The Romance of a Business Girl.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10718, 23 October 1912, Page 2

The Romance of a Business Girl.

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UJfAP'i'KIl VI. (Continued.) Jutt after vrur o'clock ho drove in a t; i.udy Lau/n .WiiosmderV. V-.ui, =- b ';viiud engrossed was he by his o.vn thoughts that ho did not notice Carling'o" «r;-ival n»i:l \vn:; not aware of i'ls on-'.- we ii'.:til he v.a.i i:i tho room. Ho looked up dazedly, then shook .hands with Jim. "You startled uu\ I didn't hea.r tho door open. I've iust beon talking to a man on the phone, and was thinking." "Auvthing tho matter? You look worried." "ICvorvthinu is the matter—not money ; yon tided mo over that —and I'll repay you some day. Carl'ing. The obligation cuts me like a knife." '*For Heaven's sake, forget it, until you aro in funds," Jim impatiently exclaimed. "Drop that somber business. 'Where is your cousin?" "She'll ibo down presently. T haven't seen her yet, ibut 'she is one of your clockwork women. Never a minute too soon, or a minute too Late. She has taken a wonderful faiicy to you."

•He moved to a wide table, and took up a small box of confections. It was tied <wth small Ixnvs of purple ribon, and tlie lid was ornamented with scrolls of gold.

"Lady Laura is fond of this sort of stuff, and it is about all that I can afford to give her. I usually bring or send lior a box a week." Jim ganccd at the box, casually remarking : "How prettily these things are done up »f>\va<lavs." , There mas a movement at the door, and -Lady Laura entered. In an instant everything seemed to shine with beauty. . Though,, of. commanding .height, slje walked lightly and gracefully, and Jim thought that there was always something new in her charming personality. She smiled upon him, and there was a rapid flow of small' tflflk, with very little .meaninn; to it. Maybe w was in poor form until ten. was finished, and Liuly Laura glanced at him anxiously from time to time. Then came a telephone call, and 'he jumped to answer, it, his hands clenched, his mouth, twitching. ■

"Excuse mo." he said, "I've got- a lot to isay to this Johnnie."

'He. went into the anteroom, shutting the door after him. and Lady Laura mad* l a gesture of impatience. "Poor old spoil-sport. T wonder what is 'happening now? He, vows that hi# life, lis a 'failure —love, business, everything goes wrong. Tho worst part of.it is that my Cousin Lewis never profits by experience. He gees and does tho same foolish things with open cyos."

"Yet he strikes mo as bo in 2; a shrewd' fellow." Jim remarked. "And I .shouldn't imagine that sentiment plays a very big part in his life." "I don't know," Lady Laxira- said reflectively. "He i.s chasing ihis runaway wife i>retty determinedly, but whether from love or other motives, Ta in very much in douht. People should never marry until they know one another."

"If you ean know all about a man of woman before marriage, von will lose lot of interest in them afterward."

"Then you bolievo in marriage as an adventure, Mr Carling?" she sigh•od. "I suppose poor/ 'humanity, will go 011 deluding itself to the end of the chapter."-

"Both men and women are hound to meet with, disappointments, and it is their own fault if the disappointments are not more than compensated by pleasant surprises." "Your considerations are very seductive. Mr Carling, and I hope that they are not quite illusory. Your wife, when you have one, will he a fortunate woman, if she is a good woman." Lady Laura met hfs eyes with an unflinching gaze, and Jim flushed uncomfortably. They could hear the rumbling of MaVhew's Jeep voice at the telephone. His tones were more oven now. and once he laughed. "A good sign," said Laura. "I was afraid that our evening would he spoiled, and I wouldn't miss seeing 'Orpheus' at His Majesty's for worlds; 'At the same time I think that the distraction will be ,good for Lewis, and T hope that my society does not bore you, iMr Carling?" "T shouldn't he here if it did." As the .words left his Hps Jim knew that ho would rather ho at Dulwich. Bosidos, ho was not quite comfortable with Lady Laura. She both fascinated and -bewildered.

BY F- L DAGRE Author of "A Fleet of Y> roams," "Silar Duninnßton's Mom\y," "Tho Shallow <;!' .vinimo," '"A tom of the l'a:ct." K old in iJond.ige etc.

"I am ono of those womc«, s::o went on, "who hate the society ci other wonun. I don't know what it is nnlo.i:-; it be that .most woi;-. i»re insincere." Jim shook his head. "I won't have that," ho said valiantly. "You aro at an impressionable ago" she laughed. "You will invest some poor creature .with the attributes of a goddess, and, in your vanity, worship your own illusion. Jacob's Rachel turned out to be a very commonplace? Leah. Silly hoy, I road your thoughts You must believe mo to lie an unnatural woman if you think that T am making love to you. What nonsense —what utter nonsense!" Mayliew had hung up tho receiver, but was waiting for another call. "Before ho comes back," Lady Laura said. "I will tell you something that may help to establish perfect eon- , fidence 1 jet-ween us, Mr Carling, but no word of it must ever pass your lips."

Her face whiteiiod, and she was tromibling all over. Jim nodded awkwardly.

"1 was married when I was eighteen, Mr Carling—to a man whom I then believed to bo a demigod. He was a good-looking actor —a vampire. Ho drained my purse, as the vampire drains the life-blood of its victim, to buy his own disgusting pleasure. T left him a few" months after the* marriage, but the grip of the vampire has never left my vitals. I pay him a *veekly sum 1 on the condition that He never molests ms?. but sometimes iny lifo is grim with the terror of Jus return. Ven- few people know anything about this, and even my cousin Lewis ibelicvcs my 'lmsliand to be dead."

As she loaned "'forward the light from, the set-ting sun Ml upon 'her face —white and drawn with ( agony. Jim groped for one of her luuhJs. "I feel like killing the d>east," he said huskily. "If you ynnt a friend Lady Laura, count upon me.'' "T know it," she softly answered, "and the knowledge is or.mfortirig. Although T .seem to be surrounded by friends, I am in reality, a very lonely woman."

They heard Mayhew saving "goodbye" on the phone, and a minute later he reentered the room, his tense expression ehanged to one of dovil-may-carc good humor.

"J have got through some ticklish •business with two of 'em," lie said,, "and now I am as free us air. You will excuse me for making a bargain office of your house —eh, Laura? My broker wants me to sell out my shares in the Lode Valley, but f'H see him hanged first. T stand to lope ;1 couple of thousand, and they are certain to rise again. Lcfc pare go to the wimlts. say T—for this night, anyway." A l't°r dinnir tliev wont to liis Majesty's Theater in' Lady Laura's motor ear. driven hv Lady Laura's chauffeur; then came supper at Claridge's. and all three were apparently the gayest of the gnv. (To ho Continued.)