BROKEN BONDS.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 4728, 13 June 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

BROKEN BONDS.

i• i (Copyright.)

A THRILLING ROMANCE OF LOVE AND INTRIGUE, ■ ♦ By MAURICE SCOTT, Author of "The Murk of the Urooc Arrow/' “Tracked by kale,” Etc., Etc, ' PART 7. Vet the apparition had vanshed in flint, direction, and from thence c a mc the strange rustling she had heard. Tla n s-hc found that mod of he Inn.hand's neglected ward oH- hr. I b i-n piled on top of an old oaken (’heal once a thing of beauty : n,’ ■■ like most things at Ahbotsvah . ; in.g to pieces for want of re;trr. Mrs. Sirnthcarron looked at it irom all points of view, and then discovered where one of th" impels " Sufficiently loose to move willioiit raising the lid. She touched it, and it, came out noiselessly ; then she inserted her hand, and, groping, pulled out a bundle. Ah ! Sim had he,-li right in her surmise. Alec had pbived the ghost. Here she found the Cavalier hut. the long, flowing clank which had struck such terror throughout the household, the wig tied with n how of broad ribbon. c i,« smiled grimly as she replaced j . p.g.el, scattering the disordered ..,• .1,1 ~n the (host in the sail!' coihlilien a- she !;atl found them, and caif m nv her " And ” into si i'la 1 ' 1 ' of s;,ti.v. Si,e mi, h;--juohahly would—incur ,\ me ;. wrath if found out. hut she : ,1 ~1 i o risk it . The ghost had—so it was reported—been most, erratic ip his movements, and it was just possible she might return the disguise to its hiding place by the t Mr. Slratle-arron elected to a,,, tin disport hum ' ll in the guise of one of Ins own ancestors. Port mm scene-,I to favour her enterprise. as at breakfast Alec and Mr A, i,ui iniot amie.iuiual that business v ! .be Umm to Edinburgh that (!. d touards evening a win. ■ information they were elm,, ~...i ail night on business, but would return on the following afternoon. ■ e wailed with impatience until th,- household had eoim to bed : the minutes draiMP’d as might, hours, tintil at length dm v hob- house seemed wrapped in sib-mc. and she could at most hour the hj a'Me. of her heart . for now f lee ■ . r - began t o fail her. Honour; r. ' an incubus Alec might be, however great a bni ro her ambition, i opposed to her dmire for lo- n lac. still, as a protector. he was tower of strength. Twer.- . a lo scout at fear either of llm II n : or the dead while such a redoubtable champion were within rea'h ; hut there was an uncanny feeling in prowling about at midnight, htirle- ipiing mm of the dea l am. oim St rat hi'arronf n a house whose inmates In id the lamest Istlief in U sup-matm alHowever, (ho chance had been given her. Should she let it slip she might never get anollmr. She waited until the big clock rhmied the hour of midnight. ami then, when the reverberations ha' reused, dressed herself most eat fully in the Calaber disguise, (ii; carding her woman's skirt in iavom ,lf Alec's shooting knicki-r-bockers aid arranging the clonk ov r helminth aivl chin so as to one-a the absence of Alee, s beard an I mows I ache. So interested and earnest was sle over her task, that, for Hie lime slm forgot, her terrors. Hr lack oi height was a disadvantage; (hatold Scottish eat might be rmmd on lo have eyes lil • a whole pacs--t of needle u Sti!!. for the firvi. time she felt thankfm : here was no gas at Abbolsvale, linn 1 mg j In- could sure!v trust to tim imporfect light to escape detection. Carrying a clumsy lantern—ol which sis- int, ml- d to rid herself at the first, convenient opportunity —to guide her trend line, steps along the darki corridors and neck-breaking flights of siaireams which must of necessity be traversed before the mys (■-rious locked door could be reached Klise set forth with as much coinage as she could summon to her aid. \nd how the stairs creaked and groaned, o-.en at lan* light weight while now and then she seemed le hear strange whisperings ’ Sooi lushes of cold air passed her by, a though Hie crea l - arose fi mi pressure of invisible feet. Perhaps some of the dend-aud-gone Strath arrijns were afoot to-night, whispering lo one another that here was nr alien to their blood a wife bent on disobedience to In r husband’s will 1 Pshaw I it was but a figment oi the