"The Success of Mark Wyngate,"

Wairarapa Daily Times, 27 April 1927, Page 7

"The Success of Mark Wyngate,"

A CHARMING STORY OF DOMESTIC LOVE INTEREST,

BY UNA L. SILBERRAD. Author of “The Good Comrade,” “Desire,” “Ordinary People,” etc., etc.

CHAPTER XIX. 808 GAALLIN INTERVIEWS ANOTHER PARTNER. There were two persons who answered to the name of Bob Gamlin —one who went to the city every day and meant to.get, on in the world, who never thought it advantageous to interfere in what did not concern him, who seldom went out of his way even to abuse a man who offended him, and more seldom still to champion another ’s cause, weak or strong. The second Bob —he had never come into existence till that night—was a totally different creature. It. was he who left Bubb’s cottage and splashed through the mud and. water regardless alike of best trousers and new boots, who was possessed by one idea only, a furious indignation with Alark "Wyngatc. And the indignation was not solely- on his own account. It is true he had lost Judith, : but it must be admitted, except in moments of infatuation, she had never really seemed so very near or attainable. Tonight the sense of his own loss was swallowed up in anger for her, anger with the man who bad taken her life and name, ay, and love too, and given nothing. The thought of it worked Bob into a fury, and he splashed on through the darkness wild with indignant rage, determined to have at least the only satisfaction in his reach, that of telling the man what ho thought of him.

Accordingly, when he came to the outskirts of the village, he inquired his way afresh, and then started for the forge. The road, though long, was easy to find, and after some half hour’s walking he saw the dark blot of the forge building rising above the clammy mist which here lay white on the low ground. * There was a light shining in a window of the cottage at the end. Bob made straight for it, and found it came from a window near the latch door. He knocked loudly, and a voice bade him come in; whoever was inside did not fear frequent interruption, since he had not taken tho trouble to protect himself with a bolt. The door led straight into the limited room. A man was sitting there, a very big, grave, calm sort of man, not at all what Bob expected—one to whom liard-won success had given a certainty of himself and a cold politeness in dealing with others which was rather embarrassing to Bob’s excited indignation. For a moment Bob stood on the threshold nonplussed. The man was sitting at a desk scattered with business papers; he was evidently much occupied with his correspondence. This also added to Bob’s confusion; he felt rather as If he had stumbled into a private office in unofficial hours. “Ary name is Gamlin,” he sanl abruptly, and it was only the thought of Judith’s face when she gave him her hand at parting which nerved him to speak—“ Robert Gamlin. I doii’t know whether you have heard* of me.” Mark fancied he had. “I had the pleasure of knowing your father,” he said. “I think, too, you are related to my cousin Lily. ’ ’ “Yes, that’s so,” Bob said, “but it is not about them that I’ve come to see you. I want—that is—with your permission, I should like to ask you a question.” Mark erpressed himself ready to do what he could towards answering it. He thought Air Robert Gamlin ; s manner a little excited, but he put it down to an extra glass of whisky—excusable on so chilly a night—at the railway hotel where he probably went for directions as to the way to the forge. lie was rather surprised, however, when Bob jmt the question, “Is it true Hhat you are going to Germany soon ? ’ ’ He answered in the affirmative. “What for?” Bpb demanded. This was scarcely Bob’s concern. “Really, Air Gamlin,” Alark said, “I doubt if that is a matter likely to interest a stranger.” ‘‘lt interests me very much.” Alark shrugged his .shoulders slightly, but humoured his visitor. “We are going to Germany,” he said, “because we find it impossible to carry on our dye works here. The prohibitive duty on alcohol renders it impossible to use any process in which alcohol is necessary. As we must use alcohol and must make a reasonable profit, it is useless for as to build the largo works we require in England; consequently we, like several other firms, have been obliged to arrange for them elsewhere. Is there anything further I can do for you ? ” “A r es, there is!” The cool politeness of the man, which had at first confused Bob, was now lashing him into fresh anger. ‘‘There is something more. You can tell me by what right you take Judith Loring with you! By what right you have kept her here all this time, slaving for you, working for you, thinking for you! By what right you have taken her life and brains and reputation.”

