Evening star., 1924-04-16
Mistress Wilding
By Rafael Sabatini
Author of "Scaramouche," Captain Blood" etc
Copyright. 1924 by Houghtoo Mnin Company

serene and smiling on his way. Daily
| there were great armfuls of flowers
deposited at Lupton House-his
lovers offering to his nistress-and
no day went by but that some richer
gift accompanied them Now it was
a collar of brilliants, anon a rope OF
pearls, again 4 priceless ring that
had been Mr.. Wildings mothers s.
Ruth received with reluctance these
pledges of his undesired affection. 1t
| were idleSto reject them, considering
| that she was to marry him; yet it
| hurt her sorely to retain them. On
her side she made no dispositions for
the marriage. but went about her
| daily tasks as though she were to
remain maid at Lupton House for
a time as yet indefinite.
In Diana, Wilding had-though he
was far from guessing it-an entirely
| exceptional ally. Lady Horton, too,
A foolish, worldly woman, who never
probed beneath life's surface, nor
indeed dreamed that anything existed
in life beyond that to which her five
placidly to contemplate the ad-
vantages that must accrue to her
niece from this alliance.
And so mother and daughter in
Mr. Wilding's absence pleaded his
cause with his refractory bride-elect.
But they pleaded it to little real
purpose. Something perhaps they
achieved in that Ruth grew more or
less resigned to the fate that awaited
her. BY repeating to herself the
Richard--that she must wed some
day, and that Mr.. Wilding would
prove no doubt as good a husband
as another-.she came in a measure
to believe them.
Richard meanwhile appeared to
avoid her. Lacking the courage to
adopt the heroic measures which at
first he had promised, yet had he
grace enough to take shame at his
inaction. But if he was idle so far
as Mr.. Wilding was concerned, there
was no lack of work for him in other
connections. The clouds of war were
gathering in that summer sky, and
about to loose the storm geStating in
west, and young Westmacott, COM
mitted as he stood to the Duke of
Monmouth's party was forced to
take his share in the sUrreptitious
3ustle that was toward. He was
away two days in that week. having
been summoned to a meeting of the
leading gentlemen of the party at
White Lackington, where he was
forced into the unwelcome company
of his future brother-in-law to meet
from that imperturbable gentleman.
Wflding, indeed, seemed to have
forgotten that any quarrel had ever
existed between them. For the rest,
he came and went, Supremely calm.
as if he were, and knew himself to
be, most welcome at Lupton House.
Thrice in the course of that week
of waiting he rode over from Zoyland
Chase to pay his duty to Mistress
Westmacott, and Ruth was persuaded
on each occasion by her aunt and
cousin to receive him. Indeed, how
could she we'll refuse?
His manner was ever all that could
be desired. Gallant, affectionate.
look and tone Ruth's most obedient
servant. Had she been less prejudiced
she must have admired the admirable
restraint with which he kept all exul-
tation from his manner, for, after all,
it is difficult to force a victory as he
to be feaped d0s tha, to td1n durInE that
week he neglected a good deal of his
duty to the duke, leaving Trenchard
TO supply his place and undertake
should have been his own.
At heart, however, in spite OF the
stories current and the militia at
Taunton. Wilding remained convinced
as did most of the other leading
partisans of the Protestant cause
that no such madness as this prema-
ture landing could be in contempla-
tion by the duke. Besides, were 1t so,
they must unfailingly have definite
word of it; and they had none.
Trenchard was less assured. but
Wflding laughed at the old rake's
forebodings, and sereneIy went about
the business Of his marriage.
On the eve of the wedding he paid
Ruth his last visit in tho quality of
a cloud of sadness on her brow. a
the garden. He found her looking
paler than her won't and there was
a could of sadness on her brow,
haunting sadness, in sher eyes 1T
touched him to the soul and for
moment he wavered in his purpose
He stood beside her-she seated on
the old lichened seat-and a silence
fell between them. during which Mr..
WildinGS conscience wrestled with