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[All Rights Reserved.] THE TEMPTATION OF ADRIAN NORREYS. BY 'IAN ASHTON. AUTHOR OF "Love's Reward," "A Spirit's Curse" &c., &c- CHAPTER V. I "SPEECH IS SILVERN; SILENCE IS GOLDEN." "1 SHALL have a pleasant task this afteriiotn, Miss MacKeith;" said Adrian next day, at lunch. "Mother is driving over to Hackness to make some calls, and she has given the children a holiday half. They are going to spend it in the good old English pastime of archery. Have you ever shot with the bow and arrow ?" No, never," said Vida. But I have ever thought it must be a delightful amusement." It was more than that in old times," said Adrian, laughing. "When we lost the battle of Hastings, chiefly through the great superiority of the Norman archers, the value of the bow began to be understood. Edward the Fourth, Richard the Third, and other monarchs, passed Acts of Parlia- ment encouraging the manufacture and use of the bow, and it was only the introduction of gun- powder which gradually rendered the bow useless as. a weapon of war. But you shall try how you like it as an instrument of sport. Let us go down to the field." Arrived there, they found a servant waiting with all the necessaries of first-class archery. He had erected the targets opposite each other, at a dis- tance of thirty yards only. This was a short range, but it was to suit the capacities of Olga and little Elsie, not to mention Vida, who was entirely a novice. Now let me equip you for the contest," said Adrian smiling. There is a great deal to be done besides just picking up the bow and shooting away. You must first have your quiver;" and tak- ing up the long leather pouch, he filled it with arrows, and before Vida was aware of his inten- tion, passed the strap round her slender waist and buckled it closely. She coloured slightly, but said nothing. And this is the brace. It goes round the arm to preserve it from the violent stroke of the string when loosened; besides, it lets the string glide more easily along it without being hindered by the folds of the sleeve," fixing it in its proper position as he spoke. Dear me," said Vida, with a smile; I had no idea all these things were wanted in archery. What next, pray ?" The shooting-glove, Miss Vida," he replied, in the same gay tone; "you would get, on badly without it. No, you must really let me fasten it on for you; you would not do it rightly the first time. "Please," he said entreatingly, but firmly, and looking straight into her eyes. She dropped them before that gaze of evident admiration, and Bilently allowed him to fit her with the shooting- glove. As Adrian Norreys passed her taper fingers into the three leather stalls of the glove, and fastened the strap around the girl's soft, white wrist, he was conscious of a slight thrill passing over him, and he lingered a trifle longer over the business than was absolutely necessary. Then the tassel and grease box having been hung from the belt, com- pleted her outfit, and Adrian briefly explained their use. Now take up position," he said. Oh, no, that will never do. See, stand thus, left side to the target; stand quite erect; left foot advanced, bow in left hand, grasped firmly. Draw the arrow to your ear, and in aiming don't look along the line of the arrow; that is the great mistake young archers make; look right at the centre of your target, now shoot. Good, you have hit the target with your very first shot, and that's what many don't do. I congratulate you, Vida." Was it consciously or unconsciously that Adrian had advanced in twenty-four hours' time from "Miss McKeith" to "Miss Vida," and then to Vida ?" Who shall say ? Yet his companion, after a quick glance at him from the depths of her lovely eyes, suffered the freedom to pass unchecked. My successful shot is entirely due to your skil- ful tuition," she remarked. I should never have atruck the target if you had not instructed me so well. And even now I have only just succeeded, the arrow is on the extreme lower edge." Yes, an outer white, as we call it, value one point in the scoring. Never mind, it is a capital beginning, and in time you will make your first gold, which counts nine." I hope so. But will you tell me why I must look straight at the target when aiming, and not down the line of the arrow." Because the hand follows the eye, not the eye the hand. The most successful archers say that if from the very beginning of learning to shoot you resist the temptation to aim with the arrow, in- stead of the eye-your hand will adjust itself to the angle required. But let us go on now. Olga and Elsie are impatient for their turn." They shot for some time with varying success, except Aerian, who did this, as he did most things he undertook, in excellent form. When all their arrows were expended, and sticking in the opposite target, or lying around it; they sauntered leisurely towards it. The children ran on ahead, and busied themselves in searching for lost arrows, leaving Adrian and Vida alone. Did you ever teach Miss