A GIRL TO LOVE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9086, 11 May 1908, Page 2

A GIRL TO LOVE.

CHAPTER XVll.—Continued. "Aren't you needlessly extravagant, Vi'tiM-V Mrs Craig sun. "Isla and I av-j unused to travtlli.g first-class." "Oh, but the comfort and the privacy." "If you can alford it, Victor," she smiled indulgently. " i'ou are incorrigible! What business have you in your mind?" "The cyttage and the cost of furnishing. /You said that the place was freehold, and for sale. If we are all agreed, I should like to make my wife a wedding-present, and the cottago will always be useful as a a:mmer residence." He reflected for a minute. "If I lose all the money already aunk in the new mines, I shall still have enough left to make a home or Isla. I can sell, or mortgage, the Chase, if put to it, but I must sternly refuse to advance another shilling to Harry Owen." He was smiling into Isla's limpid eyes. Mrs Craig was perplexed. "Yes," ho went on, "it is well to come down to earth for a while, and look at the practical side of things. I have about two thousand pounds, and the cottage and its contents, when nicely furnished, shall be my wedding #ift to my darling." • There was a short silencj. Isla's hand glided into one of her lover's. and he pressed it tenderly. Mrs Craig was amazed, pleased, and vexed all at once. She turned her face to the circling fields, and the flying trees. Suddenly she spoke.

"We thought that you were very poor, as we are, Victor. Why have you deceived us? I don't like surprises at any time." "Not even pleaßant ones?" he laughed, reddening. "Not even pleasant ones. I, at least,, am not a child." "I am poor," Victor answered gently, "and* I anticipate having to work very hard in the future. But my task will be pleasant enough in the sunshine of Isla's dear presence."

He stooped and kissed her quivering lips, while Mrs Craig fro*vned.

CHAPTER XVIII.

A LETTER ,ANU A TELEGRAM

When within half a,mile of Seaholme station, the train slackened to a very moderate speed. Victor then saw that they were running parallel with the aea, and an exclamation of pleasure and surprise escaped him. "This is, indeed, a charming place,",he said. "Sea and country combined. The houses and the windmills look centuries old. My Interest is now fully aroused." ' Mrs Craig was gratified; and when they were being driven through the town, in a creaking four-wheeler, she watched anxiously for Victor's complete approval. "Delightful," he said at last. "No efforts at modernity here-no red brick monstrosities sandwiched between seventeenth century cottages v with thatched roofs. A sense of rest and peace falls upon one J ike a mantle,' after the strenuous turmoil of the world we have left behind," The thud, thud, of the horse's laden feet, and the cracking of the driver's whip, brought many of the shopkeepers to their doors. They looked inquisitively and curiously after the carriage, and drifted into a group to exchange views. "The elderly lady is the one tin went over Woodbine Cottage last week," said the grocer. "I gave the agent's boy a shilling for her name and address. Craig it is, and she comes from Birmingham ." The butcher made|a note of it, an i the fishmonger shook his head. "I sha'n't trouble about them until they come tome," he said. "The* last folks that had Woodbine Cottage , robbed me of seven and fourpence." "I can always smell wrong 'uns," the the grocer said, with a superior smile. ' "And if the references are good enough for Jorkins, the agent, they are good enough for me." In the meantime, Victor, Isla, and Mrs Craig, were exanling Woodbine Cottage from basement *-.o the,roof. It was a picturesque old place, surrounded by a delightful old-fashioned garden. From the front windows there was a grand view of the sea, i and it was as blue as a harebell under the cerulean summer sky; while the windows at the back looked out upon an acre of garden belonging to the cottage, baked by miles of fields ar.d undulating hills. "If one searched the world over, one rouldn't find a more charming, or a mure suitable, seaside home," Victor said enthusiastically. "What do you think, Isla?" "Oh, it i 3 simply a dream of beauty!" "Then I will buy it. Where's tie agent? There's no time to lose. Mr 1 Jorkins," he called. Mr Jorkins was waiting in another room, and he answered: "Coming, sir." Then he met with a stunning

surprise. Mr Pelham would buy Woodbine Cottage, and pay cash on the nail. Mr Pelham also wanted it furnished throughout, the selection of everything being left to the ladies, and as Mr Jorkins was. a furniture dealer also, lie felt that the season was beginning ramurkably well. Events now moved apace. Arrange*menta were made for Victor Pelham and the ladies to meet a local lawyer at Mr Jorkins' oflicj the sa-ao afternoon at three o'clock. The cottngo and the furniture were to be legally settled upon Miss lulu Craig. Mr Jorkins promised to have everything in o«L-i\ as desired by bis new 'client. Thi3-business actually

By BERTHA M. CLAY. Author of " Thrown on the World," " Her Mother's Sin," Beyond T«ul >n." " The Lost Lady of Haddon," " Dora Thome," " An Ideal Love," etc.

absorbed two whole days, and, in the meantime, Victor and the Crsigs occupied apartments at a hotel on the beach. All the household requisites bad been purchased at Mr Jorkins' shop, and a small army of men were busy laying carpets, hauling furniture, and fitting blinds to windows. "I think that we have worked like Trojans," Victor said, on the evening of the second day. "And I never felt better pleased with a bargain. Ms, darling. Woodbine Cottage is yours —my wedding gift to the dearest girl on earth!" "Oh, Victor, " you are too good to me," Isla s-ghed, her eyes wet with happy tears. "I never dreamed until now that life held so much joy." They were walking on the esplanade, and listening to the song of the sea. Above the flaming west the stars were budding, and a yellow moon hung in the darker heavens like a dimly burning lamp. "Another forty-eight hours," Victor said, "and we shall be back here -—man and wife. . Does not the very thought thrill you through and through? Man and wife, whom nothing but death can part." Isla shivered. "Don't speak of death, Victor. The very thought of it is terrifying. One's very happiness creates moments of fear and'dread." And then came one of those unlook-ed-for happenings which every man and woman has experienced in some shape or form, and their plans were scattered to the winds. A waiter from the hotel, hatlesa and breathless, was searching the shelters for some one, and that some one was Victor Pelham. In his hand he held a letter and a telegram. "1 thought these might be important, sir," he said. "The last mail leaves at nine o'clock." "Oh, thank you," Victor answered, pressing a shilling into 'the man's Hand. "Very thoughtful of you." Under' the light op a lamp he scrutinized the handwriting on the envelope of the letter, and remarked: "From John Rutherford. I wired my addres3 to him, in the event of anything turning up; but the writing on the telegram I don't recognize," he added, with a laugh. He thrust both into his pocket unopened, with a feeling of uneasiness and annoyance. The lettsr he didn't mind hut the telegram ! "We will go back to the hotel and attend to thes". things, sweetheart," he said to Isla. "I have no doubt that they concern us equally. Where is mama?"

"She went to her room to lie down She has.a headache." i

In the brilliantly lighted vestibule of the hotel Victor tore open the telegram, and read the following:

"Must sea you at either your house or mine without an instant's delay. Wire reply. "JASPER TRENWITH."

The telegram had come direct from Worcester. Victor scowled. He hated to be disturber', and he blamed John Rutherford for giving his address to any one. He crushed the unwelcome message into his pocket, and turned his attention to the letter. Hid that contain bad news, also? I ila had seated herself on a lounge, ar.d was turning over the leaves of an illustrated paper. Now and then she glanced at her lover's darkened face, and wondered. Of a sudden he bit his lip 3, flushed and paled. (To be continued.)