“THROUGH THE SILENT NIGHT,”

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14260, 17 November 1920, Page 7

“THROUGH THE SILENT NIGHT,”

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GHAPTER XL—Continued. Airs Leighton sat in the drawingroom placidly smoothing on her gloves preparatory to sallying forth to one of her many engagements, and talking lightly of her many little interests. The boll rang, and Doris’s heart gave a queer little throb as Cyril Kynnston and his friend were ushered in. There was just an instant 's blank expression on Airs Leighton ’s face, then she beamed sweetly on Jim as he bent over her hand. “How many years have I been a neglected woman?" she said reproachfully. “Ten —or is it twelve?" ** is it as much as that ? Mrs Leighton, you must have made a mistake, because you are just the same as ever—not a day older." “.Flatterer!" Airs Leighton made room for him beside her. “But how is is that you have disappeared so completely from us all this while." “Travel, dear lady," said Jim, smiling into the pretty, kind eyes. “I have been to and fro ill the world, one never stays long in one place in these enlightened times, and my car and I have gone many miles together since 1 came from abroad.”

“You have a car? How nice to bo able to enjoy life like that —and it is so nice to have a friend with a. ear." Jim's lips twitched with suppressed amusement at her naive confession; of course, he leaped gallantly into the breach.

“It wit! give me untold pleasure to have the opportunity to " “Now, that is perfectly sweet of you." A little breathless laugh escaped her as she went on talking trivialities. “I work so hard. Do look at those photographs of my girls, just come. I shall keeji them in the morning room as a rule, but Doris was helping me to frame them. They are over there on the piano." “Mrs Leighton is president of the Institution for Reclaimed Girl Criminals, you see," explained Doris gravely, as Jim wchi over to examine them. One or two in a sort of uniform, one or two quite well dressed —but what was this. He bent nearer. What a lovely face! Absolutely impossible to belong to that of a criminal, reclaimed or not. The line of that cheek; the refinement of the lips. The power and character in the carriage of the small head —impos- ■ sible! Jim stood gazing and gazing, while the soft voice behind him meandered on and on. “This is exquisite," lie said, interrupting with unusual brusqueness. “I can’t understand how —l. can’t believe " “Oh, but. indeed they are," Airs Leighton waved her hands charmingly. “They are all the most expert——" Then, suddenly breaking off, she said in a puzzled tone, “But you are looking at Marcia. Ary Marcia, you know —my daughter. She was at school when y oil used to come to see me. Oh!" with a merry laugh. “1 do believe you thought she was one of my criminals. 1 must tell her; she will be so amused." Jim tried to make a suitable ieniark, but floundered hopelessly, and Cyril ’s smiles exasperated him. “Don’t be an idiot!" he remarked under his breath, as he returned to his seat, but his eyes wandered continually to the wonderful face, with its pure profile. , , ~ How superior he had felt when Gym had talked about his unknown divinity, but now he himself was completely bowled over by a photograph. It was incredible, but he had a strange feeling that there would be no peace of _ mind for him until he had met the original. What a fool he had been to have missed meeting her for all this time. “.Jim 1 " Cyril’s voice wrenched Ins thoughts back to the commonplace and for a moment lie blinked dazedly at Mrs Leighton *s outstretched hand. *. “Good-bye, Mr El verst on; I m so sorry I have to go, but Doris will yit vou tea, and I mustn’t keep my committed’ waiting. Dons, dear, ALnua comes in tell her there arc just a im envelopes to address, and she might en-si-su'srssM's-r Jim half way, and finally j ld Mrs Leighton collected her „oiu bag with its accompaniment of muj/ally jingling eeptoras, and drifted out of the fiat. Jim Diversion saw herMo the door, but his face ™ * ll preoccupied as he came back to room and sat down once mote. Doris turned eagerly to Cyril. Aon, Mr Kynaston, before anyone comes in to interrupt, have you told your tnend ;.”orythi»B» <*» 1 » in Stn’S ME y- ca„ bC £ rom W &*> ti!o n stoo U of the incidents leading «P to tirade; A i ~kf-ilwavs burned at the mem‘..f 'fc she went on to her """'’’nUmpS'Viiglit'o'n the murclori hfothingtlu't happened to o-onnect sonicone nnyone >n n«y , bc girl's Oh. - v <= 4 , last reminded fact! ‘ whenl was at the doin’ the boll me. When i v- strange 1 rang close to my <-« • J ren , em ber how should havcM.or> : >« shoulf] be stopJJTant I rushed out without waiting t 0 Z and evriMooked enquiringly at ”?r- ~ - (-•line to the house. But Jim shook his head. “You see. „-c want outside evidence. We must so further than this carries. us Miss Smith says she was not in the hoi sc. von, but it is our business to get tie law to do so." “But they will never believe she had a hand in it! They can’t!" burst out Gvril impetuously. “They won’t believe one way or the other until they are convinced," Jim broke in sharply. “.Wo have got to prove someone was in the house after Miss Smith left it. That man was murdered and bv a blow. He must have reco'niised his assailant, as the blow . A vas struck in the face, and a woman could have done it as well as “Are you talking about me?" Across the 'room a voice rang, with a high note of hysterical fear. In the doorway stood Marcia, one hand clutching the door post, the other outflimg towards them, as though warding off some menace. The lovely upturned face, with its clear-cut features.

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POWERFUL STORY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY,

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was ghastly white. The fierceness of a hunted creature, cornered in its race for life, .was in the eyes that blazed into Jim \s. His dream lady of the photo stood there! A silence, of consternation fell on the little group. Then, with a sudden movement Jim sprang forward and caught the girl on his arm as she stumbled forward and seemed about to full. For a moment she stood with her white face uplifted, her shaking lips trying to form some words. “Alarcia! ’’ Doris was now at her side. 4 ‘ Marcia, how you frightened me! What is it? Are you ill?"

Slowly Marcia, turned her head and looked from one face to the other, as though trying to probe their very souls. Something in the amazement of the eyes that met hers seemed to reassure her. She steadied herself with a tremendous effort, and sharply pushed away Jim’s supporting arm. She brushed her hand over her eyes, a weak little laugh escaped her. “I’m awfully sorry, Doris. I—l’m not very well, I think —I —oh, don’t stand staring!" with a little return of the wildness to her face, quickly checked. I am quite all right. It’s the weather; I’m tired. I walked too far. Tes, ring for tea Doris. It’s just wliat I want. Where'S mother? Please sit down, everybody.' 5 Alarcia was nearly herself again as she drew off her gloves and gave a little quivering smile. “Sit here, Alarcia." Doris drew her friend across to the most comfortable chair in the room. “Now. I will attend to the tea—don’t- you dare to move. Mrs Leighton has gone out. Again her heart was fired with some inexplicable need in Alarcia, and she ehatted gaily on to relieve the tension ol the Si H a m°a.bly seconded her efforts bringing forward a small table to the side of the armchair, and talking hard all the while as he ;gently took Alarcia s small belongings and laidi the in■ n s } u L- “ We ought to even 1 know who I am, but I used to run in and out of the house when you wme n * 4 , i t Avas little more than a n { -n h ° vself I recognised you at once, disappeared. (To be Continued.)