THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL,: PORTLAND, SUNDAY MORNING,; JANUARY 21, ,1912
pV ;
M ONTAMOR: GAfe
Aucn.iiEa-iLt
Jf .1 . J .
Copyright i9n;r by The Won tyi AncR ican Cq
. ; SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING
CHAPTERS
tttllf OILBERT and fall friend, Charlea Daunoe, become
I estranged aver the affectione ef Netta Grty. a pretty
Australian girl, lh daughter of a aaeep rancher.
Gilbert i irououly reported to have boen killed In a
mine accident, Daunce then declare bla love for Nelta. and
telle b he la th Heir ta large eaietee In neja4 When
Gilbert return eud laarna of. thla, tha 8 Dbt a duel St
.afterward, there appear In England a young man, knewn
variously aa Chariee Daunce and ''Mr- Keberta.' Who I .
. aicepiird aa Rofcert Ualldare, the heir of Lord Montamor. and
: take the title and estates. Thla dlsplaoes Ranald Halldere,
a nephew, . y
When ftonert want ewav. ha waa an cased to hit cousin.
' Gwendolen 1-ialldart, a very beautiful young- woman. But
with lima the, engagement laied and Mtae Haildara wag
won by Ronald, who bad loved her from tha Bret, but whe
wits nut m uoiirkl a. wajwip a hie tnualn.
eineo rile- frtme ara ao materially affected, Ronald trifle
to Induce owendolen to break tha eiinanemeiit. Hut
wctttnolllte. While ehe had never profesaed anyiliing but dec,
friendship for him and only allowed him la win her after
a long courtship, ehe deoidea that, after all, ehe lovea him
dearly, and will hear to toothing- but their marriage ae had
been planned. An X while Ronald declare that the claimant
to tha fertuna la the rightful Lord Montamor, aha perslei
that h ! aa Impostor and detarmlnea to decide the matter,
n her ewa mind, at a garden party which eht, Know he
will attend, and at which aha cab ohtaln a good view of him.
When aba Anally face him, ah teata him bv referent. ia
Incidente la their llveev and particularly ta a Certain doru-
nent which both had algned and which had bean depoalud
4a a caaaet. of which aaob had a key. The elalmanfa failure
' Jo recall say mamcry af theaa harden Owendolen In her
2aunrj and make up hef mind that .the pretended Chariee
auno i an Imptatoyi that th real on may have Sb
tnurdered, Ta further (race the movement, of the r?trned
iolr. Gwendolen vlelt Netta Orey dluled a a lnl2!5
I (tunned to upon her hand I rln al.ad ilv Sw 1?
kt the tlm of th.lr flg;ement7 V" Ma lr'v, bert
Owandolen ha proved ta her wa aatlafutlun .v. .w.
yatarna heir la f Charla D.unoe, aid' ehe iiS.noJ.ni!
Ronald that. If he ahauld prove t? J? RooJrt?h25"t!. Vt
part: whereupoa i Ronald afreeg ta jolBrirlth Thr It ?,?,.:.
far the title and agtatea. leal
(CONTINUED FROM ItASTSUNDAT)
; CHAPTER XXIII
5 r . " . , Galling Bonda
"J TRAKOELT notih. when
r DdlOTta. t h b.
trothad fautband whosa
marrtaj with, her at tha
rural parish church Tiadl
bMn roughly mterruptad
by tha woman of whom
h aardi "I married my
oualn Owendolen-aha la
my wlf." Nefta waa ra
Havad, : 6ris6ld, rat har
than overwhelmed.
- In thaaa criaaa of I) fa,
mamory la vividly
wake&ad aa all tha ethar
mrnta,lraull(a. Netta
remembered that for M
toen oor year hsr Itob
art bad tean dead to hie
old gurroundlnja and every
human aout they anrl
Toned. - Bba recollected
that ko lona; a desertion
of any wife would go far
to break tha tie in tha
eae of any: man. She
reasoned, in a flah, that
all waa not logt Tha law might neln hepj-and ber
beloved. ' .. . . . ' '
'-""ut. uppogfris.'.flld, marry, her. deareet. yott
deaertad ber! It aha cboosea.eha ean aet yon free at
leaat. I undaratood tha maffia wa freed a woman
:r' ' v5
.0" tl-
.jjjl ''pi
i i
X . 'rfiaA jjiellll W.. , TVhy,,'.:aakad Robert. In tha bama of goodnaa-
" eg. ijWr 1 l-5 I am in ber way, and aha la In minewhy eheuld a
" B6-"' ' ,0 rkj&M."-' ' " ' allly eeremsny in a keeper'a cottata be the barrier
0" ' tt" between ua and bapplneeet Kor that tra the mar
M'E'i wanted on a charjo of murder 1'"
iainae; It ia of no uia. I dare not do any mora; X rauet
not rtux up my wretched, gtalned Ufa with your pure
being-. Wi ehall have to part. I muat Buffer X muat
reap aa I have bowo.
