Evening star., 1924-04-08
Mistress Wilding
By Rafael Sabatim
Author of "Scaramouche" Captain Blood" etc.
Copyright. Company

deep surprise at so mucn mildness
There was but the semblance of il.
Wilding proceeded thus of purpose
set, and under the calm mask of his
long white face his mind worked
wickedly and deliberately. The te-
merity of Westmacott, whose nature
was notoriously tinid. had surprised
him for moment. But anon. reading
the boys mind as readily as though
1t had been a scroll unfolded for his
instruction, he saw that Westmacott,
on the strength of his position as his
sisters brother, conceived himself
immune. Mr.. Wilding's avowed court
ship of the lady. the hopes he still
entertained of winning her, despite
the aversion she was at pains to show
him, gave Westmacott assurance that
Mr.. Wilding would never elect to
shatter his all too slender chances by
embroiling himself in a quarrel with
her brother. And-reading him thus
aright-Mr. Wilding put on that mask
OF patience, Turing the boy into
greater conviction of the security of
his position. And Richard, conceiving
himself safe in his entrenchment be-
hind the bulwarks of his brothership
to Ruth Westmacott, and heartened
further by the excess of wine he had
consumed, persisted in insults he
would never otherwise have dared to
offer.
Who seeks to retriever he crowed
extensively, boldly looking up into the
others face. 1T seems you are your
self reluctant" And ne laughed
trifie stridently and looked about him
for applause, but found none.
You are overrash," Lord GerVaSe
disapproved him harshly.
Not the first coward I've seen grow
valiant at a table" put in Trenchard
by way of explanation, and might
have come to words with Blake on
that same score, but in that moment
Wilding spoke again.
Reluctant to do WHAT" he ques-
toned amiably, looking Westmacott
SO straightly between the eyes that
the boy shifted uneasily on his high
backed chair.
Nevertheless, still full of confidence
the mad youth answered, ITO cleanse
yourself of what l threw at you"
Fan me, ye winds. gasped Nick
fancy at his friend Wilding.
Now, there was one factor with
which, in basing with such craven
shrewdness his calculations upon Mr.
Wilding's feelings for his sister
was not to know that Wilding, bruised
and wounded by Miss Westmacott's
scorn of him, had reached that bor-
derland where love and hate are so
merged that they are scarce to be
distinguished. Embittered by the
sights she had put upon him-slights
which his sensitive lovers fancy had
magnified dredfold-Anthony
peculiar. OF his love she would have
none; his kindness she seemingly de-
spiSed. So be it; she should taste his
cruelty. Ii she scorned his wooing
it was not her to deny him the power
to hurt; and in hurting her that
would not be loved by him some
measure of fierce and bitter consola-
tion seemed to await him.
He realized, perhaps, not quite all
thfs-and to the unworthinesS of it
all he gave no thought But he real
lied enough as he toyed, as cat with
! mouse, with Richard Westmacott, to
know that in striking at her through
the worthless person of this brother
whom she cherished-and who per-
sisted in affording him this oppor-
tunity-a wicked vengeance would
be his.
Peace-loving Lord Gervase had
| heaved himself suddenly to his feet
at Westmacott's last words, still in
tent upon saving the situation.
I'm heavens name" he began
when Mr.. Wilding, ever calm and
smiling, though now a trifle sinister,
waved him gently into silence. But
that persisting calm of Mr.. Wildings
was too much for old Nick Trenchard.
upon himself. 1t was time, he thought,
he took a hand in this.
In addition to his affection for
Wilding and his contempt for West
! macott he was filled with a fear that
the latter might become dangerous
IL not crushed at once. Gifted with a.
shrewd knowledge of men, acquired
during a checkered life of much sour
experience. old Nick instinctively mis-
trusted Richard. He had known him
for q fool, a weakling, a babbler and
!, a bfbber of wine. Out of such ele-
ments villain is soon compounded,
avnI of f,o ri ho 20 \,
form of villainy that lay ready to
, Richards hand. For it chanced that
Mr.. Trenchard was second cousin to
that famous John Trenchard, so
lately tried for treason and acquitted.
to the great joy of the secretaries of
the west, and still more lately-but
yesterday, in fact-fled the country to
escape the rearrest ordered in conse-
uuence of that excessive joy. Like his
more famous cousin, Nick Trenchard
was one Of the Duke of Monmouth's
most active a gents; and Westmacott,
like Wilding. Yallancey and one or