Newspaper Page Text
*3
THE SUNNY SOUTH
THIRD PAGE
Tristram of Blent
« „ .. «r '
By
# Centl^kt 1900 9
& Synopsis of ^
Preceding Chapters
Synopsis of preceding chapters: Lady Ade
laide, wife of sir Robert Edge of Blent Hall,
•loped with Captain Pltzhubert. Sir Robert
««d In Russia, presumably in time for Lady
Adelaide and Fltzbubert to marry and so make
®**r so®. Harry, legitimate heir to Sir Rob-
'* l * estates. They learn later, however, that
the date of Sir Robert's death 'has been given
Incorrectly, and Harry Is not the rightful hetr.
They keep the matter a secret, and eventually
Harry comes Into possession of the estates and
resides with his mother at Blent Hall. Un
known to Lady Adelaide, a Mme. Zabrlska and
Mr. Jenklnson Neeld are also In possession
of the secret and Mme. Zabrlska with her
uncle. Major Duplay, come to reside at Mer-
rton Lodge near Blent Hall. Harry learns from
his mother that he is not rightful heir to Blent,
but they determine to hold the title for him
kt any cost. To further his cause he decides
to marry Janie Ivers, heiress of FSlrholme. but
finds two rivals In Bob Broadley and Major
Duplay. The latter learns of his unfortunate
birth from Mina Zabrlska. He Informs him
that he Intends to tell Ivers. and they quarrel,
Harry winning In a brisk tussle. Neeld be
comes the guest of Tver at Falrholme.
CHAPTER. SIX
continued
t T says much for Major
Duplay that his utter
and humliatlng defeat
by the pool had not
driven him Into any
hasty action or shaken
him In his original
purpose. If he could
by any means avoid It
he was determined not
to move while Lady
Tristram lived. Harry
might force him to act
sooner; that rested with
Harry, not with him.
Meanwhile he declined
to explain even to Mina
what had occurred by
the pool, and treated her open Incredulous
ness r.s to Harry's explanation with si
lence or a snub. The major was not happy
at thlst imeiyet his unhaoplness was noth
ing to the deep woe and. Indeed, terror,
which had settled on Mina Zabrlska. She
had guessed enough to see that for the
moment, at least, HaiTy had succeeded In
handling puplay so roughly as to delay.
If not to thwart, his operations; what
would he not do to her, whom he must
know to be the original cause of the trou
ble.? She used to stand on the terrace
at Merrlon and wonder about this; and
she dared not go to Falrholme lest she
should encounter Harry. She made many
good resolutions for the future, but there
was no comfort in the present days.
The resolutions went for nothing, even
In the moment In which they were made.
She had suffered for meddling; that was
bad; It was worse to the Imp not to
meddle; inactivity was the one thing un
endurable. She, too, like o.d Mr. Neeld
in London town, was drawn by the in
terest of the position, by the need of
seeing how Harry Tristram fought bis
light. For four days she resisted; on
the evening of the fifth, after dinner,
while the major dozed, she came out on
the terrace in a cloak and looked down
the hill. It was rather dark, and Blent
hall loomed dimly' in the valley below.
She suited the hood of her cloak over
her head and began to descend the hill;
she had no special purpose.; she wanted
a nearer look at Blent, and it was a fine
night for a stroll. She came to the road,
crossed it after a momentary hesitation,
and stood by the gate of the little foot
bridge, which. In the days before enmity
arose, Harry Tristram had told her was
never locked. Mina advanced to the
middle of the bridge and leaned on the
parapet, here eyes set on Blent hall.
There were lights in the lower windows;
one window on the upper floor was light
ed, too. There, doubtless. Lady Tristram
lay slowly dying; somewhere else in the
house Harry was keeping his guard and
perfecting his defenses. The absolute
peace and rest of the outward view, the
sleepless vigilance and unceasing battle
within, a battle that death made keener
and could not lull to rest—this contrast
came uoon Mina with a strange pain-
Xillness; her eyes filled with tears as she
stood looking.
A man came out Into the garden and
lit a cigar; she knew it was Harry; she
did not move. He sauntered toward the
bridge; she held her ground; though he
should strike her, she would have speech
with him tonight. He was by the bridge
and had his hand on the gate at the
Blent end of It before he saw her. He
stood still a moment, then came to her
side and leaned as she was leaning, over
the parapet. He was bareheaded; she
saw his thick hair and his peaked fore
head; he smoked steadily; he showed
no surprise at seeing her; and he did not
speak to her for a long time. At last,
still without looking at her, he begun.
She could just make out his smile, or
thought she could; at any rate, she was
sure It was there.
"Well. Mina de Krles,” said he. She
started a little. "Oh, I don't believe In the
late Zabrlska. I don't believe you’re
grown up; I think you're about fifteen-
beastly age.” He put his cigar back in
his mouth.
“You see that window?” he resumed
in a moment "And you know what'3
happening behind it? My mother’s dy
ing there. Well, how's the major? Has
he got that trick in better order yet'."'
