The Marriage of felicity

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10646, 30 May 1912, Page 2

The Marriage of felicity

OUR 3ERIA!..

BY ALAN ADAIB. | Author of "The Earl's frife," "The Pride of John Middlebam," "His | Ftbsr's Son," "Bertra na'e Folly," etJ. *

CHAPTER XVl—Continued. "But I am going to look after you myself." "Dr. MackarnessMold me that T would have to he happy. I know that ho is right. Because I am happy I cling to life with all my might. 1 have I>een so much bettor with you, dear. You always take such care of me!"

"And mean to always I" said Mark Leighton. I A wonderful thing had happened to ■him —si thing that would have been ;an impossibility of imagination to him. In thoso four weeks of their Italian honeymoon he had fallen in love so entirely with his wife that Isobel's image had ibeen effaced. If she stood before him now he could still admit that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, he would still admire ; but no longer love. As Felicity's husband he had noted her courage, her trust, h©r high-mind-edness; and his love for her grew apace. Little hy little she ousted her formidable rival, little hy little he came to understand that here was a woman who would make life worth living. She was one who would convert his house into a home. The only-'draw-back to her happiness was her extreino delicacy, and the fear that she would one day meet Isobel. Yes, she was still delicate, but he believed that Dr. •Mackarness had only made a mistake. She was suffering from the shock of her father's death when she went to see him. Now she was able to walk two or three hours with him at a time —if she walk?d slowly. At the same time he knew that any extra exertion left her dangerously weak. There was always the hope that she would grow stronger. Felicity had .become so dear, to him that .the thoughlt flf iQi'iug her haunted him by day and might-!' ';.'■:■ : ■ " ' ""';':'

1,... IJw meeting Tswas ever present with him'. Isobel bad told him .'without mincing 'her words that the one tiling she could never forgive would be' bis love for . Felicity. She had threatened him, j and he knew that -she was not to be restrained by any womanly feeling. 'When Isobel realised that she had no longer any hold on Mark, then Felicity would be made to suffer. It would bo on her that the blow would fall.

; At the same time he was fair-minded enough to admit that Isobel would suffer from the new order of tilings. He had gained >a wife whom he loved, and who was very wealthy. Felicity had gained the man she loved, Isobel. who bad conceived the .scheme for her own benefit, had lost everything. •Mark, sitting in the little boat on the lake that sunny afternoon, realised that the end of a pleasant month was at hand. Ho had been so happy--' the lines of care had been smoothed from his ibrow —he looked young and handsome again, rejoicing in his health and strength. It was as though ihe man who had loved Isobel so passionately were dead —the man who loved Felicity had risen in his stead. "I see £Q,u mean to be tyrant," Felicity said.' "But, Mark, lam looking forward so tremendously to our home in Grosvenor Square." He pressed her hand gently. /'Notwithstanding all you can s-iy.. Ido not want to go home at all. I have been so happy here!" "What a baby you are!" she said, smiling. . i "Why? Because I love being here 'alone with you?" 'he asked. "Because I I don't want to work in my gloomy--1 chambers and sit in a badly-ventilated I House of Commons, helping to make I laws that no one wants? If you were a really loving wife you would say I 'Let us stay here for an indefinite period, and never mind our duty.' Hut vou insist on driving me out of Eden." "I have always believed that Eve went out of Eden with Adam" she said. "It would not have been -Felon for either of them if they had been separated." . . • • 'Of courßO.it would not. It i~ quite like you to think of such a thing." He paddled about for a little, while longer. The sun blazed fiercely upon them. It became too intense. Mark, looking about, saw a jutting promontory that promised shade. "Let us row over there and have lunch, and be gloriously happy/'' he [said. ■ . , ' | Tlicy lunched in simple: fashion, and then Felicity went and sat by Mark v/.iito ho smoked and dozed. The girl watched him happily for a Ion" time. She' felt drowsy, and' f-'lt that a storm was gathering around them. It was not before she heard a low growl of thunder, however, that she stooped-over him and -aroused him with a kiss. He sat up instantly. "Have I slept long?' 'he asked "I don't know," she replied. "I was quite happy watching you. Only when I heard the thunder I thought it would be advisable to got home." He looked about him anxiously. he exclaimed. "Whai shall T do with you? You must not get wet!" . ~ " lam afraid I shall. No, tnere is not even a cottage where we could shelter." The iake was swept by a rough gale of wind, and Mark noticed that the wiater became rougher, too. "T shall have to row quickly across the lake, and I am afraid 5011 will Z".i soaked." He took off his coat and wrapped It round Felicity. At that moment th ' v was 1a tremendous crash of thunder . "It is upon us. Arc you afraid, Felicity?"

