Fotheringay's Son.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 4 December 1912, Page 2

Fotheringay's Son.

OH? SBRIAL.)

BY ALAN ADAIR

CiIAITEJK 111 (Continued.)

"Good old boy." replied Tony. We 1 !, yon may he consoled by the tl; :ugh't that at no time could you have left mo so well." "1 knew.' said Damian, "I <lo not pxiyt for yen at present. That is r-i it should he—the world only contains <yiu , tW o—hut 1 might have boon useful b > vmi in tho background, f might !, ;! ve done a good many things for yen that would have made tilings easier, and that is why I am grieved to l>a leaving yon just now." "You'are an unselfish comrade!" said Tony. Ho was really touched :otlay I'.v tl'o devotion of his friend. "You 'are a good creature, hut y<m may come hack quite soon, and then you will he ready to help me if J should need your help." It was not to lie exported that Tony should be much troubled jus* now by the thought of his friend's departure, hop ivas it wonderful that Arthur fcjt hurt" when he realised how little Ins devotion meant to his fnent.. "But I must not judge him," luv said to himself, when Tony had' made a noisy exit; "he is wild with joy. J. shall nover forget the look on his face —never! Heaven grant that she may be worthy of all this love!" Arthur Damian lay awake and wondered how it was all going to l>e managed.

"I suppose she lias some means; she is an only daughter, and the estate cannot he entailed. Even Tony could not think of such an absurdity as marriage on his limited income*. His five hundred a year must he all eaten up by his debts. She must have something.' It is impossible that the Ilaybiirns should have allowed the matter to proceed if she had nor, enough for both." Then he wondered whether there was anything he could do to make things easier lor his friend—his David. "1 suppose he will want to give her ] an engagement ring," he sa'd. ''l wonder whether he has any ready money? I know ho generally manages to get hold of some, but I do not know where he gets it. Ho is usually lucky I with cards. 1 do not suppose he would be offended if I offered him a hundred or so just to give her a. present." How Tony would have laughed if he bad heard Arthur's soliloquy! When was ho ever offended when Damian ofj Cored him money? He had taken I pounds with no more thought, of obligation than if Arthur had been his legal guardian and had paid him his allowance. Money was dross. And if Damian was willing to provide it. so much the better. Tony, rested for a few s.-hort hours ' jaud then betook himse'.f to Green j Street. He was too early to «eo Lord Rayburn. who did not like London hours, and who arrived downstairs in a rather untidy pair of slippers quite an hour after Tony's appearance. But Ton.v was .not ot all bored—was he not in. the room which Virginia' presence glorified? Was not that the novel die had been reading, the ivory paper knife which she must have used some timesp Here in Virginia's room it was sweet to dream of her. He seemed to feel her prosenro. Lord Iliiyburn found him sittiug quite happily in the eh air in which Virginia usually sat, his head pressed against the blue <>ilk cushion that he had seen her use.

"I am so sorry, my dear fellow,'" began Lord Rayburn, who was not Jit all able to grasp why it was that Tony liked to wait in this room. "Don't be .sorry!" said' Tony impulsively "You know why I haw come?"

Lord Rayburn smiled, but made no answer, for the door opened and Lady Rayburn came in. She bad been told of Tony's nrrivaJ, and she wanted to .see him. She and Lord Raybv.rn were like a pair of gentle babies;. "Yes, we know," she answered for her husband—she generally did. "We know it is Virginia you have come for, is it not?" "Yes." The young man's eyes became moist. "I love her!" he said reverently.

"1 have known that for seine time past," replied Lady Rayburn., profoundly touched by his ©motion. "I love her," said Tony again— : 'J cannot tell you how diim'i! There are. no words in any language, I think, that can make plain the language of my heart! I can only say this—that there is no world except the world loro luisS made for mel" "Yes," said Lady Rayburn, her beautiful eyes filling with tears, "I slwaya wanted Virginia to be loved like that. She inspires great love; she emild not be wooed by a commonplace man ; she can only be wooed by a man i such as you. That is what I iiavo al- * ways thought would happen to Virgin. in." "But I am »ot worthy of her," «aid

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

tho young man. and iiis humility iva? sincere. "1 am a poor .sort of a fellow, really ; I havo thought too much oi" pleasure l —of tho ])loasure of tho morn out, that is —but I will do so no longer. If you will give nie Virginia .1 will live i'or her alone. I will amend my ways. There is oac thing i want you to know, and that is that there has never been any other woman in my life. I have never cared for women. I think it is," ho added rather naively. "because they have always cared for mo. One, does not value what one gets easily. But Virginia, she is my (irst, as she will be my last love." "Yes," said Lady Kayburn. She stretched out her slim hand to Tony. "And we are happy to give her to y-.ui. arc we not, George?" She looked at her husband lovingly, and he responded with a similar look. "] thank you!" said Tony-solemnly. "I want you to know that there ip no gift in the world like her, that ;. "feel how good you both are to trust me, and that your trust shall be abundantly justified." He raised Lady Kaybtirn's hand to his lips and kissed it. His manner waso charming, so delightfully genuine and spontaneous, that Virginia's' parents wore delighted. But none of the fliree gave a thought to ways : .means. This was a subject that was not once touched upon. The two babes in the wood could not have been more simple than Here tho parents of Virginia Rnyburn, who certainly ought to havo been more alive to her worldlv interests.

"I wonder if I might sec her?'' asked Tony humbly. . "Certainly!" said Lady Rayburn, with a f.'iuile. "She will bo in the

morning room. When Tony had climbed the stair l ; with the impetuosity that was part of his nature, she turned to her husband.

"He is a dear fellow," she. said. "We have been very fortunate, ! think, George!"

Lord .Rayburn drew her toward bin and kissed her.

"If they are as happy together as we have always been," he said fondly, "I shall bo contented. I smppose he can keep her well?" - he added, in a perfunctory manner. "I suppose so." said Lady Rayburn. smiling. "Ho could not have asked for her if ho could not. And lis mother was a Pontet, and that his live hundred a year camo from her, but what neither Lord nor Lady Itoyburn knew was that Tony had already spent as much of her fortune as lie had been a bio to lay bands on. "So sho was," said Lord Rayburn [ easily, "and 1 suppose that when we have another talk we can arrange I -ways and means. Wo -will give YirI ginia a couple of hundred a year, so [ that she will not be absolutely dependI ent on "her husband. Wo can afford that, can Ave. not?" (To be Continued.)