The Marriage of Felicity

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10644, 27 May 1912, Page 2

The Marriage of Felicity

OUR SERIAL.

BY ALAN ADAIR. Author of "TieSarl'a iVife," "The Pride of John Middleham," "His Fther's Sen," "Bertra m'& Felly," eta.

CHAPTER Xin-Conthmod.

CHAPTKH- XIV,

"!" am not afraid," .she said. Sh-» .'■■.■:«• his fac.\ and 'her fcc-']iu.irs belied her words.

"It would-be the host .solubiozi of the difficulty," he said hoarsely.

» She seated herself on a ledge? jutting out from where they were sitting, and ( he .vat beside her, witb his arm round her waist. She took off her hat and laid iter , head on his .shoulder. "Isabel," .he raid brokenly, "do yon . 7)ipa.'! me to go on wii.h this'farce:-''' '"i .':u n!;::-.,; g< ; an !' .she said quietly. ") cjui't—it will kill! (no—and V oi: yorH]' It !-: kv!in<{ on yon, j,;,,. darling. You are thinner than von were.' ' "• • .. "Did,you think that mil the hard struggle would bo yours?' she'asked. '/' I did not think you would care so ■ much." ho .said. "You would jrot have, mo care lens?" "Xo—r.o. It is that which revives. my. courage!.- Isohe], set mo free from' ley premise. . Let me tef.l her 'to-night that it is you whom I love." "What_ will you gain nothing \,y that! Will you lie any nearer to marriage- with me?" "It would free me from the neceseiiy'of ma prying a. girl whom I do not love." ho said. "The fonder I grow of 'her—.and ,1. do grow fender of her every time I see her —the more I realise the wrong I am doing her." "Do you find it possible to he fond of her, then ?" "Yes.' he said candidly. "Don't von bjobe-1?" ' . Shi' shook her head. "I never really eared for hoy., you know. I never care mud), for anyone. T made use of her abroad, and I am making use of her now. I wa-s .always a little jealous of her —she had what 1 wanted ; now it seems that my jealousy w.il! increase." "Let me give her up, then!" "And kill her?" "And kill her," he amnvered firmly. "If she will die of it. At the best- it will only he ia, few months earlier." "But those few months would rob us of all we have -schemed for," .replied Isobel. ' "Let us give up all else except each other," he said. "I don't want her money." "But T do," exclaimed Isobel.. "I 'cannot marry you without it." " I wish,' said, the young iman, covering his face with his hands, "that we were both dead, Isobel." "No, no," she said shuddering. "We must not die. Death is not for us! She will die, and then there is no barrier: to our marriage." He looked intently at her. "Isobel," he said, "supposing she does not die?" "What do you mean? What can you mean? Dr. Mac-harness gives her six months at most." "She, does, not look to me like a dying girl," he said. "Heaven forgive mo for speaking like this - ! Isobel, we are in a-network of evil. What of ] you, and- tne-if she-does-itrtt- die!in, six months' time?" "She must die! She shall die!" said Isobel firmly. For the second time she saw a look \ almost of repulsion como into his face. | "Owen Mackarness told me that she r would die, and she Avill. If she, does | seem ib-e-tter now it is because -she is thinking that you love her." "What of that?" "When she finds out that you do not j love her '.her end is certain,' -said Iso- i bel. He drew away from her. j "Listen to me, Isobel," he said. "As long as Felicity is my wife I shall cherish her as long .as she lives. rr She looked at him curiously. "How strange!" she exclaimed. "I could not dio that. I Ithink I should grow fro (hate her. In fact, I am not sure that I do not hate her a little even.!" "And lam fond of her! It is for you to say whether I marry her or not." ■: For a moment she hesitated.

'.'This ii« -all. noinfiense■!'■'. site-said. "Nothing has changed, except that she'looks younger and a little strong-,-er. .1 still believe in the specialist's verdict. The '•■ thing must go on." "Very well,if that is your resolve" —he roso/from the ledge wry wliite and haggard. "Let it go on. Nothing shall ihurt her when she is my wife. No unkind word ■shall fall on her ears. Is your mind made up, Tsohel?" ''Uiiques.tiona.bJy it is. I 'have no fear —she will die." Seizing a branch of m bush that was fortunately witihin reach he swung up onto the cliff above, and then, securing a firm footing, ho raised Isobel to his side. They walked 'together, repressed passion setting its seail upon the two handsome, strong faces. Just as they were reaching the ihouse Mark stopped still.

