The Marriage of Felicity

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10643, 25 May 1912, Page 2

The Marriage of Felicity

Oim SERIAL.

BY ALAN ADAIR. AatLor of "The Sari's frife " "Tic Pride of John Middleftam,"' "His Fthor's Sop," "Bertra a's FeUy/'' etaT

CHAPTER XHI. Felicity iwas sitting on the cliff at Ne,wquay. She had a letter in her hand. Beneath her the OornMi sea was flashing its jewels in the sunlight, while overhead one or two gulls were breasting the "blue of the sky. The letter had awakened in her the feeling tlhait something was wanting. It was her firsit love letter—her very first....! She. had been in ; Cornwall six days before it oaime. SJhe- had waited for it, .yearned fox it, dreamed for it." When she held it in her hand she felt that she could, not read it in. the house. She wanted the freedom of the illimitaibEe sky and far-reaching ocean; She was stronger now, and was able to "carry her cainpstool and-ckmb tho cliffs.

Isobel had met some fashionable acquaintances at Newquay ,and had not favoured either her mother or Felicity 'with much of her company during their stay.' .She was uniformly "pleasant; if inclined to. tease Felicity, a, little -about her love affair. Sometimes Felicity thought her voice soUnded ironical, as if sire could not bring herself to believe, that, the engaged/tfirlrl was "capable or" ; v great ptosA?'.' 'But Felicity thought," and thottgsrt"rightly, that things were not well wjth,' Isobal. She seemed restless, troubled;: unlike 'herself.

Mrs Hewett, too, was not quite herself. She did not leave her room be-; fore twelve o'clock in the day ,'as a rule, and Felicity was left much to her own devices.

But solitude was no hardship—the thought of Mark was jquite enough to keep her tihougjhts well employed. She loved to watch the restless sea, find the book that she carried, always.remained unread. Tb-day she bad taken I out her letter.,, often written'to'her before engagement on■^tteWv,l letters had had sMieimhg6f kindness : and're-'' i-gard, -This letteJ> be different from any of tilie others. She rfeaH'it and felt disappointed;, she coulid not' tell why. .)Fhe letter was thoughtful and asked minutely about herself. He told her of the arrangements he had completed for the wedding, also for tlheir subsequent toiir; but there was something wanting. It seemed to be too full; of detail and '.'irranigement. She wouid hare preferred a letter that' preached love v , nothing but love .

For some little time she sat still and gazed at the sea, feeling very lonely and thinking of her father. She <then began to reproiadh herself. Of course Mark's letter was just like the dithers Trail been, because he bad loved iher even when he wrote on business matters. i9ome_men experienced a' difficulty in putting tlheir thoughts on paper. She rather respected him for, bis reticence.

"I -will write to him,"'she said, and her lips trembled a h'ttle. "I don't think he understands my natureHe thinks I am a girl whom he does not like to tell what I am to'him. I* will let him know ,«nd then he will write differently." Her letter brought .back a. -charming response; he ended by telling. her that correspondeii.ce was a poor medium which to convey his thoughts and' that ho would come down and sen (her. v..

He named no day, ibut Felicity thoughit tlhiat every day might bring i him. The weather was glorious, and she lived out in the open air, and the J fresh sea air brought a colour to her j cheeks. With the hope ever present J of seeing Mark soon she improved rap-J idjy. >\

He sent her a wire at the moment" of his starting, and this kept her at hjome. Isobei had gone* out before the telegram had come, and would be AAvay all day. Mrs Hewett was pleased to think that Mark was coming. The good lady was not meant for quiet pleasures. She missed the fashionable crowds of. other seaport. places, the social intercourse of a first-class hotel. Life here was dreary to her, and the evenings seemed interminable to her withoutt her usual bridge.

