The Romance of a Business Girl.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10718, 31 October 1912, Page 2

The Romance of a Business Girl.

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CHAPTER X. (Ootinued.) iV.- t.ia tia.t h'erona had finished reading tin' iottcr her eyes were aglow dim* wndo lace radiant. She danced round the room in her excess of relief and pleasure. Now she could read what Jim had to tell her with no cloud in her mind. Oh, hut it was such a funny man s letter—a jumble of eagerness and joyHe wis not coming back until Monday night, but would call for her quite early on Tuesday with a motor car. fie was really having the motor on trial, with the idea of buying it. First they would call oil Lady Laura, and hen drive? to a place called Dalehurst, among the Surrey hills, where [ the house was —the house which Lady i Laura wanted to sell. They would have to order lunch at the village, hostelry—there was something quaint and medieval about the word- —because it would take hours to tramp from room to room, and right through the conservatories and gardens. This was the sort of thing tluit could not be hurried, so much depended upon the result, ft was a matter of lifelong importance. He had told his folks all about her to the most trivial detail. She was the sweetest loveliest girl in Christendom. Only one tiny thing Jiad bothered them. They were very old fashioned people, and thought that Americans were foreigners—just as French and Italian people were. But he had explained that away. Of course it was absurd. They wanted her to visit them at once. They wished to get acquainted with hor well in advance of the wedding day, so she had better Iniy what things she wanted, and have a week or so with his people. A capital idea it was, too. What a happy family it would be. Until very recently Serena had :; r t been troubled with nerves, but now she was trembling all over. Her life, with its dreary round of monotony and emptiness, was now bright with color, and full to overflowing. She was in a tremor of anticipation, and her imagination ran riot. She pictured Lady ; Laura i|,s she had believed her to be — j she also pictured her from Jim's I point of view. Two extraordinarily J unlike they were. But the most en- i • grossing speculations of all were those ] concerning Jim's father, mother, and j sister. Kindly, gentle folk, inordin ately fond of their son and brother. Busy site was all day long, overhauling and brushing her limited stock of clothing. Perhaps there would be time in which to purchase | some new things—to have a dress | made—before this unexpected flight Jto Birmingham. Oh, yes, she must ] insist upon that. A mind in turmoil; particularly when it draws greedily upon the imagination. is always exhausting, and Serena went to bed early, only to fight it over again in her dreams. But the' morning found her fresh and radiant. The recuperative pow- | ers of youth strike the aged as beinr | almost miraculous. Serena was downstairs in the garden soon after six o'clock". She was anxious for fine weather. The sky had been threatening overnight, with savage little puffs of wind, but there was no further reason for doubt. The heavens were clear, and a gentle breeze from the t made all things delightfully swot, and cool. Captain Yanco was a wis;' prophet, and he said that it was all right. A few minutes after fight cam« a telegram from Jim. Tt told her that he would be there at ten o'clock. Never before had Serena taken so much pains in an* endeavour to make herself look attractive. An hour in front of the glass! A gross waste ,of time in an ordinary way, but this was to bo one of the great days of her life. She .had donned the coat and skirt which had been her best wear for the past few months, congratulating herself that even if it were not quite new, it was well cut and fitting, and appropriate to the occasion. Tt was of simple, dark grey, and, with with tho creamy silk blouse, and the shady hat, with its wreath of blue convolulus and field grasses, she was the picture of a spring maiden, in Jim's eyes, as ho beheld her standing in tho front garden waiting for him. She was not pretty—she was radiantly beautiful! Her face was flushed, and lier eyes were shining with expectancy; she was transfigured by happiness and love. In similar circumstances a plain girl would have looked attractive, but Serena—— Jim ihopped down from tho car, anc hugged Serena before she could fathom Ms intentions. "Oh, Jim!" she exclaimed, in suffering confusion. "Right in front oi

BY F, L DACRE Author of "A Fleet of D r '^7 nl ' '' C V; , '/ A V ~ r:vrTC ~ 5 Money," "li;o shuUe wof Shame, A riiaiitom of the l J ast," •- old in Bondage etc.

all these windows. The noiss© oi the cur Jiad brought everybody "Don't care," interrupted Jim. "These people are nothing too us, and wo aro everything to each other. Oil, you look splendid I If niy peopk could only soe you now! I shall go off my head il' you stare at me like that." "Silly!" she laughed, well pleased. "Good-by, Captain Vance." The old seanian was standing in the doorway, and Jim shook his liund heartily. "Take care of her, ,Mr Carling," said Vance. "I am glad to have a day's quiet. Miss Fleming hap boon fidgeting all over the house for the last few days. I couldn't do a line of work." He laughed mischievously, and waved his hand as the ear whirled off. "I refused the assistance of a chauffeur, so that I could have you entirely to myself," Jim said. "1 know hov to handle these machines, but you mustn't claim too much attention, until we are clear of London and the immediate suburbs." "! shall be quite at ease when this introduction to Lady Laura Mackindpr is over," Serena replied. "I so dread a woman's inspection. I suppose I may touch the sleeve of. your r;oat now and then?" "All the time," retorted Jim. "I know that Lady Laura fears the psychological crisis as much as you do. She takes quite a motherly interest in me." "It was an unfortunate speech, jut- Jim was always blundering. He lot iced Serena's silence, and added: "I mean she is afraid that you eaniot bo up to the standard of perfection which .1 have word painted." ' "Ob, it's hateful, Jim?" "What?" "Being poor, and a nobody. And her cousin married a girl from the same shop." Jim's brow clouded lor a moment. "Lady Lnura had a lot of trouble u itli M::yliew. By George, I'm finding out that he's n bad lot. Here we are. sweetheart." He pulled' up the car with a jolt, and jumped down to the pavement. Serena wa,s very calm now. Her quick eyes had observed a movement amonp the curtains which draped the big haj window on the ground floor, and she knew that Lady Laura was apprais ing her from a vantage of secruity Jim assisted her to alight; but sh< refused to be bustled up the steps a breakneck speed. The butler form all; announced them, and they followe< closely upon his heels into the spadou reception room in the front of tin lion so. While Jim was saying something Lady Laura, advanced to meet. Seron; with that wonderful frlidin;: nioveinen of hers, then paused for just a mom ent or so a few paces away. The twwomen looked each other no and dowi and in that brief space their judge inent was formed, one for the other with magical swiftness. (To bo Continued.)