"Huahl' Netta glanced tn dismay at the open deor.
If any one should be awake and llsteninfl "Deareat, ba'
calm i I know how much you have suffered I you muat not
make up your mind thla way or that until tlhU trouble
has passed, ; We must give thJnge time to right them
selves. These worries that seem to fall from aomewhero
upon one's Ufa always remind ma of a stone thrown
into a pond. One must wait for tha addles and circllnga
from a husband -who- had deserted her only a, few year,
and you, why It waa almost a little lifetime you spent ' in the water to subside before tha water clear. I am
aa a bachelor, after you forgot what you naa a one.
Tea. that It tru enough, groaned Lord Montamorj
"but how can any poor wretch of a man cope, with a
; woman bent on revenging her supposed wronger
"Well, If aha revengea herself, tn your case she will
be, -aa- Annie -said -tha-xther- 4ay apeaking ofcoolr
-.'putting her nose off to punish ber face. Did you
not aay that 'she, waa engaged tu marry your cousin,
Captain; HaUdare, who waa already Lord Montamor
aura, certain,, that If you only wait things will right
xnemseivea a iitue.
She atopped nhort with a "Huahl" . for she board a
door open above, quick, eftergetto footsteps cross tha
landing down the staircase. She had hardly seated her--aelf
-nd-aaaume4 aa- nonchalant an . air aa ha eould
when a tap came at the sitting room door.
'I thought you were still up." said Nuraa Ousan,
entering- in anawer to Netta'a 'Come tn." "X beard
befora yau arrived T1 Can aha raary,blm after aha . voices. My lord, your mothsr haa begun to move; she
baa accused frott of being her hutband-at leaa.t, with
out divorcing you, Which Bba can eaaily do If aha
llkea7"Vi., -k:.
"My God." There waa no profanity ia tha cry
uttered by the unhappy man aa he turned toward
Netta; It waa one of titter, touching thankfulness.'
- Oh!" he faltered. Snatching hef hands and hold
ing them tightly to bla breaet, "my darling, my com
forter, that you should have aeerl this Way out-that
you ahould be the Portia to release a poor doomed
creature from this awful fatal For , If I lost you, my
Netta, I could not lire I should die In despair."
"Nonsense! We must not even say that horrid
word, : Said Netta, neatlln&t closely ta him, tor he
had opened bla arms and drawn her to bla throbbing
heart eapain indeed! We must flght-flght in self-defense-fight
thla aeoond, battle to be able to live
together In peace, for the first battle la at an end."
He jfreWhed. "Tha first-battle at an end? What
do you mean r' he slowly asked.
What I Bay," she returned. "Tour first battle waa
t establish your identity as Robert Lord Montamor.
If thla .lady liaj not dented you. If ahe had not per
suaded Captain Ualldare to eat hia own worda and
ta second ber In Saaertlng you Were' not Lord Mont
amor, you .. would bf firmly settled In the house of
Lord a, aa you told me you could not help wishing to
be. Now you may triumphantly declare yourself Lord
Montamor tomorrow, for your only enemy has turned
and aay a you are I" . 7 . , , '
v In his perturbation, his misery after his Inter
rupted wedding, arid the shock of seeing documents
with his own signature which proved that Gwendolen
was actually hie wife, he had forgotten that by her
conduct she had Virtually withdrawn her denial of
his Identity, therefore, that the caee "HaUdare vg.
Paunco" Waa ended. Gwendolen'a acknowledgment of
him rendered it null and void. i . .
"But what good would that be without yout" He
clasped her close and kissed her passionately lip,
yea, brow. And every-kiss seemed to give her new
life, fresh power and etrength.
' ''It need not be without me, dearest love, my own,"
ahe murmured, A greater happiness than she had
f lit alnce her father s death seemed to have dawned -in
bar soul: she fondly thought It was the preoureor
of a etlll greater earthly Joy. "Bhe has only to-be
persuaded to ask that that foolish marriage may be
dissolved, and I am sure it will be done. I hav
always heard that the laws of England are Just."
