For Honour's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7950, 27 January 1906, Page 2

For Honour's Sake.

CHAPTER XV.— Continued. ProbaHy, if Stewart had been an imoartial obsarvor he would have decided the former; but, being a lover, be, of course, tnrtured himself, and the more that his suffering was not without self-reproach. Sir James was a flue, manly fellow, if not quite worthy of Claude well, what man could be that?— but he might mako her happy, while his (Stewart's) love could only give her pain. By and by Tollomaohe got a chance to speak to Claude; her cavalier left her to take some message for her to a friend, and Basil, being near, bent down to her—-it was but a little he had to bend, for she was tall for a woman, and he only of medium height for a man. N "You are kind to everyone but me." he said, in a low tone. "Am 1?" with a shrug of her shapely sbuuMenj. "1 am afraid, then, it is your fault." "How? 1 always try to please you, and yet you snub me. Why wouldn't you sing for me to-night? Yet the moment Captain Stewart asked you, you sang." "Was it to please me, then," said Claude, coolly, "that you asked me to sing?" Poor Tollemache! Ho was. no match for her. "No, no!'" he said, confusedly. "I don't mean that exactly, but it wasn't kind of you to thrdw me over for a stranger." "You usa odd expressions," said Claude ooldly. "thoy may be all right in -Northamptonshire but they are a little blont in London. I don't quite see where the 'throwing over' oomps in. And Captain Stewart isn't a stranger. Here comes Sir James again. Thauksso much," taming to the newcomer. "Now as a reward J'll show you the photograph we were talking about." And thoy went away to the drawing room. Tollemache ground his teeth savagely. Certainly Claude snubbed him unmercifully. "I'll break her spirit," ho said to himself "when I have her in harness. Where bad she mot Captain ' Stewart before? I hate those soft- j voiced, plausible fellows. I suppose Chris asked him here because he's a big swell; but if he's going to poach on my preserves, there'll have to be an end of his coming." An hour afterward, when Claude rose from the piano, Stewart, standing near, said to her in a low voice, as she rose: "J. haven't spoken to you for an -age, and there is something I waat *o ask you." "Very well," she answered, tossing her music on the piano, and she let him lead her to a chair a little apart; but he did not bring one for himself, leaning, instead, on the baok of herß; perhaps he preferred it because she ooMlri not see his face; perhaps so placed he could the better feast his eyes on the soft outlines of face and form. "What is it you want to ask me?" said Claude, leaning her ourly head against the long-backed chair. "A very simple question. Are you going to Mrs Kussell's ball next Thursday?" "We arenotso lucky. People have been making lots of interest to get cards, and have failed." "I can get cards for you and Mrs Davenant," Stewart said, 'if you would care to go." "Iff But, of course, we should be delighted {"replied the girl. "But indeed, you must not offer them to us." "Nay," said he, "you rrust allow me that pleasure." "It is kind of you," said Claude, with that strange thrill of bewilderment that was gladness, too, running through her; for Esric Stewart had so many friends to whom, one might think, he would by preference have rendered this, marked service. "I don't know. ' Well, I won't put it in that way, but as a very great favour. Will you keep for me at least two waltzes." "Too kind, is it?" said Stewart, softly. "Do you know, lam afraid it is partly selfish. 1 want a quid pro quo." "You have a right to one," retamed Claade, laughing. "Oh, yes; but that will be a pleasure to me, not a favour, to you." "1 hope ii will be a pleasure; but certainly you cannot make it less than a favour conferred, and also | happiness. You shall have the cards j on Friday afternoon. May 1 bring thorn?" "Piease do; we shall be at home?" Perhaps Stewart would rather the pronoun were in the singular, and yet, he thought, it was better not. "I should like you and Mrs Russell to know each other," he went on. "I think you would call her a dear old ladv " "Should I ?"—-she rippled out into a laugh—" why do you think 1 should use that particular expression?" "I don't know!" It was that involuntary form of words which, like the answer "Nothing," need not be taken as read. There was a wonderful tenderness in the dark eyes bent down on her, in the half smile on the handsome mouth. "1 suppose it is because there is that quality of Bympathy between your nature and miue. 1 seem' to know how you would view certain of them —even certain terms of expressions you would use. Was I ■wrong this time?" "No," said Claude; the caressing .softness of his voice vibrated through her nerves, made her heart beat fast; "but now—l shall be afraid to eay it you will laugh." Did Captain Stewart feel, by th* olootric rapport of that sympathy of which he had spoken, that he had startled the girl? Certainly he kuevs that he had trodden on very dangerous ground. He said, in a lightei tone*. "I am sure I should never laugfc

By Bertha M. Clay. Author of " Wife in Name Only," " Wedded and Parted," "Dora Thome," " A Queen Among Women," " A True Magdalene," ete,, etc.,

at you. But you will be reminding me, as you did once before, that metaphysics are out of place in such a scene aa this, and you may wish to remind me also, that the rooms are thinning fast, and it is time I took my leave." "Captain Stewart " exclaimed Claude,"in bewitching, laughing reproach; "how can you suy such things? Well, your, divination is at fault this time." "Is it? I am very glad, though that proves you very kind and indulgent." Toleraach© came up at this moment, to say goodnight, and gave Stewart p black lqok "You will remember about the private view," Basil said, keeping Claude's hand in bis; but she drew it away, and answered: "I"did not promise, you krow. It is not even certain that your sister will be in town." "But if she is " "When she comes," said Claude, : "I will let yon know.'' J He bit his lip, but died hard not to appear mortified under the eye of the man who stood by at careless ease, yet whom nothing—Basil had wit enough to perceive—escaped. "I must try and be satisfied." he said, with but a sorry counterfeit of a cheerful smile, and he held out his band again. "Good-night—au revoir." He bowed rather stiffly to Stewart and turned away. Claude Verner smiled as he passed out of sight. A few moments later Stewart said, "I really must tear myself away Miss Verner." Claude put her little hand in bis, and bis fingers closed over it with unconsoious force. He knew it when he saw the light colour flit aoruss her cheek, the slight droop of the eyes, and he relaxed his clasp, then suddenly he bent bis bead, and laid a soft, reverent kiss on her hand. (To be Continued).