Leavesgf Destiny

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 390, 26 June 1928, Page 5

Leavesgf Destiny

MSS** v ”^

Dorothea Gorbould

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. CHAPTER T.—Barbara Denning gazes at her last shilling. A well-bred, wellnurtured girl, she has lost both her parents and is now on the brink of starvation. Her sympathies are divided between her own necessities and the sufferings of a little boy in the same lodg-ing-house whose mother is a drunkard. She goes out singing in the streets that night, and with the money earned she gets a supper for both the child and herself. The next evening two men speak to her, praising her voice, and she decides to sing in the afternoon for the future. One afternoon she is again addressed by one of the men who spoke to her on a previous night. He gives her his card, advising her to go to a Mr. Simpkins, the manager of the Diadem Theatre. Barbara Denning visits the theatre, and is interviewed by Mr. Simpkina. CHAPTER ll.—Barbara Denning’s interview with Mr. Simpkins is almost terminated at the commencement, but he calls her back. She sings and he is satisfied. He decides she will do for the Birds* Chorus, and introduces her to a Mr. Beal, the musical director. He thinks she could understudy the Nightingale, Miss MacArthur's speciality, as that lady is often absent through illness. The salary Is £3 a week, and £5 when she takes the Nightingale. The following morning Barbara attends a rehearsal. Returning to her lodgings she finds some excited women chatter ug. Mrs. Brown, the drunken mother of the little boy. Reggie, in whom she is so interested, has been run over and taken to the hospital. A hospital nurse has called to see about the child, as the patient was so anxious about him. Mrs. Bloggs. the landlady, has five of her Own, and cannot undertake Reggie. Barbara promises to be responsible for the child, goes to him and takes him to her own quarters. Two days later Barbara is told by Mrs. Bloggs that someone has called from the hospital. Reggie’s mother has not long to live. She has asked to see Miss Denning She wants to talk about the child. CHAPTER 111. —Barbara Denning goes to the hospital and is taken to the bedside of Mrs. Brown. The screen has already beerf drawn round her. She tells Miss Denning that her husband belongs to the upper classes, xvhile she is a blacksmith’s daughter: that he has never dared to tell them of his marriage. They would not have recognised her if he had done so. She places a packet In Barbara s hands, and bids her to give it to Don. her husband, who is a soldier, should he return. Barbara asks her husband s name, and while trying to tell her married name the woman dies. The nurse appears, but can give no more information concerning Mrs. Brown’s real identity. Arrived at home Barbara examines the packet, but discovers nothing helpful. At the theatre she notes that Miss MacArthui has taken a deep dislike to her i n • c; jealousy. Shortly afterwards Miss MacArthur is ill. and Barbara takes her Place, and her singing brings the house down. The following day there is very favourable criticism on her performance This notice by the Press of Miss Denning's capabilities throws Miss MacArthur into a transport of rage, and sne Plans to discover something unfavourable about her. and to get her out of the theatre. Cunningly she sets to work bv Inviting Barbara to join herself and Miss •Tames at Romano's Restaurant for luncheon CHAPTER VI. —(Continued.) “And I’m sorry to go, Reggie,” he said, “but I must get home. Some day I’m coming back to fetch you to stay with me ” "And Auntie Barb’ra too?” Reggie asked eagerly. “Of course—and Auntie Barbara too jf she will come,” was the reply—. w ith a smile at her. “Course she will! When are you coming back, Mr. Smiff?” “Oh, very soon. You must be a good boy, Reggie, and learn your lessons and take care of Auntie Barbara a nd then perhaps one day I shall find your daddy and bring him to see you.” “Oh!” gasped Reggie, then after a Pause, "I hope my daddy will be like