. "But"-nce more he frowned. Even in his anguish
his chivalry forbade his dreaming of appealing to
any woman to release him especially a woman he
had injured In the past. "But. my riarllnfc, who will
uggaat such a course to her one of the most head
strong, positive, aagreselve females alive? I can
not even If I would, disgrace mvoelf by asking mercy
from one to whom 1 owed affection, which I never for
one instant gave."
"I will tell you who will," she quietly replied: "Cap
tain Haildara. You have told me how good he was.
how, although he lost his title, his estates, when he
recognised you, he did it, without a second thought
because he was true, honest, Junt. When he hears of
of us, he will help us. I am sure he will. How? By
persuading Miss HaUdare to apply for a divorce."
. "How can a man never really married playing at
wedding a woman th the Scottish fashion so lightly
that avert when his memory began to return he forgot
what he had done-bp divorced? It Is a farce!" he bit
terly tried, H'But atop, don't speak; f think If Ronald
oould make -Owendolen -merciful instead of - revengeful
he might apply to have that absurdity annulled. But,
oh. Netta. I feel hopeless, helpleae, as if we were doomed
ll three of us!" y
H groaned and shuddered. That look which Netta
d learned to know-ao-waU-durina -the alma when
father was sick unto death, and Robert had lingered to
be with her when ha ought to have been on his home
ward journey to resume the title which devolved upon
him kt the death of Lord Montamor, deepened Into a
tragic expression of despair in hia eyes, upon his drawn
features, tttia watched him as hie eye became fixed
Rnd Beamed to start out of his head, as his jaw fell, as
e looked like one suddenly confronted with a horrible
unawalted doom. . -v..- i;-.
Robert." ehe said at last In ber alarm at that Im
rnovabla atara, The low cry rouaed him. He shuddered,
I prang tip, and as It were, pushed away some Invisible,
tangible presence from him,
"My Godj , I am haunted, Netta, ! am haunted!" he
(arCdly -cried, turning to ber. "I ace hateful, awful
is develonlnar avmrjtoma whloh Point to a chanaa. The
doctor wiahed to ba called ahould these appear. Shall
I wake the aervants and send for him."
"No. Wa can go, can we notT" eaid Netta eagerly.
"I say we because you do not know your way across
the heath, Robert and I do."
, Hastily Netta pinned on her garden hat and they
aped along tha road, he and she In the moonlight. The
doctor waa wakeful after his eidtlng "call" to Lady .
Montamor. Very aoon all three were back at the
villa. Lord Montamor opening the door with hia latch
key. "You had better both be there, I think, If ahe re
gain consciousness." he told them; so Netta and Robert
crept after him Into the room where the patient lay,
moving, aa one awakening from a deep sleep.
Doctor Sanderson's cool touch upon Lady Mont
amor's wriet seamed to arrest her returning attention.
She suddenly opened her eyes, gave blra a dased stare,
then her eyea turned from hlro to Robert, who stood
anxiously watching her at the side of the bed.
Then she smiled. "My son!" she murmured, and
with an effort etretobed out her hands. He seated him
self by. her, and with a depth of emotion which sur
prised himself, stooped and kissed those withered hands,
murmuring tender words of filial affection.
Meanwhile, Netta held the light for the doctor to
mix a draught, while the nurse discreetly turned her
back upon the sick mother and her son, and busied her ;
self with some detail; until Doctor Sanderson bad ad
ministered th draught and leaving directions with her,
beckoned Lord Montamor -and Netta to follow hint
"You are my patient Miss Bayers, so X have o alter
native but to order you to bed," he smilingly a id. "Tha
most favorable turn has been taken. Lady Montamor)
need only now be carefully watched and tended to be, X
quite believe, completely restored to health. And you,
my lord? You have left your motor at the innf Might.
1 offer yqu a bedroom for tonight? One is always kept
ready In case of a sudden visitor." .
Presently Lord Montamor and the doctor left tha
villa together, and Netta, after a whispered conversa
tion outside Lady Montamor's room with the gratified
Nuree Susan, who took an altogether abstract interest'
In her patients, and waa, "in high feather" at Lady "
Montatnor's Improvement retired to reet.
She slept soundly. The relief of improved condi
tions hardly hoped for Is one well known to all those
who are undergoing ordeals, domestic or otherwise. .
When the entrance of Annie with her tea awakened her
2! "In ?h- m ilr-.l221noJVe5.w,, ; u on t interfere) "till you have beard my varalon
S;Jn-?,f IS.I1:,.4 .hAdi!! tha ridiculous affair. ' If I had only; remembered
f.JI.. kt..h.. fi.. t: i... i... . ' ... ci, ,t aiineiore i anouia noi pe
. ..,hiimi iiku uveii tier oie companion r t m.
and object in life, the day before either Charles her
uevunco or J i in uuueri naa come XO live in the ad
CHAPTER XX1Y
Drus ex Maching ' .
