience hjs arrogant assertion of- his rights; to watch him gloating in his triumph, as he took the place for Whioh I craved; to mask my contempt ©£ him end take his insults in silence; and, hardest of all, to watch the happiness' of the woman I loved decaying atealthily beneath the brave pretence of resignation and contentment. " You look grave enough for a pdge, lan." I started as Valtoun's voice brake in upon my thoughts. "Matters are (serious enough here to make one grave, Bob." But not with him. Things were going his way, .and ho was bubbling over

Author of *Wheu I was Cm;" "Th« Queen's Advocate," ateutto

with high spirits. " N"ot so had as all that surely," ho answered lightly. " I want to know whether, if the arrangements admit of it, you can stop down here for a hit?" His inclination was to laugh, but he checked it. "I think I could manage it," ho said gravely. "WhyP" I told him my reasons. We discussed the matter at some length, and ho did his best to conceal his intense satisfaction by raising one or two exceedingly lame objections. (To bo continued.)