A GIRL TO LOVE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9073, 25 April 1908, Page 2

A GIRL TO LOVE.

By BERTHA 1. CLAY.

Author of " Thrown on the World," " Her Mother's Sin,' Beyond Pardon," " The Lost Lady of Haddon," " 'Dora Thome, " An Ideal Love," etc.

CHAIT3R V.—Continued. "Ob, Harry, I had r,o idea---" Nathalie began; then sh3 added quickly : "I understand now why you deserted us, you sensitive, silly boy. Poor, indv.e.l! I believe that I am the poorer of the two. Papa has speculated, an 3 mortgaged until nothing is left, and the new master ot Pendinas will be Mr Jasper Irenwith. I wanted to tell you of my trouble, because you have a shrewd head on your shoulders." Harry's face paled and flushed. "I thought —I understood, that you were going to marry Mr frenwith, he said huskily. _ Nathalie's eyebrows were raised tor a moment: then she smiled serenely. Her even temperament appeared to be unruffled. "That old man!" she laughed. "Not if he wera the only man in the wide world! He lias professed some Bort of regard for me, and I believe that he wants to marry me, but I would rather have love and a cottage, than a palaca without love." Harry Owen dropped on his Knees j and snatched at one of her hands. j "Oh, Nathalie!" he whispered. "Don't —don't! I have something very serious to say to you, and you have driven it clean out of my head. I was thinking of you at tho very instant the automobile dashed into my carriage." "And I was thinking of you, Nathalie. Listen," he continued rapidly. "My prospects are brightening, and if you can give me a ray of hope He was icarricd away by the torrent that seethed within him. He told her of the wealth of Victor Pelhatn s n ,j ne __the wealth which ho was to share, and Nathalie listened with nervous impatience. "Aa a friend —a brother I like and esteem you, Harry, but I don't want you ft.r a lover." She made a wry face. "I believe I shall have to go'indoors. My foot is getting quite painful." ' He rose at once and offered her his arm. _ , - "No, I will go alone. Perhaps you will pay us a call soon? I am sure papa wuold like to see you. You might help him out of some of his business worries. How selfish 1 am!" , . , He knitted his brows; then hisfac< cleared, becoming almost glorified. "For your sake, Nathalie, I wil help Sir Charles if I can. Shall i be this evening? lam rather an xious about your hurt." Nathalie considered for a few mo merits. "To-morrow will be better, Harry I can prepare papa for the call, an see that the way in clear. I rathe fancy that Mr Pelham dines at Per dinas this evening." "No discordant note there, h smiled; then he saw that her face wa aflame, and the truth was revealec "Good-morning, Miss Leighton, he said harshly. CHAPTER VI. ; A CHANGE IN HARRY OWEN. Harry Owen strode off in the direction of Worcester railway station at a savage gait. There was savagery in every movement the owing of his limbs, the poise of his headj and the frown on his dark face. Within a few minutes the whole course of his life appeared to have changed. Victor Pelham stood between him and the woman he worahiped, and the speech of Jasper Trenwith hissed in his eara:

(To be continued.)

"The moment our interests clash, either in love or business, we are at war with each other!" His mental balance was disturbed, and he tried to banish the bitter thoughts that burned and seethed within him.

He went to Dudley, and at the colliery bullied everybody within call. Then he lucked himself in his office, and the scratching of hii? pen was unceasing, until the whistle announced the hour of five.

Owen reappeared among the clerks in a better frame of mind, but there was a settled, Half-gloomy light in his dark eyes, and his lips had assumed a straight line. He sent for the ground-bailiff, to whom he gave short and decisive '.nfitructions.

"We will begin the sinking of a new shaft, Mr Ireland, in the location you advise. And the thing has to be done forthwith. Wi must knock the bottom out of Jasper Trenwith'a schemes. I have seen him to-day, and he pretends that he will leave U3 in sole possession. I would rather he declared war. Do you think for one moment that he is going to give up a million tons of black diamonds for nothing?" "He is a remarkable man," said Mr Ireland. "I shouldn't be surprised at anything he did." Harry wheeled round, and fastened his eyes upon thi; doubtful face of the ground-bailiff. "What can he do, Mr Ireland?" "Beat ua at the finish, sir. If we could share the seam " "No! Treriwith never takes half of anything. Now say what is in your mind."

"There is the water to he considered, sir," Mr Ireland said, with a doubtful shake of the head. "There's very little between the workings of the two mines, and Trenwith'a engines are pumping three thousand gallons per iriiiiutt. If he stops the engines when we have sunk the new shafts, then " "I have though*, of that contingency, I-eland. The work must begin to-morrow, and every modern appliance be put-into operation. Spare neither time nor expense." It was late when he left his office,

but his plans for the future were clear-cut and well-defined. His interests in life had been languid compared with the intensity which now animated heart and soul. From a fond fool he had been transformed within a few hours to a pragmatic negationist! So he told himself, and he believed it. He went to the Chase next morning, and was not well pleased to see Jasper Trenwith's automobile trembling at the door. I-Ie nodded to the chaffeur, walked into the entrance-hall. The library door was ajar, and Mr Trenwith's polished tones fell upon his ear. "I should certainly advise it, Pel- j ham. You must live among the working class to properly appreciate them. They have no defined policy, or the brains to understand one. Little or no work and plenty of money is to cry to which they respond. As long as the world endures, men of intellect and energy will be the ruling powers. The labourer has to be led and fed by the strong hand. Alone he would founder and starve." "I have to be convinced," Victor said." "I have no belief in the socailed charity which is tantamount to i flinging a bone to a starving dog. | I shall, therefore, accept your offer ! I to spend a few weeks in your Birmingham factory, if Mr Owen can spare me." At that precise moment Harry knocked cn the door. The servants never interfered with his movements, and he had the run of the house. "Hope I don't intrude," he said. Jasper Trenwith tbook his hand heartily. "Pelham and I have just got back from Pendinaa. Nice fellow you are, to smash up a lady's carriage!" "Miss Leighton is well, I hope?" Harry asked coolly. "Ye 3. Marvellous escape, though. I can't hold my man exactly blameless, but you are so headstrong and masterful. By the way, Pelham is half through with a new book, and I want him to make the characters a bit natural. Shall we send him away for a month? Can you get along without him?" Harry hesitated. He tried to read Jasper Trenwith's thoughts, but saw | nothing beyond the fathomless, ! smiling blue eye 3. ' With Victor out of the way I "Yes," he said, "we can arrange t that all right." He fancied that Trenwith's face revealed a momentary flash of - triumph. "Don't fear for his perfect safoty, . Mr Owen. I have a nut and bolt 3 factory near Birmingham, employ i" ing a thousand hands, from the - skilled mechanic down to the dregs of the gutter. Pelham can go there e as an invoice clerk, or in any s capacity he likes, and I predict that I. he will soon be brought down to " earth! He will discover that the working man is not a down trodden, long-suffering angel!" Trenwith laughed with the merriment of a boy^ Victor Pelham was pleased at the prospect, and his eyes shone.