Complete Story. Bad to Beat.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XXIV, 9 December 1899, Page 1077

Complete Story. Bad to Beat.

(By

Cicata.)

•‘Am 1 to understand this is your final decision—that after having fooled me to the top of your bent you now coolly put my claim: aside? Perhaps, before you expect me to accept my dismissal, you wdl give me some reason for your caprice.” In his anger at his cousin’s unexpected refusal to become his wife, Hubert Mansfield had forgotten to choose his words. "1 was not aware that you or anyone had claims on me, now that I am engaged to Captain Ward,” Kate Vernham said coldly. A comprehensive silence followed this announcement. ‘•You are going to marry Ward, the linen draper’s son?” His dark, restless eyes sought hers with incredulous amazement. “His grandfather was a linen draper. 1 believe,” she answeed, the colour returning to her pale face at his tone, “but,” she added, “he is Edgar's greatest friend.” “As his wealth is great, and Edgar's extravagance unbounded, shall we say ‘benefactor?’ ” he sneered. “Say and think what you like.” she answered rather wearily. “What are you doing it for?” he said, more gently. “You don’t care for the man. Can you deny that had I asked you a few weeks ear'i er you would have accepted me? Kate, listen,” he went on in a passionate whisper, “tell him you care for someone else—for me.” “Hubert, let go my hand,” she cried, for he was drawing her to him, in another moment she would m powerless to resist. “1 don’t caie tor you in that Way; you have been like another brother to me.” Her voice faltered over the untruth. “1 am going to marry Captain Ward, and nothing,” firmly, “will induce me to go back from my word to him.” He threw her hands from him with a furious gesture. “Well, 1 don’t envy him his bargain; it would be bad enough, tor an equal to marry you without love, nut how a poor devil of an inferior is to endure your pride and coldness 1 won’t attempt to imagine. I shall be amply revenged in seeing what he will have to put up with at your hands,” and, with a. laugh which held in it the bitterness of rejected love and wounded vanity, he left her speechless with anger. Hubert Mansfield had been right when he said if he had chosen to ask her to be his wife any time within the last year she would have accepted him. but from the first he had made too sure of her love, been too content to play a waiting game till something, possibly the admiiation shown her by others, had awakened in him the sudden desire to possess her. but it was too late. By accepting Mark Ward, Kate had thought to wipe out some of the degrading sense of obligation which, through her brother, seemed to enshroud her. From her point of view, to bestow her hand upon him was to pay in full her brother's debt, to which he had freely sacrificed a large fortune, asking only one thing in return. and that to have all remembrance of what he had done put out of mind, a bargain which Edgar Vernham found no difficulty in complying with.

He had told his sister in as few wards as possible of his debts, and the mode of his release from them, adding, in answer to her reproaches, there had been only two solutio: s to his difficulties, that, or the altr .•- native of leaving no direct heir to ais father's title, and had then askew permission to have his friend to stay with him: —for Kate was mistress of her father's house—with the result that he had fallen a victim to her charms, had proposed and been accepted, in happy ignorance of the motive of her condescension, not for one instant dreaming that Edgar would havea broken his promise of secrecy on the subject of his help. It was some weeks later when Mark returned to make one of the party which annually gathered under Lord Vernhnm’s roof for the gayest fortnight in the year. Kate had been

careful not to ask him down till the rest of the house party had assembled -—a fact of which he was ignorant till he found her in the garden in the midst of a group taking tea. "Was it chance or design that again interposed to prevent his seeing her alone?” he wondered with unwilling suspicion; however, this was scarcely the time to pursue that inquiry. It was the first time Kate had met him in society, therefore, she had hardly appreciated the fact of his popularity till she saw the welcome accorded him: by her guests.

