The Romance of a Business Girl.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 13 November 1912, Page 2

The Romance of a Business Girl.

OH A ITER XYT. (Continued.) "In form, in co.vn.i.g—ye-s ; but j facii'Uy yr.u r.:o a ion aro j a Fle-ming.'" hf repeated, j. "Hub von iiavo djud i-uat Mrs Max- j well 'Hop*! U coarse and fat, with a hrrsh, }-;'>: ping voice." "Sinuirg p«.«oplo, often have ugly. speaking voices." '. "Thank goodness T don't sing—l j never could/ .Father never wan bed mo to. He v-ouU never have a piano inside the hen so. Sho must be a dreadful woman—this new-found mo- j titer of nun.--. If I developed into the ' same kind of creaburo—what would Jim think?" She w.-:> {.Kinking of what Jim's father had &id: "Show me the parents, and I will tell you wliat the children will become." "Don't bo absurd, child," her uncle smiled. "Mrs Hope,has led a. life of -sensual ease. I was always •'.fraid that wo would have to face this sooner or later, and tint is the chief .reason why I did not insist upon your living with ns. It may have seemed W you that I easily relinquished the relationship and the rssponsibility, Serena, but I have always kept i:m affectionate eye upon you. You see how the whole thing has been precipitated -upon us. Ono cannot turn Fate aside. The woman's natural feelings may be stirred ; she is.fond enough of that son of hers—vicious little brute. At any rate, my advice is to propitiate her, or she is capable of making terrible trouble. Half a dozen times, to my certain knowledge, she hag figured in the half-penny picture press. Once she assaulted the manager of ono of the big theaters —insisted upon wearing an enormous hat; a libel action or two, and so on." "Good heavens!" gasped Serena.

"J almost wish that I had never left America. But about Jim—uncle, I ;vm positive Mrs Hope will try to separate us. lam afraid of his people—what tiiey will say and think." "llemember that you always have mo. behind you. You may appeal to her better side—her mother's side; but if she is untraetable, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you h:ive done your duty. We. will .pretend to ourselves that we are virtuous, at any cost." He laughed feebly. "Although wo are playing up to Mrs Hope because we are afraid of her . So it is .settled tlut you will receive ; her here to-morrow, and be kind and gracious, and " "Oil, yes—oh, yes ; but I feci that I shall never survive the ordeal. If it wasn't for Jim " "Well?"

"I should ran away. Tt's the waiting now tta'.t hurts —it's purgatory!' "Where is Jim?" "Ho had to go to Paris this morn ing—some urgent business, and 1 an very glad. Ho won't be back unti Thursday or Friday." There was a knock on the door, am Screii;i jumpcn nearly a foot in tli iih\. Every nerve was quivering Captain Vance brought in a telegror for her, and she exclaimed: "From Jim —I know it is! Oh, nc it isn't. A cablegram from Phi You don't know Mrs Mayhow, unci —mi old chum of mine from the coi ner shop. She sailed for New Yor two weeks since, and has sent m

her address—that's all—Deering's Flats, West Twenty-third Street." "I've heard yon speak of her," Mr Fleming remarked. "What are you going to do with yourself, Serena, with Jim away?" • .] "I'll write a lang letter to Phil. No, I don't feel up to it. I think I will pay Lady Laura Mackinder a call. I've got an open invitation. I nvust do something distracting." "Then let me find distraction for you. I can't leave you in this state of mind. Come home with me, ■ and we'll go to the theater. I'll telephone to my daughters." And so it was agreed. While Serena dressed, Mr Fleming went to the nearest telephone call, and spoke to his daughters over the wire. It was all right about the. wedding arrangements, and their coiisin was coming home with him. A formal supper, .ami then the theater, That was the sort of fun the rjirls Jilc«d. And now followed n period of cheerfullness for Serena-, which endured until the next morning, except for an occasional shadow of the gruesome specter of Mrs Maxwell Hope, whiclobtruded itself once during the play, and onoe dxiring her dreams. Mr Fleming had secured a-box at the Haymarket Theater, where comic opera was in full swing. A new prima

- ofcKIAL.)

m F. L. DACR2 ;*•.■ i- o( I) reams, ' "Sihr Denning^ oll :t I'h© Shade wof Shame." "A FhanPa&t." H old in Bondage etc.

donna was attraewng all I/widon j She H-I.S young, graceful, beautiful, with the voice of a. Pafeti. It was at the end <T the second act that Se.r oua received an -uncomfortable shock. A splendid bouquet was flung upon the fct-age ;:t the foeb of the actress, from a box directly opposite Air Fleming's. A hundred eyes wore immediately directed toward Uh-> man »ho had throfn the- bouquet. It wss Arthur Hope, an eyeglass screwed into one eye, an insane smile on hi;weak face. "Don't look at the yoimg ass," advised lior uuclo. Soon after bids incident Arthur Hope saw and recognised- Serein. He was obviously disturbed, and slunk from his box —probobly to meet the actress at the stago door, if she considered the game sufficiently lu'gh. Afber the theater there w;s a late supper at the Trocadero, and then back to Ham stead in a taxied), Itwas a clear, moonlight night, and Mr Fleming rode with the driver. In her drems Serena had a recurrence of the. scene at the theater, but she appeared at the breakfast table bright, smiling,,and cheerful. There was something eager in her energy.. She feared the crucial moment was traveling fast in her direction, and she would bo glad to have it over. She went to London with her uncle parting from him on Lndgate Hill, and he gave her a reassuring pressure of the hand.

"I know that you aro wontterruuy j courageous," ho told her, "but don't \ forget to be diplomatic. I have told I you the worst about your mother, because I know nothing good of her; yet that is no proof that she is devoid. of some good. She is a noisy woman .when angered, but I am inclined to } think that that is in your favor. I {think it is Meredith who tells lis to beware of antagonisms which are titrate. "Whatever you decide to do, phone the result to me." ( Serena nodded. "Yes, yes, uncle.. I'm not afraid now. No matter what happens, I've t got Jim." \ She returned to Duhvich about an I hour before noon, and found plenty !to do until lunch. She had thought ought of writing :i long letter to Phil, but decided to defer ifc until the next day. The tumult within her had unsettled her mind. A few minutes after three Mrs Maxwell's motor l.indaulette drew up in front of Captain Vance's house, i and she was assisted to the pavement by a footman. Serena was watchr I in'g from the window, and for a ■ moment her heart seemed to be gripped by a. hand of ice. This woman was , the mother she had never beheld inir til now. She was a tall, portly figure—shimmering silk—waving plumes . I «>mo poweifu! perfume Acted j through the open window, j She surrendered her dust cloak to j the footman, gave him an order in a I loud, harsh voice, then knocked nuis' : ' n ily at the door. Captain Vance answered the summons, and, having h-d . his instructions, conducted Mrs Mnxj well Hope directly to Serena's bed'i'; room. On the threshold she came to k | stared at the girl from head to foot. 0 j (To be Continued.)