She found her tongue with difficulty.
"Does tody Tristram know about—
about me?' she stammered.
"I sometimes 'ie to my mother," said
Harry, flicking his ash Into the river.
"Why do you He to your uncle, though""
"I didn't lie. You know I didn't lie.”
He shrugged his shoulders wearily anl
relapsed Into silence. Silence there was
till, a minute or two later. It was broken
by a little sob from Mina Zabrlska. He
turned his head toward her: then he took
hold of her arm and made her face round
to him. The tears were running down
her cheeks.
“I’m so. so sorry.” she murmured. "I
didn't mean to. and I did It! And now-
now I can't stop it. You needn't believe
me if you don't like, but I'm—I'm miser
able and—and frightened."
He flung his cigar into the water and
put his hands In his pockets. So ha
stood watching her. his body swaying a
little to and fro: his eyes were suspicious
of her. yet they seemed amused also,
and they were not cruel: It was not such
a look as he had given her when they
parted by the pool.
"If it were true?” she asked. "I mean,
couldn't Lady Tristram someho*-—”
"It whht were true? Oh, the nonsense
ycu told Duplay?” He laughed. . "If It
was true. I should be a nobody and no
body's son. I suppose that would amuse
you very much, wouldn't it? You
wouldn't have come to Merrion for
nothing then! But as It Isn't true, what's
the use of talking?"
He won no belief from her when he
said that tt was not true. She drew her
cloak around her and shivered.
"Cold?” he asked.
••No. Wretched, wtetched.’
"Would you like to see my mother?”
“Ton wouldn't let her see me?”
wfhc, asleep and the nurse la at sun-
ANTHONY HOPE
CM* Brilliant Author of "Sir PRISONER of ZKNDA,”
“RUPERT of BXBTZAV," and other Fascinating Books
Mina came and stood over him. tf "You know It was In tho Journal;
I’m sure you know "
per—not that she’d matter. Come along.’’
He turned and began to walk on quickly
toward the house, Mina followed him as
though In a dream. They entered a large
hall. It was dark save for one candle and
she could see nothing or its furniture. He
led her straight up a broad oak staircase
that rose from the middle of it and then
along a corridor. The polished oak
gleamed here and there as they passed a
candle in brackets on the wall, and was
slippery under her unaccustomed feet.
The whole house was very still—still, cool,
and very peaceful.
Cautiously he opened a door and beck
oned her to follow him. Lights were
burning In the room. Lady Tristans lay
sleeping; her hair. stIU fair and golden,
spread over the pillow; her face was calm
and unlined; she seemed a young and
beautiful gtrl wasted by a fever. But the
fever was the fever of life as well as of
disease. Thus Mina saw again the lady
she had seen at Heidelberg.
"She won’t wake; she had her sleeping
draft,” he said, and Mina took it to mean
that she might linger a moment more. She
cast her eyes round the roo-m. Over the
fireplace, facing the bed. was a full length
portrait of a girl. She was dressed all In
red: the glory of her white neck, her bril
liant hair and blue eyes rose out of the
scarlet setting. This was Addle Tristram
In her prime, as she was when she fled
with Randolph Edge, as she was when
she cried In the little room at Heidel
berg, "Think of the difference it makes,
the enormous difference!”
•'My mother likes to have that picture
there.” Harry explained. '
The sleeping woman stirred faintly. In
obedience to a look from Harry, Mina
followed him from the room, and they
passed down stairs and through the hall
together in silence. He came with her
as far as the bridge. There he paused.
The scene they had left had apparently
stirred no new emotion in him; It had left
Mina Zabrlska trembling and moved to
'the heart.
"Now you've seen her, and before that
you'd seen me. And perhaps now you’ll
understand that we're the Trlstrams of
Blent, and that we live and die that."
His voice grew a little louder. “And your
nonsense?” he exclaimed. “It’s all a lie.
But It it was true? It's the blood. Isn’t
it, not the law, that matters? It’s her
blood and my blood. That's my real title
to Blent.”
In the midst of his lying he spoke truth
there, and Mina knew It. By right of
blood he claimed to stand master of
Blent, and so he meant to stand.
"Yes,” she said. “Yes, yes. God help
you to It.” She turned and left him, and
ran up the hill, catching her breath in
sobs again.
Harry Tristram stood and watched her
as long as he could see her retreating
figure.
"The major must play his hand alone
now.” he said. "He’ll get no more help
from her.” He paused a moment. "It’s
a funny thing, though. That’s not really
why I took her up.”
He shook his head In puzzle. Perhaps
he could hardly be expected to recognize
that It was that pride of his—pride In his
mother, his race, himself—which had
made him bid Mina Zabrlska look upon
Lady Tristram as she slept.
chapter, seven
The Moment Draws Nsar
Janie Iver had been brought up to
know her own mind: it was the eleventh --gf'sarcasm!
commandment in the Iver household.