"Miss Cole! You never told me I should meet you here!” Mark said to a very pretty girl, with a peculiar infantile charm, which rendered her a dangerous rival to many who, like Kate, possessed far higher claims to real beauty. “Why should all the confidences be on my side, Captain Ward? 1 never heard of your engagement till a fortnight ago.” she spoke lightly, but her eyes were filled with what he in his ignorance felt to be an unmerited reproach. “Nor I of yours till yesterday,” he retorted with a smile. “You mean to be happy, I hope,” he added a little gravely, for Sir James Lovelace was more than double her age, with nothing- to commend him to such a little butterfly. “Perhaps we had better compare notes in a year’s time,” she said, drily. Kate had heard what passed, while conscious that Hubert Mansfield was watching her with a. gleam of some emotion that rather marred his singularly handsome face. It had served his purpose to seek a reconciliation with his cousin, who was willing enough to receive him back on what appeared the old terms. “Everyone thought these two would make a match of it at one time,” Lady Levett remarked with a look towards Mark and Hilda. ■lndeed, what prevented it coming off?” Kate asked with unconcern. The other gave her a curious look. “No one ever knew. It’s a pity the girl gives herself away so, though, especially now she is engaged. The world made up quite a little romance out of his saving her ilife; he jumped overboard to rescue her. I must tell you the whole story some day — I can’t now." “Aren’t you going to give me any tea, Kate?” Mark asked, unexpectedly. “He is tired of waiting for you to carry it over to him,” Hubert Mansfield suggestr.sl. “Not I,” Mark answered, with an easy laugh that veiled his annoyance; “when 1 expect your cousin to wait upon me, I hope she will put me in a home for cripples.” "1 advise you not to give her the chance, or she might take you. at your word," Hubert said, unpleasantly. “I am much obliged for your advice, Mansfield; keep me in mind of it, Kate,” Mark answered coolly, as he seated himself by her side. Kate let his remarks pass without comment, she had flushed with annoyance over the discussion or possibly Mark’s careless grasp of the situation. “Are you come prepared to beat the county with your eleven, Captain Ward?” Lady Lovett asked. She had listened to this passage of arms between the men, and had already bn eked the winner. What answer do you expect to that question?” he asked with a genial smile. “You mean, I suppose, that Captain Ward is bad to beat?” with a mischievous look at the strong face that had such an attraction for many in spite of its small pretensions to beauty. “Or rather that his team is when it’s in such excellent form," he rejoined quickly. “You are leaving the Guards, Lord Y'ernham tells me.” “Y es, we agreed on that subject as we do on most,” Mark answered with truth, for he anil his father-in-llaw to Ih* were staunch friends, forming with Edgar a strong combination against Kate. Captain Ward's eleven distinguished themselves during the next two

days, his own fame as a good allround cricketer losing none of its glory in the very fine play he exhibited. From the first there hail lieen little doubt of the result; even Kate had experienced a feeling of edat'.on in witnessing the success of the man she was to marry. He had come down with a heart full of hope, which hud sustained him through his meeting with Kate, but had died a quick death before the evening was over, under the scarcely veiled indilferei.ie ol hr manner, and the coldness almost amounting to dislike he read in her lovely, dark blue eyes. It ' was not the man's nature •» own himself beaten, so he had played his part with an unconsciousness that had won Kate’s admiration, and the contempt of Hubert Mansfield, whose insight was not so subtle as that of the woman of whom he had made so sure, that he thought h* could afford to treat her low. with covert scorn, a proceeding wh.eh, had he but known, was rapidly losing him ground in her esteem. 11. The stumps were diawn at five o’clock on the, second day. as several of the home team lived at- a distance. so Kate, and those of het guests who cared to do so. had rid den to see some old ruins in the neighbourhood after tea. Coming home, a few of them elected to part company, and take a different road, leaving Hubert, as list ill, to make a third whenever Kate and Mark were together, a course which the latter was learning to accept with more or less philosophy. “I say, Kate, are you going to do that jump? If so, come on,” Hubei t said, pointing to a nasty-looking wail ahead of them. “By all means; lam quite ready." Kate answered, promptly. “You are not proposing she should jump anything on that worn-out old screw?” Mark said quickly, breaking a silence that had fallen on him whilst the other two had been talking over bygone days. “He is an old screw, but he's Irish, and used to be very good at a wall, besides, you, may not know that Kate is considered the finest horsewoman in the county.” Hubert said, aggressively. “She may be the. finest rider in the world," Mark replied. thoroughly roused by now, “but. all the same, I am not going to allow her to attempt a. jump of that kind. I’ll be bound there's a ditch on the other side." “There is something of the kind. I believe," Hubert answered, carelessly. If it was going to be a. fight between his wishes and Mark Ward's, lie should see who would win. Kate said nothing, but whipped up her horse so suddenly that she was ahead before either men had realised her intentions, but Mark's hand was on her rein before she had gone far. “Take your hand off!" she said, with a furious look at his set face.

“Not unless you give no this mad freak,” he said, in a low tone.

