PRIMROSE DELORAINE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10292, 21 July 1911, Page 2

PRIMROSE DELORAINE

OUR SERIAL.

THE MISER'S

DAUGHTER.

By MAISIE PENDENNIS, Author of "Sir Reginald's Whim," "The Forgotten Heir," "Rival Beauties,' 'etc,

C H APTER XU I .—Con tin nod

"My dear girl." he said, .shrugging his shoulders. "Isn't that rather hasty? How can yon toll that yon won't like Smithors when lie only came yesterday, and hasn't driven yon once? I chose him most, carefully from a whole crowd of other applicants, and the-people at the motor garage where he had keen gave him an excellent character in every and said that they could not spea'k too highly of his careful, skilful driving. In the face of that I don't think—l really don't think—l can send him away without a trial; and, as a matter of fact, there is no earthly reason why I should. You must try 'him, anyway, as I. have engaged him, and if you don't like him,

or if he turns out unsuitable, then, of cour,u\ he can go. But lie must have his chance."

ciikmeo in the tilings that she had told him, and a strange, chill dread stole over her suddenly—dread of what, she knew not. Half an hour later she was whirling along in the beautiful little Daimler car that Sir Gerard had bought for her, witli Smithcrs at the steering wheel; and she could not resist stealing a glance at his face as he guided the car swiftly and skilfully down the drive and out into the lanes. It was not a particularly remarkable face, though it still seemed oddly familiar to her. There was nothing to specially distinguish it from hundreds of other men. He was a slight, smartlooking man, fair and clean shaven, and seemed a careful, clever driver. That was all.

Ho looked rather grave, and Primrose flushed shyly, but she still held to her point. ' ■

"1 want him to go," she said, "I shall never like him. Please send him away, Sir Gerard.'' And then Sir Gerard began to feel distinctly annoyed, and to wish that he- had never had a ward. Tt was not .•ill ■'■iTvcoth sailing, ho told himself, beins; guardian to an heiress, who wanted to have her own way now and then. Ho had had very little experience'of girls, and he did not imder.tand them or their moods. "No, Primrose," lie said-, speaking more decidedly thai; she had over before heard him speak, "I can't do anything of the sort, and you must not ask mo to. I shall certainly not send Smithers away without giving him a trial. Ido not believe in treating people like that, arid why do you dislike him;* To me lie w-iems a smart, ci\il sort of man, and well up in his work. I don't understa-id what you have to find fault with." Primrose flushed au;ain, and twists .' her fingers nervously together, and hesitated for a mc.iont. Should she tell Sir Gerard all about Smithers, she wondered, or should she not? It was all so vague, really, and perhaps he would only laugh at her; and yet, by some strange instinct that she could not define, she fhlt that there was something in it. At last she decided to tell her story, but she was right, for when she told it, Sir Gerard laughed at her. To him it seemed nothing but a string of . coincidences, and, manlike, he was inclined to scorn primrose's idea that it •might be anything else.;

"I think," she ventured at last, "I have seen you somewhere before, Mr Smithers. I think you' came over from Australia in the same boat that I did three months ago." The chauffeur was giving all his attention to the wheel.

"Yes, miss," he answered, with quiet civility; "that's quite right. I remember seeing you on board." "Then you aren't an Englishman, I suppose?" Primrose questioned, wishing she could gain some clue as to where she had seen him. "You belong to Australia, I suppose?" "No, miss. I am an Englishman, right enough," the man said, in the same quiet way. "I'd only been over to Australia for a bit on a matter of business, and I am glad to get back again. There's no country like England."

Primroso looked at him again, but his face was absolutely expressionless. His whole thoughts and attention appeared to be concentrated on the managsrricnt of the car. "Have you ever been down here before P" she asked. 'Do you know this neighbourhood at all, or anything aboutit?" Ho shook his head.

'What i? the'io ah did come over from Australia in the same boat, and travel- to London by the same train, and pass us in a taxi when we were going to Mrs Vivixa's house?" he said, laughing. "Why, hundreds of people might have done ine same. As for you thinking you know Ids face, I dare say you do. -.-No doubt you saw him somewhere in Australia, but it doesn't matter where. I don't see anything in his haying a' look at Evensdene Oastle;

either, and I don't suppose he was lidding, as you think; and as for his coming here the same night, no doubt that could be easily explained. Don't begin to take silly fancies into your head, or we shall never, know where we are. I didn't think you were inclined to be hysterica! 1 ," Primrose,, and I must talk to, Mrs Vivian abcut it. You must fight against it.''

;* ';'X ; am Sot hysterical,".Primrose returned indignantly, and her eyes flashed .defiance into his. "I have ; nerejy been .accused of such a thing before." You may think thai there is nothing at .all_inipat I have told you, but I* can't help thinking that there is something, though I liopo with all my heart there isn't. But, of course/if you say that Smithers is to stay, I suppose he must stay, and I ciust make the best of him, but it isn't my wish that he j should."

Sir Geiard nochled approvingly.

"That's better." he said. "I anglad to see you are a sensible girl, after si}, Primrose. Of course, Smithers must stay until there is some real reason for sending him away. Now I must go round to the stables,.and you rhad-'bettef ~l<s> ... Smithers take- yoii out in your car, and see how you get on."

; He:turned away, very niuqh relieved ~at having disposed so comfortably of -what4iad threatened to be a difficult question, and Primrose looked after •him. with'a sort of despair. Why di<l he treat the matter so lightly? she asked herself. Oh, why did he only laugh at her? Whatever he might say, she felt sure that there was something more than mere coin-

"No, miss," he replied, "this neighbourhood ii quite strange to me, but I had heard of it, and heard a good deal about Eversdene Castle and Lesbie Manor, and what beautiful piacei they were. The other day I went and had a look at Eversdene Castie, just to see if it was as beautiful as people said, and I think I never set eyes on such a fin-e place That and the manor beat anything I have ever seen." He spoke quite quietly still, without a, trace of hesitation or embarrassment —his maimer perfectly respectful—and Primrose leaned back on the soft, padded cushions feeling somehow as if she had come to a deadlock. It was evident there was nothing to be gained by questioning Smithers, and so all she could do was to Jet the matter rest, and see how things went on.

It was . beautiful country through which the/ \vere pas.ii.ng, and the wintry touches of snow lying crisp and white on the fields, and hoar frost draping the leafless trees in a lacy mist, seemed to give it an added beau ty. The kee.i, cold, frosty air stung a deeper wild rose bloom into Primrose's soft cheeks, and brought a bright lustre to the velvety depths of her irisblue eyes. It played with the suokissed waves of her shining hair, and ruffled them into a charming aureole round her little, lively face. She looked very graoefi 1 in her long, cream cloth motor coat, with its white fur lining and costly sable trimmings; and the misty softness of the chiffon folds that draped her cream and sable motor toque framed her like a snow cloud. But there was no one to see her just then; no one to admire her prettiness; and the only man whose admiration she cared for was thousands of miles away. Her thoughts were with him, as indeed they nearly always were; and in fancy she saw his face, listened to his voice, and felt the touch of his strong, brown hands. But i only in fancy, not in reality, and at the knowledge she sighed sharply. Gray, heavy clouds began to scurry quickly over the bright sky, a slight, chilly mist that told of snow to come began to creep up over the fields, and Primrose sluvered a little. She had not got quite hardened to the English winter yet. .-..•.' ■'.'"■':■ (To be Continued}.