BROKEN BONDS.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 4730, 15 June 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

BROKEN BONDS.

(Copyright.)

A THRILLING ROMAN CL OF LOVE AND INTRIGUE, —— By MAURICE SCOTT, Author of “The Mark of the Broad Arrow.” “Tracked by Tale,” KtC., lotc, TAUT 8. "Why. vvha< do you mean ?” “That pretty Anna, finding Itei ftridogroom liad no intention ol playing fair, gave him the slip oni,\ a few hours after the ceremony, and Alec is now busy among the lawyers, urging them to move heaver and earth to have the marriage annulled. 'Though, so far, legal opinion coincides with your own, that it is a good marriage. But, positively. Alec looks dangerous at the date thought that Anna may he taken from his protection." “Poor little girl I Is she at Abbotsvale ?" “ I inferred as much, though BtrathciUTOii did not say positively. tVe dined together in Edinburgh yesterday. He told mo she had been seriously ill. near unto death, and, its I tell you, looked decidedly ugiv it am hint of the possibility of Vane Banning his wife.” “One can sympathise with him if she has no love for the man." “Love ! Alec declares she. loot lies md despises him.” declared lira ham —“that during Iter delirium he galh■rs she threatened to throw leu -Hi ruin the train rather than he should ay a hand on her. I tell you, TT•oll, there are all the elements of .fageily hovering over that brother uid si-t.-r Tin no coward, but I swear to Heaven that were I Teiix v'ane. I would acknowledge myself nftteii, and throw up the stakes,” ■oncluded Charlie, earnestly. “ You mean, give up the girl. I’bat’s asking a good deal from ' a scoundrel,' “ replied Erroll. ” Howjver, here's good luck to Alec. The best thng we Can wish him in the present emergency is success to his sfTortfi, and a clear conscience at their culmination.” The two friends drank the toast in dlcmce and then talked of other matters, and now the listener on the other side of the leafy screen beckoned the waiter, paid his bill, and left the place. Declining the oiler of a haUsom, he walked through the crowded thoroughfares, and turning town a aide street in St. James's, let himself into the house in which he halt established himself in a luxurious suite of bachelor chambers until such time as chance should furnish him with a clue to the hidingplace of his runaway wife, when of necessity he would live in a style more conducive to his ambition. For chance had decreed that Teiix Vane, dining in surly solitude at the osUionable restaurant —seeking a secluded cornci’. that he might not bo postered with friendly greetings—should be an unseen listener to the recital of his marital didiculties by two men from “owro ike border.” He entered through a curtained vestibule into the sitting-room, and switching on the lights, disclosed an ipnrtnient the furniture and dcco•ulions of which might appeal to the most extravagant and even sybarite taste. Over the mantelpiece iung an immense oval mirror, and before it, in frames of silver and even gidd, numerous photographs of women—ultra-fashionable, handsome, elegantly-attired women, for the most part, society beauties, Tom deliitanles to widow's—the demureness of expression affected b\ the latter, counterbalanced by the most lie witching of confections recognised by tlie modern modiste as 'mourning.” their elaborate coifure* crowned l>\- that almost in'isf ible decoration known to the fashionables of the twentieth c.-niury as the widow's “rap.” \ud most of these photographs vvvre null, raphJ<l, i ascribed. ami otherwise , d:c;P :d to their possessor in i.ru.- ’ nidi indicatixl the readme originalk to accept the at■ t matrimonial of Mr. Vane, wi b appreciation of bis reputed wi-abh should he design to cast them til their direction Why, then, with such a galaxy of beauty to lie had for the asking, w-ed he have troubled to woopr.-ttv Anna Strut hcaifou. who had t • b.-u kel’ilig niter line clothes, Who o, d best her old golf cloak and tam 11 - slum ter, •• el whose eyes had hel and fa.scii.ated him. the more. perhaps, from the utter tli.b.-e: ence with which she regarded lb. ad. at lage.s of being his wile? Why, inllivd ! Vet lie muttered a cm •• e as Che photo ia; hs caught ins e .