THE STORYTELLER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11282, 9 January 1915, Page 2

THE STORYTELLER.

THE IRONMASTER'S HEIR. 4. (By MISS KKXYO'N.^ 'Author of ••The Winning of Gwennra," ' "The Wooing of Mii'anwy," etc. [Am- RtoitTS iyFSKitvr.n.J CHAPTKR XVI. IjApy i.nun's Dtsrovt'.RY. " Lady .Liiith was the last person in * ■the, world to lie an eavesdropper, hut it happened that, as she was sitting on .' a .seat whieh had he.ni made noun! the hroad trunk of a tanions old dm tree in the park. one of her father's grooms, who had boon spending a holi- ' 'liny at lits home in tlio village, eamo Sauntering up with a young gardener, ■and, not seeing his mistress on the other side of the groat tree, he sug- ' gesred that, as it was not quite, Unto for the.m to return to tho Hall, they might, as well have a smoke, out there in tlio park, and with that he sat down. Lady Lilith's first impulse was to rise and go away; she only hesitated hoeaiiso it. would make. the. youths somewhat crestfallen if they supposed they had intruded upon her. lie who hesitates is lost. And tho next, minute alto 101 l that she eoukl not; rise and disclose her presence. it was the groom's fault, though ho did not intend any harm; and ho blurted out her name. '' Lady Lilith's another," he remarked, as he-trimmed the cigar ho was. about to smoke. "The course, of her true lore isn't running smooth.'' '' Not? Wliat do you mean?" asked the gardener.. "If ever anyone ought. to have happiness in love it's our Lady Angel." "Well, yon know, it's in this war. Young Mr Palliser Clifford at the Court is lier young man. They've been attached since they were children,'and everyhody looked on and approved; hut Lliero are ructions now." '- What do you mean ? Tell me," demanded his companion. 'Well, you must not allow it to go turther. But my brother, he's third footman at the Court, ami he says Sir .Daniel's been mighty angry with MY Clifford, and there was an awful scene; and ho turned him out neck and crop!-" "You don't say so! Mr Clifford! Well, what next?" '; All! You may well ask that. He : set .off and walked over to see Lady . Liiith. But he wasn't allowed to set foot in the house. Sir Daniel had been at the 'phone, and my Lord daren't have aught to do with Mr Clifford after what lie heard; so the poor chap was turned clean away from the door." '• You don't say so! 'Twas very insnlr.in'." •■ Insulting's not the word for it! It- - was beastly!" ••How did he take it?" ''Quietly. Them high chaps always .does. But ho turned as white as your collar, and went away holding 'is head 'nughty-like. The next minute Lady Liiith came into the "hall, and says to mv friend the first footman, ' Who was that at the door?' She was told it was Mr Clifford, arid she went off in ■' all haste after him, hurrying along the I terrace and across the la.wn to the ; drive lower dawn, where they couldn't s see her from the house. Of course, ■my friend couldn't see her, and 1 knew nothing about it until half an hour she cames across to the 1 stablest-she, who never visits them. 1 she says, quite humble-like, ■'/ I want you to take my horse, put a J gentleman's saddle on it, ride down ■•V' the avenue and across by the grove to and on towards Lottingi; liamV, looking hard: all the time, until '■/von. batch him up—then tell him ' ■c -Beg pardon, my lady, but v ho ?' says ■'- I. ' Oh, Mr Clifford, who has just '- been here,' says she, ' and, George, 1 don't mention it to anyone that I've "'sent yoii on this errand.' ' No, my lady.' says I ' What. '" . _

; .' ',' I don't think you are keeping your .;;- .promise. Look how you rre telling • me!" • '•Oh. but you don't count! You're nobody." '"."• "Thank you for nothing I Go on Vvi'tli your tab." "■There! You .see you want to hear! Well, then. 'l'll tell you. She said M" Palfiser wonted to get to the stati.m to-'entch the London train, and she didn't think he ought to hurry ->o, after that illness he's had. so I -pi-s to beg him to ride the home. Well, 1 set off, but, lor', if Lady Lilit-li had ..' iinowii! Men were deceivers ever. -•Still,-.] shouldn't have thought it o" : Ivli- Clifford!" " What was the matter?" asked the. other, with greedy interest. ""Well, what do you think? "When ] 1(01 up to Mr Clifford, there he -van, taking his ease in the grove and contabbing with a common work-girl. She was cryin', and lie seem to be comfortin'- her quite lover-like. Yes, in- ' deed I felt as if I could punch his knowiir as I did what her ladyship was feclin' about him?" '" Did yoxi chow yourself ? Did . you speak to "him, Dick?" "Of course I did! Hadn't I my ' mistress's message- to deliver? So I tolled him that 'her ladyship had sent Tier own horse for him to ride to the station, and lie. thanked mo, but mnt- .' tered some excuse about not being able •to get off. 1 took it upon myself to hay her ladyship said that it was of .importance he should catch his trara. ■' . . . 'Ah, I told her that,' said h.<. i ' Well, now, you must give her my f compliments and say that an unexpect- '' ed engagement prevents my getting ■ off to-night.' An' there was that young I woman,'sniffin' and sobbing all -"'ho time. Disgustiu', 1. call it.' ,• ''Did you bell her ladyship?" ! "No, not I! If sorrow must touch I her' it shall not come through me!" ' This was said very fervently. ; Ladv Lihth forgave him For speak- ' ! ing so freely of her to his friend. But ■\ there was a fierce pain at her heart .'when she thought of Palliser lingering ("there with a, ptioi girl, who had evidently sufficient claim upon him to detain him in the neighbourhood when ;he much wanted to get away. Sh« 'tried to think that it was a case of 1 charity, some poor gir! in trouble I wlion«. he was endeavouring to assist, . ,bnt was haunted by the thought that the groom did not think so, and he had ' f.een thcni." ' She. sab perfectly motionless, her ; face so white that it looked as if : t ' were carved in ivory. Less than ever ' would he risk the two men's discovering her presence. !h svhh with, lelief that she heard them get up arid go away, tramping heavily across the ])ark towards tlu•■Hall, without once looking back.

fat.' had been kind to her in nr.t •letting them sec her sitting at the other side oF the big tree. :' Now she was alone with the memory of her gnnm's ct.rious statcmc..'. '■ fvery word of which she believed because she knew the man <vho s|>okc. ■ Jvever to her knowledge, had he uttered a li«: Yv'hy flid Calliper linger in the elm prove -with the. yoan.o; girl. He was : in' trouble. 'Surely she was rot. crying .jibout that! But no of course not: .perhaps the fact that he was in trouble ■ rr.aflo him feel more. «yino;>.tliy for her ' But what had :-he to do with him." "-Could she not have brought h-u- troubi-> to the- Hall, -whoso mistress was only tan glad to relieve distress;' j " I don't like her taking il to IVli~er." Lady bilith confessed to herself. " But T will not doubt him. Almost all my HFo I have known him , to. perfectly honourable. Doubtless he, •'would, explain the situation to my '" satisfaction were, he here. My I'nlliser ! cannot do wrong--at least. T mean his |.fr:.iilty are always ■ve.niji.l. He. is my j helwe/i, and I soingj to doubt