"Then 1 won’t What right have you to control my actions?" Mark was off his horse in an instant, with a tinner grip on her rein. “Hubert, give me a lead,” she called back to him, white with passionate resolve. Either by accident or design, Hubert’s whip descended on the Hanks of her horse, which reared without unseating its rider, but she saw the hand which had restrained it fall helpless by Mark's side, though tin- other was pi>it up quick as lightning to replace it as he did so he was amazed at the sudden softness that came over her face. "Kate, my wrist is dislocated, will you desist?" Before she could answer Edgar was beside her. anil Hilda had gone to Mark, full of tender compassion for him, and anger against the woman who had caused the accident. "Confound you. Hubert, look at your work, you have lost us our match: there is no one to take his place." Edgar said, with wild rage and concern. "Here, old fellow, take a pull at this, it s lucky I fou,nd it in the pocket of this olil coat." Kate, who Juul sat in silence till now. suddenly slipped out of her saddle. and pushing Hilda aside, touch ed mark’s hand gently, pitifully. "Oh! Mark, what’ have I done?" she whispered. “Is it hurting dreadfully? Can I do nothing tn ease it? All right. Kate, it is a mere trifle compared to finding your mangled remains the other side of that wall. I am glad, as Mansfield was bent on a sensation, that I am the victim instead of you." He spoke gently but coldly; Kate's solicitude was unexpected, but it was not in human nature, at least, in Mark’s, to accept it in a thankful spirit. It was not pity he wanted from the girl he loved whose treatment had raised some dormant qualities in his naturally easy, tolerant disposition. among others a contempt for the man she chose to honour above himself. who. taking advantage of a near relationship, exerted his influence to belittle him in her eyes. He had never worsted him as yet, but Mark was getting a little tired of a game where the balance of loss and gain was too even to admit of much hope. The consternation was great when Hubert, leaving- Edgar and Mark to go to the nearest doctor, took the news to the cricketers, putting all the blame on Mark for doing- anything rash at so critical a time, a blame which clung to him, for to screen himself at another’s expense was scarcely likely to commend itself to his mind. Not slowly, but with sudden, overpowering force, love had overtaken Kate in the moment when the man's will had so far mastered his physical pain that his other hand 'had replaced the in jured one on her reins, to compel her to yield. In the searching light of what she felt for Mark,the poor thing she called love, which had been given to Hubert, flickered and died, leaving her sick with the uncertainty that assailed her; for circumstances had combined

against her en masse at last, and with her doubts of his love had eome a great fear of the girl whose life he had saved and whose sweetness seemed irresistible.

The cricket match had been won by the county, and the sports, in which ba was wont to distinguish himself, were to come on next day, but sooner than stand by useless Mark hail determined to absent himself, before doing so. however, he must learn from Kate the truth of a suspicion to which a remark of Lord Vernham’s had given rise.

“I have come to say good-bye. 1 am going up to town to-day." he said when he joined Kate in the library. Was it relief, he wondered, that brought that bright flush to her face at bis words? "Kate,” he continued, for she made no answer, “I must know. Did Edgar tell you something he gave me his solemn promise not to reveal? Yes, he did; you need not attempt to deny it,” as she turned away.

“He told me you had been generous beyond words,” she faltered. “How dare he break his word?” he said, his eyes blazing with wrath. "What would you say if I, a man whom you have condescended to compensate by the bestowal of your hand, had done the same? No doubt” —very bitterly—“you thought I had made a compact with your brother to cancel his debt if he could ensure my winning you. You shall tell me the truth, coni fess you did think so.”

