HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1926-2-10, Page 7THE BRUSSELS POST
Love, The yrant
WS18 because of this need
that she relied so much upon Jack
Cordon—and Selby Layton would fill
the position very well, And he loved
her; she would mak.. one man NIPPY
at any rate.
Heowatehed the troubled face, nev-
er more beautiful than at this mom-
ent, :Li she sat leaning lier chin On
her hand, the glorious grey eyes, in-
finitely sad, fixed dreamily before her
as if she had forgotten hni, Of what
W818 she thinking.? he asked himself
anxiously. Was she going to say
"Yes" or "No?"
"Will you not speak to me?" he
murmured, imploringly. "Will you
not let me hope? I ask for nothing
more. I do not expect you to bind
yourself in any vthy. I will leave you
free, quite free. I only plead that
you should grant me the privilege of
trying to win your love. It is a great
deal to ask, I know, but—ah, be mer-
ciful. Esther! Remember that, though
I am poor andin every way unwor-
thy, I love you as devotedly as ever
man loved woman and that I am con-
tent to wait until you can return
something of that love."
She shook her head gently. She
was very pale, and her lips and
broum were drawn as with pain.
"I—I cannot. I am sorry. I
shall never love--"
She faltered and turned her head
away for a moment.
He took advantage of the pause,
Forgive me! but that cannot be
true! You—you who are so tender-
hearted, so full of sweet womanliness
not love! It is because I know that
you are capable of a love far trans-
cending that of the conunonplace
man that I am in such deadly
nest, so eager."
Let us go," she said, rising. "I
not think—.I did not know; guess
am bewildered."
'Only a hope—I ask no more," he
id. "You will not refuse me that?
Oh. have some pity on mel" •
She looked down at him, still half
dreaMily, confusedly; but she did.not
withdraw her hand. She was, indeed,
scarcely conscious that he held it;
but as with a low cry of gratitude 1
and joy, he was about to press hie 1
lips to it, she drew it away from
him. 1
"No, 1 did not say—I gave no
promise!" She drew herself away I
and looked at him steadily. "I am
to be quite free—you will not try '
and persuade—urge me?"
"No," he said,: springing to his
feet and gazing at her with a mag-
nificient assumption of unselfish de-
votion. "No! You shall be quite
free. I will,not speak to you agaip
until I see some sign of yielding, of
permission, Forgive me if I seem to
eager—too happy. The faint hope
you have given me— But I will not
speak of it again."
Esther went down the broken steps
and he followed her in silence. If
she had chanced to look back, she
would have been startled by the ex-
ultation, the triumph which shone in
his eyes and curved his lips.
He knew that the woman who hesi-
tates is lost, that the man who per-
suades a girl to give him hope, wins
in the long run, nine times out of
ten. The glimpses of the Towers
through the trees intoxicatedhim:
he should be master there before
long.
They found Toby,placidly nibbling
the long grass by the roadside, and
Selby Layton would have helped f
the)into the jingle, but she Sprang in
before he could offer her his, heed,
and they drove off. He was too cun-
ning to permit an embarassiag sil-
ence; and he talked about the wild
flowers, the birds, everything that
presented itself; but though he was
careful to confine himself to the com-
monplace, he threw a note of tender-
ness, of reverence into his voice
which Esther could not resent—
thnugh it jarred upon her. '
"I'll walk up this hill," he said, as
they came to a hill; and he got out
and picked some of the gettian and
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meadow -sweet, Esther ,. '01A' on
slowly; and he was 80 absorbed in
1=1,11e811lg the flower., which he met
to lay upon the seat beside her with-
out a \VOA", that he did not notice a
man v:be was l•mning on a gat.' 0
little ahead of him. The mu was
watching him with it sinister smile,
and presently when Layton was neer-
l3' up to him, laughed qui.aly and ear-
donicallv,
Layton started and looked up;
then as his eyes fell on the man, the
color left Ms :fee° and 11‘. stood as if
turned to stone.
"Denzil!" he gasped.
Denzil nodded, 'AS elliov,a hitched
on thetop rag of the gate, the
clonic smile making of his face one
clerk sneer,
"How are you, Selby?" he said.
"Rather startled you, didn't I? Did-
n't like to speak before for fear of
spoiling the pieture; you looked so
Sweet and Innocent gathering tht
pretty flowers!"
Layton glanced at the jingle, and
then at the sneering face with an ex-
pression on his own in whim loathing
and fear were nicely combined.
"What the • devil are you doing
here?" he asked, between his set
teeth.
Denzil laughed,
"Admiring the beauties of Nathre,
animate and inanimate, my dear Sel-
by."
"Speak lower, you—you— beast!