Iver entertained the intellectual, his wife
the moral, objection to shilly-shallying;
their daughter’s training while conducted
with all kindness, had been eminently
sensible, and early days had offered few
temptations to stray from the path of the
obviously desirable. The case was differ
ent now; riches brought a change; the
world revealed Its resources; life was
spreading out its divers ware. Janie was
much puzzled as to what she wanted to
do, most of all as to what she would !n
the end do—unless, indeed, the fact that
she was puzzled continued to rank as
the greatest puzzle of all.
Naturally the puzzles were personified,
or the persons made into puzzles. Men
became lives to her, as well as Individu
als—the Tristram, the Duplay, the Broad-
ley life; her opinion of the life compli
cated her feling toward the person. The
Tristram life attracted her strongly, the
life of the great lady; Harry had his fas
cination, too; yet she did not think that
she and Harry would be very happy to
gether. woman and man. The Duplay
life promised another sort of Joy; the
major's experience was world-wide, his
knowledge various, his conversation full
of hints of the unexplored; she would be
broadening her life If she Identified it
with his. Lastly, there was that quiet
Broadley life, to be transformed In some
degree doubtless by her wealth, yet likely !
to remain in essentials the peaceful,
homely existence which she knew vet-s
well.
She found herself thinking, in terms
superficially repugnant to convention,
that she would like to pay long visits to
the other men. but have Bob to come
home to when she was inclined for rest
and tranquillity. Her perplexity was not
strange In Itself; hut It was strange and
new to her; and, Imbued with the parental
views about shilly-shallying, she was an
gry with herself and inclined to be
ashamed.
Judged from the outside, she was not
open to blame In her attitude toward Har
ry; he was not in love with her and hard
ly pretended to be.
plaint in being kept waiting; be would
be held exceedingly lucky not to be sent
to the right-about Instantly. But with
Bob Broadley the matter was different.
On the subtle question of what exactly
constitutes “encouragement” (It Is the
technical term) In these cases it Is not
perhaps necessary to enter;- but false
hopes might, no doubt, arise from her
visits to Mlngham, from her habit of rid
ing up the road by 'the river about the
time when Bob would be lDtely to be rid
ing down It, or of sauntering by the pool
on the days when he drove his gig Into
Blentmouth on business—all this being be
yond and outside legitimate meetings at
Falrholme itself. Unless she meant te
marry him she might indeed raise hopes
that were false.
Yes. but it did not seem as though she
did. Bob was humble. She had tyran
nized over him even before the Ivers grew
so very rich.
“Send the gig home and stay and talk,”
she commanded, and he stopped by her on
the road; he was returning from Bleat-
mouth to Mlngham and found he; stroll
ing by the pool. "I want to speak with
you.”
He had his bailiff with hlm-they had
been selling a cow—and left him to- take
the gig home. He shook hands with
frank cordiality.
“That’s awfully nice of you,” he sal*.
“What about?”
"Nothing in particular,” said the.
"Mayn’t I want it just generally?”
Oh, well, I thought you meant there was
something special. I've sold the COW
well. Miss Janie.”
"Bother the cowl Why haven't yen
been to Falrholme?"
"Well, In fact. I’m not sure that Mr.
Iver Is death on seeing me there too often
But I shall turn up all right soon.”
“Have you been going about anjr
where?"
“No. Been up at Mlngham most of the
time.”
"Isn’t that rather lonely?”
“Lonely? Good heavens, no. I’ve got
too much to do.”
Janie glanced at him. What was to be
done with a man who treated provocative
suggestions as though they were sincere
questions? If he had not cared for her
now? But she knew he did.
'‘Well, I’ve been very dull, anyhow.
One never sees anybody fresh at Fair-
holme now. It’s always either Mr. Tris
tram or Major Duplay.”
"Well, I shouldn't be very fresh, eltber,
should !l?” The names she mentioned
drew nw sign from him.
“I don’t count you a visitor at all. And
they are visitors—I suppose.” She seem
ed a little in doubt, yet both the gentle
men, anyhow, were not presumably mem
bers of the family.
"I’ll tell you what I’ve been thinking
about,” said Bob, speaking slowly, and
apparently approaching an important an
nouncement.
"Yes?” she said, turning to him with
Interest, and watching his handsome
open face; it was not a very clever face,
but it was a very pleasant one; she en
joyed looking at it.
“I’ve been thinking that I'D sell tbe
black horse, but I can't make up my
mind whether to do It now or keep him
through the summer and sell him when
hunting begins. I don’t know which
would pay me best.”
“That certainly Is a very important
question,” remarked Janie, with a wealth
flushed a trifle, but that was his only
reply to her little caress.
“If—if I came to you some day and
said I’d been a fool, or been made a fool
of. and was very unhappy, and—and
wanted comforting, would you still be
nice to me?”
His answer came after a puff and
pause.
"Well. If you ever get like that I should
recommend you just to try me for what
I’m worth.” he said. Her eyes were fixed
on his face, but he did not look at her.