' i a. '' v
ONALD HALLDARB sat gloomily !n his Btudy.,
he called his breakfast room half gunroom.
half library. His untasted breakfast waa before
him. He had not slept. He had no appetlto for
food, for last ; night he had been summoned by Gwen
dolen to hear the whole truth how she had married
Robert In a mutual fit of youthful passion while they
were staging together in Scotland, and how at last tier
certainty that "the pretender" waa Robert and ho other
bad driven ber to interrupt bla marriage with "the
squatter's daughter from Australia."
Ha reoajled the Interview how, in his first bitterness,'
bo bad reproached her with a lingering affection for the
lover of her youth, and how she had biased with wrath. ;
Bba bad never looked handsomer, a grander creature,
than when, facing "blm in sc6rn, she had Bald, " ir he -
were to ba killed If I did not acknowledge the wretched
He, I would not do it!" at Use same time, when. In his
passion of mingled anger and love, lie would have em
braced her, daring him to touch her. "It I ware a man,"
aba had disdainfully cried, "any wife, no matter how
alight her matrimonial tie might be, would be ae eeored
to me aa a vestal of old to tha men f their time, or aa a
professed nun to a Catholic!"
And, like tha man In scripture, he had "gone away
aorrowful." - Tha blow to find bow complete Owendolen
considered their mutual alienation to be had dazed him,
paralysed hia thinking ' powers for the actual moment
Only during tha ailent watches of the night, lying wake
ful, an Idea bad eome to him.. Why should this slen
derest of slsnder ties between Owendolen and Robert,
whose cerebral accident bad led to complete oblivion of
It, remain, when, in the court dfVoted to suah matri
monial legalities, it would be a mere matter f form to
set it aside? '?,'v !
"I believe she loves me," he waa sorrowfully musing,
aa he almost unconsciously contemplated that undis
turbed breakfast table. "It Is only her crupul6uB idea
of what la proper and pure that la between us. Then
proud Gwendolen In a dlvoroe courtl Itnpossiblsr"
Arriving at that mental cul-de-aa f6r perhaps the
tenth or twelfth time, ha waa Interrupted by tha
entrance of bla man, with the news that Votd Mont
amor wished to bob bias on urgent business which .
would not wait. ' i
.Wherw ln reply td bla "brin. hlr4 In," be, ,wlth i
hope leaping up In hia heart rose to welcome Lord ,
Montamor, his spirits fell gome what, seeing , the ,
baffled bridegroom ao theory and self-eonfident . ,L.r
"Have you heard tha newa how my mother haa
had a stroke But she Is getting better, thank God!"
exclaimed Robert as, In anticipation of future Joys,
ha wrung hia cousin's limp hand., Certainly, : Ronald
dlamally felt thla waa Do disconsolate bridegroom,
tha hero of an Interrupted wedding! "I say. 'thank .
Ood,' old boy, for If my mother failed ma the Lord
only knows bow I ahould persuade everybody that
X am myself!" .. v. . .
"You have Gwendolen now," aald Ronald, reproach- '
fully. "Under the circumstances, that maana ail.
motto ahould be Tacetr,r " 7 " 'S9,m., Mie" ni, d'sBfaoing myself!" cried
...'Oh, you know, thenr Robert, face fell. That Sw.ivUtoetnflueJlceUJh1h U
IB just what 1 cams about old fallow. Do prove tha !k2i,y, i-12?ii.n,Ka fhf? ' t hVi. .f'.?1 .men
Old adage, 'FeUow feeling makes us wondrous kind" VSStJttt atlwlf 1 th6 '"ntaat
ana persuaae uwenaoien to listen to nsr Petter Belt 'r.rkVr' u ihi w-.:'..m. ... -
' " , ... - ' " - J ,. u u VUUT
haa been no more to ma than your houaekeeper, who
opened the doon thinking me anything but what X
amrano"nyifig to geenimi' tertoir to summon ytstfr raifl;'
Ronald gave a gulp. ' He leaned forward and
gripped Rabert'a hand. - ' . . "
"you have finished oft my last atom of a scruple,
t am yours, to do what you please, and when you
please," ba cried, "rolly-chlldish folly ought to ba
Quashed, should be Quashed.' and without publicity
publicity for such a trifle as this gams of play of youra
and your coueln'B should be able to ba annlhUatad
with a stroke of tha pen!"