She'll—she'll hear you!" said Layton
glancing at the jingle which had come
to, a standstill ab the top of the hill.
"Oh, no, she won't. And if she
did, what matters? Why shouldn't
Miss Vancourt witness the meeting
between two friends?"
Layton drew nearer to him, ▪ and,
fighting for self-possessien, forced a
smil e.
",you've an unpleasant way of—of
staltling your friends, my dear Dem:
zil. Pin afraid I can't stop Miss
Vancourt is waiting. What is ft
you want? You have followed me
down here with an object, I sup-
pose?"
"Thacked, is the word," said Den-
zil. "With an ollject. Shall I join
you? You can introduce me to your
lady -friend. She's pretty, more than
Pretty!"
Selby Layton shut his teeth.
meet you latex'," he said. "I
can't stay and talk to you now, and
you know it. Meet me by the boat-
house on the lake—you can find it
easily—at ten o'clock to -night."
"Humph 1" said Denzil, doubtfully.
"Why shouldn't I join you now?
Why should I 'sneak out to meet .you
at night?" ' • ,
Layton smiled; his 'Bp twisted in
its ugliest fashion.
"Because you would ruin both of'
us," he said. "You see I'm frank
with fou. At ten—by the boathouse.
Take this cigarette—and a light. At
ten."
"It's worth something to see you
in a blue funk," said Denzil, laugh-
ing; but he took the cigarette and lit
it. "Well, humour you. I'll be
there; but by the Lord if you play
any tricks—" -
'Layton shook his head, and said
aloud: f
"Good -day to you!" and walked
on, quickly.
"I beg your pardon for keeping
you," he said to Esther. "A mah--
did you happen to see him?"
Esther nodded.
"Yes; what an unpleasant -looking,
map! What did he want?" .
"Only some tobacco," he replied.
"He was asking his way to Hentshaw,
and I was trying to tell him; that is
what kept me. Please forgive me! •
"Was he a tramp? He scarcely
looked' like one."
"Oh, no; I think not; a tourist
et something' of the kind, I should
say." said Selby Layton, carelessly,
as he laid the flowers on the seat be-
side her and glanced at her with ten-
der devotion.
CHAPTER XXI.
Jack did not attach much. import-
ance to Mrs. Martin's mysterious
Straeger, for he knew how slight a
thing upset her nerves; but lie took
a look round, before turnieg in, as
he had promised to do. Theee Was,
however, no one about, and he went
hoine to the cottage and wearily corn
plated his paolcing.
It was simple enough, and only one
thing bothered him; the pocket -book
containing the notes and the marri-
age certificate which he had picked
during his pursuit of the ranger.
The possession of this ptoperty
had often caused' him a trottbled
guarter of ami hour, and ne had not
bad ari easy conseience ovee it. The
pocket -book end it eontents belong-
ed to some one; and he ought to
have pieced it in the hands of the
Wise, or advertised it; hut he Was
ecievinced that the eenger Mid dr0P-
Peel it, And 10 was telectent to let
BUYING OLD VIOLINS
433047711
Newry Ford lms thus far paid
$800,000 for old violins. He has the
advantage of possessing a number of
employees ,who me experts in the
matter of tuninf up, •
such a clue go out of his hands, for
he felt that some day or other he
should meet the scoundrel again and
square accounts with' him.
To -night he stood with t he pocket
-book in his hand, pondering over it.
To carry So large a sum with nun
would be madness, for he might be
stricken with illness during Ms
•
tramping in search of work; on the
other hand, he did not like to entrust
it to anyone to keep. Suddenly an
idea occurred to him, a very natural
idea to a man who had been in
habit of hiding his valuables from
the eyes of the roughs and thieves
of an Australian camp.
He got an empty tin, placed the
pocket -book in it, and, carefully lift-
ing the hearth -stone, deposited the
tin underneath, replacing the stone
as carefully over the treasure, so that
no one would be likely to notice that
it had been moved.
Then he went to bed. But.not to
sleep. Eyery time he closed his eyes
he saw the lovely face of the girl he
loved, heard her voice; a strong
man's passion„held him in thrall, and
tortured him Veith its infinite longing
and infinite despair. There is no
tyrant so merciless as Love, and Jack
was under its ironheel. Every now
and then the fact that he was not
only leaving Esther bnt Vancourt--
his own Vancontt•—flashed upon. him;
but it was the parting from Esther,
the thought that he might never see:
her again, that outweighed every
other consideration.
He rose in the morning with the
lassitude and weariness resulting
from such a night, and went round
the farm in a melcancholy mood. It
was wonderful how fond he had be-
come of the farm; and not only of
the place but of the people. He had
intended telling the Martins at break-
fast -time that he was going that
night; but he could not bring himself
to do so hi .fact of Nettie's loving
greeting.. The parting with the child
would cut him to the heart.
