For Love and Glory.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8157, 11 June 1906, Page 2

For Love and Glory.

CHAPTER V.—Continued

Travellers drop ceremony, as a tiaual thing, and address each other •with a certain familiarity thai would never be tolerated at home. He was firm on his resolution not to approach Theresa under the pretense of warning her againsat danger. The McGregor could do that, and be welcome to the credit, since he deserved it nil. At least, the proud girl should not know how he suffered as the Teßult of their break, nor was he weak euough to act as though he had been auxious to do something by means of which ho might restore himself to her good graces. That would be equivalent to confessing that she had been right; and still smarting under the term of reproach she had cast upon him, he was not ready to do anything of the sort. When the hour drew late he sauntered into *he Japanese theatre, had his attention distracted from bis troubles a short time, and then wandering back to the hotel, retired. At breakfast—he knew the habits of the Morrisons full well—he sat in a corner where he could occasionally shoot a glance towards their table. J- Therese was plainly not herseir—she looked pale and thoughtful, but always Dretty. Ou retiring from the room, she, Save him a dignified bow, which quite amused the madcap in the iear, who" smiled intelligently, as though not in the least deceived by her sister's grand show of indifference. Ae she passed Armand the hoyden pat her fingers on hor lip an 1 nodded her saucy little head in a mysterious manner. Somehow this telegraphic communication, together with the beaming smile she bestowed upon Armand, gave that individual new boirt of grace, for he understood" tnat the "infant" was in sympathy with him. It is good to have a friend at court, one who may be a power behind the throne. "She understands, bless her—she thinks 1 did right to decline a shiver bath and the risk of a wooden leg, just to please a woman's whim. Or can it be she is thanking me for the bright hint. Poor McGregor,' you little know what a day may bring forth.!' So the gentleman soliloquized as be sauntered about a bit to kill time. The morning; passed in several duties that were connected with his office, and those served to occupy his mind temporarily. Afternoon.

Where the deuce was McGregor all this while, that he had not run* across him,? TherrArmand groaned. Wby, of course, the lucky'dog must be basking in the smiles of the capricious little "ma-maselle" whom he worshipped so devotedly, and she but a <ohild in ose sense. Well, it was dencedly unpleasant being left out in the cold. But then, in time he woaled grow accustomed to that.

A month ago he bad not known Therese existed, aud yet he was happy. Ah! but now that he had known her, the old care-free peace of mind could never be his again. Others bad gone through the same dreary treadmill, why could not be? How slowly the time passed while he sat m the office uf the consul and tried to forget in makinc ready for bis intended departure, Yet, frequently be found himself picturing the girl here or there about the •oity, always glorifying the region ishe visited.

He was genuinely glad wheu the shades of mght began to fall,'[and wearied in mind and body he betook himself once more to the Grand Hotel on the Uund. He wondered if Gordie had mentioned him at all in the matter, and whether she cared a farthing because he had been associated with the canny Soot in doing ovon this small favour for her and hers. Pshaw! that was childish, after the stern resolutions he bad made —he must steel himself against all such silly notons, aud carry out the pledges he had made. A letter for him. He noted the feminine hand, and received a shock on recognizing it as the chirograph? of Miss Therese. Was she formally executing what had been verbally done in the Japanese "sampan"after Fido'a inglorious end? So he held his breath, and his lingers trembled a little as he tore away the end of the envelope.

"MR AKMAND KADOLIFFE: "My friend, I am ashamed of myself, after what occurred yesterday, i wish to ask your pardou and forgiveness. Forget that 1 ever said so harsh a word in the boat of indignation and sorrow over poor Fido's -death. I was not myself. THERESE MORRISON."

Well, he read that over time and again, seeking to discover something that was not there. "She regrets being unladylike, but that is all. Not a word or a hint about a cbauge of heart. She evidently has not struck her colours, and believes as before, that I am a craven. Well, lam very muob obliged to the lady for such dolioate consideration. Of course, it relieves me immensely to know that she realizes that it waa quite unladylike; but as to forgetting the insult that is entirely another matter, I fear. It was branded on my braiu for all; time. Oh! yes, pardou, I forgive, but'never, forget!" and us he tore the scented missive into fragments he experienced a fine flush of indignation over Ma burning wrongs that made him rajoiae. to know she also suffered through net own indiscretion.