. e- e e . e e ;.'S
It was soma little time before, Ronald could" per
suade hia beloved to embark upon a publlo method of
righting her wrongs. When Bba "listened to reason,"
as ba called it she became mora ber old, proud self.
'She waa willing to ba divorced freed from the sllrht
hackle of the Scottish episode. But aba waa not
willing to be talked about
"I am afraid we. ail of us. have been such food (or
gossip that we are shelved, dearest!" be lightly
returned. "We are stale uninteresting! Nothing leas
than a good old murder case would- reauacitata peo-
ple'a interest In our affairs. Why do you startf X
assure you there will be no duels between myself and
poor old Robert We are fast friends we mean to aaa
each other through, even it tha doing would lead ua
through the typical fire and water"
"I wish that man had never been born!" Inter
rupted ahe, bitterly. However. Ronald had sufficient
power over ber emotions to "bring her to reason," aa
he, termed It Next day he accompanied her to the
family lawyer. The whole affair of tha rash Scotch
marriage waa gone Into, and tha train of legalities
necessary to free Gwendolen from Robert and Robert
from Gwendolen, was aet in motion.
Then came a comparative lull. Ta Gwendolen, who
felt as if that tie to the man aha suspected of foul
play during bla Australian exile branded her heart and.
soul. It seemed aa It the lawyers never would move.
But at last the ease was down for hearing. In which
Gwendolen Haildara, otherwise; by reason ot that
bygone Scottish marriage, the Countess Montamor,
sued for nullity of that union, contracted years before
with -W cousin, Robert Haildara, " now Lord Montamor.
CH AFIER XXy ,
Release-anL Arrest T
B USUAL, tha eolicitors on both Bides did not
make their clients dance attendance at the
courta - of Justice until , their ' presence waa
actually required. One morning Gwendolen,
seated at the breakfast table with the faithful Miss
purnford, received a telegram bidding her to be at her
solicitor's offices in an hour the case would be on dur
ing the morning. .. t " .-, .,- '
rWhat a mercy!" aha devoutly exclaimed although
she paled to the lips. "Oh, Durhpie my release is In
sight don't you think Bo?" ,.
- "My dearest girl, I am sura I hope so," returned
Miss Durnford cautiously. "But when people' come to
my age they have ' learned . not to think thla or that
They only "hope and trust." , ..'
"oont damp my spirits of-you will have me ool
a tie which, after all, was similar, ta the blown bubble)
of a allly child? f ...
"X waa mad," aha told relf, as she' vaguely Watched!
. tha.atream'of people women, men-of the crowd pabe
lng and repassing; bewlgged and black-gowned bar
- nsters 'putlng- Quickly, along, briefs In band, ' either
alone, or ln Intimate conversation with ' a brotbai
. counsel; clerks with brief-bags, nondescript parsonages
whoeeemed bant on badgering the stalwart , constables
guarding tha doors. ; ?'I was mad!" she bitterly thought.
t "but . X , waa sa young!" '-Ck $ , :A ; a ;
HoW many nave not adduced that plea in roltlgaUon
of their wild vagarisl Gwendolen's sad eyes watched
v tha passing figurea In searoh ot tha youth which per
petrates mad follies,. But hot one simple girl or tool-
Ish youth thronged that gallery, j Tha moving crowd
waa a typical assemblage of tha world worn and world
stained, There were graceful woman, men with tha hall
mark of publlo achool, and college. But the women
- bad evidently ; made . themselvea acquainted with th
- "make-up box" essential ta those who figure behind tha
rootllghte of the atage proper, gind the stage whereon
real life plays Its dramas, 'and the men looked blase.
conceited, self-assertive, and all ' of one unattractive v
- - pattern,-, Whloh successfully' veiled, any originality they',
might havey burled deep in their attenuated minds.
' "And I am. to be Ilk theee!', Gwendolen bitterly
1 thougba "Oh) wb 4ld J . not,; die. .lunbomT,; Why is
' anybody ' boml ' It is such an awful . responsibility te .
bring children mto the world, that tn)r rnarvei la that
:. anybody caa ba found "to 10' itir', f.j,i V-!v-'-:ri- --'-'vl-';t '
. Aa Intgrrupter. ot Such mournful reflections earn -,
Mr. Hale, bustling, Important ,;-
v"WUl you kindly comet" ha suggested. So ah and
' bar companion followed bhn, past the awing door. Into,
tha oourt where, tn a brief glance around, dwanilolea t
perceived the majesty of the law . In tha parsons of a
apeotgoled, grim old Judge enthroned under a canopy,
some personages of lesser Importance seated at Inter-
, vala Just below him, and an array of barrister tn wigs
ana gawB factor :tha guprema authority, j ? - "
There waa an important buah. a silence whlck .
