The Romance of a Business Girl.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10719, 12 October 1912, Page 2

The Romance of a Business Girl.

'OUK SERIAL.)

CHAPTER J. (Continued.) t When the waiter had received his onion;, and molted away, Mayhe.v lay back in his seat, and sighed reflectively. The corner was partly shaded by a big palm. A hidden j string band was playing dreamy music. Jim Girling was gating about him with peculiar intromit. The fat-.- , eiuation of London obsessed him, heart arid- soul. Eight-and-twenty is an impressionable age for all men. of genius and imagination, and .Curling was something of a genius, of the practical kind. Ho -had invented machines for making nuts and bolts, and these machines had revolutionized the trade. Both with marvellous conceptions, turning out of much better articles at an immense saving of labor. There was a fortune for his firm in these mechanical devices. He had composed some really line music, and was a poet without tho poirer of adequate expression. There was ever a song in his soul. He heard it in the hum and clang of the machinery at the Birmingham works, and in the roar of the strrefa of London. "A good looking cliap," Mayhew thought, "and as strong as an ox. I can scent money about him, too." He sighed within himself. His own pockets were nearly empty. Then ho laughed slyly. .1 11 bet you a dozen cigars J can guess your thoughts, Garling," he said. "Don't go and make an ass of yourself over Miss Serena Fleming." •Tim reddened, to the eyes. "I was wondering if she is likely to be bothered by her employer through what I did," he confessed. "Serena? Rather a quaint name." 'Don't you worry. Old mutton- 1 faced Gibbs 'has a holy terror of me, and would think twice before incurring my displeasure. . . . oil his girls are highly respectable; it is an unwritten law that lie employs only tho daughters of broken down professional men, and they are well I'aid. The Corner Shop was originally for the use of lawyers only, but that was in. its palmy days. I've lioard my brother say that strangers were challenged, and had to be introduced by some reputable customer. The prices are prohibitive—sixpence for a cup of coffee and a penny sandwich! How came you to wander in?" "Tho aroma of the coffee, and I wanted to be quiet for a while." Mayhew nodded eomprehendingly. "Don't go again, old chap." There was a hard glint in his cold eyes. "These business girls know how to take care of themselves. They seem to have one fixed determination, and that is to secure the first eligible man who falls into their clutches. They don't care a continental who or what he may be so long as there is marriage and a well-furnished home in sight. I've been, stung pretty badly; I married one of 'em, and as soon as she discovered that I was not a millionaire, she left me; but I'll fix my lady yet. Here comes our waiter. What an unconscionable time the fellow has been." There was not much said during the lunch, but t'hey talked afterward over black coffee and cigars. Jim was sorry that Mayhew's young wife had left him. The thing seemed dreadful —inexplicable to him. Life was so beautiful; the people, the blue heavens, the budding trees. "T'm sorry for you," ho said, feelingly. "Yon will bo sorrier for her—some day." Tho handle of the coffee cup snapped in Mayhew's fingers. "I can be merciless when I discover treachery. Perhaps you will hardly credit it, Carling, but out in South Africa I 'have had a dozen men strung up before breakfast for a mere breach of faith." "Niggers?" "White men. This is an age of compromise. Some people call it diplomacy. I don't hold with it." "Oh, you are brutal! Yes, T think 1 am sorrier for your wife already than lam for you. It would be impossible for me to ..bate a woman; and as for hurting one " Mayhew laughed, and flung a side glance at his companion. "Wait until a woman hurts you, my boy. My wife is fifteen years younger than I. She is a fine woman good, truthful, but with the temper of the devil! She married my connections, in the belief that J was a wealthy man. I .have only a small income and she objected to London and furnished apartments. Sho objected to my friends, my club, and bewailed tho loss of ber so called independence—handing out coffee Ito :a crowd of richer men."." He sneered. 'But I was not without warning., Carling. Talk about yourself; I don t want our friendship to end here." Jim was modest enough. He was the son of John Carling, the midland ironmaster and engineer, and an equal partner in the firm. Three months of every year lie spent at the London office, and bis great ambition was to live near London. He was an old Rugby boy. No, lie was jnot a university man. His father i had believed in a business, rather

BY F. L. DACRE Author of "A Fleet of Dreams," "Silnr Dennington's Money," "The. Shado „v of tehame," ''"A Wuntomof the Past," Hold in Bimdige etc.

than an academic training, for 'iiw only sou. ; "Where do you hang out when in London r" asked Moyhev. 'The Cecil." "Lord, what luxury! Anything on to-night!- ' "Nothing in particular, i find "Measure in tho wide thorougniares, tu© splendid buildings, and the brilliance of it ali. 'I idiall bo back at BinniugiM.ni next month, amid the hum of the ir.ac.hiiicry again. Perhaps you would, like to spend a week or two at our place, Mavhew? We are old-fashioned folk, but know how to make our guests comfortable." "Delighted., I'm sure, Carling—after the London season. "iau are very kind. I'm going to Daly's tonigiit. A good play on there. Do you care for that sort of thing? You do? Then lot us make a night of it." His brow clouded for a moment. "1 am following all the theaters," hj» added, "in the belief that- mv wife I lias gone on the stage. .She has an uncommonly fine figure, and a good voice. She must be earning a generous salary somehow." CHAPTER H. JIM GARLING IN FETTERS. A week passed., and Jim Carling considered 'himself a lucky fellow in making a friend of Captain Lewis , Mavhew. Thrice had ho galloped in the Row, and been introduced jby Mayhew to some of the bluest blood in .England. Curling's fine figure, and suiperb (horsemanship won. for him a good deal of envious admiration from the men, while to the ladies he appeared to be some new and wonderful product. His rudd.r health and blunt speech commanded ouick } attention, and lie suffered r.ot in comparison with the pale-faced men of fashion, no matter how distinguished they might be. "What a man you are!" liiiioh'"' | Mayhew, as they cantered Jiomoivard jon the third day. "Conquests "rcrvj where .without an effort. The only j absolutely natural person I have met j with for a year or two." "It is all very new and 'interesting to me," he confessed, "and I rather believe this to be one of the most delightful weeks in my life. ,{ must buckle to mv work to-morrow." ) "Of course this afternoon's engagement hofds good? Tea at my cousins place—Lady Laura Mackinder. lam sure that you mil like her. She is young and unattached—one of the most brilliant women in societv. Might have married no end of topnotch or s, but she bas views of her own. This is a narticular anpoint- ; i ment for us, Carling, so don't fail me. Jo]l you what—call at mv flat on the way, and then I shall be suro of you." j And so it was arranged. Jim betook himself to the hotel in a reflective mood. .These glimpses into « new. world were not displeasing it somewhat disillusioning. He lrrl spoken to, and touched the hands of. exalted personages, whoso names distinctions .were constantly be'ing mentioned in the papers, and thev i. ore very human after all. A fmld mat-hall bad token to him affably bre f.J nni + Hifl ™'' Se in t,,e at some horseman for his And behold, it Wfls Arthur Hope, the grandson of the -ord chancellor/ Tim Whit hart viri.llv ,„ ra | W ! ? «"> Oorner .Sliop; m I • -Jim liarl loivf.t.jcn ( , I'kly to. .Hart it mt )J n •ssurr, 1""* man? ' * ,ras an «»nbitious >