Sybil Clare to shoot p" she said suddenly, turning a mirthful glance upon him. Adrian started, and felt the hot flush rising in his face. He little expected such a question, and was completely embarrassed for a moment. Ah, you saw the paragraph, then ? he stam- mered. Of course. It was in the most prominent part of the paper* I should indeed have been blind not to notice it." Will you tell me why you did not mention this yesterday to my mother or sister ? I mean, why did you observe a rigid silence about it ?" You told us of your accident," returned Vida, steadily. "You said nothing of ypizr companion, nor how you rescued her; it was a brave act; I admire you for it." Adrian liked this part of her sentence very much. As you did not mention anything else, I thought you had your reasons for silence; and when I, by chance, tecssme possessed of your secret, I did not think I had any right to speak of what I knew. It may appear in some other paper, but I do not feel call&d on to interfere with your private affairs. Still, I think you should reward me a little for my silence, and my reward shall be the gratitude of feminine curiosity. Did you ever teach that lady the science of archery ?" "Never," he replied earnestly. For Adrian felt that he could answer that far with a clear con- science. Never. I met her accidentally at a party in London, I was thrown into her company two or three times afterwards, and, rather, foolishly perhaps, I consented to take her for a row on the river yesterday afternoon. lean tell you this much about her, that like so many actresses, she is married, and Sybil Clare is her stage name." Adrian thought this was a master stroke of diplomacy on his part. To tell Vida that Sybil Clare was married (strictly true, of course,) would be to divert possible awkward suspicion from him- self. Vida's next words, however, showed him the needlessness of his volunteered information. Very likely," she answered carelessly. I don't particularly want to know more about her. I admit I was curious to know if she had ever had the benefit of lessons from you in the use of the bow and arrow. You have been good enough to answer me. Let the subject drop." "Certainly," he said. "But not till I have thanked you heartily for the delicacy and kind reserve you have shown. I am greatly obliged to you. Don't think I am in love with this person; or engaged to her. She is no more to me than a mere acquaintance." I can quite believe it," said Vida. And they resumed their pastime. "After all, it is true," mused Adrian. "I am not in love with Sybil Clare; emphatically not. I am not engaged to her; only married, confound it. She is no more to me than a mere acquaintance, that is sadly true. If I could only get rid of her aI easily as a tiresome, mere acquaintance, how happy I should be. But what a charming girl Miss Vida i«?" 80 now there was a new bond between Adrian Norreys and Vida MacKeith-the tie of a mutual secret, with interested forbearance on her side and grateful admiration on his. And if Adrian asked himself occasionally what this shared secret was likely to lead to in the end he did not trouble himself to work out the problem to its final development. "Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof," he thought. I CHAPTER VI. I OVER THE PRECIPICE. THE days passed rapidly by, and Adrian Norreys found himself more and more attracted by the gentle goodness and sweet calm beauty of Vida McKeith. He flattered himself that the feeling of admiration he could not restrain from showing was not disagreeable to her, but he would have been more elated still, had he known the truth which Vida successfully concealed as yet, that she loved hjjfla with her whole heart and soul. Yes, Vida loved him, and a new happiness was added to her life. Nature seemed more beautiful, mankind more loveable, because of her affection for Adrian. In her desk reposed her locked diary, with the one single entry which she permitted herself to write on the subject. It consisted simply of a man's Christian name, and four lines of verse-a translation of Alfred de Musset's exquisite lines: I ADRIAN." Let no one ask me how it came tc pass, Enough that I am happy, that for me A livelier emerald twinkles in the grass, A brighter sapphire melts into the sea." That was all, but it was enough, and more than enough to tell the whole story. But though Adrian could not read the secret entry carefully, locked away in Vida's desk, be was des- tined speedily to know the truth it told. A mere chance, an unexpected accident brought on the double crisis which was to so seriously influence the future of their two lives. And it came about in this way. The children want to sail their ship, this after- noon, Adrian," said his mother, one morning, just before lunch, will you do down with them to the little bay, and see they are all right ? I should feel easier if you are there." Willingly, mother," said Adrian, secretly won- dering if Vida was to be one of the party, but not venturing to ask. He wondered more than once lately, at