For Honour's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7979, 6 March 1906, Page 2

For Honour's Sake.

By Bertlia I. Clay. Author of " Wife in Name Only," <( Wedded and Parted," "Dora Thome," (i A Queen Among Women," (i A True Magdaleneetc., etc.,

CHAPTER XXXVll—Continued-

tjy and by Claude stirred a little, startled by a sound among the trees. "What was that?" she whispered. "Esric, nro wo not alone?" "Quito alune, deirest. No one could come close to us unawares. Darling, while you are away, you will write to me every day, will you not—tbnti~, if you can." "Yes, Esric. Sometimes 1 might not bo able, because I mu3t post the letters myself." "And you will lot me write to you, sweetheart? Not every day that would uot do, because Masda knows you have no one tu write to you so often." . "Oil. Esric, yea! You need not say will I 'let' you write!" "My treasure!" lie pressed his lips on hers. "I wish," ho added, after a moment's pause, "you were not going, darling!"

CHAPTER XXXVIII

THE "PLAN Ob" 1 CAMPAIGN." "Baric," Claude said, looking up "have you any presentiment of evi'l? I vvill not go if it troubles you." . , .. . - "Presentiment? No. I think it is only that I cannot baar to have you out of ray sight. Ah, no! I would not stop you from going; 1 would far ratbm' you we e with Maida thau at Tho Forna.' Love makes oun fearful of ouo knows not what. It will not be many days, after all, before we meet again." "No, not many days," Olaude repeated. Was it onlf tho being parted from this man that made her heartsick, or was thore in her heart, 89 in his, ■a "boiliuc fnar," too wa S n ® to be grapplud with, as to what this.parting might mean for them? "Isn't it very late?" 9be added, anxiously, after a while. "Ihey ■will miss us." But her lover held her fast. "It is not bo late, sweetheart, and they will not miss us. You must stay with me a little longer, darling. To-morrow I shall have to say goodbye to you like an ominary friend." Claude was nothing loath to remain, and she let Stewart keep her by his aide a long as he would. But he was carerul for her; and when he thought it time that they should return to the house, he r096. "I wish," he said, with a quiokdrawn breath, "1 could put back the time. But I am not going to Ist you hurry back, darling." And he certainly didn't. Lovers are. by sheer instinct, past masters in the art of sauntering. Esric kept Claude within hia arm as they walked slowly how slowly! —- through the l-osery, and along the dark, shadowed path beyond, and before they emerged upon'the - . open ground he stopped,' and folded ber to bis heart, and kissed her many times, but said never a word; and then, still silent, be released her, drew her hand on his arm, and went on. But when they entered the drawing room no one was there except Lady Meldune, deep in a nap, and when, a few minutes'-later, the rest came in, they did not know whether Captain Stewart had ever left the room. But Major Langdale and Maida Westmore were missed, and stnilea and looks passed round. Ah, well, it mattered nothing for tbem; to link their names together could mean no shame to either; their love could look the world in the fade, and few no slander. Alas! for mau and woman whose love cannot be fearless; it may be without aih, but it must be also without peace; and it cannot be without peril.

That very night* while Captain I Stewart and Claude eat together under the lime tree, the climax came for Chris 'Davenant. That day Arthur Fanoourt had been unusually! sober, and tbia disquieted Davenant not a little. When an habitual drunkard ia sober, he meana mischief; such an abnormal condition betokens an ominous activity of mind. Nevertheless, both Davenant and his wife were not a little startled by the abrupt, unheralded entratice of -Fanoourt into the drawing roomfwbere they were sitting together, Chris reading, Julia doing some fancy woik—more because moving her fingers was some relief to the restlessness of her mind than for any better reason, if fancy work needs a better reason. Davenant started round in his chair, dropping his book; Julia looked up, asfcouished. "Fanoourt!" exclaimed the former. "Yes, Fancourt," He closed the door, and advanced a few steps into the room. "You'd best close that window, Chris; I want to have a serious talk with you." He looked dangerous, and he was sober, ho it was not bravado-; he knew what he was about. "Como into the study," said Davenant, rising, you want to talk over any business." "You know what I've come about," said the other, with a sneer. "No; I'll say what 1 have to say hero, I wish Mrs—er—-Mrs Davenant—Uo bear!" Julia dared not resent this insult. Chris turued to the window, his ruddy face growing dull and leaden. clearly, and must be obeyed. It was a warm night, and to sit with close 1 windows was not agreeable, but thero waa no help for it. Fanoourt seated himself, and &hen Chris came bacn to hi 9 chair, looked from him to Julia, and back again, ucrutinizingly. "Look here," be' said, "I'm a drunkard, and a bad fellow all round, but I'm not a fool, and 1 don't intend lo be made one! You two have beau thjnkinf? to humbug liie, but you woii't. Now,'l've juat come to toll'you this: I want

money, and mean to have it! It's your basiness to ' make the girl obey you if fair means fail, you'll have to try foul! Anyhow, 1 give you a week from to-day. Jf the money isn't in hands by then—you'd best pack up your trunks and be off, for I 'll taue care tho world knows all about the Rev. Robert Kyrle's wife. That's plain speaking!" ' "Pl~uu enough," said Chris, quietly "but we are iu your power, and so must, do our best but to promise success is impossible. There's no way of making Claude obedient, except force, and that may fail!" "Then you must take the consequences. Where is the girl now?" "At Colston Follv. She comes up to-morrow, and goes on iu the evening with Mrs Westmore to Merton Grange, in Yorkshire." Chris bent forward. "There will be no guests at Merton," he went on. "We may, therefore, be able to get Claude into our power." "I understand. Hut wouldn't she bold out still?" "Not under the ciroumstances," said Davennnt, significantly. "She couldn't. Oh, I have been turning this 60heme in my mind for some little time. Don't misunderstand me, Paucourt. I won't permit any real harm to oume to her. I'll look out for that. I'm no saint, but I'm not bad enough for that, and I don't trust Tcllemache but she's not to know dhe's safe! If sho did, she might hold out to th« ot' judgment. Besides, it wouldn't do to prolong the business Remember, we should Captain Stenait to contend with. He'll move heaven aud eaith to And her!" (To be Continued).