The Rhos Herald

-=--= -=-- [ALL eights reserved.} A Broken Idol By ELLEN LEYS, Author of "The Queen's Necklace," Mr. Feather- stone's Flirtation," &c. A man and a girl stood facing each other lu one of the recesses of Waterloo Bridge. Even in the dim twilight of the dull March evening one could see that she was a woman Of exceeding beauty, and just now there was her face a look of indignation, almost of fain, that seemed to fascinate the man before er. He, her three months' accepted lover, had I never realised as yet, it seemed to him, the I surpassing loveliness of the girl lie had won by his passionate pleading. The deep blue I eyes of wounded love looking so appealingly i at him from under their sweeping lashes, the I passes of chestnut hair ruffled by the evening ^le rec^ mouth with its pathetic curves, wew his heart to her with fresh cords of | -affection, and he could hardly refrain, even j that public highway, from throwing his i round her and covering her face with I kisses. j i>ack0 intensit? gaze made her shrink v I cannot do it, Edgar; indeed, I cannoti ou ought not to ask it of me." ju an instant his mood changed. And this is what you call love? You have ever loved me. Isabel!" The girl said nothing. Her lever turned 4iid looked moodily down at the grey river. .ou don't trust ime and what is love j,, trust?" He turned and looked at again, his dark eyes searching her face. f or a momeift she held silence. Then she ald in a low voice and tremulous, Why can't we be married before we leave ^oncloii? You say that there is a splendid pening for yOU jn ^.jie Argentine, and that as ^ou hear definitely about it you st start. And you wish me to go with you. Wiry*1 rC £ !^y *-° take you at your word. But J can t we be married in London, instead Pf aitilig till we get to Havre?" as a -a7e exPla'ned that. If you trusted me vnn 1 °ug £ t to trust her affianced husband ,You ivould make no difficulties. We are alone TTha/6 W0r^- We have no one to consider. agreed, was one compensation for othp one^ness, entire dependence on each "Yon r*i ^ou cannot really have felt that. o not know what love means after all!" «hP ?ls f08.0 to the girl's beautiful eyes, but i i"10m away, and by a strong (t.y controlled her voice. :°11 ar0 unjust to me," she said, quietly, Rho latfl" I must .go." it °Ut ll6r ll £ Uld> but he not "If fiaid W8 Par' now, we part for ever," he you\vnar,0t help {t> Ed.gar- If i'ou think, "H'-n|8ee that I can give no other answer." iie sn?riS-s a '')us coming that will suit you," fcesiri* 1 -n co^' sullen accents. She walked «Y0 meet the omnibua. in a 1° write to me, perhaps?" she said «ight.^W t0»e as she stepped in. "Good Q <6nce of answered, and the differ- All th worcl struck coldly upon her ear. at the long journey to her lodg- CoufliCf utlsea, -isaoeis heart was rent with Was emotions. At one moment she How rT~i iVreyu to tlie deepest compunction. War' 1^' how. u»kindly, she bad treated %Tr: wonder he was angry «r?fn 0ther thoughts came to her He -ought not to ask it. He ought have seen it was impossible she would travel with him iintil they were married! A sleepless night followed, and when she started next day to go to the National Gallery to put the finishing touches to a Turner she was copying, Isabel looked the shadow of her ceautilul self. She worked hard, trying to drown thought. ,1Ce She fancied she heard Edgar tinni- he semetimes did in his luncheon a? suddenly becoming aware of the «1Tp f ,a m?Vn the doorway behind her, An nth 1mckly round. But no, it was Si'161; nian —one whom she had seen several *ace ntt + j u ,Gal.lery~a nian whose than rapted her by its expression rather wh™, y an-y handsomeness cA feature—one »ain+e portrait she fancied she would like to art SOm° y wlren she had mastered her coS WOU1Id come aml stro11 8lowly round the •vav w W°Vld end by standing in t-he door- *sYf 7e.Tould move away in a few minutes, *enoo i of, anno.ying her by his near pre- Lncet and so he did now. P firft Month passed. Every evening for the Usuil f Isabel went to the bridge, the cami rystlllH-place, but her lover never tvri n°^ dld he write to her. She went iSdoa again» hut as there was no sign of giver i, made up her mind that he had «aistruster U^' pl'^de una^e to bear her •ent^t rfIlloved l»er