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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1926-6-2, Page 7Love, The Tyrant Esther's faee flamed. "You talk like—as ill I were an idiot," she said, indignantly. "Wee. 0110U1d 1 live on your theray, Sr -John - Vancourt? Why ehould you want me to do so?" Jack took two turns up and down the room„then he came beside Inc. "Do you want to know?" be aek ed. 'Mien, by George! I'll risk it and tell you! I am not going to tell you that I didn't feel the sacrifice I'd made, especially when I first came back from England and caught sieht of the Towers; but when Pd met you, when I'd seen more of you, I didn't , feel it a little bit. I was perfectly happy working there, at the farm, and I should have stayed there, un- til you sacked me, if I hadn't he- leeteel to you like a bounder that night—you remember?" His face grew red and hers flamed, and her eyes became suddenly leaavy: "I suppose you've often wondered why I — I played the madman anti • kissed you that night? Well, I'll tell you. It was for the same reason that WaS so happy, so contented to go en living just as your servant; it was because—I loved you, Esther." She did not start, she stood per- fectly still, and she raised her eyes slowly and tlooked at him. "There, it's out now!" he said, "I loved you, I think I *lust have loved you the first time I saw you—well; perhaps not the .first time, but prec- ious soon afterwards. I'd never been in love before, and I didn't quite uderetand it at first; but though I fought against it—for of course I couldn't speak to you; that would have been playing it too low down, and getting the .estate back in a kind a underhand way—my heart ached to do so. I often wondered you didn't see it. It seemed to me every time I looked at you, you must have seen 'I love you' staring out of my eyes. Do you remember the day you went with me to notch the trees? I think that's the first day, the first time I knew for dead certain that you were the only woman I should ever want. You dropped your hand- kerchief. I've had it ever since; I had it in the wood that night I lied to you; it was not Nettie's but yours. I wouldn't swop it for all Vancourt." He took it out of his pocket now, and showed it to her. b Esther held out her hand: it trembled. But Jack shook his head, and calmly returned the pocket - handkerchief to its old hiding -place. "I couldn't speak then; but I can now. Esther, I love you! Forgive me for the trick I played on you, if trick you can call it. Be my wife. Of course, I don't expect you to care for me—not yet, that -is; but, if you'll let me, I'll try and win your love. I love you very dearly; I'd never have said a word if you hadn't found out the truth and given the show away; but I can speak now, and—and— Won't you come to me, Esther?" He held out his arms, and Esthee would have given several worlds to have been able to creep into them; but she stood and looked at bine with a look of trouble and almost indigna- tion in her lovely eyes. His arms dropped to his side, and he sighed. "I was afraid- that would be your answer. I suppose you can't cara for me, and never could." He paus- ed a moment and looked at her. "You're not, saying `No' because y.ou've got some foolish notion that I'm doing this so you can keep -the estate?" • "No," she said, in a low voice. "The man who could be capable of such sacrifice es you have made would not be so—meare as to again attempt to deceive a helpless girl. No, Sir John Vancocrt, that is not the reason; there is anoteer—oth- ors." "What are they?" he dem•anded. "1 ant engaged to Mr. Selby Lay- ton." Jack's face went white. Letterheads Envelopes Billheads And all kinds of Business Stationery printed at The Post Publishing House. We will do a job that will do credit to your business. Look over your stock of Office Stationery and it it requires replenishing call tta by telephone 81. The Poet Puhliphing �ouie , "011-4111—yee1" he gasped, try- ing to look as If he were not badly nt. "I—.I beg your pardon. I didn't know. Ile's—Int's a decent shale Engaged to---" He gnawed at his moustache. "What was the other . reasen ?—not that it matters; this • one is good enough!" Eether looked at him steadily, her brows drawn streight across, - 1101' breath coming painfully. 