The Temptation of Mary Lister.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17589, 19 December 1928, Page 11

The Temptation of Mary Lister.

(Published by Special Arrangement.)

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

CHAPTER XVm. Lady Lucy's Ball. Lady Lucy received her guests in the anteroom, which opened with great double doors into the decorated bag room. These rooms were on a■ wgpwj higher level than the hall itself, so Sit'there were six shallow steps for guests to ascend before they reached their hostess.

Lady Lucy looked lovely in heliotrope silken fabric, with an overtunic of exquisite old lace. There was upon her beautifully dressed and abundant white, hair, and the tiara sparkled in its place, endowing her with some quality of regal splendour. She kept Mary very close at hann. She presented her to, or presented to her, the different local magnates; as they appeared; and Mary tasted that night for the first time in her life the full wonder and intoxication or ner position as old Joshua Hart's successor and heiress. By this time it was known to the country that the old man had died a very rich man, that the undesirable brother with his family were quite overlooked, and that his girl's daugntci came in for everything, with reversion to Giles Lorimer in the event of her death without heirs. So Mary was the attraction of the evening. Jos sougnt in vain to get near to her, to make claim upon her for dances. She was already besieged. Her card filled with a bewildering rapidity. Giles had been right. He had secured three dances himself before the arrival of the guests. But when Jos elbowed his wav to her side Mary could only laug.i and hold up her overflowing card. His lowering face made her laugh rather unkindly. Somehow the Hart family had grown strangely repugnant to her just now. She hated to think of going back to share her house with them. This was the place where she felt at home. This was her real haven of rest. Mary was quickly carried off to dance. She was light of foot; she held herself with grace; she drew all eyes as she moved through the mazes of the dance. She was exquisitely robed in pure white, with marvellous Parisian embroideries. She wore pearls about her throat and a string in the soft masses of her hair. When Giles came up to claim his second dance he looked into her flushed face with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Having the time of your life, eh, Mary? Are those small ears of yours burning very badly?" '•Not a bit, Giles. But I am having a charming evening. I have never been at half such a grand or pretty dance as this. I don't want to lose a moment of it. Come and dance —listen to that waltz I"

So they danced, and one pair of keen and jealous eyes followed them. Truth to tell, this pair attracted great attention from the company. Not only were their movements peculiarly graceful and rhythmic, but their position with regard to old Joshua's heritage was exciting a good deal of speculation. "Gad! but they make a wellmatched pair," snorted an old squire who was standing near to Margot, "and young Giles won't let grass grow beneath his feet, by the look of him! That's the way the matter will go—you'll see! A pretty little baggage—and he the next after her, unless Well, let them marry, and the thing settles itself nicely. Lady Lucy knows what she wants —and the boy, tool We'll soon be hearing wedding belis set ringing, what?" Margot heard this and bit her Up. Black fury filled her heart. She hated Mary with a deadly hatred, for she, too, had seen gleams in Giles's eyes that had turned her heart to stone within her. What could she do to turn him from Mary—Mary the schemer, Mary the supplanter, Mary who was grabbing at everything with both hands, and turning them adrift upon the world? And once let her have Hartshill and Giles Lorimer would pass out of her life. Margot could have gnashed her teeth in her impotent, fury. Do as she would, Giles failed to play the part of lover. A kiwily friend and kinsman he remained, but beyond that there was no advance It was like the tideless Mediterranean Sea gently lapping, but making no advance. And she wanted the great rolling Atlantic waves which should come sweeping all before them. And Why did he look at Mary like that? It was intolerable! But that which enraged Margot thrilled Mary. That evening seemed to mark an epoch in her life. She saw all that was meant by the heritage that had been made hers—the power, the glamour, the delight of it all 1 And yet it was not hers 1 It belonged to the man whose arm was about her, whose, eyes now and again flashed into hers—the man she loved!