the in- difference which his mother had shown to his being so much in the society of the governess. True, the children were always engaged with her during the morning; but the afternoons were free, and it was seldom that Adrian, Vida, Olga and Elsie were not together part of the afternoon at least. Lawn tennis, archery excursions into Scarborough, long country walks amid the lovely scenery of the neighbourhood; there were abundant opportunities of companionship for the party. And except when Mrs. Norreys took Vida for a drive, calling on country neighbours, she seemed to care little whether the girl were in her son's company or not. What the deuce does it mean ?" soliloquised Adrian to himself one day, over an after breakfast series of cigarettes in the shrubberies. It must be one of two things. Either the dear old mother thinks that I should never marry a governess, or that she is quite aware of Vida's goodness, and fitness to be any man's wife, and so doesn't care if it does come off. But which is it, I wonder. It was the latter opinion which was the true ex- planation of Mrs. Norreys' lax guardianship. With a mother's keen insight, she detected the earliest signs of ripening attachment between her son and Vida MacKeith. She took serious counsel with herself on discovering this, but on careful con- sideration was quite satisfied to let matters take their own way without interference. Adrian might do worse," she reflected. He need not look for money; he will have an ample income of his own, and he is not an extravagent youth. Vida has birth. She comes of a very good old Scotch family, though they were not well off. She is a lady in herself she has a most lovable, admirable nature, and is as good as gold.' If they really care for each other, that is the great thing, since I see no objection to such a match." And thus it came about that all the circum- stances smiled favourably on Adrian's love suit, except that one dark, sinister im- movable obstacle which blocked the smooth course of true love, his wife. If he had only seri- ously considered things for a minute he would have realised, not only the impossibility, but the unfair- ness, the wrong to Vida of winning her love, when he could not honourably offer his own in return. But with all his many good points of character, this was just the fatal weakness of Adrian's disposi- tion. He never liked to steadily face any diffi- culty, to consider any embarrassment. He hated worry, he often said. Work-steady, hard con- tinued work-he could meet cheerfully and master, and this quality enabled him to take honours at the University. But in all difficulties he postponed meeting the crisis as long as he possibly could. Something is sure to happen, which will clear up matters," he invariably hoped. Events help to settle themselves. Why worry unnecessarily about it. Something is due to time and good fortune." Thus he let himself drift on with poor innocent unknowing Vida, till the storm broke, and he was compelled to face the terrible dilemma into which he brought himself. And then began the Tempta- tion of Adrian Norreys. Olga and Elsie had run upstairs for boat, a beautifully rigged small schooner, to sail which was one of their greatest delights. They now ap- peared in the hall, with their miniature vessel, more leisurely followed by Vida, whose heighten- ing colour betrayed the secret pleasure she felt that Adrian was to be one of the party. The place selected to sail the Fairy" was by the side of a reef of rocks which ran out for nearly a quarter of a mile into the sea. About a hundred yards from the sand, the rugged, shelving side of this reef became smooth and perpendicular, re- sembling a wall or pier, and it was here that the two girls had determined to sail their ship. What a curious formation," Vida said, wonder- ingly, as she stood on the edge of the natural wall, and peered down at the swiftly-moving current) some four or five feet below. "Rather," replied Adrian, as he unrolled a ball of stout cord, and fastened it to a ring let into the the deck of the schooner. But take care of your- self, Vida, and don't stand too near the brink; the seaweed is slippery, and if you take a header down below here you'll plump into ten feet of water at least, to say nothing of a strong current." He had come to call her Vida, now, as a matter of course. The old formal address, "Miss MacKeith," was laid aside for ever. And if she did fall in Ady," said Elsie, cheer- fully, "you'd jump in and pull her out again, wouldn't you ?" Vida found it impossible to resist one meaning glance at his face. That swift look said plainly, Would you do as much for me as for the actress ?" And she was satisfied with the answer she read in his eyes, for she quickly lowered her own." "Now tjlen for it," cried Adrian, gaily, and watching his opportunity he gently swung the model schooner down on the waves. The beautiful little craft bent gently over to one side, then as the fresh breeze filled her mainsail, foresail, and fore- staysail, she started off