The Herald, 1909-08-27, Page 3But down in her torn heart was a feel-
ing that the earl had learned to so love
her, that he could no more put her out
of hie heart than she could put him
out of hers; and, strong in her purpose
to insure his happiness by effectually
separating herself from him, she wond-
ered in self -torturing agony, what she
should do that she might remain firm
in spite of anything that might hap -
It was a terrible struggle for her. Her
love. of him, and her sense of what she
awed him, were at variance. Her mind
once made up that it was for his good
that he should not return to her, she
was immovable, and instantly spurned
from her every pleading suggestion of
her own heart that it might really be
well for him to marry her, since sihe
had learned to be humble.
The struggle might have gone on in-
definitely, but for an interruption as
startling in its 'way as the one which
lead summox:ed her to, the bedside of the
dying countess.
'The serving maid of the house came
to say that a man wished to see her.
Erna stared a moment. A man!
"If you please, miss," explained the
girx, "1 meat. a gentleman's men,"
"What name did he give?" dmeanded
Erna, the thought flashing through her
sand that this might be one of those
insulting attempts to make her acquain-
tance, of which she had heard.
"If you please, he sent his humble
apologies, and said if you would see him
for just a second, he was sure you would
forgive hnn for troubling you.
"Tell him I cannotsee him," replied
Erna, flushing indignantly. "Say that
any business that he may have with
me may be transacted with Mr. Hutch-
ins."
The girl still lingered, shifting uneas-
il from one foot to the other.
"If you please, miss," she said, depre-
catingly, "but I was to say in case you
refused, that it was a matter of life
and death. .And I am sure he is a very
respectable gentleman's man, bean' quite
middle-aged like."
Erna was puzzled. but made up her
mind quiekly. It could do no harm to
see the man; and if he were insolent,
ie would be most easy to call Mr. Hutch -
in.. So she went down without the re-
motest suspicion of the truth. And even
for a moment after looking at her vis-
frtor s di conize him.
1
Walton," she cried, starting
back in dismay.
The man bowed with respectful grav-
ity. He was the valet of the Marquis of
Melrose
"Why are you here? From whom do
you come?" she demanded, her head er
est and her brown eyes full of imperious
questioning.
"I have come with a message from his
lordship, the marquis, He is lying very
ill at the Imperial, and begs that you
will do him the honor,of coming to see
him."
"Very ill?" cried Erna.
"His last illness, I feel, Miss March,"
said the man, with an emotion he could
not conceal. "Ile is very anxious to see
you once more. I have a carriage at the
dcor, in which you and Mrs. Hutebins,
the manager's wife, could be seated."
"You know about—" Erna stopped
short.
"His lordship knows everything."
"You say he is very ill?" queried
Erna.
"The doctor does not believe he will
Hoover."
Erna felt the tears spring to her eyes.
"I will go in a few minutes."
Site hastened to Mrs. Hutchins, and
begged her to go with her, saying she
would explain as they went. So it was
that not many minutes later when they
'were in the carriage, on their way to
the Imperial Hotel,
It seemed to Etna that it would be
unfair to Mrs. Hutchins to any longer
refrain from revealing her secret. Pledg-
ing her to silence, therefore, she told her
who she really was, and said enough to
explain her present position; though
without telling her the secret springs
which had moved her to take the step
she had.
Mrs. Ilutchins was both dismayed and
astonished; and was, moreover, in no lit-
tle flutter at the notion of acting as
aihaperon to a young lady about to visit
a real, live marquis. And her manner
became so immediately respectful to ea-
na that the latter would have been forc-
ed to smile but for the too great heavi-
ness of her heart.
They were ushered at once into the
presence of the marquis. Erna had ex-
pected to find him in bed; but he was
sitting propped up in a great easy -chair,
his clothes all on, and a smile of wel-
eomo on his face.
He insisted, in fact, on being dressed;
and had had Walton exercise all the
niceties of the art of the toilet to make
his face as little death -like as possible.
Nevertheless, the stamp of death was on
his brow, and no effort of his could con-
ceal the fact.
The physician and a nurse were in the
room when E'lna entered. The old mas-
quis made an instinctive effort to rise
at sight of Erna; but with a stifled
moan he was forced to fall back. His
eyes, however, lighted up with a pathetic
joay, and he murmured:
' o good of you to come!