Borne men would have seen In her appeal
hn opportunity of trying to win from her
more than she was giving. The case did
not present itself in that light to Bob
Broadley. He did not press his own ad
vantage. he bardlv believed it: and he
had besides a vague idea that he would
spoil for her the feeUng she had if he
greeted it with too much enthusiasm.
What she wanted was a friend—a solid,
possibly rather stolid, friend; with that
commodity he was prepared to provide
her. The humblest of men have moments
of pride; it must be confessed that Bob
thought he was behaving not only with
proper feeling, but also w?th considerable
tact—a tact that was based on knowledge
of women.
Interviews such as these—and they were
not Infrequent—formed a rather incongru
ous background, but also an undeniable
relief to the life Janie was leading at
Falrholme. That seemed to have little
concern with Bob Broadley and to be en
grossed in the struggle between Harry
and Duplay. Both men pressed on. Harry
had not been scared away. Duplay would
win without using his secret weapon, if
he could. Each had his manner. Harry's
constrained yet direct, the, major’s more
florid, more expressed in glances, com
pliments and attentions. But neither had
yet risked the decisive word. Janie was
playing for delay. The major seemed In
clined to grant It her. But Harry grew
Impatient, was imperious in his calls on
her time, and might face ner with the
demand for an answer any day. She
could not expiate how it was, but some
how Jiis conduct seemed to be condition
ed by the progress of Lady Tristram's
illness.
About Barry TrisiVam. anyhow, she
was right. He was using to Its full value
his rival’s chivalrous desire to make no
movement during Lady Tristram’s life
time; he reckoned on it and meant to
.profit by it. A look of brutality would be
given to any action of bis while Ladv
Tristram lay dying; Harry hoped this as
pect of his conduct would frighten him
At least, it was worth risking. The doc
tors talked of two months more; Harry
Tristram meant to tie engaged before
one of them was out. Could he be mar
ried before the second ran its course?
Mrs. Iver would have scoffed at the idea,
emd Janie shrunk from It. But a dying
mothers appea! would count with almost
■Well, it gives me a lot of trouble. Miss
Janie.”
“Does It? And It doesn’t interest me in
the very— Yes, It does. Bob, very much.
I’m sorry. Of course It does. Only—”
“Anything the matter with you?" Bob
inquired with friendly solicitude.
“No—not Just now. There never Is,
somehow, when I’m with you. And let's
talk about the black horse—it'll be sooth
ing. Is the price of oats a factor?”
Bob laughed a little, but dldn not pro
ceed with the discussion. They sauntered
on in silence for a few minutes. Bob tak
ing out his tobacco.
Worried, aren’t you?" he asked, light
ing his pipe.
Yes,” she answered shortly.
Was that what you wanted to say to
me?”
"No, of course not. As if I should talk
to you about It!"
“Don’t suppose you would, no. Still,
we're friends, aren't we?”
“Do you feel friendly to ine?”
“Friendly! Well!” He laughed. “What
do you think about it yourself?” he asked.
“Look here, I don't bother you; but I’m
here when you want me.”
"When I want you?"
“I mean, If I can do anything for you,
or—or advise you? I don’t think I'm a
fool, you know.”
“I'm really glad to hear you've got as
| far as that,” she remarked, rather tart
ly. “Your fault. Bob, Is not thinking
nearly enough of yourself.”
"You’ll soon change that if you say
much more.” His pleasure in her implied
praise was obvious, but he did not read
a single word more into her speech than
the words she uttered.
"And you are friendly to me—still?”
“It doesn't make any difference to me
whether I see you or not—” -
“What?” she cried. The next moment
she was laughing. "Thanks, Bob. but—
but you've a funny way of putting things
sometimes." She laid her hand on his
arm for a moment, sighing "Dear old
Bob!”
Oh. you know what I mean.” he said.
Nor had Duplay any cause of com-1 puffing away. HU healthy skin had
,, tu™ a case
th£Z™ 3 “ nre 0f be,D8 furnls hed With
km;
zlhM^ °“ the lawn ' wlth ter Mina
Sho^ T? a * maiI ' neat - elderly man.
who was introduced to him as Mr Jen-
te“°slnsi^i'fln H T T Pald UttIe atte ntlon
to this insignificant person, and gave Mina
antTa vorS a K acareless shake the hand
nofaf^ ^T° red ’ amused Dod : He was
Janie* h Z ® ny ,0n * er - He claimed
ctedre i2. Ved to lead her to some
^e other side of the lawn.
f ha ,V s Mr - H ®rry Tristram?” said
Neeld, looking at him Intently through
nlB spectacles. ^
■'Yes,” said the Imp. briefly; she was at
the moment rather bored by Mr. Neeld.
• ,nterestln 8: looking young man.”
Yes, he's Interesting^' And she added
a “°“ e " t ' a ‘er. "y«q r A having a good
look at him, Mr. /Teeidt"
"Dear me, wtr^jy.
v »?ne? I hope not.
But—well, we’ve all heard of his mother,
you know.”