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you. I want you to be my daddy, can’t you?” “We’ll see old chap—one day, when I come back.” Reggie leaned against his i\iend and was silent, his small mind pondering many things. Anstruther turned to Barbara. “I also came,” he said, “to ask if you would dine with me at the Savoy this evening. It is my last day in town, and I should like to have the pleasure of your company as a pleasant ending to it. I would fetch you in time for dinner at seven o’clock, and take you to the theatre afterwards, and bring you home.” Barbara’s flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes told plainly her delight at the invitation. “Oh, thank you!” she exclaimed. “I shall love to come. It will be quite an event in my life.” “And in mine,” was the reply. “I fear I have been very remiss in not offering my escort the last few nights, but the fact is, some friends of my people up in the north have arrived in town for shopping and sightseeing, and engaged my services as cicerone in the evening, so that I could not get to the theatre before you left.” “It was very kind of you to think of me at all,” Barbara said gratefully, “but Mr. Knowles has been good enough to see me to my bus as usual.” “Charters has not been bothering you again, I hope?” “No. I have not come across him lately.” “That is all right. I will call for you at 6.30 then.” ’“Thanks. I shall be quite ready.” And it was not until after a tearful farewell from Reggie, and Anstruther had taken his departure, that Barbara remembered the fact that, she did not possess an evening gown. It was a radiant figure of happy girlhood that sat opposite Donald Anstruther at the flower-decked dinner table in a cosy corner of the Savoy restaurant that evening. For Barbara meant to enjoy herself for this once, if never again. Directly she realised that she had no suitable toilette for this festive occasion, she resolved to perpetrate the reckless extravagance of buying an evening gown and wrap instead of the new winter costume she had been saving up for ever since her engagement at the Diadem Theatre. It was silly, and she would regret it later, slie told herself, but she was in a reckless mood, eager to grasp the unexpected chance of enjoying herself, which might never occur again, and of knowing how it felt to find herself for once amid luxurious surroundings, in the congenial society of a companion in her own rank of life. So, hastily donning her outdoor things, and giving Reggie in charge of Mrs. Bloggs, she hurried to the nearest big draper’s' establishment, and was soon in possession of a charming demi-toilette frock in black chiffon, whose square-cut bodice, glittering with jet, and short sleeves, showed her pretty white neck and arms to perfection. It was cheap, too, having been returned that day by a customer whom the firm could not afford to offend by refusing to change it for another, although it was found that she had

torn it—and therefore it must go into the sale now proceeding. It fitted Barbara perfectly, and the torn trimming having been carefully repaired, she was only too glad to get it, the obliging assistant finding her a pretty theatre wrap in a delicate shade of blue with a swansdown collar, the two garments coming well within the limits of her purse. Punctually at 6.30, in all the glory of her festive attire, Barbara went downstairs to await Mr. Anstruther s arrival, having obtained Mrs. Bloggs’s promise to look after Reggie as she had to leave earlier than usual to dine with a friend. The good woman, whose curiosity led her to go as far as her door to witness Miss Denning's departure, had no idea that the gentleman in evening dress, whose back was toward her as he assisted the girl into the car he had brought, was her lodger, Mr. Smith! Anstruther and his gyest talked of many things during thf drive to the Savoy, and he found Barbara a delightful companion—but each avoided, as if by mutual consent, any reference to his departure on the morrow, as though determined not to spoil the pleasure of the moment. The manycoursed dinner was a revelation to Barbara, who thoroughly enjoyed it. — the menu being an excellent one. Indeed, she wondered if she would ever feel hungry again! The flowers on the table, the care-fully-shaded lights, the well-dressed crowd around her were to the lonely girl, forced to live among such different surroundings, a glimpse of paradise. Anstruther could scarcely keep his eyes off her lovely face, with its heightened colour which was all that was needed to make it perfect, her sweet, smiling lips, and sparkling eyes. If he had admired Barbara Denning before, she seemed adorable to him now —a picture of lovely, “insouciante” youth and beauty, created for happiness—and love! And he caught himself wishing that he might be lucky enough, one of these days, to win her for himself, and take her away from her present sordid surroundings, and give her everything calculated to make life worth living. He had not thought of marrying a second time, although he knew that his mother had a most desirable daughter-in-law in her eye who would be in every way a most suitable match for him. What would Mrs. Anstruther say if she knew he had already been married, and to whom? Well, in any case, he would not have chosen Lady Ida Cravenshaw, whose sole charm in his eyes consisted in the possession of rare musical talent, and a voice which would have made her fortune as a professional. But since he had met Barbara Denning, Donald realised that he had found his ideal, and though as yet he could hope for no encouragement in his suit, the girl evidently regarding him merely as a friend, he would live in the hope that, having apprised his parents of his marriage to Lizzie Brown, and the existence of his little son, he would be able to return to London and set to work to win the coveted prize of Barbara’s love. Dinner at an end, and coffee served, Anstruther took out his cigarette case,

