The Marriage of Felicity

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10640, 20 May 1912, Page 2

The Marriage of Felicity

OUR SERIAL.

BY ALAN ADAIR. Author o! "The TsrVs Wife," "Tb Pride of John ■Middleham," "His Fthc-r's Scr," "Bc-rtra m's Folly," eta.

CHArrRH IX—Continvod. Mrs Hevvott had left the two girls together, it was a sariing afternoon, ar:( Felicity lay hack in a low chair on th;> shaded verandah. She was looking at Isobel, who was csconjed in a lounge chair. Both ginls had books in their hands. Felicity, however, made no pretense at reading. She. was,looking with intense admiration at ihcr companion. "Isobel," die said suddenly, in her sweat, clear voice. Jsob:'l put down I'ho hook she was loading in a vory desultory fashion. "Well?" she asked lazily. "1 want you to do something for me." "Anything in reason," replied Isobel languidly. "I want to consult a doctor, and I would like you to accompany me." "Wlmbr" cried Isabel, astonished at the request. "I want you to corns with me to see .Dr. Owen Mackarness. I,saw by. the p:'per that.he was ,in town." '' "h it to him you always go?" "Xo, I'have never been to him. That is the reason I 'have selected him. I want to Ihcar tba opinion of a man to whom I am a stranger." isobcl considered a moment. "Yes, i will go," ishe said, after a pause. i "Thank you. I intend to go tomorrow at eleven," "Very well. I shall bo ready." The visit fell in with .her private plains. She wanted to bo certain of things, and if she could speak to Owen Mackarness privately she might make supposition certainty. "You don't want mother to know?" sho asked, after a short pause, during which she had ragain taken up her book. "I don't think it matters," said Felicity, with a confused little laugh, "to satisfy mysdf on some points." "May I ask what points?" Felicity turned iher 'head away and blushed slightly. "I want to know if" —sho hesitated —"if I am any weaker than I was last year. T have a special reason for desiring this information.' ' Isabel thought she could guess the reason.

The following morning the two girls set out in Felicity's victoria. Having no appointment they ihad to wait some little time in the doctor's anteroom. 'This had its effect on Felicity's nerves, already overstrung, and Isobel was continually fearing that her companion would break down altogether. At length a maid ushered them into tho consulting room. Doctor Mackarness stared at Isobel. In that great room her great beauty shono out radiantly. It was not necessary to ask which was tho .patient. He sounded Felicity, made a thorough examination, . and asked a few questions. He -went to his tablo and consulted Several books in a rather perplexed manner. He was evidently reluctant to speak. Felicity broke the uncomfortable silence.

" 1 really wanted to ask you whether it is necessary for me to winter abroad this year," she said. "I stayed in England last year, and until my father died I did not think I was any worse." Dr. Mackarness hesitated. "No, I do not think it necessary for you to go abroad this year," he replied. A Hush of pleasure irradiated her cheeks. "Oil, thank .you," sho exclaimed. "Is there anything specially vou want me to do?" "Nothing," he answered slowly "nothing except that you should take •life easily .and lightly; get all the good out of it you can; above all, try to throw off any sorrow you may have, too.' Ho glanced at iher black dross. Felicity stood up and held out her hand. "Thank you very much," she said earnestly. "I will try. lam morbid. I lost my father very suddenly, and I misw him." "Of course,' lie said kindly, and he made a movement-to signify that the interview ivas over. . Felicity .bowed, and the two girls left tho room. The result was evidently satisfactory to Felicity.