swifty on a course parallel to the reef, at, first; next, obeying the impulse of her rudder (which Adrian had fixed at port), she came round with a graceful curve on the tack and stood in for the reef. The young man hauled her out of the water, and, waiting for a smooth inter- val, lowered the boat again for another cruise. So pretty was the sight, that not only Elsie and Olga but Vida also were charmed with it. Adrian now entrusted the line to Vida's hands while he lighted a cigar, the wind being too strong for a cigarette. Just at this moment a cross wave, beating back from the wall side of the reef, met another coming in, and a small but violent whirlpool was formed, in the centre of which, unluckily, lay the Foam. The combined influences of wind, current, and vortex of water, all acting in contrary directions, proved too much for the poor little ship, and her sails flapping helplessly she whirled round and fell over, her slender masts whipping the water like J Miniature fishing rods. Elsie shrieked with dismay, believing that her favourite boat was lost, and took a hasty step forward. Vida, in alarm, seized the child by the shoulder, and stopped her on the very edge of the reef. But in doing so she let go of the l'ne and the tension of the model boat dragged it off the rocks. The governess make a quick effort to save the vanishing end of the cord, but vainly and in doing so her foot slipped on the wet seaweed, and she went over the edge of the reef. It was all the work of a second. One instant, Vida was standing with them on the rocks, tha next, she instantaneously disappeared from their sight. But there was a quick eye and a strong arm among that party, or the poor girl's fate would have been sealed. Adrian had seen the for- ward movement of the governess to secure the line, and instinctively guessing the danger, he sprang towards her. He was too late to save her going over, but just as she was disappearing he seized her helpless hand, throwing himself on his knees as he did so. It was well that the ready brain and the trained experience of the young University gymnast prompted him to this quick pre- caution. Otherwise the falling weight of Vida must have dragged him over too; and the pair would have been plunged into ten or twelve feet of foam- ing, tossing waves with strong cross currents, and no chance of regaining firm footing till Adrian had succeeded in swimming some seventy orfeighty yards, supporting Vida. For it was impossible to clamber up the smooth face of the reef at that spot. It was very doubtful if all his strength and courage could have achieved the task, and the proba- bility was that both of them must ha,ve been lost before the eyes of the terrified children. But his quick action averted that catastrophe, and the girl now hung over the side of the reef, her feet immersed in the water, her head some two feet below the level of the rocky platform, and, one arm upstretched, the hand grasped by the kneeling athlete above her. Your other hand, Vida—quick," he said, in a low, firm voice. I must have both before I can raise you." Half unconsciously, she raised her right arm to- wards him, and he took it in his strong grip. Then collecting himself for the effort, he drew her up the side of the reef, and, placing an arm round her waist, brought her on the rocks. By this time the shock, the danger, and the sudden rescue had proved too much for Vida to bear with her custom- ary composure, and as Adrian laid her on the reef, she lost her consciousness and became ifisensible. "Run home quickly; Olga," said Adrian, "and tell them to send the pony carriage down to the bay as fast as possible. She can't wall: back after this. But don't be anxious, she has only fainted, and I have my flask with me which will soon revive her. Off you go." Almost before he had finished the last word, Olga bounded off like a deer, followed by Elsie. And Adrian was left alone with Vida. A few drops of Cognac from his silver flask unconsciously received by the lips of the insensible girl, sufficed to reanimate her. Opening her eyes, she found him bending over her, anxiously watch- ing her returning colour and quickening breath. You saved my life," she murmured. How can I thank you ?" If his existence that moment had hung upon the discretion of his conduct just then he could not have expressed the words and action. Forgotten the wife he had already; forgotten all bonds of I honour, justice, and duty. Passion swept away prudence, and he bent over and kissed the quiver- ing mouth which thanked him. I would have died for you and with you, Vida," he said. Do you not know it ?" Yes, I know it," she said softly, and I owe you a life." And love," he madly replied for the words should have been locked for ever within his lips. And your love, Vida." "It is yours already, Adrian, she murmured simply. I love you with all my heart." Thus were the fatal words spoken; thus did the hideous entanglement of Adrian Norreys begin. (To be continued.)

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