For Her Sister's Sake; OR, THE LAVENDEN SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8320, 28 December 1906, Page 2

For Her Sister's Sake; OR, THE LAVENDEN SECRET.

CHAPTER ll.—Continued.

"Fair words, my lass," he said. "You and I must arrive at some sort of an understanding, or I will make your sister there a nine days' wonder. I can do it, and I will. Look at that."

He held out a long, strip of stiff white paper. It was the certificate of marriage between Julia Lavenden and David Garth. The date was three years old; the place St. Anne's Abchurch, Spital Lane, in the City of London. Winnie snatched at it, but he was tco quick for her,' and thrust it back in his pocket. "You little cat," he remarked; "biit J. G. isn't to be done like that, so either we are to be good friends, .you and I, or I identify her ladyship here with Julia Garth, the unlucky wife of my notorious convict brother."

A low groan broke from 7 Julia Lavenden's lips, and she reeled. James Garth laughed softly. "She doesn't like the prospect, our poor Julia," he observed. "However, I don't suppose it will be necessary to proceed to extremities. All I ask for the present is the entree to this select and aristocratic circle. That and a kind word or two from Mistress Winnie."

[To be Continued.]

He stepped forward' suddenly and caught the elder woman. She was on the point of falling; he supported her to an antique stone seat under th& palms. "1 won't worry you any further," he said, 'with a show of anxiety. Your nerves are not cast iron, like Winnie's. But understand me, all the' same, I mean to have my way over this, and if it's to be fight, fight I will. If you decide on peace, or even a temporary truce, send me a linej and Mr James Garside will come round in the best of tempers." Drawing out a card-case, he scribbled a line on one of the cards. "Grammont Chambers, Jermyn Street, St. James'," he repeated as he wrote; "that's my address. I'm in a nest of aristocratic bachelordom, so you risk nothing by cultivating my acquaintance. And, as I told you, my Australian credentials are respectability itself."

He extended the card to Winnie, but she made no movement to take it. He laughed and flung it into Julia Lavenden's lap. "Good night!" he added. "lean hunt up the baroness myself and say 'Ta-ta.' Don't forget the line to Grammont Chambers." And he lounged out of the garden-house without looking,back,., \ Winnie heard a sob, and gathered her sister into her strong young arms. "Come, dear," she murmured warninglyr and led the half-fainting viscountess through the.palm-fringed aisle to a. side door, from which they ascended to the upper floor and gained unseen the dimly-lighted boudoir of Julia Lavenden. _ Julia threw herself on a couch and began to weep convulsively. Winnie sat'down .by her, and the two sisters •clung to one another in silence for a long time. The night was windy and dark, and the fire in the boudoir ] grate sighed in sympathy with the wind over the tall chimneys of Lavenden House. ...At last Winnie roused herself. "You are not going, down again tonight, dear," she declared. "I iwill go and make some excuse to the baroness and come back." She slipped away quietly, arid Julia fell to staring, wide-eyed and helpless, into the murmuring fire. A sound disturbed her. It was her, maid, who entered from an adjoining room with an armful of silken flounces. Her mistress rose unsteadily. / "Take me out of this gown, Cecile," she said, "and get me some cologne. I have a racking headache; I shall go to bed at once.". "Yes, my lady," answered the French woman, and relinquishing her burden of finery, she came to undress her mistress with deft fingers. When the fair head had sunk upon the co6l and ruffled pillows of the bed in the • draped alcove, she combed out the long tresses refreshingly and sprayed the burning brow and temples of Julia Lavenden with the cologne. Then Julia heard a step in the corridor without, and Winnie reappeared. "You may go now, Cecile," said her mistress, "and thank you; my head is better already, I think." "I am very glad, my lady," replied

the French woman demurely, and she ~ passed out of the boudoir with the noiseless self-possession of her class. Winnie-glided to her sister's side, tk "That is right, dear," she'whispered; "try and sleep and forget everything foi*a little. The baroness sends lier condolences, and —and Mr . Agnew wished me to say that he was • very sorry. Now, go'to sleep, and I will try and think what it is best to do. Remember, you always used to say mine was the wise head." Julia' clasped her passionately. "My darling," she sobbed, "I am a coward—a wicked, wicked coward! But you shall not degrade yourself even to tolerate this man. Let him do his worst; the world will not blame you; you will find some loyal heart to love and cherish you. Perhaps the shame of it might kill me, and then you could be Lady Lavenden in my place." "Hush, hush!" pleaded her sister, and then she began to stroke the bowed fair head. Julia Lavenden sobbed quietly. Soon her sobs ceased, and at length, holding her sister's hand, she slept. Winnie sat by her in the darkened alcove brooding. An hour passed, and then, disengaging her fingers, she rose softly and stole away. Her room was on the same floor.

By R. Norman Silver, j , 1 of "A Double Mettle," "A Daughter of Mystery "Held Apart," "The Golden Dwarf," etc.

["For Her Sister's Sake. " was commenced on December 20th.]

She slipped into it, flung open a wardrobe, took out and donned a long tail6r-made coat, put on a severely plain hat, and crept down the deserted stairs.

On. the ground floor there was a handsome library* It was in darkness, but the blinds had not been drawn, and the light of a street lamp outside vaguely illuminated it. She went in for a moment, glided to a cabinet, and opened a drawer. There was a medley of articles in it, among them a flat mahogany case. She lifted the lid, and the vague beams from the window flickered an instant on something bright. Then she shut the" case, closed the drawer, and crept out of the library by one of the tall windows >that opened upon the small court between Lavenden House and Park Lane. Shadowlike, she glided through the shadows, between the primly clipped box and laurel trees that, set in shallow wooden buckets, decorated tlie courtyard. A low door gave exit from it into Park Lane. The door was latched and bolted only. She drew it ajar and slipped through. When she had passed down Park Lane a few yards, she stopped under a lamp and looked at something. It was the card of "Mr James Garside." . ■