The Romance of a Business Girl.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10710, 2 November 1912, Page 2

The Romance of a Business Girl.

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CTLATTER XL (Continued.) "j{:n::r :>.»:>?'.rs to be a J.<ig, strong iVllc,,:' Jim remarked, getting up fin ni the table. .Serena rose. too. "if you haven't arranged for your housekeeper," Mrs Binns continued determinedly, "I should like the place because I can't endure this dreadful life. Binns " At that moment her husband appeared ia the doorway. "Are you goinfr to walk to The Pines, sir?" "Yes. See that nobody monkeys with the ear." "Certainly, I've shut tlu> yard gates. Dinner at threo, sir." .Jim and Serena 1 eit the Dalehurse Arms, followed by the curious eyes of the tradesmen. The instant they were out of siglit, half a dozen aproned gentlemen flew to the inn to question Binns. Oh, this was a groat day for Dalehurst. "They ain't married yet. ami there is many a slip," snapped Mrs Binns. "Mr Carling's got an eye for women, or I'm no judge. She is rather a silly looking person." "Pity there wasn't a 'slip' for me," winked her husband at the butcher. "You daro to insult me before a dirty tradesman —ine, who stooped to the gutter " Binns gently pushed her from the bar to the room behind it. And in the meanwhile Serena was

saying: "What. nn awful woman!" "Scandalmonger, fibber, vain—a perfect Jezebel! Now we have a fine view of The Pings., sweetlieirt. (su't the air glorious 011 these : n.s? It's a joy to be alive!" Hand ill band they walk vl through tho wonderful drive —the wn,ideifu! house, the wonderful garden?. '! In* whole thing wa.s decided upon without a word from either. "We shall want an old watchdog of of a housekeeper,'' slid Jin... "and four or five servants. It isVt nw'dy very big. How splend'dly everything is planned. Not oao unsightly spot in the whole scheme. We nil' go t:i one of tho chief furnishing placvs in London, and choose what we like best. 1 can see yon in fancy union;* the flowers, out there* t.ressed nil ir: while, or flying with me to town in the car; or in this cozy room with tho curtains drawn, and fire glowing when the dark days have come." "Oil, you gnose." laughed Serena, her face aflame. Well., they were quite satisfied with whn fate promised to hand to them.' J Serena was so happy that if the [thought would, obtrude that some--1 thing might happen, the chill that I struck her heart was terrifying. I These little chills would come, and I when she spoke of them to Jim, he called her silly. What could possibly coine between them? They had no fear of death; they were young and strong, and life thrilled in every pulse. J They wert ii.uk to London, and it .seemed th.it tremendous leap h.ui , been mule that day toward the final I consummation. Now there was the visit to Jim's people, and, while Jim's ! lawyers and Lady Laura's lawyers negotiated the transer of The Pines, Serena was busy replenishing her wardrobe. Exactly one week from the day of tho motor drive to Dalelitirst she and Jim arrived at Perry Barr. Serena was very tired after the long journeyphysically and mentally. Her imagination had been busy for hours picturing Jim's people, and her reception by them, Jim had made light of it all, but Jim and his people were different beings. All this was rather exhausting—and after a sleepless night, too. "The.ro won't be anybody to meet us," Jim said, "because I didn't state to theni the train we were coming by. I don't like fussing at railway stations." "I'm so glad," Serena made answer. "I wish thjv I could go sraight to my room, and rest for an hour : I am not looking my best, Jim." "You nervous little thing! ' You always look your best, in my eyes." "My head aches abominably." "I'll make things all right, sweet-, heart." The lu« jgage was piled on top of a four-wheeled hack, and then the vehicle rumbled off, with the lovers inside it. After a drire of twenty minutes or so, the hack turned into a narrow, dusty lane—a real old-fashioned country lane it was, with tall hedgerows and moss grown banks, starred with wild flowers, such flowers as Serena had seen nowhero else. "I used to play about here whon I

BY F. L. DACRE Author of "A Fleet of J) ream?," "?ilar Money," "'lhe Shado .v of £ha rr. c," "A Phan-t-cna of the Past," hi dd in Bondage etc.

was ;i kid," Jim said rpimn.sco'y.v "Thi-t was my v. iHd then, and I dreamed of nothing beyond it. You see that riven oak yonder? It wss etruak by lightning about twenty vears since. I witnessed it from the nursery window. Hero's the old home. Thu hack stopped, ar.d Serena saw a big, barred gate, beyond tho gate wide, uncared-for drive which led to some outbuildings behind a rambling, red brick house. There were quite a dozen windows in the front of it, aifd one small entrance, the door of whic 1 had been left unpjinted for half a century, from the look of it. A tow-headed boy opened the barrod gate, and the hack man walkcc his horse into the drive. "Everybody at home, Mick?'' Ji:r asked the boy. "The missis an' Miss 3ar.il) ?" sai; Mick, grinning. "I'll fetch mil." Away he darted, and Jim carried .the luggage from the hack to tir doorstep. "Thank goodness we are here," he «iid, addressing Serein tenderly. "You are done up, Serena. Why, you are trembling all over!" "Lsn't it stupid of mo?" She clutched at his hand, as though the contact gave hor relief. "I feel such a wretched, tiresome little nobody." Jim give her n swift ,reassuring glance, and opened the door, meeting his mother and sister almost on the threshold. Jim promptly embraced his mother, and in turn the mother, with an affectionate gesture, put out botli hands to Serena, and kissed her cheek. "Oh, my dear—my dear!" she exclaimed. her eyes glistening with big tears. "1 am so glad that you hare come." "This is nty sister Sarah," Jim w»c saying. Sarah wap gazing critic illy at her brother's sweetheart. She was a tall, severe-looking young woman. "Why didn't you telegraph?" she demanded. "Dropping in upon us in such a mess! Mother and T were gardening." "Take Miss Fleming to her room, Sal." Jin* answered. "She is tired out. T'll follow with the trunks. And let us hive some tea as soon as you j can. Ts dad at the works?"' I "Ho will he home at the usual liotir." Sarah replied. "Come along. Miss Fleming." 1 J Left to herself, Serena indulged in a good cry, bathed her hands and face, brushed hor hair, and reflected. Her heart hid warmed to Jim's mother at once, because she was so much like Jim. 'llie eyes, the smile —only softened by the difference of sex. But his sister Sarah was a critical, chilling personality, and Serena felt that there was a certain antagonism between them from the moment she had spoken. She and Jim had tea together, and then he took her out into the big. mazy garden. Xover before had she dreamed that there was such a garden. Myriads of trees and bushes; millions of flowers; footpaths winding; footpaths zigzagging, and at the back of it all a great arbor formed by the interlacing of living branches, the canopy a mass of impenetrable leaves, j (To bo Continued.) I'