“I’m'afrald the next thing we hear
about her will be the last.” What she
had seen at Blent hall was In her mind
and she spoke sadly. ’•Mr. Tristram will
succeed to his throne soon ,now.”
Neeld looked at her as if lie were about
to speak, but he said nothing and his eyes
wandered back to Harry again.
"They're friends—Miss Iver and he? he
asked at last.
"Oh, it’s no secret that he wants to
marry her."
"And does she—”
Mina laughed, not very naturally. "It’s
something to be I*dy Tristram of Blent.”
Harry wanted to marry Janie Iver!
With a sudden revulsion of feeling, Neeld
wished himself far from Blentmouth.
However,/it was his duty to talk to this
sharp little foreign woman, and he meant
to try. A few polite questions brought
him to the point of inquiring her nation
ality.
“Oh, we’re Swiss—French Swiss. But I
was bom at Heidelberg. My mother lived
there after my father died. My uncle,
who lives with me. Major Duplay, is her
brother; he was In the Swiss service.”
“A pleasant society at Heidelberg, I
dare say?”
“Rather dull,” said Mina. It seemed
much the same at Blentmouth at the mo
ment.
Iver strolled out from his study on to
the lawn. He cast a glance toward his
daughter and Harry, frowned slightly,
and sat down on Mina’s other side. He
had a newspaper in his hand, and he
held it up as he spoke to Neeld across
Mina.
"Your book’s promised for the 15tb, I
see, Neeld r’
“Yes. it’s to be out then.”
Mina was delighted at being presented
with a- topic. Sometimes it is the most
precious of gifts.
"Oh. Mr. Neeld, have you written a
book? How Interesting! What Is It? A
novel?”
"My dear Madame Zabrlska!” murmur
ed Neeld. feeling as if he were being made
fun of. “And It’s not really my book.
I’ve only edited it.”
“But that’s just as good,” Mina* Insist
ed amiably. “Do tell me what It Is.”
"Here you are, Mina. There’s a full ti
tle and description for you. There's noth
ing else in the paper.” Iver handed It to
her with a stifled yawn. She read it and
turned to Neeld with a quick jerk of her
head.
“Journal and Correspondence of Josiah
Cholderton,” she repeated, “Oh but —oh—
but—well, that Is curious! Why, we used
to know Mr. Cholderton!”
“You knew Mr. Cholderton?” said Mr.
Neeld in mild surprise. Then, with a
recollection, he added. “Oh, at Heidelberg.
I daresay? But you must have been a
child?”
"Yes. I was. Does he talk about Heidel
berg?”
“He mentions It once or twice.” In spite
of himself Neeld began to feel that he was
within measurable distance of getting on
difficult ground.
"What fun If he mentioned me! Oh, but,
of course, he wouldn’t say anything about 1
a child of five.”
The slightest start ran through Neeld’s
figure; It passed unnoticed; he looked
sharply at Mina Zabrlska.
"He knew my mother quite well; be
used to come and see us. Does he men
tion her—Mme. de Kries?”
There was a perceptible pause; then
Neeld answered primly:
"I’m afraid you won’t find your mother’s
name mentioned in Mr. Cholderton’o Jour
nal, Mme. Zabriska.”
"How horrid!” remarked Mina, greatly
disappointed; she regarded Mr. Neeld with
a new interest all the same.
They were both struck with this strange
coincidence as it seemed to them, though
in fact it was not properly a coincidence
at all. that they should meet at Blent
mouth.
"You’re sure he says nothing about us?’
she urged.
"You’ll not find a word,” he replied
sticking to the form of assertion that
salved his conscience. He looked across
the lawn again, but Janie and Harry had
disappeared among the bushes.
"You’re sort of old acquaintances at
second hand, then,” said Iver, smiling.
"Cholderton's the connecting link.”
“He didn’t like me,” remarked Mina
"He used to call me the Imp.”
“Yes. yes.” said Neeld, in absent-mind
ed acquiescence. “Yes. the Imp.”
••You don’t seem much surprised.” cried
Mina in mock Indignation.
“Surprised!” He started more violently.
"Oh. yes—I—I—of course I’m-" A laugh
from his host spared him the effort of
further apologies. But he was a good
deal shaken: he had very nearly betrayed
his knowledge of the Imp. Indeed he
could not rid himself of the idea that
there was a very inquisitive look In
Madame Zabriska’s large eyes.
Mina risked one more question, but
very carelessly.
"I think he must have met Lady Tris
tram there once or twice. Does he say
anything about her?”
"Not a word.” said Neeld, grasping the
nettle firmly this time. ■
Mina took another look at him, but he
blinked resolutely behind his glasses.
"Well, it’s like Mr. Cholderton to leave
out all the Interesting things.” she ob
served resignedly. “Only I wonder why
you edit his book if It’s like that, you
know." ■
“Hullo, what's that.?” exclaimed Iver.
suddenly sitting up In his chair.
