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A MILLIONAIRE'S LOVE
AFFAIR.
CHAPTER XXVI.—(Continued.)
By RALPH RODD.
There lay the difference between the
two men who loved June with such a
wealth of devotion. To Frank luloot
her guilt was undeniable, but that still
left her far above him, and lie was will*
ing, more than willing, to take her, de*
spite the stain. She was always his
adorable lady of roses, find if he knew
that the thorn which could never be re*
moved was there, well, the perfume of
the roses was worth it all. To Vale the
case was different. In the blindness of
his devotion he refused to see the thorn
at all. lie was an idealist, and the girl
lie loved was ideally perfect, while he
knew better than those others the subtle
danger of the obvious.
“ Oil, believe me, Nod, for the present
we must not trouble ourselves and her
by searching for explanations. Our task
is to protect her from harm, to make her
feel that in our love she u safe—yes,
and she is safe, Ned, she must be,"
The worn, thoughtful fucc was glorified
at that moment by the radiancy of the
smile that lit it up. Then the Duke got
to his feet hurriedly, his ear had detected
a beloved footfall; lie was halfway to
the door when it-opened, ami Juno came
Both men looked at the girl with a
sort of wonder, neither had expected to
see her crushed amt broken ; the bare
idea was impossible in connection with
June, yet both, perhaps, had thought _to
find traces of the burden she had carried
the-last few days, the burden she was
carrying now.
And Instead of any such signs, June’s
face was calm, almost serene. She had
come . into the woman’s kingdom, to
•which, alas, so few women attain, hin
dered by the lesser objects they strive
after. She was queen of the universe to
one man. What did the lesser folk of
the. world matter, he had bidden her trust
him even at the eleventh hour.
As June's eyes mot those of the two
who Were so dear to her, a cloud came
over her face. In the glory of her new*
found love, the wonderful, all-absorbing
love winch was bo strange, so sacred a
thing, she had been ready to forget nil
else, strong in the knowledge that ixo
matter what happened she had still Frank
Talbot's love. Now she blamed t herself
for even for a single minute having for*
gotten these two.
"I have told Vale everything, Juno/'
She was back on earth again, her
father had not meant to be cruel, yet
tlie descent was grievous.
“ Yes V* She glanced from the one to
the other questioning]}*. The Earl's-face
was troubled, perplexed, Vale’s serene,
“ Yea ?" she repealed.
The cider man drew her gently into a
“ Yes, Vale has been told everything,
and Vale is very angry that lu* was not
told everything before. Little girl, couldn’t
you trust me V"
“ Yes, but-”
“ There should be no 4 bills’ in love.”
June glanced at him curiously ; it was
strange how* those few minutes last night
with Frank Talbot had taught her what
Vale had tried so patiently to leach.
Sho had laughed nt him, but
knew that he was’ right; love was the
greatest thing in the world.
“ When you kept back the trouble voq
were robbing me of a right I prize. Did
you think that what I have just heard
Would make any difference to me ? June,
did you really believe that V*
“ You mean it makes none V*
41 I am answered.” And though he
spoke lightly, there was disappointment
In his voice.
The girl's heart sank. Yesterday the
knowledge of hia loyalty must have com
forted her, to-day it was not the same,
because, hidden away in her heart some
where, had been the hope that he would
have given her her freedom. It was a
scarcely defined hope: not even to her
self had June acknowledged tlmta another
man now monopolized her very life. She
would have flushed with shame to own
even in her, heart ^hat on the very evp
gf her marriage with one man, she was
ready to turn from him and toko" her
place for all eternity by the side of
another. ,Sudi a thought had novel* come
to her. nnd not by so much its a word
had Talbot suggested it, only now her
eyes wore open, "and she knew at length
the difference between the love a woman
gives to the man . who is her mate and i
the childish love, the veneration, csteerq ,
which she had lavished on Vale ever
fiincd aim had played as a child about his
knee. Yes, she knew* the difference now.