Erna was by his side in a moment,
thinking only of how true -hearted and
generous he had always been to her.
"0f course, I would come," she said,
in a low tone. "I am so sorry that you
are ill."
He smiled gratefully.
"May I talk with you alone?" he ask-
ed.yy "I have something important to
saLana did not hesitate an instant, but
turned to the physician.
"Lord Melrose has something he
wishes to say to me privately. Will you
wait in the adjoining room?"
She looked at Mrs. Hutchins, too, as
she spoke. The physician bowed, and
asked to be called at the least sign of
sudden faintness. Then he and the oth-
ers left the room.
Erna sat in a chair which had been
provided by Walton, and waited sadly
until the marquis should wish to speak
to her. He seemed to be gathering his
forces.
"You are surprised to see me here?" he
queried.
"Yes; but my surprise was swallowed
in my sorrow at seeing you so ill."
Ile smiled faintly.
"At my age it should not be surprising.
You know I am an old man, and I have
lived all my years at a very rapid rate.
It is time. But I did not ask you to
'come here tr, listen to such things. Be-
sides, I have se . ' e. time lef
"Peri:ages yo ^over," ted
Enr:r h .
teen
ways
al-
ways has in the
de of a rat1111.
ness.
"No," he answered, shaking his head
slowly. "I shall not recover. I would
not have sent for you if I had thought
it possible. I knew you had fled from
me."
"Oh, no!" cried Erna, "not from you.
From the whole life. I had made a ter-
rible mistake, and there was no other
way."
1 was sure you were going to take
flight," he said, looking at her affection-
ately. "I told Walton to watch all
night. He followed you all the way
here."
Erna started back at this proof of the
singleness of the devotion of the mar-
quis; for so she readily understood his
act. He had been willing to let her have
her own way without any regard for
himself.
"You understand why I did it?" he
queried, watching her face anxiously.
"You are the noblest of men!" she
said, half sobbing.
"Oh, no," he answered, deprecatingly;
"but I have wished all along to be of
real service to you. 1 told Lady .Rowley
the next morning, and persuaded her to
let you have your way.' He smiled. "1
think she submitted because she was cer-
tain she could not influence you to
change your mind. Then I came on here."
In an instant Erna comprehended all
that had been left unsaid by the mar-
quis.
"Then no one is aware of the truth of
the—the—that I have left the Castle?"
she said.
"No one knows," he answered.
"Was that wise?" she asked. "1 can-
not go back."
"It semed wise then," he answered, his
voice low, but quite distinct; "and now
it seems wiser. Will you ask the physi-
cian to conte in?"
She went instantly, thinking the mar-
quis was feeling worse, But he stopped
the doctor when he, too, thinking his
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patient was sinking, began handling the
medicines,
"Not that," said the marquis. "I wish
to ask you a question, on whieh much
depends. A. truthful answer, please.
How long n I li varication,
please. I shacall payve?youNo accorpredingly as
you are honest with rue,"
A physician never likes to tell a
patient how little time he has to live;
but the manner of the marquis was
peremptory; and the appeal to the
pocket of the physiiiiau was timely.
"It is not possible to say certainly."
"But there is a limit. What is it?"
"Twenty-four hours:'
The marquis smiled as if pleased, and
Erna shuddered Deeah. is a terrible
thing to the yours;;.
"Thank you," said ta, marquis; "that
is all I wished you fot."
The physician went way. Erna sat
sat silent, not knowing what to say. It
was the marquis .ho broke the silence.
"I am sure," he .laid. "that the doctor
is right. I shall :tat live as long as he
says, even. I would nut distress you
unnecessarily," he continued, his cour-
tesy as strong 'as even; "but it seems
necessary. Now t to you know that I
am to die so soo will you grant me
a boon?"
"What is it?" a Erna, faintly, a
suspicion of the tr flashing on her.
"The dearest wish of any heart is to
see you the Marchioness of Melrose," he
said.
"But—" she shtbamered.
"Do not refuse a dying man," he
pleaded. "Besides; you do not under-
stand. I am older than you, and can see
what is invisible to you. You are not
fitted for this life that you have entered
on. Think of that article in the paper
about you."
"But it will be ratranted," she said,
half mechanically.