Once more his will compelled hers, and wrung from her an affirmative. He had fought against the suspicion, had even hoped, up to the last, she might deny it. “No wonder you have treated me as you have, in openjy showing your preference for another man. and your scorn for me. Take back your freedom; doubtless you think a man in my position would esteem it honour enough to own lx>rd Vernham’s daughter as his wife; but 1 think differently. If 1 cannot have your love, I will have none of you.” Without a look at her face, which would hate told him something he had censed to expect, he turned from her, and ten minutes after, she saw the dogeart, which took him to the station, (lisappearing down the drive. Three weeks later, Lord Vernham handed her a paper, in silence, where she read that Captain Mark Ward had joined a party of explorers to the IN or th Pole. Ilf. M ire than a year had gone by. and all Kate heard of Mark came through the scanty information to lie gathered from the papers, or the stray bits of news brought from the clubs by her father and bifother. Even that, however, had eeased of late. The winter session had begun, bringing Lord Vernham to town with his daughter, who. for the first time, was content to leave her hunting to take up her : bode in their small town house, with the unacknowledged desire to be in the world where she might hear of Mark, if not meet him. They were the last to arrive to-night at the hones of a cabinet minister with whom they were dining; a little hush in the conversation greeted their entrance. and then for an instant everything swam heft re Kate’s eyes as they fell on the man talking to Hilda, now Lady Lovelace, at the further end of the room Almost unconsciously she accepted the arm offered her, and the next minute had tiled in with the rest, and passed to her seat at the dinner table, in doing so she became aware that Mark Ward was on her other side. Il required all her strength to keep s..me of the gladness she felt from proclaiming itself at seeing him once more safe am' w'ell after the perils he had gone through, but she was recalled to hertelf by hearing his perfectly even, unemotional tones when addressing some one opposite, and by the knowledge it brought home to her that she longer had a right to any place in his life. Hut he was net so indifferent as she thought. It almost angered him to feel that with her near presence the tide of his love had returned with double strength, rousing in him a determination to win her back, but on bis own terms this time. It was not tilt dinner was i early over that accident favoured hit resolve that sh* should address him firs’, when in restoring her fun which had slipped, he touched her hand, and their eyes met.

“Now everyone else has done so. may I be allowed to congratulate you?” Kate said a little breathlessly. “Have J nothing to congratulate you on alto?” he asked, with a quick glance at the finger where he had last seen his ring. “Nothing that I know of, unless, like you, on being alive, if that is a subject for felicitation,” with a joyless laugh that made him look at her keenly. What had altered her so? he asked himself, whilst allowing that her expression had beautified strangely under its influence, but he only said gravely: “It ought to be at your age. How old are you?” “Four and twenty next week,” Kate answered, reddening at the question. “Ah. yes. I remember,” he replied absently. “Going to Scotland? Certainly. if you ask me,” in auswer to Hilda’s question as she passed out with the rest, and to whose side he made his way directly he returned to the drawing-room.

Kate ami her father left soon to go on to a reception where Mark was also due, but for which at present he apeared unwilling to leave Lady Lovelace’s side. Hubert Mansfield sought Kate directly she got to her destination, and before she could prevent him led her from the tea-room to one less frequented. there to resume a subject

which, up to now, she had managed skilfully to evade. “Are you tired, Kate? What is the matter?” he asked, trying to take her hand, without success, however. “Why have you avoided me so persistently for the last year? When is this suspense to end?” “I thought it had ended long ago, when I told you I did not care for you, Hubert,” she said gently. “I will never believe you don’t care for me. and, as long as I can prevent it, you shall belong to no one else,” he said fiercely. “You gave up that fellow, Ward, for me—you have refused others since; you don’t know your own mind.” “You are mistaken.” she said very quhtly, though inwardly furious at his insinuations; “that is exactly what I do know—Captain Ward gave me up. not I him. Listen whilst 1 humble my pride in the dust to convince you .Mark Ward is the only man I ever loved or ever shall as long as I live.” She must stand or fall now’ by her own words, for they were scarcely out of her lips when Mark stood before her. “Lord Vernham has sent me to fetch you,” he said, averting his eyes quickly from her pale face; "he wishes to go home at once.” Something in his voice made her rise instantly and place her hand on the arm he held out to her. Hubert did

not attempt to follow, but remained where they left him, cursing the fate that had brought Mark Ward to this spot ai such a moment. Kate let him lead her to the cloakroom in silence, where he left her to seek her father for a moment, returning to find her ready. Then, still hardly conscious of what she was doing, she found herself in the carriage with Mark beside her. “But where is my father?” she said, finding her voice at last. “I have his permission to take you home. Are you afraid of me?” with a tenderness that made her catch her breath. “Did you think 1 could wait after hearing those words? Kate, let me hear them again, blot out with them the remembrance of all I have suffered since we parted, and, Kate, kiss me!” he whispered, as he took her in Ids arms and held her so close that she had no choice but- to obey and let h«-r lips meet his for the first time. “Love is a wonderful leveller,” said Lady Levett a few weeks later. “When I think of Kate Vernham In the past, and look at her now, I can scarcely believe she is the same girl. I have often feared that overpowering pride of hers would wreck her happiness some day, but she has fallen into the hands of the right man, and the long and the short of it is, she simply adores him.”