The Marriage of Felicity

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10637, 16 May 1912, Page 2

The Marriage of Felicity

OUR BERIAL.

BY ALAN ADAIR, Author of "The Earl's Wife," "The Pride of John Middleham," "His Fthsr's Sen," "Bertram's Folly," cij.

CHAPTER Vl—Continued. Felicity rose from her chair. She could not sit still.and wait. FV massed her hand over her heart, and with a little flush of colour in her face, she kept lie; - eyes on the door. One of the Liberal committeemen came in full of importance. The ladiss clustered round him. "Well, well?" .asked Mrs Mountjoy. Felicity was too excited to speak "The Liberals hay© won! Mark Leighi'ton, five thousand and forty: John Patterson, three thousand, and eight hundred. A .splendid victory!" "Hurrah!-' cried Mrs Moun.tjoy, and Fe/icity wept tears of joy. "They are going to go out on the balcony to announce the result,' said the committeeman. "Come to the window, ladies, and you will be aide to seo and hear everything.' ' The window of the room by which they steed was on a level with the balcony. Felicity pressed forward., and a.s .she went to the window Mark stepped on to tho balcony. The cleotiric light fell on him, and brought into strong relief the squarejaw and chin, the well-shaped head and graceful figure. And then the crowd, who had been -waiting for this moment, broke in/to prolonged cheering. The names of the candidates >aad the numbers recorded were then thrown on a slieet afc the hack of the balcony, and Mark spoke. It was astonishing to see how quickly the vast crowd wias reduced to silence. Felicity looked down on the sea of. upturned faces. The sight thrilled her. She wondered how he felt in this hour of triumph. She did not know that his one regret at that moment was tiho absence of Isobel. He spoke slowly a:nd deliberately, hut every word was to the point. As Ihe finished, cheer after cheer broke from tho enthusiastfc crowd. Felicity knew that some little- 'time must elapse before she could see Mark a.nd congratulate him personally; it would be better for her and her father to drive- home together and wait for Tiiix there.

"What are you going to do, my dear?" asked Mrs Mountjoy. '•'As soon as my father comes, we will drive liomo and wait for Mr Leagjhton." "I suppose he leaves you to-mor-row?" "I suppose so,' answered Eelioity. And then it suddenly came upon her what a blank it would Ibe to lier wlhen he had gone. Strange as it may seem, s!ho bad not thought of that before. The contest had completely occupied !her mind. She did not remember until this moment that he would now go completely out of her life. " Imust accept Miss Hewett's invitation," she reflected. "Father and I might travel with him to London when he goes, and he certainly will wiarit to be in town on Monday morning." Felicity looked round but her father was no wilier© to be seen. It was very strange; for ho did not as a rule, like (to leave her by herself. "Would you mind telling father ■that I am waiting for him here?" she asked one of the men she knew. • "The last .time I saw Mi- Skelton was just before the announcemet of the result, but Iwill find (him for you, Miss Skelton."

Then all left with the exception of Mrs Mountj oy. "I tlon't lika leiaviaig you hero by yourself, dear'," s'he said."Oh, I shall be alright," Felicity responded mildly. "Father must be about the building somewhere. You see this is ;not an ordinary occasion. I quite forgive him for neglecting me — ho is so interested."

"Then, dear, if you will just wait hero quietly, I will leave you," said the old lady. She kissed the girl and departed. The- girl sat down on one of the morocco chairs and waited. Where could her father be? The streets were.' getting quieter. Felicity saw the carriage waiting at the far-off comer. "Perhaps I had better go down, and tell the coachman to drive me home," she said. Yery ' likely father has called at. the club with Mr Leighton. He will imagine that I have gone up home long before this. I wii drive mound to tho club." She Avon.t to the door and stood on the threshold, and as she did so saw Mark coming toward !hcr. She gave a little cry of pleasure and went toward him and " ut her hand. "How nice of you to come back for me," she cried. "I wanted to see you 'and congratulate you." Tho light was not very good and it was mot until she was quite close'to him that she.could see his face. Then she felt profound surprise—the light of triumph had died out of it. It was white and drawn, and his eyes -were dark with pain. She drew back. "Ob, what is it—what is it?" she orded . Ho looked at-her without speaking for a moment. She appeared so young, so frail, so small, against the bare unlovely background. Her next words showed tlhait she had no premonition of what ho luad como to tell her. "Don't tell me that there has been ■a mistake,' she cried piteously "that you have not really won." 'No— there is no mistake. I have won. I—it is not about myself that "Not -about you? Not father? He