Beamed to Gwendolen, whose firat experience of law
courta 'Was this, to detract front ths likeness of tha ,
oourt to a small theater. Bhe and Miss Durnford
wars placed tn aeats ab,ova those occupied by tha
barristers, by Mr. Hale. The tiers ef seats sloped.
Ilka theater stalls. To the left the reporters occu
pied a curtained corner. Then Owendolen suddenly .
. saw the man aha bad once loved anA eapoused, who"
had been mad with love after their companionship
on the lonely Scottish hills, mad enough t. bind her
to bin) for Ufa without thought of anything but bla
passion, and who bad then left bar, without a word
without even'' a message-to disappear and not only
forsake bar, but. family and friends,' until of. late,
when .sought attar to take bit Aaad father's place.
- She gave him a long,-steady look, which be either
All not aee or pretended hot to aee. Then ahe heard
hef case stated by her cflunsM. ; "j
llawai'ir.Kr'CV man of treat natural talent
tar ,..
klm f
A'
aa well as a akllled lawyer; and. added to; the many
giita which bad . aided. bU up.ward caretr, he pos-.
- sesseA a mellifluous, persuasive voice. In slow but
convincing phrases ha told Gwendolen's etory, Hs
, depleted ber aa the Innocent vglrL full of fresb. .
delight In Ufa " upon her emancipation from th '
schoolroom, meeting her . cousin Robert first as a,
grown-up maiden, he being an emdtlonal. Imperious
youth. Deprecating tha mistaken Idea ot throwing;
. two young people together, alona." in romantic sur
roundings, with no let ler hindrance, such as work'
or "any j other , occupation aa a drag upon their
impulses, he blamed neither young man nor maiden
for a spontaneous he dared even aay spurious lovs
affair, whloh culminated tn the foolish pseud mart
-riage, the annulment of which he waa Bow demand
ing In the bub of ths pseudo' wife, whose - union ,
with ths pseudo ' busbasd bad .never been eoneum-1
.'mated.''.':'
After detailing the circumstances tha taking refuge
during a storm in a keeper's cottage, the marriage by
declaration before a witness the sliver casket waa pro
duced and solemnly opened.
The " little" Btbla" ln which -Robert HaUdare- and""
Gwendolen HaUdare had written their rtamea and
declared themselves man and wife before a witaees
aroused great Interest In court Persons In the pobllo
gallery leaned over or craned their necks In their .
endeavor to sea the book, tha Intertwined looks of
hair, even . the velvet-lined Interior of th casket
Gwendolen, as she stood, white to the lips with the
publicity which to ber meant degradation, beautiful.
If stern, in ber tremendous effort to subdue all natural
feeling and be a stoic, felt all eyes focused upon ber,
aa aha said "yea" to the various auggestlona of her
counsel. It was ber hour of supreme agony. But
duty duty to . Robert whe loved Netta, duty to
Ronald, whom ahe loved even aa he loved her sup
ported her. She retained complete self-possession, and,
-when she etepped down from -the witness box, flit
calm enough to follow the rest of the case as If it
had bad nothing to do with herself personally.'
The case was soon at an end, as there was no op
position on the part ot the respondent Robert Lord
Montamor, now . recognised ae such by Owendolen,
who bad been the only important antagonlat to hlaa
pretensions, was a manly, Interesting witness, aa ha'
briefly submitted to examination by.hls own legal
representative. A few words from , the Judge, and
, Gwendolen waa a free woman. She hardly Understood
or appreciated the fact aa Mr. Hale, after escorting -her
-out of court shook hands with ber and congratu
lated her on having "won her case." Hair dased by
tthe, unexpected rapidity ; ot the law, which aha bad r
learned to believe waa a slow-moving moral machine, '
) her attention waa arrested en leaving the oourt by a
crowd assembling about and around the man from
whosa claim upon her she Wag, eft actually freed.
"Xrfokl" she said to Mr. Hale, , who was, prattling j.
In her ear she hardly understood what he aald. "There f
Is poor Robert being hire tied by a lot of people! Oh.
