A GIRL TO LOVE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9088, 13 May 1908, Page 2

A GIRL TO LOVE.

by BERTHA

Author of " Thrown on the World," " Her Mother's SU./' Hoyond Pardon," " The Lost La ly of HadJon." " Horn Tliww." " An Idenl Love," i tc.

CHAPTER XlX.—Continued. "I shall be on the look out for you. And don't forget that the knot has to bo tied at nine o'clock to-morrow morning! I'm off to interview our new organist." Victor sent this telegram to Jasper Trenwith from Birmingham station: "Am coming direct to your place by the twelve-five. PELHAM." Arrived at Worcester, he jumped \ into a cad, and was driven to Jasper Trenwith's house. Mr Trenwith was out—had been out since early morning, the butler told him, but the secretary was in the library. Victor was conducted to the library, but the secretary could give him no further information. His master was away, but might return at any moment. "I telegraphed before twelve," Victor said, biting his lips with impatience. "Yes, sir. The telegram is in Mr Trenwith's private drawer." The secretary began to operate his typewriter again, and the cl;ck-click-clicking of the machine was more than Pelham could endure. He looked at his watch. "Half past two," he murmured. "Luckily, I didn't dismiss my cabman." Then to the secretary: "I'm going to Pendinas, and will be here again before six o'clock. You understand?" "Yes sir." Victor strode away, in a very bad temper. For one thing, he didn't relish an interview with Nathalie Leighton, and the ambiguity of Jasper Trenwith's telegram had bothered him from the moment he had recieved at. He wanted to solve its meaning.

"-Mow, how shall I meet Miss Leighton?" he thought, when the cab moved away. "It's a ticklish job!" He puffed at a cigar, and reflected, until he was at the doors of Pendinas. A footman stepped forward and told him that Sir Charles and Miss Leighton was out for the day. Victor was relieved; he became almost cheerful. He left hi* card, and told the cabman to drive to a hotel in the city, til was hungry and weary, but inexpressibly glad that the interview with Nathalie Leighton had been avoided. It would be so much easier to write, now that ho had dutifully paid a call. He lunched well, and lounged about until live o'clock. Then he talegraped to lain that business was keeping him later than he had expected. At half-past five the cabman returned, and once more Victor was driven to Jasper Trenwith's house, only to meet with disappointment. He talked to the secretary for awhile, and was just leaving, weary of the whole chase, when a telegraph hoy, mounted upon a red bicycle, whirled down the avenue. The secretary took the message from the bjy, and murmurad: "It's for me, and from the governor. H'm—h'm'!' he continued aloud. "Wants the automobile to meet him at Worcester station at seven o'clock. Doesn't allow ton much time." Then, turning to Pelham: "You will wait, sir?" "Yet.; I'll walk about the grounds and smoke."

"Very good, sir. 1 must look up the chaffeur, and order dinner for eight; This household is conducted on"most irregular lines. I wonder that the governor doesn't get married."

Victor smiled, and his blood tingled pleasantly. "I shall be married to-morrow, ' he thought. "It is difficult to realize at times. How much has happened within a few weeks! Tha events of a lifetime with the swiftness of a dream—and such a dream!" He was feeling easier in his mind now. Jasper Trenwith would be horre soon after seven, and there wi s a train to Birmingham at eight-twenty-three. That would suit Pelham famously. And then for his da.ling Isla! He walked in the gardens and the park; then he peeped into the splendid conservatories, and Sam Price regarded him suspiciously. Sam hated strangers. Hadn't his beloved master said that every man's hand was against him? Sam took the words literally,- and his hand w: s against every stranger who came to Jasper Trenwith's house. He saw something base and sinister even in Victor Polham's face, and watched him sowlingly and furtively. So the time was whiled away until seven o'lcoclc, and Victor strolled to the gate of the lodge, to wait for Jasper Trenwith's coming.

(To be continued.)