"It's good news," she said to Isobel, as sho fastened on flier veil. "It is perfectly splendid to know that I do not have to leave England this year. 1 feared that he .would send <me away. I am so glad I came!" "It is indeed good!" exclaimed Isobel, and then added : "Shall. I go and see whether the carriage has gone, Felicity?" "I don't like the idea of your doing so," Mid tho young gb-1. "Oh, that is nothing. I dare say it lias gone a little way down the street." She opened the door, crossed the carpeted hall, and went back to the consulting room. "You haw come to ask about your friend?' said tJhe doctor looking up. "Yes," said Isobel. "She is not related to you in any way?" asked tho doctor. "No," said Isobel. "Sho is a friend. She has no relatives; and for the present is living with -my mother and myself, ft would be a real help if I knew the real truth about her. Sho is quite pleased that you have not ordered her abroad." "Poor child," murmured the doctor. Isobel looked at hum narrowly. "There is ia man whom she is very fond of," she said quietly. "For his

•j sake I should ■like* to know why you have not ordered her abroad." "I did not send her away," said Dr. Mackarucss, "because 1 knew it would no of no use. Ido not care to send a •hopeless case to a foreign land." Isobel had expected this, but even so, it '.was a shock to Jier. "Is she consumptive?" "She is generally weak," said the doctor. "I do not say that she will dio to-day or to-morrow." "How long would you give her?" asked Isobel in a hesitating manner. Tho doctor smiled. "That is a question wo scarcely ever answer," he said. "I3ut you will answer me?" "Yes, I will answer you, and the statement js for you iv.ano. Ido not think she can possibly live for even six months! Do .not even let her guess tho gravity cf her situation, or she may dio at once." « "Do you mean that it is a question of .nerves?" "No,; but tho whole nervous system is in a..highly-strung eoclition. That is why I want her to h© happy. If sho fret?; sho may die sooner." "But even if she is happy, do you think she can live beyond the six months?" "That is my opinion." Isobel's face was curiously calm. "Thank you very much. I must hurry back to her. She has not the least idea that I am here -it'll you. She thinks that I have gone to find the carnage." Ho nodded approval. "I see you are to be trusted," he remarked. Isobel went hastily to the door, and called tho carriage. No one to look at her would have thought it possible that she had just heard her friend's death sentence. Even the doctor, who saw her pass down" the steps, was struck by the expression' of her face. "She is a consummate actress, or else she has no heart," ho said to himself. "Perhaps hoth hypotheses are right. I have heard of such cases before." Felicity's eyes were sparkling. "Isohel, do you know that that man has put new life into me? I could dance and sing, the relief is so great I" "Is it?" Isobel asked curiously. "Do you care so much to live, then?" It had never occurred to her that this -thin, shadowy girl expected much out of life; she would 'have 'been incredulous if anyone, told her that Felicity had ''as great a desire for happiness as sho herself. - "Of course I care,' said, tho girl. They had turned into tho park, abandoned 'by all its usual -habitues, and given over to those unable to leavcLbnJ don in . August. Everything seemed to be drooping with the heat. .The children were fractious and quarrelsome, and from one group there came a loud scream as .a little girl, running with a hoop, fell on her knees on the gravel. A man who was passing turned to help the child. Both the girls simul- , taneously recognised the man. It was Mark. He was so much occupied with j the little one that he did not heed the i passing carriage. After a few moments ! Isobel glanced at her companion. She was startled. Felicity looked a woman insitiinct with life and love. She broke into a strang-o laugh. "You are not an adept at keeping a secret, Felicity!" "I don't think that I have a secret 1 to keep," answered the young girl, i with, spirit. ; Isobeil looked distinctly amused. | "That kind of thing is generally : looked upon as a secret until it is given to tho public." "What kind of tiling?" Sho wanted to bring Isohel to hook. Isohel did not mind. • "I mean when » woman cares for a man." "When the feeling is mutual surely there in no reaso'n for concealment, is there?" Isobel caught her breath sharply. "How do you know it is mutual?" she asked, leaning forward a little. "Surely you-, who'has a 'lover for-, every day in the week, do not weed mo to tell you when a man loves a woman?" Felicity.asked lightly. "Men are so different. Does this man, Mark Leighton, tell you that he loves you?" ... There was a tinge of disdain in her voice. Felicity did not understand it. "You do not caro for him, I know; but in every single thing he does for me I can see his love. He is like father—he thinks -for me, and shields me from every possible harm. It is only great love that can do that!" (To b© continued.;