AFTER RELEASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10587, 19 March 1912, Page 2

AFTER RELEASE.

OUR SERIAL,

By VIOLET M. FLINN, Author of "The Master Passion, "What Shall It Profit?" "Verona." "By Devious Paths," Etc.

(MAPTICIt V—Continued

"It is an experiment,' ho said, as he knocked the ashes out of his pipe. "1 am not quite sure yet how it will tun: out but it is hound to suceecl. The gill's club was a far more dijfieir>fmatter, and it goes admirably, ily stepsister, Louis It a mage, helps nte wo'th that. Like myself, she is fortmi. ate in her workers. They are a splendid lot. Tikis choral society is entirely run by them. I don't know anything about music. You used to ho rather keen about it, didn't you 0 1 don't know how it will strike you, but 1 think wo liavo some fair voices aemong us." Ihc. door opened and a boyish face above- a clerical collar was thrust m. "Twenty past seven, sir." "Ah. Ditchley, thanic you. Come in a minuite'!' ' The junior curato who was very young and bashful, was presented to the visitor and then lied. [ "A capital follow,' 'V.O. summaris- ' ed as they fallowed him into the crowd- j c-d institute. "But ho is only just ■ feeling his feet, and will fail in love I with every protty girl he, meets. "When j lie gets through that he'll do capitally, j Louisa and I are plan t a to get him j engaged to a nieco who is going to be a missionary. Louise, thinks she will have a very steadying influence."

"Yes," Ludworth assented absently. They bad threaded a veritable warren of underground passages leading to mysterious class rooms, kitchens and ' coal bins, and had entered a room that was furnished with some degree of comfort. A big fire blazed behind a brass guard; a. tea table laden with cups and saucers and piled up with plates of cakes and sandwiches was drawn hospitably near. The air was heavy with the odour of rich plum oake and boiling tea urns. Sixty or ceventy people were in the room, all in t'heir best clothes. Everybody looked flushed and excited, and the sense of suppressed excitement.was not lulled but rather increased when the,vicar niade his cheerful appearance. -Lud? worth followed with a tremor, trying' to hide himself, behind, the taller man. His quick eyes had cau glut sight of the, fair-haired, pretty little' dressmaker whom 'niadame' had called Miss Edley and a quicker heating of his pulses told him that Miss Grainger was near at hand. She stood out in contradistinction to the other members of the Choral Society, for while they were arrayed in all their glory, she was in black of very simple material and make, a dress that only just revealed the smallest glimpse of the round, full, white neck, told the swelling curve of the throat, j She had a bunch of clematis fastened I into soft folds of itlie bodice, but for the resit she was destitute of adornment, and the heavy masses of her dark hair were drawn away from her face with no attempt at the ornate I hairdreaing in which the othesr girls j liad indulged. Never had there been a more severe stvle of more nunlike appearance, yet Ludworth nowfound himself watching her with an an eagerness and interest no woman had ever roused in him before. Hecould not understand how it was that V.C. could take her presence so ly, or \yiliy ho -should introduce to I half a dozen; ohers before ' made their way to' the. cohk Mi&s Grainger was talkr- middle _ aged Judy m d _ W °Mi- in guessed to be /• Rain ago had much of .0. S energy as well as lus quick, glancing eves. Her conversation ran_ on parochial lilies. Ludworth sUt'UUsOu that she saw a helper or a case in everyone she met. When her brother sent a -message for her to join him she instantly suited that some parochial fiasco had occurred. "Eldyth, you must tell the duke about the club." She made the introduction hurriedly. "I do hope that the hot-air pipes are not over-heated. liiidworth, laughed a little nervously as he found himself alone witui Mi:> 3 Grainger. ..." „ . "Do such events usually mar ti>e progress- of'your concerts?' he asked. "Not verv often, but they do happen and they the bane of Miss Ramage's life." It was quite evident that she had recognised, him for a little rise 01 colour in her grave face she had no control over, but she spoke very composedly, and to his ears, the low, rich music of her voice sounded even more musical than before. But it was when she sang that no felt himself justified in his belief. It was a wonderful voice, a wonderful Miss Rain age, smiling vaguely and impersonally on all and sundry, was manifestly amused by his enthusiasm. "Yes, she sings quite well, but we like the soprano much better. Eldyth has had no training. Mrs Bevan was a vcar at the Guildhall." "Her voice is extremely commonplace but I have never heard such a range' and depth as Miss Grainger's in my life." . . , Miss Raniage smiled w.ith t.io same 'irritating indulgence. "She is a good girl, and a great help to the parish,' she answered. The second part of the programme was miscellaneous. There wore comic songs and a tragic recitation by Mi Ditcbley, whose nervousness prevented him from remembering all of the lines, but Ludworth boro with all for the sake of Miss Grainger's two songs. "Alleseelen" revealed a pathos, a prevision of the supernatural that he had never heard in it before, but ho hung entranced upon every note that droplied in a new setting of "The Sea Hath Its Pearls." "Like the soprano much better!