engagement ring, and «ents h 4 f0*1 to him with the few little pre- letters given her. Then she burned his her lif and his photograph. That chapter of j lonely ° Was closed, and she felt very, very "I «JOck „ y she met a friend, Marion Dy- WritijL fi8irl who earned her living by "Isal i .I"" • face 8], the girl stopped short, her kind X°u deeP concern. "What is amiss? "Oh ~n8u^y working too hard?" *r°ublhigar^) 80 wan Something is Voice°K- dori't know. Perhaps." Isabel's "^Jink ° "■* am feeling rather lonely, I "a* S°od am< I- And I've just had a bit of TVe Doling Moonbeams gave me twenty- I spenrl *f or my last novelette, and I mean *^th me?1'' °n a lon§ holiday. Will you coma ^tL81S1 to!" •he first rl eon made their plans, and on cnw^i May they started for Shanklin. Were Bl'1( u, Management Marion's funds f spread Lj to last six weeks, and June had ^hen j-j golden web over land and sea <>a the started alone for a Ions' row Mari0ll f e|'ening' of their holiday. *°Wer, P, took the sculls. She was a strong j tended pulled farther than she had in- Isabel, ■a?'l?.niised me the oars, Marion," said Do yo,. turned homeward. 48 a stiff kr hink you should, Isabel? There stronw ^eze from shore, and you're not How these' Jvyou say so? See wliat a differ- Isabel ho™ Weeks have made in me!" djt° give t0 pul1 (lUick]y' but soon she We ^vtl]6 ,.i°r' Marion. I must stop." wU1 change. Slowly now, Isabel— Isabel, I >3tead of shipning her oars. had. i -=o: 1 J let t'(- via lie in the rowlocks, and one had Islijrp d out and floated awav. What shall we do?" came from Isabel's white lips. white lips. j Si. Jown—quick, Isabel Give me the J other oar. I'll try to paddle after it." 'P-ui the liapc was a rain one. The little j oar was soon carried beyond all hope of re- | cawrj, Bftd the g'irls were left in their light j boat; <'bt the mercy of the waves. j For ooure time neither of them spoke. ift | said: "If there any hope of our being seen from s the shore?" | "Wo must hope. We can't do anything," Oh, May, I don't mind for myself, but I aaid Marion. you-and through my fault!" 1 Drin't dear! There are plenty of steamers about. If one comes along before dark, we shall "be seen." An Lour passed. The-sky grew dark; the wind .freshened; a few rain drops fell,, and the Htile boat drove helplessly along. "What is that?" cried Isabel. Her voice was almost a scream. Suddenly, out of the gloom, the white hull of a. yacht rose above them. It had appeared like a spectre, glid- ing nciselessly upon the waves. Hullo! Boat ahoy! Hold her off! Throw I I" th-em a rope I" I Cry after cry sounded out of the darkness, and "then lights flashed—a rope was thrown— and before Isabel could realise what had luu>iKvned, she felt herself half lifted over the hanucned, she felt herself half lifted over the side of the yacht. Strong hands were held out to steady her; a bright flare lit up the scene, and Isabel's bewildered eyes met those of the man to whom in her nervousness she was still clinging. Bright, black, eager, and now ablaze with anger, the eyes were those of Edgrar Rochester. "Ejdgar!" The name broke from her un- lieden. "Silence! Curse you He dropped her hands, and she fell faint- ing on the planks. When Isabel recovered consciousness, she found herself in a tiny, luxurious cfbin re- clining in a lounge chair, while Marion, rest- ing in another, greeted her friends awaken- ing with a bright smile. I am thap.kful to see your eyes open again I' she whispered. Oh, May, are we saved, or is it only a dream ?" We are quite safe—picked up by a yacht." "Not his!" "Whose?" "Edgar's!" <? Dear Isabel! Your thoughts are wander- ing still." to "No, no! He is her. I saw kim. He lifted me on board. We must get away as soon as we can. I am afraid of him. He looked so strangely at niel" The yacht is not his, at any rate. It be- longs io Sir Malcolm Tennant. He is on board." "Can we not ask him to put us ashore at once?" Marion touched an electric bell, and the .steward appeared. "Is Sir Malcolm on deck?" asked Marion. "I believe he is, madam." "Please tell him, then, that if convenient we would like to see him for a minute or two." In a few minutes the owner of the yacht ap- peared. He was a man of about thirty-five, tall and well-built, with deep-set Scotch grey eyes, and