The Marriage of Felicity

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10635, 14 May 1912, Page 2

The Marriage of Felicity

OUR CERIAi

BY ALAN ADAIR. Author of ''The Eavl's Wife," "The Pride of John MKkLshtma," "His Fthc-:'s Sen," "Beitram'e Folly," c!;j.

CHAPTER Continued

—she had seemed so frail that he lind not given lior credit for so much enthusiasm.

There was an, honesty about her that disarmed him. He said nothing, but his face expressed his un'happuicss. "Mark," she said, "I will tell yon w!hat I wall do for you. I will give you two years. If at the end of that time your position is no better than it is now, then we must give up all our dreams of marriage. When .1. say that I will give you two years, I mean that I will marry 110 man, nor promise to marry any man before those two years are up. By tlliat proposition you can measure my love for you. 1 give you two of the best years of my life —for tc.vo years I guarantee to hold other men at arm's length." "Why only at arm's length?" he asked.

"Y'on must not let yourself do too muoh," lio said. "J tiiioukl never lor.givo myself if my candidature caused you to break down." "1 shall not break down,' she answered with a .smile. "1 am ever so much better when I don't tliink of myself. My mother died of consumption and heart trouble, ami I may have inherited .some of her weakness, tl>u,t J am sure that when. I do hot think much of it J am muoh better. The content ,-aots Mice a tonne. I had no idea that electioneering could be so exciting;" H,o laughed and looked at her anxiously. "You are quite ,suro ypu arc feeling avgll?' "Quito sure," sho replied lightly. "If thero is any invalid in .the family it is father. Ho i.s working in your cause day and night, 'Yesterday it struck me how grey ho looked. I do nor. mean luis hair, hut 'his face. It mado me feel quite anxious. He talks of giving up work and taking a houso in London,. It is not like father —he Ims only had two thoughts ever since I can remember —his work and me. I wearying: vou. Mr Leighiton, with these personal matters. And I want .to tell y(Ju about the districts wo have canvassed." She gave a clear, and concise account of all that had been' done—of it'lle .results of the canvassing, and how ,-fclio voting was expected to go in'each district. "Really." he said, wihen sho had finished, ""I shall .not know liow to thank you. If I win, the seat it will be due almost entirely to you. Jl do not know wihy you should take such an iittv-psfr in an utter stranger." "'Po begin with, you are not an, utter ..stranger now. Further, being our candidate, I am hound to do., everything .that will advance your interests 'along." They had reached the house before Felr.city mentioned a name that Mark had been anxiously waiting to hear. "Do you know," she said, "that I .actually wrote to Miss JHewett tile day you left, and I kid the sweetest letter 'back from her. She actually remembered all about t!he'insignificant little schoolgirl that I then was. Or per'lnvps you met her and refreshed 'her memory?" "I did meet her, as it happens, at a dance,' said Mark, who was always <jn easy prey wlien it came to talking about Isobel. "But I do not know whether or not tluit was after s»ho had .written to you. I only had one d'auco witlh her.".

"Because," she answered calmly, "if at the end of that time you fail me, Mark, I must marry some one, and if some one of good enough position thinks enough of me to marry irvo, well I do not want to lose the chance. Dear, J shock you ; but I only say plainly .what 'another .would gloss over i and present iu a more attractive and .specious way." His face brightened :a little. "I suppose I ought to be grateful," hesnid, "and I am grateful, dear, for I shuil not fail you. lam confident of success. I shall win "my election. I am not 'the mail to fail." "It is no use, Mark. Two years is what I have promised you ,and that is all 1 can do. There are some women, I know, who would have put their hand into yours and said, "I'll striiggle on with you." , But I am not that sort of woman. When J. marry it must lie with a blare of trumpets, to the sound of sweet music, before a congregation of people who will say that 1 have done well. When I begin myi married life it niust bo in an assured.position. All this may be fin ignoble amas well that you should know me thoroughly." He smiled. ''VI think' Ij know you thoroughly,'' ho observed lightly, hition, but I cannot help it. It is She turned to him with a charming change in her mood. "Don't make any mistake, deajr,'' sl'c "aid. "You have not yet sounded tho depths-of my shallow nature. You vont' believe all the evil I tell yo'.r of niv.-olf. Some day you will wish you had." "Whe*. I. eoino to that day, I will throw up everything,' he said. "My career is nothing to me as compared with you. 1 would give up all and "iik» tine 1 realise how utterly np.»rt \vo really are — that lam not the wife for you.' ■ "I wish you would understand that this constant harping on the subject of my acquaintance with Miss Skeltor. is in tho worst possible taste. It is not fair to her." !