'Mat, if you are not already nen- vied to Kate Transom it is right 'hat you should be," she saki, almost inaudibly. Jack started, and his face grew erimson. "Married to Kate---! What the—! beg your pardon. What on earth ere you talking about? Only right T ebould be married to Kate Tran - e0111 r Esther turned away from him slightly, looking at him under half - lowered lids—the look that hurts when it falls upon a man from the eyes of the woman he loves. It stung Jack and made him begin to get wild. -"The truth is known to me, Sir .Tohn," she said. "I know—it le; well known—that she left Vancourt the same night you did; it is known - 1 know—that she is with you here in London. 'I beg, I Implore you to be good and true to her. She watt it good, happy girl until. you came. I am sure you could make her hap- py; T trust that you will marry her." By this time the Vancourt temper was raging delightfully in Jack's breast. To hear that she was en- gaged to Selby Layton was bad enough, but to be told by her own lips, to marry Kate, was almost more than he could stand. The anger which was raging within him flamed from his eyes. "Do you believe this?" he asked. "How can I do otherwise? Do you deny it, Sir John?" "No! he thundered. "So you .ad- vise me to marry Kate Transom. Thank you very much for your ad- vice., I'll think it over. Good -night, Miss Vancourt." He snatched up his cap and burst out of the room, and Esther— Well, no woman need to be told what 0110 did; and it is wonderful how she managed to remove the traces of her tears before she went down to d inner. - CHAPTER XXXVIII. • Jade didn't wait for the lift, but went down the broad stairs and out into the street like a whirlwind. Practically, he had never fully re- alized until that moment how 1110011 he loved Esther. It seemed to him as if the world had come to an and, as if nothing mattered, as if indeed it were scarcely worth while living any longer. He was about to call a cab; • but he felt as if he could not sit in it, however fast it were driven, and he .strode away down. the Em- bankment, his head burning hot, hitt heart throbbing with a kind of mad resentment against Fate, and a dull despair. Every now and then, at in- tervals, he Went over. the scene, and eyery time he recalled Ether's speech about Kate Transom and the look that accompanied it, he drew a long breath and ground his teeth and took off his hat to cool his head. That anyone 'should suspect him of betraying an innocent girl, and luring her from her home, was bad enough; but that Esther should du so, Esther, for whose opinion he car- ed more than for- that of all the rest of the world, was almost unendur- able. He was ,just in that eondition, goaded by despair, when men do rash things; and he felt almost driven to go straight to Kate Transom end finish the proposal which he had com- menced when Esther's note had in- terrepted him. After all, why shouldn't he? Esther wee lost to him forever; she would insist upon handing the estate over to him, and he would have to go and live.at the Towers, where every object, animate and inanimate, would remind him of her. • It was a.long walk from the Met- ropole to Chase Street,• but Jack did not notice its length, would have been rather glad perhaps if it had been twiee as long; he had walked quickly, anl he was quite surprised, so engrossed had he been by his mis- erable reflections, when he turned into the street. • He was striding along, his hands in his pockets, his head sunk deject- edly, when he heard someone rune ring behind him. He paid no at, tention, though be noticed that the step was 0 light one like a Woman's; but .steddenly he heard another noise eeening front vaned the comer, and a ;cry of "Stop thief!" The zamo Moment a Voiee sald eleeo bobind hien: "Sated nee for Gods take, eaVe Ine!" THE BRUSSELS POST A woman, drtetet•il tes a wide darted past him anti up the alley whieli he had seen her disappear t ether night.. Something in the wet en'e voice struck him as familia 4041 while he was asking. hints, where he had heard it, a pollee= followed by the usual small crow -ante -tanning down the street. Jae walked on, and before- lut had retie "d the alleY, the polieeman In caught him up. "levee a woman, a woman thteseed in black like a widow?" asked the temstable, who was rather too eto for sprinting. replied Jack, calmly but promptly. "She has just run down t he street, straight ahead." "Right!" exclaimed the policeman, 0nd he ran on followed by the crowd. Jae!: slackened MT and presently waited, and he saw Miss Woods come out of the court,. "Don't stop me," she whiepered, huskily, as she passed