They heard the sound of a horse’s gal
loping on the road outside; The noise of
the hoofs stopped suddenly: they sat lis
tening. In a minute or two the butler
led a groom In the Tristram livery on to
the lawn. He came quickly across to
Iver. touching his hat.
“Beg pardon, sir. but could I see Mr.
Tristram? I’ve an Important message for
him.”
At the same moment Janie and Harry
Tristram came out on to the grass.
Harry saw the groom and was with them
In a moment. Janie following.
“Well, Sam, what is It?” You were rid
ing hard.”
“Her ladyship has had a relapse, sir.
and Dr. Fryer ordered me to ride over
and tell you at once. No time to lose, he
said, sir.”
“Did you bring a horse for me?”
“No. sir. But I’m riding Qullldriver.”
"I’ll go back on him. You can walk.”
He turned to the rest. “I must go a I
once.” he said. "I don’t know what this
may mean.”
“Not so bad as It sounds, I hope.” said
Iver. “But you’d best be off at once.”
Harry included Mina and Mr. Neeld fli
one light nod, and walked briskly toward
the gate, Iver and Janie accompanying
him. Mina and Neeld were left together,
and sat in silence some moments.
“It sounds as If she was dying,” said
Mina'at last In a low voice.
"Yes. poor woman.”
“I saw her once lately. She was very
beautiful. Mr. Neeld.”
"Yes. yes—to her own great trouble,
pooiv thing.” - *.
."You knew about—”
"Oh. everybody knew Mme. Zabrlska.”
’‘Yes. and now she’s dying!” She turned
to him. looking him fairly In the face.
“And Harry’ll be Tristram of Blent.” she
said.
“Yes,” said Neeld. “He’ll be Tristram
of Blent.”
Both fell Into silence again, looking ab
sently at the sunshine playing among thO
trees. They were not to share their se
cret just yet. A link was missing be
tween them still.
Harry came to where the horse was
and stood there for a moment while the
groom altered the Stirrujis to suit him.
“It’s the beginning of the end, if not
the end itself,” he said.
"Our earnest good wishes te her.”
“My love,” said Janie. Her father
glanced quickly at her.
Harry jumped Into the saddle, waved
his hand to them and started at a gallop
for Blent. The tfroom, with another
touch of hts hat, trudged off In his mas
ter’s track. Janie Iver stood looking as
long as Harry was in sight.
"He won’t spare the horse,” said Iver.
"Well, he can’t this time—ahd, anyhow,
he wouldn’t, if he wanted to get there.”
She took her father’s arm and pressed it.
"Father. Harry Tristram has Just asked
me to marry him. He said Lady Tris
tram wanted It settled before—before she
died, or he wouldn’t have spoken so
soon.”
"Well, Janie, dear?”
"When the groom came I had Just told
him that I would give him an answer In
a week. But now—” She made a gesture
with her free hand, it seemed to mean
bewilderment. She could not tell what
would happen now.
DO YOU GET UP
WITH A LAME BACK?
PF
voKw <]■
+|
i
A.
wnu
Do You Have Rheumatism ? Have You
Bladder or Uric Acid Trouble?
To Prove what SWAMP-ROOT, the Great Kidney and Bladder
Remedy, will do for YOU, all our Readers May Have a
Sample Bottle Sent Free by Mall.
Pain or dull ache In the back Is unmis
takable evidence of kidney trouble. It Is
nature’s timely warning to show you that
the track of health is not clear.
If these danger signals are unheeded
more serious results are sure to follow;
Bright’s disease, which is the worst form
of kidney trouble, may steal upon you.
The mild and the extraordinary effect
of the world-famous kidney and bladder
remedy, Swamp-Root, is soon realized. It
stands the highest for Its wonderful cures
of tbe most distressing cases. A trial
will convince anyone—and you may have
a sample bottle for the asking.
Lame back Is only one symptom of kid
ney trouble—one of many. Other symp
toms showing that you need Swamp-Root
are: Obliged to pass water often dur
ing the day and to get up many times
at night. Inability to hold your urine,
smarting or irritation In passing, brick-
dust or sediment In the urine, catarrh of
the bladder, uric acid, constant headache,
dizziness, sleeplessness, nervousness, ir
regular heart-beating, rheumatism,
bloating, irritability, wornout feeling,
tack of ambition, loss of flesh, sallow
complexion.
J If your water when allowed to remain
undisturbed In a glass or bottle for twen-
. ty-four hours forms a sediment or set
tling, or has a cloudy appearance. It is
evidence that your kidneys and bladder
need Immediate attention.
In taking Swamp-Root you afford natu
ral help to Nature, for Swamp-Roqt is
the most perfect healer and gentle aid
to the kidneys that is known to medical
science.
Swamp-Root Is the great discovery of
Dr. Kilmer, the eminent kidney and blad
der specialist. Hospitals use It with won
derful success in both slight and severe
cases. Doctors recommend it to their pa
tients and use It in their own families,
because they recognise In Swamp-Root
the greatest and most successful remedy.