and offered it to his guest. Barbara shook her head with a smile. “I fear I am not up to date,” she said; “I do not smoke.” “I am glad of it,” was the reply. “I must say that X cannot bring myself to approve of women smoking. It seems —great Scott!” The latter exclamation, added below his breath, made Barbara turn her head in the direction in which his eyes were fixed. Three people had just entered the restaurant, and taken their seats at a table not far removed from that at which she and her host were sitting—two ladies in evening dress, and a man whom Barbara at once recognised as Sir Lindsay Charters. The women were evidently mother and daughter, the former a stout matron in black velvet, with a big diamond brooch sparkling in her corsage, the latter a fair, rather pretty girl in blue chiffon, with an ermine wrap. They gave their orders to the waiter, and then the elder lady, raising a long-handled lorgnette, took a leisurely survey of her surroundings. Suddenly her eyes feli upon Anstruther and his pretty vis-a-vis, and an expression of pleased surprise crossed her face, and she smiled and bowed, her glance travelling to Barbara. She said something to the girl, and the latter and Sir Lindsay turned their heads in the same direction, the girl giving Anstruther a smiling little nod, while Sir Lindsay, with amazement written all over his face, favoured Barbara with a friendly bow, which she returned with one of frigid hauteur, then turned her head away. There was an expression of annoyance on Donald Anstruther’s face, Barbara noticed- Evidently the contretemps was as unexpected as it was unwelcome. ‘‘l am afraid the time has come for us to start for the theatre,” he remarked ‘‘it is nearly .ten minutes to eight—l am sorry ” “Oh, is it as late as that? I must hurry! I have had"such a happy time!” The radiant eyes were turned upon him full of gratitude. “And I, too. The memory will cheer me on my way to-morrow, I shall get home somewhere about this time.” “Yes —you will be very far away tomorrow,” Barbara replied, as she rose and let him place her pretty blue wrap round her shoulders. “I hope you will have a pleasant journey ” “Don’t say that, as though we were bidding ‘good-bye’ to each other.” Anstruther said, “we shall meet again later on. I shall be at the stage door in good time this evening—you may depend upon it.” As they left the restaurant, three pairs of eyes looked at them, with curiosity, as regarded the women, and a malicious little grin on the part of Sir Lindsay Charters. “I did not know Donald had any friends in London,” the elder lady remarked. “He certainly told me he didn’t know anyone but the Forresters, and they left for Cannes yesterday!” “He didn’t want to introduce her to us, evidently,” the daughter replied, with a little disagreeable laugh. “He hurried her awy so fast, I am sure ' she wasn’t anybody. You seemed to

know her, Sir Lindsay,” turning to him. “Y r es,” was the reply. ’She was Miss Denning, one of the singers in the chorus at the Diadem Theatre. Our friend Anstruther has been very friendly with her lately, it seems. Takes her home from the theatre, and, as you saw to-night, invites her out to dinner ” Mrs. Grantley gasped again. “A chorus girl!” she ejaculated. I can’t believe it! I, must talk seriously to Donald ” “I wouldn’t interfere if I were you, mother,” said her daughter. “You will only make matters worse.” Barbara’s evening of evenings w-as nearly over. She found Anstruther waiting for her at the stage door, and having succeeded in reassuring Knowles as to the fact that this time her escort was satisfactory, she entered the car and was whirled away, leaving the boy consumed with jealousy at the thought of this rival who evidently assumed a right to look after her. “But of course she must have a sweetheart,” he muttered to himself, as he turned away from watching the departing car, “but this one bad better look out if I catch him at any of Sir Lindsay Charters’ little tricks —if lie doesn’t act on the square, he'll have me to reckon with.” “So that’s your doughty knight,” Anstruther remarked, as the car bore them homewards. “.He looked as if MUCH IN LITTLE It will surprise you what a lot or tasty, appetising sandwiches you can make from one pot of Gillard’s “Anchokreem.” This highly concentrated sandwich paste , is totally different from ordinary paste?’ —far more tasty and delicious. Guaranteed pure. All grocers. 7