SHORT AND ' SERIAIm

Kising, she walked briskly homeward. saying to heiv-df ;it intervals, "'My. love would be worth nothing if I doubted him." So she tried not to fool the ache at her heart, tried not to think of that which she had casually discovered, and set to work to fill her mind with other interests, especially with care for her sister, who was causing her some anxiety in. those days. Adela watt rather more difficult than usual to live with. Her temper was variable, sometimes sullen, sometimes fiery.. She went out a good deal alone, and staved out too late. Moreover, she- would not give any account, of her doings to her sister, much resenting the hitter's questions. She lost tic opportunity of speaking against Palliser, declaring that she was of the same mind as her father and Sir Daniel about his guilt in connection with Wilfrid's death, and saying over and over again that Liiith ought to throw up her engagement, because tho man. was not worthy of her love, and to marry him would be courting misery. Naturally Liiith would not listen to such talk, aticl thou Adohi declared rudely tlv.t .neither would she listen to Lilith's advice or confide in her. IJetween 'Lord Elvingtoit and his elder daughter, in .spite of their great mil tender love, there was now a coolness earned hy'their different feelings about Palliser. Law ranee was away. Ho had gone on a voyage round the world'. Lady Liiith took an early opportunity of having a talk with. Lady Wentworth about Palliser, and it was ouito refreshing to find that tho latter did not at all sharo her husband's views about him Dearly as she. had loved her boy, and broken-hearted as she was about his death. Lady Wentworth was not so unjust a-s to blame Palliser for it b . Sho had a very high opinion of him, and had always loved him next to her husband and son. " I should be bereaved indeed were I to lose dear Palliser also." she said to Lady Liiith. "He is all we have now, you kno>v, and he is a. very clear fellow indeed. I know for a fact that he was devoted to Wilfrid, and got him out of many a scrape. You know, dear, he is a little older and perhaps more level-headed than was my dear bov-thou:;h not so fascinating—-and he ha« been his mentor, in such a nice, pleasant way, both at Eton and at Oxford. I used to feel so safe about Wilfrid when I knew Palliser was with him. And they loved each other. David and Jonathan thev used to be called."

"Oh. I- know!" Liiith rejoined. "And because he loved Wilfrid so much it is bitter indeed for poor Palliser to have this most unjust charge brought up against him." " Yes, 1 have shed many tears about it. He sent me the sweetest little note of farewell after leaving here. Sir Daniel would not allow me to see him —ah, how I felt it! But I have written to' Palliser. Ho knows what I think," and smiles chased away the tears which had overflowed "Do you think Sir Daniel will relent!" Lady Liiith asked. "It is so terrible to banish dear Palliser from home and you." • '■Yet perhaps it is better than if he stayed on here and they were both at enmity!" And Lady Wentworth sighed. She had used her influence with Sir Daniel in vain. Ho would not listen to her.

Lady Wentworth was much comforted by her' young friend's firm belief in Pallisor's integrity. "I"always had a high opinion of you, Lilith, dear,'' she said.. '"But it is higher than ever now, for you are a true-hearted, noble minded woman, although little more than "a girl," and she kissed her tenderly, entreatiing her to come to see her often. "For lam bereft of my children," she said, " and my dear husband is taciturn and unlike himself just now. lam sure he is very unhappy, and he will not let me comfort him, but sits alone and mopes.'

'• Is there anything I can do for you, dear Lady Wentworth?" Lady Lilith asked 1 as she was leaving.

"Ah, there is just one thing, dear. T have been thinking of my hoys' old nurse, Mrs Jones, at Burgheath: she will have been in great trouble about Wilfrid, poor old soul! She sent such a beautiful cross of lilies, and I haven't been able to write to thank her, but if you could motor over and see her for me. and tell her that her sympathy was such a comfort to me, I should be very glad." "I will go to-morrow," said the other, delighted to be of use.

" Ah do. and' say all nice things to the dear old woman from me," Lady Wentworth said, and then, as Lady Lilith was leaving, "God bless you, child ! I only wish I had a daughter like you." The following afternoon Lady Lilith motored over to Burgheath to call cm Mrs Jones, whose acquaintance she had first mad'e when a little child in the Rilford Court nurseries, when she and her sister went to tea with the Wentworth boys. As was natural, she was not a little surprised to find the old woman had taken a boarder, and one whose evident condition would entail so much extra care and trouble.

When, they were alone she expostulated with the old woman, reminding her that Lady Wentworth allowed her a pension and the rent of her cottage iu order that she might rest in her old age after her a-ctive life spent in the Wentworth service.

" And isn't my service still at. the command of the family?" cried Mrs Jones, excitement making her eyes bright with almost youthful fire. " f'ni not done yet, Lady Lilith dear, and when one of them tells me to take a poor woman in and nurse her, I'm game, as tho the dear young gentlemen used to say." : _" Ts it no really, nurse?" asked Lilith, the colour fading from her cheeks as she realised that the young woman with the beautiful, if sad, face she had seen for a few minutes on entering was probably the young woman whom Palliser was with when her groom overtook him. "Yes." The old woman nodded to emphasise her words. "But you must not ask, me which of the gentlemen it was, dearie, because 1 can't tell you. I promised to keep the matter secret. ft did. not require much thought to enable Lilith to know what it was. Of the three gentlemen at Lilford Court. Wilfrid was dead and Sir Daniel beyond suspicion. Only Palliser war. "left, therefore it must be he who had brought the weeping and distressed young woman to his old mir.se. Lady Lilith could not. stoop to ask anything more of. the matter. ' She felt a <mdde.ii longing to be alone, and therefore soon brought her visit to a termination. She went home a sadder if not a wiser woman. How would it all end? CITAPTEITxVII. TFIK STTMKK. Sir Daniel was naturally a hard man. Ho had been brought' up under TWO DOSKS GIVE KKTJ.EF. I am subject to bowel troubles which cause pain and inconvoniciioo/' writ.l 3 Mi- Alfred Wane. 185. Auburn Hoad, Auburn, Vic, " but two doses of Chamberlain's Colic and _ Diarrhcea Remedy give immediate relief. I am pleased to know there is such a safe and certain remedy as Chamberlain's Colic and Diarrhoea Remedy, and always keep a -bottle handy,'-'- id

adverse condition-, his lath-:'!, a peer clerk, having died young, and hi: mother having had to earn nor hoy's living and her own by keeping a little shop. As a. small bov the future baront't r;ui orriirirls for her rnd for other people, when ho was lucky enough t<> get employment, of lon receiving ino -e kicks than ha'pence, as ilioy -ay in Ibo North, for till his hard toil. In his young mind the fierce desire grew, and grew until hj" uns by it. that ho might ono day Income rich and groat, and make oh.; r pei pie lag for him as ho lagged now fni others. Visions of how he nnuld in his turn ho hard on thorn inclined tlo handsome hoy to domineer v. hen ho had a. chance; and always ho w.is eager to succeed and become :uh. Over in Liverpool, when his mother moved thoro. If obtained nerk in an ironmonger's shop as errand hoy. rising steadily as fast a?:, a boy eiuh! rise to higher and higher posvs His employer, regarding him as a singularly plover hid. exacted lenlly skilled labour from him. omntiig oniy to pay hi in the higher wages other.-; would receive for tlio Idee woi:;. Tie injustice rankled, ns to tlio noy iho higher wages would have meant ?o much. All the time, knowing that knowledge is [xnvcr he was spending his evenings in a night-school, learning diligently that whieh wniil make him wiser find more efficient.