"Yes," he answered. "because I inter-
vened."
"You?"
"Yes, L I do not eay it to establish
any claim upon year gratitude, but to
show you that, sxceeirina for my money,
you would have remained under the
stigma of that infa • ous falsehood; and
to make you cornprt .nd that the future
is stored with sin r experiences for
you."
Erna could compr•'iend that, after the
failure of the minal is efforts.
"You should retur to the world you
are fitted to adorn, le went on. `You
will not wish to go back as you left it.
Become the Marchioness of Melrose; give
me a few hours af.he .piness, and return
to Lady Rowley,"•t
Erna's•ebelhr re arose. t the
thought of retract taay step she had
once taken. 'h ile • ,re:t:+quis watched the
workings of bee b ui ti.fu1 face, and said:
"You pledged ;stair word to become
any wife, Erna."
She knew he dial not wish it to hold
her to the pledge; 'nu because he wished,
for her own sake, to induce liar to
consent now.
"Yes," she said; '-towiy. "I gave my
word." a
"And won't you solemn it now?" he
asked, gently. ~I lnnow all that is in
your mind; and I know how bard it is
for you to do as I ask; but remember
that I shall be a burden to you but a
few hours."
"Oh," she cried, "how
that?" can you say
"I said that, as I would say any thing,
to induce you to do as I ask. Alr, Erna,
my beautiful one!" he sighed, "I wish
to save you from yourself. You have
made a mistake, It can be repaired now,
and no one need know that it ever oc-
curred. You thought you were doing
something heroic. It was not; it was
only headstrong, If you go on as you
have begun, you will bring sorrow to
yourself and to many. Take a few mo-
ments to consider what I say."
She left him and went to the window.
She saw the people hurrying to and fro
outside; but if al, the faces had been
familiar, she wouk not have recognized
one of them, for 1 .r thoughts were all
far away.
Somehow her mind had leaped back to
the early days at Aubrey—not so long
ago, compuetd in months; but ages ago
in experiences. And front those happy,
hoiden days she flashed over the events
that had brought her to the sick -room,
where a dying man was suing for her
hand.
As she stood and thought it seemed to
her that everything had a different ap-
pearance. She saw her own injustice
more clearly than before; she saw the
headstrong folly of much that she had
done; she recognized wicked obstinacy
in what had seemed only heroic firmness
before.
Yes, the dying marquis was right, Site
had made a mistake in leaving her
friends; and it would be a greater
mistake not to accept the service so
strangely offered. yet so nobly, too. She
knew that he was suing for her hand
as he lay nn his death -couch only be-
cause Ite wished her well, She knew that
the Marchioness of .Melrose need not
account even to it servant for the few
days she had been absent front the Cas-
tle.
She turned abruptly and went over
to him, where lie sat watching her anxi-
ously. Shekn.clt by his side in an hum-
bler spirit •than ever she had knelt be -
fere. -
"Lord Melrose" she said, in a low
voice, choked with teals indeed, hut vi-
brating with feeling, "you are the best
man I ever heard of • I understand all
the nobility . of what you are doing. I
cannot comprehend why you should be...
so good to sinev�.ao has been as tricked
as ,"
A gleans' Of pleased surprise lighted
up his fuelled apes as she spoke. He had
>?ot expected to make such an effect. kIe
bad hoped only to convince cher that a
marriage with him would he wise,
He put out his tie -enabling' A
�#nd
laid it caressingly' on the brown heal.
Is was the towel of, a father "Vier
than a lover. The nearness of death had.
refined every grosser feeling.
"Then you will wed me, Exna?" he
asked; feebly.
"1 only ;hesitate," she murmured, `"be-
cause I feel that l am unfit to profit
by such a noble generosity. I know that
you are doing this for me alone, and it
does not seen right
"Not for you alone, Erna," he said.
"I cannot explain it so that youwill
understand; but it is tree that it will
give mo more pleasure for the remained
hours, minutes, of my life to be able
to call you wife, than anything that
has ever happened, to me,"
She took the withered old hand in her
fair, plump ones and kissed it.
"May I give the orders'!" he asked.
With an effort he drew the little
band to his lips and pressed it there for
a moment,
"Please call them all back," he said.
She did so, and when they were all in
the room, hesald:
"Walton, ask Lord and Lady Rowley
to Come here. Tires tell the clergyman
that we await him."