They found Edward S'kelton in one of . the rooms temporarily devoted to political gatherings. He was reading a paper wlieix they entered, but lie put it <lowai When the saw the two young people como in together. Atthe sound of Felicity's ■ bright voice lie greeted :his guest warmly. "Has FeMeity given you the fullest particulars of the, position in wiirieli we stand?" he .asked '"She 'lias,' returned Mark, "and I ■am'full of hope and courage. It will he owing to you botlh, in a gre>at mens-. Tire if I win."

I ''Nevertheless, my dear hoy, she is j genuinely interested in you," said is- { obel lightly.- "You don't- understand iwomen, Mark; you think of them as ] angels." , "And if I do, it is sail your fault. Isobel—you are so beautiful.' "Do you know that my partner will J be tearing his hair-'" she remarked "We have talked through someone else's dance. No. T will not dance again with yon to-night." "Then I shall leave," he said.

'"Perhaps that is the best thing yoi; can do. the two years probation you must not make, yourself •conspicuous with me!" • y "I shall not go,' he retorted quickly. "As long as you are in the room 1, shall remain. J. can look at you, a.t all events." "Well,' alio said. -"If I am to keep mv part of the contract you must keep yours'. Here conies any irate partner. I. shall be keenly interested in tho Ettringham election." She accepted the arm of the man who claimed f.-r, and nodding graciously to Mar:-: she -walked down the room. When ho reached -his chambers that night and went over all .that had occurred between Isobel and. himself, he was not'quite sure that he had-gained anything. She had given him a time liniilt, and that was all. True, she | had often said that- she did not know how tho engagement was to ho carried [ out. To-day she had said- plainly that ' if it were not carried out within ,a given period it must come- to an end. Ho did not quarrel with her tor de'siring position an/1 wealth; it was difficult- to imagine Isobel without either. Although ho was disturbed at the illations between them, the thought that troubled him more wtasJ her reiterated suggestion that ho should marry Felicity. v CHAPTER VI 'Felicity drove to the station to tineet Mark on his return to Ettringham. She was full of animation and looked .well, for a colour was in her cheeks and a light in her eyes that was not often there. She saw Mark alight, and a pleasant feeli»"r came over her 'as lie .made l his way to the carriage. She held out her baud to him. U T am glad ; to see you," sho said unaffectedly. "I hope you have oonie in good time,hnt you know Mr Patterson has been, running about a good deal lately. I have been canvassing hard, and 1 think you -are sure of nearly alt of father's people. I have .seen many of them. I must drive von aiv lou.nd and they can know you. In view of Mr Patterson's well-attended meetings we >niu:st work pretty hard." Ho looked at her with some surprise

Skelton laughed. _ "Felicity is showing a new interest in politics,' he said. "I bavo not had miidli opportunity Ihit'hei'to of doing so,' remarked Felicity. She spoke a.s ,:f defending herself fmm .somo impntati on. "1 had no idea it could be so exciting. •\.m, it. is exciting!" said 'to,ark; he fel't ''ill at ease. Eclward Skelton looked '«•••> ill illrat his fears were awakened. "We are dining quite early,' said l'Vlic.itv. ''l fin going to lie down mow, so as to be strong for this evening. I promised father I would be careful'!" .... S.lik< was .so brigflit and .full of v"ivanity tßiat it was hard to realise tOwvt ' •itiiitj was the 'frail, colourless girl -;f a fortnight ago. Mark war, struck by (Skelton's gaze, as lie followed the retreating girl. i "And you, sir?' '-lie asked impulsively, M'hen t'h<ey were left alone. I hope' you aire taking care of yoursoll, ■too?" . Tlio elder man turned away. "T have need of care," he said, very huskily. "You .have had another attack? "Yes, 1 more than one, I regret to say," 'Skeilton said. "Directly the . election is over, 1 shall leave Ettring,ham -and have a long rest. "I am not a coward," ho added,, sy pea king almost fiercely, "I could face death if it were not for her —for Felicity." "I understand that well enough, > ) ) sir. ( (To he continued.)