him. "Let m get . inside 4" Jack was too astonished to stop her or utter a word. Ho caught a glimpse of her face and saw that it was stone white. He followed her cloeely, opened the door, entered with her and clotted it, She leant against the wall in the passage, her hands pressed to her heart, her hreath coming in labored gasps; and Jack stood and stared at her in sil- ence. Suddenly they heard the crowd coming back up the street, and Miss Woods, with a subdued cry of ter- ror, caught his ATM in both hands, "Hush! Don't speak! Don't move or they'll hear us!" As she speoke, O bundle slipped from under her arm and fell at his feet.. She was too terrified to attempt to conceal it or recover it, but she looked at it de- spairingly and uttered a low cry of fear; for the wrapper had come open, and Jack saw something that looked like a black dress andeape ell in one, and a widow's bonnet. The truth flashed upon him in an inetant. "You are the widow; it's you who play. the 'picked -pocket' dodge! Good Heavens! There don't faint; you're quite safe; Pm not going to give you up!, She sank on the stairs and hid her face in her hand, and her flaxen wig got all awry and made her look ghastly, like a waxen doll that had lost the coloring in its cheeks. jack leant against the wall and looked down at her. "I'm sorry," he said, gravely. "I didn't suspect—youth been so good to Kate— Good God! what made you take to such a life?" She looked at him, with her faded face all lined and hollow, "Starvation, misery, despair; such misery and despair as you can't im- agine, for you're a man and can nev- er, never feel it. You can never un- derstand how hard a woman is driv- en when she has suffered as I have done. Don't look at me like that, turn your eyes away -4 can't bear 11; for you've been kind to me; you've thought well of -me, well en- ough to trust me and—and believe in me. 1 meant to drop it; but I couldn't bear the thought that you .wero working so hard, that I was a burden on 'you as well as her; and I'd spent what money I'd had, and I went out to-night—for the last time I meant. If 'I couldn't get anything to do—anything—anything honest, I was going to throw myself into the dock—and I will!" "Oh, no, you won't!" said Jack, calmly. "Go up to your room and we'll talk matters over in the morn- ing." Site shook her head, as she listen- ed intently, with terror in every feature. "I can't go—yet. I'm all of ft tremble. Kate might be awake; she'd see me in this state and ask ques- tions—I should break down."' Stayhere and rest for a little while," said Jack. "I'll step out and see if they're gone. Wait until I come back." He let himself out' -quietly, and, Pausing to light a pipe, strolled in leiserely way up the street.. The pursuers had evidently completely lost the scent, and no one was in sight; and Jack walked on a little Way pondering overthe discovery. Now that he had made It, he was not altogether mends -eel; and-, if the teuth must be told, not so shocked as he -ought to have, been. You See, he had lived amongst some very shady people; arid the predominant feeling, in his mind at the moment was pity for the woman who had been driven to such straits. She eouldn't be altogether bad, or shi. would not have nursed Kato with euch unselfish devotion. He stoml et the top of the street smoking, in e casual kind of way looking about trim then he tu•rned and walked •slow- ly back. As he did so a man turned into the street, -caught sight ot him, stopped dead short, thole slid into a doorway. He atbod th4e watching •Jack unt,i1 he enteted the louse, then a'•etdelthee -way lee usea &WA the streett, itepiting Itffi and te • . ut You'll Se Completely In the Dark 1111 tho nue Votfte [teat -tag the Groat SesiA EI P lily Mary Rob rts Arlettart UR1OSS You Are Keen tough To Solve At Ps You Go Starting is iff I "THE POST" IN THE NEAR FUTURE look back at the house. Presently he walked back towards it and rais- ed his hand as if to knock at the door; but he hesitated, his hand fell to his side, and muttering under hie breath. he walked away again; but when he had once more reached the end of the street, he stopped as if reluctant to leave it. However, a policeman came tramping up, glanc- ed at him with the calm, scrutinie- ing eye of his calling, and the man slunk away. Jack found Miss Woods still seat- ed on the stairs. She was still very white, but had regained something of her self-possession. "They've gone," said Jack, "You're