Erna stood by his chair, her face
proud and set, but the moisture in her
eyes showed that the expression on her
face was but a mask. The marquis east
a glance upward at her, and addressed
the doctor.
"You will see that the proper remedies
are at hand, doctor," he said, "I may
need them. This lady has done me the
honor of hastening a wedding wvhieh
was to have taken pla.ee lmder happier
auspices. The nurse will remain as a
witness. I hope you will gratify both
myself and :alias March by remaining
also, this. Hutchins."
CHAPTER X-TXV.
The following paragraph appeared in
the London papers of the next morning:
"The Marquis of Melrose died last
night at the Imperial Hotel, Liverpool.
He had gone there on business of a very
pressing nature, and was taken ill yes-
tmrday. Isis first act was to despatch
an urgent message to Miss March, his
affianced wife. She took the first train
to Liverpool, accompanied by her guar-
dians and kinsmen, Lord and Lady Rom -
Icy. At the anxious solicitation of the
king nobleman. the ceremony was per-
fermed and :Miss Erna March in a few
minutes became the dowager Marehion-
es;. of Melrose, tiotk'es of the marriage
and of the death appear elsewhere in
their proper places.
It was the noble old gentleman him-
self who inspired the paragraph. Wal-
ton, his faithful valet, had sent it out
soon after the death of his master; and
so it was that th h les of the great
social world de t
t
P.
I1f lcxng ir'1 #cr.. 't J to
Erna March ha. , , er home to act
for two nights on the professional stage.
The remains had been at once removed
to Melrose, where they lay in state.
Lady llomiev had accompanied Erna thi-
ther. intending to remain until after
the funeral; after which Erna was to go
with her to Rowley Castle; for Mel -
veep passed into the handy of the new
marquis.
The old marquis had settled twenty
thousand a year on Erna. At first Erna
had in ietf'd that she would not ac-
cept the dower; but she was not in a
mood to bold out long after it was clear-
ly represented to her that it had been
the Beare=t wish of the marquis that he
should be the one to lift Erna above
all necessity,
Erna sincerely lamented the loss of
the old nobleman, whose widowed bride
she was; but it was only the man she
regretted. Her heart had long been giv-
en to another.
In truth, her constant anxiety, during
all the sad time following the death of
the marquis, was about LordAubrey.
The time was slipping away, and he
must be communicated with. But how?
It seemed now as if her original pian
could hardly be carried out. How could
she, the widow of the yet. un-
buried marquis, take upon herself such
an errand? It did not matter how
march she yearned to see Aubrey once
more; to go to him under the circum-
stances would be to risk a scandal,
which even she was not foolhardy
enough to defy.
At last she decided to refer the mat-
ter to Lady B.omley. She sought her,
and approached the subject by asking,
abruptly:
"When is the wedding of Lord Au-
brey and Lady Gertrude?"
Lady Rowley bad come to regard her
young kinswoman with a sort of un -
:ass, awe. Since Erna's flight, Lady
Ronuey was of the opinion that nothing
was beyond her courage to try; and
this sudden reference to the man she
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loved was very startling to the old
lady.
"To -morrow morning," she answered,
after a short pause, accompanied. by ar
dismayed glance at Erna,
Erna started in terror.
'To -morrow morning! Are you sure,
I was told it would not be for two pz
three days,"
"I have my invitation; I will show
to you," was the answer. '
She sent her maid to procure the in-
vitation; and when it was brought
showed it to Erna, who saw that Lady,
Rowley had been right.
"To -morrow morning!" murmured Er-
na. "What shall I do now?"
"What is the matter, my dear?". was
the troubled query of the older woman.
"I must see Aubrey befbre the wed-
,` ding takes place," replied Erna, her
L. face taking on that look of fixed resolu-
tion
esoletion which) was almost terrifying. to
Lady Romley, who knew no way of com-
pelling Erna to think and act asshe
would have her.
`{My
de
e ori , •. Con-
t
(To . e continued.),
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A Chicken Stealing Bear„
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The animal measures over fou
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Tommle's Manners.
?other -"My son, will you have
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Tommie (briefly)"Tart."
rather (encouragingly hoping to:
call the boy's manners --"Tart,
Tommie (triumphantly) --