For Honour's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7957, 7 February 1906, Page 2

For Honour's Sake.

By Bertha M, Clay. Author of " Wife in Nutne Onttf," 4 ' Wedded and Parted," "Dora Thorite," "A Queen Antony Women," il A True Muydalene," ete., etc.,

OHAPTEK XXI,- Continued

Langdale glanced at his friend, but the handsome face w:is u"revealing; but that did not cause the major to disiris3 the uncomfortable impression he had received. He knew ot old the Highbinder's power of commandina his features. "Ail the mou are in love with hor," said Stewart, carelessly. "It is the fate of beauty." / Pauline lawghed, and the laugh jarred, on both men; how much on her husband only he could know. "Tollemache seems rather nice," she added.. "1 gave him a lift as far as Piccadilly. Ho told mo his love story" lauuhing again— "aud 1 really felt for him, for he said Miss Verner had snubbed h«m." "It would be like Basil Tollemache," said Stewart, contemptuously, "to babble out such a story to anyone who chosa to quostiou him. He isn't 'nice,' aa you call it, at all; he's a cad." Paulino was Rhrewd enough to see, by some words her husband used, that he knew very well she had "pumped" Tollemache; but she did not care. This was one of the things he could not set bis root on; it was too intangible. She said, leaning »aok, and gracefully waving bor fan: "1 don't know why you call him a *cad'; he's country bred, out he's as agreeable as half the people one meets. 1 asked him to call." "Acre's the pity!" said Stewart, carelessly, aud so dismissed the subject for tha present. He was not going to say auy more in the presence of a guest, but he had no intention of allowing Basil Tollemache to obtain a footing in his house. Tollemache was not only a profligate, but he was more than suspected, though never convicted, of turf oractices of which a good many gentlemen are cuilty, i<nd think nothing of, but which really highminded men emphatically condemn, lie had, too, the general principles aud tone of thought that would cave better fitted him to be a horse trainer than, a Tollemache; beseemed to have been a gentleman by accident. The announcement of dinner put an end to the desultory talk, and at dinner even Paulino did not attempt to travel out of the general into the Darticular. When Pauline left-the two men alone vbey soon withdrew to the library—it was not the habit of either of them to linger over wine—and, naturally they found, as Langdale bad said, "plenty to talk about." But Stewart maintained the same reserve as to his own inner life that he had preserved in his letters; and Gus did not feel that he could intrude on that reserve, or seek a confidence not offered. His friend, indeed, gave him no chance. Wb«D, in the small hours, he retired to his room, the major lay awake for a long time, thinking vtry painful thoughts. "I hope to Heaven," be said, inwardly, "that Stewart hasn't been falling in love with that girl; there'd be abundant excuse. What can a man do who has such a wife as he has, and such a home? But the worst of it is, there's never been any but one end to that kind of thing, however, it bet/ins, and goes on—for a time. And if you drag a pure-hearted girl down, Stewart, it would break ycur own heart. You can't sin lightly, aa many men can."

him an her lore. Could there never bo love withuut sin? In the "storm and stress" of his own emotions Stewart shrank, with an added sensitiveness from any collision between his will aud bis wife's wishes or fancies. She must yield, and yield quickly; but she could and would stab sharp and deep. Ho could not make himself inwardly insensible f o such wounds; ho could not harden the fibre of his nature; and thesn discords lacerated him, which would scarcely touch the surface of some men's natures. So ho deferred speaking to his wife about Basil Tollemache; not that he intended to yield an inch, but it was too late to prevent the first call, and it would bo time enough when that was cast to tell Pauline that in future she must discourage this new acquaintance. Pauline herself, however, with the impudence that waits upon folly, precipitated events. Stewart returned home that nigLt about twelve o'clock, and, going to his dressing room, p -ssed the door of bis wife's apartment. The door was open, and the lamplight from within streamed out into the corridor. A shadow struck across the light, and Pauline's voice called: '"Esric!" He paused. "Well," he said, "what is it?" "Come in, please." He turned back, biting his lip, and entered the room. Pauline was alone, sitting by the dressing table, wrapped in a long, pale blue dressing gown, handsome enough for a tea gown, her fair hair falling over her shoulders. (To be Continued).

CHAPTER XXII

RESISTING TEMPTATION. The next day was Sunday, and Pauliue, as was her wont, drove to' St. Peter's, Eaton , Square, not for "tbe doctrine" or even tbe music, there; she knew and cared nothing about either; but because it was the correct thing to go to cnuroh once on tbe Sabbath. Most of her set went to this particular church, and she knew a good many young fellows went simply because she did, and her fair loveliness distracted not a little the attention of the dearly beloved brethren. Captain Stewart spent most of tbe day with his friend, taking Langdale in tbe afternoon to call upon Mrs Westmore, and] in the evening went to a muscial at-home at another South Kensington house, but not the house where he, himself would fain have been. Had he made urt his mind to try and keep away from Claude Verner? Nay, not that; he knew the attempt would be useles". He had reached the point, a perilous one, when he returned from India, at which a man is content to leave himself in the hands of fate, or chance by which her name —or both names —he chooses to call it. He bad no intention of speaking to Claude, throwing himself on her mercy; but ho had no intention either of placing himself beyond the danger of such avowal. Happen what might, he must somqtimes see her;.it was simply for tier sake that he resolved the "sometimes" must not be too often. The world would readily link her name with his if he was two or throe times a week at The Feins for it was une of those open secrets, which no pride or reserve can hide that Captain Stewart and his wife were sinmly on outward termd of agreement. But the resolve cost hhn dear. Jt was bard enough to be a day without seeing Claude; but three, and even four days! It seemed weeks since "Ibursday; surely her heart gave back some of the fire of his! Dared he meet ber with such thoughts as these to make his brain reel, to 1111 all his soul with very madness? Folly, he said to himself, to ask the question. He had no power of yea or nay. He must go to ber—today, to morrow, a week hence, if he had strength to keop; away so long; but to go leas inevitable. Let the hour answer for the result. He had no thought it would shame her to know; her honor was as dear to