Island’s Thorne

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 564, 17 January 1929, Page 5

Island’s Thorne

(Serial Story)

(Published by Special Arrangement)

BY

FRANCIS VIPOND

A gardener was at work on a herbaceous border, and he questioned him. m “Miss Thorne?” the man repeated the name. “Sure and she’s sittin’ in the summer house at the end of the terrace, sir.” Neil walked along the shaven, green terrace with long, quick strides, ana passed under the arch of lime 4’ees, where the bees hummed over their work among the fragrant flowers. At the end of the terrace stood a rustic summer-house, and here, with a book on her knee, he found Sydney. She greeted him with quiet friendliness, though he fancied he noted a slight restraint in her manner, and wondered what he had done to merit it. He was embarrassed, and all at once had nothing to say, but she ignored this, though her heart beat more quickly as he sat down beside her. “It seems a very long time since 1 saw you. Colonel Fraser,” she said, avoiding a silence which promised to be awkward. “It is a long time,” he said. “It has seemed ages to me. And now I have come to say good-bye, I am going out to South Africa agajn.” He clung desperately to the resolution which he had formed in Lady Susan’s drawingroom. When he had come to Under-

bank he had only got as far as deciding lie would return to London, now South Africa loomed before him as his only goal. “I am very sorry to hear that,” said Sydney. “I shall—we shall all miss you very much. 1 have missed you all these weeks, so I know.” Silence descended like a wall between them again. Sydney could hear the thudding of her heart above the hum of the bees; she was filled with dread lest lie should hear it too. A robin came almost to tlieir feet, and stood staring at them with its bright, little beady eyes; then in a sudden fright it flew away. “I have, missed you, too,” said Neil at last. “It has been dull fishing alone, but I thought you would be very busy; you have had so much business to transact with Wroule and Lord Francis.” “There has been a lot,” said Syd-

ney. “I am thoroughly tired of it all, and my head whirls with figures. I shall be thankful when it is finally settled. It would have been a welcome break to have had a little fishing in between.” ‘‘Lady Susan tells me,” went on Neil blindly, “that you are thinking of letting Island’s Thorne. Is that really necessary?” “Yes,” returned Sydney. “We have gone into it thoroughly, and it is much the wisest thing to do. It is much too big a place for just mother and me after what we have been accustomed to, and the large rent we can ask for it will be useful, and help in the winding up of the estate. My grandfather’s affairs had got into something of a tangle. There had been heavy losses, of which he had told no one, and there is not much ready money. All the same, I hate to think of strangers coming to the house.” “I want to ask you,” began Neil nervously, “would you consider my application if I proposed renting Island’s Thorne from you? I have always wanted a place round here, but I have been unable to find one to suit me. I am ready to pay the rent you had determined to ask, and Island’s Thorne would suit me splendidly, but, of course, I shall quite understand if you would rather have strangers for tenants.” Sydney raised her eyes to his and looked steadily at him. Then all at once her gaze dropped before his, and a deep flush flooded her pale cheeks. “I would rather let Island’s Thorne to you than anyone else,” she said, in a low voice that shook, “but there is one condition before we consider it settled.”

He bent forward. “And what is that?” he asked. “That you take me with it, as one of the fixtures,” she returned, steadily holding out her hands to him. Lady Susan wandered along the lime terrace. She had never been noted for patience, and Neil’s lengthy absence had worn out the little she had, and she had come in search of him. As she reached the summer-house she paused, and gave a low laugh "Sydney and Neil were on their feet immediately, trying to look innocent, and only succeeding in looking very flushed and guilty. “Good-bye seems to be a very long word to say,” remarked the old dame maliciously. “Do you know, Neil Fraser, it has taken you exactly an hour, and it does not seem as though you were through with it yet.” “He isn’t,” said Sydney, with a happy smile, “and we have decided not to say it after all. Lady Susan,

may 1 introduce you to the new tenant of Island’s Thorne.” “And l should like to make you known to my future wife,” from Neil. “It is refreshing to find that there are still two people in the world with a grain of common sense left,” said Lady Susan ambiguously. “Most people do not know when they are well off. I tried to give you a hint, but you wouldn't take it,” and she shot a sharp look at Neil. “I—l—l took it from Sydney,” lie blundered. Again Lady Susan laughed. “What about some lunch” she said. “The gong has gone some time ago. Come along, and while we are having it you can tell us if Sydney is going with you to South Africa.” “We are neither of us going, unless it is for a honeymoon trip,” Neil . hastened to assure her, as he took Sydney’s hand in his firm clasp. “We are going to settle at Island’s Thorne.” THE END.