By the time hi-, master died Daniel had risen to be his foreman, and the deceased man left him a legacy of £OOO. With thai, when the business became a company. Daniel purchased a .small share, widen eventually became a valuable property. Then he sold it well, .and. saving his money, took a place in some ironworks in the heart of the Black country, in order that he might learn the industry. Beginning quite low down, and doing the work of an unskilled labourer, he again rose as fast as it was possible from one rank to another in the- great hive of industry, until he had practically mastered the ins and outs of the great ironworks. After that, in the early midill- age, he started for himself at Lottinghain, bringing with him picked men chosen from among his fellow-workers, and so endeared to himself, or so influenced by his stronger will, that they had unanimously thrown up their good actuations to join him in the big venture. How it grew from tho very first was like a marvellous fairy tale. Capital came rolling in from the time when Daniel married an heiress, the only child of a wealthy ironmaster, with whom lie had business relations on an extensive scale, to the time when his capita] doubled itself in one year by sheer good fortune, combined with his dauntless energy. From that day. as the years rolled on, so did his property. The Wentworth Ironworks were a power amongst the powerful industries of Lancashire, and the wealthy and wonderfully clever Daniel Wentworth became a big and influential man, so that when, quite suddenly and through a succession of deaths." the son of a man who had never risen above being a clerk, became a baronet, the fact seemed by all to be quite proper and fitting. Certainly Sir Daniel Wentworth possessed dignity enough for even higher rank; moreover, being wealthy, he could support tho title worthily. His wife, to, with her sweetness and grace, filled her new position charmingly. Things had prospered so exceedingly with them that when their only son was taken away by suddoil and unexpected death tin- shock of it added to the acut.ene.ss of their grief. Poor Lr.dy Wentworth, after her first prostration, bore it meekly enough, but not so her husband. Like Pharaoh of old he hardened his heart, filercely resenting the calamity, and rebelling against the sorrow which had forced, its way into his prosperous life.

Moreover, though he suppressed even the thought of it, the shadow of disgrace, if not of wrongdoing, brought to his knowledge by Durose, embittered his memory of his only, beloved son. Then the dire news was conveyed to him by Adela. that Wilfrid had not come by his death fairly, but that his cousin, now looked upon as a s/.riplanter. had brought it about for his own ends. Sir Daniel became violent ?n h'S rage. Having turned out. Palliser, the guilty usurper, as he believed him to be, and poisoned the mind of Lord Elvington against him. he forthwith made a mv.v will in which nis nephew was not mentioned. He would have kept the title from him if he could, but that was out of his power. Sir .Daniel had always been hard on his employees, but when Palliser became his secretary the young man seized every opportunity of interceding for the workpeople, and sometimes successfully. Xmv, however, that Pallieer was gone, he made the- overlookers and managers exact the utmost from them, and give the minimum amount of wages. He ordered that no mistakes were to be forgiven. Instant dismissal was the penalty for the least offence, or the breaking of the slightest rule, even if the motive had been excellent.

"Cruel!" the workpeople called it; they hold meetings and made plaits for their own protection. When their trad© union called upon them to strike. every boy and man in the Wentworth Ironworks obeved.

Sir Daniel's fury know no bound*. He sent a. special messenger throughout the length and breadth of the North Country to call together another body of workers, offering wages which far exceeded any that, his own men had wanted.

"When the strangers —blacklegs--were imported, ami came to woik, a large force oi police Formed their escort and bodyguard. The maddened work-people made use of reprisals, and Sighting became the. order of the day. A lot. of the lowest clas.s of miners—men who drank and only worked occasionally - and all the' out-of-works eageriy joined ni the tray. The mischief they eontriverl to do was enormous. Sir Daniel's young trees were uprooted. hi:- crops were spoiled, even his kitchen gardens Mere visited in the night by roughs, who pulled up roots, broke the glass roois of greenhouses, a.nd devastated them. But worse followed, when his cattle ru<l horses were shot or lamed, and his dogs poisoned. Poor Lady Went worth, always frad and delicate, fell ill of a low nervous fever.

Lady Lilith went over to help to nurse her, or rather to supply the low and companionship she needed, whde trained nurses did the resl. And ihe ehler woman clung It. .'her. and won! 1 not let. her retui n home '" T shall not be here long." Lidy Wentworth said, pitifully, "and I am so lonch .so dreadfully lonely! : \!y dear boy has died, my dear nephew is gone, my husband is estranged from me—yes. he has lu.ilt a barrier between us, behind which wo are eae'ii suffering from heartbreak. Stay. Lilith. Keep me company yhile 1 am here. It will not be long, dear." In tlie face of this great need of her. Lady .Lilith forsook her other duties in order to give her sweet an<{ tender care to the old lady. Lord Klvington was too chivalrous to insist upon her return'to his house, whfin his much valued friend Laay "Wentworth needed her so greatly; but her being away made him ji lonely man. Lady Adela. was seldom at hand when he wanted her. and he had never eared ,-o much for his younger daughter as for Ladv Lilith.

He was. very fond of his old. neiga-

hour. Sir l);micl. Imi now his vor affection for ti 1111 \\ ch the e.-mse of

<-'rio\\)m <li-'.ccsr-- Sir Daniel was mi different from of old. Lord Klvington conk not. fail to In' repulsed hy hi r > hardness ■"inrl tin- >v;nd of Rood broodiim lie showed by Ids war with is v--«'jrU--p* , oj>]*>. • Moreover, not. conl<uit viih being hard himseit. In- endeavoured to make the Marquis hard with Ill's miners. .Their (.'.(Hid wages and general prosperity "ere si tlmrn in :he fio-di to Sir Daniel, fio d' ehirod tint it Ha., the sight of those pampered minor.- that caused hi.-- :mn to rovo!

Lorrl Elvmgl.on »»'<injr harassed by thos' insinuation'*, toiii his manager., to ho less genorocs i'l their iron tmont of the miners

Strikes «c!o jo hie' air. and th" lonst, illtrcatmont, of the minors paved the way for their revolt. Tli" striko agitators spoke eloquently of tli" riches piled np :lll 'i running ovor. which oniplovors kept, lo themselves, while employees wi'ip herded together like dr.zs, and- treated more like lour4ootod than, human being--Revolt was in Hi" nil". "Oil. tlmt Pallisor were there!" sighed Lidy Lilith. as she find Lady Weir-V'-orto iW.uld know how to sprak to those poor. 11 i.-.guid.'d people, ovon if he were nu~ nh!" to .soften Sir Daniel'.; rule."

" Yet, he von Id know how to speak, and the men would' listen to him. who has always boon on their side," Lady Wontworth said. " Could you w) ito to himr - " she slices ted. " Yes. I do not know his private address, bni I could write to him at his clul). Still. iu y may not like to come hero lest Sir Daniel .should think ho was interfering." '•(> li, vhal. does thnt matter, if only he stops the mischief? And my husband' cannot think worse of him than he does now," and Lady Woiit-worth sighed. Lady Lilith sighed, too. How miserable it all was! However, she promised to write to Palliser, with whom she corresponded at intervals. Never to him had ; he mentioned the delay in his departure from Pilford', or shown the least shadow of doubt—indeed she felt none now. having convinced herself that he could easily explain all that seemed strange about his lingering with the young work woman and placing her in the care of old Mrs Junes. Perhaps it was for the sake of another man ho took the trouble, which seemed so incriminating for himself. Perfect love is perfect trust, and Lady Lilith's love routed the least ambiance of doubt. A note she received from her father hastened into action her determination to write to Palliser.

The danger \ra« imminent. Lord I'ilvington had written : "Information has reached me to the effect that, at a meeting held lately by the strikers, drastic measures were decided upon, and the fighting, instead of being against all blacklegs, will be cencentrated against Sir Daniel. Tell him he must not stir abroad, even with an escort, of police. T have informed the superintendent of police of the danger, and he begs that Sir Daniel will keep within doors, as the police force would not he strong enough to defend him against a huge army of roughs. The military will have to be called in, in all probability, and a magistrate has been told' to prepare for a summons to road the Riot Act. Use every means in your power to keep Sir Daniel at home. Would that Palliser were here I At least he would not allow violence."