he would like to have contested my right to be your escort.” Barbara laughed. “He is a dear!” she replied, “and I find it such a relief not to have to walk to my bus alone. I hate the journeys home at nights—more now even, than at first.” “I don’t wonder —but couldn’t you have a.taxi?” “I think not —and the bus does very well,” Barbara replied hurriendly, unwilling to add the information that she could not afford taxis. Perfcfps Anstruther realised the fact, for after a pause he said: “The chauffeur who is driving us, was my batman in Flanders. I cafie across him quite by chance the other day, a nice young fellow. I found he was not comfortable in his lodgings, which are also too far from the garage belonging to the motor hire firm where he is employed, so I have got him my room at Mrs. Bloggs, for the present—a little later on I hope to employ him myself. You see he once saved my life, and it was a great regret to me that I lost sight of him after the Armistice. Now I shall be in touch with him again, and I want to say, Miss Denning, while I have the opportunity, that if at any time you are in any trouble or difficulty, you can enlist his services, for he is thoroughly trustworthy and reliable, and also he will always know where to find me.” “Thank you,” Barbara murmured, “it will be a comfort to me to know that I could communicate with you. because of Reggie —” “And yourself too, I hope. I suppose you wouldn’t let Bates fetch you “Radium” Boot Polish is economical. The shine lasts. Use “Radium.” Save the coupons, and win a prize. All stores. 4

from the theatre of an evening? The i thought of your returning alone wor- i ries me greatly.” “Pray don’t let it do so,” was the ' reply. “I shall do quite well, as I have done before, besides I shouldn’t ' like to trouble Bates when his day’s work ii done.” “But it would be no trouble. He , has often to take people from the theatres, and other functions. He could quite well manage it and would ; be only too pleased, I am sure.” “Indeed, 1 couldn’t think of it! I should feel that I was taking an unfair advantage.” Barbara stopped short, and there was a pause. Suddenly Anstruther turned to her. “Do you like what you are doing. Miss Denning?” CHAPTER VII. For a moment Barbara was too startled to reply. It was a question : she had never asked herself? “I don’t quite know,” she replied presently. “Of course I like giving pleasure to people—but the atmos- ; phere of the theatre is not congenial I must say, and though some of the ; girls in the chorus are quite nice, I ' I cannot bring myself to make any friends among them, for we have no ' ideas in common, and I know they : think me prudish and ‘stuck up’— j while the girl whose understudy I am. ■ ; thoroughly dislikes me and hates my I taking her solo in the Bird Chorus 1 even when she cannot take it herself At the same time she pretends to be ■ : friendly, for what reason I do not know, and once even asked me tc I lunch at Romano’s with herself and Miss James, secretary to Mr. Simp ; kins, the manager. It was foolish of . me to accept the invitation, for 1 hated , : going, and I am sure they found me a

most unsatisfactory guest. It was on that occasion that a man whom Miss MacArthur knew—the editor of some newspaper, brought Sir Lindsay Charters to be introduced to her and Miss James, and —incidentally—to me. He is a friend of Captain Mordaunt who gave me the introduction to Mr. Simp kins, the manager of the Diadem Theatre.” “What! Teddy Mordaunt? I know him very well, in fact we are distantly related —his mother being a second or third cousin of my mother’s! Have you known him long?” Barbara hesitated. She had landed herself in a dilemma by her incautious mention of Captain Mordaunt’s name, for she had not intended to tell anyone of her having sung in the streets for money, least of all, the man beside her, and now, even if she did not do so, it was very probable that the next time Mr. Anstruther came across Cap tain Mordaunt, he by chance mention her name, and hear the whole story of her meeting with the latter. (To be continued.)