A Tardy Wooing.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8140, 17 May 1906, Page 2

A Tardy Wooing.

CHAPTER XXV.—Continued. "Dear Lady Daitison, I did not think you would have been so easily induced to think ill of me." "Nor would anyone else," interposed Oyrilla. "It it is only some silly report, picked up goodness knovra how. that is driving mamma away, 1 shall decline to accompany her." "Ob. no, S'rilla, you mustn't / do that," cried poor Lady Dartisou. "I csD't and I won't go without you!" The young lady marched off without replying, to scribble a note of fare well to Mrs iVlnolnuia, and her Brother appealed to Hatold. "Oh, do persuade her to go home with us; she'll listeu to you, tbonugh she won't to me. Tell her it wouldn't be right for her to stay here to lio courted by a gentleman who haa aot a wife al ready!" "Who dari &ay this of me?" But her ladyship, who was quite unconscious of the absurdity she committed she pleaded to Harold to save Ciyil'a from himself, could not make any response, for she as on the veige of fainting. Wynnie's ory brought Sir Jasper to ber assistance. and, as ber ladyship still made urgent signs to bo led to the carriage she was obeyed. It was no use attempting to detain ber and Harold would have concluded , that her senses were wandering, and dismissed all thought of her strange charge, had ho n-">t felt that it might do hi® serious injury If .persisted in. With more than his ous!omary dignity he accosted Sir Jasper: "Did you, sir, bear the extra ordinary speech Lady Dartison has just made to me?" "Me? No! oh, no! Very ungrateful of ber whatever it was. I'm sure you've treated us like priqees, and I'm exceedingly angry with her for such outrageous behavi jur. Her wits must be wandering; don't you think so?" The knight had evidently taken the alarm at his wife's 1 wild looks, and being very fond of her at heart, in spite of his conceit and pomposity, he hastily shook hands with his host, and, begging bim not to take any notice, followed her to the ( carriage. j Lady Dartison was eager to depart, but there was the luggage to be hoisted to the roof of the back, and Oyrilla insisted on staying to say adieu to Mrs Pembury, who was just returning from a walk with her little girls, and was amazed to see her cousin's guests in the act ofquitting the house. While the young lady stood talking to her obstinately deaf to Lady Dartison's fretful calls or her father's equally urgent entreaties, Harcld contrived to speak to Wynnie who was waiting to iollow Oyrilla into the carriage. "I regret that you had sacti a fright this afternoon Miss Moyle. Are you quite certain that tie man you encountered was the scoundrel who attacked me the other evening?" "In my own mind, yes; but I must • confess that, at the time you are speaking of, 1 did not see his features distinctly." "1 feared as muob. He was not impertinent or threatening to you to-day?". Wynnie shuddered, for she could never overcome her dread of the man whom she had seen attack Harold so brutally outside the house of the Marbys. "No, he did not say anything to me; on the contrary"—and now she could soarcely repress a smile —"I think my sudden appearance had the effect of frightening him." "If we succeed in oatching the fellow, as v/e hopu to do, we may have to ask you to give evidence. Do you think you would be able to identify him?," < Wynnie hesitated so long, and regarded her questioner with such troubled eyes, that if, surprised him, and he was about to reassure her, when, in a half wbisper, she said: ' "Yes, 1 should have to tell all 1 know, whatever the consequences might be to myself." Again Harold endeavoured to dissipate ber fears. "You may depend on me not to let you suffer for your part in this unpleasant affair. If he or any of his vile associates attempted to threaten you, they should be severely punished for it.",. "I am not afraid of what Chris Kennet might say or do to me," she responded, earnestly. "It is you who must beware of him; he is so evil-minded and cruel, and has been your enemy so long, that you are not safe while he is at large." "Did I ever do the fellow any injury?" asked Harold, with increasing astonishment. And now Wynnie hesitated in what words to reply;and was thankful when a sharp "What are you doing here?" from Gryilla— "do yon not hear mamma calling you?" gave her an excuse for running away, and leaving Harold Outram's question unanswered. He had no other opportunity of accosting her. To Lady Dartison's frenzy of impatience even her imperious daughter had to yield; and with brief adieus Mr Outram and his guests parted—Oyrilla leaning from the carriage window to scream an injunction to follow her to London as quickly as possible. She was still so highly indignant at being hurried away from the Towers--just, too, as she had consented to take part in some private theatricals—that she scolded both her parents for the first half hour ot the journey. But, when her ' rage was appeased by their meek responses, sh§ began to admit to herself that perhaps it was just as well that her visit had terminated so abruptly. For the amusement of the Misses Maclnnis she bad flirted so outrageously wtih a youhg subaltern, whom everybody rega;ded

