The Marriage of Felicity

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10639, 18 May 1912, Page 2

The Marriage of Felicity

OUR SERIAL.

BY ALAN ADAIR. Author of "The Earl's Wife," "The Pride of John Mkldleham," "His Fthjr's Sen," "Bertr; m's Folly," eiJ.

CHAPTER Vlll—Continued. "You speak as if you did not like him!" "J did not mean- to give that impression. One cannot help knowing he as clever. Only I meet so many men that I have not the. chance of judging each carefully on his merits." "I sco,' said Felicity. Mrs Howett came in •and tho discussion dropped. They spoke of the plans for going away. "Let mo go to some new spots." said Felicity, the tears welling to her eyes. "I do not want to visit >a place that will remind me of my father." "You ii!;.:i!l go wherever you liike. '.hv/\\:% August, though, I do not see why wo' could not #o further down from homo than Devon or Cornwall. A fe-.v weeks rest and quiet by,the* sea would set you up'. "Then we might consult Mr Laightan as to vour win,lori;i;r abroad." ' ■"I don't want .to be troublesome to you." "My dear child, there-is nothing I would like better than a nice house say, near Newquay, for a month. Isohel and I generally ruraliso preparatory to the aiitums campaign. It is not often, though, 'that we have the pleasure of being together. As a rule she leaves me for a round of visits to country houses. . We have each our own friends, and it will do neither of us any harm to spend a month or two together .at a quiet watering place." "Bui I shall prevent you being able to pay your visits!" "My friends, if .they are worth -anything, will ask- mo again next year. And, you see, my dear child, you pay me a great deal of money, and you are very rich, .and I am so poor, that it is ■a great help to too to have you with , inc."

Before long they came to the conclusion -that, subject to Mark's permission, they would go to Cornwall for a month. "I am sure he will make no objection if you wish it'r" eaid Mrs Howett. She had her own reasons for wishing to further a marriage between Mark and Felicity. "Ho is very good to me," Felicity said gratefully. "He is very fond of you," Mrs Hcwotij insinuated. "You should have heard him sing your praises." Mrs Hewett, who was accustomed to girls charged with genuine feeling, was touched :by the joy that irradiated the girl's face. Several days passed 'before Mark came to the house; It pained ham to be so near to Isobel and aiot to he able to claim her. He had had some correspondence a.bout a house'at Newquay, which they could not get until September. Isohel was to join them there —she was to visit some friends ■before, doing so. One afternoon, when Isobel was about to go out, Mark was announced. Silio was alone in the room, and Mark gavo a low cry of pleasure. "This, is a rare .pioco. of good fortune," he said, m-s ho took her in his arms and kissed her.

Isobol, though rejoicing in li-is ar- j dent love, drew 'hens-elf quickly from | •his embrace. ( "If Felicitv should see us!" "Why should sh-o not? AJI the world will seo us some dav." "She would not like it," "Why not ?" 'asked Marie sternly. "You know she ds fond of you," > alio said smiling. J "I don't know it!' 'sa/id Mark very] quickly. "I have 'beem useful to her i during a very sad time. She likes ] me, I know, but I should be a coxcomb if I thought anything else." ,* "You need not appeal to your imagination —I tell von she'loves you." "Do not say that!" said Mark. "She likes me, I dare say, but loves me — nonsense! I don't want any woman-in the world to love me but you," i "Other women will love- you," said i Isobel, "and Felicity does love you. ! I havo seen 'her change, colour when j your namo was mentioned." ."Changing" colour is nothing, especially wittll such a'sensitive child as her." / .-■•■■ "Ah, it.is,not flier colour only. She is a when ■speaking of you." ' ' i "In that case I will see her as seldom as possible." "You are bound to see her a great deal. I sometimes wonder if she knows of tho relationship between us." "I hope she has.;' Isobel, if you ( think there is any danger of that child caring for me, you 'bad better tell her \ at once of our engagement." "And ,liave her blurt- it out to the world? No, thank you." "Why not? Why are you so anxious that no one should know? Are you. las'ha-med of me?" She looked at him with eyes glowed. , "I am ashamed of myself, darling," she answered softly. She had not called him by that endearing name since the day when they had confessed their mutual love. "I am ashamed of. myself, darling! I anv -a pauper, and I have permitted myself the luxury of love! But I will mot confess it, or talk of it again until there is some chanco of its fulfillment," She turned ias the door was opened. Felicity opened the door, and went up to Mark with her hands out. " I thought you were never coining to see me," sihe said. "I have been very busy," .he murmured.

