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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1908-10-02, Page 3S. C. MACDONALD, Msrtaiger ii 'ss+4eu tnt 'ik° d 04.441114,41161131114 "That poor girl, too, Mercy!" said the viscount. "What a villain Jordan—I beg your pardon, Oh, for heaven's sake, let's try and forget hire for hall an hour, Lorrimore, open that bottle of cham- pagne, 'will you? a Upon my word; I'in not equal to it. There, my boy, take a ;glass,' and he foreed one into Neville's handy affectionately. "After all, we can manage to keep it quiet, I dare say. I'll tee my lawyer—and—and get hold of 'bale. But there's Jordan—what is he .going to do, I wonder? 'Pon my word, I'm curious to see what his meat move will be. Lord, I wish her ladyship were here; her head's worth two and a half of;nixne, and that of any of us." They were not long left in doubt as to Jordan's next move, for an hour, later, while they were pacing up and down the terrace, a groom was seen galloping up the drive. He pulled up his sweating horse, and handed. a note to Neville. "From Sir Jordan, sir," he said, touch- ing his hat. "And he'll wait at the Court for an hour for the answer. "Wait," said Neville, as he opened the letter. He read it, and turned furiously to the other two. "This is his next move 1" he said, bit- terly. "He offers me two thousand a year cto compromise the matter,' as he puts it. If I do not accept, he will fight to the last. And he reminds me that I have no money, and -that possession is nine points of the law." "Yes! He has plenty of pluck!" re- marked the viscouat- Neville tore the note in pieces and flung the fragment's into the air. "Tell your master what you saw me do. That's my answer," he said to the groom, and the man rode off full pelt back to the Court. "Right!" said 'the viscount, approv- ingly. "Just what I• should have expect- ed of you, Neville You haven't any money perhaps, but your friends have!" "And Neville must let me count myself ' as one!" said Lorrimore, significantly. "If it's fighting Sir Jordan wants, he shall have plenty of it" At this moment the doctor came to- ward them. He looked grave as the viscount in- quired after Mercy. "She is very ill, my lord," he said. "Has been weak and ailing for some time and this is a complete collapse. I'll do my best, however, and while there's life 'Tor heaven's sake,,. don't say that!" said Lord Marlow,`wi:th a shudder; `'that phrase is the medical death sentence; Anyway, we'll do our best; she :shall have the most careful nursing." The doctor looked, down. •, Why is it doctors rarely look one in the faee? "Well," he said, heeitatingly, "I think it will be better to move the patient as soon as possible. She wishes it herself, particularly wishes it. There are asso- ciations connected with the place, I un- derstand." The viscount nodded. "Yes, I should advise her removal as soon as she is strong enough to bear it. I•'shall look in later in the day, my lord, and be able to give a more positive opine ion." Lorrimore and the viscount walked a little way with the doctor, but Neville remained on the terrace; it was because he thought it possible that a certain young lady might snatch a minute from the siek room. He heard a light step behind, and swung around; but it was Audrey, not He held out both hands and took hers. She had been crying, but there was a look of relief in her eyes. "My poor. Audrey!" he said. 'But, no, I will not mock you with pity. You are to be congratulated on an escape!" "Hush, Neville, dear," she said. "Not one word more. We—we will not speak of what has happened. I came to tell you that Sylvia cannot leave Mercy. The poor girl seems to clingto her. Every- body loves Sylvia!" "I know one person who doesl" said Neville, ruefully, ' Audrey smiled up at him, "You don't deserve than she should love you, sir," she said; then she start- ed at the sound of Larrimore's voice. "Oh, is he here?" she said, trembling a little. "Yes,"' said Neville. "You don't ;want to see him?" "No, no!" she responded, drawing him into the room, "Send him away, Neville. I should die of shame if --if I saw him, now, .so,soon after," After ' Jordan's exposure, she meant, and Neville understood. "However, you came to"—he began, but she interrupted him piteously. "Ah, Neville, you don't know him! How masterful he is, and how useless it seemed, to resist him, Besides, I—heard