Fotheringay's Son.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 7 December 1912, Page 2

Fotheringay's Son.

'OUR SERIAL.)

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

CIIAITKR IV. (Continued.)

"Indeed." .said the girl. She looked U.nvn ni her tei'.-cuj). Damian, who irai mopping himself vigoi ously, wondered at her raininess.

Ladv Kayburn wa.> not sell-po-:-;osx-ed. ' 4 "

"We will look after him,", she :-;ai<l. "j know what your "anxiety must he, hut you can leave him in our lianas

Arthur Damian's .smile lit ii|' his common place features. "He told n:e last night," he said. "J-ic was beside himself with joy. The thought of yen"— ho turned to Virginia anil spoke- in a low voice, "will keep him from feeling the pain, fan I give him any message

I'r.iin von '■ '•Yei-v' eiud the girl. "Tell luni that I am sorry!" Damian looked at her. She was dilferent from what lio bad poller. This girl who bad awakened !(n-e in Tony's breast was so collected, so quiet. A pang .seized him. ; . sho sincerely love him?" "1 will tell him," ho said, his voice vibrating with sympathy for his friend. "Is there notlmiu: more ■.■..■. would'caro to send? Perhaps \ vnuhl like to write a word to him?"

"Not now," sulci Virginia. She had quite made up her mind as s;lu= ■sat llune hiking at tin?, dregs in her teacup. The di'kc should hnvo liis chance. In Tony's absence she would ho able to know clearly where slio stood. , , "If he meant- more to me, I crm.:.. not think of him so calmly nor..

thought. "'loll .him, poor fellow, that my heart ilf 'lics for him!" said Lady -Hayburn, who thought slio understood Virginia. Virgin*-! was not impulsive Ike'Vrself; she did not wear her heart on ker sleeve. Hut she fojt it all ihe -more, poor child! Lady Rayburn was not the only woman who thought callousiie-s hid deep feeling. "Yes, 1 will toll him," Said ! ian. rising slowly. He was perplexed; his'loviug heart told him that things wore not ail right with his friend. "Good heavene!" lie said to himself "if he loses her through this he will do something do-meraie. He has no thought hut for her. And she is 'sorry'! I dare not tell him; he is capaide of having himself taken to her, broken limbs and all!''

Daiuian had no knowledge of toe: conversation that Virginia had over- j heard, any more than her mother 1 had. Ho loft, them slowly, and Vir-j guua ro;-.'e 'WiuioiiD saying a, word, j Somehow her mother's look of .sympathy annoyed her. The little duke was coming toward thorn, "J. have my ccadi iiore, Lady Kayburn/' ho said. "May I drive you back to (.«roen" buret? ' "thank you! sou said, looking at Virginia, whose silence showed her that siio was willing, 'ihoy entered the coach, Lady liaybui'iL sitting be.sido the uuke. "L wonder if you will let -mo call on you in Green street Y" "J. should be much pleased,'' said Lady Kay burn. The duke spoko no word to Virginia until he had assisted her down at the door of the house, and then ho said, in an undertone : j "I Buppcse you will not go to-- the I .Ropers' dance to-night Y" "Why mot?" she asked, looking him full in the face. •'• . i "I thought tho accitlen to Fotheringay " "Makes no difference to 1110 except " "ICxcept what?" "That you may have some of hui dances." "I step into his vacant shoes, then? "Exactly; oyu step into his vacant shoes!" 'I hope they will not bo too big for mo." "I think," said Virginia pensively, "that you will bo able to fill them."

OHAI*TER >

It had boon rather ,a quiet dinner. Xbrd.ind Lady 'Rayburn were really concerned about "the accident to Tony, and' Virginia said but little. She -was pale, and looked more beautiful than hor wont in her simple white dinner dress. "Poor Tony, poor fellow! Hard lines!" Lord Rayburn had remarked at intervals all through the dinner, and Lady Rayburn had sighed! now and again, but Virginia had l>oen obstinately silent. The ladies had scarcely risen from the table, however, when the sound of a handsome sharply pulled up at the door caused them to pause on their way upstairs. The agitated voice of Arthur Damian wag heard asking for Virginia. Virginia came forward pale, but mistress of herself. "You have brought mo news?" she said. "Yes, be was most anxious that T should come at once; the leg has been et. He bnore it like a hero—never flinched at all. The collar bone, toooh, it was ari ugly business!—but be never made a murnnir—smoked a cigarette most of the time—.bait now lie looks exhausted, and he asked that! I should' come to you and tell you., j He bade you not trouble yourself.. about him. Ho wanted to give a message, but said at last there were m>

(To ho Continued.)

wordy that would convey Jialf of what he felt. Tie said you would know that no jjain could take away the happiness of lying there, thinking of you!" "Thank you!" said Virginia, her voice very calm. He gave her a beseeching glancethat cool voice of hers troubled him. He could not quite imd'orstand it. He remembered that she- had not seemed agitated when he bad come to lir first with the news of Tony's condition. He could scarcely control his emotion. Jf only ho. could find aome word to touch her, if only he could -wrest from her some sign of love! "Is there-nothing you want lo send lo him?" lie asked eager!;-. "I will take a note, a flower —anthing!" "Tel him." sn.id Virginia quickly, "to do all that be can to go:- well." Damiaii'.s eyes met hers again.

"I will tell him," he said, rather huskily, and turned away. He then reproached himself for being meanspirited. "T ,siinplv cannot leave her like this!"

"Miss Rayburn"—ho began, trembling a little at his audicity—"may I speak to you, may I toll yo<u what you aro to liiiu? Ho thinks of nothing Init you day and night. You hold his whole life l in your hands to make or mar. Do not think mo impertinent if I beg of you for just ono tender . word to take to 'him as ho lies there in pain!" Virginia looked at him quite kindly. "\. cannot send a tender word hy n messenger," she said. Dann'an'fi faeo flushed. "T thank you!" ho said. "How stupid T was not to understand! You are quite right ; your words lose their full significance if T carried them. T will just tell Tony what you have said; he will understand." "Yes," said Virginia. "h<> will understand." Damian took his leave, and Virginia heard the handsome heing driven away at a tremendous rate. ■She went 'upstairs slowly, thinking hard. T'onv was poor. That was the upshot of her thought-;. Tony was poor and disabled—and Alfreton was rich and a duke. Things were very badlv divided in this world. The 'sbdit of hr. r rose-celored dres?' of yesterday in her bedroom reminded 1-r of Tony. «!|, l,„ f i ~ c- !( i t i 01 , ~„. vuMnn cf fueling. That t ];-ess meant Tony and his love to her. Phe could* not wear i[- to-night. Phe eruld hotrny Tony, hut she could not wear that rose-colored "dress to-night when ■she was to meet Alfreton. "■I will Avear my white tonight," she said to her maid. "] wore my rose-colored yesterday. I must not wear the same dress on two consecutive ovnings.'' \

"1 thought you said th rose silk, miss,", remarked the girl. "I may have, but I prefer the white," yard Virginia carelessly. She wen!- to the glass and'looked .'ft herself. She was rather pale, that was all. She heard a step on the stair and Lady Rayburn came in.