Mark arrived before he'was expected, and Felicity ran to him with a giad little cry. For a moment he could scarcely believe his eyes. There was a colour in her cheeks and a light in ner eyes that had not beeni there 'before.. He could nvt help noticing her refined beauty as she rose from the low chair in whiuh she had been seat id and came towards him, holding out her hands. "You 'hiavo come?" she murmured dbyly. "Yes, I am hero." He kissed Iter hands, then took her in his arms and kissed the lips that she raised to his. "Oh, how glad I am that you are here!" she exclaimed. "You aire not well; you aro pale." "No, I am a bit off colour," he replied. "And here am I in rude health," she said, "and you not well! My darling, this-must not be! What is the matter with you?" "I have been worried a little lately, and to tell you the truth I don't sleep well," ho said. "Worried? Because of me?" "Yes —because of you—and many things." ' "But I am so much better," she expostulated gently. "You should rot have worried about me. It will be ■ailright now that you are here! Come to the window —we can talk better there.' ' He followed her, filled with fresh shame at his deceit. An, impulse came

o him to tell her the trxttSt t .to tell her that it was all a mistake, 'th*t H he loved. Then he remembered tOnat the difference in her was due simply to the new life his assumed love had her; it. would be s deathblow if he told her the truth .mi* 1S terrible '" h j« «ai«l to himself, \\ by was I so weak as to yield ? V?hi did I allow-*.woman to lead me from tihe path of honour. In two years I should have achieved something. Now energy and iambition have gone, and I dial! drift into a nonentity.' * • They walked to th© Window and look ed'out on tihe sea. The afternoon was ,'su'nijy, and there, was a fresh, soft breeze.

'lr> it not fine?" she asked smilingly. She spoke with a new animation. "I always think a day like this makes brio feel strong and brave. It seems to me that I could do miything with this sea and you alongside of me." "It makes me realise'how weak we mortals are,' (he said, looking affectionately at her. ■

She laughed happily. "You weak?" she cried.' "If you are weak,' then who isstrong?" "Felicity," lie said gravely, "there are times when I am know nothing at all about me."

"Dear," she said humbly, "there is nothing great or clever in me. How then oan I hope to understand you?" "I am a very ordinary being," he begun, but sbe laid 'her hand ;<m his mouth. "Tftiat is treason,' she protested. '"Nobody dares to belittle Mark Leighton in my presence. ' ■' "You are a loyal girl, Felicity I" he 6aid. She came a little closer to him.

■ "Did you like my letter, Mark?' I she asked.

"It was<a dear little letter —a mode] letter. It showed me, all that, mine lacked. That is-..why*l camV to see; you. I came:',to express what I could. m>t convey -ito'lis letter," "'..:^.^v:^mj ~'k ■ ohe-of- the oVihedr feelings.: She dreamed of his. speaking : "was at her sid6i ; and was happiness.

After lunch they rambled about by the.sea all the golden afternoon. Felicity, although she would not admit that she was tired, made no demur when he suggested that.she should rest for, a couple of hours before <■ "I shall, go bacK..to my hotel," nfe

He did hot return to the hotel. H.t had found out from Felicity where Isobel had gone and what'time she was expected, and by what route. K i stationed himself at a point of the road that he knew she must pass. He had not long to wait. A carriage containing four people came in sight."' held up his hand'and the car^ : riage drew up.

While the coach was some distance off Isobel had seen him . She was even quite composed, and her colour did not change. He raised his hat to the other occupants.,of the carriage and turned to Isobsl. -

"M)a< Hewett," he said, "1 have a message for you. Will you walk homo with me?" .-.-' • "Certainly, Mr Leigliton, if Lady Wells will excuse me. This is Mr Leighton, Lady Wells —the member for Ettringahm, and Miss Skelton's fiancee.'' i "Indeed!' said Lady Wells. "'Lot me sec, the, wedding is to be very t soon. U it not? You are to be ooni gratr:luted Mr.Leighton. She ; seems I'a vv-ry chHimnig girl, butt rather, d.eljicato." "Thank yoii,'-- 'said Mark.

..Tho carriage drove off, leaving ?■'- bol and Mark together. He turcod to 'h»*'. r! speaking a'most roughly. : "Is there a where we can sit and taikr"

"There art several places where we| can sit and talk," she said suavely. "If we select a little ledge over the cliff we will lie screenecMrom the, public view.'.' ! Perhaps it was the fact „that she had .mentioned that .they .would; be sere." f 1 from public view that drove the fiown from Mark's face. He even looked less angry when he followed her to the edge oi the cliff, from which i Ik'v could dr'rp to a ledge. Mark let himself down lightly, and then stood ready, to help Isobel. . ; .He, held out his arms to her, and as;silie. sprang., down he caught her and ■ pressed her close. |' "Are you not afraid that I shall jump with you over the cliff?" ho asked her before releasing her. (lo be continneu.i