, look! There-is a policeman! What can It ber v
"I Will see," said thetold lawyer; and he ran off
so nimbly that Gwendolen, little suspecting that tha
crowd meant what it did mean, laughed In her new
; feeling af emancipation.-
"What a shame! How horrid! Why do they allow
People' to be eo rude?" he was Baying to Mies Durn-
5 ford,' when,- to her amassment the crowa parted, a ?v
carriage drew up, and ahe eaw Robert onoe her lover.
now her repudiated spouse, entering It with av stalwart
looking man in plain clothes and a coiietaple m the
blue uniform. -
"Pumple,, something la ' wrongl' the stammered. '
clutching at Mlsa XJurnford. "What shall we dot "What
can wej g i :
:
whence aald., ,l don't want you to look too T lbeautituf liJi?9 Ut' Hal0. H will explain
Miss Jiauau.ro, bui just oeauiuui enougb to prejudice
joinins "run." anerwara snannnr Quarter with .h
Ureys; the days before both men, perhaps, she had
often thought, because f propinquity alone, had fallen
In love with her, had become active rivals.
"Nurse Busan Is Just agoin' to bed, ma'am, and :
left word that her la'shlp was adoih' splendid' aald
Annie reassuringly, as she noted her young mistress'
sudden pallor and evident distress, "tio you've no
call, ma'am, ae X did hexpect to call rny lady.' for to
worrit yourself, The hother nurse eeems a real good '
sort She's 'ad her orekn8 in the kitchen, and 'as rgone
on duty,' they call it, for all the world like the sojers, '
o, has t did say, you've downright ho call to worrit
As aoon as Netta was dressed she went to th sick '
room, and waa allowed a glimpse of Lady Montamor "
In a calm alumber. While ehe wAs etlll at breakfast '
sne aw nw imiovra come oriSKiy in at the gate.
1 -before I should not be here worrvlnar you now
met Owendolen once aa a child with her hair down
r oacK. i remeniDerea mat. dui innumf .
acquaintance with each other ended there. What I
clean forgot waa that gome .yeara 'later I was Invited
to stay, together With her, at a shooting box lt
Scotland. We were the only young unmarried people, ,
and went walking , and flahing, and propinquity -
cru w ipunaw, vpvnianvuua passion youtniUI
luua
"1 don't remember anything of all that, but 1 take, -...vV... - 0 '. loi
your word for It. Dumple." said Gwendolen, and riSit ' un uSutff KVl&V
ing for her maid she ordered her 4o prepare her Laet xclted-looklng throng
amartest mournins: costume and the 7 fnfJ.Z? , Montamor and when, on art
match. . 1 . - ' H"W
w When Miss luriiford, who always looked the duenna,
but who epent the shortest., time cosslble over, ,
a. in your favor.'
"Nothlnar but be Oulat khd nal1i ... ...
turned Miss Durnford. "You Hit down here, .and X
M llli. VVI 1 at M eSM4 atla-.Jt1ar ?t j. 1 - VI. ... .
evervihinsr.
'But Just as Miaa Durnford annfc th, m
rim. tAevat'A tharM Vt iaua -. i- ' .
looxea pais and arrave-nnt
felt at ease when he saw
aSsembllna- ahm, r
rrlvinar at tha .nnt
man wnwin ne recognnea ag a government deteotlve ' ' a I
in company with an inspector Tn uniform speaking" :V
with XnrA Mnnlnmni. egna tnamnsiaa ...a...Z . l'
gesttons made by Mlsa Ulldare and- others crossed ' -
his mind, to his discomfiture. i ,... , . , . ' i -
the atalrcaae looklns. m Dumni. .;:T,r 'wn1 " , lnapectorr he had asked, nearlng V ; ;
fttiurlne- her-a lovelv. e-lrl ah. "wahv h.-k handsomer than ahe had ever seen her. evn IhZT 2 hi'.'"1 .w?"r?:."ra mpniamor Btqod, silent pallid, ;
marrlags. for if 1 were hot Irrevocably bound to her; l'.lVtJ MI Dumfofd-, .RUVrrth
... -m - -,- -, -, :t r. v. - rmt who anan
to da Vounw naaalan which am tn lir., , toilette, Was awaiting, her former DUDll below tn .