"How pale 'oo look, Jack!" she
said, as he dropped into the chair be-
side her, and she put up her face for
his „morning kiss. "Mother say 'oo
works too hard. :Does 'oo? But
never mind; p'r'aps 'oo'll break 'Dos
leg, like father, and have a:long rest.
Wasn't it splendid in the hay yester-
day! I wish it was to tome today,
and that Miss Vancourt was doing to
play wiv us. She is a tind and pretty
lady, isn't she, Jack?" .
"She is," said Jack, succinctly.
"And I think she likes 'oe very
touch, Jack; for I saiv her looking at
'oo yesterday as if she did; an' she
said to Inc how strongeyoti was—"
"Nettie, go on with your break-
fast, and let Mr. Gordon eat his,"
said her mother.
"It isn't rnd," said Nettie, shrewde
"Zack isn't eating anything, is
!oo Jack. Doesn't 'oo watt any *bek-
fast?"
a little off colour this mon-
th, Pin afraid, Nettie," said Jack.
"Too much ale last eight, I expect,
Mrs. Marin. How it Martin this
morning?"
As he asked the. question Martin
limped down the stairs.
"Now, it's all right, mother!" ho
said, as Mrs, Martin began to reitioe-
-
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WEDNESDAY, Feb. 101.10, 1920.
strata. "I'm tired of being mewed
up there like an old hen in a coop;
and I'm quite sound enough to bop
about afren, ain't I, 141r, Gordon?
I'm ageing round the farm a bit to-
day, let the old doctor say what he
may. It won't clo me no harm; any-
way, I'm a-goiug to rish it."
This was a good opportunity for
Jiwk to inform them of 'his intended
ani sudden departure; but he could
not bring himself to do it before the
child, who had slid On his knee and
rested against him. Later in the day
would do, Ife told himself, with a
man's desire to avoid a "acene."
"I suppose you didn't see anything
of that strange man last night, Mr.
Gordon?" Mrs, Martin asked, as he
rose to go.
"Rio? Oh no!" He had quite for-
gotten him. "There was no one a-
bout, and I expect he's many miles
away by this time, Mrs Martin. 11
you've made up your mind to hobble
round, Martin, you had better come
with me so that I can give you a
hand."
Though Vancourt was so small a
place, it was strange that Jack had
not met with Denzil, fot the gentle-
man had not put up at he village inn,
but at a smaller and -less frequented
one about two miles out. He vvas
not fond of placing himself in evid-
ence at any Eine, and he had good
reason for not throwiny himself too
much near the Towers. He did noa
want to drive Selby Layton into too
tight a, corner, and his request to tie
introduced to Esther was merely a
Piece of bluff.
After Layton had left him, Denzil
lounged slowly back to the Black
Crow, as the tumble-down little ,inn
was called, and having eaten a mid-
day meal of the usual country fan—
eggs and bacon—took his glass of
ale and a pipe into the porch, and
smoked and drank with the comfort-
able anticipation of a •prosperons
future. That Selby Layton would
meet him and come to his terms he
was convinced; how could Layton do
otherwise? As he thought of his vic-
tim and his helplessness, a cruel smile
crossed his sinister face, and once or
twice he laughed, the harsh laugh
of malignant triumph.
He sat and smoked and drank and
slept until nearly evening, then he
rose and stretched himself and saun-
tered down the road towards the vil-
lage. There were very few persons
about, and he was tempted to pro-
long his stroll—the time hung heavily'
on his hands—and ho had almoat
reached the row of dilapidated, cot-
tages, when Transom came out from
his and walked towards him.
Denzil was on the point of turn-
ing back, but changed his mind and
sauntered on with his half -impudent
swagger, and hie hands in his pockets
The two men advanced towards each
other, Transom with his head hang-
ing down as usual; then, suddenlii
he )ooked up, saw Denzil, and as sud-
denly stopped dead skirt and uttered
O low cry of surprise and fear.'
Denzil also started, and regarded
Tronsorn in silence for a moment,
then, with an oath, he said in a low
voice:
"What, Mick!"
Transom was as white as If he
were gazing at a ghost, and though
his lips inovod, no word was audible..
Denzil eyed him with a sardonic
amusement which yet had something
of uneasiness in it.
"Who the clovi•I would have expect-
ed to see you here!" he exclaimed.
"I—I live here," said Transom,
glancing round him nervously. "What
are you doing here? Hush! There's
someone coming!! You mustn'tbe
seen, My Godi it means death!"
Denzil eyed him intently.
"What do you mean? Why shoiild
not I be here? I'm itife enough; no
one knows inc but you."