imagination—an additional ine i,ti\t* to employ every possible i. . ~i,-. to free herself from the thraldom oi narrow-minded supers!; 1 .on AL last I She concealed the lantern in a niche, drew ‘he long, flowing cloak more closely about her faand then knocked softly at the locked door. There was no immediate answer, and she knocked again. Then sin hj. tottering footsteps on the in Side, followed by a whispered voice : "Is it your ainsel’, Maister Aicc ? Nurse Alacgn-gor 1 Could she ,’ii.l .mil Alec’s tones? In hel nil.nod Klise had been considered ... clever mimic ? Hhe made an effort. "Ves. It is I. Let mo in ” SI,,- heard tile key rattle in the big. old-fa-h.oned wards of the lock, anc then th-- door swung back, disclosing dimly-lighted corridor, on Hu threshold of which stood the both ful servitor—a picture of old-fa hj toned neatness. " I wroaa' expectin' ve the nicht, Maister Alee," slm mi id, in a ton,,i ailed ionaie i , pi el, a« she stooi aside, that the ' Tor might pro i. her into the passage. Klise for a nioneitt wrestled will the impulse lo throw ol! Iter dis- , list —to assert her authority as mistress of Abbolsvale, and deman, to know what was Hiking place, mi know M I o her, beneath her root. Hut beg indecision was speedily nu-ri’ui, - She knew this staum’i High mid woman bare an almost l.d iity lo the Strut hear- ■ and from the first had resented ■ iat rudm I ion of the hated Soulh ~, thir ,ne ' Mistress Maci i-gor might frustrate her even now,

and then, assuming a stride m Keeping with ;or attire, Eli.se passed over the threshold, through Hid corridor. and onwards info a room at the etui, in which a light, but mam-’ the darkness appear more visible. The mystery was solved, and Mis. Slrathcarron averted her lace humHie old nurse, lest the malicious hintnph in her eyes should pierce even through the gloom. On a curtained and canopied bod lay poor Anna, her pale, wasted checks and heavily shadowed eyes proclaimin'* the violence of the battle with the King of Terrors from which she had emerged scarcely as yet victorious. Sh appeared unconscious ; or was site asleep ? Eli.sc crept softly to the bedside, screening herself partly behind the curtains, and signing to Nurse Mar. g i-gor not to speak. Yet there Hanoi one touch of womanly I’ily her callous heart for Lite visible sal tiring brought about by her owe treachery. Her whole mind " concent rated upon the uses to win : could turn the knowledge wXi -1, Alec and Arhuthnot had conspired lo I,e p from her, together with lb' best means of getting back to her own room unrecognised. On the other side of Iho bed Misi l ess Macgivgor was leaning tender ly over the sick girl, but suddenly she : ip toed away, beckoning liiselo follow her. "The pair lamb’s steepin’. Maister MeC,” she whispered. “As 1 tid'd i. e the morn, life fever's burned i' -is oo ; . Uinna wakken Iter. Hung 1 -e t,< yi r lied. I’lease Hod. 1•> hue ibd ' Mings for ye the morn. '. oi hi,,' could have suited ' ! ' bmier than ibis admonition, and m lenlly she motioned to the old "<> i:• ; in 1.0 precede her through the cor ri-lor to the locked door, bri-alh'tn i.- iv only when, after retriev dig leT ;; ecru. .-It,- had regained her »«n ai artinunts. Then with almost a cry of delight she divested herself of garments that w. re far from eomiortable, and all' r restoring the disguise to its hidingplace I,■•hit"! !he I rokeit panel of Hi - old oak t,n.in-.. she gladly went back to bed lo weave schemes for the mi lining of po"r. snlTering Anna which Iniiild fl Mill lo her own benefit, rnib.den! that Alec, finding his treasures in ih.- same place in which he had left them, would never dream oi thi-ir having been removed during his absence. Returning to Blairgowrie railway station on Hie evening oi the following day in a fury of impatience with the lawyers, whom, he considered had detained him so needlessly and with such unprofitable results. Hie Laird of Si ra'hearron was handed a letter liy the si at ion-master, whom he greeted in friendly fashion. "Mrs, Stra lln a i con asked me to give you this, sir. She had not nmo to write before leaving home.'’ "Mrs St rM Matron I’’ Tho astonishment in his voice was obv ions. "Ope,, I lie letter, man,’’ said Arbnlhnol. al his elbow. Alec did so : a harried scrawl in pencil, scarcely legible. ■’My sister is s-riously ill, and has begged im- to go t-i London without, loss of time. My only sister—you could not oh tee I. Write on arrival. " Klise.’’ ".Mrs. Slrathcarron told me she bad scribbled it in the carriage, : i," j > 11 1. in the slat loii-inasi er. as he two g.-nilemen tried lo decipher I hlunvd 1 ini' under Ihe boo t ~Tee l;,mp. "She seemed lo ha’-e had bad news by the morning ma W; i S V'l’V ait'.ioUS to Call'll ill 1 ’ ii■ 11 1 1, ir t •-•■n sou til. ‘'Hid she catch it?” asked Alee, lai onieally. " A os, sir, though by u heat • ha ’ e "Thank you, Marchieson Hu d •\ eniiig. ’’ The lwo me,, ba -ly spoke dunm the long drive (,o,Howards. 11.oe i hj- • am.- I bought , Ihe sine ■ dr, ad permeated lie- minds of each. -H> : u \rlitlliiiiut fej,r-d 1 r-achei y ban never hefon; known ids win- 1 - I’ess any auxi'l,v about the eater with whom, prior lo her marriage, she had p. rsi.--H id.ly iinarrelled 1 hey dismissed the station fly at the coniines of the estate, and s’ - j„g sih-nlly through the pie tered the house by the Abbot s tern, and made their way towam: the nurse’s rooms in the west v .. Mrs. Macgreewr received her yo’.t;. master with a cry of relief. "Site’s mine so well, Marnier Alec,,” she whispered. "Your <v hist night see to disturb H pnir lassie, as ever sin’ the pun lamb has been restless, and” "My coming—last night I” beg-nt Alee, when d.-v-k Arbuthnot’s land on his arm hashed him to silence; and now from the sick room came mm’s wading voice. "Alec, Alec ! Kite has found me out in spite of y our j rei . m ,o„s *1 hey went in to in i Ann.i with a ;■ hj ; i-.d on c. ehi-ek, tossin y v i.d tit;y from id-- to side. " I Lise—it is Klise I” sh- muttered see her eyes—cruel yes-guo n ; ; ruii! under the Ha alii-r hat. No. I was not dreaming—it was . ■ Ah-e, she wib give me bar! 'o ti Mm- Alee, save me. save me ! While Alec tried to *-’<>■>• h- the suf f.-ring girl, who appeared to ,e o . ■ ■ h■ v ii.i ■■ and to lb' i,un" ■ ■ H!.A-,- the touch of his hand, -i.ihi, A rPnt hind drew Nurse Macgregof into an outer room. . long has your patient been l a ~ ,j-j ,,g un-h-r this deUi.sion. in. se •>' ho asked. •'.- 'nee soon after midnigh', ‘l:i> ei'.-tl t!, old woman. ”Kh. led j lo have dropped into - I bicep, hut Maister Alee 1, i, , doner gain- out o' the door th n i, ll >r 1,, !e I can to loss in hj r ... i an' to i I are I hat M ist n : ,; .- - 1 11 .■ i■ r. ri ! ,f inond her i c ,- 1,,-:- liaek to the husband d. : a 1 ! i-s ami despisCs i rat!., i. ion '■ - Ted his sice last night - .a- - night ? Are you "And why would I no lie sure?’’ ,.■ ■, ij , 1,,- old women tndic i,;,nH - ' Maister Alec I II" 1-ed «»Mt ad" midnight. and 1 Mj- I in 'I lie pair lassie had m-1 i.-d’. ~ a h-e., I warned him not. to wa "n I, . just stood Ie- iili- ii • . aim llt -it Went avvav wI a v <>rd "He was dressed—how ?” "As usual.’ altsv c,vd Mrs, Ma - ■ reioir, "in liuil ou bl i oak aad v. dud's scared ih • • foolish lads* 1 and lasses in the servant- ’ hall. "Nurse,” said -lohn Arhuthnot, ibruptly, ’’from iiiiiiinghl until half-

past two this morning Mr. with mo iu a private sitting-room in the Hastlc Hotel, Ediniuirgh." "Heaven save us a’ I Then ’twas uis w rail li. ? ’ ‘iVrlmps not* More Ihan likely Mrs. Slrathcarron —penetrating her hj '(-hand’s disguise. ’Sh, not a word I Mr. Alec must not. be toid -at least, for the present.” commanded Jack, in authoritative tones. "She is calmer now,” said Alee, as they returned to the bedside. “It is the progress of the fever, of course. ’ ’ "Very likely,” responded Arbuth not calmly. 1138. CHAPTER X. The Blue Hungarian Orchestra sent forth its soothing strains Irom a lal hi-concealed bandstand in one -u i'.i; -pent X.onflow restaurants -, nducl or tempering its i ones ;■■" t hal i i ■■-. mingled witb rat le-r lb a lulled the conversation of He- dm t-rs. On till sides clusters of me 11 •,c stars were reflected am! Peek to the domed root irom i iily-polished entree dishes shining glass borne by dmt w,,im from table to lalde, while Hie weal Ihj of greenery lent an air of restm-ku and repose to a scene which ,e .. . wise would be one blaze of dazzling light. A man, sipping his petite verre of cognac and smoking as if in deep thought after his solitary dinnei. uttered