“Arc you a friend of Aliss Loring V?” Bob laughed harshly. “A sort of friend, I suppose,” ho said. “Indeed! Then since lam a. friend, and have been for the great part of her life, allow me to tell you that I do not consider you or any other ‘sort of friend’ has a right to demand an explanation of her actions from me. It you arc dissatisfied with her proceedings and can show that you have any claim to express an opinion, you had better mention it to her. She is a free agent, and answerable to no one for what she does.” “A free agent?” “Certainly. She is not working here for me; you are totally misinformed on that point. She works for me no more than I for her. We are partners in a concern in which her interests are slightly greater than mine. There are no further explanations I can give you. Good evening. ’ ’ But Bob did not go, though It was evident Alark thought he had been more than indulgent enough. “You’re a friend of Aliss Loring’s, are you?” Bob said with a sneer, “and I’m only a ‘sort of friend.’ But 1 happen to love her, and you don’t happen to love anything in the world, not even yourself.” A light suddenly dawned on Alark’s nil ml. This excited young man had made Judith an offer of marriage, and ascribed her refusal to the Iriscene and the intended move to Germany. Alark was momentarily rather astonished; the idea of any one making Judith an offer of marriage was not altogether pleasant. Of course she had refused this person—she could never have done anything else —only Alark felt somehow relieved at the termination of the occurrence. As a consequence he became more patient with his visitor. ‘‘Aliss Loring is going to Germany,” lie explained, “because she-considers it wiser to do so. Personally, I thinkvshe is quite right, though I am-not influencing her in the matter.” ‘‘Not influencing her!” Bob repeated scornfully. “What do you suppose influenced her to first come here? AVliat made her give up her situation, her friends, her amusements, her very reputation— ” Mark’s patience did not stretch to this. “The fact that a lady has refused your proposals does not give you the right to insult her,” he said.

But Mark did not seem disturbed. He was evidently convinced that Bob was not in a condition to answer for his words. “I ain afraid you are labouring under some delusion,” lie said distinctly: “I am rather busy just now, so if you have nothing further to say I must ask you to* step outside.” ”1 won’t stop outside!” Bob retorted. “You can turn me out if you like, ’’ and he glanced at Mark's great shoulders, safe in the very superiority of his antagonist’s strength —“but I won’t go without, and even then you shall hear what I have to say.” Mark rose and stood with his back to the fireplace. “ Really,”, ho said, “I do not see why you should inflict your excitement on me. I suppose you think you have a grievance of some sort. If you have, bo quick and state it, or 1 shall be compelled to do as you suggest, and put you outside.” “I have no grievance. It is Miss Loring. ’ ’

But Bob teas not be checked. “It does not take away my right to speak the truth,” he retorted; “if that’s an Insult I can’t help it, and I say, what made her —influenced her, if you like — give up everything and come here to this lioie and slave day and night at a foul-smelling, dangerous, stinking thing like chemistry? What made her live in a hovel without any comfort in life? Work here, risking death in a dozen different ways, sweat like a navvy over tubs of dye, work as no woman ought tq„wqrk, and live as no woman light to live? Do you think she wanted the money? Bah! She could have got enough without that! The sake- of science? Rot! Did a woman ever love science better than her good name?” Mark’s face had flushed faintly under this tirade. “I’ll have no more of this,” he said between his teeth. “Get out before I turn you out!. And say another word about Aliss Loring and you will get the thrashing you deserve.” But Bob had worked himself up beyond earing for anything. “If 1 don’t say a word, other people do,” he retorted".” “It is a lie! ” “It is not a lie! Ask any of the girls she used to know; ask your own people; ask any woman who knows anything of her, and half the men! I tell you shelias given her name and her life and her brains to you and your stinking invention, and you have given her nothing—nothing! I would have married her had she been twice as bad as they made her out, instead of ten times better than .the primest liar among them! —the noblest, grandest woman in all the world! But what’s that to you? Nothing. She’s going to Germany with you and your invention —your invention can’t do without her yet, so she’s going; that’s all that matters to you. You’re a genius. I’m a fool, I know that. But if you’re a genius, may God 'damn every soul to Hell before He makes .such another!” And*Bob flung out into the night with something like a sob choking in his throat. The door, pushed right back, stood for a moment, then gradually fell to and closed. Alark did not move. He stood almost like one stunned, quite still, leaning against the chimney-piece. A clock in the corner ticked loudly in the intense stillness; tlic ashes on the hearth crumbled and fell; nothing else stirred. The array of papers lay scattered on the desk —letters' to be answered, business to be done, but Alark did not move to do it. He was feeling backward, slowly, haltingly; reason, the only faculty he had muc-h developed, trying to grope out that which instinct would have guessed at a bound.

(To be Continued).