For Honour's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7966, 17 February 1906, Page 2

For Honour's Sake.

CHAPTER XXVl.—Continued. And he turned away and left the loom. But, outside, he stopped a minute, pressing bis hand tightly over his heart. "Ob, my darling," he whispered, with white lips; "my darling! How long can I bear it? How long?" CHAPTER XXVII. RUIN IMMINENT. "Julia," said Chris Davonant to his wife, "come here. I want to apeak to ynn." She followed him into his study, and he closed the door. Then, turn ing round, she saw that his face had thft flabby pallor that belongs to florid complexions, and his eyes looked dull and heavy. "Chris!" she exclaimed, "what is ,t? What has bapooued." MBit down, Julia and Til tell you." She, sat down, trembling. A woman oonscious of "a history," andof the near neighbourhood of a man who knows all about the history, is apt t6 bo nervous." Davenant sat down too. It was evident that be had been muoh more agitated than ho was now, but he recovered himself a little. He paused that be might be able to speak, oollectedly, and said; "It's that fellow Fanoourt. He has just told, me ne has flot hold of Tollemache and wrung from him a promise of money if he—Tollemache —marries Claude. The result is, Pancourt tells me, we must put the sorews on her or he'll tell what he knows. I tried all my eloquence Ton him, but he' 9 as immovable as a rock when, his mipd is set on a thing. I told him Claude, wouldn't give in. It was all no' use. You may try your luck with him, but I don't believe you'll succeed." , He dropped his head on his hand. There was not muoh moral courage ;in Chris Davenant when it oame to a test. Julia had turned deadly white, while her husband spoke, but she did hot give way; still, she was startled and appalled by the possibilities suddenly opened before her. For a few minutes she sat silent, trying to collect her thoughts; and when she bad regained her mental poiße she said, elowly: "Chris, there is no use in trying to persuade Fanoourt to give in. The greed of money, for/driak and play, will keep him as meroiless as a tiger that smells blood. I'd be glad enough to make Claude marry Tollemache iM could. I'll put the .aorewß on, but I tell you I don't believe she'll give in. Fanoourt is a fool. Sbedoes't care for us; she doesn't care for social sucqesa. One of these swells— Mrs Westmore or some one—would give her a home to-morrow if she needed it. Why, if the worst came I believe she'd sooner go off with Stewart of Loohmobr than submit to be made Tollemache'a wife." "Then we are ruined!" Davenant said, hoarsely. "Wait a bit." His wife rose and wenti. neare? to him. "The matter can't be sottied in a week," she said, in>a qaiet, low tone, "and Fanoourt is a man well-nigh broken up with drink already." "Julial'said Chria. "What do you mean?" She laughed— a short, harsh laugh. "You dan't need to poison a drunkard," she said. "Only ply him well with his favourite poison. It will do its work as well as strychnine, and more safely for the survivors!" CHAPTER XXVIII. "THIS MAN CAN CRUSH US!" Major Langdale had got into a way of calling pretty frequently at Lexham Gardens, and Maida did not seem to ohjeot to his society, but, on the contrary, tc find It very agreeable. Captain Stewart, a few days before the four in-hand meet, was just turning into Lexham Wardens, to drop in on Maida, when he met his friend. "Your errand* is'the 6ame as mine, I suppose" be said, shaking hands, "but, as I may be de trop, I'll pass on." "Nonsense, Stewart!" returned the other, colouring slightly. "There'll probably be half a dozen people there already" "Well, if there are not, I'll promise not to stay long," said the Sootchraan, laughing. So they went on to the house together, aud were ushered into the pretty little aesthetic drawing room, .and there sat Maida, and by her side Claude Verner. What a light flashed into the girl's dark eyes! How hur heart bounded nsEsrio Stewart came in I But the long, dark lasheß veiled the light. Only he could know how more than glad she was to see him. "I suppose you two met outside," said Maida, laughing, as she shook bands first with Langdale, then with Stewart. "Exuctly so," said he seating himself by her, while Esrio turned to Claude, and his olasp, though brief, was very close. ' "Have you been hens long?" he aaked, smiling. "1 sm ashamed to say I have. Mrs Westmore makeis me forget bow the time goes. I must be going away." "Indeed, you most'Bot, just yet, for I cannot go at once; and I am to have the pleasure of escorting you." "You're not going to hurry away, Claude," exclaimed Maida, turning round. "You hoveh't been here any time at all." ' She poured out tea for the newcomers, and they all chatted away for a while. The meet wab spoken of, and Stewart, answering a question of Maidu's, said he did not . think be should join-it;-.' whereupon the keen-witted little woman changed the subject. "No dobut." she said, mentally, "either my lady won't go with him,

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

or he won't lot her, and he is too proud to let the world see the width of the gulf between them." Presently Claude rose to depart. She must get home, abe said, laughing; and Maida let her go, making her promise to come again soon. Captain Stowart took leave also, and left the !'ouse with, Claude. "They are happier without us," he said, when they had gained the street; "and we are haopier together are we not. sweetheart?" "Oh yes!" with a .fleeting upward look, and a quiok flash of colour as she met his gaze. "You don't want to go straight home, do you?" her. companion added. "You can let me take you a roundabout way?" "Yes," said Claude again. So Stewart proceeded to enter upon every oircumlooutory route to Crantnore Road. "Are you going to the four inhand meet" he asked, as they walked onward at a pace which has not the appearance of a saunter, but yet oovers the ground slowly. "1 don't know yet. I might go; but not on a coaah, if that is what you mean." (To be Continued).