a n exclamation of annoyance 11., the violent shaking ol the cluster of evergreens screening him iroTn the a vt tabic disturbed his meditations. Tome leaves fell on him. but a waiter, watchful of the comfort of a cood customer, swept them away with an apology. Iho man half-rose, when, as if ' ruck by a word emanating from the diners a t the adjoining table, ho ap-1-eared to alter his mind, and movhis chair, thereby concealing himself still more effectually, ho resumed his seat and ordered a second glass of cognac. iin Hie other side of the “leafy -riven" two men were attacking the good things set before them with app,Tiles that did credit to the catering. •'Slrathcarron, yon say?” ejaculated one. "Well, that is the best thin Nick M'llw'iailh ever did. I suppose Alec's in great feather ?” "Jove, he had a narrow* shave of losing every acre.” returned the other. "From what ■ understand, had Nick lived a mouth longer, the -roundeel of a mortgagee would have made ducks and drakes of the old place.” ■’ l ll'rn I” responded the first speaker, continuing, .usually*, after a vigorous atlqck on ~ filletted sole, I wonder, Charlie, how it, comes about ihat every mortgagee is looked upon as a scoundrel by the man or woman who has borrowed —and spent—his money ?” The solitary individual on the other Mile of the tree smiled somewhat ■ -.ardonicnlly and pulled rings ol thin smoko from his cigarette, while he ■ Tossed his carefully-waxed moustache with a white, cruel hand. “Charlie” looked across at the oiler man as ii th" idea had been suggested Lo him for the first time. "I admit, l a m singular.” went o„ the other ; "but 1 always had a sneaking sympathy with Shy lock. Take your pawnbroker for 1 nStaIV" Aon pawn your watch ; you cannot redeem it at the stipulated time ; eventually it ceases to be yours, but no one thinks of stigmatising the pawnbroker as a-, unmitigated blackguard. Why. then, the mori■a,■ • " I suppose young Alec allowed the interest to run on until the m:m lost patience.” ■v". ,m.-, Krrn)!. one would think i( brief for fhe bound- r ■ . ; -I, ,i li-- < (re.ham. adding, • , !- s , mpha -is, "I agree , I, ■ k me 11, old chap, ’pon : , ... y• i He-, is really a spe- , ~ ' Bn ii sis business.’ I .a 1 1, ■ msHu.- e the otsvale and ~ j ; , : . - - ' i v iu'Opci'iy as a , si-.i'i lie, on his ■,, tie- - slate 0,1 ihe ii I b came his wife.” "Aiul ik.n . e -. .M'llwraith tamed up his a. He.* right moment ■ begun I :ro . '•That's n- you’re wrong," inj(, , hj a ham. "At least, i, somewhere. A lec v,, ■; . ;iu "d ' h*' bounder, ba- : - , ■ .. -- -a to deal with"— - Hi mortgagee,?'’ asked " e. : d of him.” ,i, will, Bl rat hearron svwars, ; a Scoicinnan can, I ha' he i i.ive \ 'ana’s life rather than i or Hum shall he forced to live ■l ~e won dim 7 Why, you don’t mean"- ■ ■ were married—yes, 1 do 'a ini "n't 1 o iiear the i>i nv: I - o .. . n ,o,ii v. oiildn’t ■’ llo' e i,, Hra- • Ae ,s : a,' mg. Vane, hav„.r , no to i! a! with, gave noim.r p ■- a vpil agreement, and Ihj n 1 • iiiju ae-’ once an accompli; ll- d ~c! . - It. i d Ihe eltl'OU--1.. io 1. k ,:i H o t ci- of his poor lilt le ’ :n 1 in'oi'in her it w a -; be in* p n i bore for coal under I in.- Ab -utsv ,pe wood Vh, now -V, a ■ With me t.lu- fellow is a sconn-ii- I ' ' •I,„" re* : >r-,I •'! Mri nil. " But wh - were tie'. "i inly a da. or two previous to .Alee -' ,e' I .in. '-Ht- ’ ' - 1 - ‘He had cabled to his lawyers and also to Ips v, i e : 1 ... !. il seemed as though tho laitl'T message was delayed in transit.” said young (Jraluun, who. ns an old college churn :if Alec St cat hcnrrotYs. felt instinctively that Kline had been faithless to her trust. "Hard luck;." sympathised Errol I ; “lull I don’t. ■■ how Alec can Interfere. I low many thousands fail to keep promises m.id,- before marriage and, if I und- -md you rightly, this one was I i-uivu only in intent? "Exactly ; e , unknown to Vane, his lawyer h:pi been served with ' notice to redeem ’ on his wedduigJa.v. Deineil near shave 1" "Still, (I the law vrill ti|V tiold Hie mama ’’ was Errol!' - joinder. “Slrathcarron may not find it so easy to lake his sister uwa-. from her husband as he" ' Take her away ?' ” broke in Hharlio. "She has taken herself ,way. Real grit those Stratbcar runs." (To l i 'ontiuuod)j