The Romance of a Business Girl.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 19 November 1912, Page 2

The Romance of a Business Girl.

TiUP aiiKIAL.)

OHAPTEH XVJLI. (Continued.)

She told the butler that nhe wanted nothing, but would go up tu her loom. She knew the way, and he needr.'i trouble liimsolf any further. A odd. depressing uhil! foil upon her, as she' walked UP the wide, thickly carpeted stairs. The air rooked with a pungent, smell. She tried to iwmrmber what it reminded her of. Oh, it was plain enough. The same disagreeable smell had come, through the doorways of public houses when sho was going to her work at the CJanisr Shop in the early morning. . Stale tcbaeeo smoke, and the sickening edor.s of mixed drinks. Upstairs .she took off her hat and glove:;-- threw the window wide open, and .locked down upon a really wellkept garden-* garden "full of shrubs artificial .grottoes, and bank* of flowers. Somewhere among the greencry a thrush was calling shrilly. The burden of its song was "Cheer up—cheer up!" It's mate was calling ■from another tree, and Serena found herself translating song into words. Oheerful, happy birds! Were they calling to her to'"Oome,?" She obeyed the impulse, and went downstairs. There was little life about the house yet. Many of the blinds were still lowered, *nd the servants were talking, loud-voiced, in tho kitchen.

Sehena crossed tho hall, and went j out into the bracing air and cheering J sunshine, past the front of the house, and turning to the right, through the dmw slirubery, into the garden. Everything was sweet-smelling here, and there'was a droning music, made bv. mi-rinds of busy insects. ' She peeped into the. grottoes, strolled past them, and made for a bower of roses and honeysuckle, wherein she could .see a rustic seat. Even here tho j paths and the borders were defiled by j thv- eiAls of half-ii-moked/ cigarettes j and the stumps of cigars. Once she j paused to glance at a pocket handkerchief lying, dew-sodden, on the grass, then continued to the bower of roses. As she stood on the threshold the figure of a man rose from one end of tho seat, and cringed in front of her. Serena was too startled to retreat or utter a word; then she recovered herself, and was hastily turning away, but the man raised his shame-strick-en face, and spoke: "Serena— sorena," lie said appealj ingly, "don't go; I've come here on 1 purpose to .speak to you; I couldn't' do it before mother. You don't mind me calling you Serena now, do you? |.You are my sister, you know." I The girl's first sensation was one of I fear and disgust. She had once hated this creature.

"I'm not as bad as you think ['am, by a long .shot. See how I've been brought up. I know I acted toward you like a cad, and I'm sorry for it. Don't think I owo your friend Carling a grudge ; I don't. It served me right!"

He spoke earnestly, and his pale eyes nearly shone. Serena held out her hand to him, horeyos searching his face. And sho had once been terrified by this creature. He took her fingers nervously, tears running down his cheeks. * "What a good girl you are, Serena," ho said huskily. "I could never have gone through this with the old woman watching. You don't bear any malice, do you?" "No —oh, no."

"What a-cad I was; but I never meant any harm, really. Shopgirls generally jump at the chance of being noticed by a chap like mo, and I th o u ght yov. -''

"Don't—don't," she pleaded. "Let us forget all unpleasantness. You aro my half bi-otker, and I want to think as well of you as I can."

He was brightening now, but was almost pathetic in his humility. "Don't you stop here, Serena," he

said presently. "I am sure that mother moans mischief, and I can guess what; I'vo heard her raving. You see that she's got me under her thumb. If I kick, she ent* off my supplies, and then what's a man to do' J You cou'dn't live as wo do. Never to bod

betVire two or three in tho mor.iing, and then c\orybody fagged." • "I haven't the slightest intention of coming hero to stay." "Don't let her hear yon say so," he cautioned. "J am not in the habit of mincing my meaning," Serena said, with decision.

"Go now, before she comes down," urged Arthur Hope. "No, that would hardly bo fair. I gave my promise to spend Sunday here; I want to see just how my mother lives, so that I can reckon up with

her without prejudice'. 1 "It's risky, but I'll stand by you;

la .

BY F, I. DACRE Author of "A Fleet of D reams, ' "Silar Dennmgtoir& Money," "The Sbado wof Shame," "A Phantom of the Past." H eld in Bondage etc.

CHAPTKR XIX

MJRS HOPE UNMASKS

(To be Continued.)

don't forget that." "Thank you,'" sho gently said. There was no mistaking hhi sincerity. "Ycu have given me fresh courage, and I shall always think well cf you —-now."

Ik- snatched at her hand, and kissed it, blubbering the while. "I'm your brother, Serena, so don't mind me. You are good, and I'm ashamed of being, such a useless cad." He straightened himself. "There wan h crowd here last night, and ther'll lie another here to-day of a worse sort. I fee! used up. I'll go aiu! dre-s properly, and—-I'll tell mother that we've made it up. She'll be coming down soon Hecftu.se you aro here."

"At what time do you usually get breakfast tt t The Laurels?"

"Oh, any. in bed. Brandy and floda'H tho principal beverage. Do you want some breakfast? T'll go,and see to it." "No—no-I I had mine at. oight o'clock this morning." "

"Eight o'clock—a good, healthy, solid meal ? That's the sort, and I'm going to break away from this the moment I can. You will help me, won't you?". "If I have the power,"-Serena answered pityingly.

A 'boy of one and twenty, with the haggard and drawn face of an old man. Eyes bloodshot and wavering; limbs trembling.

'-'I can hear mother's voice," ho suddenly said. "I'll vamoos." With a reassuring smile and a nod, he slid away.

Serena felt bettor for even such a poor friendship as Arthur Hope's must of necessity be. She pitied tho poor, weak creature from the bottom itence in regard to herself was peritence in regard too herself was perfectly sincere. What could be expected of a-boy nurtured in such ,;» vicious atmosphere

Hardly had he disappeared when she heard her name spoken, and the pert young footman who had annoyed her career in the day came round the bend in the path. "Mrs Hope would like to see you in tho breakfast room, miss."

By a slight inclination of the he.:." 1 Serena signified that she understood, but did not move until the servant had retired. Even at tmit distance her mother's petulant voice could bo heard. It was raised in angry altercation with somebody, with ?.n occasional oath to emphasize her disploas-

"How are you, my dear?" she greeted Serena. Her face was reddened with anger. "Did you hear me blowing no my maid for net coining to dress me? T wanted to bo up when you came, and sho says she clean forced .all about it. A nice state, to be in at this timo of day." .She was lyintr back in hcrchair, unwashed, her hair-disheveled, and attired in a gaudy dressing gown. Her much bejeweled fingers were twitching, and she panted from exhaustion.