For Honor's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7932, 4 January 1906, Page 2

For Honor's Sake.

By Bertha M. Clay. Author of ft Wife in Name Only," 61 Wedded and Varied," ki Dora Thome," " A Queen Antony Women," (i A True Maydalenc," etc., etc.,

CHAPTER I.—Continued. r Hero the doctor paused, and looked at the patient. . "Neither mother, sister nor wife," said Langdale. "He is an only sou —both parents daad. Plenty of relations, but nouo very near. I will send for his servant, and I will do what I can—for ten dajs. I have to .join ray regiment in India then." His voice grew hus^y. "Within ten days," said the doctor, kiudly, "our friend will be out ot danger, 1 trust." At this juncture Mrs Arnold came forward. "Doctor," she said, earnestly, "I will help to nurse Captain St6wart." The doctor looked at the lovely speaker rather doubtfully. "Rather a tax on you, madame—a sister of charity—" "if you desire it," answered she; "but indeed " "Very well, madame"—the doctor 1 ad the somewhat " i upt manner acquired in hia army practice—"we ■shall see. At present, let all leave the room but Major Langdale and myself." "My housei and all in it are at your service,"said Mrs Arnold as she retired. "Useless piece of porcelain," commented the dootor, when the door had closed upon the two women and tTrafford; "just the woman to go into hysterics at the sight of a cupful of blood. She'd like to potter round a handsome young fellow—that's ill —•wouldn't care a jot if he'd been ugly. Give me the brandy, monsier. He'll come round again soon." CHAPTER 11. THE YOUNG WIDOW. Pauline Arnold sat alone in the little parlour of the cottage, while Trafford went to tbo post office to telegraph for lan Mc lan, Capt Stewart's servant, and Toinette went silently about her work in the kitchen, both women listening anxiously for any sound from the room where the patient lay, though, in the crse of the servant, with unmixed feelings of compassion; in the case of tbe mistress with feelings in which genuine compassion bore but a small part. Some interest was stirred within the woman's heart by tbe beauty of the sufferer thus cast upon her hospitality; his helplessness, which should have appealed to fier more strongly, touched her not at all: it was a factor, and an important pne, in the train of thought which tbe iirac knowlodge of the wounded man's * name had started in her mind; but the woman in Pauline Arnold was outward loveliness—the fair, soft, blue eyed loveliness, that can look a thousand things; infinite guile to assume all sweetness of love and tenderness, and anything olae; but wrinkled, weather-beaten old Toinette had more of thfe true woman in one of her fingers than her fair young mistress had in the whole of her well shaped persou. "Captain Stewart, of Lochmohr, liow strange," mused Pauline. "How strange that he should have been wounded near my bouse, brought here to be under my roof!" Herein lay no mystery. Pauline had never known Ksrio Stewart; no ;story of her past was linked with the handsome young Scotchman. 'The thing was very simple; it lay in a nutshell. She had heard of him and she knew that he was a very riun man; one, too, of tbe charmed cirole that she had always desired to enter. Here, then, was the secret ot, the fair, pretty woman's deep interest in the man who lay, perhaps within a ftw feet o? where she sat—scheming. What might she not make of such ap opportunity as thie, which seemed to be almost providentially thrown in her way? She rose and looked at herself in the little mantel-glass, and smiled at the lovely image it re- ' fleeted, with a downward glance of discontent at the gown she wore, which was not quite new, and had been turned. How oruelly her life had been wasted! Here she was at «ight and twenty, still a widow, obliged to economize in this solitude for five months in the year, in order to make a showy appearance during the other seven; and what had hitherto come of all her efforts •to win a rich husband, and a position? Nothing. v For Pauline Arnold was, in her way, ambitious; mere vulgar wealth would not satisfy her; a wealthy stockbroker or merchant would not suffice. What was the good of money, if oue were not In society? Sbo was gently born, and had all the external graces which would fit her for tbe status she coveted. Why shouldn't it bo hers? She had hoped to gain it-wben she gave her hand, seven years ago, to Richard Arnold, and he turned out tj be little better than an adventurer. Her life with him was nothing but keeping creditors at bay: and she had been scrambling about with him from place to place, and hotel to hotel. And when, by tbe will of a relative, she inherited a small income, she had nothing to regret in her husband's denarture, and drew a deep breath of relief when the news came from America of his death well authenticated news, or Pauline Arnold would not have considered herself a widow; she had no intention of beiug involved in bigamy. A good name was serviceable. And now, helpless and wounded, under her roof, and her care, lay the owuipr of an ancient and noble name, and not only the broad lands oi Xiochmobr, but estates in more fertile .England also. Iruely, surely, her luck bad turned atladt; it wocld be her own fault if this opportunitj went for uothing. Sho was roused from ber reverb by tbo of Dr Rnsseaux, and started to Ivor feet. "Oh, doctor!" she began, breath leealy. He raised his head.

"Don't alarm yourself, madam; Captian Stewart has revived". She clasped hot hands fervently together —"but he is very weak, and must not be disturbed at present. Major Langdalo begged mo to apologise to you for " "Ob. doctor, doctor!" she cried, "I cannot hear apologies. 1 am oniy thankful that I am able to be of any service. You think be will recover?" "1 hope so," said the doctor; and he went out to the kitnhen to give certain orders to Toinette. Maj. Laugdale had explained to him that there was no lack of means; whatever was ordered or needed should be got at once. Late the following niaht, which was as fast as boat and express train could bring him, came lan Maclan, the faithful servant of the woinded officer; and bitter though his grief was, he controlled it, and proved himself a very jewel of a nurse—soldiers, indeed, are often the best of nurses; auti Celts have in addition, that tact and "fineness" of nature which is more cenerally the province of women only. They were anxious days that followed, though even when the fever was at ils height, the doctor always said; "He will pull through. He has a superb constitution—t would stake my life on his recovery!" Often Esric Stewart saw, as in a dream, the face of a ministering angel, passing fair, bending over him, felt the touch of a soft hand, and believed himself in Paradise. Alas, for him! bow should he know that the "ministering angel" did nothing for him but the "romance" of nursing. To Jook on him with compassionate eyes, to murmur gentle words, to pass ber rosy fingers through the dark curls—that was Pauline's part in the drama of the sicK room—the part the lapdog played in pulling down the hare. All the real, stern work of nursing was done by Major Langdal and lan Maolan; and sometimes Toinette would help. Before the major had to leave, Cautain Stewart was pronounced out of danger, and bis senses bad come to birn, and he knew those around him, and was able to feebly thank bis lovely hostess, more with those eloquent dark eyes of his than with, bis tongu«, for her goodness to him. (To be Continued).