The Temptation of Mary Lister.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17581, 10 December 1928, Page 4

The Temptation of Mary Lister.

BY E. EVERETT-GREEN. Author of “Adventurous Anne,” “A Queen of Hearts,” “Defiant Diana,” “The Lady of the Bungalow,” eto., etc.

(Published by Special Arrangement.)'

CHAPTER XII. — (Continued.) She came home only just in time to dress for dinner. At table conversation was general and of no particular significance. Jos., as usual, tried to Ingratiate himself, lie told good stories, though the humour was sometimes a little broad, lie made it plain that lie intended to he on very friendly lerms with Mary; offered to ride with her early, if that were her fancy, or In leach her to drive the pair of fiery blacks in dhe mail phaeton that had been ather recently added to the number of Hart shill carriages. “The old boy banned motors —one of the last, 1 suppose who can’t move with the times. So 1 wheedled me phaeton out of him as a compromise. But you'll have a car as well, of course, Molly- " “Don’t call me that,” she said quickly and sharply, “you take liberties.” , , Then she rose to her feet, bent her head in the direction of Mrs Hart and Margot, and they sailed away to the drawing-room. “You need not be so snuffy with Jos,” said Margot rather angrily, "I cannot think why you give yourself such airs. \Ve are your near relations.” Mary made no response. She was conscious of repulsion where Margot was concerned, and did not wish to be goaded into sharp speech which she might afterwards regret. How different Ihcsc people were from the Lorimcrs f What a different atmosphere thev created about them. The one so delicately fragrant and delicious; the other so harsh and cold—and critically hostile. . “So vou went to The Rookery this afternoon, Mary. I suppose you had a very pleasant time there? Lady Lucy was very gushing and affectionate. of course.” “She was extremely kind. She loved my mother. That makes a great tie.” . “Lady Lucy loves a great man} things as well as persons,” Mrs Hart remarked rather significantly, Mat}, will vou sit down and let me say a few things to you? It is immaterial whether vou believe them or not. I shall have ‘relieved myself from my responsibilities when I have spoken. “Of course 1 will listen to what you have to say, Aunt Ada.’ Marv seated herself opposite, holding her slender form erect. She (lid nut look like one who would be easily swayed by spoken words; but perhaps MrsTlart had not expected that, She looked full at the girl. “Mr March lias, of course, put }OU in possession of the terms of your grandfather’s extraordinary and iniquitous will. I pass over the iniquity of it, which affects only me and mine But there is. something there . which affects you. It may affect you extremely .seriously. In any case .ou ought 10. face the conditions squarely, and. judge for yourself m the lulwc. “What are you hinting at Aunt \da?' 1 “1 am not going to hint at all. J am going to speak quite frankly,- as I considcr.it my duty to do. . Tou ha\c seen the Lo rimers, and are charmed with them. It is their gift to charm against which you will have lo atm vourself. Dick Lorimer was at s called a ‘charming fellow. Andl he married a wife as charming as h sell - . Those two always had an e.e to the I-lartshill heritage for their son. The court they paid to your grandfather was often a sickening sight lo se.. When Dick was killed he took it dreadfully to heart. Lady Lucy would continually have him over that they might comfort ane another. When he became feeble she was a, much here as decency would permit. And Giles was brought up lo make a fool of his old uncle, to pay court to him too, to try and win the place ns mother was resolved should be Ins. Though of no blood kin lo Joshua, only related through ins wife, they wen on as though they were his nearest and “Perhaps they were the dearest suggested Mary quietly; and the elder woman/coloured up rather hotly. Hoi tones became vicious. . “ \nvway they did not succeed m their intrigues. Giles Lorimer was _ not made the heir. But mark this, Mary. He succeeds after you if you die unmarried. Do you begin to sec now?

“To see what?” “What their little game is with yourself Mary. What arc you to them? The’ child of Dick Lorirner’s niece, born out yonder, where your mother went as little more than a girl. What can they care for you yourself? Can yon not see the game? They want llartshill for Giles. He covets it in that quiet, underhand, scheming way' of the quiet man of his type. His mother is mad for him to have it. Now there are two obvious couises open to them. He can get it in two ways. Either by a marriage with you, or else, even better, for then it would be quite unencumbered, by your death before marriage.” Mary’s poise w'as just little bit more upright. That rather peculiarly brilliant smile which they began to knowflashed from her eyes.

“Dear me, yes. Of course that is so. My extinction through battle, murder, or sudden death would give Giles Lorimer everything, would it not?” “Yes. And I daresay Lady Lucy has already asked you lo stop in her house as a guest whenever you feel so disposed.” “She has.”

“And perhaps her son has suggested your riding out over the downs on some of the half-broken horses they rear at their stud farm?” “We did not get as far as the unbroken horses, but riding w'as discussed."

“And perhaps boating on the lake, where there are strange, currents, and deep holes, though it all looks so safe and smiling?"

“Dear me," said Mary, with a light metallic laugii. “I really begin to fee] like the romantic heroine of a penny novelette! What perils I am ' beset with. Tbanlc you so much, Aunt Ada. lor warning me of the Lorimer machinations. I did not know that I was surrounded by homicidal maniacs.”

Mary rose as she spoke and wont down the room towards the long window', the blind of which she had ordered to he kept up after lamps were brought. It gave easy access to the garden, and Mary loved the scented air, even though the wind might blow a little chill. Out on the terrace she found Margot standing. She had the look of a creature lying in wait; and she held a light w'rap which she flung round Mary’s shoulders. - She wore a similar wrap herself. “Gome along where no one can hear us,” she said, “for I have something to say to you, and say it 1 will, whether you like it or not.” Mary submitted. Plainly there was

nothin.? fisc to he done. She heard a tierce note in Margot’s voice. It was fiercer still when she came to the point. “Mary, 1 .just wish for you to understand this from the first. I will not have you interfere between me and Giles Lorimer. Do you hear?" “Yes. But I confess !do not understand. What is Giles Lorimer to me?" “I do not know what he is yet; but ir his mother has her way lie wili soon he your lover —and I will not have it, I say!" “Then stop it!” spoke Mary with cold disdain. “I will stop it, I tell you! That is what I am hero to make you understand. There has never been anybody in my life but Giles Lorimer. Do you understand that, you haughty woman? Never anybody but that man for me! I love him! I want him! And I will have him! They say that a woman can get any man she Wants —unless another woman takes him from her. Before there was not anyone to come between us. I know him and he knows me. And I' could have won him. I know I could! “And now there is you—and your beauty—anl your great heritage—that lie has been longing after and his mother has been scheming to get for him. And she sees how it can still he his! And he will sec it loo! Jos sees it; but you can snub Jos unmercifully. .Will you not snub ttiat other man, who only wants you for what you have—not for anything else, Mary, not for anything else! I can vouch for that! Do 1 not know?" “I have nothing whatever to say to you, Margot,- upon this subject. You are offensive. You disgust me. Do not dare to talk to me like this again." Margot’s face flamed in the darkness. She gripped Mary’s shoulder hard. “Then if this is my last time for speaking, Mary, I give you my warning now. Dare to come between me and Giles Lorimer —dare to take him away from me—and I will take him away from you! I will disgrace you in his eyes—see if I do not! And consider my warning before it is too late. You shall never have him —never!” (•To be continued to-morrow.)