The Marriage of Felicity

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10632, 10 May 1912, Page 2

The Marriage of Felicity

OUR SERIAL..

BY ALAN ADAIR. Author of "The Earl's Wife," "The Bride of John Middleham," "His iPKher's Son," "Bertram's Folly," etc!

Gil APTER III —Continued. Beryl was thoughtfully silent for a little while. "Why do you ask?" inquired her mother. "Simj)ly because he mistooit the time on the invitation last night and came i-00-early. I.soocl was'early in .wivnig. You know she always gives the .f.nishing touch to the flowers for >mc- I eamo clown, and not expecting to lind anyone, found Mark's arm round Tsohel's waist." "My dear, it is impossible!' "1 should have said so .out there ihev were, and the sight gave mo such •i -shock." "Naturally it would. I cannot understand it. What did you do? Tare he:' with-it?" ■ - "I wont straight upstairs, and came down again,,making more noise. I did not reveal mydiscovery. To let her know that we aware of it would'be fatal. It might •b'rin-g .about' a tho very thing \ye wish -to avojd. We must not lose sight of the. fact that Isobel is not the sort of woman to let a man put his arm round her waist ;f she does not care for him. He -.vas holding her .close to him." "But she can have no notion of marrying him?" "It is possible that she has!" "Do you think there is a secivt engagement ' "I can't tell, but it looks like. it. You see, the man has jnst returned from South Africa .and the Loings are still abroad. She cannot .have met him for six months- at the very least. There may bo some understandiiif!;, even if there is no engagement." "You say the has no money?' "None. Mark) Leig'hton-'B futuredepends .upon his marrying some very wealthy woman. To marry Isobel row would wreck .his chances."

Mrs -Pelhaim-Hewett looked genuinely distressed. . • "What .would von advise me to do, Beryl?" "I should advise you to do nothing but watch them, .and if Iso'bel really showls .some partiality for him, then speak to her. Not that I think it .would do much good. Mother, she is .really very ibeautiful. Ralph said only last night that there was not a man in England that she could not marry if she desired."

At this juncture Isabel came ,in and put a stop to the conversation. Bult her mother had 'miade up her mind how I to iact. She would certainly invite Mark Leighton .to her (next 'At Home' She proposed giving one that week. "You mighlt. .send' Mr Leighton a card," she said to Isohel. "Very well, mother," Isobel answered, still 'remaining by the window. _ She was very much in love with Mark rfchJat day, .and her opinions were terribly divided. Should she tell her mother and.sister? Should 'She try , to enlist their sympathies?' When Mark had taken her in his -arms the night before she had felt that all the world was, lost for, love.. If Mark had -.come-.-in at that moment she would have talcen him iby tho hand, and acknowledged her love. As she .stood there she was quite unconscious that hoth her mother unci sister had read her thought aright. By .the light of the one caress that Beryl had .seen,-they could understand the.' problem that troubled her, "If you write rbhe address I will mail { the card,' Beryl-said, watching her attentively, 'a Isobel sat down, and with perfect self-control .began to fill .in one of the cards. She had just despatched a letter to him in answer to one that he had sent. She had had letters from him before 'but never one like this, .and she was in a responsive mood, and had written .a real love letter to him. 'She was not ia.nxious that Ins invitation, card, written in her own handwriting, should reach him so soon. He might get the both letters at once, and open the card first, and that would be a disappointment. She took a long time over the address,- and when at length she.gave the missive to ißeryli, she tried to deJbain, her by talkihg of the dinner" of.the previous day. "Yes, it was a. pleasant little dinner—all -that:.we intend to give. Wo are not grand folks, you know, but I do hate pretense. When you are "my f lady,' you will scarcely condescend fro grace our festivities," . "I 'may never be *my lady.' " "Nonsense, Isobel. Wo should all be disappointed if you were not." It cannot be said that Mark's behaviour at .the "At Home" did anything to dissipate the alarm that had been occasioned. As he had not dared to come early, he had to take her hand formally before the assembled guests. But he-did mot .release it quickly, and, although Mrs Pelham-Hewett did not hear him murmur "My darling," she knew that he had said something. Isobel .could not keep her eyes from shining. Mark did not depart with the other guests. "Isohel, come out-on to the balcony —I must speak to you!" Isobel looked round. Her mother was talking to an old general, one of her husband's particular friends, and he wan sure to indulge in some reminiscences, Isobel calculated that she could give Mark a quarter of an hour. The balcony was visible from the inside of the room, and he dared do no more than take her hand. "We have only -a quarter of an hour to talk," she said, with a smile. "I do not seem to care to-night—-perhaps because of that dear letter you sent to me. What have you done with mine? Torn it up?"