that—Lorrimore was engaged." "I think I can understand how you were trapped, Audrey," said Neville gravely. "But you • are free now. And Lorrimore—what a good fellow he is, and how he loves you! You will re- ward him for his long devotion and faithfulness, Audrey?" Her face crimsoned. "Hadn't -hadn't we better wait till he asks me?" she retorted, and ran from him. Neville went outside and found Lorri- more alone on the terrace; he turned quickly. "Didn't I hear Miss Hope's voice?" he asked. "Yes!" said Neville, in his blunt bah- ion. ashion. "Look here, Lorrimore, if 1 were you I'd go to---" r. "To Africa?" said Lorrimore, his lip. "Africa be—blessed! No. To London, anywhere, just for a few weeks—days. Don't you know how it is with her? Man, you can't expect her to rush into your arms the very moment she is free." "No, ° I can't," admitted Lorrimore "but Pd like her to, all the same. But of course I'll go. I'll go up to London. And—and for heaven's sake send me a wire to the Athenian Club the very first moment you can!" "I will," said Neville,', grasping his hand. "And tell her— No. Yes, why should I not tell her what she knows already? Tell her that I love her better than ever, and that the moment she will .let me I will come to her. That's all. Make nay excuses. Good -by," and with just a glance at the house—he did nto see Aud- rey, who was watching them from be- hind a muslin curtain—he rata down the steps. "I suppose .I'd better go, too," mused Neville, as he looked after him. But still he . hung about, and presently his patience met with its re- ward. He was lying back in a reclin- ing chair in the smoking room when he heard the door open, and thinking it was the viscount, he said, without look- ing around: "I think I'd better clear out, Marlow; there's no chance of seeing her, I'm afraid. That's what I'm waiting for." "If you'll tell me who 'her' is, I'll see," said a voice behind him, that caused him to spring to his feet, upsetting the chair. Sylvia stood with her hand on the door, her eyes downcast, her face flushed. "1-1 thought I should find Lord Mar- low here," she said, as if she were going to run away. But he took the door out of her hand and closed it. "Sylvia, I want to speak to you." "Yes?" softly and demurely, without raring her eyes. "I want to tell you that—that I love yon." he blurted out. "Yes?" still more softly, though her bosom was heaving. Neville looked at her ruefully. "And—oh, Syl, don't you love mel" "Of—of course I do. One—oue ought to love' one's—brother." His face . reddened. • "Brother! I don't want you to lose me like that. I don't love you as if you were a sister. I want you to be my wife. There!" "Your wife?" she said, almost inaudi- bly, her eyes still downcast. "My wife," he repeated. "I've loved you like that ever since I've lost you. Ah, you can't tell how I've loved . aid longed for you; and—and, if I can't have you for my wife—well, I shall be the mat miserable man in the world. Oh, why don't you speak?" he cried, impet- uously. "I was thinking," she said, stili softly, still keeping him from her at arms' length, as it were, by her manner. "Things have changed. You aren't Jeck any longer, but Mr. Neville Lynne, aLd a rich man "What difference does that make?" he broke in. "A great deal! You are an English country gentleman, and ought not to marry an opera singer, Mr.—Mr. 1 ynne." Neville stared at her. "Ls that your answer?" he said, "You know it's only an excuse! And this morning—Oh, Syl, I thought you loved me! Why did you stand up for me if you didn't?" he said, with such disappoint- ment and. isappointment'and. reproach in his voice and eyes that Syl could not withstand him any longer. "So I do! So I did!" she exclaimed, and she cried as he took her in his arms. "You know I love you! It is you who were blind not—not to see it long ago. r }�i.'a4":,r:,.,ax.-- :4 ,N- .,, . �• . r{ r:r�C.