Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1910-05-14 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

CHAPTER VIII.  A JELL OV S WOMAN'S WORK.  " Do you know it seems as though I had done this kind of thing before," s.aid Margaret, as she looked at the flower-wreathed pillars and huge vases of lilies that stood on the altar table. "Easter decorations! I should think it exceedingly probable," replied Sir Paul, looking at her, and thinking she resembled a fair white lily. The mocking voice of Diana Cathcart broke  in :  What a pity you cannot remember where! It's funny your memory should go so far and no further."  "It is not funny to be without memory, but a very awful thing," said Margaret, gravely. "I agree with you, Misis Drummond. There's not much fun in a thing of that kind." "My husband thinks your memory may return any day, my dear," sa.id Mrs Fletcher ,the wife of the local doctor, who had been Marga.ret's companion on the journey from London to Cald el%  "Yes, that is what Dr. Foster said," and as Margaret spoke She drew on her gloves; then, wishing tht others good day, she went out by a side door, and hastening across the churchyard she passed through a little gate. In front of her was the village green, where the youths of the place were playing cricket, while the older men steed watching and enjoying their .Saturday afternoon pipe. For a moment Margaret looked at them • then she turned towards a lane at one side Of the green. It waG a pleasant walk to the Hermitage, and sbe walked leisurely, enjoying the April sunshine. It was an unusually bright warm day for the time .of the year. Presently she heard footsteps, and in another. moment a voice said—  "Miss Drummond!" and, pausing, she looked round, when she saw Sir Paul close behind. "Won't you let me walk home with yan. This lane is lonely." Margaret laughed merrily. "I very often come this road; it is the nearest way into the village, and I have never met anyone but the people out of the village. So the loneliness does not appal me. He smiled in a rather embarrassed fashion, as he said—  "Don't you know that any excuse is better than none."  "I don't think you need an excuse for goring to the Hermitage," she answered, but her face flushed a rpsy red. " I'm not particularly anxious to go to the Hermitage. I wanted to walk there with you," hQ 6aid, beading towards her. Margaret spoke quickly— "Do yon know, I think Miss Cathcart thinks I nail art imno4tot—that I do remember the past.  that the lapse of memory is a mese fiction 012 my part. I wonder why she distrusts and dislikes me?" "It is easily explained. You are beatutif iii and Miss Cathcart's charms pale when you are near. But I don't think she really mistrusts you, though she may dislike you." "Oh, but that would make her to be a very poor creature," said Margaret impulsively. "Miss Cathcart is not perfect, and many women would feel the same in her place. I see you think I am hard in my judgment of your sex, but I have come in contact with a large number of men and women, and I have found a good deal of Adam and Eve in them." "Well, if the men and women you have met represent Adam and Eve, I should say the women have the best of it. Adam was not up to much, or he wouldn't have tried to lay all the blame on his wife's back."  "Of course, the women are the best—only there's good, bad, and indifferent, with here and there one that's something of an angel," he answered.  Phen as they turned in at the gate that led into the Hermitage park, he said— "l told you that I had to search for a lady who is an heiress to two hundred thousand pounds . " "Yes. Have you found her?'" Margaret asked, with interest in her tone. "I had a letter from a detective this 'awning asking if I could go up to town early next week, or if he should send a man down with the information he had; so I wired saying I would go up to London next Wednesday. I hope they have found her. At any rate they've got some news. Perhaps, when I come back I can persuade Miss Atherton and you to come over to the Towers. I don't suppose Mr Atherton would come."  "I'm not at all sure that Miss Atherton will. she seems as though she didn't care to go anywhere. She is so gentle and tries to be cheerful, but I know she is breaking her heart about her _  Poor 14! He was cruelly treated by his father. I wish I'd been here when it happened. I should have tried to make Mr Atherton see the wrong he was doing his son." Margaret sighed— "l am sure he did what Fe believed to be right. He has certain theories and he sacrificed his son, and to a certain extent hims.(4l, to them. At first I thought he had no feeling; now I am inclined to think he does suffer."  "Well, he's a poor specimen of a father, and the poor fellow's wife doesn't seem to be much better, to leave him in doubt as to what has become of her."  "Yes. Do you know sometimes Miss Attherton wonders if the poor girl committed suicide. It • _ _  is awful to think thiit the heir to this beautiful place is in prison. I wish the truth could be discovered—Miss Atherton says she is certain he is innocent—then if the truth was known, he could come back to his beautiful home."  Somehow Sir Paul did not feel vecry anxious that Charley Atherton should return to the Hermitage just then. He wished the poor fellow was free to walk out of prison. All the same he did not want him where Margaret Drummond was, until she had promised to become the mistress of Lethbridge Towers. So far he had not dared to tell her of Ins love, as he was not sure what answer he would receive, and he was wondering how soon he might venture to put Ate question—on which his life's happiness hung— as thev entered the house.  "Margaret, where's Charley " screeched tha parrot, as they walked slowly along the hall. "Poor Polly." she replied. "Poor Polly wants Chr.rley! What have you done with him?" Then the parrot altered her voice and began singing an a gay rollioking fashion.  "They say it is a very good imitation of young Atherton s voice," said Sir Paul.  'She's a clever bird. As soon as ever Miss Atherton Ntgan calling me Margaret, sihe picked it up."  (To be Continued_)