The Marriage of Felicity

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10633, 11 May 1912, Page 2

The Marriage of Felicity

OUR SERIAL.

. BY ALAX ADAIR. Author of "The Earl's Wife," "The Pride of J-cfhn Middleliam," "His Filler's Soil," "Bertram's Folly," etc.

CHAPTER IV—Continued

Me came into her boudoir out* morning with an open hitter in his hand.

"Mr Leighton comes this evening. Felicity,' -he ■said. "Does he?" Felicity inquired. "Will there be opposition?" "Sur:- to )»!«,"' Skeltoii replied, "but if Lcightnn is halt' the man 1 take hiin •to he he will win. But the fight will lie a. hot one." Felicity .smiled. She was glad to ec 3 her father so interested. "is Mr Laijjhton young?" she asked him. "Quito young, 1 believe, and very fiiblo. He .is a barrister by profession, but I do liiot think he practices much yet. He was scat out to South Africa to make ,a. report on some of the social "conditions there—a mission that shows men thi'.ik highly of hint. 1 -suppose he can apeak well." Felicity roused, herself with an effort. "I am glad he is coming here, ft .is so long sine? .wo had.anyone niee to stay with us."

"Yes," lie : agreeil, and looked ot her more closely. There was a certain listless droop of her shoulders that did net escape him. Her pale, thin, fingers, too, arrested his attention. "You are sure you are quite well, Felicity ?" lie asked. "Yes f.ather, only a little tired." -

"Perhaps, after all, we did wrong in not going abroad this year." "If you-think it .advisable, we will go next year, father. You liavo not looked very well yourself lately." "Nothing to worry abouit," lie answered, and tiir-ii. laughed. "What a couple- of croakers wo are, Felicity! Wo shall last as long as most of the strong ones." Edward Skelton had developed a slight heart trouble the last few mc::!tin, which sometimes made him uneasy. .

"Don't overstrain yourself, father, at. thin election." .

"Have no fear. Felicity, will you di'ive with me to tho station to meet M-.'Leightoii?"

"Of course I will! When is ho duo hero?"

"Arrive five-fif-ty-six, dinner at seven, meeting at eight." ■ ■ ' It was a warm afternoon, and Felicity felt very languid as she set out to meet Mr Leigihton. But as she drove on she lost a good deal of her languor. Slio made a j pretty figure in her gol-den-brow ii dress, with her brown hat and soft brown hair. A large bow of light blue pinned on her dress made an agreeable dash of colour and harmonised with lior .blue Irish eyes. Bevoiid all sho had an air of distinction.

Fel'ieity never forgot the feeling of excitement with which she watched .the train come in, and saw a knot of eager men cloister round a carriage, and a tall, commanding figuro that descended into the midst of them. She was too far off to distinguish his face, and it was uot until! ten minutes afterwards that sho saw the little crowd emerge from the station. TOrey made straight for tho carriage, evidently bent on. escorting their can-' d'idato to his carriage door. v A moment later Fcildoifcy saw Mark ' Leighiton r whom she. at oncse decided was the'handsomest, the most disting-uished-looking man she had ever seen. She liked the curious, grey-green eyes, tho square ia.tv,.'the firm mouth she was,sure could be soft and tender; especially did she like the laugh and voice. ' ' Her father arrived, and there was .much handshaking, until EdwaTtlSkclton said, ; with, a wave of Iks hand : "My daughter—Mr- Leighton." M'ark raised his hat and looked, at the girl with an .interest that seemed to ho mingled with pity. Sho''was so very young, and as Isabel had said; very delicate, sweet aikl. gentle.. I'sobeil knew her,-and lie might talk to ( her of Tscbcl. He began to elo S<i ii!i- OIU'3; ..J 4 J ' - f, j. ivtiy io a'..lady who says, fche thought chat she had met you on "tho .Riviera'tome two years ago," he, said. "1 wonder if it is''really you?" "I do not know. I was at the Riviera two years ago, but 1' do; not know if .1 was'impor.tant enough to he i;o----membered at the time. Iw<a!: scarcely moro than a schoolgirl then. Who is 'it?" . .

"It was a Miss Pelham-Hcwett!" "Not Isobel?' eriEcl Felicity. "And she 'is not married yet? I remember everyone raved about her. She told me that she was going to marry a man of tit!-::.' ■ "She must be very ambitious," sa-id Mark. "She is. Sho told me that she and her mother are very poor, although I saw ro evidence of poverty, but she said that she must marry title and mono v. Sho could have married t*vo ■Or three times -while she was there, but sho preferred to wait. Some people thought her heartless, but she was very good to me." "She is beautiful," said Mark, and then lu> dropped the subject. What he had heard pained him. He had heard the same a, do7.cn times from lsobel's lips, hut it did not seem so sordid then as now. From this young girl's lips I it sounded doubly hard, and it sounded ; too, like the deathblow to his own fond hopes. . Felicity would not allow the subject to be dismissed. , "I wonder if she would care to heai from me?' she said. Do you think she would ?"

