The Romance of a Business Girl.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 14 November 1912, Page 2

The Romance of a Business Girl.

CHAPTER XVI. (Continued.) < Serena was standing with lier back | to tho window —erect, immovable, every nerve strained. ■ "Oh, law! I feel as if I were dreaming," exclaimed Mrs Hope, with .1 forced laugh. She shut the door, and plumped down into an easy (■hair. "Well, upon my word! So this is my little Serena—five feet nine . if she's an inch, and the very image of what I was at the same age. Havn't you a word to say to your mothei, girl*?" ... "I find it ti difiiculty in realising it all," said Serena chokingly. "Not my fault —oh, no! It was .that precious father of yours. Took aou away, and sent mo ward that y u had died; —deserted me, Serena. Your scoundrel of an uncle was a party to it." 'I won't discuss either my father of my uncle. They are the only creatures who have been good to mo." "Well, sit down, and let's understand one another. Your mind s bo-en poisoned against me, 1 can see, but I don't- care the snap of two fingers. I should like to get i handle on Geoige Fleming, though, and I will yet, by hook or by crook." "1 never heard of you until yesterday," Serena said faintly. "You hear me now, and you can see 'me, if you ain't blind. There's ;>noug!':i of me, and yet I was so graceful av a svlph once —so the boys always said." .Serena shuddered. "I've tome to claim my own, but 1 ain't :v -'o inconsiderate as to want you t•» throw up everybody else. I suppose you've friends you don't want to break off with? Can't you shake hands with me, and call me mother? 1 tdl you, 'l'm proud of the looks of you. Why. you'd have made •! fm tune on tiie ho mis. and married a duke. These Johnnies can be fixed as easily as a pie!" She produced a cigarette. "I've always smoked a little, and I don't see why a woman should be debarred from the pleasure, Tt's good for the nerves and the digestion." "Captain Vance will smell the tobacco," Serena exclaimed, in sudden dismay. "W-li'it, the old josh who let me in? Why, my dear, he doesn't count anything. Your dad must have brought you up inside a glass case. Life's given to us to bo enjoyed, and a s T'vo >ot the pieces, T enjoy mnie. You'll soon be of the same way of thinking." She nodded approvingly to J Serena. "You are all right, old girl; J I'm proud of you. Hut don't be st-M - - j chy and prudish. You're artful, ton. I Soon found out which side of your bread was buttered, eh? Wanted some jam. too." Then her eyes glintgiven to us, T enjoy mine. You'll become, engaged, to some bruiser from Birmingham, and I've got my knife into him. My poor Arthur had a stiff neck for a fortnight—all on account of you." "He Wis abominably rude to me," Serena said coldly. "Rude to his own sister! What stuff you talk! When a man admires you, let him >say what he likes, if he's got tho ready cash. That was always my policy, and T generally cleaned him out. I've put him up to all the wrinkles." Serena now changed her position, moving across the room to a chair facing her mother. The picture ,sho (made was pleasing to Mrs Hope. " "No, old girl," .she remarked, "you sliant throw yourself away on a nobody. I wxs fool enough to do it when I married yur father." Hot words sprang to the girls lips, but remained unuttered. She remem- ' bercd her uncles warning. "Well, we havn't progressed very far yet, and when you've done talking as though you don't care and have finished taking stock of me, I'll tell you what I am going to do.' "I am waiting," was the frigid rejoinder. 'I shan't forget my duty, Serena, and I hope you won't forget yours; I'm going to take you home." She glanced round the shabby, if homely, little room. "What a liolo for you to have to live in. If you had my spirit Vou'd pull George Fleming's hair out. He let you be a. common waitress, knowing all tho while that your mother lived in style at Richmond, with a dozen servants to wait on her. Do you call him a friend? My husband's father is the chancellor of England, and if my poor husband's in the asylum, lie's left me plenty. I've got the power of attorney, and my Arth- . ur's got ten pounds a week for pocket money. You shall have tlia same. We see life, too—parties ef some .sort

isi.iv .jfiihii..)

BY F. L DACRE Author of "A Fleet of 1 reams, ' "Silar DenningtoJi's Monej," "The Shad>. wof Shame," "A Phantom <>i iho Past," H ©ld in Bandage etc.

■every Sunday actors and actresses, and the Johnnies." "Very alluring," Serena • aid disdainfully. "What do you mean?" frowned her mother. 'Please don't put on airs. I'm a woman of the world, and ■ know what I'm talking about. J always have any own way, too, and you may as well know it now. V-Jti've got to come .homo with me, and put all notions of marrying out of your head —at least for the present. If yor. think your will's a.s good as mine; l\i surprise you. Why, I'd iorbid any wedding I didn't like, even at the very altar, if ever you got that far. Hut this is only talk. You've turned as white as chalk. Don't let me frighten you." I Serena was conscious of a sense ol ! physical faintness. Fear and rage struggled for mastery. She wa.s prompted to defy this mother -of lier.s —to throw the gage of battle at her i'eet. But for Jim —.:ind Jim's people She bit .her lips hard. If Mrs Maxwell Hope ihad discovered their relationship while she \va.s merely a waitress at the Corner Shop, how different the attitude would have been. Then she had only herself to think about, and would have defied and laughed at her. "I don't know —I must have a little time to get used to this new order of things," she .said, at last. "Oh, (stuff! You are coming with aue now." "T certainly am not," flashed' t girl. "And if you think that 1 care a. rush abont your threats, you are mis- • taken. I will visit you to-morrow, if you like —and in time the \ s.mC. may bo extended."' There was a dead silence. Mrs J Maxwvil Hope crimsoned, and her | eye.s blazed. Then, realizing the dei termination in Serena's white, set j face, she sullenly answered : | "I've got to thuik Mr George j l-'leming for this. All right, old girl; i let it go at that. You'll come t> j row —honest?" j "Yes." I "Shall I come for you?" "Xo." "Shall I send the car lor your" "No; I prefer to came in my own time, and in my own way," Serena said alsomt fiercely. "Oh, al! right. Here's my c:rd, with the number of the street. Have it your own pig-headed way. and walk for all I care." She got up angrily, and shook out her dress. "Hotter shake hands, old girl. We are mother and daughter, and we seem to hive a temper very much alike. He sure you don't kiss inc." Seroi) i took her mother's hand in f!'igcrs icy cold.

CHAPTER XVIr. AT RICHMOND. Without making any outfard show, Seien-i was ot a deeply religious turn of mind. She had an illimitable faith in a divine power, and knew that in the end right would surely previil. Now that she knew what manner of woman her mother really was. she was both shocked and horrified. Profane, vulgar, immoral, without fear of God or man! Serena felt that it would be utterly impossible to t>reitlu> the same atmosphere as the being who was responsible for her existence. Whatever her natural duty might bp, nothing would soften tho antagonism between them. The contending forces, tugging this „-ay, polling that way, were almost insupportable.