The last was a great concession for the Marquis to make. •

Lady Lilith told Palliser of it in the letter she scribbled : " Lady Wentworth begs you to come." she said, '" and even my father Rays. ' "Would that Palliser were here ! At least he would not allow violence.' " Then she told him about the warning her father had' written, mentioning what information he had received as to the intentions of the. strikers to concentrate their attack on Sir Daniel. "Come to his help, dear Palliser,'' she said. "This is no time for .remembering his unkind treatment of Von. Think only of the good uncle of former days. He is an old man. you know, and shaken by much trouble. "It may he that violence would cost him his life. Gome to him now; perhaps your coming will save him." After the letter was sent she went to Sir Daniel's room, in,order to try to persuade him not to go to the works that d*ay. Alas for the futility of her intentions! The master had already gone earlier than usual, in his eagerness to support his new men. CHAPTER XVIII. 1..1DY ANGEL. Lady Lilith sent a footman after Sir Daniei with a note. He did not return. Barber, the butler, came to Lady. Lilith at noon with a grave face. He sa id :

•'The police have ordered the lodge people to lock the gates and keep them shut, my lady. They have also sent word to u.s to have all doors bolted and barred, and to be on the look out, and if necessary wo are to close the shutters in the low rooms. They s.ay a mob from Lottingham is coming this wav."

'"• Oh. but any attack seems incredible in this twentieth, century!" cried Lady Lilith ''What are the police doing to allow it '' "They are not numerous enough to cope with the mob, \our ladyship. But a magistrate has read the i'iot Act, and they have sent for the. military—and time enough, too! _ That ought to have been done before." "Oh, dear! I hope no one will be hurt!" sighed Lady Lilith. "1. cannot bear to think of soldiers charging into our poor, misguided people I"' '• Nor 1. But, my lady, is it not better that a few .should suffer than that many should go to destruction ?'' " Yes. yes. Now, as ever, the few must suffer for the .many. But I wish Sir Daniel had not gone out, You v.-ill let me- know the moment he. returns. Barberr" •' Yes. n\v lady.''

Lilith' returned to Lady Wentworth, who had in the meantime ascertained thai Sir Daniel had gone to the works as usual, in spite of rumours of hostility, which had filtered through even to her sick-room.

■' I have a dreadful presentment that my husband will be attacked," ,-he said to l.iliih. excitedly. ''They will have no mercy upon him, for ho has unfortunately incurred their hatred."

•• The police will look after him,' 1 said Lilitb. irving l« comfort her. ''They hyp fo v'cw in comparison with ihe M I'ik'i'v.^.'

" The military have hoen ordered to he in readiuos-." "Thai shows how frightful is the danger. And tiny will wait until he is killed hoforo doing anything. Ah! if only Palli.svr were lien-!" (he poor lady repeated. • '•They would listen (o him. He has won their love fy kindness and consideration. Would thai my husband had done likewise-!" '' I have sent to beg Sir Daniel to return." Lilith said, soothingly. '■ He niav he here soon." •'Oh. send nuain ! Send again!" said flic other, in groat distress. '■ f will go and see ahoiu U." Lilith left ilie room a> she spoke. Tn the ball site questioned Harbor, "bias Sir Daniel returned, or the man who was sent after hi in ':" ' : .Veiiher of them ha* come back, my lady." " Then I shall go myselt.'' " My lady, don't. I'll go. '•'But von have not the influence with the men that I have." object**! Lady Lilith. ".Most of the poor in Lnttinglmm know me. "As they may well! _ T>ady Angel they call you, my lady." Lady Lilith smiled. ■'Then they won't hurt mo.'' Tsut the, butler shook his he;id. '•'They ai-e not themselves just, now; they are like wild beasts. Gcd forgive thoni \'' " All the more reason that Sir Daniel should not face them alone.''

Without waiting I'or nif.r< word. I.j r ] v l.ilith ran upstair- to tho_ room v.hii'h she was using v.liil.- si rv.mt 1:1 the Ih.iiv, iiik! attir<"d hcrseli hi h"r ,)iTt.tifs(, hat. jiikl rojil. She wanted to look at, her I"'*!, in ovioi- to impress the mob. Init tl»-- faeo f ,!io saw in Jkm- mirror was almost oulourloss. . . (( |, ,< i " That won't, do!" sho <Tiocl. > n ' ilr.t slip nlinißfH hor fncP Hl,n , , vsJi.t and then rubbed her c" 0 " 1 " xviili a. towel until they worn rosy. 'Hi,- (.old water -also niadn hor <>>»* shine. . Slu>. surveyed herself in tho Ss ln^ s with wit.i.sl action, seeing no pallid, slirinkiiiK jiirl, hut a, beimtilul woman at h-r best. 'Dion slk- rnnc hor boll, ordered hor motor to ho- brmmht round her own ear and ohniifl'cur were at. the. Court, with hor- and, piling downstairs, took hor wont in the tonneau with groat eoniru'sure. P.:..rbv;r stood looking; apprehensively after boi" as slip glided out of sight. It. was one thing for Laxly Lilith. to sot. off so bravely in Sir Daninff! sisi.isianco. but qui to nnother to succeed in carrying out her courageous iiitontion.

The close ear glided quickly through the pretty village of R.ilfnrd. nnd ft von across the bridge over the Tarrant, hut, at, tho other side of the bridge there was trouble.

Repeated hootings of the. horn were not, sufficient, to clear the way for the car. It was in vain that the chauffeur sent forth his warning blast: there, wore too many people on the road, and they were too reckless and defiant to stop out of the way. "He daren't drive over us!" exclaimed more than one voice, whilst others shouted threatening warnings of what would happen if he d d. '" Stop your beastly motor!" shouted one.

'• Make room for the bloated aristocrats !"' jeered another. There was a temporary lull when Lady Lilith looked out, and the crowd saw her beautiful flushed face. Mrtiiy there had experienced her kindness and bounty in their hours of need, and others remembered whon they saw her that it was not manly to he rude and offensive to a. ladv.

"Why, it's Lady Hangel!" cried a big man, who had been ruffianly enough until a broad grin overspread his face at the sight, of her. "It's Lady 11 angel ! Let her pass, lads! When my wife was a,-dying she sat by 'er 'oiding of 'or 'and ! J. tell yer 6he did!" with a sob and a choke. " Aye, and when T was down w-i' the theumaiiz. 1. should ne'er 'are lived through if ef it 'adn't a bin for 'or." shrilled an old woman.

The crowd parted, making way for Lady Lilith's motor. She smiled and bowed her thanks, and her chauffeur drove on as fast as he dared, lest the temporary good will of the mob should change to hostility. They came in full view of the smoking chimneys and flaming furnaces of the ironworks, where the work was being carried on by a large contingent of blacklegs. The crowd was dense here, a sea of heads in every direction. It was impossible to proceed. The car perforce came to a standstill.

Not far away were the big iron gates of the Wentworth works, closed, bolted and barred, and guarded by the police, who haa great difficulty in keeping off the mob. Within those gates, in his own office in a pile of buildings Sir Daniel was wont to sit, issuing his orders. What would happen if the mob stormed the place, in spite of the police and before the soldiers arrived?

Surely the workpeople would vent their rage upon the master, whom they were defying, and whom they were growing to hate. How would he get home again ? The chauffeur had got out and come round to speak to his mistress. " We can never get to the works here, my litdy," he said. "The crowd has scarcely elbow room; it is simply packed!" ''So i see. Tsn't there a side entrance we could get round, toP I must reach Sir Daniel. '

"My lady, I know. _ But I dbubt if we can do it. There is a small entrance in East Street —perhaps we can get round to it." " Do trv .Jackson."

The man lingered a moment to say. " If you please, my lady, if the mob gets threatening will you kindly look out and smite at them again—it's wonderful what a deal they think of you, and no wonder, my lady!" Lilith looked at him very gracionsly. "They've good hearts, Jackson," she said. "They respond to kindness."

