THE YOUNG ARCHDUCHESS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16713, 20 April 1922, Page 4

THE YOUNG ARCHDUCHESS

OUR SERIAL. W

. . ** (By WTIUAM f.F. QUEUX) CHAPTER Xl(Continued.) Ashdown tore open the letter mid frowned at tho contents. After a moment or two ot reflection he scribbled back an answer in pencil on the blank side of the brief note- He placed it in the envelope, which lie refastened with a postage stamp. “ | know you are to be trusted, Ellison.” The woman answered vehemently. “ 1 would lay down my life for Miss Mabel, she is aiways Miss Mabel to me. sir. It was a black day for her and me. when she married that great, hulking brute. Site has never had an hour s happiness since.'’ Ashdown looked at her kindly. She was one of that old-fashioned class of servants who had a dog-like fidelity to their employers. “ Give my love to her and tell her to keep up her spirits,” he said. “ She has got a staunch friend in me and I will do the best I can for her.'’ Thank you kindly, sir.” Elison hurried away and the Colonel continued his walk, more perturbed and exercised in his mind than ever. Basil Long and Hugh had gone out in the motor for a long spin. Mrs Ashdown and the young Archduchess sat in the drawing-room for a few hours together. The elder woman was very ill at ease. She had not liked to question her husband too much. But she had been very much struck by the fact that Hugh and Geradine had not exchanged a syllable during lunch. Had the . quarrel between father and son anything to do with the girl? Mrs Ashdown disliked her guest very much, for reasons which perhaps she could not have expained quite satisfactorily to herself. There had never been any real approach between them. To-dav, her eager desire for information made her assume a more conciliatory demeanour. " I think you know more of what is going on in this house thin J,” she said in a voice of quiet. bitterness. “There is a, quarrel on between Hugh and his father, that is nothing unusual ami the fault is generally on Hugh's side. But 1 noticed also that you and Hugh never exchanged a word during lunch. Havo vou any part in that quarrel?” Geradine met Mrs Ashdown s gaze steadily. “l am sorry you have asked me that question. I would so much prefer not to answer it.” The face of the ordinarily calm woman flushed with anger. “ But I insist upon being answered." She controlled herself with a g rer*, effort; evidently she had some violent words in reserve. Geradine could guess their import. They would have been something like these:—“ You came into my house, uninvited by me, an interloper, a stranger. And you make mischief between father and son. and add to my misery.* Geradine answered her in a low voice. There was no love lost between them, but she could not help feeling pity for the sorely tried woman. li Sinoe you insist .1 will tell you-” She gave a- brief recital of the morning's incident, not omitting the laying of the hunting crop across Hugh's shoulders. Mrs Ashdown arose, her face quivering. “ It was wrong of Hugh, of course. But young men are young men all the world over. T take it for granted that you gave him no encouragement.’' Geradine rose also, her face rosy-red at the insulting suggestion, the poisoned barb of a spiteful and aggrieved She spoke with great dignity, although her royal blood surged hotly within her. "I do not think it consistent with my dignity to answer that question.” With these parting words she walked out of the room. The dinner that night was oven a little more dismal than the luncheon, as there had been established a further breach between the hostess and Geradine. Again Basil houg had to take upon himself the burden of entertainment. wondering what fresh development had take pace in this atmospheric household. He was very captivated with Geradine, hut, on the whole he was not sorry lie was leaving to-morrow. The dear old Colonel was as bright as he could bo under the trying circumstances. but Mrs Ashdown and her son were distinctly trying. At nine o’clock Ashdown excused himself. " I've a lot of things to get through- Urn on half a dozen’, committed and my work is terribly in arjear,” he explained to Basil. “ The ladies w ill entertain von and I'm sure Mis* Torella will sing you some of her charming songs." \s ho left the room, lie threw a fenwords at his son. “ Come and see me at ten o’clock to discuss that little matter. Not before please, as 1 have a good hour's work before me. Hugh returned a sullen affirmative There w as a somewhat dragging evening in the drawing-room. Mrs Ashdown snokc rarely. Her son seemed wrapt in his own thoughts. Basil turned over the leaves of the music for Geradine as she played and sang. At ten. young A«hdown slunk off for his appointment with his lather. An hour later, the two ladies and Basil Long retired to bed. Mrs A.hdown lay awake till twelve o’clock. Her husband's room adjoined her own with a communicating door. She had not heard him come up. She dozed off and awoke an hour later. Some sixth ?en«e must have warned her that there was something happening of an uncanny nature She switch- j eel up the electric light and looked at ' the clock on the mantelpiece. (To bo continued.)