The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, 5 October 1916, Page 3

The Storyteller

REE’S DIVORCE (Continued.) It required no acting on Hall’s part to remain calm during his proposal to Ree. He looked on the girl merely as some beautiful ornament which was to yield him a good price. Her presence aroused no passionate feeling in him; her very innocence was her safeguard against him. He preferred a nature such as Cora Tranner’s that would pander to his feelings and would give herself entirely up to him. Ellen was not at all surprised when her young mistress told her of the proposed marriage, and although she had no' particular liking for Mr. Hall, she knew nothing against him, and agreed with Ree that it would be a way out of their difficulties. The woman had often wondered how so devoted a father as Colonel Vane could leave his young daughter so entirely dependant on others. The marriage took place very quietly, with Ellen and the verger as witnesses. Ree was' very calm and self-possessed during the performance of the ceremony and evinced no emotion whatever. Hall, on the other hand, appeared to be very nervous, and inwardly sighed with thankfulness when it was all over. Life went on the same at the flat except that Hall made his appearance at the morning and evening meal and occupied the late colonel’s bedroom. Viewed from Ellen’s standpoint, the marriage did not appear to be the success she thought it would have been. Her idea of Matrimony was very different to the life her young mistress and Mr. Hall were now leading. They were husband and wife why did they not act as such, she pondered. Hall had acquainted Cora Tranner with the news of his marriage, and had met her on one of her hurried visits with her mistress to Paris. She was delighted with his cleverness in trapping the bird, and congratulated him, saying: ‘ Really, Reggie, old boy, you have proved yourself a very clever fellow after all.’ Cora was longing for the time to come when Ree would get the money, so that she could force a yearly amount from Hall. This, she knew, would prove an easy matter, as she had only to threaten him with exposure for taking Colonel Vane’s money and private papers, and esjDecially with concealing the letter of directions to Ree. Hall and Ree had been married about three months when Cora and her mistress came unexpectedly to Paris. Lady Hexley’s daughter had been taken suddenly ill, and her ladyship had been summoned to the convent. They reached Paris too late in the evening for Cora to send to the Rank to inform Reggie of her arrival, so she made up her mind to go boldly to the flat. Ellen announced to Hall that a lady wished to have a few minutes’ conversation with him. ' She would not detain him. He directed her to show the visitor into his study—a small room that he used for his own special purposes. The caller did not stay long, and on returning to Ree, Hall stated that during the day one of the employees at the Bank had gMe home ill and had now sent his wife with keys of certain drawers that would be wanted on the morrow. Ree was not at all curious and would not have troubled to question her husband about his visitor if he had not thought well to tell her. Ree and Ellen usually retired to rest about 10 o’clock. They occupied rooms at the rear of the flat, although Ellen’s own room was situated on the other side, near the kitchen. The girl liked to have her servant sleeping near her, for company, as the place seemed so lonely after her father’s- death. She had made no change in the arrangements since her marriage. On the night of Cora’s visit to Hall, Ellen could not sleep, as she had toothache very badly, and about