•Vale laid his hand on her arm caress* !
inf.hn
* Did you really think I should believe
the talc V*
His' words brought home to her more
than anything else could have done the
difference between those two who loved
her. The one said, “I love you, and
though the whole world prove mo wrong
I refuse to believe evil .of you”—surely
devotion could go no further. ,Tho other
man said, “ For motives I do riot under
fit and you have done evil. Against my
very will I am convinced that you have
fltolen, cheated, lied. I do not ask fop
explanations or excuses, I love you.” And
to June it was the second man's lovg
that seemed the greater.
“Ah, but you are wrong, quite wrong.
Every word Mr. Wyvil says he can
“ And then ?”
V He can prove to the county, to the
world, that a Borrndaile lias committed
crimes for which many aa poor man and
"woman have, gone to prison. Then he
■can provo, too, that I was ready to dope
with turn, yes, and there arc other
things.’?
“ All of which only go to. show that
the sooner you and I are married the
better.”
.June's father heaved a sigh* of utter
relief. No oae could have blamed his old
friend if, after wlmfc had happened, he
list! refused to go on with this marriage.
Now Borrodaite knew that he had failed
to do Vale’s love justice.' Surely June's
honour must be safe in such protection.
“ No, no, not that—there are reasons
“ Reasons ? Wiml other reasons can
there be, dear, child ?”
How could she tell those two ? How
could she explain that, if allowed to
speak, Wyvil would have n very different
tale to tell to the one they expected to
hear ? And then the re was always the
other cause which made her dread the
thought of this marriage.
/• “June, bo reason able.” It was the
first time Borroduilc had interfered, and
he did it with clumsy diffidence. “ Don’t
let- false pride make you reiiucnto accept
Vale’s offer.”
“ No, no, I can’t do it ! You don't
know what you are asking,”
“ We are asking you to save the honour
of the family.”
“No, you are asking me to drag it m
tfie dust.” It ms true, though she rea
lised that they must mistake Iter meaning.
Vale’s brows were bent,
“You mean that our marriage will
drive Mr. Wyvil to quicker action !”
“ Yes “—almost involuntary.
“ Ami that is your only reason V*
44 That, mid-”
Was it mere chance that made the
butler nt that moment utter the words
“Mr. Talbot,”
CHAPTER XXVH. ,
Frank Talbot glanced at tJhc three
seated 11 re re, and then he nodded in a
comprehending sort a of way.
They were wat tilling him, all of them,
yet not just m die was doing. How
strong and self-reliant he looked ! But
then June experienced a chill. He wan
avoiding her eyes—why did he avoid
them just like Mint ? Now he was speak
ing, speaking directly to her.
“Lady June, before all obw, I want
to a^k you to forgive .me ; although, per
haps, it a? presumptuous even hoping
tihat you can do so,” Oh, how stiff it
sounded, and last night I The memory
of i'liat brou^lit the hot flush to her
chocks. “ I want a to ask your pardon
for having for a .single moment believed
vou capable of doing what you did your
best to persuade as you had done. Of
course, I ought to have known.”
“Hush S Stop!” What apology was
needed between him and her, besides
what was be saying ? In ids eagerness
to clear her name from stain he was en
dangering——
“ No, you mustn't stop me, I have
come here on purpose to tell you, sir,
and his Grace, of an interview I had
last night with Wyvil.”
They were listening eagerly, but it was
Lord Borrodallc’s face which bore a look
of almost painful expectancy, for .Vale
t
imtl nodded as n .man noth who Jok/tts
; Jje ia about to have Iris conviction*
•confirmed. June Jmd sprung to her feet,
t i csnbl i mg with exc itement,
j forbid you to speak.”
u l/uust you/*
xoij dure {** She bad borne many
t eonumtlmg emotions of late, but the hot !
temper of the BoiToduiles was tmwbdued, I
i *ny «mv it > flashed out. 4‘ You have no •
|«gbt to interfere. 1 absolutely 'forbid ;
4 T have no right ?'* Ami it was not i
j~*ne that-marked tiie reproach, iii j
J-f prefer mattem to remain as they i
“ And I absolutely refuse to let them 1
do .so for another hour.”
(To be continued.) i
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