For Honor's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7940, 13 January 1906, Page 2

For Honor's Sake.

CHAPTER Vl.—Continued. "Not a word to her, Chris," said Julia, quickly, "I can't make it out, unless it is that ho is, either married or engaged, and discovers that he is getting to think too much of Claude." "He's not married," said Davenant. promptly, "and 1 fancy he's engaged; but I'l ! find out. Con found it! It would have been the making of us if lie wero to ma'ry Claude." Ho went out, and did nut return until late in the eveuing, and then be came into his wife's presence with a look and manner chat she at once knew indicated gre,tt vexation. "I met a man," he said, "at the club who knows Captain Stewart. The captaiu is engaged to n Mrs Arnold, a very lovely woman. It is well known iu .London society, it appears; but we never know anything in Paris." "Then, depend upon it," said Julia, emphatically, "it is as I said. But thore are other rich men iu the world, and no harm is done so far as Claude is concerned. She is jast the girl to be as obstinate as a mule if she fancied herself in love." No barm? Well, perhaps not. Who could tell? Not Claude Vomer herself and certainly not those about her; and yet, when the girl beard of Esric Stewart's abrupt departure, of his engagement to Mrs Arnold, there was a sense of wretched blank in her h«art, as if some one were lying dead in tho bouse. She was so littlejself-conscious that she did not, for an instant, conneot Captain Stewart's hasty journey with herself; she only felt, and did not know she lelfc, that something had gone out of her JUo. CHAPTER VII. "ON ME REST ALL THE SHAME." "Is Mrs Arnold disengaged?" Captain Stewart asked of the trim par-lour-maid in. Rosary Gardens. He spoke as coolly as be spoko on the battlefield, with the bullets whizzing about him; yet far more was at stake to-day than the mora physical life. "I'll see, sir, if she's down. This way, sir, please." "Is abe ill?" Stewart asked, involuntarily. The servant smiled. ■ "Oh, no, sir; but she's never up very early. 1 " It seerred a small thing to give an added sense of pain where a great agony swallowed up all lesser .sufferings, and yet those words weie like a blow to the hearer. A small thing but it meant so much especially to the soldier, impatient of in dolence; it meant self-indulgence, laziness, insensate waste of time. He bad come so early because he was sure to find Pauline at home and free from visitors; he did not expect to hear she might not be out of her room when tho pun was high in the heavens. The servant did not need to be told who the handsome visitor was; abe had seen his photograph in the parlour, and had formed her own opinion as to hia ohances of happiness with ber mistress. She went up straight to tho latter's dressing room, and found her wrapped in a morning gown, just finishing her breakfast. "Captain Stewart is in the parlor, please ma'am," said the maid, who also fulfilled the duties of lady's maid. "Captain otewart!" exclaimed Pauline. "What an ,extraordinary hour to call, Here, Graoe, 1 can't go down to bim in this thing. Get me out the pale pink, and do my hair properly. These soldiers," she added, finishing her coffee, while the maid fetched the required robe, '"begin the day at all sorts of. unconscionable hours, and seem to think all the world follows suit. 1 call it cool," she added to herself—she, save for her annoyance was as cool as a cucumber—"to treat me as be baa done, and then come down upon me the .first thing iu tho morning, and expect me to bo fit his beck "and call. Than Heaven, lam one of those women who look well at all times. Some people are never at tbeir best till the day is well on 1" She did not hurry herself in her change of apparel Stewart had treated ber cavalierly; now he could wait her plea&ure. She know very well his heart was throbbing with no lover's impatience, but this made ber the more determined to vex bim in some way. She had never forgiven bim for being proof against ber fascinations, and to the pangs of wounded vanitj were added those of jealousy, the- thought that be bad given to some other woman, perhaps unsought, the love she bad striven, and striven in vain, to win. It oreu flashed ncrosß her that he might have come to try and regain bis freedom, and then she positively dawdled. If he were here on any such mad errand, she would not spare him one momeut of suspense; he should have full time to fret out bis impatient soul, while ahe admired her fair person in the glass, and smiled at the meie idea of resigning her empire. Hut she was ready at last, and swept downstairs with a prepared smile on ber rosy lips. She must not show her hand, but meet him with effusion, as if abe were ready to forgive and condone anything for the happiness of seeing him again. Stewart turned from his restless walk up and down the room as she entered. She was lovely enough to touch any man's senses, if not hia heart; but no pulse of her promised hus- "! quickened, ,not the faintest "glow came to his heart: only an almost sickeumg rush of something ike actual remilaion.

By Bertha M. Clay. Author of Wife in Name Only," Wedded and Parted," "Dora Thome," " A Queen Among ff'omeri,-'' " A True Ma {/dale hcetc., ete.,

Sbg sprang to meet him with outstretched hands, and u glad cry: "Esric, dear, uuar Esric!" liafc he 1 caught those hands in his rather in t would seom to prevent her thro win" r herself into 11is arms than from au.V g movement or impulse of lave toi ward her. ilia hands were cold as ice, his clasp close and strong with - the strength of mental agony, not a of passion; his face was white and haggard; hia very lins pale. 3 Pauline looked at him \vith wide, ? startled eyes; a wonderfully effective look of amazement, fcr oveu ill i the aocond that ho caught her i bauds, and she saw his face, the a half formed suspicion was confirmed 3 tbafc lie bad oouio to throw himself on her mercy—to ask' for his 3 freedom.' "Esro!" she gaspod, "what has 3 happened? Oh! you are not angry a with inb because 1 kept you waitt ing? Ah! no, it can't oe that! I Oh ! what have 1 done that you meet me like this?" ] With a feigned Bob she dropped her face on his hands but he, > though mover], wai scarcely moved r as she desired; a wave of pity for i her swept over liim-of bitter self--3 reproach. Was he cruel to this i woman, who, in the only way she knew, loveci bim? But, oh! that , other—that other! ho could not give her up. I "Pauliue!" bo said, after a rao- | meat, his voice hoarse and broken, j "forgive mo! I have not como to 3 you to-day a lover, but as a aup--5 pliant." i She lifteil her head, and snatched . her hands from his, and drew back, j "A suppliant?" she eaid, her eyes , searching his faco. "Esric, what i do you mean?" ; Low the man's 'bead was bent, j The red flush rose to his brow; he t sab on his kuee before her. In the dflpths of his agony, tho words were hardly breathed: "Pauline! iu pity for your own sake, for my honour's sake, release me." "Esric!" Wonder and pain were in that cry; but iu her heart, untouched by his despair, jealous anger and triumph. . So! she bad beau right. IJis own . lips confessed tho reason of bis i stay in Paris, his nealect of hie betrothed wife. But his sensitive honour forbade bim to bieak bis chains with hia own hands. He came to her as a suppliant, gavo to her the flat of bondage or release. "Fo»" your honour's sake?" she repeated, after a minute's pause, during which she seemed to struggle for the se'f-command she had never lost. "I—l dou't understand. Your faith is mine. I have been true to you. I love you " Her voice broke. She added, almost diroctly: "Your honour is pledged to me!" Ciaptain Stewart rose to his feet. "I am in your hands," he said, still not looking at her, his hand o osed with a convulsive grip over the back of a chair near him. "Claim, if you will, a promise that was given without love, which love can never sanctify. lam ready to fulfil it. Heaven help me! that I must come to you with such a plea on my lips; but I have been loyal to you, Pauline. 1 never feigned love, and now I have none to give you."Jj (To be Oontnued).