Fotheringay's Son

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 6 December 1912, Page 2

Fotheringay's Son

'OW SERIAL.)

BY ALAN ADAIR

CHAPTKK IV. (.Continued.)

"1 believe," said the duke, "that an mint of mine, Lady Nelders, iy a neighbour of vours?" 'She ii." siiid Lady Jhryhurn. Wo look up to her a great deal in tincountry; sin- is a ieader anions us." Lord Raybnni was introduced. Virginia, without, moving a muscle of her face,'saw that the duke was pleased to he introduced to the family. Was that his usual manner, or was he trving to he particularly amiable? '"Do vou mind if 1 come and .sit next to you?" he asked Virginia. "No," she answered. "Why should'J?" , , , x She kept herself well in hand, hut something told her that here iv;k lier opportunity. The duke was tint quite on a level with her—seated he was shorter than she was, much shorter. She had never admired little men and now she had a. wish that the Duke ">f Al fret on was taller.

His want of height did not seem to trouble the duke at all. Indeed, seeing that he could look into Virginia's eyes under the shadow of her hat, it was really sometimes an advantage to him. At other times he had been wont secretly to deplore hi;-; stature. A duke, ho had said, ought, to be tall and have an imposing appearanee. He had always thought that any woman would marry him 'because h(\ was a duke, and for no merit of his own; but he forgot all that when he looked afc Virginia. "After all." he said to himself, verv soberly, "if a man faces a thing it is all right. I want that woman ■because she is lovely to look at, hecause I like her voice and everything about lie.r. I certainly '.should not want her if she were ugly and loved me. She comes of good stock and would never do anything to shame me. Besides, she is not a woman who gives way to impulse—her lovely mouth, is too cold for that. I kvy* my rival —he is Anthony Fothei ingay. The whole question will resolve Ttseif into this—is £'ho fond eiiou-'h of him to refuse me? Tf she is, she will mntTV him; in not, she will mar-

ry me. And then lie -said aloud : "I suppose you have come to soo Captain Fatherim/av plav?" "Yes," niiswercd Virginia, and said no more. Uut the tone of her "yes/' uttered with buoli precision, such hardness, Vt him thinking. She spoke as if she {Sfre. angry with him for being poor. for -having captivated her fancy—in fact, for being Tony Fotheringay. " "They -say he plavs wonderfully." He was watehincr her; her beautiful face did not lifht up at all. "He is verv coed at athletics. T 'believe." .said Virginia. "1 have o nlv Ibeen six weeks in Ensland, you know Cai>tain Fotheringay is a sort of connection of ours." "But von him very well?" "T know hi in better than T know iat.iv other man. He oomcs often to

«M US." "Ah!" snid the sWtfy. F* u-n<? silp"t for n moment, siurl then Uriel od : "You remember vou have nrnmisorl me ;« .rlnnee for t.o-ni.d'}'--?'' "T nni n'ot lively to fortiet it!" sa'4 the fiirl, with a smile. TH,o+. sniiV of hers w r - on" of Vivdnin's eliiof charms. Tli» fluke f"'*' sure t.horo wns som" ki*»d of ii>vlorstancliuf between ami Captain Frrtliorinsrnv. hut., nil the ?nmo. lior smile was like a draft of wine to

him. "Will von give mo more than one donee?" he asked lie.r. "That depends." "Upon what?" She looked at him roguishly. "Upon the way you dance," she replied, laughing.* "Also upon the slate of niv programme." | "Also unon Captain Fotheringay? ' | Oueried the duke. Virginia looked at him steadily. , I I "Perhaps also a little upon liim." vslio admitted. "If ho does not approve, you will not give me more than one?" Virginia hesitated. "I am not quite sure," she ,'sairt. It was true that her mind wa-s uncertain, for she recognised, the -infillence that Tony "«<1 over her. When he was with her she feared that he would almost have the power to make her ignore his poverty, but she could not' be sure at all of the fact. It was ako possible that she might havo the courage to brave his reproaches and to break with him. She had said a moment ago to herself that she would not marry him if it wore true that he was poor. But now that a rich suitor had actually presented himself, she began to doubt the wisdom of keeping her promise to Captain Fotheringay. The duke marked her hesitation and understood it; he knew that it was not the first time that he had been weighed against an attractive man. He was not discouraged. "She is worth fighting for," the duke said to himself. The polo players rode in, and there vfiw Anthony Fotheringay on his pony looking more than ever a. hero of roI nian-ce. His fine figure was orect, » and the carriage of his head marked him from among the other players. Quick as lightning be had scanned the crowd and had found her whom j he loved. She caught his glance of j recognition; she know he would man-' oeuvre flo ae to get near her. Her * heart beat violently; she forgot tho I duko at her side.

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

Notwithstanding the cleverness : i Tony's play, they were a very evenly matched four, although for grace i-v'd horsemanship there was no one equal to Tony. And then suddenly Tony missed his stroke. Virginia knew the miss v. :i.« because he had been looking toward the place where she sat i'nd not at the hall. The violence of the lunge forward was so great that he could not stop himself. Pie fell heavily to the ground. Lady Rayburn uttered a cry, hut Virginia sat upright. She was pale, but did not speak a word. Did she know instinctively that Tony, disabled for mine time,.had lost more than a game of polo? A thoiusand things rushed through her mind, and through it all she felt the duke's gaze resting on her. Play was stopped. A dozen or more men sprang forward to f'.sene the unfortunate man. People craned their necks, watching his removal. Lady Rayburn wrung her hands ; she was much more agitated than Virginia.

"Poor felow!" .she cried. "Th.it it should have been to-day of all days!" Virginia made no effort to stop her mother's expressions of grief, hut she herself was quite calm. "She had her love very well under control," thought the man bv her side. "If -Captain Fotheringay is laid up for any length of time, I shall win her." Still Virginia made no sign; she sat perfectly- Still while all around left their seats and made their way toward the lawn, Lady Rayburn turned ti her. "Shall we go, Virginia? , We must find out if he is seriously hurt before wo go home."

"Yes," said the giru, rousing herself. They made their way to the pavilion. The duke became their escort.

"Tf you will wait here T will order you some ten and we will get of Captain Fotheringay," lie Mr "Damian is sure to be somewhere near, he never logos an opportunity of •seing his friend play."

They found a table, and tlio duke ordered tea for them, which Virginia, only sipped ahsently. He noticed that the Rayburns were not the cynosure of all eyes, as they would have been if Virginia, had boon known to he Fotheringay'x fiancee. On the other hand. Damian, when ho left the side of hi.s friend made, his way directly to the table where the Rayburns sat.

Virginia looked up as lie apni'<" hut it was her mother who a-" eagerly: "Oh, Mr Damian, T hope the captain is not much hurt!" Damian looked pale. "I am afraid he is," he replied, speaking with an effort. "You see he plays so vigorously. All the force that ho can put into his stroke made his fall so much heavier. His leg doubled nnder him, and it is without doubt broken. I fear his collar bone is fractured, too. I will have him taken home in an .'ambulance and will givo you news of him to-night. [The worst is that T have to leave him [ in a few days, and at the earliest it | will bo nearly a month's illness." I (To he Continued.)