Fotheringay's Son.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 2 December 1912, Page 2

Fotheringay's Son.

'OUP SERIAL.)

CHAI'TKR 11. (Continued.)

They readied the entrance of the j supper room. Lady Firmian, with a dapper, blonde, little man, was stand- J ( ing at the door, watching her guests , seat themselves. She looked at the ( radiant couple as they came along, c feeling herself in sympathy with two j ( such beautiful beings. The man at j ( hot- side looked, too, and was evidently struck by what lio saw. "Who are they?" he asked. "The { gentleman, I think, I. have seen him before; he is Fotheringay, of the , guards, is he not? A very handsome y fellow \ But the girl? Is she engaged ; to him, do you think? I have never ; seen a girl so beautiful! Where does ; she como from? Ireland?" < "You are right, Charlie!" said ( Lady Firmain. ' "How do you know?" , His grace of Alfreton laughed. "Because I have never seen her !>e- 1 fore; and I think 1 have seen nearly ( all the English beauties already." 1 "I dare say so ; one is not -thirtytwo, and a duke as well, without hav- f ing come across most of the marriage- 1 able daught-ers of the country. I am | *so glad both of mine are married ; you cannot accuse me pf bringing them j beforei your notice." < "Your daughters would be all that is charming," said the young man. . His ga/,o had folowed. Virginia Ray- { burn ag she and Fotheringay had ( found themselves a table rather apart j from the rest of tlie gay throng, j "But you have not answered me. Is she- engaged to Tony Fotheringay?" -| "Impossible!" said Lady Firmain. j "She could not marry him if she were. ( She has not a penny, and he has only j his dehts. I dare say they like to be £ seen together, for they make a per- t feet couple, but that must lie all. He ( certainly could not afford to keep her in gloves, and the Rayburns—dear, ~ unworldly creatures as they arehave brought her across to got her ' | well married. She could marry any- j body. Men simply rave about her. | Do you want an introduction?"' ( "Most certainly I do!" said the , young man. He twisted his fair urns- • tache, the eud'of which stood up a lit- ; .tie aggressively. "Why not? If she j is not engaged, why should I not run in the race?" Lady Firmian looked'at him in the amused fashion, • "My dear boy,, is it wise?" she asked. "Why not?" »replied the man, somewhat impatiently. "Don't you think that even a many of thirty-two, and a duke, can fall in love?- I could fall in love with that girl. At least," ho added, "I think it would be very difficulty for mo not to fall in lovo with her." "And vet vou want to be intrcduc- - ed? M ;. "Why not? Oh, you need not look at me like that! I am quite in earnest. Why should I not wish,to' be in- > troduced to a beautiful girl? It is I true she looks as if she were interest- j ed in the man, but you say it is impossible that she should ' marry him. After all, most girls are interested in somo man or other before they are married and Fotheringay is handsome enough to interest any girl." "Very well, I will find an opportunity after supper." Tony had seated Virginia in a corner, and proudly took a seat beside her. One or two men and women spoke to him.; He looked radiant, and his happiness added to his handsome appearance. One or two who had seen his absorbtion in Virginia wondered if it wore indeed possible that these two penniless, beautiful beings would have.come to an understanding, but they put tlu> thought aside. Tony's were well known.,' so were those of the Rayburns', carriage between a couple so situated was simply not to bo thought of. i "Tony always looks as if he threw himself heart and soul into whatever he.does," said one man to another; "and I honestly think he is smitten in that quarter. Still, he does it with his eye/open; he knows it is useless." "Why is it useless?" "He is over head' and ears in debt. There are rumours about, too, but there—you ought not to know anything abou it. lam sorry I spoke." "You have said nothing." "And 'can say nothing; indeed, I ought not to have said what I did. I know his colonel very well." "Then certainly you ought not .to say 'anything."" said the other man sharply, looking at Virginia. "She is a beautiful girl," he said, "and I should «ay 3ii* grace of 'Alfretion thinks so, too. I hare been watching him while you were speaking. He does nothing but twirl his mustache and look at Virginia Rayburn!" "Probably he has never seen, her before. Is sho, conscious of it?" "She baa not looked bis tray, Uut

BY ALAN ADAIR Author of "An Island Princess," "A Marriage of Felicity " Etc.

a woman knows when a man admires her." But the two men were imconcious' of anything that was going on .round them. Tony made Virginia eat and drink; he himself ate ..nothing, but drank occasionally. He was excited, carried out of Himself, his whole being ' quickened by what he had just gone , through. It was not until after the third dance that Lady Firmian approached Virginia. She had been dancing with Tony, notwithstanding that the men whom she had promised to honor were glowering at her from the walls. That night she did not seem to care; she "imply must dance with Tony. She. felt as if she would gladly whirl round and round with him until judgement day. A picture she had once seen of Francesca Da Hi mini whirled round in torment with her lover came Irafore her mental vision. "I wish Tony would keep me close to him forever and ever!" she said to herself, and then, when ber third dance ' with him was over, she was stopped by Lady Firmian. .?■ "The Duke of Alfreton desires to be introduced to you, Mis Kaybnrn," said.Lady ■Firmian. Virginia looked curiously at the trim little man, with his slight build and far mustache . So that was the duke! She had not been in London for six weeks in the season without having heard of the Duke of Alfreton, who was not only the best match-in England, but a very brilliant match indeed. She had heard that he was good-looking ,as indeed he was. But he wasi smaller, less imposing than she had thought, and therefore distinctly disappointing. She would never be afraid of him, she decided, and no man looked anything beside her Tony. She bowed, while Tony nodded carelessly and a little impatiently to the duke, whom he had.met. Before tonight he couldn't bear to lose a word of Virginia's. He didn't however feel any qualms about the introduction. If the duke had whirled Virginia off in a dance he would not have inspired a»y jealousy in him. He was too insignificant to provoke it. As for | his being a duke ,and a wealthy one, that Sdea was hot likely fto come into Tony's head at all. He was only a little man who aspired to bow to Virginia. *'l suppose," said the duke, "that it would be'entirely useless to ask you for a dance at this late hour ? I came here late, as I had to bo present at a family function. I suppose you have , not a dance left?" -"No"—she laughed— "I have-not. I am very sorry, but mine have all been promised beforehand." '"Even the extras?" -"Even the extras. I am very sorry" j "Not half vso sorry as T am!" he | said. He looked at her earnestly as he I spoke. He was not quite so tall as she was, so that his eyes were slight, ly below hers. i (To be Continued.) I