The Marriage of Felicity

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10650, 5 June 1912, Page 2

The Marriage of Felicity

OUR SERIAL.

BYALANADAIB. Author of "The Earl's frife," "The Pride of Join Middlenaoa," "His Fiber's Son," "Bertra m's Follj," etc

CHAPTER XIX— Continued. j They soon reached Grosvcnor quaro ! ■and with groat happiness Murk turned to his wife. "'Darling,' 'ho said, "this is home. \ And I hopo I may he found worthy to ' share it with you for many years to come." i "Oh, Mark!" she cried. The id„« of doubting his worthiness distressed her. It was November and with great fires and flower-decorated rooms the place looked particularly attractive. "It is charming," Felicity exclaimed "It looks really like home. Mark, am I,really to have you all to myself this evening?" "Yes. I need not go hack to the House. Felicity, what would you say if they asked mo to go back to i Africa?" She turned pale. "You don't mean it, Mark." "Well, I believe they have some notion of asking me to go. Would you let me go?" ' She looked at him proudly. "Of course I should let you go!" she said. "Have I not declared that I'd never be a drag on you ? I could not accompany you, could I?" Ho sihook his head. "No, I should 'have to travel too quickly; it would only knock you up. But dismiss the subject from your mind. We will not think of anything unpleasant." Felicity long remembered that first evening in their new home. It seemed to her that Mark was never more loving, never looking more charming. And when she looked round and said: "It is good to be rich," he answered quickly, "I wish you never had a penny piece, Felicity." "Why?" she" asked. He hesitated, and she went on : " Ishould have been quite as happy with you if you had been poor, but wihat gives me my only satisfaction is the thought that I have been* a.ble to . surround you with all these beautiful things." ■'.•',-. "I should have been quite happy hi ' a small house with the woman I love." "My dear," she responded tenderly , "I should have been quite happy witl l you in 1a garret. By the way, hav» you seen Isobel Hewett since you go: back?" ■■ " . "Yes," he replied. There was ; tone in his voice that did not escapi her quick ear. "I saw her once." "Was she not pleased to see you?' "Yes, very; but "He frowned How was at possible to warn Felicit; of the blow that Isobel was about v strike her? ,„„•_,__,'_„ „ w „

"But what?" asked Felicity. "Was she at all cool? Ido not think that Isobel cares much for young married men. Was she looking as beautiful as ever?" "Quite as beautiful," Mark replied curtly. . IWTI "What is it?' asked Felicity. '"l'm sure something has vexed you, and it has reference to Isobel. Tell me what it is, Mark?" "It is nothing that I can tell you. But youhadbetternot encourage any intimacy with Isobel!" " I do not think >I am likely to see much of her. All the.time.l was livling with her mother, I saw very httle of Isobel. Sometimes I thought that ' she did not care very much for me, or for anyone as most people care. ) Mark turned his face toward tne There was a long silence broken by the sound of falling cinders only. Then Felicity spoke again. "She was very kind to me once, she said, " and a,s I told you, I had a girlish admiration for hei< But thise admirations do not last when a woman gives her love to a man." That evening to themselves was not often repeated. Mark's wife bad mai<y callers,, and. people liked her. She was so natural, so charming, and so much in love with her handsome husband. Indeed their devotion to each other,was the subject,of conversation i.-i.'. 4.i,„;,, (noJi' liiermaint-

aiices. Mrs Hewett's called with one of Isobel's.cards, explaining that Isobel had not been feeling very well lately, and was going away on a visit to Warwickshire. Mrs Palfreman came —she made few social mistakes, aim soon decided that the house in Grosvenor Square would be worth visiting. Isobel was quiet so long that Markasked himself if he had not misjudged her, and whether she was actually as cruel as Hie had thouht her. At length their tranquil happiness was marred by the thought of separation. The leaders of Mark's party made a strong .request to him that he should go to South Africa for at least three months to gain some valuable information. He was disposed at.first to decline the flattering proposal, but at tlhe same time thought that he ought to give his wife a chance of expressing her opinion. "I feel certain that she will insist on my compliance," he decided, "although .'it will distress her very much. With her, love is subordinate to duty.' They were to dine with friends and go to the theatre afterwards, and Felicity looked so happy and animated that 'he M V J not the heart to break the news to her. Now and again she stole a look at him, as if she were not quite sure that he was at peace, an-1 then be would respond with a reassuring smile. On their return from the theatre she put her thoughts into words. v "Mark,is there anything wrong xon have looked so grave all the evening. "Yes. there is some disagreeable news. I am asked to go to South Af-