"Isabel,' he said, "if I must go mi with this iniquitous mar,riagc,you must keep awav from me." "Very well,' she said, unexpectedly humble! "Very well—you shall no!. see mo dear, until everything is over. T am always lucky, .and when I want a thing badly, I nearly always get it. "Without another word they parted. Turning for a last glimpse of the woman he loved, Mark saw her standing Still, a short distance from where he had left her. The setting sun had caught her hair, lighting it vrM\ a crimson glory . The erect, supple, figure stood as -though defying the world.

Felicity "Icf*t Xcwquay wonderfully strengthened by her lS tay there a-.d her happiness. She paid a dying visit to London to see the house in'Orosvenor Square, which was to be her wedding present to Mark. She mot him there by appointment, and they discussed the details in a prosaic fashion. But under Felicity's businesslike exterior there was a rich stratum of romance, and she thought -something of the same was to be found in Mark. For instance, when he came to the room which was to be her boudoir, he remarked: "it is hero that you imis& lot me).'ring-all iny trouble, Felicity," art! sire answered from the depths of her heart, "Where else could you bring eh cm?"

Yet Felicity did.not fee:! altogether happy'about'Mark. He seemed' older and sadder. He'expressed himself as charmed with the whole -house, ~ut -there was something lacking, and Felicity spoke about it to him on their, wfl.y to the station en route for ¥.(:- tringbam. She was to stay there till after the wedding. "Mark," she said, "are you sure there is nothing troubling you, nothing you are keeping back from me?' He S't'arted and hesitated. "There is—f know tliere is. '■'

i . He looked fixedly toward the house;they weiro passing. "I. have my troubles, of course," Insaid, and ;!i:is manner spemod to forbid questioning.. "But," she said, and her voice trembled a little, "when we .;.re husbanj and wife, Mark, you will not put m>? off Hko this? You have promised to '■bring your troubles.to me!'' "After all, why should I burden y u\ with theim?" he asked. "Because it would grieve- -mo greatly if I did rrat share your sorrows." There was something so pleading in her voice that he could not .resist ri. "I will tell you everything that you J should hear,' 'ho said. "That is all I want." She put her hand in his and pressed it. They had half an hour'to spare when they reached thestation, and Ire bad" the coachman drive them, 'alxmt ior twenty minutes. It had suddenly come to him that Hie should not see- / her lagiu'n till the eve of the wedding, j "Felicity," he said, "are you quite content r' 1 She did not answer at once, then shn! spoke in a low, hurried voice: "You know I am not strong; sometimes I feel as if I ■will licit live very long." A wave of contrition, passed over him. For a moment :he, who could speak brilliantly on most occasions, was -tongue- ! tied, shamefaced, .before this girl. I She misunderstood his silence. ' "It is'only now and theu that I think .of it, and when I do, I always say to myself, 'What does it matter', now that I have lived to have his love?' "' v Again ihe felt 'he could not speak. She put lier .hand-out laaid pressed' lij&it* She thouglit she was paining him too mw'h. "YO.l don't mind my speaking like this, do you, dear?" she 'asked. > "1 —I am sorry, dear,' 'ihe said. He intended to say that he Mi'shed she would, live for bis sake, hut his tongue, refused to utter the words. And yet he did not wish iheir to die. The trouble in his eyes pleased and touched (her. "I don't feel any worse, dear." she isaid. "I feel much—much bettor than I did before I went to> Newquay. Only he —my father, would never believe in my mother's delicacy, and until' she was on her deathbed',, when they bad been married five years, he had believed that she would recover." "Five years! Tsobel would never wait five years for him ! Again he did not .answer, and she looked into has strong face- wistfully... She was little afraid of him at times. Fortunately the carriage had reached the station again, and ihe sprang out and assisted her to alight with ,a ten-, derncss that was more consoling 'than' words. He put her into «, compartment with Mrs Hcw'ett, looking radiant, and her maid. "I will take every care of hor, th'> elder lady remarked to Mark. "and. by the- way, Felicity, Isohel" does, not think she "will be able to come to FJttringham after all for the wedding. The Letters have made such a pointof her going to them, and Sir Edwin > Grant is to he there to meet her." (To Ite eoDttnatw., 0