“CONSCIENCE,”

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 March 1925, Page 7

“CONSCIENCE,”

(PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.)

FASCINATING STORY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY.

ELIZABETH YORK MILLER Author of • The Brass Box,” “CarryOn,” “The Sins of the Fathers,” etc., etc.,

(COPYRIGHT.)

<'ITAPTER XXVII. (Continued.) Loraine got to her feet, her face heavy with sorrow because he sorrowed. “.Darling, it’s all over now, I must make the best of it. And J sinned no less than you, because I married Alex without loving him.- J. wanted the Jleshpots, too.” “Lorie, is it too late to learn to love him? And that crime Jie committed — have you ever ;isked him to explain? He was only a lad, you know.” “I couldn’t ask him,” Loraine replied. “lie’s so cynical—so strange about it.” “But Air. Tcnison seems to have the highest regard for him,” James KeaVis said anxiously, “and lie must know. ’ ’ Loraine nodded sombrely. She longed to tell her father her secret but somehow the words would not

conn'. At first it h:nl seemed shameful and she had not known how she was to hear it; but during the. last few days, a fiercely protective feeling had come into her heart concerning this child that was to be born to her. For the moment it was her secret. In some subtle way it completely changed her attitude towards her husband, and it had worked a miracle where Janet and her father were concerned. It uas so good to be back again at the Vicarage on the old terms of deep love and confidence. She wished she could star for ever. 'CHAPTER XXVIII. Airs. Rondeil began at last to be a source of worry to her host. To Flagg’s great surprise he found himself enmeshed in a species of intigue wit lithe handsome widow, which had been arrived at in the most inexplicable fashion. One thing had led to another and he felt as helpless as a child in dealing with the woman, particularly since she was a guest in his house. It had begun with the early morning rides, and it did not matter how early they were. Sacha Kendell was quite willing to rise with the dawn. She had no fits of ill-humour! She was always cheerful, except on an occcasion when she had broken down and wept over a dressmaker's account. Flagg had a peculiarly soft spot in his heart for women who might be in money'difficulties and he made her a. present that was double what she claimed to need. He would have done as much for one of the housmaids, but Sacha Kendell did not know that.- She seemed to think that the acceptance of the money put her under a deep obligation to him, and she succeeded in making it a secret bond between them. Now and again, when opportunity offered, she rested a hand on his arm or shoulder. If th Flaggs separated, as she hoped they would, she meant it to be quite clear to him that he could turn to her for sympathy. During those afternoon cknis in the library, which now had become u fixture she allowed herself mildly to criticise Loraine. Jt was done *o cloveily that the poison sank in without Flagg; being aware of the prick. “Poor Lorie doesn’t seen to take an : interest in anything, does she'?” Airs. Kendell would babble, with a fa'v-awav look in her hungry eyes. “Except, of course, in spending money. I'm sure those headaches of hers come of too many chocolates and too little exercise. She’s not very found of getting up early in the morning is she? 1 "jin sure it it would do her good to ride with us, now -and again.' ’ “Have you asked her?” Flagg questioned. Airs. Kendell laughed softly. “Oh, yes, many times. But have you asked her?” “No,” he said rather shortly “I expect she is waiting for you to. 1 do hope Lorie won ',l be geting jealous of me.” “f don’t think there’s any danger of that,” Flagg replied. He was in a strange position with regard to this woman. Her admiration of him was flattering and soothed a badly-wounded vanity. She was cheer- j ful and jolly, which Loraine was nto. : She kept conversation going at meal times when there were other guests pre- j sent, and it was something to have cumbersome machinery oiled. For of late, Loraine'-s manner had gone from bad to worse. She left them all severely alone, with the exception of Wilfrd I enison. 'To him, when they met, she was unfailingly friendly and even effu- j sive. I