day, Bhe had given me a ring; had satd. 'With thla 0'ay jj! i2. P,S. hr he saw
ring i . tnee . wea,- ana tnat set me thinking t':'w wi
and there waa no getting out of It, I knew very we
my lamer wouia noi neien te our engagement for a
moment. He waa perfectly rabid, on the subject of
th marriage of cousins; fndeedr he barred all rela
tive candidates for mutual matrimony. X had
that Wild feeling for her which a young fellow who
nag uvea etraignt ooes nav rpr, pernaps, the very
flret girl that comae his way, 60, one day. when a
.... . ,. -.c' v, r ne noun up. irenioimc. bo various. o majiv had
Jr.?.". mlJr.Zr,&?i-J'Z been, Holeert'snasds: .during - 'Mb abandonment of om neeel itormot Van hart h.h.rlan:
i . - . . anuiner inac sne never Knew ' keeper B cottage, I took th bull by . the horna. ; f
wABLt?.1.ti't;' IffilSa tei'SST. thf room- na- ? ? deoraratlon before the keeper s wlfi. ws
her in his arms, kissed her with tender earnestness, she
felt overjoyed. ', ;
"I am eo thankful," he ad, when she told him the
nurse expressed themselves dellgtited with their pa
tienra Improvement. "For, Netta. beloved, I am off to
see Ronald, to persuade him to influence Owendolen to
Wrote our-namee and declared our marrtaara In
little oMUlble we offered her a guinea for, She
took that guinea.. The keeper'e wife wrote hers, and
that little Bible, together with our hair bltg tied
together with silk ere the content of that much
?Pp.,.i-t'l.mJi.eh':'l ?L m?iWJl. t annulled, human being csri cut Vhls Oordlan knot, can free
4ft v-.'. w.w ,1, ,, (uuri, 1 Hiieii,. i, aira nr. u nntn i,w,nnti en ann m ftvnn T i -
. " ui !, urn., ii me ciuo, -.'.iitf ".! . , ."it" - unneid
in, n.inuriauu ttpjrreu, ana, alter seeing
his r"tieit, was ahie t aSRiir him he might be absent
all dav, ir neceaiy. 0, In lews thaft an hour ha was
speeding to town. , , ,
did mot intrude rii Don her sllenna with an rm..v.
they motored to the old lawyer's otflces. a atones throw
from tha Lavs Courts., . ,
1 Gwendolen mounted the few steps from the hand
pome entrance to Mr. Halt'B special office silently, fol-
lowed by her companion. Bhe felt unable toepeak. , it
wea not only tha anxiety to free herself from the mle
erebl shackles , Which - bound her, but a deep, vesus
.dread of Rotiert, Lord Montamor . which 1 seemed to
paralyse tnoufc-iu an leeung. cne entered Mr. Hale'sj
room like an automaton. She met the white-haired
01a man, sa ne . ouaiiea
smiles, like, a creature
and blood..-. She- followe
acrose a quiet square,,
winaing stairways, ai
In a darker corridor,
dows, stone everywhere, swing doors, the entrances to
tne various courts ' guaraea ty gooa-numored-ionkinc.
iv
The Inanflctnr drew .him aalria. "if. . i.k
I'm aftaid, alr," , he said, ..Then he whlspered In his
ear: "So you see, Blr, there was nothing left to do but
to arrest., him." 'x -v ' ; "
"But how-under what ' namef' asked Mr,' "Hale,
hreathleeely. ; He Was not a lawyer' for nothing. He
. had, had unpleasant suspicions, which, aa it was not
part of his role to entertain them, he dismissed in hie
- own mind ag -frivolous-and -vesatlous. - "Whatcan -
uviu iuii(iiiur hits ouni iu jumiiir an arreiti'
-r Ann' t unhw anvtiiln nhAiit tfnnf.mn. ,
of TtoVa'X' W tbalns.r
A him like x somnambulist-' a." lo,.?It "...'? L. G- V
of justice. ,uP gzl zvrxiz v;.70; ? v-wi.a"ouiJt,-
mg ciMBtrHto passages, until . iri.i .vr",w: V-" .V.'u;;"11
lishted d mly bv mull oned win '" ""' "'" - """'- !.a"'.T. :." ?-''. a---e'a v,
.' vraiiLru : uu ui mi kq ut uuiuci . - .. ..
ana niw rvnriiai '.. " ...... 4 " t . ine vanoue ewuna guaraeu ny gooa-numorra-ionKins;.
gased blankly at ,hlm and ahtxilf his unoonaerned constables, he found bar and Miss Durn
nean. "tlh." r he arroaned. "how deceived vou ara.
Nothing In this world would persuade Gwendolen td
have anything ta da with th .only authority which
can rid you of eaoh "Other the divorce court Judge,
Aiej aaata le a , amViss B11i-ja
"What a strange pla .' Whispered Mian Durnford.
Gwandolen nodded What bad ehe don, ah asked
herself, t find herself bare, auing for th rupture of .
"My , uoai-' exciaimeo tne ; om man,- norrifled and
that waa the news which he had t Convey to Gwen
dolen Gwendolen, who lied identified the ar rented man.
.Tames Gilbert, as her cousin, Robert Ualldare, Lord
Montamor J -
'(CONCLUDED NEXT fSUNPAlr) "
i