a face which, though not handsome, had a peculiar charm of expression. To Isabel the face was not that of a per- feet stranger. Surely that man did not come no'B i°r the first time into her life? Ills manner confirmed the impression, for he looked shy and self-conscious as he re- turned Isabel's bow. "Pray do not think us too selfsh," she said, "but we wished to ask'when you' coald laud us. We are anxious to get home and wo do not like to intrude longer than need be on your hospitality." "I am porry it is of so poor a nature. But the Lorelei has accommodation of a sort for ladies. My sister and a friend of hers souit-- tiroes come for a run with me. If you can make yourselves comfortable for a few her, s I should be very glad. We are bound now Tor France I "France!" The word came in a cry of dis j may from the girl. "I am sorry. But I will bring you back to- morrow. I think I can promise to land you at Shanklin in the evening. It vexes me to disappoint you. Have you friends who wui be worrying about you? I will telegraph as I soon as possible." "No, no. It is not that." "Then let me entreat you not to trouble yourself for any other reason. Your friend, he added, turning to Marion, "has been very much distressed by this adventure. Can you not persuade her to look upon this as a plea- sure trip?" There was a tenderness, a pleading in his look and voice that touched Marion. There was more than the friendliness of a kindly stranger in his manner. The love of romance in the novelist's heart boro her away. She threw her weight on his side. "It is quite true, Isabel," she saiui. "It makes no real difference to us, and this gentleinan is so kird as to say we do not in- convenience him very much." "Then you will try to make your-selvcs happy, and I hope you will try to take some supper. "You are very kind," murmured Isabel, and with a sudden impulse she stretched out her hand. "I can trust you, I know "I think yoa may," he said, eagerly taking possession of the slender hand. "I have no desire but to please you. I would turn back at once, but I have given a promise to a friend." "Then yon must not break faith for me," she said gently. "If it had been necessary for your happi- ness or comfort, I fear I should have felt bou-nd to!" he said. "Good-night. I hope you will both be able to rest." Good-night, and thank you again," said Marion. "Good-night!" said Isabel. And as the door closed she cried, "Oh, Marion, how dif- ferent he is from—him An hour later the girls were settled for the nignt, and Marion soon fell into a deep un- troubled sleep. Isabel, however, could not rest, know rag that within a few yards of her was the man whose affianced bride she htids-) lately been. i x, She. had chosen the top berth' under the open porthole, and in the stillness of the night, the voices of two men fell distinctly upon her ear. They were those of Rochester and Sir Malcolm Tennant. "We could reach Havre by two, do yon say, Tennant?" ^Theii7' make it Havre, please, and not _u. r Dinan. I have been looking up t-vus, and find if I landed at Havre I could -<• n three or four hours. My uncle is an ir< « i >le old chap. If I fni1 to met, him in Par" i will never forgive me, for he cannot word oi French, and all my chances in ill be rvmec! "It .makes no difference to IKC. ^••■-V-d, it, vjH suit me .better, for it might gr •• tiire to put back to South se:) and these Ladies." "'¡?ut back to Southsea Surelv d Tcn- s ?" "Why not?" "You will rnin my ehances! I k m to make this change so that I can p"i Par's more quickly, and you propose baoi: to Süufhsca. 1" Rochester's voice m: loud and angry. "There is not the smallest neeii "uU to be nervous, flvenden," rep]' Mal- colm cahrAy. "I'll do nothing to you. I'll give MacCormack orders to nii:k.- r -'aigiit for Havre." "Thanks, ora fellow. When a f 1s his whole future hargs in the biihui; nakes him nervous. Good-night, I'll fur:; mi now." "Havre! Ilvrre Yes-it was ,l'>.) he had wanted to take her, but he h of no uncle. He had said he t a steamer to the Argentine. And \\¡;< that Sir Malcolm had called hilt; e tt fie-,i ? fe»rely she was not mistaken. 