" Yes. my lady. _ They'll be led, but they won't be driven." Tlip. chauffeur returned to his place, but he could not have turned' the car, had not Lady Lilith, mindful of his request, looked out smilingly to say: " If you will kindly give us room to turn, we shall soon be out of your way.' " It's Lady Angel! Three cheers for Lady Angel!'' .shouted someone: whilst another cried. " Out of the way for her ladvshio! Clear the road for our Lady Angel!" Thus Lady Lilith's kindness won her what no amount of threatening.* or orders would have procured. Softly the car glided round' through some back streets, where there were comparatively few people, but as it neared the entrance in East Street it came again upon a mob, not much smaller than the one before the big gate. As the motor stopped. Lady Lilith saw that in the very centre of the crowd, close to the big doors—big, yet small, in comparison with the big iron p:n.te-- --a private cab was being held up by the mob, whose increasing cries and shouts were truly terrific.

A few policemen pressed forward, striking with their batons in order to get to the cab. but they were struck in their turn by all sorts of weapons, am? stones camp hurling through the air. " Oh, my lady," implored the chauffeur, "flsk the crowd to let us turn. We must not get into that hell!" "But Lady Lilith suspected that the cab which was held up contained Sir Daniel himself trying to escape from

the works to his house, and she determined to reach bin side.

Accordingly, as it was quite impossible for her motor to proceed, she slipped' out of the car and endeavoured to make headway alone through the crowd.

In a moment the people were pressing round her on every side, not purposely, but from sheer want of room ; everyone there was getting morn or less hustled. Some among the crowd wanted to get nearer to the conflict going on round the cab, others wanted to get further away from it. Everyone seemed to be pushing. Lady Lilith was almost carried off her feet; she became nervous, frightened', never having experienced anything like. it. The people who happened to bo nearest were strangers to her, they took no heed of her faint remonstrances, or only pressed the closer. CHAPTER XIX. BKRCVING SIR TUXIFI,. Suddenly ihero was a loud exclamation from behind, and the lusty voice of Hardy, a poor warehouseman, to whom .die had been bountiful, .called, "Make way there for this lady!" Tlio crowd endeavoured to obey the loud, overbearing voice; it swayed and r.pened out a narrow way. into which Lilith's champion promptly inserted himself, saying to her • "' Nov. - , my lady, follow me. Keep close, hold on to my coat please, or take my arm just for a few minutes. Don't let them part us. Stick to me; I'll see yon through.'' Laxly Lilif.h meekly did as she was told to do. holding on to his coat, while he elbowed lib way It was a relief to be taken care of; her only difficulty wa,~ in making him take her towards the e«ab. He was afraid Oie might be injured if she came too near.

However, at last she was near enough t<> see a couple of roughs drag Sir Daniel out of it. while he rag°rl and r tor mod. at them in vain.

Two policemen had been injured, and their comrade- were trying to screen him : other policemen norp striving to keep back the rest of the nioh. "Xo one sconiod to he assisting Sir Dair'ol nt th? moment.

The next, minute Lilith wns raising her voieo on hi* behalf.

"Don't, do fhat. men!" she said, in her high tones. '"'Two to one--is that fair? Stand aside, please! Don't touch Sir Daniel !*'

" Don't touch Sir Daniel!"' mimicked

But tin? othf-r. recognising Ladv Lilith, cried out: ''lt's our lady! Lady, stand back, ye'll be 'art ! Stand out ot the way, e,f yer please." " William Morton!" exclaimed Lndy Lilith, recognising a man to whom she had been most generous in his illness. "Ah. if it is you, T know you will help n:t■•!"

"W, Lady Angel," replied the nun, •' only kocp oa of 'ere for the love of Vjivon!"

''Morton, slie- put her hand upon his arm. looking up pleadingly into his face. "T never asked you to do mo a. favour before, but now T beg that yon will h«-lp im> to got Sir Dawiol to my motor_--.-fe the end of " I'll do it. You helped mo all through my illness, and I'll do what

you wish. Take "old of the boss's left arm. Joe: I've got 'is right one. Now we'.ll run 'ini to Li-.uy Angel's; motor/'

This they did. almost carrying Sir Daniel between them, the crowd parting and allowing' them to pass m a wonderful manner.

Hardy and--■ Lnrly - Lilltb followed closely, the latter much puzzlel hy Sir Daniel's silence, and the unwonicd meekness with which he allowed himself to he walked off. It was not at

nil like the strong and passionate Sir Daniel.

However, when the motor was reached, and the. stalwart men lifted him. big as he -.\vr.s, into the touiieau, the reason of his silence was explained. Tie .had been wounded, and had nearly swooned, and now, when safely in the cab, he lost consciousness completely.

Lady Lilith persuaded Hardy to get in with her and Sir Daniel, to help her to support his heavy form. He not losing blood, and they •were considerably puzzled to know what ailed him. But, when he came round, as the motor was crossing the bridge over the Tarreni. he. speedily enlightened them:

Having become conscious again, he said, "'One of the rascals who got hold of me twisted my left arm nearly round. It hurts me verv badly."

''Oh, dear Sir Daniel, I am sorry; We Mill telephone tor rhe doctor as soon as we reach home/' Lady Lilith exclaimed in great concern.

" I was coining home," .Sir Daniel said abruptly. ''l had been warned that, the crowd was threatening to break in at the works and 'do for' mo, as they elegantly ex-pressed it. And, hfiviiifj telephoned for a private cab. I ordered it to he at the doors in Enst Street. f was lioping to get home that way. when 1 was sot upon by the mob. J feel pretty small, I ca-n toll you, Lilith. to owe. rav escape to a girl!" "Oh, T didn't, do much! It was Hardy and Morton who did wonders to help me." She took en re. the men were well fed arid handsomely rewarded before tliev left the Hall.

"Though 1 only did it not o' gratitude to ver. my lady,"' Hardy said. " And either of us _ J ud do it oot o' gratitude to ye,r again any day. All. we would thru!" The doctor, who was telephoned for, came promptly to attend to Sir Daniel. Seeing the latter's arm was dislocated, he set. it, and put it in. a, sling. Then he ordered the patient, to go to bed and stay there till all signs of inflammation had gone. CHAPTER XX. THE KITRY OF THE MOB. Having received a telegram and a letter from Lady Lilith, Palliser Clifford made haste to return to Lot fingham and Rilforcl. His was essentially a. chivalrous nature, and to hear of disasters *° -bini a challenge to <x»rn?.'ati, tflienjW Lady Lilith's telegram, informed him that Sir Daniel had been severely injured, and was forced to stay in his own rooms. Danger was feared to the house. Lady entreated him to como and o>*rC3 ihem.

Palliser came as fast as a taxi and an express train could bring him. Ledy^

Lilith's groom met him at Lottingham Station.

"Sir,'' he said, "we have great need of you. The Court- is surrounded iu spite of the police stationed here and there near it. We expected the soldiers, sir. but they have not. turned up. The authorities are. holding then* back too long. Someone will be killed before they arrive. , ''lsn't Lord Elvington at tha : Court?" _ ■ ! "No. sir. He is laid up with a ba<§ attack of gout, and Viscount Heliot ijj away still on his voyage round th© world, you know, sir. He never ex» pected these troubles, sir, or else I'm sure he. wouldn'l have gone." '• I'm sure of that. too. He's tooj brave to hold off when bravery is needed." "Yes, sir. In that way he is lik» Lady Lilith. She's splendid, sir!" The groom watched Mr Clifford's fr.ca as he spoke. It was immovable, only a shade paler in colour, "' What has she been doing?"' Palliser asked in a casual ■manner as he stood by the waiting motor. " She rescued Sir Da-niel yesterday,' l sir, when the mob would have torn him to pieces. It's wonderful the influence .she has! 'She made two of tha' roughest fellows there carry Sir Dnniel to a place of safety. My- brother saw it himself. One nipped hold of Sir Daniel on one side and the- other on the other, and they ran him off to her motor, and popped him in, as if ho were a child." '•'lndeed! But it wasn't like Sir Daniel to submit.'' ''Oh, he was in pain, sir—cruel pain! They had twisted has arm and dislocated it '' "Never! How brutal!'' Palliser was horrified. " Yes. sir. It is .-just -as if thej\ wotp bo?ide themselves, them strikers !'' "Why cannot they fight their'battles in a decent way?" Palliser frowned ns ho spoke. His sympathy with the workers wa,s alienated hy such brutality. " And a man of' his age. and such a, clever one, who has achieved bo niuoh." he murmured. "They might hove given him the respect dun to his years, and his great achievements." ''They respec' nothing but 'what they just happen to wain at the time, eir. Big babies, I call them!" And with that the groom mounted beside. the chauffeur and, with a whirr and a bang, the car set off. In a few minutes thev were in tha midst of Rilford, and Palliser stared at the crowded pavements and the multitude lining the roadway. It looked as if the whole of grimy Lottijighant