If you have the slightest symptom of
kidney or ~ bladder trouble, or it there
Is a trace of It In your family history,
send at once to Dr. Kilmer * Co., Bing
hamton, N. Y„ who wllU gladly send you
free by mall, immediately, without cost to
you, a sample bottle of Swamp-Root and
a book of wonderful Swamp-Root testi
monials. Be sure to say that you read
this generous offer in The Atlanta “Sunny
South."
If you are already convinced that
Swamp-Root Is what yon need, you can
”—“• —'^.flfty-coBt and ne-
*%«•»■ iMu’tw
. but ramsmbsr the
name, Swamp-Root. Dr, Kilmer’s BwsWip-
Root. and the addfess, Binghamton, N. Y.
purchase the
dollar *tze bottl
make any mlsi
PHRENOLOGY
To be wise is to know
tbyaell.
Should we marry oar
present choice? What pro
fession are ron best
adapted for? These and all
ell other questions tally
answered In oar 28 pages of
description. Send 50 cents
‘ t] with ns
jemelf
_ >n will me
te return mafl a feat da's i«adln*. Picturereturned.
Send lorourteukefHfUdrcmlFuom” and how
raid.
C. C. INGRAM, Churl eutum, 1
9 CHAPTER EIGHT 9
Duty wad Mr Neeld
When Mina Zabrlska brought back the
news from Falrholme and announced It
with an Intensity of significance which
the sudden aggravation of an illness king
known to be mortal hardly accounted for,
Major Duplay grew very solemn. The
moment for action approached and the
nearer it came the less was the major
satisfied with his position and resources;
the scene by the pool had taught him
that he would have a stiff fight. He hsfd
been hard hit by Harry’s shrewd sugges
tion that he must ask Iver himself tor
the means of proving what he meant to
tell Iver. The only alternative, however,
was to procure money for the necessary
investigations from his niece, and his
niece, though comfortably well off, was
not rich. Nor was she any longer zealous
in the cause. The Imp was sulky and
sullen with him, sorry she had ever
touched the affair at ail, ready, he sus
pected, to grasp at any excuse for letting
It drop. This temper of hers foreboded
a refusal to open her purse. It was se
rious in another way. Of himself Duplay
knew nothing; Mina was his only wit
ness; her evidence, though really sec
ond hand, was undoubtedly weighty; it
would at least make Inquiries necessary.
But would she give it? Duplay was con
scious that she was capable of turning
round on him and declaring that she had
made a blunder. If sbe did that, what
would happen?
Harry’s attitude would be simple. He
would at tbe proper time produce his cer
tificates, testifying to the death of 31r
Randolph, the marriage of his parents, his
own birth. The copies were In perfect or
der, .and duly authenticated they were evi
dence in themselves; the originals could
be had and would bear out the copies. All
this had been well looked after and Du
play did not doubt It. What had he to set
up against it? Only that the third certifi
cate was false and that somewhere,
neither he-nor even Mina knew where,
bearing some dates, neither he nor Mina
knew what,'there must be two other cer
tificates, one fata! to Harry's case as fix
ing his birth at an earlier date, the other
throwing at least grave suspicion on it
by recording a second ceremony of mar
riage. But where were these certificates?
Conceivably they had been destroyed, that
was not likely, but it was possible. At
any rqte, to find them would need much
time and some money. On reflection the
major could not blame Harry for defying
him by the pool.
It will be seen that the Information
which Mina gleaned from her mother and
filled in from her own childish recollec
tion, -was not so minute in the (natter of
date as that which Mme. de Kries had
given at the time of the events to Mr.
Cholderton and which was now locked
away in the drawer at Mr. Jenklnson
Neeld’s chambers. The major would have
been materially assisted by a sight of
that document, it would have narrowed
the necessary area of inquiry and given
a definiteness to his assertions, which
must have carried added weight with Mr.
Iver.
Mina, being sulky, would not talk to
her uncle; she could not talk to Janie
Iver; she. did not see Harry and would not
have dared to talk to him if she had. But
it need hardly be said that she was dying
to talk to somebody. With such matters
on hand she struggled against silence like
soda water against the cork. Merely to
stare down at Blent and wonder what
was happening there whetted a curiosity
It would not satisfy. She felt out of the
game, and the reeling was Intolerable. As
a last resort, in a last effort to keep in
touch with it, although she had been
warned that she would find hothing of
interest to her in the volume, she tele
graphed to a library-bookseller in Lon
don to send her Mr. Cholderton's Journal.
It came the day after it was published,
four days after she had made Mr. Neeld’s
acquaintance, and while Lady Tristram,
contrary to expectations, still held death
at arm’s length and lay looking at her
own picture. The next morning Neeld re
ceived a pressing invitation to go to t<|»
at Merrion lodge. Without a moment’s
hesitation he went; with him, too. all res
olutlons to know and to care nothing fur
ther about the matter vanished before th
first chance of seeing more of it. And
Mina had been Mile, de Kries.