Rica again. "When ore you to go?" "In three weeks' time,"' ho answered. "I should bo away from you for four months, darling. If you don't want me to go, say the word." "You must go," she answered quickly. • "I knew," he said, "that you would say that. Felicity, I don't want to leave you." "Do you thinklwant to send you?" she asked. ''l shall be miserable every moment you are away from me; but still, I know you ought to go, and I will not keep you .back." ! "It seems hard that I cannot bo 1 allowed to have my 'home life in a little ! jpeace," he said . I She laughed, and lie realised, as ho . had done before, her courage and determination. "Why are you laughing?" he asked. "To keep me from crying. When you depart don't take an impression of me bathed in tears. We shall have the spring and summer before us when you come back." And so it was settled, Felicity hiding many tears, but preserving a calm countenance to her husband. The day of departure was near at hand, and Mark was a, little shocked to see how ill his wife looked . He was tender and dictatorial by turns, and ordered her to consult her medical man. 1 She smiled cheerfully. ' j "I shall be quite well by the time, you get back." " I wish I had never been persuaded to accept this * said impatiently. "Felicity, get some change of scenes—get well." He had heard from one or two persons of Isobel's engagement to Sir Edwin Grant. The announcement was supposed to be rather premature. He cudgelled his brains to find someone to look after Felicity during Ins', 'absence. Whom could he choose?, iMrs Hewett? But Mark had many 1 reasons for not wishing to bring Feli ioity and Isobel together. _'_ 1 Isobel, with anew love aftair on. • ' her hands, would probably try to for- ' 'get.that she had ever cared for any , i other man, She.might .be inclined to l ; hold her peace, yet somehow he did > i not believe that she would. ' There was reason enough and to spare for not wishing to bring Felicity i in contact with the Hewetts. If *el- > ' icity promised from time to time to Itrive accurate accounts of herself he ' must be content to leave her to her • j own control. . . r I Felicity had gained permission to > .travel to Southampton with him, and, I stilling her misery, she went througn

all the .agony ot parang, ey«u 1 stand and watch him on the liner, as it steamed away from her. I Mark was as much moved as i<euc'ity. Somehow the girl had loosened I in him a wealth of tenderness of winch lie 'had not thought himself capable; I the sight of that slight, upright frams I of the eyes turned persistently toward I the departing ship, touched him keenly. In imagination he put himsolt iin her place. , ■ "■ "She Will miss me terribly,, he 'said to himself— "making and receivI ing calls, and going out to dinners b 5 herself. And she does not .really- care for any of these'things; it would have been better perhaps if she fid|sperrt jthe time at Ettringham." He, turneo ) with .a .sigh to the mass of work thai he had allowed to accumulate, i Felicity went back to her hotel feel 'ing quite forlorn. It was almost * ! comfort to find herself m unfamilia. i surroundings. She dreaded Grosve|> 'Square without Mark, but .she he ! promised him that fe.would *A care of herself ,a,nd having drunk- . cup of tea, she drove to the station Xe she waited for the *"s ■"lfimav be four months, she paid to herself—"four months before l.soe mv darling's face agam. : ■ She did not worry much over possible accidents .that might happen, tb Mark., Her grief was the actual pan of separation, : tojier,^

it had occurred jto mauv ■,»«.< - ~--, be easiw to wait 1 for him anywhere ex«r£ Grosvenor- Square, where she Wd feel his absence more acutely thin she would have tone elsewhere But before the tram had come m she had made,up her mind not only to >£<> lo the lonely house, but to make the best of everything. ..., _ ' "If he must do .his;, duty, 1 must ' not break my 'heart," she said to herself. (To toe cqntuiuea.j :i —: == .