hud pour.nl itself out on the poaroful littlevillage'.,nestling nt the foot, of the two --largo'.mansions, where dwelt the masters of tho pits and tho ironworks. At tho Court the drive gate was open, tho gatekeeper gone, and crowds were, thronging tho drive, just as if it wore a public road. Palliser toll inclined to order them nil to 20 awny. hut fortunately ho restrained himself. What could one do again so many? Tho motor stopped, and tho chauffeur descended to confer with him. " It is impossible to get through tho crowd, sir." said the man. " It's jnst like, it was wlmn T drove her ladyship to tho works to rescue Sir Daniel." PalHser jumped out, i / i f'l «°. a short wav to tho house," ho .said. '•' Look after the motor. 1 shan't want, it any more: Yes. that's right,"Jio added to his man. " come with mo. _ They run across a corner of the par!;, flipped between some trees, -and found Themselves at the further end ol tho Court gardens. Thence it, was easy to get up to tho house, and enter it by « hack door. The men and maidservant* were standing about in frighten*! gro'ips. Thev were delighted to see. jailiser. TTis'strong voung presence and air ot i-ommand. together with their habit ol ehnvinc him, brought hack confidence. "How-is mv uncle!-' he asked. " \ot at all' well, sir. There is -n-------flamrnatiou, so the doctor tried to keep him in ■bed, bo?, he would get up. and i« now sitting; up in his dressing gown, unci he wants to leave his room to speak to the strikers, sir. But the doctor is there, sir, and won t allow it." " And my aunt?" " Oh, sir, she is upset and ill. Ladv Lilith is with. her. sir. in the private drawing-room upstairs, near Lady Wentworth's room." T > a.lliscr waited to hear no more. Well be knew that room in which his aunt was accustomed to stay when too ill to come downstairs. _ Ho hastened there, mounting three .stairs at a time, all his soul concentrated on reaching the two women.'hat he loved. „ What a homecoming it was! How different from his going away! Thou he. alone and maligned, was hurried out bv the rich and prosperous master of the house. Now the latter was prostrated, difficulties all his money couid not. remove had utterly overwhelmed him. He was ill and in trouble. And Palliser, hearting coals of fre on his head, had rushed there to succour Mid to save him. He reached the drawing-room, and. entering unannounced, in his old way when at home, he perceived Lady Wentwortb h'iiig on a couch, deathly pale, vhile Lady Adola. who had come over to see .-her sister, stood l>v tho window staring at Lady Inhth s hack, as she, standing in tho balcony, barlangued the mob below. "'"VVe are anxious that all your ' wrongs shall be redressed," she was saying to the people in her high, sweet voice. "If von will let us know what you want vo'nr wishes shall have every consideration. I promise you—ycr. know me. I am Lady Lilith, and S promise you that T will see that everything is considered, and that-you complain of put ngtit afe far a s> ; possible- "" „ she was interrupted. Hoarse voices cried out-that there had : een encv.gh 'tolk---jaw they called it—and they could not wait for her intervention. "Wcmen is all very well," they said " when we want a dumpling or a pie, '.'but this 'ere that we're a-dr"g now i; men's work." . . , 'Yes," cried other voices "its .men's work. You go in. Ladv Angel! We'll do "it ■ oursens when we. gets a sight o' Sir Baniel." * "Sir Baniel is ill. Yon have injured him! You, young and strong; and he is getting old! Tt was a shame I" Her voice trembled, "a wicked shame to hurt him so!" "Rubbish!" shouted one rude fel-

low. ./'"Old yer din!" cried another. Both Wflre strati Eers/''-'"' ' " You rill know, and many of you love• Ladv YVentworth." continued ihe girl. ''Well, she is very ill, too. Your behaviour is' killing her " She broke down, hiding her face in her hands. Pallisor was behind her now. He could have touched her shoulder, but did not, lest he should startle her. His eyes swept the crowd imperiously. How dare they-make her stiffer 1 The next moment some irresponsible person flung a stone towards the balcony. Tt dropped ai Lilith's feet, almost touching them. That was too much. Palliser's wrath broke out. "Cowards!" he cried. "You cowards!" stepping before Lady Lilith as he spoke. "Yes, cowards," lie went on, "to fight people who are ill, and to throw stones at a lady—'and such a> lady as Lady Lilith, whoso whole ■life is spent in doing good and succouring the sick and oppressed! My blood boils when T see you returning her kindnesses in this fashion." He picked up the stone, holding it up for them to see. "This! This/' he said, "was thrown at her!" A shamed silence fell upon the people below. Each man was looking at his neighbour, to see if ifc were ho who had' dared to throw the stone. No one would confess that he had done it. and a low murmuring of voices asking questions and answering them filled the air. Then one speaker, more dominant than the others, willed out: "Us 'ave naught agen Lady Lilith! it's not 'or 'ome. Wot's she doing 'ere? It's Sir Daniel our quarrel's Tvi'. He-—" The man began to sivear violently. '[ Go in, dear," Palliser said to Lady Lilith... "Go to' my aunt, please." And-though she would have preferred *'i stay ,by his ide, she obeyed him tit once.

Then quietly and sensibly Palliser ~ began to reason with the men. remiud- ' tng them that he had always been on ; their side, but this violence of theirs . was reprehensible, and fairly disgusted him. "One would never think." he cried, v "' that you harp right on your side. ■ when, yon behave like bullies and ruffians. You are. defeating your own , object by showing yourselves unworthy .; of. consideration. I, who have suffered much for your sak<\s, am fairly sickened! Was it for villains. T spent , myself and suffered low?" Tie paused. It bad been rumoured amongst the j ironworkers that lie had left the Court I rather than give up bis views and take sides aga.uist them ; and his words ! made them understand that it was in- • deed so. Impressed and sobered by the reflection, they would have listened to I him now, and perchance followed his advice, bed ifc not been for Durose. ; who, in some sort of disguise, wearing ft rough overcoat, and a. soft hat pulled over bis brow, and his eye l ? ' core red by goggles, was busy whispering to the men's leader.s. "Don't you heed him," he was »aying. "I knew Palliser Clifford! What he is saying is tommy rot! T know why he was turned out of this big.house. ft was for murder ! Yes, listen; T will explain. It wasn't murder that the law could take hold of; there was nothing he could be tried and condemned for; yet he wn* guilty. Eh? What? Do you ask whom he billed? t I t-ell you it was the man. ' who, seeing the/ danger that some of you were in, that evening of the sports in the Marquis's park, when the big stand, was on. the point of breaking '; down, -worked with all his might to gave yon. Yes, it was Wilfrid Wentirorth, who wa-s trying to save limbs and dives, that Pa.lli.ser Clifford, villain that he is. killed and murdered. Be made Wilfrid come to try to save ; the stand, put him in. the worst place .go that when, it fell he would be trapjped; whilst he himself went and stood out of danger. Do you ask what was his motive? T. tell, you they both loved [the same girl—Lady Lilith y™ df ' r " ■\uxA Palliser was next heir to Wilt rid s j There's- motives for. von I

