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The Romance of a Business Girl.

OiJK SfcklAL.)

"Thw- was uorno one with you, Serena." He spoke quietly, bub with sup-,..»■.-a-d eagerness. ' ( "Now 1 know that you didn't &eo me," siif said, with a quick laugh, '-i was a!ono." I "A youngish man, with a close-clip-ped, Mack mustache," he proceeded. I ".Mi, Jim, you're making fun. I 'came homo alcno." "Tim] you havo a double, or I had . vision ■>.'"' I And so the subject ended for the jmonietit, both laughing at its absurdity; J.Jut when it recurred to her next inorni»s, Serena paused in tho occupation of brushing her hair, perturbed and serious. '"lt's'rather unfair of-Phil to make up in that 'way, and very annoying to me," she reflected. -"And who was tho man she was -driving-- with at that time of night? I don't like it at all."

CHAPTER IX. PHIL DECIDES'. Soon after breakfast, Captain Vance looked into Serena's sitting room., briefly saying: "Are you at home. Mis s Fleming?" "Who"is it?"

"The young lady who might be your twin sister. She's in the other room. Miss or Mrs Phil." •

The captain usually answered the doorbell when he was not busy with his story writing. "Phil!" Serena exclaimed. She was glad, sorry, and rather frightened all in one breath. Glad, because she had made up her mind to indulge in a. little plain speaking; sorry.as this call would probably upset her plana for the' morning; and frightened, because Phil had never before ventured to see her in the light of day. Something must have happened.

She pushed aside the work upon which she had been busy, and jumped up.

"Oh, yes—yes. Send her in to me, please, Captain Vance." Serena waited, a very curious feeling agitating her mind. She could not describe it. Was she beginning to get out of sympathy with her old comrade? Jim had certainly condem med her conduct' in no uncertain way, and Jim

"A surprising visit, old ohum," Phil laughed, walking into the room, and shutting the door after her. "You needn't be dismayed; my precious husband has gone to Monte Carlo. I have a spy or two on his heels, as ho on mine. But, bless you, this get-up has baffled the cleverest of them. They think I am you!" She- laughed again, then suddenly assumed an air of mock seriousness.

"Wliat's up, Serena? Am I not welcome?"

"You gave me quite a shock. J. was afraid you were in some fresh trouble," Serena said. "And, Phil, doar, I don't like this way of masquerading. It isn't fair to me."

"Oh!" Mrs May hew indulged in a prolonged whistle., "1. was tindor the impression that I was paying you a compliment. Whero does the harm como in?"

*'l am not. in tho habit of mincing matters, Phil, and I won't begin now. Yon were driving in a taxicab last night, accompanied by a man. I don't suggest that you haven't a perfect right to drive Rbout London at midnight, but I object to your being mistaken for me in such circumstances."

Phil's face had turned absolutely gray. She had the grace to feel regret and discomfort.

"It is quite true. I had just rerturned from Manchester,- where I had been to report a meeting of aviators. I went up in one of the areoplanes, and flew fifty miles. You'll find the whole story in the morning newspapers. I oonio back to London by train, of course, with the man whose passenger I had been—a Frenchman named Oarveilla. I should like to know who is responsible for th'o mischief.". "Fortunately there is no harm done. If thero were, I should be the sufferer." "That sounds ugly," observed Phil, knitting her brows. .What ha* come over you, Serena? You have changed greatly in a few days. Wearing your best frock on a Saturday morning, and a now ring. My conscience, what a beauty! Oh, Serena, T never credited you with being artful until now. When did it hapen? And who is the rictim? Tho hero of the scuffle in the Oorer Shop, of course, and the pal of my despicable husband. So that is you are so virtuous all at once? You've gone over to the enemy."

"Don't talk such nonsense to me, Phil!" Serena stamped her foot angrily. Hr face was burning. "Oh, I don't blame you, Talk about

BY F. L. DACRE Author ef "A .'fleet of Dmmna," "Silar Dennington's Money," "The Shado w of Shame," "A PW tomut' the Past," ilel<j m u«,mcuge etc.

angling. You hooked a golden fish pretty .smartly, and it'B a credit to your business aptitude, if to nothing else. I hope you'll finish up better than I have done." Phil broke down, and began to cry. "I know I oughtn't to talk to you lita this, Serena, and I feel ashamed of myself. You are the only friend I have left, and now I am to lose you. My husband has set detectives at work and 1 shall be doprived of the means of earning a living. Thoy will drive me to doing something desperate. "Why don't'you go back to Captain Mayhevv? The most you can say against him is that he is poor. Ho must car for you very much, or he wouldn't-worry about you." Phil rose, her -eyes .blazing, and both hands clenched in a paroxysm of rage. She .adva-aced a step toward Serena. "Never! I hate the foul-smelling flat, and the loneliness, the serf-doom, the very name of his wonderful relations. Let him divorce mo, a»d marry that painted cat of a cousin. She is scheming for such an alliance, and I wish her joy of the bargain. She will lie keener than ever, now that you have snatched Jim Carling from her claws. Oh, I know what lam talking ing about. I have somebody helping me."

Serena looked pained and distredded.

•Tail—Phil! Poor old Phil! You wrong your husband—you wrong Lady Laura. Sho isn't free to "

Then she became dumb, remembering that Jim had told her to keep silent.

"So they have you cleverly under their thumb!" exclaimed Phil, with despairing violence. "I am sick of you—l hate you—l hate everybody!" She sat down again, and, bending Jfer face over the table, sobbed quietly, convulsively.

Serena's heart was too full for speech. She laid a carousing hand on Phil's shoulder, but the girl shook it off. She raised her head. "I don't know that I have any justification for blaming you, Serena," she said, with the strange calm of despair. "You are wise to feather your own nest. The world is a hard place farva. woman. Men rule everything—men are the masters of our destiny. Give them all they desire, and they can afford to be very nice and tame. Oppose them, and they are cruel fl jid vengeful savages, our change of face ia the last straw to break my hope of keeping to the straight way."

"What on earth are you talking about', Phil?" "Listen, and you shall hoar," was the reckless rejoinder. "You know all about-the man who was with roe in the taxieab. I was with him in the Strand at midnight. I told you a lie when I said that wo had just returned from Manchester. We had been back for several hours'; we had supper at the (To be Continued.)

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAG19121029.2.3

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10716, 29 October 1912, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,224

The Romance of a Business Girl. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10716, 29 October 1912, Page 2

The Romance of a Business Girl. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10716, 29 October 1912, Page 2

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