"I know. Please do nob think me selfish. I look forward to your visits. This new life is a little strange to .

me," she added, with «n apologetic look at Isobel. "I feci very lonely at times.' Tho tears started to her eyes. '"I—I miss father very, very much." "Of course you do." Mark's awkwardness had Jefb Jiim. Felicity looked so young, so delicate, in contrast to Isobel in the radiance of her glowing beauty, that pity surged into his lie-art banishing all smaller feelings. "I wish I could help you," ho'said. Isobel rose quietly from her chair ■and left the. two together. "You do help me," answered Felicity. There was pain in Jier voice. "I do not think I could hear it if it were not for you.' ' For a. moment Mark did not answer. Ho disliked the thought that Isobel might be right—that the young gir! loved him. He had never said a word of Jove to her. He had been thrown in her way .at a- very crucial lime of both their 'lives, and it was natural that she should think more of him than a. mere casual acquaintance. "Don't bp downhearted," ho said, in his most matter-of-fact tone, "you have, I trust, many happy years before you. You will have the power to do an immensity of good. I am sure you will not want to love selfishly." A.nd then ho began to talk of the .wonderful benefits her wealth would be able to bestow. He got interested in the subject, and found her, as usual, receptive, and so intelligent, that it was -pleasant to talk to her. Mark was astonished to see how quickly the -time had gone in her company. "You are ia little witch," he remarked. "I ought to nave been hard at work at home." "And I have kept you 'hard at work talking iliere," sllie said. "But —when shall I see you again?" "I cannot tell,' 'ihe said, noting the earnestness of her tone. "I shall take a holiday abroad, Ithink." "I suppose I sha.M -have to go later on," she said wistfully. "I hate the thought of going alone. I should not mind it so mucin if you were one of the party." He almostrepentcd having brought the two girls together. Ho had thought that it would he'the best way out of the difficulty, but he was not so sure now. "You are not —really happy Shere?'' ho asked in-a low tone. "I am as 'happy as. loan be without father —quite.-happy when you come. Mrs Hewat-t is kindness itself to me, •and so is Isobel, ibut somehow I do not get en so well with Isobel as with lier mother. It is my fault, I suppose. I liko iher, and admire her immensely, but we have not so much in common as wo used to ihave." In all innocence she spoke—ignorant of that one great thing that they had in common.

CHAPTER IX. Felicity -had caught a cold. No one knew how or wihen. Her ecugh was so had that Mrs Hewett became frightened. Felicity would not see a .medical man. "I am often like this," she said. "Donf worry about me, and don't writo and tefl Mr Leighton. Ho may be anxious.' ' So Mrs Hewett reirtained quiescent. I but deferred the departure to Corn- ! wall until .Felicity should become a : little stronger. isobel was enjoying herself >at a famous country house. It had cost Mrs Hewett a good deal tq have 'her equipped in a style that beeamo her 'beauty and the dignity of ' j;ho placo she was visiting. ' When Isobel came back it was agreed that th?y should all journey down in «i ooivple cf days. Sir Edwin Grant had been one of the guests at the country house, where his wealth and political influence made hip of consequence. Sir Edwin continued to pay a good deal cf attention to Isobel. "I think it will he Sir Edwin,' she said to -her mother,' on. her return. ■Thento herself she added : "If Mark is not in a position to marry me." It was difficult to keep a man like Sir Edwin in 'his right place, difficult to keep him from actually declaring himself, and yet keep him sufficiently ■attached. l -Isobel found that during her absence Felicity had grown more pale and thin, and at once attributed this to the fact that Mark had not been as assiduous in his attentions to the girl. There was something cruel in the way Isobel sought for tokens of the poor girl's love for Mark. Sho brought round the conversation to him, and watched the bright red flush on the girl's cheeks with an amusement that was not altogether lost on the girl. Felicity then knew that her secret had been discovered. (To be continue.,