He. aimed for a. beautiful wife and a magnificent fortune!" He .stopped for brea.th, rtiid regarded keen'y the ni>>n who were hanging on his lips, and on whom his outpouring nt false si-ccusa-tions and lie.s, adroitly with a little truth, was making an imrvionse. impression. "That's the man who wants yon to listen to his jaw. and go away and do a.s ho tells you!" he began again. His hearers swore mughlv. Their feelings of liking for and confidence, in Palliser changed to hot indignation nnd anger. The J'tK't that. Wilfrid died while trying to save some of them had endeared him to their nmmory. T« was intolerable to think dial lie might have been living still had it not. been for young Clifford. "'• I!y Yavon !" exclaimed one man. '■' if it is .so, we'll dust his jacket for 'im." And he gjared at Falliser. ''Co.mo down!" sh.'.uit.ed one of the men who had swallowed Duroso's \enenioni story. '•Come down, Mr Clifford, and 'avo a parley wi' us. Tliat is et yer not afraid." "Aye. do, it you're not. afraid," echoed the others. "Why should 1 he afraid r" asked Palliser, smiling. " I'll come." Too wise to allow a door to he open for him. he, climbed over the balcony, and allowed himself to drop to the ground. Pie was a little shaken, hut not otherwise, hurt, and, straightening himself np, turned with a smile to the man who had invited him to come and parley. To his surprise, the man, doubling his fists, edged up to liim iu a threatening manner. At the same time three or four other men began to hustlo Pallisor, while hisses and vulgar taunts broke from the crowd* The.se were the men whoso cause, had been so near to Palliser's heart. For their takes he had refused to grant the great desire of his uncle, who had brought him up and given him a splendid' education, and also tho wishes of the father of the beloved girl wham ho was going to marry. Maddened by the thought, PalHser squared his shoulders, then, with astonishing quickness, dealt out blows with tho agility and skill of a trained athlete. Two, nay, more, three men lay disabled on the ground, or fell back among their neighbours hois do combat, and a little space was cleared round Palliser as the crowd hung back from him.

A cry rang out: " Tho military 1 The military s hero I"

That and the noise of an advancing company of armed men caused a general stampede. Tho strikers and the agitators and the men who would have mauled Palliser, perchance to his grievous hurt, l>egan to run away in all directions save that in which the soldiers were coming. Palliser Clifford was saved for the time being.

CHAPTER XXI. FALLISEIt's DISCOVER? OY THE PLOTTERS. The soldiers stayed at Rilford Court under the command of their chief officer until every individual of the mob had disappeared. Then, with band playing, drums beating, and colours flying, they marched awny, feeling that they had won an easy victory and effectually routed the enemy. The presence of the soldiers was needed in Lottingham, where the mob had begun looting all the shops containing any kind of food, and the police required the assistance of the military. Half a dozen civilians had been injured in Rilford, and a few policemen had also to go to the hospital, with broken heads or broken limbs, the roughs having thrown stones without mercy. All was quiet again in Rilford Court grounds. Not .&■ rioter was to be seen. The household grew calmer, the strain being relaxed. Palliser and Lady Lilith had now a short but very happy time together. Never had Lilith mentioned to him about that other woman, of whom for a short time she had been, as nearly jealous as it was possible lor her sweet nature to be. In. her heart she was thoroughly convinced that Palliser was not to be.blamed on that or any other account.

There was. therefore, no cloud in her happiness now, as she received him, thankful above everything that the soldiers had arrived in time to save him from the violence of the mob.

He felt the ingratitude of the ironworkers bitterly. That they .should turn against him in that way was a keen, blow to one who had been very good to them, espousing their cause always, and making it his own, even before he accepted the post of secretary to his uncle. "I could never have believed it unless I had seen it." he said to Lady Lilith. "What could have made them treat me so?''"

Lady Lilitb had not the slightest idea. She had not happened to see the man in the coarse overcoat, wearing a soft felt hat, drawn over his face, and goggles, who was egging them on by whispering his venomous poison into their ears.

"They must have been mad—quite mnd," she said, " to make such an attack on you, of all people in the world!"

'"'You see," Palliser said. "1 came over here, dearest, at your call, hoping I should be able to make peace between them and my uncle, but he will not even see me. Yes, I know he is ill. but others go into his bedroom and talk to him, though me he will not see. I tried to gain admittance directly I arrived ; but he. sent out a. message to the effect that he would not see me; and then, the strikers, they will not listen to me. f begin to think my visit home is quite useless." "Ah. but it isn't! You have done me good.'' his fiancee declared', " and your aunt will be so pleased to see you. I believe she is asleep now, but you shall go to her when .she awakes. You know you are very dear to her, Palliser. She is fretted much about your having to leave home." "Dear aunt! What an awful shame that she should have such trouble- unnecessary trouble! Have you ascertained. Lilith dear, who put the preposterously vile notion of my having wil'ulhy caused Wilfrid's death into my uncle's head?" He says ho was informed by' one whom he cannot doubt that a ready trustworthy person vouched. for the truth of it. A man it wan: he would not tell me the name." ''Would that T had that trustworthy man in my hands for one minute!'' cried Palliser. wratbfiilly. " T would wrest the truth from him--brawn liar that he must be!" Tie was white to the lips as he spoke. Lady Lilith bad rierer seen him so angry.

"Palliser!" she exclaimed gently. " Palliser!"' Her sweet face was troubled. " Ah. I am not s. saint like you, Lilith." he cried with bitterness. '' | am ;-i. man. with a man's passions nnd power to hate the cruel enemy who has maligned him. What have \ done 'fch«tt<T. should suffer such an injustice? At the very time when T most wrniteJ to stand well with'my uncle and Lnrd Elvington because of my wish to marry you, then it was that my enemy struck the blow." " Never mind, dea.re-t. Already you fire living it clown. We had to send for >ou to protect the home- your uncle and aunt could not do witho-it von."

" Because T could be useful to them, that was all: and now my uncle -ill coi see me." ho repeated f-idiy. •■ He is ill aiid in pain, dear Palliser: it is not reasonable to think much of his humours at such a tune, and your aunt is longing to see you I will go and see if "she is awake!" Lilith rose as she spoke. Palliser threw his arm round ' v>r waist and held her to him, whispering. " One minute. lt> is su> sweet to- have .£oii-to/ myself."

■ " Does .inf. that, make up for *ome hardness?" she queried lovingly. "Yes, year, dear." He Uksed "or repeatedly, strained hor to his hcavi., and then, gently put her from him. " I will'go to mv mint." ho said. ''ami th.e.n 1. will ;et off for l.ottmgham, to see it I can do any good there." " nut not alone." responded Lady Lilith. 'Take a couple ol men wifh you, ploisr. Yon know those ruffin's V, ho tried to molest and harm you may do it. again." ( "1. think not," he answered. •.1 flatter myself that they felt the weight of mv fists. " It's well to be an nt)d"te sometimes. ---" " flsit there will he so many against one." she. interrupted. anxiously. " Ah. well, we mu.-l hope, for the hi.'°l," and. with a. tender smile, alii kiss, he hurriedly left herAs he -ros.-.od 'the hall he met, Ln.lV Adel.i- h.v was not aware before t.hi.l .-lie wr.s .-till in iho house. Lrdy Adel-, turned vei y red. and looker! eo-uu.-ed. She seamed unable to spe-ik. so he said easily. " And wh*t, may T ask, is your opinion about mo?" Sudde.'dy she spoke, hastily, passm,-*-atolv.

'Don't me. Yon have Lilifh'-. let th.-st Mlllice."