CHAPTER XX

JASPER TRENWITH CONFESSES

After the hurry an'J worry of the day, Victor's mind had settled into a atiita of pleasant tranquility. Within cm hour, at the utmost, he would be speeding back to Isla, and the interview with Jasper Trenwith would have resolved itself into insignificance Ho was surprised at himself now fur hein'jr feared into so much discomfort.'" To Mr Trenwith the matter possibly was of vital importance. Verv small things are of paramount weight to thoau whom they most concern. , Throb-throb-throb! Ho listened. The sound (bated over the valley, and then wad lost behind the hills. Again it pulled on the air, louder and more insistent, and Jasper Trenwith'a powerful automobile swept round a curve in the lane, and came thundering upon him. The car stopped at the lodge, and Trenwith alighted. He walked directly to PeUiarn, and shook him by the hand ~ai->ng handshake it was,

his eyes inr; t:'.>.■ !\-:»! ureB of the young r.;;in linger: l : My ■•uul almost mournfully.

"We h;iv;> /tin o.".! .'.:..'!])'-' i io earth at last, IVlhiun," >■<-' quietly. "You will sp-Tnl th-:: >: ; <:--t liure?"

"Impopsihlc! I i;.ii.-.'-f/"L batik to Birmingham withiii ;,■<•.; hour." "Hardly." Jasp' r Vtvnwith shook his head, and inoiiomi! to his chafl'eur to go on. "T.-.jiKht. if you must, but Vi.u must <!i;;e with me, and hear v'hal J t,a>-i- v.o t«-H you." He sighed mi.;' looked away. "Then I will tako yai to Hinniii.;lt:i(h in my car, if go you must. ;\<y secretary sent a note by the cbaii'cur. so that I knew that you were hi.re." "I've »-■ desire to ho bothered now," Victor said. He coloured, for Trenwith was regarding hnn quizzic"l know," he answered gently. "You are to be married very soon." "How do you know that?" "I have been to Seaholme to-day, and I saw Miss Craig. Her mother was communicative and curious. As I received no reply to my telegram, I went after you early this morning, and learned that you were after me. Is this your cab? Better dismiss it."

"I am to he married to-morrow morning," Victor said, a minute or two later. "At nine o'clockspecial license." "And you think of experimenting with the simple life in rural shades. I have seen your haven of rest, far from the maddening crowd, and I envy you, Pelham." He spoke rather sadly. "My life has been squandered in the pursuit of vaulting ambition that o'er leaps itself, and at sixty I am a wretched and guilty millionaire. Come into my snuggery—my den of evil schemes! Dinner won't be long, and you know how simply I live."

Victor followed, curiously, wondering. Jasper Trenwith threw himself into a chair, after swallowing a glass of liqueur brandy. "A splendid tonic—an appetizer. Until recently I never felt the need of stimulants, hut since I discovered that I am possessed of a conscience, my nerves have gone all to pieces. This r00n.,"-—he waved his right hand dramatically—"is thronged with ghosts of my victims—waiting, and gibing at me tor restitution." Victor wa3 startled; then he smiled within himself. Jaaier Trenwith was a line actor, and a subtle diplomatist. To what was this the prelude? The man's face was gray and drawn, and his hands shook. Again he went to the side board and again the liqueur was raised to his lips.

"i am afraid you are unwell," Victor hazarded. Trenwith smiled back at him. "A touch of the fever in my blood. I shall he fit and well to-morrow—l begin to live again to-morrow. I think that I, too, shall go in for the simple life—the open sea, the heather-clad hills, the shady glens, where the word 'finance' has never yet been heard. How hot the evening is!" He threw open a window. "And unless you elect to shoot me, Pelham, 1 may crave your forgiveness —your friendship, perhaps. Who is there?" he added. "Oh, it's only Price, my gardener. I don't want you to work night and day, Sam," he added, good-humouredly.

"This clematis was blown down by the wind last night, sir," Sam apclcgized; then lied deliberately, and giowered at Pelham. "I didn't kmw anybody was in the room."