is not ill? That is not the reason why he left mo here so long by myself, is it?" "It is the reason," said Mark hearily. "Father ill! Take me to lum at once." • She stepped quickly past Mark, and stopped suddenly. "Where is he?" she asked. i "H has been taken home," said Mark with difficulty, "Taken home?" Her alarm grew'. "Is ho very ill ?" Mark nodded. "He is very ill." "Unconscious?" • i "Yes, he is unconscious. Felicity, the strain of this election has been too much for him. He I—fainted, 1 —fainted, and they took him home —twenty minutes ago." "Oh, father!" She gave a cry of pain. " Imust go to him. He will be wanting me. His first thought w,as always of me.' He smv that she was seriou'sry disi:&~r,sll.i I'jjmgh she had noti sus(pecfted the worst. Supporting Her with his arm he led her to the head of the staircase. As he did so a man rushed forward. "It is not true, sir? Mr Skelton is not dead?" "Dead!' ' Felicity released herself i from Mark's arm. "Dead! dead! Oh, \ tell me —he is not dead?" Mark stepped forward. His face was very pale. He had never encountered so severe a trial. "Felicity!" ho said. In her despair and loneliness he thouglht the sound of her Christian niamo would comfort her. "Felicity be brave Take this blow as he would have you bear- it. My poor child. It is true; he is dead. The strain has been too much for him, and his heart has failed him." His last words were spoken to deaf ears, and if "he had not .been very prompt, she would have fallen down the stairs. For a little time she was mercifully unconscious. The man who blurted out the news, distressed beyond measure, blurted out an excuse. "I did not see her," he cried. "She was behind you." "It doesn't make much difference," 'Mark said wearily. "She had.to know. It was only prolonging the anguish. Will you see if the carriage is there for her?"

He lifted Felicity in 'his .arms .and 'Jaeld her close to him. A wave of tenderness came over Mm for this poor, lonely girl. Very gently lie canned her down the long flight of stairs. He was glad that he was to be her guardian. He lifted her into the carriage, sat down besid© Tier, and let down, the window so that the fresh air would revive her. As he took one of the li,ttle, cold hands in his all the kindlynature was brought into pTiay. At length she gave a little sigh and moved but did not attempt.to disengage herself from Ms grasp. "Where am I?" she asked faintly. "In .the carriage, driving with me, Mark Leighton." "Ah, yes. Is—it—true?" _ The question c.amo -hesitatingly, as if shedreaded being .plunged into misery again. "Yes, my poor child, it is true." "My father is dead? I am -all alone?' "Ho is dead, but you are not alone —vou have me.' "Yes," she said simply, "I have you." "Your Bather trusted me,' Mark said gently. "In the event of his death he asked me to be your.guardian—to look after your interests." "He knew he was likely to die?" "Yes, he knew it. He knew he migfch die at any moment. I feel as if I had accelerated.his death." "! "Don't say that! life and death are in higher 'hands (than ours. If you had not come I would now be doubly desolate." "But it was the strain that did it. Have you not seen how grey he has been looking lately? The first time I came he had a heart attack. He wanted it kept from - you—you wore not strong enough to bear it, he thought.' "He thought only of me." Mark got out and assisted Felicity from the carriage. A servant oame running down the steps. "Where is he?" she asked. _ . "Wc have .carried him into his room —tilio doctor is still there." "I will go to ■) nfiHieecl herself from Mark's arm. and walked in stowlv and firmly. "With unswervintr courage she entered the familiar: room, and kneeling, she kissed hie lifeless ha;nd that hu-ag limply bes.de the bed. (To he continued.)