- an I then threw himself into an easy chair and lit a cigar. What a mess he bad made of tilings 1 Why the deuce had he not foreclosed while yet it was in ins power V With Ahbolsvale in his possession he could have moulded Anna to his will and brought Ale, to lus knees. As it was What had Charlie Hraham said? Then; was “ the element of tragedy—tragedy !” That Alec Slralhcam.ii would kill him ! Bah, he was not to he deterred by the vapouring o. n hot-leaded hoy ! Though there was Arhuthnot, too, to remember. And Anna was apparently back at Abbot scale. How to get her away ' It could not he done openly. Ih‘ wanted, of all things, to avoid pub (icily. A lawsuit to annul the marriage was the very lust thing lie desired to incur. Again the flow of his thoughts Was interrupted - this time by the en trance of his man. ”ls that .you, Brookes?” “Yes sir. i‘id you see the lady sir ?” •’ I .ally ! Whet led.V ?”' “She said she'd call again, sir. I lliink you must 'u>e brushed away her card. 1 left it right where 1 thought you’d see it. Said she'd try and come again to-night. Ah, ’ere it is, sir !” V a no, who had been impatiently uneasy, took up the card which Brooks, after some searching, retrieved from under the table —"Mrs. Alexander St tat licarron.” “She seemed to went to see you perticler, sir." ventured Brooks “An' 1 shouldn't wonder if that was ’er,” he went on, as the elei 'tic bell Bounded in I lie vestibule.. ”

you sec ’cr, : ?” “Vos,” responded Vane. with a anionic smile, "I shall bo very glad to see Mrs. Strathcarron. And I shall not require you again tonight, Brooks.” "Very good, sir,” replied the man, us he withdrew. CHAPTER XI. A GAME OF BLUFF. Elise entered Vane's room a little apprehensively. Ho had held no communication with her since Alec's re turn. How could he receive hot now that all his plans were—oven i ti mporarily—overthrown? All Ihrougl the journey to London she had he.-j tormented by the fear le.sl he shouh suspect her of collusion with hei husband, anti now his givetlng though effusively courteous, confirm ed her suspicions. “Delighted to see you, my deal Mrs. Strathrarron,” hj, 5.,, d, pho oig a comfortable chair for her. “Ilou very rood of you in look me up ! Strangely enough I was thinking o you to-day. ’1 he near approach o the 'em on is bringing' every one tr l on .' ’ Lime coloured painfully. The photographs of the . , g.-ntl !y -dresseti women had caught her eye. ami al though she had abea.ly visited one of i hj ! legem , 1 1 eel , hops in search of He latest fashion in frocks and liais. she felt, there was a degree ol distinction to w hj < hj the could never ati,'in. Als ( i a '.ease ,ii humiliation stole over her al the sight of a semi-satirical expression oa the fart of i he man. as t hour hj he 1 ‘Hit hr wondering if hj r •'i.i, • feathers" were pm chased wit ii t lie v lie had given le'C. XV' now Ik* alfee'ed t , trea’ le'C as a l icit woman. " i mad to i a' t hid opportunity of eongr.ilu ,o eg you upon your husband'.'- p-i d ioctune, he said, suavely. “A botsvate .run lo seed and deeply imoived. ,u! \l>liotsuaie freed from ell me r.tie Us beauties eniianced by a ian. roll, must present itself in a tx-tally different iP-pe'l to y out e.v ■ s. d hough con must forgive tie- if I siv you treat ed mu ra'liei . ImMdly In tin matter.” “Xou are mislaid n Mr. Xane." replied l.lise, to e mg her It. “ \ bbotscale under any r, cumst attces .'oulil never be oUierwis ■ than hateful to me. nor doi-s’no has’iiiel hold out much prospect of the huge rentroll to which yon allude. X on forget your own ' ' " ■ i e lairly considerable.” '' 1 forget not bine. “ di ;w ’ d X'ane. slowly ; “but. if serh i *’ ‘ a-e, why not have turii me o: St i atlicarron’s iuu'i'i'iui to redeem his property ? i put of his power, w ha hj would 1 ive left him in possession <u e o‘, M’Lwiailh’s fortune to 'petal or invest as he pleased.” "I could not tell you ■' hat I aid not know,” she retorted- “ I he information Was a holt from the blue to me.” “XX ill you swear you had no knowledge of his immediate return?” asked Xane. He was trying her, seeing how far she was to he relied on as a future ally. F.lise shrugged her shoulders as though indifferently. She would have sworn to unvthing that promised lo further her own Interests, but in this case she saw no reason to conceal the truth. I received a cattle from Montreal, sav