She received him in the library. The
Journal lay on the table. Something had
restored animation to her manner and
malice to her eyes. She began by flat
tering her visitor outrageously, and In
dulging in a number of false statements
regarding her delight with the Journal,
and the amusement and Instruction she
had gained from it. She even professed
to have mastered the hygroxerlc method,
observing that a note by the editor put
the whole thing in a nutshell. Much
pleased, yet vaguely disappointed, Mr.
Neeld concluded that she had no more to
say about the visit to Heidelberg.
Tbe Imp turned over its pages leisurely
while Neeld sipped his tea.
"I see you put little asterisk things
where you leave out anything,” she ob
served. "That’s convenient. Isn't It?"
"I think It’s usual." said he.
“And another thing you do—O you real
ly are a splendid editor—you put the date
at the top of every page, even where Mr.
Cholderton'a entry runs over ever so
many pages. He is rather long sometimes.
Isn't he?"
“I’ve always found tbe date at the top
of the page a convenience in reading my
self.” said Mr. Neeld.
"Yes, it tells you Just where you are—
and where Mr. Cholderton was.” She
laughed a little. "Yes, look here, page
365. May. 1875; he's at Berlin! Then there
are some asterisks—”
Mr. Neeld looked up from his tea.
"And you turn over the page” (the Imp
turned over with the air of a discoverer)
"and you find him at Interlaken In—why
August. Mr. Neeld!” An amiable surprise
appeared on her face. "Where was he In
between?" she asked.
”1—1 suppose he stayed In Berlin.”
"O perhape. No—look here. He says, T
had not previously met Sir 811aa Minting,
as I lert Berlin before he arrived In the
beginning of June.’ ” The Imp laU down
the Journal, leant back in her chair and
regarded Neeld steadily. “Ton told me
right,” she added; “I don’t find any men
tion of my mother, nor of Heidelberg, it’s
rather funny that he doesnt* mention Hei
delberg.” She poured out a second cup
of tea and waited. The first part of her
work was done. She had made Neeld
very uncomfortable. “Because," she add
ed, after she had given her previous re
marks time to soak In, "between May and
August, 1875, Is just about the time I re
member him at Heidelberg—tbe time when
he met Mrs. Fitzhubert, you know” Mina
was keenly excited now. Had the Journal
told Neeld anything? Was that the mean
ing of his asterisks ?
"There was something about his visit to
Heidelberg, but it contained nothing of
public Interest, Mme. Zabrlska, and in my
discretion I omitted tt.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that the other
day? You gave me to understand that he
only mentioned Heidelberg casually.”
"I may have expressed myself—’’
“And did he mention us?”
Neeld rose to his feet and took a turn
up and down the room.
“In my discretion I left the passage out.
I can answer no questions about It Please
don’t press me, Mme. Zabrlska."
"I will know,” she said, excitedly, al-
most angrily.
Neeld came and stood opposite her, deep
perplexity expressing Itself in his look
and manner. "Did he talk about us?
Did he talk about Lady Tristram?”
“I am speaking to you. and to you only.
Mme. Zabrlska.”
"Yes, yes—to me only.”
“He did not mention you, and he did
speak of Lady Tristram.”
"That's why you weren’t surprised
when I told you he calted me the Imp!"
Sbe smiled a moment, and Neeld smiled,
too. But In an instant she was eager
again. "And about Lady Tristram?”
They understood one another now.
Neeld made no further pretense.
"You mean about Harry Tristram?”
he asked simply, but in a low voice.
“Yes. At first I didn’t know what it
meant to him. But I know now.”
Neeld made no reply, and there was
another moment of silence.
"And you know what It would metp to
him?” she asked.
Neeld nodded; of course he knew that.
"What are you ~olng to do?” He raised
his hands and let them drop again in a
confession that he did not know. "I
knew and I told,” she said. He started
a little. “Yes, I told, because I was spite
ful. I was the Imp! I’ve never been hap
py since I told. Mr. Tristram knows I’Ve
told, though he denies there’s anything
in it. But he knows I’ve told. And still
he’s been kind to me.” Her voice shook.
"You told; whom did you tell?”
"Never mind—or guess if you can. I
shan’t tell him any more. I shan’t help
him any more. I’m fbr Mr. Tristram.
Thick and thin. I’m for Mr. Tristram
now.” She car-ie a step nearer to him.
"The man I told may try, but I don-
think he can do much without us. Whv
should we tell? Is it our business? You
suppressed it in The Journal. Can’t you
suppress it now?”
"The Ivers?” he stammered.
"The Ivers! What’s it to the Ivers
compared to what it is to him? It’ll,
never comes out. If it did—oh. but It
won’t. It’s life and death to him. And
isn’t it right; Isn’t it justice? He’s her
son. Tbls thing's Just a horrible acci
dent. Ob, if you’d heard him speak of
Blent!” She paused a moment, rubbing
her hand across her eyes. Then aha
threw herself back Into her chair, asks
teg again, "What are you going to dor*
To Mo Ceatineed