THE DAUGHTER OF A PRODICAL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3215, 11 May 1911, Page 3

THE DAUGHTER OF A PRODICAL

BY BERTHA M. CLAY, Authoress of “The Ironmaster’s Daughter,” Etc. CHAPTER V. , ; FACING THE STORM. Tlie funeral was over, and the will had been read. It. was a pitiful dccurnent. The family lawyer had come from London to see the thing through, and he confessed to having been completely deceived by liis late client. “I was quite under the impression,” said lie, “that Mr Lynn had accumulated considerable money in trade. I drew tip the. will myself, and was pleased to, find that everything had been bequeathed to Miss Lynn absolutely.” “Tli© poor fellow was really many thousands of pounds in debt,” Air Varden sighed. “He has even mortgaged his daughter’s property. There is little doubt that lie suffered from several form® of hallucination. Cheques have been discovered, made payable to ‘self,’ and signed by him. The' figures represent a fortune', while, as a matter of fact, liis account at the bank was overdrawn.” ,

“Softening of the brain, sir, the. result of years of brandy drinking.” Mr Tenby, the lawyer, shook bis bead gravely. “'A pity—a thousand pities for the girl, but the man who advanced money upon the. estate stands to lose it. Alias Lynn cannot be disturbed, unless, she was a party to the deed.” “Yon do not know Vera Lynn, sir.”

The lawyer shrugged his shoulders. “Her father committed a very serious fraud, but slie- is no way responsible for his action. I shall advise her to think twice before voluntarily becoming a beggar. What you have told me is no news to me, Air Varden..” •'There is such a. thing as family honour, sir. I believe that it is incumbent upon a. child to pay the debts of its parents, to the uttermost farthing, if able to. do. so j and vice versa.”

Air Tenby laughed. ‘Very pretty in theory—romance and sentiment, sir! If the family honour is at stake Aliss Lynn’s unde, Lord Cawdthorpe, should come forward. He is worth a million at least. In my humble opinion he has acted like a blackguard. I informed him by telegraph, and by registered letter, of bis brother’s death, and on the day of the funeral he merely wires his regrets at being unable to attend !■ Disgraceful!” Alo'umers and friends, gathered in little groups, nodded and whispered. All sorits of inniours were flying about, and there was some exhilarating scandal in store for the gossips of Glastonlee. Violet Carradice had listened to the reading of the will. She came quietly, and went away in the same subdued manner.

The very next morning Vera, received a letter from her. It was respectful—even appealing. She wanted money—a few hundreds would satisfy her. She had been discreet, and would continue to. be so. “Discreet!” sneered Vera. “And the story the gossip of the. hour. I cano.t help her, and I wouldn’t if I could.”

She destroyed the letter, and ignored Violet Oaradice.

A week passed, and Vera had resolutely refused to see a single caller A couple of ; dozen, cards lay upon the table, and the owners of many of them had doubtless been relieved by the young lady’s perverseness. In the light of present revelations the acquaintance of Aliss Lynn was hardly worth continuing. Some of her most intimate friends of the past had not cared to make any further, inquiry about her. •

In the meanwhile she had been facing the first real problem of her life. How was she to. face the future The very day after the funeral the tradesmen had become clamorous, and scarcely twenty pounds remained at the bank. The home she loved was hers no longer, and though it would be like rending soul and body apart she would have to leave it.

In the midst of such bitter reflections as these, the siting-room she had occupied since he father’s death—a small study behind he library—was invaded by John Russell. He was looking considerably ruffled and angry “How dare you?” she said, the colour flaming into her face. “Haven’t you the decency to respect my wishes?” “Decency? Rot! Igo your absurd letter less than- an hour ago, and you would have' had me here the day it was delivered if I hadn’t been a couple of hundred miles away on business. I had to, handle your butler rather roughly, poor old chap.’ He advanced towards her, with ,a.nds outstretched, his blue eyes alight with his love.

“Vera, my darling, how could you do it? How could you fancy for one minute that I would put up with it. Yfe have been lovers for one blissful year, and we will remain lovers until the- end of all worldly things.” She put up both hands to her face to hide her anguish.

“Aly,decision is final, John,” she said chokingly. “Please go ; you are making it so terribly hard for me.” “Stuff!” he retorted derisively. “I know your case—your pleadings are here”—he tapped his breast-pocket—-

"but I don’t propose that, you shall make, shipwreck of two dives for merely sentimenriil reasons. lam not to be influenced by anything. I love you, and you love ir.e, and there’s an end cf u »< Li/, “You are presuming a great dead, John. Now lot us suppose that Ido not love you.” ‘But you do !”’ he answered quickly, almost fiercely. , “You have argued very prettily, but quite unconvincingly, in black and white, that we must part •because of one or two tilings over which you have no. control. Oh, I haven’t patience to go over all the silliness. I don’t care if you are penniless. You were wiling to marry me without a. coat to my back. . I may be of opinion that your notion® of family honour are out-of-date, but I don’t care tuppence what you do with Hazlebank. All I car© about is your own precious self.” ‘ ‘Tour flippancy is painful to me John, and your presumption is almost overpowering. Ido not love you—l do net even respect you—and am determined that this shall'be our last meeting.’

