A Wasted Love

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1217, 7 January 1905, Page 4

A Wasted Love

CHAPTER XIX (Continued.) Royce advanced slightly, and Uncle Jake drew back. "Now keep your temper, Mr Jack. 1 don't coiupkui, *nJ I'm not going to make a fuss; I only ask why not trust tho poor , old boy ?" Eoyce bit his lip " If you are sober enough—" !'• Sober I" ejaculated Uncle Jake indig Dantly. " To understand and answer ft question," said Rovoe, " tell me in a w:rd if if you were alone, or if any of the others know oui secret ?" Uncle Jake looked at him shyly. " I'm as sober as a judge before dinnei'," be said. " No, my denr boy, I was alone; and no one else, so far as I know, is in the swim, And don't you be afraid that I'm going to split on you. I going toreturn good for evil, tbat is what I am going to do." , , Royce was silent a moment, then ho said; '• How long have you been here r " Half un how, inoro or less. Yes, I Laiw yonr swell people, and heard the confab, Mr. Landon." , Royce started. '* Don'|iK,'ili»rmed|'' said VjL'v® nwreason-for tfauyfiH, and I'qi rw;4y to stand your • • friend; tbat is, if a y&r gypsy , man venture to make Buch a remark," and he touohed his cap as he shot a sinister glance at them. His change of manner was so sudden that Royco stood dumbfounded; and Uncle Jake, with a nod as if to roassure them drejv nearer. ' " You did the right thing, Madgo," he said," beg pardon—Mrs Landon. A gypsy oamp isn't the proper place for you any > .longer, nor for you either, sir, and the , sooner you cloar out the better. . Royca bit his lip. " Spiak out and eay what yon have to say,",he said;" you know our secret, and will trade upon it, I supposd." " Not a bit of it," said Uncle Jakecoolly. " I'm not quite suoh a swell as you Mr Landon, but I'm a gentleman, or was one time, anyhow; and all I want to do ie to give you a bit of advice." Royco listened impatiently. "Go straight away to-night. I'll make things square with our people, Go straight away and keep dark till the week's up—oh, yes, I heard every word, and I know the arrangement that's been come to. You take my advice. I'll explain things to the people and keep 'om quiet. Go up to London, and out tho gypsies' camp at once and for all. As I said, it's no place for either of your now. Royce drew Madge out of hearing. "He i? right, drunk or sober," he said, " and we mast trust him—seeing that we can't very well do otherwise. I should have liked to say good-bye to Mothet Katie Bnd some o'f the others. What courst do you advise ?" , She raised her face to his, her lips trembling. " Let ub gO| Jack," ehe aaid,

CHAPTER XX Madge had been married five days; and on thi3, the morning of the sixth, as she stood at the window ?f tbe London hotel, and looked at the crowded street, she asked herself whether she were awake or dreaming; and indeed in her lovely eyes there was a look that was something like bewilderment, mingled with the dreamy expression of perfect happiness and joy. For once Uncle Take's advice had bean followed. Royco had made up his accounts that morning and received bis share of tbe profits, and with this by no means large sum he had started on tl\eir wedding trip. He bad obosen London because it would be easier to baffle pursuit in that direction, if any one bad chosen to make it. There had been only time on their way to the station for Madge toputchase a hat —the first Bbo bad ever worn—and Royoe, too, exchanged his rough, tweed jacket for a conventional coat; but tho morning after their arrival, and direcily after breakfast, she said with a blush: "Jack.will you let me go out for a little while?" He stared at her. "Let you go out? Why, dearest? Are you going to rnn'away from me " Not yet," she said softly, tbe blush deepening. " May I go. Jack ?" " No," ho said, with an assumed stern" uess, "You'll lose your way. "What do you want to go for—and alono I take 1" " Yes. I want to go alono," she said timidly, " Why I want to go is my secret. And I won't loso my way, I can't go very far, and I know the name of the hotel and the street." Koyce gazed at her with genuine anxiety. •' Why mustn't I go with you ?" he asked. " Because you must not," she said. "How long are you going to be away ?" he said. "I shall count the minutes while you aro gone! To leave me so soon 1 1 wonder you have the heart Madge 1" She thought p uiomont. " Two hours," sho sail, " Yds that will

, BY CHARLES GARVICE,

Author of "Leslie's Loyalty," "Elaine," "A Woman's Soul," &o,

be enough."! Sho got his pipe and tobacco from the mantel, and put them in his hand, " Thcr*, I shall bo back almost before you have finisheil your pipe." " It would be a big on.i to last two hours Madge,' ho said. I wish you'd tell mu wb4 yen are filter. London's a big place, and f you have never been in it before. Better let uib go with yon," and ho tried tolqftkinto her face, buj she evaded him and'with a' shy kiss ran from tbe room. [To be continued.)