-,�nrtlSei�1. The balance of 1:9"' FREE to all new subscribers to the +,TON S , >, .WEE T� LY TIMES i� ur,)oar Iliad the a !d of 19f 9 for $1.30 in Canada or the United fn7� a(a. , Iia is a chance of a lifetime $o secure Hamilton's Leading Newspaper psily Tiflis by mail'$4OO per annum. Address TIMES PRINTINGS COMPANY, HAMILTON ) I have always laved yoxil Ah, you didn't knave, you didn't guess, Jack., dear, Jack, my Jack!" Ila kissed her brow and eyes and lips. paesionately, as the light broke in upon "Oh, what a blind idiot I wain" he said, remorsefully, and with mingled slef-reproach and pity. "1-1 thought that you only cared for me as sisters «Sister! I hate the word!" she cried, with a 'stamp of her .toot, ."I shall hate it for the rest of my days!" "A11 right," he paid, enfolding her still morn tightly- "Wife's better, isn't it? My wife! Ob, syl, Syl! I'm like the viscount, and don't know whether I am standing on my head or my heels; but this I do know; that I have won the sweetest, :loveliest. girl in all the world," and he raised her face and look- ed into her upturned eyes with all .the Ion that had been stored up fox so mann weary months. CHAPTER , SXVI. Lady Marlow arrived by the evening train, and the instant she had reached her own boudoir sent for Audrey and Sylvia. "Now, my dears," she said, looking up fro n the :chair on widely she had seated herself, without waiting to take her out -door things off, "I'll trouble you to tell me what all this means. The vis- coun t has been endeavoring to do so all the way' from the station, but has got so 'mixed up I can make nothing of it. Sylvia, I think you had better tell me," and she held out her hand to her. "Is it true that Neville Lange has come back, and that you are to be his wife?" "Yes," faltered Sylvia, who had sunk down beside the chair, "And, pray, where is he?" "He has gone _ back to his rooms," "she said, in a low voice. "Please ring the bell," said her lady- ship. "My Iove to Mr. Lynne, and he will please come to the Grange at once," she said to the lady's maid; "and tell the coachman to take the dogcart for Mr. Lynne's luggage. Now, then," to Sylvia, "and it's true, I suppose, that a will has been found, and that he is left a third of the fortune?" "Yes," said Sylvia, more composedly. "And that Jordan—" She stopped, and held out her arms to Audrey, and Sylvia, stole from the room and left them alone together. Perhaps Lady Marlow found that Audrey was not in need of much consola- tion. As Neville had said, she was to be congratulated. When Neville arrived he found them all in the drawing room, ready for din- ner, and he went straight, up to Lady Marlow and took the hands she extended to him. "May I, viscount?" lie asked, looking around with a flush 'vn his handsome face. "Oh, certainly," replied the viscount, and Neville bent down. and kissed her. Lady Marlowe . laughed, the tears in her eyes - "You haven't improve', in your man- ners, sir," she said: • `' "i xa were always a bad, bold boy. Awl co you have come back, and are going to marry our friend, the signorina?" "Yes," said Neville, looking at Sylvia. "Has she told you all!" "Oh, yes, and a great deal more than you know," said her ladyship, dryly. "I think you are a eery lucky man, Neville," "So do I," he assented. "How well you look, Lady Marlow. I declare you are younger—" "Thank you. Is that t'oe style of com- pliment that obtains in gold diggings?" Still, she looked pleased . with him. "But you shall sit next me at dinner, and talk to me all the time. The sig- norina will have quite enough of your conversation for the rest of her life." "I dare say," said Neville, happily. "But I ought to say that I haven't a drees coat. You were kind' enough to send for the luggage; bit there wasn't any." he viscount laughed. "It's a good joke!" he said. "I shall have to lend you some things of mine— they'll come down as far as your ankles and elbows, I dare say." They went into dinner, and the charit- able minded will not deem them selfish were happy. You see, they had not been if they forgot poor Mercy upstairs, and happy for so long! Neville and Lady Mario* did nearly all the talking, Sylvia listening with a smile and many blushes es Neville gave an account of their joint "brother and sister" establishment at Lorn Hope; and Audrey sat silent and thoughtful, but without that scared, hunted expression on her face which had haunted it for the last few weeks. She was free—free! By mutual consent the two gentlemen accompanied the ladies to the drawing - room, and they were still talking over the wonderful past and the more' wonderful present, when a footman approaehed the viscount noiselessly and said: "Mr. Trate would he much obliged if you'd see him. my lord." "I think not," said the viscount, promptly. "I've had enough of Trale, and all his works foroneday: To -mor- row, James. I've gone to bed, please." The footman