For Honour's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7985, 14 March 1906, Page 2

For Honour's Sake.

CHAPTER XLlV.—'Continued. Rapid steps came round the cottage. A voice—it was Davenant's—muttered: "Wthat's the row!" He had scarcely uttered the words, when be was sprain: upon by two men and borne to earth with such violence that ho lay stunned and motionless, while so sudde.n and overwhelming was tho attack that be could not ntter a cry or sound. "See that he's not shamming,"said Stewart, in a rapid undertone, and sprang away to the frout of the cottage. Tho door was just ajar. He pushed it open, pistol iu baud, and laced Basil Tollemiohe. "Cowardly villain!" said Stewart fiercely, and fired full at Tolle mache, who, swerving slightly, re ceived the charge ju9t below the shoulder. Ho staggered, throw up his hands, aud fell .forward heavily on bis face. "EsriolErsic!" exclaimed Claude's voice, calling wildly, as sbe called last night. He was up the stair?, the door burst open, and Claude was iu bis arms, wrapped to his heart with a pas°ion that shook bim to the soul, robbed him of all power of speech, though that one question that was an agony quivered on hia tongue. But she, clinging frantically to him, half faint with the madness of joy, the reaction from the terror of the loug hours pa3t, divined what must be iu his heart, knew that be could not spoak, that he could only t hold her to bn heart, press hi* burning 1 ids ou hers, aud so, for hie sake, v«oman-iibe, she warf momentarily strong. "Esric!" It was scarcely a whisper, but he board it. "Dailiug, Esric, 1 am safe—unharmed!" With ;t dry, choking sob, be bowed hLi a. ad on hers. "Oh, dariiug! I was mad—mad ■with the horror of that thought! Tell me, has he dared offer you insult, dared to clasp your hand? For, by Heaven! '" "No, no, Esric! These lips are yours onJy Esric!" And again his lips clung to them, till he felt her clasp about t.o his neck relax, and ber bead dropped against his breast. But she had not quite fainted, for when he bore ber •to the cogch, and laid her down, still keeping bis arms about her, she opened her eyes, and looked up to him with a tremulous smile. "It is only a moment," she whispered. "Ob, Esric! How you have suffered!" "Darling!" He strained her to him, convulsively. "It is all over now for both of us. I heard you call me, darling. last night." What a radiant light flashed into her eyes. "I boped you would hear me, Esric. I knew you would come." He gave her some water then, mixed with brandy from a flask he carried, i and she raised herself after thai, and asked him if he was alone; "No," he said; "With lan Maclan. He is waiting for us. I will tell you everything presently. Gome with me now out of this accursed place." "Tollemache?" she said, shivering but with a fierce flash in her eyes; "did you kill him?" "It la no fault of mine if he lives," said Stewart. "Davenant is only stunned, I think." She said nothing, only clinging to him, and Stewart called to Maclan. The man came up at once, and Claude stretobed out]her band to him. He took it reverently in his own, his eyes Jfull of tears; but Claude bent her bead and Kissed hi« hand, aud then Mac-lan when she released him, turned away with something suspiciously like a sob. "Ian # '| ,said Stewart, after a pause, "is Tollemache dead?" "No sir, not dead, but badly -wounded just below the shoulder." "And Davenant?" "He was only stunned; he's come to. I just helped hia in, and gave him some Water. - He'll be all right in a few minutes." "Let them help each other," said Stewart ruthlessly, "as they helped eaeh other in thair villainy; but J have not aoue with either of them yet. Now we have to get away. Have you looked at that horse in the shed? Is it more serviceable than the burse we brought?" "j\ot much, sir, but a little. I examined her. She's gone lame in the near forefoot. She'll go dead lame on these rough roads witbin fiVo miles. The carriage is a better one than we brought."* "Put ber to, lan, and bring the carriage round to the front." Mac-lan went out, and Claude asked: "Where are we, Esrio? How far from Merton? 1 think it is a long way. 1 ' "Nearly twenty miles, sweetheart." He drew her head down tenderly on his breast. "We cannot get there to-night. Leave yourself in my hands. I have so much'to ask you; but 1 must have patience, when ! you are otronger. Is this all you have had to eat and drink, darling --bread aud water?" "Davenant offered me other things, Esrio, but I would not hare them. 1 was afraid. I thought Tollemache might—might " "1 understand," said Stewart, gently. He was putting a tremendous restraint ou himself for her sake. "It was Davenant who was with me in the carriage," she went on. "Tollemache drove. 1 had strayed out into the grounds, and they sprang upon me, and tbirew a cloak over iny head, and Davenant carried me away. He was not rough; and in the carriage I implored him not to leave me aloue with Tollemache*, and he said be never meant to, really, and promised he would not; but I could not trust bim. Oh, Esrio! Esrio!" She broke into convulsive sobbing, clinging to him wildly, and. he held her close to him, mastering the passion that shook him, thai;

By Bertha M. Clay. Author of tf Wife in Name Only," 4t Wedded and Parted "Dora Thome," " A Queen Among Women," "A True Magdaleneetc., etc.,

he might soothe her. "Dearest—my own lovo!"be whispered, with caressing lips on her brow, "you must not speak of these things now; only-rest so, in my arms. Sweetheart, you shall never again leave my care."* So she was soothed, not misunderstanding even this last words. Jtie mesat only that she would never be where he could not watob over her; but she could have no thought of the future now, even of its terrors. It was enough for her that she was resting on ber-lover's heart; nothing else could concern her. Stewart lifted her up, as be heard the carriage coming round. "Come," he said. He half carried her down the little staircase, pressing her face against bim, that she should not see anything as they passed through the room below. Davenant, kneeling over the prostrate lorm of Tollemache, looked up with a sullen scowl, but said nothing; perhaps he was still somewhat dazed or thought it wisest to leave alone such a dangerous customer as the fiery soldier. (To be Continued).