"Ad-, la. what do yon menu?" he cried. " Whv tins hostile tone?"' '• (Jood heavens! Adela.." Pa.lli.vr eriod sformily, "do yon think I : m gnilfv:-" His voice shook with anger. He had alwavs been so kind to Adela.

" 1 think what every sane person must think-- " " And that is?" "That yon had every iriofivo for tho- thing you did." And with that she wheeled round and literally ran away, leaving him standing as if turned to stone.

Tli:)t Adela-—little Adela, to whom lm had been from earliest boyhood like a big elder brother, should think that, of him. and dare to tell him P o, was almost unbelievable. It was fully ton minuter before he dare trust himself to go to Lady Wer.tworth.

She was lying ori *he coucn >" her bedroom, looking very sweet and frail. The don tor had" just left, after giving a full report of Sir Daniel's condition, interspersed with hopeful remarks about, the speedy recovery which might bo anticipated. Palliser stooped over the couch to kiss her.

''Why, you arc looking quite pretty, clear aunt,'' he said, caressingly, though a little shocked at the extreme delicacy of her appearance. " T'rii so glad to have you back, PalUser." she said. " Yon won't go_ awav again. will you P Your uncle is too hard and stern with the men when yon are not here to take their side, and then they retaliated so frightfully rnkinduess brutalises them, just as lore and mercy soften and ennoble them." "Yes, aunt, that is true. That is bow Lilith gets round them," and he smiled. " Yes. it is. they hare been telling me how brave raid clever :die was in rescuing and bringing your uncle, home. Fancy ! That dear girl! She made the biggest roughs help her to o; e t him away," and Lady Yveiit--worth laughed softly. "She was re-aping the effect of years of bountiful generosity to the poor" said Palliser. his eyes shining with pride in his dear lady. '•Don't you remember, aunt." he continued, '"when she was quite a child she used to visit them, and save up to buy them things? Her father was *° an-used at her taste for philanthropy, t.s he called it." "Yes, he used to call her the iittle philanthropist!'' " And poor uncle "' "Ah, ho thought she spoiled them, little'knowing that the day would come when that kindness of hers would prove to be of great service to him." "it is wonderful how thing l ; wot U round. I suppose most people get what they deserve in this life.'' '■Oh, no. not mo<a: only a few. 1 think. Some have a hard time of it. oven to the grave," and Lady YVentworth sighed as she spoke. "Then, we may well believe it is made up to them on the, other <sioe.'' "Ah. yes, that is a nice thought. You always have nice, though \ PalUser." * , x He looked pleased, but said, modestlv. " It is only you who can discern much nieeness in them.

"And Lilith." "Yes. and Lilith. too, bless her:- he exclaimed, in true north country fashion.

Then he took leave ef his aunt for the time being, saying that he must go to Lottineham. nnd there do his utmost to make the strikers listen to reason. Lndy Wentworth thought -that no one could resist him. All the same, she was grieved to let him go, and made him'promise that he would not leave for London without seeing her again. After he had left her room, Barber, who was watching for him. came up to sav that Lady Lilith's motor was at the door, and her ladyship wished him to make use of it as far as he could. Also, the butler had some refreshment readv on the dining-room table, and begged him to partake of it before going; out again. At' the suggestion of food Palliser remembered that lie had scarcely eaten that day, his breakfast, very early that morning, having been cut short by the necessity of catching the train. He therefore stepped into the dining-room and sat down to the table, prepared to enjoy the good things Harbor sot before him. m , 'lt was when the man stood with his back to him. carving a chicken af the sideboard, that Palliser received a shock which almost spoilt his appetite. At luncheon that day it had happened that Lady Adela was sitting in the same place at the table, and on the floor, drawn out by his chair, when Barber drew ir forward for him, lay the'torn fragment ot a, letter which had fallen from her pocket. It had escaped the butler's eye. and there it lay, staring up at him, with a. mans bold writing. . Without intending to read it, the moment Palliser's eyes rested on the paper he read the words: " With your help, .sweetest Adela, our plot is succeeding. The fellow has reappeared for a. short time, but he will soon He low. Only stick to vour gun ! Don't swerve from the' statement you have made. The least wavering on your part may ruin everything.'' |; was Lady Adela. then, who waa in the plot, to ruin him. And who was the man:' Palliser knit his luws in the endeavour to remember where be had seen that bold, black writing, which seemed so familiar. Wilfrid!' Thai was it.. lie had seen it on pome tm-|vers of Poor ilfnd's when he was alive. .Pallor remembered that he had come into Wilfrid's room rather suddenly, and the latter had thrust them quickly out of Mg.xt, hut his eyes had caught the writing tor a moment. , Durose. 9 Yes. that was the name of the' writer. The b-tfers Palhser had seen blackmailing letters, written solely for the purpose ol getting monev out of pc.ov Wilfrid. Ho remembered hew gravely he had spoken to his cousin about it. It vas evident Ihirose had got hold of Lady Adela. isnd. with her help, had conected the vile scheme to nun him. Why they should do so he had not. the slightest notion, except that Durose no doiihr hated h'm tor some strong truths he had felt it to be h's duty "tii speak to him on two 'opanite occasions; once about poor Wilfrid, and the pressure lie. was bringing t/> hear on him, and again a-bout the young woman Ja,nie. which lost had been a most unsatisfactory affair, as neither of thorn would explain to the other why be wa.s interested in her. Palliser, however, had threatened to make everything public if Durose ever so much a.s spoke to Iter again. K»w 'Palliser remornbercd that, in,-

the bea.t of a.gument aivmt .id.rid. be bad accused Durose of blackmailing his lato cousin, whereuponi l)ur<i>e, after threatening to summon nun, had pine awav in a. rage. However, the follow bad not dared to rro to la.w about the matter; instead he had worked on Lady Adela to assist him to strike at Palliser behind his back by lying allegations made to Sir Daniel. Palliser saw it all as he sat there on Lady Adela's chair, with his eyes' fixed oil the scrap of torn letter. Well might Lady Adela look red and guilty when she met him, a.nd then "stick to be,- false allegations against him. No doubt she hated him, for people bate those whom they have wronged. He felt Lady Adela's treachery to him. her childhood's friend, more than all 'Du rose's villainy-the force of a moral blow depends so Largely upon who has struck it.

Xo wonder, therefore, that Palliser found a difficulty in eating tbo food Barber sot before him, and it was with a. feeling of relief that he rose from, the table and hurried out to the motor.

"Take care of yourself sir," said Barber, following him. " I think you ought to be armed." Palliser laughed. He was not afraid. The blow that had hurt, him most had, been dealt him in the bouse of his friends, and anything the strikers and their followers, the roughs, could do would not pain him half so much. But there were others to think of. " Look here. Barker," he said. "What you have to do is-to see that every door and window is securely fastened to-night. The rioters ba.ve gone away: they dared do.no more in the face of the military, but we, are not through the wood yet; there, are others besides the strikers in this. Some vindictive ones might return under cover of darkness. Do you fw?" " Yes, sir. But there are three or four policemen .stationed here, and we have a promise of more to-nigh I:." "That's well enough, but you've seen to-dov how police can be overpowered" by a. multitude."' " Yes, indeed, sir."

" Don't forgot, if there should be a return of the mobs that you are to telephone to the Town Hall at Lofctingham. asking for the help of the soldiers again." "Yes sir. But I don't think the mob will return sir." " Still, it is as well to be prepared for the worst."'. " Yes. indeed, sir. And you'll come back?''

The butier strained his enrs fo bear 'Pallispr's answer, bnt it ws->: drowned in the noise of the- motor sis the engine started, avid the car glided away. ''There's no one like Mr Clifford," «aid Barber, looking after the motorcar. f< V,Vll S4ct well throuph tins bother if he will stay with us." (To bo coßcludod next week.)