all right now; you d better go upstairs." She rose,' assisting herself by the bannister; then she hesitated and looked at Jack. "I want to tell you," she said, in a low voice, and with her head avert- ed. "I know nothing I can say would make me seem any better to you, Mr. Gordon; but—but it's true what 1 said—that I've been near starvation, that I only took to this when everything else failed. I was a respectable woman—and not so long ago, though it seems a life- time, looking back. I'm respectable in a way now," she said, with a feeb- le and pathetic touch of pride. ',Pm a married woman, Mr. Gordon, and —I've kept straight. I was deserted by my husband. He got tired of me soon after we were married, and he left 2110. He said he Was obleged to go on important business; he was away some months, then I heard that he was dead. I saw it in te paper." A. faint bush of resentment passed across her faded face and she breath- ed quickly as if she found it difficult to g0 Ofl. "He left me without a penny, left me to face the world, me who had always been taken care of; for I was the youngest in the family, Mr. Gordon, and the pet. I'd a. brother who would have helped me—for he was fond of me in a way, though he was wild and reckless. He went to Australia; but he—he got into trou- ble there; and though he's back in England, he can't do anything for me; for he's poor, and I'm afraid he's done something out there, for he's in hiding." '"Yott have had a bad time of it," said Jack, gravely. "That ain't the worse," she said "My husband really deserted 111e; he didn't really die, and the notice in the paper was a sham and a fraud; he is alive now." Jack looked his surprise. "How do you know that?" he aele 00. WS. • "I've ,seen hint," she said. "I saw Win the other day; it was when we came back from the drive; he went by in a hansom cab; tt; stopped at ',be - ton of the street and he leant for- ward, and looked at us; at me, as I thought at the time, but bsdon't think he saw me; he seemed to be staring at you and Kate." "Why should he do that?" asked Jack. "You t 0104 be mistaken, But this is a very extraordinary story:— Yes--yes; T believe you. But what do you mean to do? Are you going to try and find him? He must be a bad lot and ought to be punished; fOr he seems to. >go to have been the cause of ahl yone trouble." "Yes," she said; "he was the cause. He •perstmded me 10 marry him secretly, and T fennel out before he left me :that he was right down bad, :for el1.. his pleasant ways •and -soft voice. I'd try to find him, but how ettn I? Re is a gentleman and looks tee if !he had money; and have/et any: I-Might,go tothe pol- lee but.1 -don't dam,. I must put up with it old bear it!" "I muet .see if I can't help you," add Jack. "1 tun sorry ler you; you have been very kind to .1i4f Traneom, and I'm sure you're more -tinned against than sinning. I will ..ee what can 1),, ding,. Anyway, you ineet ;gunge, te drop this eurt ol ,hhig onoo and for all.'' 11t- glanteel at the bundle whieh let had under her arm, eter reddened _with Attune. re'e wee! to promise,7 ;aid, iipIy. "I shall noror do it Igstin. 1 was drivon to 11---" She brok,, IT with .,,,m.Ahing and went opstairs slowly. Jodk went up to his mem; bet he souk! not sleep. Ilie• etrentee eovery of Miss WoodS' mode or Jiy., irnr mid 11,1. extraorrEnary story had 'or a time driven his own affairs front his- whet; but they came NIA with a rush W114 ql 110 W:10 aionn; gad SplAit. *Lb., Meld. 10 peeing up nad down telehee to form .-.0111, definite eouree or action. It Idol that the beet thing, he could bo would be to letethe Towere, to marry Kate Transom and take her to Austrutia: perhaps taking lelkes Woods with them. He could luty a cattle ranch and go in for farming* on a lerg,, settle. But he sighed as he thou -ht of it; for he knew that, do what he would, his life was wrecked and that he was doomed to unhappiness. When he went down the -next morn ing he was surprised to find Kate in the little sitting -room; surprised and somewhat ernbarrassed; he was also Stlll'tbed when e3ici cante up to him quickly, and seizing his arm, stopped him on bus way to the door. He saw that she was pale and agitated; but before he could speak she made a gesture of warn- ing., and with her lips close to his ear whispered: "Hush! There is someone in the street—someone who has been fol- lowing you -1 saw him from the win- dow when you eame in last nie.ht: but I could not sue in the dim light