A GIRL TO LOVE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9084, 8 May 1908, Page 2

A GIRL TO LOVE.

By BERTHA M. CLAY. Author of " Thrown on the World," " Her Mother's Sin,'" Beyond Par Jon," " The Lost Lady of Haddon," " Dora Thome," " An Ideal Love," etc.

CHAPTER XV.—Continued,

"If I have misjudged you, Mr Trenwith if I have been unkind " She faltered. "I am amazed—bewildered. I must have time to think it over." As she concluded, he had reach, d the door. He looked back once, th.n bowed his head and passed out of the house. "Victor Pelham," he murmured to himself. "Always in my path. A passive sort of foe, who never dreams of harming anyone. But lor hiin—but for him " He set his teeth hard. "He cares nothing for Nathalie—my beautiful Nathalie, and he shall not marry her!"

CHAPTER XVI.

HAPPY'S THE WOOING, THAT'S MOT LONG A-DOING!.

Two happy, happy weeks, and then Victor Pelham told lala Craig of. his love for her. In one way it was quite unnecessary, for they had betn lovers from the hour of their meeting at the church. And, in the meanwhile, they had spent the long days together, exchanging confidences, and making plans, and every glance and every touch had but one meaning. Isla was joyfully confused, but ro: a little bit surprised, and she looked into Victor's face with that sweet trustfulness only to be seen in the eyes of women and little children. "You have been the sweetheart of my dreams for long year 3, Isla. I did not know it until the dreams resolved themselves into this precious reality." "I am very happy, Victor," she said shyly. "I never liked my real name so mUch as I do now." I "It is much nicer than your penname. I don't know why you should use any name but your own. You're not ashamed of your books, Victor." "No. Why should I be?" "I am so glad, because I am proud of yon and of them. You ought to have been rich, but it is not the intellectually clever people who make riches. And lam glad that you are poor, or we might never have mec. Isnt' that a selfish speech?" Victor put his ar.ns round the skrinking, blushing girl, and"'prerisej tender kisses on her lips and facj. "Isla," he said gently, "since we love each other so much, it would be folly to wait very long. We must always be near to one another, and one home costs less than two. Then the distraction of running two and fro would unsettle my mind, and fshould be unable to do justice to my work. You can help me, too, and it will be delightful to work together in ihe same room." "If you really think that I can be of use to you, Victor"-—her face was aflame—"if I can help you, ho action of mine shall retard your work." "There are other considerations,

too," he pleaded. "I want the right to care for you and your mother; I want to take you awty from here as my wife. I am positive that poor Kennedy is mad, and I am afraid for you:" "And I for you, Victor. The terror i 3 always upon me when you vre notneay." "Poor, little, trembling bird!" He caressed the shining hair, ar.d reproached himself for the deception he was practising; Would it not be best to tell Isla the who e truth? The home-nest was waiting-, and the wedding could be solemi ized at Worcester "in a manner befitting himself, and his bride. "Then marry me soon, Isla," he went on. "As we are both poor, Victor, I am ready and willing. I want to work with you. I feel that this will be the crowning joy of my life." Her soft]eyes' were aglow. "Yai see how conceited I am. lam swayed with the belief that I can do something. I can tidy your books, make ' your home comfortable, and do your copying. What a change for you, and for me, after these dreadful lodgings!" "Under such conditions," he smiled, I ought to double my output, and consequently earn twice as much!" She laughed gleefully. "Tie marriage will be a quiet one, Victor, and I should like it to be in the dear old church over there, T shall always love the grimy place, because I first met you there. Just ourselves and the necessary witnesses." Then she added, in a whisper: "I am so afraid of Kennedy making a disturbance, or seeking to he re-' vengec'." He strained her to his heart with a passion that surprised himself. It should be just as she desired. A special license, an interview with the vicar, and the thing was settled. As for poor, mad Kennedy—he laughed away her fears. It was really too abturd, to take the man seriously. Tie very next day he visited a fashionable jeweller's. He wanted an engagement ring for the sweetest girl in all England, and it had to hi one of the best —one of the most beautiful—at the price, and the price was sixty guineas! "I shall soon be bankrupt," he reflect )d, "if the new mines fail to yiejd. But Harry writes enthusiastic letten. H? talks of nothing but millions—millions!"

And while he wa9 thinking about Harry Owen, that gentleman was waiting fur him at Kennedy's board-ing-house, and fuming over Ul3 wjste of tim>. "I know I ought to have written or wired," he said, when Victor was heartily fhaking his hand, "but I h>pid to tij,,. you in." Vict -r's eyes were searching his ifrie .fa .a.t.

(To be continued.)

"You are not well, Harry," ha said anxiously. "Oh, I'm well enough. I can't philander through life as you do. I d in'c sleep on a bud of rose leaves. It I am a failure now, it means a bullet in my head or my heart. Yuu can maku a new start with a ream of paper, a pint of ink, and a few pens!" "You have bad news?" asked Vict>r. "No, but I want you home again. I can't watcn 'lrenwith at both ends." He spoke ukterly, and a black scowl disfigured his face. "Let me state the case plainly. We are within a measurable distance of success, and that very fact makes the fear of failure the more terrifying. We are sinking a thousand yards deeper than the old shafts —deeper than the Stonewall pits, but at the will of Jasper Trenwitn billions of tons of water can be let loose upon us when the psychological moment arrives. We haven't the money with which to fight him, and it remains for you to ensure his goodwill by making concessions, or I must shoot him." He ended with a dramatic flourish, but there was a baleful look in his eyes. "My clear Harry, you have startled | and amazed me. Is this prospect of I wealth turning your brain?" "The prospect of failure will make a devil of me!" retorted Owen. ] "You do not seem to grasp the depth, the breadth, and the continuity of Jasper Trenwith's will." "I must confess that I have no fear of Mr Trenwith." Victor regarded his friend rather wistfully. "And as regards concessions, I have nothing to concede. He has already given me his word of honour not to obstruct us in the mines." "That is just where our danger is." Harry stamped over the floor. "Oh, the blind faith! Victor, we must control the Stonewall pits—make Trenwith an oft'pr for them, and he will accent it 'if you drop all pretensions to the hand of Nathalie Leighton. Therein lids our only hope." i Pelham's face flushed. He looked ' at his friend critically and coldly. "If I had any pretensions to the hand of Miss Leighton," he said, in measured tones, "I should call you advice cowadly, cold-blooded, and impertinent. Even our long friendship would avail nothing; but since the lady is only a neighbour and an "-"steemed friend, there is no harm done." It was Harry Owen's turn to be amazed. ' " You are telling me the simple truth?" he asked. He was incredulous, exhilarated, bewildered. "I never palter with lies. Miss Leighton has shown a certain preference for my society, I admit. You observed it yourself." He reddened guiltily. "But my affections are elsewhere. I have nothing more to say in the matter." i Owen held out his hand. It trembled feverishly, and there was a curioui gleam in his dark eyes. Victor's manner was cold—almost resentful. ■ - - "I shall know how to play my cards I now," Harry said. "I wish I had known of this before " "You will do nothing that is not honest and.straightforward," Victor made reply. "I won't be identified with chicanery of any sort. I will come to Worcester in a few c!ays, and take a gneeral survey of the situation." *