1; l"i"dt-'ar Itoenester whoiu she had seen i t. ,il." Isabel sat up. A panic fear c d her. Edgar wanted to get to Hav • Tids was not the original destination of T e had changed his mind since he s1 a l-,er on the vessel! But what could he do ir L. lid get her to Havre t She would stay be]. ..dl the time mey were in port, and 011cehe had left the ship she would be safe. But the fesr witb'n her would not be quieted. SLa slipped to tlie floor, put ou her dress, threw o/er her head and shoulders a soft blue rug tiiiu. served as a coverlet to her bed, and crept upstairs, Sir Malcolm was standing n!n-. She 1 moTr'd softly toward him, and !»• turned sharply at the sourd. Lifting her bund to en- join silence, Isabel came to his side. The man smotheied a cry. The man smothcl cd H cry. How beautiful she was The loveliness pf her features was enhanced by tin- 'vistful, pathetic look in her wonderful eyep. "You will think me very strairje- very cap- ricious, but I cannot help" it. I ,l you to take me back to England. I dare stay on this yacht!" "Will you tell me why?" He spoke to her gentlv, as one' does to a frightened child, and jn, as if h3 had known her for years instead of miauies, he put her on his arm, and bade her loan on him put her hand on his arm, and bade her lean ou him while she told him her story. In broken phrases and with many a blush, she told him all. "I am afraid of Edgar—I don't know why It is unreasonable I suppose, but, h, I dare re not go to Havre on the same ship with him!" "He oannot harm you. He has no claim oil you now. I will take care of y»u—I pro- ntise you that. Will you trust rod" "Yes—yes, I do—I'can! But still I am afraid. Forgive me Bear with me in my foolishness!" "Rest here a moment. Nobody will dis- turb you." In a few minutes he was at her side again. "I have consulted with my sailing master. He says we can manage to put vou off at Southsea and get back to Havre. So we shall reverse our course at once." "How can I thank you?" M Don't thank me for anything I do for yea V be said gently. She was silent for a few moments. Then ahc said "Surely I have met you before somewhere? Yet I do not remember you by name." "You are not a stranger to me," he said softly; "I know you very well." She looked at him earnestly. "Ah!—now I know! You came to the Gal- lerj sometimes." Very often. May I hope that we may be friends always now?" I shouild7 be sorry not to think that! I awe you so much. And now I will go down- stairs. Their hands met in a warm grasp. Then tie led her to the cabin, and as he came on deck again, and looked out over the sea, a smile ot great gladness rested on his face. < < Dawn was breaking when the girls came on deck to see Southsea near at hand. Sir Malcolm met them and insisted on wrapping Isabel in a large plaid, for the morning air was chilly. Then he went to perform the same service for her friend, but it seemed to be a difficutt matter te arrange Marion's wrap to his satisfaction, for he stood over lier for several minutes, and the two ap- peared to have a good deal to say to each other. Before the ship reached the pier, a boat was seen pulling out to the yacht. A man in policeman's drass hailed the vessel. "Are you the Lorelei?" "Yes." The reply came from Si* Malcolm. "Have you a Mr. Rochester on board?" "No!" "Rochester! Marion! Marion!" Isabel turned and clung to her friend. The man went on. "I suppose we may take yojir word for it? "Indeed you may. There is no one of that name on board "I ought to speak, do you say, Marion? Oh, no, I cannot!" Isabel turned her face | away. "How could I betrav him, whatever he may have done? Don't Marion, don't!" "What's up? Where are we?" Roused by the stir above, Edgar Rochester had thrown on his clothes and rushed up on deck. He looked about him in amazement, astonished at finding the yacht so near the shore. "Who is that gentleman? He is very like- our man," shouted the police officer. "Mjjr friend—Captain Evenden. The man consulted with two others. "We are coming aboard," he cried, and in a moment the three policemen were clamber- ing up the side of the yacht. Even yet, Rochester did not take in the meaning of the scene. "This is Southsea!" he cried, looking at Sir Malcolm. "Yes; we are putting the ladies ashore." ()nc (f the men came up to Rochester. "That's him, sure enough!" he cried. "I don't know what he may call himself to you, sir," he continued, turning to Sir Malcolm, "but