ing, ’ Good news. Home by next liner,” she said- "Not another word. After Mrs. Vane and 1 had left Scotland?” he asked, pointedly; and again Elise coloured as though ashamed. “It—it reached me on the morning of your wedding day,” she answered, ,i little reluctantly. “J I did not mention it because 1 —I feared the mere thought of her brother's return would unsettle Anna IVlix Vane stroked his moustache with a [ivculinr light in his eyes, “Ah.” he observed, continuing, as if weighing every word, “you were anxious Xliss Strathrarron should lot insist, on the postponement of our marriage until your husband s arrival, in the full knovvlehge that lie would withhold his consent. “It was in your own interests, Mr. Vane” —- • Tartly, 1 admit : but also partly in your own. Mrs. Strathcarron, he broke in, abruptly. “A third person in u household of two can easily be spared. Few wives rare to -eg i, sister-in-law the first object of tle-.r husband’s consideration. But • hall we say it is from live dual motive that you are so good as to favour me with 'his visit? Vou would like me. to remove Mrs. Felix Vane from AbboUsvale ns soon us convenient to my self, also when tho state of my wife's health permits her to travel ?” Elise looked at him m undisguised astonishment. Thors was something almost Ma'-hiavullian about this man, she thought, while he was merely playing upon the shallowness of lasr nature and seeking to b ml her the more surely to do his holding I v leading her to believe she was by no means mdispem able foi the furtherance of Ins projects. “Then you—you know !" she stammered ; and convinced that the supposition hazarded by voting Graham in the restaurant was correct, Xane followed lift what he believed to he bis advantage. : , ie.i ' i hat my v. im is at preI.- al Abbotsvale, that she has a •., rv seriously ill, and that Mr. St i athearron has not had the courtesy to invite me to see her ; also that he is wasting both time and money In a vain effort to obtain a legal opinion against the validity ol Ids sister's marriage.” “And yet, knowing this, you have not ” F.lise looked bitterly disappointed. Was it for this she had braved Alec's wrath, had broken considerably into her “nest-egg.” not only for the new clothes she had deemed if necessary to purchase, but in regard to the handsome “present” with winch it had been expedient lo bribe her sister to "stand by her ” should Alec take it into his head to make inconvenient inquiries respecting the supposed serious illness, oi even to follow her up to town. Sheer waste of money and energy, since \Tuie knew all, perhaps neiii limn she could tell him. He lead In c thoughts, and congratulated himself on the acquisition of a tool imply to his hand. Ft ill, he held him.-elf in check. “1 have not asserted my claims,

you would say,” he replied. ‘N-o ; one can scarcely act until Mrs. Vane lias recovered her normal health, can oi c ? Then ! But really, Mrs. Ulrathearron, you will pardon me if I ;;c - I : hat your husband wn« It l a too late. He should have lived .11 m d.aeval times.” I agree thoroughly,” returnee Elise, in a tone of resentment. "Tig same thought occurred to me whiU I was groping my way into tin rooms in which Anna I must say Mr. Vane, I am wondering how you here in London, discovered that which is unknown to the servant? living under the same roof at Abbots vale. ami which-—but for an cxperienrn from which most vvomci would shrink—Was until a day ot two ago unknown to me?” ■'lndeed ! Mav I hear your ado n lure?" asked Vane, cleverly ignorin, he. ((lie-lion. And then Elise. no thing loth, entered on a reelin' o the trouble she had taken, togethewith till! risks she had run lo kill out what she supposed Mr. Vane would wish to know, with a due aeount of exaggeration intended to . nlmncc tho value of the services rendered. Her story had the desired effect on her listener, even greater than rhe had anticipated. X’ain was full o! admiration for the “pluck” of the woman who—even with “malice a forethought”—ventured to brave I lie dark passages of that ghostly old barracks, respecting which legends of the supernatural were legion. Xml in such a disguise, too ' But still more interesting was the informa'ion concerning the presence ti UP .ot scale of his former foe. dark ArbuUmo!. In that Vane saw more than tlid Mrs. Strathcarnm Ar but knot would tall in love with Anna naturally, perhaps had done so al-cei-'lv. That probably accounted for the frenzied efforts tho two men were making to procure all annulment oi the marriage. By 1 Haven, they should not I More than once had Vane, cursing ftil I.binders—his inability to trace Ulna's hiding-place arousing within him tt sense of bitter humiliation—been strongly tempted to instruct hj s lawyers to take any possible steics or to acquiesce in any proposal «f the Stralln arrons to, if possible, .