The Romance of a Business Girl.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10717, 22 October 1912, Page 2

The Romance of a Business Girl.

QUP SERIAL.)

BY F, L. DACRE

CHAPTER V. (Continued.) "There is no need for you to work if v.a are married soon. I will call upon Mr Fleming, your lawyer uncle, and he can make all the. inquiries about mo that lit; cares to. J am a rich tna:i, and in centuries of years there has been no blot on the Carlings of Hirmingham." "But- your people—what ui'l they think ? 1 haven't a decent change of clothing. I must have time." "Two or three months will be ample'. My people!" He laughed. "So lons iis Jimmy is happy, dad, and mother, and r.lster will be Kfltidkd and happy, too." There was a joyous note in his voice. He gripped her hand still harder. She trembled, and her face was downcast. "You know that I haven't said one word that isn't true," he went on confidently. "We care for eaoh other — we know that our future is to be spent together, and we are both very glad. I will call at your uncles office tomorrow morning, and I am not afraid |of the result. As a matter of fact, | he does not appear to me to 'have any voice in the matter, either ono way or t'lie other. The end will same for us. Our courtship begins this very night, my sweetheart. You can't resist me, if you would," he finished smilingly. . "I don't think ! can," said Serena faint! v. | Immediately after he was gone she j wont up to I]or room, and sat for a long time at the window. The night was very still, and the heavens were ; filled with stars. In a slight way .she . felt that she had been entrapped, I but the sensation was delicious, fight it how she would. It seemed that j bad known Jim Carling since her r- j liest girlhood—in her dre-ams. And j their real courtship was beginning ■ now* He was coming again, | not to-morrow, but the next day. Tomorrow he was going to Lady Laura Maekinder's place. A little pang shot into her heart. Was it jealousy nr fear? All at once .she became aware that some one was standing on the opposite side of the way, and staring un at her window. She went nearer to the glass, and a strong feeling of anger passed over her. The spy was ('antin Lewis May hew.

CHAPTER VI. THE TAXTOAH IX THE STRAXI). There was mt an attom of conroit ij) Jim Curling's composition. Ho was a good-looking chap, and ho was clever. Of course, he kninv That, and there was an end to it. The knowledge never obtruded itself. Tie was one of those fellows. t,K. who' have the facility of male 1 i;f most women admire him witho.it the .-.lighUf-t intention on !mk part of trying to please. It was his v.»\v n:ittir>. A score or more of girl? of his minsiintaneo at home had. over him in

secret, but Jim never knew of their heartburnings. Now lif had armed 'it the knowledgo n't love was n w-.n----derful thing, .md lie reconod tlii± lif--was only ju.r>t bo;/,i , inuip: for liin—or rather, that Ins life !if-.d arrived at sonic sort of deliiiit) fruition.

The next morning lie was closeted with Serena's uncle before that gentleman had opened his business letters. Jim had been prowling about the waiting room a full half hour in advance of Mr George Fleming's arrival at the office, and the lawyer, scenting a new client, thought it policy not to keep him waiting a minute longer. A few formal words were exchanged, and Jim sized np his man, his conclusions being eminently favorable. Mr Fleming was a lawyer of a school fast dying out. He was a gentleman in manners and bearing. Tall, thin, dark, with fine, jjiercing eyes; his voice was quiet and even; his dress tasteful and modest. "I am honored by your call, Mr Carling; I know you by reputation. Now T am curious, because your legal people are well known to me. One of the best firms in the profession." Jim laughed. "Then J think the pleasure i s mutual, because we shall soon be closely associated." Mr Fleming was puzzled. "I don't quite follow vou, sir, but » He paused, and Jim went on : "I am going to marry your niece, Miss Serena Fleming, and she wants me to tell you all about it." ■Had a thuSiderbolit dropped into the lawyer's office ho could not have been more astounded. "Good heavens!" he exclaimed. 'You simply take my breath away.

Author of "A Fleet of Dreams," "Silar Dennnigtou s Money," "The Shade wot bhanie," "A i'liautom of the I'ast," II -•!(! in lioiul.ige etc.

Not one word of intimation iiom her. Just like her. Soil-willed, erratic. ' "it was my fault, sir. 1 only tokl her last night." And then Jim plunged into the story, while the lawyer listened and .smi.ed. "1 tail t:> see where I come in,' Mr Fleming observer good-ammo redly. "You are certainly a ir.ost impetuous young man —a very excellent match for my niece. Give mo your Jiajid, Mr Carling." Then he got up, and took t>vo turns across the Hoor. "I have always wanted to do something for Serena," he said, resuming his seat, "but she if full of her American notions of independence. Mind you, 1 'honor her for that but slie runs the thing too far. 1 offered her a home with my girls. No such thing! But we won't wast tim< over that. The question is, what can I do for her?"

"No reason to worry about that, Mr Fleming."

"But, my dear fellow, I am Ixmnd to do something. The gir] shan't come to you without a decent rag on her back. By the law of equity, she is entitled to certain dues from myfinm. Her father was my eldest brother, and left this business in a huff before I c.amo into it. Some little quarrel with his father."

He stared reflectively at the blotting pad in front of him. "I can sparo my niece -a few hundreds, and she must come to my house to live. She can be married from there, if you and she are agreeable.", "That must be left for Serena to decide," Jim said. "I suppose so. Well, well, well! Wlhat a, bombshell for ray girls I shall be unfit for business to-dav."

"I'll be off now," Jim said, rising, and again shaking hands, with Mr Fleming. "You will write to Serena? "T shall go to her lodgings at Dulwich to-day. and I'll phone you the result. Carling. Or you might dine with me and my family at Hampstead. Th-o girls will be dying to see you—rnv daughters, I mean." "Thank you. I shall bo pleased—say in thretf or four days. Tam booted for to-night, aml to-morrow T have promised Serena " • He (lushed and laughed.

Tho lawyer slimmed his shoulders. "T res that yon are in it lip to tlr? neck, and T ivis]i you luck. Anyway, my niece must count herself a fortunate girl. Good ninrniurr, Mr Carling. Oh. lioro is my TTampstend address, and you can jrot 1110 on the phone, either here or nt home

.Jim went to the office in Km.mes Street,, and dashed through the most pressing business at- top speed. Then lie wrote his first love letter to Serena. and no girl, however exacting, could have wished f >r more impn< signed language. Tf lie was somewhat abrupt of -speech. his ■writing was fluent, rhythmical, eloquent, and he lingered over the labor of love for a full hour.

"Your uncle was kindness itself," ho wrote, "but at first lie listened to me with almost incredulous amazement. He proposed several things which concern you alone, and upon which you must decide. With whatever pleases you J shall be content, so that I do not li-ave t'> wait very long for the honeymoon. You must go to Birmingham and stay with unpeople for a while', so that vou mav get to know one another. That. will do when my business in London i< finished. Then there will be the Question of the new home nest. T have long wished to live with twenty ivmlcs of London—always to me a city of wonder and delight—beautiful in all its varying moods. But during the next- few months we can have long and blissful talks about the future. To-day is Thursday,, and I am already counting the hours until Friday evening. It is not until the first fervor of youth is over. a nd a man loves, as T love, that he begins to live. The world becomes more beautiful—more divine." (To be Continued.)