By Charles W. Hathaway. Author of- " M'arjorie's Sweetheart»" " A Long Martyrdom," A Hash Vow," Joseph Dane's Diplomacyetc., etc.

as a good tempered simpleton, that at last be had suspected that they were making him their butt, and reaentod it so fiercely as to be dangerua". Besides, Oyrilla was heartily siok of the Towers. Everything there was too slow for her tastes. As soon as the delight of looking upon its art treasures as almost her own had subsided, she made the discovery that she felt much more at ease in the smaller establishment of her father, where her authority was supreme, and she could lecture the cook or discharge a servant whenever she pleased. Jbady Dartison, therefore, was left in peace—to lay her aching head on the shoulder of Wynnie, who sincerely commiserated her—till a remark from Sir Jasper turned his daughter's thoughts into a fresh ourrent. "Lend me any silver you have in your purse, my dear," he said. "I shall want it for the cabmen, and I let that tiresome Obris carry off all the loose change I had." She started, and dropped the paper she had been listlessly turning over and over. "Obris! Why, wken did you see him? Surely he did not dare come to the Towers?" Sir Japeer nodded somewhat ruefully. "J should like to know what it is that he dare not do. Yes, he rang the bell as bold as brass, and asked for me; insisted on being taken over the house—and saw——" "Not Harold! —not Harold!" Gryilla had clinched her hands and her teeth till she looked like a beautiful fury. "Sh-h-b-h !"ejaoulated her father, with a warning glanoe at Wynnie. "Remember yourself, my dear; we are not alone—and there was no harm done; so don't put yourself out. It was only your poor, dear mother that he had any conversation with. Mrs Pembury was walking, and. so was both the gents." "Chris Kennett has been talking to mamma!" Oyrilla repeated. "Then it was from him that v she has heard the tale that has made her rush home in this absurd manner! I will make him smart for it some day,,! What did he tell her? That old story which he tried to impose on me, and, failing to make any impression, now carries to her! If 1 had been there I would have made he? treat it with all the scorn itimerits! What did he tell you, mamma?" Lady Dartison half raised the heavy lids of her sunken eyes, and responded languidly: "Don't worry me now, S'rilla; I am too tired to talk." "But it will not take you a minute to answer m.v question. Did he try to make you believe that Harold ia already married?" "He told me to ask Mr Outram what he'd done with the girl who travelled with him from Dover. He's going to find her himself; and then —what did he say after that, Miss . Moyle? Ah! 1 forgot; you weren't there. Oh! something about plenty of proof as soon as he could find her." "What a wildly improbable story!" exclaimed the frowning Gryilla—jealous pangs darting through her heart in spite of her forced laugh and pretense of incredulity. "Ohris Kenuett has had a good many jokes at your expense, but he'll call this the best of all when be knows that it induced you to pack and drag us away as if the plague was in the house.' ' Lady Dartison neither defended herself nor offered an apology; and Sir Jasper, seeing another storm gathering on the brows of his beautiful daughter, remained mute also. There was, therefore,' a pause, which lasted till she bursi into an angry exordium. "If either of you had lisplayed more strength of mind, Chris Kenuett would not have presumed to ao our footsteps, or utter his disgraceful slauders; but I will defeat him yet. 1 will be marred at onoe. Mamma shall tell Mr Outram how very much she wishes to see us united before she—she—goes to some German watering place; and no one shall be aware of our intentions but the half dozen or so of friends, who can be hastily got together at the last moment." As Lady Dartison made no comment at Oyrilla's resolution, her silence was regarded ad a tactic agreement to play the role arranged for her, and Sir Jasper was peevishly asked why be was looking so dubious. i "Hum—ha—you see, my dear, you have so frequently insisted that your marriage was to eclipse all ordinary ones, that thio alteration in your plans has taken me by sur. prise.'' "I suppose I can be married just a« well." the young lady retorted, "without a crowd of grinning idiots staring at me, and forty or fifty people coming to eat an expensive breakfast and pelt me with rioe." "Of course—o£ course; your mother and me went to church arm in arm, with the groomsman and the bridemaiden sniggering and tittering just behind us, and our wedding breakfast was a good dinner of roast beef and apple pie, and " (To Be Continued.)