--.-I aside tlie marriage. Why waste himself on an unappreciative wife when his wealth alone would •live him a fab wider choice ? But to release her that, she might marry Arum huot ! Never ! Mr. Alec Strathrarron might threaten Bah ! Ho I unicd to Elise, and she saw something iu his eyes that repaid her for her journey. “Even though the main facts were known to me, believe me when 1 assure you I appreciate your courage it unearthing ibis attempt to conceal my wife's presence under iter broiler's roof." ho said ; “ also I am mist grateful lor your sympathetic merest in my behalf. lam comicll'd to admit that my sources of information are unable to penetrate Iu- interior of Ahbotsvale : thereon- I am wondering whether, in my imeiv.t.,, you would be willing lo continue." He -rose, and unlocking an inlaid bureau, drew out a cheque-book. “it's ' a far cry to Scotland,’ ” he •onlinued. "You must allow me to de.rttv your expenses. But perhaps bank-notes would be more con venom V They would ? Yes. I thought The gleam of cupidity in the woman s eves as he somewhat ostentatiously rustled Ihe little pile of crisp .an', notes satisfied him she would lo Ids bidding. May I,” he said, "suggest that you return home without delay—;hal you follow up the story of your Aster's illness, while careful to give no hint whatever of your discovery of Mrs. Vane's presence beneath your roof. Meanwhile, you keep a close watch and acquaint me, either personally or by letter, with anything it s to my interest lo know.” I ll do my best, Mr. Vane." was he reply. “Eve no patience with Xmia'.s silly, romantic notions 111 .vice to Alec that my sister is belter, mid go back by the morning express. Oh, what's that?” The front-door bell rang shrilly through the vestibule, and A nne, curting himself for a fool lhal be bud lismisscd his man for the night, wondered what on earth he could 10. It would l»e lowering to his dignity—or so lie thought—for any 5! Ilia intimates to find him tele a ■.etc with so unattractive ;l person..! • dv as that of Mrs St m I hc-p i on. But now that holy added lo his '-m •ni riissuieiil by cry ing in n loud tVlii? per : • • It’s Aloe 1 Fm sure of it ! lies •followed me. I was afraid be a mild ; vet 1 risked it on ,\ or aeon m . He’ll kill me if h•’ml -me iere. Oh, Mr. Vane, what bail 1 do ? Hide me. Say you've never seen me,” ■■ ’Ssh,, 'ssh 1 Don't stir, renmm-ji-r, whatever happens.” Suppressing an oath, he pushed the terrified Elise through a door leading- t ( , on inner room, over which he quickly drew a heavy portiere, rnlint He door invisible to ordinary obscrv at tom He looked hastily around, but seeing no traces of his visitor's presence, went out into the vestibule Hid threw back the door just its the jell rang out shrilly a second time. And then he held himself well in natal, fur facing him, with stern eyes •;tnd set, determined face, stood—not Alec, but .John Arbuthnot. “Good evening," said Jack, laconi:nlly. "Good —- May I inquire lo what I am indebted for tho honour oi ■' Exact ly. ” broke in Arbuthnot. “D.iuT trouble to be polite. X our ii,i oimlion belt a.vs how it. goes a galliot tiie grain. Eve come to escort Mrs. Si.ia’hcarron back to her sister’s house. It’s a fair distance to Chiswick, you know, and" — ''Mrs. Slr.il hcarrou i” ejaculated Vane, incredulously. •Mrs. Alezaiid. i Strathrarron, ol Xbbolavalu, lest i hero should t.e anV confusion Of identity,” returned ■ I ack. Vane's impulse was lo he contemptuously insulting — to refuse all information. But then it. w-rs bone in noon hint that if Elise vvas to lu of (he slightest benefit to him in the future, he must pr otect her ft o e‘ possibility of discovery in the present.. And probably Arbuthnot was only bluffing. (To bo Continued).