12 o’clock she rose to go to her own room to get some tincture she had there. She went very quietly for fear of waking her mistress, and passed'•along the passage leading to the hall out of which Mr. Hall’s bedroom opened. Her slippered feet made no sound on the carpeted floor, and as there was always a light left burning the night through in the entrance hall of the flat, there was no fear of her stumbling against anything and so arousing her master. As she neared the door of Hall’s room she thought she heard muffled voices within, and instinctively stopped to listen. For the moment her only thought was burglars—she had no idea of eaves-dropping. Quite plainly , she heard a woman’s voicesurely the same as the visitor’s of the evening. ‘ They say stolen kisses are sweetest, Reggie. I guess ours ought to be extra “sugary’’ under present conditions—what do you say V ‘Be careful, Cora; don’t speak loudly. Walls have ears, you know.’ ‘ Well, if you thought it was too risky you should not have agreed to my coming here; you should have met me out somewhere.’ ‘ The others sleep too far at the back of the flat to hear anything going on here,’ answered Hall. ‘ Then why worry about them hearing us ? Anyway I shall be relieved when that wife of yours ’ —and the woman laughed sneeringly ‘ gets her cash. My word, Reggie, you’ll have to make me a good allowance so that I can throw up work and retire on my income.’ ‘ Don’t be too sure about it, Cora,’ replied Hall. *lf you worry me by insisting on coming here, I shall not promise anything.’ ‘ You’ll have to, my man, otherwise I'll soon give you away for stealing old Vane’s money and keeping the letter he left for his precious daughter,’ she retorted angrily. ‘ Hush, Cora ! Don’t get excited ; there is no need to start threatening meyour one cry is for money!’ ‘ And money 1 mean to have, so don’t forget it. I deserve it, don’t I V she asked, her voice growing somewhat louder as she proceeded —‘ for you would never have known anything about the Vanes and their daughter’s fortune if .1 had not been lucky enough to listen to Lady Dexley telling her husband all about it. Remember, Reggie, that 1 suggested your coming to Paris to make their acquaintance.’ Hall made her no answer, and after a few seconds of complete silence, the woman said : ‘ Now, 1 suppose, I must be going. I can’t get into the hotel after ten o’clock. It was a lucky job for me her ladyship decided to stay at the convent all night, otherwise I could not have got here. I have to go to her early in the morning.’ The occupants of the room began stirring, as though making preparations for their departure? Ellen’s brain moved quickly. Treachery had been at work; she could gather that much from the woman’s remarks to Hall, and now it was quite plain that Ree’s husband had allowed the woman to come to the flat for an immoral purpose, and under his young wife’s roof, too ! Ellen— soul that she was—felt keenly the insult aimed at her mistress. How should she act for the best? she questioned herself. She must let them see her. If she went away unseen by the guilty pair, who would believe her word against theirs For of course they would surely deny her statement. She must wait and pretend to be just passing by the door as they came out, and they would not then think she had heard their talk. The door was opened, and Hall and the woman emerged very cautiously. As they did so, Ellen came forward and stood aside to allow them to pass her. She at once recognised the woman as the caller of the evening. Hall looked sharply at Ellen and demanded, in no pleasant tone, what she was doing there. The old servant politely and respectfully told him her errand, then continued on her way to her room. Cora was, for once in her life, at a loss for something to say, but she was so consumed with rage that she could have struck Ellen for discovering her in the flat. She could not blame Reggie, as she herself had insisted

on being with him that night. Hall and Cora passed silently through the entrance door into the night. Ellen decided to waken her mistress and bring her to the empty room, and so let her see for herself that her husband was absent, otherwise she would scarcely believe the story. \ ‘ Wake up. Miss Ree—Ma’am, I mean,’ said the old servant in her agitation. ‘ What is it, Ellen ? What is wrong ? Are you ill?’ The woman, in k few brief words, told Ree what she had heard and seen. She begged her to rise and see for herself that Mr. Hall was not in his room. Ree, feeling dazed and bewildered at being so suddenly awakened, hurriedly did as requested and went with Ellen. In looking into Hall’s room, the old servant’s quick eyes noticed a handkerchief lying on the floor. She picked it up, and on examining it saw it bore a name in one corner. She hid it carefully, knowing it would prove a valuable piece of evidence against the couple. 1 Now, Ma’am,’ said Ellen, ‘ pray go to bed again quickly. Mr. Hall might return any minute, and it would not do to let him know that I have told you anything. Don’t let him think that I have spoken to you about it. We can talk in the morning.’ Hastily she returned to her own room. She was visibly exhibiting more concern over the affair than her mistress, who had scarcely spoken since she had been awakened. There was no more sleep for Ree that night. Too late she saw what a grave mistake she had made in marrying this man. Of course, he could not be expected to be faithful to her, under the conditions in which they were living. She had no love for him, therefore his misconduct failed to arouse any jealous feelings in her—but her dignity was outraged. She felt it a degradation to herself for him to carry on an intrigue in their very home. The insult roused her indignation and disgust. She determined to leave the flat on the coming day; but, she must act with caution, otherwise he might prevent her getting away! She had trusted him, and ho had lied and lied again to her—even had stolen her dead father’s letter, and had concealed all knowledge of his affairs from her. She could understand now his eagerness to form a friendship with her father, and it was quite clear to her why he had married her and did not insist on his rights as a husband. He had made her his wife to secure her grandfather’s money. It was all a welllaid plot of his and this woman’s. She had been blindhopelessly blind, —and had acted like a weak, silly child, and had let the man arrange everything to suit herself and so gain his own ends. Thus she reasoned with herself. She felt she could be excused somewhat for her trust in Hall. ‘ Had not her father been on such friendly and confidential terms with him, and how was she to know that he was lying to her and plotting against her?’ The following morning found Ellen at her usual duties, and her master made no remark to her concerning the events of the night. Ree conducted herself as if she knew nothing about the affair. Hall watched them both closely, but could gather nothing from their behaviour to indicate if they were in each other’s confidence. He would have given much to know, but had no means of ascertaining. He could have questioned Ellen, but he considered his best attitude towards her would be one of indifference. He had left Cora the night before, cursing herself for going to the flat and blaming him for allowing her. He assured her Ellen woxxlcl not tell his wife, but she knew too well the woman would, and wondered how much the servant had —probably the whole conversation. Just when everything was going on so well, she, who thought herself superior in brain-power to Reggie, had blundered the whole thing ! Hall had promised to meet her that day, and she would their hear if anything unusual had occurred at the flat in consequence of her visit there the night before. Hall left home to go to the Rank by no means