“Good heavens!” be said aghast. He. stared at her dizzily. “I don’t believe you!” “I am sorry, but I have spoken the truth, and in no case would I consent to marry a. man who has .nothing but the patronage of Jabsz Oorston to depend upon.. You have deceived me regarding your relations with that, hateful m!an from first to last. I would advise you to marry his daughter, and settle down in lie fold of the wolf. She is eating her heart out' for you.” Vera glared at him, a. sneer upon her lips the while. “Do you know how I hate those people? Perhaps you think me incapable of anything, bu.t sentiments of the milk-and-water type. Do you think that I could ever forgive Jabsz Corston —the scheming scoundrel who. first inveigled my father into his meshes, and then killed him as surely as if he had stabbed or shot him ? And now you are liis tool acid his plaything. Your loss of manhood and individuality lias killed my respect for you, and henceforward our wavs are apart.”

• John Russell! stood speechless for a full minute. Vera faced him, her eyes ablaze, her bosom heaving tumultuously. “Poor little girl!” ho said at last, “the trouble has upset your head. 1 am no tool of Corston’s. I am an equal partner with him in the Alidland Colliery. I don’t owe him a shilling. Bat wliat’s the use of talking?” “We have talked too much already, John Russell.’ Her voice quavered, her eyes were very mournful. “It must be gcod-byc now.” “Alusit it? You heap any amount of insult upon me, and coolly show me the door! I refuse to be got rid of so cheaply. Oh, Vera, Vera!” The tears started to his eyes. “What evil has taken possession of you ? No ? 1 will not- believe it.” His manner changed to one of fury, and he beat his hands together in liis utter impotence. “Please go,” Vera pleaded.

“You will let me kiss you, sweetheart ? Things may be different by a’nd bye.”

“No, no! Leave me; I can bear this no longer. I hate and loathe Glastenlee— the village, the people, the associations even the home of which I have been cheated. 1 dislike you because you are one of my enemy’s creatures. Good-bye, John Russell.”

He stood immovable for a while. He felt rooted to the spot. His brain seethed, and he wondered if it were all a hideous dream.

“Very well,” be said at hast. His voice was hoarse. “You will come to your senses when it is too late. I never believed that you were capable of so much jealousy and liatred, and perhaps it’s a lucky escape for me. I’ve given you all the love ” He broke off savagely. “Good-bye.” He turned and walked to the door, then lciked round. Vera’s back was to him, and she gave no sign. He did not know of the agonised strain at her heart. Life held little enough for him now, and he resolved there and then to break with Jabez Corston, and go away—anywhere —from Gilaistonleo.

He left the room, furious and despairing. Even as he stepped across the hall lie saw Air Oorston entering by the front door. The wealthy brewer was being shown in by a servant, and he nodded smilingly at Russell. His pleasantry ,however, was fleeting. Something wrong?” lie said. “lkm mustn’n mind Miss Lynn’s pride. In the circumstances it is very natural. I am here by appointment,—she made it herself. I intend treating her with every consideration.” “If you don’t I’ll shoot you!” Russell snapped. “See here, Oorston, I have already repented of that pairtnersliip—”

“Stuff and nonsense! IVait outside for me ;I won’t keep you long. I wonder if anybody is going mad because Harry Lynn was a knave and a fool!” He placed a kindly liand upon the young man’s shoulder, hut Russell shook it off impatiently 5 saying—“l’ll wait.”

He paced the drive restlessly, his hat swinging in liis right hand., The heat of the day seemed to be suffocating. Oh, it wouldn’t he possible for him to endure Glastonlee after this, and he would settle with Air Corston that very day. He gavo a convulsive sob, and then glared fiercely in f ront of him with blurred eyes. Ho heard the crunching of the gravel under quick feet, aind the voice of Jabez Oorston was speaking: “I’ve seen her, and I left her raving. Slie called me a thief and a murderer. I offered to; forego the whole of tire- interest, and she turned upon me,dike a tigress. She said that I knew all along that her father had no power to

mortgage the property, and that I 'was a criminal of the lowest sort. It appeal's that my character is as black as the bottomless pit- I hold a bill of sale over tlio furniture —every stick of it, and I destroyed tlie document in front of her. She laughed me to scorn, and would accept no favour at the hands of thief and a murderer! Then my lady told me that I should he free to take possession within a week.”

“I can’t bear it,” groaned John Russell. He turned upon Mr Corston. ‘‘Have you coveted this poor estate at any time?” “Good heavens, no! From a. business point of view it’s a loss. I’ve lent twelve thousand pounds on it, and it wouldn’t fetch more than eight in the most favourable market.” Russetl was silent.

“Now,’ continued Mr Goa-ston, "‘what’s the bee in your bonnet? It seems that Miss Lynn is determined to upset everything. It isn’t so easy £>s y..u imagine, young man, to execute a partnership deed, and creep out of it, just- when you think you will. But as your young woman hates me like poison g m not going to stand in your way.” ‘What are your intentions' regarding Hazlebank ” John ltussell asked, irrelevantly. ‘Oh, hang Hazlebank! I must take possession for my own protection, but it will be purely nominal for a year a.t least. A couple of the old servants shall remain .to take care of it.”

“Miss Lynn has chucked me over,” said Russell, “bag and baggage. You must get me out of Clastonlee if the partnership goes on” “Simple enough, my lad! You can live within easy reach of the colliery, and it will be a: good thing for one of us to bo on the spot. There are plenty of pleasant places outside Wellingliam.” “That it, then,” John Russell said. His face had cleared marvellously. “Yes,” answered. Jabez Oorston, heartily. They gripped hands. (To be Continued.)