he's Edgar Rochester, wanted for forgery and one. or two pthqr small matters." "Be careful Whaf'you My- You cannot have it all your ovfn way.' cried Sir Mal- colm, his face showing strong indignation, and he turned to hail a police inspector who was standing at the end of the pier waiting for the yacht to come alongside. The men closed upon Rochester. He made no resistance, but took a step towards Isabel. "This is your doing—vou have been false; to me all along! he said. no t" The cry rang from the girl's pale Hps, and she shrank back. The yacht was ai the pier—the cable was being thrown. All at once there was a scene of confusion. The prisoner had freed Iwmself from his | guardians, daaling one a stunning blow, throwing the other against the sharp corner of the companion way. With one bound he readied Isabel, caught her in his arms, and sprang with her into the sea. A heavy splash —the agonised sbcat of a man—a second splash as he, teo, leapt into the sea, and to Marion, standing alone, bewildered, almost stunned, it seemed; as if the waters had closed for ever over the group of three struggling in the waves. « Bright August, sunshine flooded the room; great bowls of roses filled it with their per- fume. On a couch drawn before the winflow looking out upon woodland and cornfield, lay Isabel Grey, her faithful friend at her side. "Here are peaches and grapes, Isabel, from Sir Malcolm, and a little note, asking me if you are strong enough to see him to- day. "Shall I, Mai.on.?" A bright, pink flush II suffused the cheeks; her long lashes veiled her eyes. "I think so—he has been very patient." 'I owe him so much. I can hardly face him." Hear what he has to say about that. Say 'Yes' then. Marion wrote a line and dispatched it. "Come here, May. I want you to tell it to me all over ag^in." "That story? There isn't much to tell. When that awful man tried to drown you with himself, Sir Malcolm saved you from him. He is an unusually strong swimmer, but it taxed all his strength to free you from the hold of that man. He—Rochester—was badly hurt,, and sank before they could save him." "What had he done?" "Embezzled money, forged, all sorts of dreadful things. His accomplice gave infer- mation, for Rochester kept delaying, booing to get more money together, and* the other thought he was playing him false. The reason he wanted to marry you at Havre was that there would: be danger of exposure if his name was to appear in a Registrar's office." "And, afterwards?" "Oh, what I went through that day! It took hours for you to recover consciousness, andi he—Sir Malcolm—was beside himself. We carried you to a. nursing home at South- sea, and: directly you began to get better Sir Malcolm had YOIl brought to this cottage. It is on his Hampshire estate. And here, dar- ling, you. have been, nursed back to life and happiness." "Happiness?" "Surely! Isabel,. Sir Malcolm has loved c you for months—ever since he saw you one day in the Gallery. But he saw the engage- ment ring on your finger, and he worshipped in silence." ".Liow did:,he know him?- "They were schoolfellows. 'Eiieu when Evenden—that was his real name—got into straits,, he imposed on: Sir Malcolm. Of course,. Sir Malcolm did not know he was a fugitive. He j st; asked him to go for a trip, and Evenden begged to be taken to France." Morning had given place tCl- drowsy after- gi noon. No sound saye the buzzing of bees broke tlie still nans. Then the step of a man on the path beneath Isabel's window sent the colour leaping to her pale face. He passed through the open door of the house, paused an ins:ant on the threshold of the room, and: then came in. She rose and took a step to: meet him, but all her new found strength' failed' her;. she tottered a little and put out her hands. He held* them in Ilia firm grasp. "Thank you for letting me eoiue," he said, gently. "What can I say to. you?" she whispered, lifting eyes of maiden sbyness. "There is only one thing I want to hear yoi. say," he answered softly, "and I cannot hope for that yet." "What is it?" "If you can learn to say itI will wait for you and not persecute you—what I now say j to you with all my soul and heart—I love you!" "It will not need much learning," she whispered, and with a cry of joy he folded I her in his arms. I