The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8282, 8 November 1906, Page 2

The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Bv OWEN MASTERS. Author of " Clyda's Love Dream," ii Nina's .Repentance "Her Soldier Lover," fl, The Mystery of Woodcroft," (( For Love of Marjorieetc.

f"The Ironmaster's Daughter" was commenced on October 17th.]

CHAPTER XV.—Continued. "A few short months and I shall be back again," he had said. "I shall be here for the wedding, and I may make a home in England, for ' half of the year, anyway." Dick walked through the woods to Pauline's home in the evening. He had had a worrying day. For weeks one of his experts had been testing a new metal for the manufacture of bearings, and when the due proportions of copper tin and alloys had been perfected he discovered that the same thing in every essential had been patented a few days earlier by Lucas Isaacs! The lu-iedients had been known only to himself, to Benson and the metal expert. How, then, had the secret leaked out? It meant the loss of hundreds —perhaps thousands of pounds. He went into Pauline's house.but his step had lost its usual 'sprightliness, and lounged into the drawing-room. A servant told him that Miss Reitz was out somewhere. He looked annoyed. He was in a grumbling, dissatisfied mood. The aged negress whom Pauline called Aunt Nelly, ■was sitting on the piazza, and swaying to and fro in an American rock-ing-chair. Her head was swathed in a brightly coloured shawl, so that he could only see the brown face, the wide mouth, and a pair of rolling dark eyes. He rose, went through the French window, and spoke to Aunt Nelly. Where washer mistress? ' Playing with Sultana, sure. Aunt Nelly had heard the panther purring. Its notes were like those of an organ. And Peter, the keeper, was there, too. So Dick strode off in the direction of the quadrangle where Sultana lived and exercised. Yes, he could hear the panther's playful growls, and Paulina's laughter, and he looked sulky. He disliked the panther and the niggers. They were all right in their own country—but in England they were out of place. As for Aunt Nelly—poor old thing ! —well, she might have had a home in the Southern State which she was so fond of crooning about. He knocked hard on the ironclamped door of the panther's house, and heard a savage growl. "It is I—Dick," he cried. Sultana was ordered into her cage, the door was opened and Pauline embraced her lover. No notice was ever taken of Peter, the negro. He was a middle-aged darky; he had known missy since she was a baby. He was Aunt Nelly's only son, and a good-looking son, too. He wasn't a black man ; he was a coloured man, and spoke contemptuously of niggers, though where the difference came in Dick's insular prejudice would not allow him to see. Peter had a straight nose, a face almost European in shape and contour, humorous black eyes, gray, frizzy hair, and a loud, infectious laugh. "Oh, Dyck, I am so glad you have come earlier than you promised." Pauline said, both her soft amis round his neck"Have I? I don't think so." "Oh, yes, you said business would, | keep you away until eight o'clock. It! isn't seven yet." "Quite right." Dick felt half penitent. He walkup to Sultana's cage. The beast had been watching him with contacted eyes, her sinuous tail gently waving to and* fro. The luster of those same eyes was like highly burnished metal, and Dick detected a-difference in Sultana's demeanour toward himself. The beast resented his presence—she became furious, when Pauline fondled him—she was jealous! The furry'tail swayed in anger, then lashed the air into a hurricane. Pauline spoke soothingly, but Sultana's wrath could hot be appeased until Dick retired. "Bah!" he said; '-the pungent *odour of the brute is sickeningCan't you see that she is jealous, Pauline? I sha'n't enter the house again. What with niggers and other pets," he added under his breath, "the place is well-nigh insupportable." He saw Pauline's face whiten and went on, to justify his ill-temper. "Nothing but humbug and worry. Traitors inside the works and outside. My inventions are being stolen and sold to my rivals, I can find peace nowhere." They were alone now, and walking slowly through a patch of woodland to the house. Pauline caressed one of his hands fondly, appealingly, but he withdrew it with a quick motion. "Dick—Dick, are you angry with me?" she asked. "Tell me—tell me! You know that I have no thought apart from you, and you must be honest with me." He thought of Frank Stark's sinister words, and laughed harshly. Pauline's face was frightened—anguished. "You must Moe honest with me, Dick," she repeated. He looked away at the westering sun. It reminded him of Sultana's eyes. It was his duty to Pauline—it was his duty to himself, to be honest with her. "Since you wish it, I will be," he said. "I dislike that beast of yours —I am afrait'l of her. If I obeyed a very natural impulse I should shoot her."

j Pauline was silent. Her white hands were locked together. She watched him like a wounded animal. "And those niggers—l always hated niggers. They are only half human, anyway, I couldn't endure them about me." He was still staring at the. red, round sun, and lashing himself into a white heat of temper. It should either be him or the panther and the niggers. "And there are those relations of yours—or, rather, one of your relations ; I have been insulted and taunted about your money, Now, Pauline, I don't like marrying you until the whole of your money could be returned ; lam too proud, too sensitive, to endure the vulgar taunts of such men as Frank Stark." Pauline was still silent. ■ She was overwhelmed. ."One word more, Pauline. You have asked me to be honest with you, and I think you ought to know that Frank Stark is my enemy, if not yours. He hates me because he is insanely jealous of my success." Dick hesitated; his lips were dry, and he moistened them with his tongue. "Frank swears that it is impossible for us to marry,'.' Pauline's eyes dilated and flamed; her bosom rose and fell tumultously ; her face was anguished. "So you repent of your bargain, Dick Tressidy? And you choose to tell me so behind a cowardly, lying subterfuge? And this is my < idol — thif wretched thing of clay! This is my knight of the spotless shield — this craven creature in the fair form of a man. This is the sham upon whom I have lavished a world of love, and my heart is broken," ' She turned and walked slowly with tottering steps to the house. [TO BE, CONTINUED.],