easy in his mind about Ree, although, she had been very careful not to give herself away. After his departure Ree sought Ellen and told her of her determination to leave the flat. ‘ I shall not stay here another night. Pack my personal belongings and your own things, Ellen, and we will go to the convent. I shall be safe there from this man and woman, and we can arrange other matters afterwards. ‘ Oh, Ellen,’ she said, sorrowfully, ‘ I have often blamed my dear father for leaving me so much in ignorance of my affairs, when all the time this man had taken possession of everything Hurriedly they worked to get the packing finished. Ree was anxious and impatient to get away. She thought her husband might anticipate trouble and would return earlier than usual to see if all was right at home. Roth Ree and Ellen heaved a sigh of relief when they found themselves being rapidly driven in a taxi to the convent. On their arrival there Mother Victoire listened to their tale with horror. She was shocked and deeply grieved to learn that so good a girl as Ree had been made the victim of a bad man’s deception. ‘My poor child,’ she said, sadly, ‘this is a matter on which I cannot advise you ; it will be best to secure the services of a solicitor. You have evidently been plotted against by this man, and something must be done to prevent him from doing you any further harm. We have all been very anxious about an English pupil of ours she was taken ill two days ago. Her mother, Lady Dexley, has been here with her all night, and has just gone with her maid into the garden. I will take you to her, and you can tell her about your sad position. She is a woman of the world and will advise you how to act.’ They went out from the —through a long stone corridor, to a small door leading into the ‘ broad walk,’ where, in the shelter of the trees, Lady Dexley could be seen walking with her maid. On hearing voices the couple turned and faced the group coming towards them. Ellen started forward, and, clutching the maid by the arm, cried excitedly : ‘ Why, here is the very woman!’ Lady Dexley looked from Ellen to Cora and said rather haughtily, ‘ What is the meaning of all this, and pray, my good woman, what do you want with my maid?’ ‘ I beg your ladyship’s pardon for my unseemly behaviour,’ said poor Ellen, apologetically: ‘but my mistress and I are very upset. That woman’—she pointed at Cora —‘ was with my master in our flat last night. I saw her go away with him, and that is why we have come hero to-day ! ’ Lady Dexley looked incredulously at Ellen, then, turning to her maid, she said: ‘ The woman is laboring under a delusion, is she not, Traimer?’ Although Cora had been taken greatly by surprise at meeting Ellen so unexpectedly face to face, she did not lose her presence of mind, and instantly determined to give the lie to the accusation and boldly deny Ellen’s statement. She cast a disdainful look in the old servant’s direction as she answered her mistress :• ‘ I think she must be mad, your ladyship or perhaps has mistaken me for some one else.’ ‘ My lady, I am not mad, neither have I made any mistake,’ Ellen answered emphatically. ‘ That person called to see Mr. Hall during the evening. I let her in and showed her into his study, and I saw her again about 12 o’clock, come from his room and leave the house with him; and, if you please, your ladyship, I picked this handkerchief up in his room after they had gonemy mistress was with me when I did so.’ Lady Dexley looked at the handkerchief, which bore the name in full, ‘ Cora Tranner.’ ‘ I must inquire into all this. Tranner,’ she said, looking coldly at her maid. ‘ Kindly stand aside and

