The Marriage of Felicity

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10641, 23 May 1912, Page 2

The Marriage of Felicity

OUR BERIAfc.

BY ALAN ADAIR. v | Author of "The Earl's Wife," "The P"<k of Join Middlehaiß," "His | Fiber's Sen," "Bertra m 's Folly," eta.

CHAPTER XT—'Continued. "i like yours—Mark," she murmured shyly. " Hiked the sound of it from the first." "I don't think the name suits me," he said inanely. "Oh, yes, 'it does!' s'he .responded. "No other name would suit you as well as Mark.'' ' There was n pause, .and then s'he added: "I think my name suits me, don't you?" "Felicity—that means happiness. Have you had much happines?" he asked he;-. "I have always been 'happy," the girl answered. "I have had* father, and now I Jiavo you to take care of me." "11am afraid you rate me too highly." _ The laugh that she gave ended in a little cough that seemed to vex her. "How can I rate you too highly? I £ay that you an-© worth the whole of t.ho world to mo."

OHAFPER XII. i When Mark actually realised —which he did not for some two or three days after —that hew as engaged to be married to Felicity instead of to Isobel lie was deeply dejected. It had been no effort to speak gently and tenderly to the girl. He had always been fond of her, and now she /had more charm for him than ever . Bmfc it was Isobel whom he yearned for, and when, 'aftei 'having called twice to see Felicity, he daw no sign of the woman !he loved, he began to feel till at the task he harUimposed uponh'imself for IsobelV sale* was beyond endurance.

She said ifc as if she .were sure he knew! of 'her love for him. What he was about to say must be said shortly. "Do you thimk, /Felicity—is it possible that you could trust yourself to me?".

It wa.s the only way in which' he coudd.bring it out. He coxild noifc say to her that he loved her, seeing that s'he took Ms lovo for granted. "Trust myself to you?" s'he murmured in confusion. "Why, Ido trust myself to you!"

'Mrs Hewett had come in to sec him on.his first caill. She expressed herself delighted with the engagement—and expressed; the truth. She had been afraid of Mark all the time—afraid of his looks, his /personality, his cleverness ; and now that she knew he was to m'arry Felicity, and would leave Isobel to Sir •Edwiin Grant and others, . her graoiousness knew no bound!';. 1 "What a good tiling it was that her l poor father left instructions .that she should come into her property at once, wasn't it?' 'she said to Mark. Mark browned, "lhave written to the other trustee telling him of the engagement," ha said shortly.

"Surely that was scarcely needed; a.little bird told me that everyone expected to hear of the engagement in Eittt'iingham at the time of the ejection."

"Not in. the way I want. I want you to be my /wife, to let me .hold you and" take care,of you as my own till " He stopped. For a moment the very shadow of death fled before the sun- i light of 'her happiness. The girl who salt looking into his eyes wjifh flushed cheeks -and radiant eyes seemed to have nothing in common with death, and yet—and yet, it was her death up-. on which his proposal was based;

Mark's frown, grew deeper. Ho'w prone people were to couple men's and women's names together on the slight-

"Mark;'.""dhe said, with gladness in her voice—"Mark, you have come to me to-day for this! And yet lam not surprised. I knew it all the while. I knew what your oare and your tenderness must niean."

"Haw did you know,?' he asked. ' " Eiave never doubted it from the first, only—" she looked up at Mm with wistful eyes—"l was .afraid." , "Afraid of what?" asked Mark, drawing a litis nearer. Somehow her wisttfulness appealed to him more than her joy. " I want to tell you," she answered. "I was afralid my money would be a stumbling block."

est provocation. "Isobel and I'have been talking oyer things, Hewett continued, quite ignorant of tihe storm she was brewing in Mark's breast. "Felicity is so delicate. Perhaps it would be best to take her to Newquay for -a month, and then to have a very quiet marriage ■at tihe end of September or the .beginning of October. We saw ia house in [ Grosvenor Square that Felicity rather fancied. • If yon cared for I it we would stay for a few days in London on our return directing the ' decorations. I would do all I could to [save Felicity fatigue, but I think it lis essential that she should get a month's quiet by the sea. Sometimes she looks as if she would always want speeiail care." .Mark turned from her Abruptly, so ■abruptly that Mrs Hewett-afterwards j complained ;to Tisobel of his want of ' manners.