turned again with a mes- sage for Neville: Would he please see Mr, Trate? Her ladyship looked around. "Why shouldn't we all see him?" she said. "Unless there are any- more secrets." "No, no," said Neville. "Let him come in, Lady Marlow." Trate was shown in, and looked rather nonplussed for the moment at' the size of his audience; but only for a moment. "Sorry to disturb you, my lady," he said, turning to her quite naturally and as a matter of course; "but Jim Banks ), "That's Lavariek," explained•Neville, in a low voice, Lady Marlow nodded. "I know. Go on," "Well, my lady, he's made a clean breast of it, amt—nrci oa part of .hig, con- fession is so astonishing, and concern" tesseel ERC.AN I€ RUST CO. OF CANADA LIMITED OFFICES Aran SAFE DEPOSIT VAULTS Bank of Hamilton Balli€n&, - - m Hamilton, Ont. AUTHORIZED TO ACT AS it recuaor, Administrator. True. Guardian. A.sianee, Lfrgeai Receiver. Transfer .gents. Registrar of Sh+erea. A Trust Company Doing a Strictly Trust and, Agency Business j CORRESPONDENCE INVITED RRON. WM. GI ISON, President —he looked at Neville and then at Sy- lvia—"Mr, Neville, that I thought it my duty—" "To bewilder and badger us with- out delay," finished the viscount, good temperedly. "Yes, my lora," said Trale, gravely. "You are aware that the third of the Lynne money is left to the daughter of the lady Sir Greville was to marry." "Yes, yes?" said her ladyship. "I know who she is, or, rather, who her mother was. Her name was Ohester." "Quite right, my lady." "She and her husband left Bngland—" She stopped mild looked at Neville, She had been going to say, "driven from Eng- land by Sir Greville," but stopped in 'time. "Bight, my lady," said. Trate, approv- ingly. pprov- in "And this daughter of hers must be found as quickly as possible. It will be difficult. lir. Neville knows how dif- ficult it is to find a missing person," and she nodded at Neville. Trate shook his head eagerly. "11 Jim Banks' story is true, and it think it is, there won't be any difficulty in this ease, my lady." Ile paused and looked at Sylvia and hesitated. "Banks' statement is this: That when he'd stolen the will, the night Sir Grenville died, ho thought he could snake most money out of it by finding the young girl and the people belonging to her. He'd seen her father once, and he set off treeing him. Re learned that Iixs. Chester was dead, and that the young girl and her father had gone to Australia." "Australia!" murmured Neville, look- ing at Sylvia, who sat with her hands clasped and her head bowed. "Yes sir; and Jim Banks, who is as. de- termined a man as you'd find in a day's walk, followed on the chance of getting at him. And he did discover him —found him at the point of death,", The tears were running dawn Sylvia's cheeks, and Neville, though he had not yet got the clue, went to her and put his arm round her. "At the point of death. In 'fact, he saw him die, and what's morel saw him give a packet to his little girl, telling her that it was the story of her birth. The girl was known by the name of—" He stopped. "Shall—shall I go on?" Her ladyship nodded. "Go on." Sylvia got up, put ' eville's arm from her gently and left the room. "Yes," said Trate, as if relieved; "the young lady's name was—Sylvia Bond. They were her two given names, and „ Neville uttered a cry of amazement. "Sylvia!" he said. "leo you mean—" "Yes, )Jr. Neville; responded Trate, gravely. "The young lady --the signorina, who has just left the room is Mr. Cheater's daughter, and the heiress under the will." An excited colloquy followed. "Then—then Sylvia owns one-third of the money!" exclaimed the viscount. Trale shook his head, "Wait a bit, my lord, if you'll pardon xne," he said, gravely. "Jim Banks' state- ment may be true; as I said, I think it is. But—but--well, I'm no lewyer, my lord, but I'm afraid it would be difficult to prove her claim unless that packet containing all the papers, certificates, and so on, and unless that packet's in existence. And I'm afraid that's too much to hope for, seeing the strange adven- tures the young lady has gone through. Lavarick tried. to steal it, as Mr. Ne- ville knows, and what he tried to do some one else may have succeeded in do- ing; or it may have got lost. I doii't want Mr. Neville or the young lady to be buoyed up with a hope that can't be fulfilled." "Quite right, Trate, quite right!" said the viscount, ruefully, "As