"You're wrong," muttered Tran-
som, hoarsely, wiping the sweat from
his face, "I tell you you're in dan-
ger—you couldn't have come to a
worse place! Here; come inaide I
No, waitl"
Ile :went back to the eattage and
opening the door, looked in.
Hate was doing some washing, Ana
he held the door to that she could
not sec his ±acc as shelooked round,
"Rate," he said, clearing his thienit
and trying to speak carelessly, "just
go to Martin's and borrow a hedging
hook for me, will you?"
"Wee't it do When I've finish -3,
lather?" she asked.
it motet." snapped. "Gc
at *nee, will you?"
Itiats Wiped her hands, caught up
!ler sun-en:me, end went out the
hack waY; and Transom, waitit,g
until she hivi disappeared, signed to
Denzil to enter. 1-1e elwed and eVell
bolted the door, and then sunk into
a chair and gazed at the tall figure
and dark face with a gloomy sten.,
in which fear and amazement still
etruegled lor mastery. •
"So this is your place, is it, Mick
said Denzil, seating himself on Inc
table, and swinging; his leg. 'You've
come back and settled down, have
you? Well 1:ou're right, and you
ser -in to be pretty snug. Married —
children?"
daughter, geld Transom, 1812-
ehenica1ly. "She was here just now
—she might have seen you."
Denzil shrugged his should••rs.
"And if she did? There's nothing
in her father meeting an old pal, is
there? She doesn't know where
they met before, or haw they parteel.
You fool, you haven't told her—any-
one? he broke out, threateningly.
Transom shook his head.
"No, no! I haven't told anyone!"
be said, hoarsely. "Is it likely I
should? It isn't that."
"What is it then, that put you in
such a funk?' asked Denzil, contemp-
tuously. "Who's to know me here,
exeepting yourself? Who's to know
that honest olcl—whatever your name
is, whatever you call yourself here—
was one of the Wally -Wally gang,
and that there's a price on our heads,
eh?"
Transom rose in a paroxysm of
terror, then sank down again. -
"What brought you here?" he
said. huskily. 'Whatever it was, for
God's sake leave the place at once.
You're not safe here. You're xnown
to someone else besides me."
Denzil laughed scornfully.
• "Oh, yes! How did you know it?
You mean--"
"The man Gordon," said Transom.
"The inan whose chum you shot—"
Denzil sprang to his feet with an
oath, his face white, his eyes flash-
ing with hate and apprehension.
0
WANTS PROVINCIAL: RIGHTS
Premier John Oliver, of British
Columbia, who declares that the pro-
vince of which he is prime minister
has not received its rights under the
Confederation Act. He announced
that a petition wili be sent to Ottawa
asking for a return to the province
of the Peace River block.
"Hhnl It's a
"It's the truth," said Transom,
sulleuly. "Gordon's here in the place
—.has been here some tirne."
Now, it chanced that at this very
moment Kate came back. She had
remembered that she had left a sauce
pan on the fire, and that it would
boil over while she was away, and
she had run back to take it off. Her
hand was on the latch of the back
door when she heard volces and Jack
Gordon's name. Her hand fell from
the latch, and she stood breathless
and trembling.
Who was with her father, and why
had she been sent out of the way?
And why were they talking' of Mr.
sees you it will be all up with you—"
, "Or with himl" broke In Denzil,
savagely. "How does he' come to be
here in this place, too? Seems as if
I'd dropped into a complet0 nest of
old friends," he added to Ihnself,
001 th 00 snon•
Transom's eyt!:.,; dropped from the
dark, evil ones.
(To Be Continued).
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Gordon? As white as her father , 1.°71Vaeyreerol=rtisitt. "3" PersglionV°171"
within the room, she leant- against
the frame of the door
"Gordon!" muttered Denzil, as be T. T. M' RAE
and listened.
sank on the table again. "Curse M. B.. M. C. P... • s. 00.
crossed my path! By God! if I ea ogn , °tActreumeesieleite
"More likely yours!" said Tran- phldy..106..E.,,stiVrill
DR. WARDLAW
rneet him it shall be the last!" face at reside:Lie. ogpeette Melville Church,
WilllaPm street.
himl this is the \second time he has 0
conviction. "Reinember he knows
som, moodily, and with an air of nrM I
Fe.gurD1.1"Ithetid:nightesairaralYeteprgrte
you; he saw you without your mask,
There was murder in his eyes as he Tr. . Sixaseni
shuddered. "I tell you, that if he LECKIE BLOCK - BRUSSELS
He BARRoloSTNvEREy,ASNO0LEIORI,TNOORT,ARY PUB
looked at you that night." LIC
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