"Yes, and now I will bo frank, Fel. icity. If you had not been so rich I could not have married .you." "Then," she siaM, "my riches are useful."

He was silent, and she put her hand on his ami. "Mark,' 'she said tenderly, "are you sure you will not tire of me? I sometimes feel that I<aim weakand ill. Will you feel then that you are tied to a helpless log?" ' "I aim not a brute; you need not fear that, Felicity." "And," she .added. "yoU '-now I am not stupid, Mark. Father always said that I'have a very good head. He used to bring a good imany of his worries and talk tlbem over with me , and ask for my advice." " . v . "And I have not forgotten how you worked at the time of the election, how thoroughly you did what you undertook to do."

"I used to think he was rather charming," sho said. Isobel laughed. Although she entertained no objection to her mother becoming aware of tiier plan, she did not see .why-she should tell her ."She will find out in good time," she said to herself. Aloud she said, "You know I think him charming always, mother." "I know,' said her mother, looking at her narrowly. "And I have been afraid. But there —he has been prudent. With Felicity's money he will be one of the foremost men in England."

"Yes," said Isobel. "Do you want me to come to Newquay with you, mother?"

"Ah," she remarked, with a sigh, "thoso were happy days, Mark." Ho looked down at her. The flush had left her cheeks, and he noticed haw wan she had suddenly become. A feling of compunction came over him. He had not even offered lier a caress.

"I have you now,' she said. "If you had not come into my life I don't think I could have gone on living at (all. Oh, those were haippy days," she went on. "And, oh, I shall try'so hard to make you happy.' The full force of 'what he was about to do struck him. What wifehood would there he for her? What chance of mhking 'him happy ?" His conscience rebuked him, and his words were more tender "Dear,' he said, " Ith'ink you will best make, me "happy by being happy yourself." A charming smile broke over her face; for the moment she looked almost well.

"Jf yon have mo other engagement that would be more attractive," said her motihcv. "I' think IcJhall enjoy tlio quiet, and I want to be of help to Felicity." She really thought that tlie more phc avoided possible suitors for the next six months the better it would he for her. Successful men have a way of beinj; insistent, and Isoibei had no idea of spoiling any chances. That day Mark found Felicity looking uveak but very happy. He had bought a ring for her without experiencing any of the happy thoughts with which a young man in love purchases the sign of his betrothal. He had.lso.bel in his mind's eye all'the time he was buying the ring. He could nob readily find anything .to'isuit Felicity, and'dovoted a considerate time to his selection. ,-,'.. Finally he decided upon an odd-tar,,'! ioncd ling of blue enamel witli two hearts composed of diamonds. The design was a triile sentimental, but he looked at it from an ornamental point

"How delightful of you to say that!' she exekhned. She came a little nearer .to him and raised her face. He bent down and kissed llier almost reverently on. the foreihead. Then she suddenly placed 'her lips to his. For quite a long time she remained with .'her head resting on his shoulder, never moving. At length she opened her eyes and looked at him. "If I were to die to-night I-should have known what- the highest happiness is," she whispered. Ho had not the courage, to say another word ,iand having ,led her to tllie couch gently, be rose and left her. He miacle no attempt to get even a glimpse Orf Isobel. It was she who made him do this thing—this wicked thing. And, although he Avias mail enough to tako the consequence of the thing upon himself ,/tlhere was still the old Adam complaining to him that the woman 'had been given to him thas led'him astray.

# "It has l)oou lior doinji from beginning to end,' lie said to lii'niself wratfifully. ".But, by heaven, the child shall not suffer! She sihojl know happiness ibefore she dies."

of view. _ When he put the ring on her finger sho bent down and kissed it very reverently. She pledged 'herself to .be all in ail to the man wflio had brought so much hiappinesr. into her life. "Do you like it?' he askeid, noticing her evident joy. "Of course I like it!' 'she answered quickly. "I love it! I think it was made 'for me—for us!" And as she , she corrected .herself sho pointed to the two heart;.. (lo be continued. ;