A GIRL TO LOVE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9103, 1 June 1908, Page 2

A GIRL TO LOVE.

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

CHAPTER XXXlli.—Continued. "For the present, Mrs Moore, I will bear the responsibility," Jasper Trenwith said quietly. "Your future mistress is there." He indicated Isla. who was wandering from room to room like one in a dream. "In a few days she will assume control." "Oh, sir, you amaze me! We all thought- " 'What? But, there, your thoughts do not matter. The money required will be sent during the day, Mrs Moore. Is that all?" "Yes sir." The housekeeper was watching Isla's slender figure and wondering wondering. "If you shoulud be in doubt about anything, send to me, Mrs Moore. I am going into the grounds with Miss Craig, until my automobile comes for us. Good morning." Even while he was speaking the auto came panting down the drive. And the driver was not alone. To the astonishment of Trenwith, Nathalie Leighton occupied a seat behind the driver. He made two steps forward, then stood still, conscious of a certain timidity. Then he wheeled round and crossed over to Isla. £ "Will you Btay here for a few minutes, Miss Craig? A lady desires to see me. A few minutes!" Ho walked to the entrance-hall, his pulses leaping and quivering. This new sensation he could hardly understand. "Folly—weakness, at my time of life," he thought, "but sweet, even to a man of sixty." In the meanwhilß Miss Leighton liad jumped to the ground unaided, md was haughtily speaking to a man lervant. "No, I don't wish to go in, but you :an take my name to Mr Trenwith," md then she beheld Mr Trenwith, md continued: "I was on my way to /our house when I met your automobile. If you can spare me a few ninutes?" "A few minutes! I, who am devotng rnv life to you," he whispered. 'Come, we can talk on the terrace nnoticed and unheard." Her face paled, and she bit her lips ard. "Your determination, then, has uffered no check" "No, I shall win you yet." "But I gave my love to another ian~a love that was unsought," he said, with better humility. "It was merely tempermentnl, lathalie. Poor Pelham has doubtless rounded the susceptibility of a hunted women, quite unwittingly. He i young, handsome, gifted. I am alf in love with him myself. I hatd him once but that was your fault. Men I persuaded him to go in for lumming, I had a definite plan for etting him away from you. In his bsurd good nature he might have rifted into marriage, rather than ive you pain, until it was too late." "I did not come here to talk about lese things," Nathalie said hastily. "You come to see me?" "Yes. Papa and I are goine: to >me watering-place for the remairial- of the summer. I wished to tell 3u that I am sorry that 1 have misidged you so terribly. I actually alieved you guilty of murder!" "Pretty bad; and it's about the only thing which has really hurt me." "But that man Ireland told me of his shamefui dealings with you—and licit that you ought to be punished':'" I "I have suffered, Nathalie; lam suffering still. At sixty I am possessed of a conscience. I am sorry you are going away. Can't you wait until this trouble of Pelham's is cleared up? I am hopeful—always hopeful, and yet, there isn't a glimmer of real light to relieve the darkness." There was silence. They were pacing the terrace in the shadow of the house. "You have given yourself a dm dful character," Nathalie said, at laat. "I have only just discovered it. The world has judged me for a long time, but I didn't trouble about what it said. It is unpleasant to realize that you are thoroughly hated and feared by your kind, and there is always some reason,for it." "But you never really meant to do harm." "I like you to say that, Nathalie, because you are pleading for me. Nobody else will say it." His voice was tremulous. "But with the help of Heaven l am making amends." After a minute or so he remembered Isla. "1 came here this morning to pay a few bills," he continued, "and to introduce Miss Craig to her future home. Pelham made a will in her favour, and, in any event, the place is hers." "Is Miss Craig here now?" Nathalie asked, her lips tightening immediately. "Yes. A charming and adorable girl. I must introduce yuu, and I hope you will be life long friends." He almost ran back to the house and in a few moments was returning with Isla. His face was radiant. "Miss Craig," he said, "this lady is Miss Nathalie Leighton, my future wife. Nathalie—Mias Isla Craig, the new mistress of the Chase!" CHAPTER XXXIV. ISLA AND NATHALIE. Isla looked full at Miss Leighton, ii her.deep eyes a soft and misty light. This lady hod been,a very dear friend of Victor's, and that alone was sufficient passport to the very wells of her heart. Nathalie regarded Isla coldly and critically at first; the'i she pressed the girl's hand impulsively, saying: "Mr Trenwith has been telling me , abvut you, Mis 3 Craig. The news

was rather surprising, and yet I don't know why it should be. Mr Pelham has been here so short a time, and he rarely talked about himself." Her face reddened slightly. "We had become very good friends, Mr Pelham and 1, and this dreadful mystery concerning him is a grief to me. You won'c mind me saying so, will you?" "It is very kind—very sympathetic of you," Isla answered, her eyes swimming in tears. Jasper Trenwith went back to the house, under the pretense that he had left some documents there. He wished the two girls to become friendly. "Mr Trenwith gave me the impression that you were rather small," Nathalie said. "Why, you are as tall as I am, Miss Craig. I wonder," she added dreamily, "that Mr Pelham never mentioned you to us." "We have not known each other for very long. Years ago we corresponded upon literary matters, but only met recently." "Ah! I see," Miss Leighton murmured. "And it was love at first sight—a union of complete sympathy. One does not meet with idyls in human lives nowadays. • You were ready to take one another upon trust?" She laughed, rather unpleasantly. "Quite," Isla irade reply. "Victor never told me of this home. I believed him to be as poor as myself. I expected to have to work with him ! for our bread." I "Then he deceived you?" "Not in the least," was the quick answer. "Victor believed himself to be practically a ruined man. Then, why should he boant of that which was probably lost to him? I don't understand yet how so much has been saved from the wrecb." "You are so sweet, so true, so refreshing," sighed Nathalie, "and beautiful —beautiful! It isn't otten that one woman praises another, Miss Craig. I had expected a simple country girl, from what Mr Trenwith told me, pretty and shallow. That is the kind of woman clever men usually marry—l mean men who are called geniuses, and I was rather afraid of you. Forgive me, won't you?" She spoke softly, and her blue eyes were shining with deep feeling. Isla looked her full in the face, surprised and embarrassed. "I don't quite understand you, Miss Leighton." "Perhaps my candor—or my familiarity—is displeasing. Which?" "No, I like candor. I am grateful, too, that you should express so many friendly sentiments, but," her clear eyes never wavered, "why should you anticipate a possible dislike for me?" Then she added ingenuously : "Perhaps you were afraid for Victor, your regard for him is so deep and sincere." Nathalie's face flamed and paled. "That is it exactly. Athough lam to marry anothsr man, I was half in love with Victor Pelham." Isla thought of Miss Leighton *s letter to Victor, and her mind became confused. "There," Nathalie went on, assuming something like gaiety, "I am talking a great deal of nonsense, but I am naturally of a flighty and volatile nature. I understand you, Miss Craig, if you don't understand me, and I love you for your dear little self! Now, I wonder where Mr Trenwith is hiding himself." (To be continued .)