wait for me to accompany you to the hotel.’ Them turning to Ree, she said: ‘ I should like to have a few words with you, dear child. Come and sit down by me on this seat; we shall be able to talk better am feeling rather tired.’ ‘ Oh, Lady Dexley, I fear we are troubling you too much, especially as you are in such anxiety about your daughter. Mother Victoire was bringing me to you, to seek your advice, when my servant recognised your maid again. She saw her at our flat last night and she overheard a conversation between her and Mr. Hall.’ 1 Child, I cannot quite grasp yet what this all means, but first tell me who you are. Your face reminds me so much of a dear friend I once had.’ ‘ 1 am married now,’ —she blushed painfully—‘and my name is Hall, but my maiden name was Vane,’ replied Ree. ‘ And what was your mother’s maiden name?’ ‘ May Mervyn.’ ' At the mention of the well-remembered name, tears sprang into Lady Dexley’s eyes, and she could scarcely conceal her emotion as she drew the girl to her. She kissed the lovely face, saying: ‘Your dear mother and I were the greatest and best of friends.’ Then, looking at the Mother Superior, who had been standing a silent witness of the scene, she said: ‘Out of evil has come good. Tranner’s sinfulness has been the means of restoring this poor child to her friends and fortune !’ ‘ Do you not know, Ree, that on your eighteenth birthday you will be very rich?’ ‘ No, Lady Dexley, I only knew I was to get a small legacy, but I did not know even where to apply for it. I had no idea a fortune awaited me.’ * ‘Now, child, tell me ..a little about your life so that I can understand things better.’ This Ree did, in as few words as possible, and Ellen finished the narrative by briefly relating the events of the previous night, and told how she had overheard ’“the woman’s conversation regarding the stolen letter. She had distinctly heard Tranner say that Hall would not have known anything about the Vanes and their daughter’s fortune, if she had not told him. After hearing what Ree and her servant had to say, Lady Dexley came to the conclusion that Hall had married Ree solely to obtain her money. He had evidently learnt of her prospective wealth from Tranner, who had gained her knowledge of it whilst in her ladyship’s service. Lady Dexley’s face grew very grave as she looked at Ree, and her heart welled with pity for the young girl who had been so sadly wronged. Hall had managed very cleverly in securing Ree for his wife, but happily his plan for getting possession of her money could be frustrated and the girl could be freed from the marriage—a marriage that she had in her innocence contracted, without one thought of the future. It was largely owing to Lady Dexley’s pleadings that old Mr. Mervyn had provided for Ree’s education and also had made her his heiress, but he would never forgive his daughter for marrying against his wishes. ‘ Now, Ree,’ said Lady Dexley, ‘ I must take you and your servant back to England with me. If Delphine continues to improve I shall return home in a few days, and we can then go to your grandfather’s solicitors and place the whole case in their hands. In the meantime, it will be best for you to stay here in Mother Victoire’s charge until I am able to leave Paris, as one does not know what that man might try to do. I must go back to the hotel with Tranner now. Of course I shall dismiss her at once, and I must try to secure the services of a good French maid to take her place. Lady Dexley carried out her plans as she had arranged. After paying her maid her salary, she dismissed her, saying sternly : ‘ Tranner, through your wicked scheming you have blighted the life of a young and innocent orphan, and such wickedness as yours most surely deserves punishment.’ Cora, though inwardly raging at her own folly.

kept silent and left Lady Dexley without even a word of apology. She knew it would prove a hopeless task to try to deny Ellen’s statement, —there was too much evidence against her—but she determined to have her revenge, if only to satisfy herself somewhat for her bitter disappointment at the failure of her plans. It would be useless trying for another situation as lady’s maid without a reference. Well, there was Reggie to fall back on ; she could easily make him keep her, as he could well afford a decent little flat for her. If he threw her over, then she must battle for herself she was good-looking enough to attract men. She kept her appointment with Reggie in the afternoon, and gave -him a full account of the meeting in the convent grounds. lie did not prove so easy to manage as she thought he would. Hall knew that whatever Cora did or said now would not alter matters for him, and he cursed himself for being as so much putty in her hands. Had she only kept quiet and away from the flat nothing could have prevented him sharing his wife’s wealth, and he could easily have kept her silent by paying her well. After finding the running so easy, to bo beaten at the last hurdle was gall to him, and he vowed to throw off Cora; she had not so much hold on his passions that he could not do without her. The thought of having missed, through her, the chance of possessing immense wealth enraged him so against her that when she coolly proposed Ids securing her a flat, he spurned her. He would not listen to her pleadings, and he laughed at her threats. Cora, finding she could not prevail on Reggie to do as she wanted, left him, and went on her way to a life of utter recklessness and dissipation. Hall deemed it best to lie low and await events. He expected divorce proceedings, as soon as the lawyers got the case in their hands, but he did not think they would prosecute him for his theft of the money and letter. He knew no more publicity than could be avoided would be given to the case, for Ree’s sake, who, when she came into her inheritance, would be a wealthy member of society. ” , Dismissal from the Rank was sure to follow after his name had been made public. But he did not worry about that, as he had enough to live on, and something else would come along and he could strike out again, a free man, untrammelled by wife or mistress.: (To be continued.)