And, as luck would have it, just a» bo turned to toss the bite into a ffajtepaper basket, he was amazed

By St. George Rathborne. Author of "Dr. Jack*" "The Witch from India," " Captain Tom," "Mynheer Joe," " Dr. Jac7c's Wife," etc., etc.

CHAPTER VI.

(To be Continued.)

to disaoTer coming into the hotel a dusty, disheveled figure that looked as though aa acquaintance with soap and water would be of the greatest importapoe—» figure that darted forward to clutch him by the arm, aud as they thus stood face to face, Armand saw that his euspioious were confirmed, for it was the McGregor, looking aa though he had passed through a threshiug machine.

FROM "SAMPAN" TO YACHT.

Upon discovering the canny young Boot in so disorganized a oondition, Armand's first aud very natural thoght had been that something dreadful had happened to tne Morrison party, for Gordie wbs supposed to have been with them all day.

In those few seconds of time it was simply amazing what a series of riotous thoughts went flashing, aud trooping through bis brain, just as the lightning darts from cloud to cloud during ou electric storm.

Suspense caused him to imagine every ill that could possibly happen in the city of Japan, and the gamut was not very lengthy with no automobiles or electric trans speeding through the streets. And truth to tell, his thoughts all centered upon oue person. The gallant old colonel was a mau for whom he entertained much respect, and as to Evangeline, be bad always been quite fond of the little witch, but when it came to a question of danger, somehow he could consider no one save Tessie.

This, for a man who had just declared that he meant to tear her image from his heart, was rather surprising. When Love once takes hold, it is amazing what a firm grip the little oherub displays. McGregor appeared to be pretty much out of 'breath, as though he had been running of late, unable to find n 'rikisba when most needed.

It was partly on this account that he was quite uuable for almost a minute to utter a single intelligible word, and this only added to the other's growing ularntf When Gordie did catoh his breath and began to babble, if was extremely fortunate that he 'did not fall tato his broard Sooloh dialect, for what with hia excitement and lack of breath, the chances were he would never bo able to make himnelf understood.

"Don't stare at me so, man. We been having a de'il of a time since 1 left you last night, the hottest experience of my whole life. What 1 want to kaow, and must know at once is, am I too late?" "Too late, for what—supper?" ('Supper be banged—not that I'm anything bat wolfish, starved lavenous, but that is another matter. " I too late to warn them?" muttered the mau from the Clyde. "Warn them—you mean " "The Morrisons, against those on the yacht—have thoy started?"

"Uood Heavens! do you mean to say all this time, twenty hours and more, elapsed, and you haven't let them know?" demanded Armand, his face paling aa he saw the impending disaster.

"Aweel," quoth Gordie, indignantly, "1 take it if you had been knocked on the head aa 1 was last night, and dragged on board the aoour».ed yacht, there to ne kept a prisoner confined as closely m the lazaret aa though you were a contagious leper, you wouldn't have been able to sound a warning any more that I. To make my escape at even the eleventh hour, i was' compelled to do some pretty tall talking, and left my co'tilimonts in the shape of several men more or less injured, and the vessel damaged almost seriously enough to prevent her sailing."

Modestly enough said, but Armand realized there was an exceedingly lively story back of it, which some way under more favourable auspices he could enjoy.

"Forgive mo, my friend," he said, quickly. "But what 1 want to know is, am 1 in time, or is it already too late?" cried Gordio, beginning to feel like himself again. "I don't know. Haven't seen them all day." "lint you might have warned them'." "Yes, but did not. You remember last night I told you .all the glory must be yours. I regret it keenly now, but who could forsee this, or dijeam of them laying you by tbo heels" ' "They must have suspected that 1 knew something of their plans. That's the only reasonable explanation I've been able to give. But we must find out if they've gone." "That's easily done. Step into the washroom and clean yourself while J interview the gentleman in charge at the desk. I'll join you in double-quick time." McGregor was satisfied to obey, for ho saw Armand was wideawake aud ready to take oharge of affairs. Here the American speedily joined him, and one look at bis faoe told the intelligent Soot that he could expect the worst. "Gone?" he ejaculated.