s lie thought indignantly. "They must j 1)0 deaf, or their oars have been ruined by Mrs Ho van! And she's singing hero for i ho-o blockheads when the world might l)o at her feet!' It was quite clear tha-t the applause she gained was for herself and not for her sinking, . but it was equally clear that she cared no thing for it. She had sung because she could not help herself, and no audience was necessary to her. Ludworth waited for his opportunity and found it once again when they were in the greenroom of the basement. The audience had dispensed, cheerful and satisfied, and was going home in twos and threes; but the labourers were considered worthy of their hire, and a relay of hot coffee and tea and sandwiches.had made an appearance. Ludworth proceeded to the corner where Miss Grainger sat, looking pale and tired. "Will you have tea or coffee?' 'he risked in his pleasant boyish voice. "Do you know that I never can thank you enough for the pleasure you have given mo to-night P" The music ha J excited her. The customary reserve was melting. For a-n instant she feared that he was speaking idly, but a glance at him dis. abused her mind. Her eyes grew luminuos; her voice dropped to wonderful sweetness, "When I was a little child and lived with my grandmother, I used to say that I would be a wonderful singer. Wo lived in tho country and I used to try and imitate the birds. But tlia-fc was a long time ago! I have learned that it was a mere child's dream!" "But why?' Ludworth asked eagerly, "You have a wonderful voice! It is superb! You owe it to the world to make use of I Thero is a. man I know, one of the greatest musical critics—if he could only hear you sing!" "Many things are needed to make a great singer,' she said, "and I have none of them. I am too busily occupied earning iny daily bread to drop tho substance for the shadow. As it is, Miss Ram ago thinks I am not sufficiency practical." He had no option but" to follow her obvious lead, but he had.not given up the plans that had been running through his brain. It was something to have met her, "and to be able to become acquainted with her; but it would, he speedily discovered, take time to wan Jier confidence. Meanwhile they talked of music, and incidentally of V.C.

"Oh, do you call Jiim that, too?" she exclaimed. "I have known lillfi all my life. His father was the vicar of the parish where we lived. They were ibotih good to me. I owe everything to V.G. There was never such a friend as ho has ibeen to me!" CHAPTER V—Continued. , "Have you lived in London long?" Ludworth hazarded. ' 1 "A'bout ,a year," she answered, and then V.O. rejoined .'them, and further conversation was.at an end. "It lias W delightful having you, clear man," V.C. said .beamingly. "You'll come again, won t you

CtfAITEH VI. "XORTHPORT CHILDREN'S- -HOSpital. "November 20th, 19— —■ MY DEAR LUDWORTH: Tliani; you very muoh for the papers and the letters. They are welcome as the children love to look at the pictures. 1 am sorry Ann Flora has not been well. I am glad yon fu'c beginning to believe tliat J 1: ±? bcir.g here. lam cjfuiibe happy, and the only shadow is that it will come to an end -in five months. "Sister is very kind to me. She is very, very strict, and some of her "pros, "-—that means probationers disliko her, but she is so nice to me, ami gives me every opportunity to see and learn. I am dreadfully stupid where ironing, polishing and scrubbing aro concerned. I am ashamed to say that the other night I burned six lace collars while trying to iron them, but she was very patient about them so I did not toll hoi' tlwt X hadbuyned my fingers too. Mr Hadwen noticed the blisters when he was going his evening round and gave me a lotion. Ine students are only boys and are very silly. Sister can't bear .tliem, and gets verv cross if they stay in the ward after Mr Rowlands and Mr Rawarde have gone. . "Mr Rawarde—you never call a surgeon doctor —is the tall, dark man wo mot in the corridor the day I oamo Do you remember'r Ho is one oi the visiting members, and is very clevoi. I don't suppose you would bo merestod in the things that lie has done, but ho fascinates mo when he is doing his rounds. I often feel inclined-to applaud, ho is so quick and .wonderful. Sister often glows; .she is so proud or him She has known him a very long time. "When his littlo sister had to undergo an operation she came hero tor it into his sister's ward. She spends a «ood deal of -her "off" time with his people. He lives in Lethley Square, and is considered the very best residential part of the city. 'Mot- smart., very exclusive!' as one ol the nurses says about everything she approves. (To bo continued.)