-. "No, not with you," she answered. "We may not get home!" ! "Wo will ho together. Can I do anything to help you?" "You can sit still and keep as dry as possible. That will help me more than anything else." She took the tiller lines and held them firmly. "It is alright as long as wo are together," she said again. "If we ur-j capsized " "If we are capsized in the middle of the lake," he said, "it would he short work." Mark bent to the sculls and sent the boat out into the lake. The wind blew strongly, and sent a deluge of water into his face. The lightning played round them, and the hills seemed to shake with the thunder. It grew dark .as night, and ever and anon Mark could see the small white face with the steadfast eyes looking at .him, and giving him increased coinage and energy. If she had spoken ho could not have heard. .Now aaci again ho felt as if the strain was too great, as if 'he must give way, but a look from her heartened him to freak effort. '■ He made slow progress.' The wind and waves were against the boat, and although the heavens were not quite so lurid, the irain came down more heavily than ever. Felicity tried to keep her teeth from chattering. The rain soaked through all her clothes. In a little while Mark's strength was almost spent, and Felicity waved her hand. He looked np eagerly and saw that a large boat was approaching. Evidently the hotel people were getting anxious about them. ] The relief was enormous. With a deep sigh Mark ceased rowing. A moment later a gust of wind struck z\\q little craft with great force. Almout immediately he and Felicity were ' tlvj wat&tv , He-SttUcle out wildly. Where was 'lMicy'ty'P' If she we're drowned and inobel were to tell iher -tote, how could he persuade people that ■he hud not taken her out purposely to her death. It was an agonising thought. Where in this -pitchy darkness, this wild waste of water, was Felicity? Felicity, the woman he had learned to love so well. . He called her name aloud before the waters ovrwhelmed him. When he came to he found himself covered up with a tarpaulin in the bottom of the big boat with a couple of men standing over him. "He is all right—he has come to! ' said one to the other. And then lie suddenly sat holt upright, anxiety overcoming physical weakness. "Where is my wife?' ho asked, and they pointed-to an .inanimate heap that lav close beside him. "Great heavens!' he exclaimed. That small, white lace, those closed eyes with the long lashes were those of Felicity—and Felicitv was dead! In all las lifo he had never suffered as he did then. "Is she—dead?" he asked. "We do not know. We are trying to restore life, hut the doctor will tell us. She was not in the water two minutes . We got her almost as soon, as we got you." , "This will kill her!'.' Mark said. He took her feebly in his arms and tried, to restore animation. The men whowere rowing redoubled their efforts and then made way for the haggard, dripping man to carry his wife to the landing stage and into a cottage to which they had summoned a doctor m case of need. "You must leave her to me, tuu: doctor said. "Get her some dry wd warm clothes. Run up to the hotel. You must be strong when she revives. "When sho revives—is there the least chance, then?" "I hope so. It is possible. I When he was in the room at the hotel he knelt for a, few seconds and proved that Felicity might bo spared to him; then, much calmer, he made his way back to the cottage, ■ I He had to lacs Felicity's-maid before that. The woman.had been her maid for several years, and had a,- ' wavs nursed her when she was ill., and ! waited upon her devotedly when she •was well. "She'came' of a s*V*™r 'class, and was genuinely attached to 'her young mistress. There had been 'many opportunities to chat to Isobel's tmaki, ami from her. she had learned I that Mark continued to seo and write to Isabel even after he was «igas«t to Felicity. The conclusion that Mark Qiad married Felicity for her money was rapid, though she knew nothing of the compact Isabel and Mark had ! made. ! (To be oontinuooi.v