"I don't know." Mark replied. "You might write,' said Skelton. always ready to take up anything that-

might interest Felicity. "If she was good enough o take an interest in you when yon were young, peinapsshe wiil like to'hear from you now. More particularly as we're to have the pleasure of entertaining a friend of hers." "Scarcely a friend," said Mark. He touted to lie put down as a friend of Isol»el. "I will writ; 1 !" said Felicity. They turned into the market place, w'licre hundreds Ikul gathered to sec tho new candidate. They hurst into a hearty cheer wlien they saw the Skel-ton-carriage and its occupants. Edward Skelton was very poptilur. Mark stood up, and waved hi;:, hat, and the cheering grow louder, Ic I.' elicity the sight was quite exhiliarating. "I think I will go to t'he meeting to-night." she said suddenly. "Won't it he ten imiah for you — line crowd, t'he heat, and the excitement:'" "I will chance it," said Felicity. "I think half of ill-health comes from boredom. If I am tired I can rest tomorrow 1 ." "Do come-' 'urged Mark. "You do not know how it heartens a man when he knows that someone is taking an interest in (him." "I wiill come,'" responded Felicity. "Drop us at the. works," Skelton said to the coachman, "and you, Felicity, can drive cm Home." , "Very well, dad!' agreed, tho girl. When she came down to dinner in her soft, ivory-silk dress she looked hatter than she had looked for many months. Mark admired, her very much when he came into the drawing room and found her sitting in a (high-hacked, .carved chair, with her slim hands folded in front o>' her. .He begah to ask her questions ah-, out, the constituency, and stio answered intelligently. "i wonder if you would care to canvass for me," he said. . "Oh, go into the fighting front if you want to,' said her father indulgently.- "Mr Leighton, will you take my daughter in?" She slipped her hand within .his arm, and they crossed the hall together. How firm and strong that arm was! That evening the conversation was far more interesting than it had been for a. ''""'a r : >ie.

Immediately after dinner they drove off to tiic liall in wn-icri i:ne meeting was to be hold. By the dim light of the candle Mark could see the delicate profile, the long, slender throat, and the light-brown hair piled high. Decidedly, Felicity had distinction. " "It was of JLsobel, however, that liethought, «nd of her only , as he entered the ay ell-lighted hall. How she would have inspired him" if she . had j been present!' How she..would have encouraged him by. one look of those wonderful eyes of hers! After all ,it was for her tbiat he wished so ardently that he woukl succeed.. If lie could: only show himself to bo someone, Lsobel might lie willing to Jet' their engagement 'become known. 'J he thought spurred him on, and made him speak oven better than ho bad ever spoken before; Felicity had been given one of the front seats, reserved forth*) more important people of the place. Alt hough among friends, her whole attention • war; given to Mark. Skelton sat on the platform imined-; lately behind Mark. He .listened to every word the candidate uttered, hut Jiis gaze travelled now and then to where Felicity sat.' He did not quite', understand this sudden'*;*aiid intenseinterest in polities, but he was glad to. "see the girl apparently no worse for her outing. ? Ho Aviis to sponk n few words tit.-tHG end of Mark'saddrcss. He knew wba,£ be was about to say, and he felt sur<j that he would have attentive hearers} but a strange sensation of faintnexs came over him. Lately in times .of excitement he had fe't it. He felt Very faint, and although he did not faint, 'he knew -tbat.it was only, force of will that kept biiri flora doing so. It seemed hdurs to-him before his vision cleared again, and he heard M;ark s voic? clear and p&i:otratihg as before. Felicity's eyes were still rivet-ted-on the speaker. Nothing had happened except that had felt .as though his .heart bad stopped beating. "Mv poor f. : i ; l will give up everything. ,1 will retire from the management of' tlie -works. 1' elicit > will have more v money than even the most extravagant husband will spend. 1 iivj.:t live for her i;.ike, must live, to seo her safeguarded, and then ". Little by little be recovered, and by 'lib? time Mark sat down, amid ringing (I'loers, lie was in, a coiuiitnon to stand up calmly and collectedly, and say w!i;:jit he bad meant to say. Felicity had some little time to wait in the carriage before her father and Mark joined her. -She was excited and eager, mud even Mark was struck by the change in -her manner. She held out her hand to him. (To "be continued.)