For Honour's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7983, 12 March 1906, Page 2

For Honour's Sake.

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

CHAPTER LXll.—Continued. "I shull never consent!" she said, her glittering eyes still watching him. Was that true that Davonant had betrayed her—left her to Tollemache's mercy? "Bah! you won't talk so bravely iu a few days. And, look here, don't imagine the priest will help you. He'll be the real article—you needn't be afraid of that—but he's a man I can ruin, and will ruin If he plays me false!" "There will be no need of a priest" said Claude, in the same manner. "I shall never marry you." "You think," he said, with a brutal sneer, "that your love, Esric Stewart, will save you? He will have to find out first where you are; and it will be too late then!' Not a word from her now, though the colour came into her cheek at the cowardly insult. The blood was burning in her veins, but she was wary with a woman's wariness in self-defence; she had everything at stake; it would be madness to rouse this man, who might, for all sb« knew, really have her completely in bis power. He changed his tone a little. "Why are you so cruel to me?" he said. "1 love you, Claude." He made another step toward her, stretching out his hands; but the girl drew back with such contempt and horror in her face as might well anger hor captor. -"What!" he said, savagely; "you keop your lips for Esrio Sewart'a kisses, eh? But they'll have to be mine now " "Keep back, you cowardly soouadrel!" cried Claude, with such a blaze of passion that, involuntarily, he fell back, startled, and in the instaut flt-e caught in his eye a look—, a more flash—ihat stnt to her heart such fierce revulsion of relief as almost made her dizzy. Yet, in that supreme moment, she had the selfcommand to keep her face uni changed. Tollemache had lied. Chris Davenant was within hearing, and Tollemache dared not provoke his interference. His next move confirmed the impression that brief look conveyed, for he flung himself iuto the chair with an execration. "I meant you no harm," he said. "A kiss hurts no one. But they'll be my right by and by." Every insult burned into her heart like red-hot irons; bat they should be reckoned up against him one day soon to come! She stood looking at him, dfawing her breath quick tnd low, but not moving, Tollemache arose. "I'll break your spirit!" he said. "A woman can't defy the world, and you know it. This is only the first day, and, by Heaven ! if you're too obstinate, you'll have no mercy! Do you understand?" Only that glittering look, that somehow the man did not care to faoo; but the marble lips made no movement. lollemache went out, looking the door after him, but leaving the key in the look, and Claude was alone again—alono with the agony and ineffable dread; and yet, through all, the wild, sweet hope that Captain Stewart would save her—the sense of his love, whioh somehow, seemed to protect her. Sometimes she heard Tollemaohe's heavy, step below, and she listened intently for any other sound, but none came, save the stamping of the horse in the shed. Morning prassed into noon, and noon into evening, and twilight melted iuto darkness, and still no help came! CHAPTER XLIII. "I WILL DRAG YOU DOWN TO THE DUST." Captain Stewart found himself face to face with Julie Davenant. She hid risen from her seat, and all her society self-command could not hide from bis keen sight the latent fear in her eyes, the sort of instantaneous and swift gathering up of all her inward forces on the defensive. She must have seen by the stern look, which her visitor wis at no pains to conceal—by his abrupt and unceremonious entrance so foreign to his punctilious courtesy—that he knew, or suspected, something concerning Claude's fate, and had come to question her or to demand information. He closed the door behind ,him, and spoke at once, with as little ceremony as he had observed in entering her presence. "I am not hero, Mrs Davenant, to waste words. You pretty well know already what brings me, and you will do wisely to answer me without delay " "Captain Stewart " He raised his hand, haughtily. "Hear me out," he said; "and remember that 1 am in no mood to be trifled with, even by a woman. Claude Verner has been missing since last night. She is in the hands of your husband and Basil Tollemache, and you know, where she is. Tell me—and at once!'" "Captain Stewart!" cried Julia; "this is really preposterous. Neither I nor my husband know anything of Miss Verner. If it be true that she is missing——" Stewart strode forward, and grasped her by the wrist. "It is true!" he said; "your face, played you traitor when X came in. You know where she is hidden! No," as she strove to release herself. "I will not release you until you answer me!" "I know nothing!" she said. *'What claims have you to make yourself Claude's champion?" "Are you a fool as well as a truitress?" said Stewart, quietly. "Now, listen to me, Mrs Davenant. You share that sepret with the drunken wretch who has you iu his power Ah, you blanch at that I. Refuse to answer mo—and I oannot force you, as I would a man, with a pis- j

tol at your bead—but 1 will go straight to Fauoourt and by tbieat or by money, wring the truth from him. I will do more—he shall sell to mo the secret of his power, his knowledge, and I will drag you down to the dust! Now, answer me!" His tightening grip was lika iron on her wrist; it hurt her, but it was not the physical pain that made her cry out, and put up her free hand as if to ward off an actual blow. "You are merciless!" she gasped. "Meicilbss! Great Heaven! you deserve no mercy! Within a minute 1 release you, and go to Fancourt." "No, no," she clutched his arm wildly. "I'll tell jou—only, promise——" "1 promise nothing. Toll me where Claude Verner is." "She will come to no harm," panted Julia. "My husband is there—he will not leave her really alone with Tollemache—we were forced to it—Fancourt had no pity —he would crush us." "Np harm," said Stewart, fiercely. "Do you think I trust Chris Davenant? No harm m blighting a woman's name—keeping her for hours in thw terror of dishonour. Thank your sex alone that I don't strike you down at my feet. No prayers or tears; if Davenant comes across me he takes his ohanoes of life or death. Ycu have the name of the place written down. Give it to me." (To be Continued)