Yes, she knew it now, knew it without any hint of doubt. She loved Giles Lorimer —yet she was keeping him out of that which was really his I How horrible! Yet surely there was a way by which all could be restored! To-night, for the first time, she saw in his eyes some quality of expression that flooded her world with glory. Gould it be possible that he loved her? It was! It was! She began to feel it—to know it. The very tones of his voice caressed her. At the end of the dance he walked her out into the gardens. She said little, but alone in the moonlight Mary knew. Then if he loved her, could she not tell him all ? But at that question her heart failed her. A shrinking, sickening dread possessed her soul. She could tell him—she longed to do so—and give him back all that was his. But, then, what would his feelings be to her—the deceiver? Ah, could she risk it? Dared she risk it? No, no, no! To see his glance grow hard, to hear his voice turn cold, sarcastic, sternly condemnatory. Ah, she could not bear that! And to meet the grieved astonishment in Lady Lucy's eyes. Oh, was it needful to run so terrible a risk if by keeping silence she could still find method of restitution?

Let Giles but love her and tell his love and all would become his! But what if discovery came afterwards? What if he found out the trick which Mary Lister had played upon him? He' could not rid himself then of her — but, ah! how too unspeakably awful to be tied to a husband who knew you for a deceiver—and could not forgive or forget.

(To be continued to-morrow.)

She could fancy that of Giles—a stern, unbending indignation. It would make life a hell upon eaii.li. And life could be so fair, so sweet, so utterly attractive and delightful. Why need she give it .up? The risk was so small. Surely she might take it. And if she stuck to her tale through thick and thin would it be likely that proof could be brought to bear which would dispossess her? Only witnesses from the other side of the world could identify her as being the wrong Mary Lister. Who would think it worth while to bring them over?. Was she

not raising troubles in imagination that would never become fact? Yet the world was said to be a small place. And everybody travelled now. It would be like living on the crater of a volcano. But was it not worth it? How could she disgrace herself and give up all when the crown df life seemed almost within her grasp? Then suddenly Mary remembered those papers! Those terrible papers which might possitfly trip her up and bring confusion upon her. As she danced and chatted brililantly to her partners the light in her eyes was the outcome of an excitement of which none in all this glittering throng had the smallest inkling. But Mary's mind was working with a feverish intensity, and all in a moment her way seemed to open before her.

Guests were taking supper in relays. Some were strolling out into the gardens. The musicians were playing extras, and dancing was still going on, but there was a scattering of the guests. Nobody would miss her if she fled. All the servants were as busy as possible on this floor. Upstairs ail would be quietness and silence. Swiftly as thought Mary glided away. She darted up a small side staircase and reached the upper floor. Here she paused and pulled herself together, for she was shaking all over in a mood of inexplicable excitement. After all, she was not going to do anything dreadful —only to take out a packet of papers, examine them at her leisure and restore them. She could not read them to-night. At any moment a summons might come for her if she remained long away, and she must not be found shut up in her room—that would arouse question and suspicion. No, she must get possession of the packet. She must take it back with her on the morrow to Hartshill. She and Margot were leaving together early. LadyLucy declared that the house would be pandemonium all that day. And Mary felt that an early flight wouhl save the possibility of the letters being thought of again. Lady Lucy's mind would be full of other cares whilst her house and household treasures were being restored to their usual entourage. This, then, was her plan. To get those papers and letters safely into her own keeping. To study them at leisure, and very likely learn things which would greatly strengthen her own position. Before Lady Lucy thought of them or opened them afresh she would have talked reminiscently of certain episodes, made allusion to certain matters of which the letters would treat. If that did not satisfy Giles—if that did not lay to sleep any possible suspicions . . . At least,

let her get those papers! That was the thing to do. And with this purpose in her .heart Mary walked steadily and quietly to Lady Lucy's room and noiselessly closed the door behind her. She even turned the key, for if by any chance any servant came up at this hour a locked door would excite less comment than a guest standing at Lady Lucy's open jewel safe.