you say, this packet—" (To be continued.) Evading the Question, "Billy Smith, did you steal the ice cream off our back porch last night?" "Wus it your ice cream?" "No, o, it was mamma," ",yell, then, send ;your mamma 'round to see me. I don't want to talk to no understudies" --Denver Post. JAPANESE BEER. The Chineee in Manchuria Acquiring a Thirst For It. The market for Japanese beer in Man- churia is. steadily growing. Its sale, however, is as yet largely confined to the Japanese and Russians, although. the Chinese are gradually acquiring a thirst. The Journal of the American Asiatie Association says that the importation through Dalny last year consisted of about 16,000 cases (48 quart bottles) of Asahi and 12,000 cases of Sapporo beer, valued at 300,000 yen ($150,000). Of this amount about two-fifths was sold to the Russians in Harbin and other points in Northern Manchuria, while considerable importations into this region, as well as Siberia, were also made by way of Viadivostock. Jaapnese beers are practically all lagers, of which the two named most popular brands supply practically the whole of the Manchurian market at present. While the prices last year were irregular, owing to the unsettled condition of the market, sales being made at the highest figures obtainable sometimes as'mueh as 50 sen (25 cents) a bottle, the present wholesale price 3s about 25 sen (12 1-2 cents). Importers of Japanese beer expect that their sales during the present year will be fully double those of last. If American beer could be placed on the market here as cheaply as the Japanese product, or even slightly higher, it would undoubt- edly sell well, especially in Northern \Sanchuria. ILLS OF CHILDHOOD, HOW TO CURE THEM: In thousands of homes Baby's Own Tablets is the only medicine used when children are ailing, and the mother who keeps this medicine on hand may feel as safe as though there was a. doctor constantly, in the home. Baby's Own Tablets cure all stomach and bowel troubles, break up colds, expel worms, and make teething easy. The mother has the guarantee of a government analyst that this medicine contains no opiate or poisonous soothing stuff. Mrs, H. H. Bonnwman, Mattall, N. S., says: "I have used Baby's Own Tablets for my little girl while teething and for constipation, and think there is no medicine can equal them." Sold by all medicine dealers or by mail at 25 cents a box from The Dr. Williams' Medicine Co,, Brockville, Ont. DREXELS' PERFUMED FEAST. Treat Paris to Veritable Arabian Nights Garden Party. Paris.—"The Drexels' perfumed din- ner," as society is calling it, will be remembered long by the 24 guests who enjoyed it. Mr. and Mrs. Drexel engaged the beautiful garden of the Hotel Ritz. First of all electric lights and Chin- ese lanterns were newly arranged to diffuse a soft, dreamy atmosphere over the scene. The garden was scent- ed with the odor of La France rose; the delicate essence was brought from Grasse, where many perfumers raise the flowers whose sweetness they im- prison. The whole garden was im- pregnated with the essence; each nat- ural flower was steeped in it; mingled with them were almost innumerable artificial flowers all exhaling the same delightful odor; even the table, the dishes, the urns seemed to be im- pregnated with it. As the guests entered the garden they remarked, laughingly, that Mr. Drexel was an Aladdin who had trans- ported them to some nook such as the Arabian Nights describe. During the dinner, on which the Ritz's celebrated chef exhausted his skill, music seemed to flow from the trees, the shrubs, the flowers, 13oldi's fine orchestra, completely hidden played "The Star- pangled Banner'1 first, then many other American airs, including "Tammany." All the guests are leaders in Freaaz and American society. Among them were Baron Leghait, the Belgian Min= ister, and Mme. Leghait; the Portu- guese Minister, Count de Pizanckey- Slorsstorpff; Mme, Maurice Epprue- si and Mme. Jules Porgis, America was represented by Mrs. William Moore, well known for her elaborate entertainments here, and Mr, and M's. Harry Lehr. Harry Lehr pronounced the dinner "divine," but his delicate sensibilities seemed slightly shocked when the musicians played "Tammany." Departed Glory. , R.ayoor-Ever do anything for your Shyne (who has a rapidly growhig bald spot)—Yes; I mourn for it ow easionally, but what good does that Got