The Romance of a Business Girl.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10714, 18 October 1912, Page 2

The Romance of a Business Girl.

OH A PTEIt IV

OOP SERIAL.)

BY F, L. DACRE

iKiJKI.LiOUS WOMAN

Serena Finning had a very comforUfcbV hosue at Ihilwieh. Her "itv.ii nn old seaman. Me had a small competency, owned the property ard j> ret ty double fronted iouso iii which ho lived, and occasionally wrote a" adventure story i'. r ■ioys. I! is name was John Vanco — with the weil-loveel prefix of captain. Mis wife wa> an invalid, and Sore'..a was the only lodger. The \ anees did not really need the help c-f a lodger to make Ooth ends meet comfortably, but the house wa« rather, too hif.r for two old people, and sometimes seemed to be lonely and full of eerie noises—at least, Mrs Vance did always think so. But sick people ; have odd fancies, and, for the sake of I companionship, the captain decided to have one lodger—seme nice young j lady. fJe was friendly with the Gild- j ers, who lived a few do:>rs off, and it 1 was Gilders sprightly daughter who J introduced a chum from the Corner ] Shop. That chum was Serena Fleming. And Serena captivated the hearts of both the seaman and his wifo forthwith. A nicely furnished bedroom a"d a cozy sitting room, .both in the front of tho house, were assigned t'» her on very moderate terms. This addition to the income enabled the Varices to keep a capable womart servant, and the .scheme worked well for everybody concerned. So that is how we find Serena situated. 'The hum of Jim Carling's taxicab had . scarcely died away when there was another knock at the front door, and tho instant it was. opened by the old nian the figure of a woman slid into the hall. "Ts that yon. Miss Phil?" said he genially. j 'Shut- the door, Captain Vance. ! Thank you. I've como to have n talk with Miss Fleming. My goodness j I'm almost .breathless! Serena's in her sitting room, I know, because 1 ' got a glimpse of her through the, slats of the blind." Then she lowered her vpice. and bending nearer to Vance, for she wwis a tall woman, whispered: . "Who was that man—the one who just loft in a taxi-cab? Somebody in want of a ladv assistant ?" . "Must be," he said nodding. t "I hope so," said Miss Phil, with a long, indrawn sigh. "Now Tam going to-see Miss Fleming ; she won't be surprised,-because I wrotts to her! yesterday. If by chance anybody has followed me here—you know kliat to! say, captain. Utterly mistaken ; you j havent seen me for six months a" 1least. It was Miss Fleming who came | in, et cetera. Don't you think my j make up a masterpiece?" j iWith this she gave a saucv laugh, ! turned the knob os Serena's door, ' and left tho #ld man considering. 1 iWhen she stood revealed in the | bright glow diffused by the incandescent gaslight. Miss Phil's likeness to Serena was astounding. The same tall, well proportioned figure; the same dark hair; the same glittering white teeth when tho reel lips parted in a lailgh. But while Serena's eyes were deep and reflective. Miss Phil's features were severely classical; Serena's were tenderer.' fuller, airtl gracefully rounded. Very coolv Miss Phil turned the key in the lock, and faced her smiling and half-ibe-wildered friend. "►Shall I do, chummy?" she asked. "Oh, Phil, what a dreadful girl you are! Veu have quite spoiled your appearance." A nice compliment to yourself! I told you that I w/is making myself 1 as much liko you as my artistic abilities would permit, added by our natural resemblance, and now that people can hardly toll 'tother from which, you pass sighting remarks upon my good looks." "But your beautiful brown hair! What have you done with it? Shoe blacking?" "Serena laughed. Eyebrows ditto. Fjyebro\vs take some doing, too!' Well, T only wanted to make it safe to call and see you occasionally. If any one were on the watch, the spjv would think that I was you. Twig?" Phil tossed aside her hat and gloves, and dropped into an easychia/h;. Tn repcjso she looked older than .her years; there were shadows under her eyes, and her faco was lined and drawn. , '"l've been dying for a talk with you, Serena, ever since I got voitr letter, telling me. about Lewis, the Heroic stranger, and that little ninny, Arthur Hope. Do you know Tam ter- ! rifled in the presence of that sneak-

Author of "A Fleet of Dream*,-" "Silar Dqniimgton's Money," "The Shade w of ■Shame," "A Phantom" of the Past," iJ eld in Boi'dngo etc.

; ing puppy. No matter where I go, 1 to s:»e him. So he got you tho j vonnee in tlie end." . b 're,3;i nodded. j "Oh, shouldn't I like to get f.quar< |v. it-h him ! How is the luck running'/ i saw a taxicab standing at the door, i-nd the sight of it gave me such a shock that I nearly lied home agam. j I .v.'ij certain that Lewis had g»t , track cf n:e at first. Who was the nobleman? i just caught, a glance ol h. : ::\ and he seemed to bo ono of the right sort." j Serena flushed evei 1 so iit tie, under , | the gtu.o of her friend. "A sweetheart? Good heavens! | How close and deceitful some girls i ca!i bo!" "Kion't talk rubbish, Phil," was the sharp indignant rejoinder. "The gentleman called to see me- about a situation —clerical work.'' Phil stared. "What? Then the age of miracles is not yet passed. Who is he? What is his name?" "Carling," Serena evasively answered. "Take off your coat, Phil; you must stay andl have supper, and I want to know what you are doing." "Carling—Girling," murmured Phil, her bright brown eyes dancing over Serena's face. "I don't seem to know tlie name among the London magnates. Oh, a man of that name keeps a chandler's shop out at Fulharn. Surely that cannot be the same?" "Maybe," said Serene. "Traitress, you are deceiving me! Your nerves are wincing; you arv j burning with guilty resentment. Is the name of your fighting champion Carling, too?" "Phil, .>tui are incorrigible," Serena cried. Phil's manner had changed with magical swiftness, and the next moment her arms were round her friend. "You might have told me, elm in: I tell you everything. Don't you get into the muddle .1 did; don't be hlind--led by mere physical attractions, j There is nothing in it yet. of course, j but when a man hunts up a girl's address, and rushes About her ; n taxicabs, with stories about the remunerative vacancies in his office, he means something. I don't suppose Mr Oarling wants a lady secretary any more than Lewis Mayhew does. The flimsiest of subterfuges." Serena jumped up in a temper. "T won't listen to s"di talk from anybody, not even from you, Phil. Mr Carling feels that lie is the cause of my being out of employment, and wishes to make things good. T didn't 1 say so at once because T knew you would begin quizzing; T know what you are!" There was a strained silence. Serena was -pnlpitatng and fierce —the more so because she suspected that what Phil had said was almost true. (To bo Continued.)