who it was, A man with his coat - collar turned up has just passed on the other side of the road, and he looked at the house; he is waiting at the end of the street!" Jack was dumbfounded; and for a moment he really thought that she had gone out of her mind. "Why should a man be following me?" he asked. "If anyone wants WEDNESDAY, 'JUNE 2, 11124. to soft mo why doesn't h0 con straight on here? I've no objection She looked at him almost reproael rt4:.1 113of ' l" grkv" at h t07 "Don't go out; wait for a 111.1.1 while!" itlet whispered. "But why not?" he- oli,ketion to mooting this mat whoever It ,t is." "Ob, dan't let tee reekless!" eh gaspod. • "It you'd only loft Feet: - land; if you'd oily gone at, termer Jriek, gr1 1.r.tchkrod by het- etrange werde, and to hint, etrenger maimmr. "I don't in tho lo0st know whet you moan, Nate." le, said; "and think you're waif, mi•taken in your idea that sOrneon, watchlng' mo; hut :•1" k k io • do 40. As to leaving Englund, I'vo till110,1: 111:11-b! up my Mind to go, and 'III t.,11 pat more when I eome home I .t:11,‘:•11:':.11triii(lie.rt.n"te where y u are going," ""I'e the docks," sold Jat-k, He had- promieed the foreman to fetish some work which he had entrueted to him; and, notwithstanding that 11 had heq,n bowled out and his identity diecorered by Esther, he intended keeping his promise and. going down to the docks. "Pm in Number 2, 10, dock, and I shall be home earlier than usual because - I'm on a job. Don't look 00 frightened; I can't imagine what you should be frighten- ed about." She turned away from him with hisw:tnrioalgigiSergfe'vsitITano,f1 lh'e:Ighileaatrld°111uthr GrjeefLifrik7/12"Cli sigh heavily as he left the house. amrasiro There certainly did not appear to D. M. SCOTT be any watcher in the street; but ee. that was because Dick Reeve had "-461'7";5-!24 go6?"1.;rx.a stepped into a shop, where he wait- PRICES MODERATE ' ed until Jack had got out of sight; "'''ellre,7relre=r,litt.0"Per1=1;.0;ev.e"rteRe4le' • • 11 ." nut coming to a reekoning with him?. word, wiehoat following- you, Wiehe 1- Yon Lewitt io haw, known me het - i '• eter. When hoard you'd gone, T ecore I'd follow yea and if it e was to the end nf tho wet-bi--and I'm here." She had reeoveited frorn the shook of sunuon nrosonvo, Ionk inp- at him with a. inix!aro foar c and watchfulness in hop oyos. (To Ito Centieutele. BUSINESS CARUS not itstrial IViorcgage and SavinaS company, of Sarnia Ontario, aro prole:rod >1 wlvotu, 1,1 011 MorWitv.Is 0,1. 11•10i1". Partin, ,Iwurinu (.1.1micippty to .N.1., CO Out , who win fur eise rut,. rind The Industrial Mortgage and Savings Company aril:alit' .1,,I.Z10.71er AGENT FOR fire, Automobile and Wind ins, .COM PANIES For Brussels and vlelnity Phone 647 dAiVIES M' FADZEAN Agent Ilawick Mutual fire Insurance Company Also Hartford Windstorm and Tornado Insurance Phone 02 Box 1 Turuborry Strout, Brussels JW. SUTHERLAND & SONS LIMITED then he went up the street and, look- — ing over the half doorway, saw. Kate T. T. M' RAE Transom sitting in a low chair with , M. El., M. C. P.. & S. 0. her bead in her hand. es. 0. H., Villago of BiuMe13. "Kate!" he said, huskily. Physician, Burgeon, soccuchenr She started and sprang to her fet ; offiee IC reiblenyviiifigo Ngelti.lelv ills Church, with a low cry of fear; and he open- 1 ed the door and entered the room, 1 DR. WAR DI -A w "Dick—Dick Reeve !" she exclaim- 1 'it(tE,V.e.grlit'aeute Zotilrt„(iiti.tar,!-.6°,:rizfgAZ ed. ! Iflour 0111, Ethel. - "Yes; it's me," he said, his fac T working, his hands clenched at his ; side, his eyes glowing like coals.W. Af. 61"%difil "You didn't expect to see me, Did BARRISTER. SOLICITOR, CONVEYANCER, NOTARY PUBLIC you expect I'd let you go without a — LECKIE BLOCK - BRUSSELS '3'41.06 'Me ' ar AI 'ffe GrgriLrf '60)1•346141)*(414753tWaiMati , Can You Visit t email? Have you, Mr. Business Man, the time to get out and call on all of your customers and prospective customers each week? If you could do so, it would be a fine thing for you and for your business. The next best thing to a personal call from you is to send out your business message each week in THE POST, 'Which covers the Elocal com- munity and will carry your message to old friends and new friends, alike. Advertising in THE POST is an economical, efficient way to reach the people in your trade territory and let them know of the buying opportun- ities offered in your business:estab- lishment. ere s• 'to 4:1 THE lie 3E11 OST