Things had gone on like this, now, ! for a solid month. Spring was nearly finished. Over-riding Flagg’s protests, ’Tcnison had remo\ed himself and his secietarv to a cottage on the estate. He had a liard summer’s work ahead of him, he told his host bluntly, and lie couJdn t do himself justice at tiie Castle. "I can’t stand that woman Alex,” he said. “Js your wife so fond of her? ’ ’ He meant Airs. Rendoll. •‘lt seems so,” Flagg replied gloom- ] il.v. “J don’t believe it,” his friend said. “You’ve not had enough experience of women, my boy. Go easy. Doesn t Airs. Kendell know anybody besides you people who will give her indelinitcijoa rd ? ’ ’ Flagg laughed. “Don’t be too hard on the little wo- , man, Will.” j “Little woman! Ye gods! She’s an ; Amazon. I feel sorry for a man when i lie begins to call a woman ‘little.’ It’s ! all over them, but the /lowers and the i funeral. I Flagg did not take this for a joke, 1 nor was lie intended as such. He was in a distinct quandary about 1 Sacha Kendell. He wanted her to re- j main because he had a horror of finding nimself alone at Droone with his wife. ! He felt that by oiling the machinery, | Airs. Kendell had more than earned j what little he had done for her. Like ' a, great many other men would be, he • was completely blind as to Loraine's , possible feelings; but in that respect, ! lie was more than justified. Loraine had not attempted to disguise her scorn 1 and disgust after hearing the Kever- > end Air. Stngbuiid’s story; and even I before she had made no pretence of ' love. Consequently it did not enter j Flagg’s mind that she could be jealous. He thought it was very kind of Mrs. Kendell to pat up with his wife’s uncertain temper and sullen unsoeiabilit'y. Loraine spent more and more of her time at the Vicarage now, giving the j excuse that her father’s strength was failing If st. 'his was only too. true, j and no one could ldanie her for devot- j ing herself to the old man. But Flagg j did not know that at the Vicarage she i was a far different Loraine from the ! one at Droone Castle, until an accident '

made it clear to him. So far, their visits had never coincided. h Oae afternoon lie broke his usual

routine and strolled with the intention of seeing how “the old boy’ was getting on. r rom across the hedge, gay, glad voices met his ear. He could scarcely believe that one of them as his wife s until lie saw her.

They were playing tennis, Loraine, Janet, Dennis and the curate. Loraine, in a short white skirt and woolly sweater screamed as raucously as Janet; her face Hushed and moist with healthy perspiration as she cried out the triumph of herself and young Air. Waters. “Aly word, we’ve given you a. beating; .lb* vou want to take us on again ?’ ’ “ Not arf, ” Janet replied _ slangiiy. “Swaukers! Come on, Dennis, well show ’em.” • *lVs Airs. Flagg’s serve,” said the curate modestly. “Without that, we should have been nowhere.” “Oh, Lorie‘s always been a regular ‘slugger,’ ” Janet growled. “Try to put some pep into your serve, Dennis.” “Now we-ve got then finding fault with eifth other,” Loraine said with a giggle. “It’ll be a regular wash-out for 'em this time. Are you ready?” Alexander stepped away from the gap in the hedge. That girl in there so happy, so young, was his lily Loraine. the wife lie Jiad bought, and who hatred and despised him. D was something to know that at times she could he happy, although he had nothing to do with it. “Hanged if 1 can stand it any long-

er,’’ lie muttered to himself as he strode off. Even in prison he had not felt so lonely. The sight of Droone infuriated him; its windows, blazing malevolently at him like so many lurid eyes. ’He stumped off across the fields, heedless of the young corn, his cheery optimism for once badly shaken. That merry group in the Vicarage garden was somethin*!? lie felt lie could not forget, if he lived to be a hundred. How lie should have loved to be one of them, but they did not want him . lie was thrust, out, made pariah by his wife who had only married him for his money and turned hard upon him at the very first opportunity. lie thought of his' own unhappy youth, but now lie felt that as far as the joy of life was concerned lie might just as well be in prison. He had lost more than those dead years behind stone walls and bars; he had lost the art of living. (To be Continued.}