| "You know 1 bavo not!" j "But where is it?"- lie insisted. i She looked at him whimsically.' ' "How you insist! ])o you waut mo to tall you that I wear it next to my heart?" "Yes," he said passionately, "that is just what I want you to say." "I keep your papers where no other man's will ever bo kept. There! Will that content you?" "Oh, if you would only let mo make our love puMic- Why not take this one decisive step?' "It can't hei" "What are you waiting for?" "For you to got some .position or money. You have made >a definite impression by,your work,in South Africa, •and I am sure something will come of it." "Something has come of it. They want me to become a candidate for the Efctringham vaoamcy. The election is in. three weeks." "I know." ''But .what you apparently do, not recognise is that I may not see you for almost a month. I suppose that is the reason I have not hated this "Aft Home" so much as the others —that andmy having held you in my arnns. It makes our affection seem much more real." "You speak as if it were not always a reality to you!" "When I have to bow over your hand and treat you as a istranger, I confess.it does not seem very real to me,' he said sadly. "Isabel, will you not see that I " "Hush!" she said. The old general was parting from her mother. In another moment he would be gone and Mrs Pelham-Hewett would be out on the balcony. Mark looked into the room and saw the leave-taking of,the old friends. "I shall be gone some time,' he said, "and shall be very busy. I wish at were possible for you to canvass for me. As it is. I shall be the guest of Sir Edward Skelton, the great iron.master, and my address will be 'The Larches, .Ettringham.' "

"The Skeltons. I think I have met a nice, but delicate girl of that name on the Riviera some two years ago. She was there with a nurse'and governess, and took quite a fancy to me—because I have always such splendid health, I suppose. I wonder if" these are the same people " "I don't know anything about them at all," Mark replied, "except that he lis reputed .to be the richest man in the country." "Who is the richest. man m the country?" asked a voice behind them. Mrs Pelham-Hewett had come up .softly behind them, and her anxiety had partly diminished by the snatch of conversation that she had heard'. "Edward .Skelton, whose guest I am ito be during the coming .election,", answered Mark.

"I was wondering whether that can !be the girl we met ; on mother. Do you remember? She had .aquainit, old-fashioned name. But it is not probable .that she is sill alive- 1 - she seemed so very frail." j "I hope sho is, for your sake,' r sa,id Mrs Pclhiam-Hewett, with emphasis, turning to Mark. "The only daughter i of a wealthy man—t!hat is all you want -to float you on the tide of success, as it not ?" " I am afnaid that there is a great deal more than that I want," said Mark, who bated speaking- of any woman by name, <as if he could wed iher if he would. "And I am not a ladies' man, Mrs Hewett!" He rose and took .his leave, and although he tried hard not to show any feeling, there was an expression in his eyes that no woman, old or young, oould mistake. . Mrs Hewett laughed softly .after he ■had gone. _ :■ ' ■ "Is that another vactim, Isabels she asked. "I am afraid so," Isobel answered. "You should not encourage '■' him." said 'her mother . "The young man has nothing but a very Attractive'exterior, I believe, and he does not look like a man that you could dismiss iat -will, either." '' "Oh, I can dismiss him when I want to!" eaidllsobel calmly. "Have no fear, mother. I know my own business." ,iii And in that remark lier. mother had j to find comfort. CHAPTER IV.

When the spring came Felicity felt 'that -she had .little strength, to greet it becomingly. Having taken, a turn for the better, she had mot wintered abroad for two .years. But this year she was conscious of a great weakness. Springtime brought her no joy. When her father noticed her languor, she assured him that it : was nothing, and set 'his mind at .rest. (To be continued.)