Fotheringay's Son.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 13 December 1912, Page 2

Fotheringay's Son.

'OUP SERIAL.)

(Chapter VII.—-Continued.)

Tony did not understand what was happening. Pinned to the. bed, with hoc pa-sious surging >" him, mad with til;- longing for the woman he Loved, it w.'.s no-wonder that lie made ;>■,;■'■! slow progress. Kour days after the accident Arthur Damian came to wish his friend <-'.:d-hy(\ He k»ew that things were rot. r-.dit wit)) Virginia, and he did -fi l . dare sneak ef her. She was not' •r rviir;tt;e trirl: 'die would not face ornvvty even with Tony. She had ou!v !:'•!• beauty "ltd In.".- grace to re-,m(i!Ti-»!l hev. She did the thin.™ that , vn v inm-ssible for Arthur to tinder-«(..-,,,r1-_sho loved lukewarmly. Ho cam" to Tony the very last thing before ho f>t sail, and had to insiect. many bouquets of flowers ,',o:it hv Trny's admirers. Everyday there en me crowds of rollers to ask after the sick man. .There was one, Arthur knew, who never came; if ftho had done so Tony would not have worn that stricken look.

"It's good-bye. Tony!" lie said, in •\ husky voice. <<t s it—so scion? T shall -.miss you, old boy, more than anybody—any other man!" he amended. "But T «hall always be there for

vnu—you. can, always count on .me," said Arthur tenderly. "I want you to fee] that T ishould never fail yon, and, Tony, in ease anything should happ-e-ii, to. mo, T have left you everything T possess in my will."

A light sprang into Tony's eyes. T-fo had felt his poverty lately after the fonveraatioTi with Lord Rnyburn. Arthur Damian saw the light and knew what it meant, and, ..so great was his love, did not resent it. For a moment neither of the two men spoke. Then Tony said, with real feeling in his voice: "I am a brute,'but you will forgive me. old nian? 1 seem not to he capable of any thought beyond her!"

"! forgive you." answered Dainian. lie wrung Tony's hand, and for a while was unable to apeak for his emotion. "Yon are the only being I have loved, Tony," he said at length', when he had recovered his composure. -"You have been friend and sweetheart and almost son to me—you are just all T have! Heaven Moss and keep you, Tony!"

Tony lay still, thinking of Arthur, for several minutes after he had left. Then his thoughts reverted to Virginia. And so, to his lasting misfortune, Arthur Damian went out of his life.

A fortnight passed without anything ho record except 'that Tony made progress. Ho was now devoting all bif.< energies to regaining his strength. He meant to see Virginia, face to face, to ask her the why and the wherefore of her neglect of him. If she would not come to him, then he must go to her.

It had been impossible for the duke to arrange the marriage so soon as he anticipated. His characteristic caution came in and told-him that it would be better for Virginia if they were'quietly married by lieensa in one of the districts where he had houses. A little clvurch in Chelsea was chosen for that purpose; and the duke, not content with that, went to one of his oldest friends, Hugh Deverctix and asked him to come and be a witness, to the marriage. Dcvereux was -thunderstruck.

But you did not know her a month ago!" he said, "I wanted her the moment I saw her!"

"But why so much secrecy? Why not bo married straight out and have a wedding like every one else? Does she con scant to such a hole-and-cor-ner business?"

"Yes she consents," said the

duke. | "She must be very fond of you, Charlie," remarked Devcreux innocently. "There are not many young women who would consent to he married at 8 o'clock in tbe morning in an obscure London phurch when they bare secured a duke!" 'Hie duke winced. "We understand each other," he said briefly. "Yon will have no wedding presents!" "We can do without thorn," said the duke. "Does her people know?" "No one know t s except you and tho lawyers."

"Do 1 they advise you to do the

tiling openly ?" "They have not ventured to give me any advice!" answered the duke haughtily.

"Well, you know 1 will do anything you ask me," said the youag man and then ho went away to glean

BY ALAN ADAiR Author of "An isSand Pr.ncess," "A Marriage ol Felicity " Etc.

some knowledge about Virginia Rayburn.

It w.-ts little that he was able to discover. Virginia was one of the beauties of the season, f md many men had paid her attention; but she was not one of the. beauties who play with men's hearts. Tony Kothermgay had paid her much attention before his aee.id.-Mit, hut everyone knew Tony's

circumstances and that matrimony with hirn wan out of the question. It was probably only a handsome man's liking to be seen with a handsome girl. SiiK'o then the duke had almost monopolised her. Every ono in London was saying that there would be a wedding, and Deverenx eonld not understand why the duke and Virginia should want ot much secrecy. Matters went on quietly. Lord and Lady Rayhurn confessed that they eould .not understand their daughter. Virginia's mother istill he'd to the "deep-water'" theory. Lord Rayburn feared .treachery. Neither spoke, to Virginia, about the matter. Tt was plainly evident that Virginia allowed the dnko's attentions.' Lo r 'l Kaylvurn thought it possible that she was waiting until Tony recovered from his accident before she told him that she had made a mistake in her feelings fcov ard him.

July h<id begun. Tony's imprcv nient was rapid. So were preparations ror the wedding. It was arranged that Virginia should meet the duke at the little ohm en .

sea, by married to him at eight o'clock in the nt'-jriiiiig, then return to Green Street and teJl her parent what .she had done. She busied herself all day so as not to ha\ : any time to think, but when the wedding eve came she had a longing for Tony that made her feel ill.

"I can't go out to-night, mother," she «aid abruptly. "I feet qui:. "You look ill, my dearest!" said Lady Rayburn.

Mum i!l,' ; s:iicl Virginia, and then, to her mother'a surprise, she. thing her head on her arms and sobbed aloud. It was not like Viginia to cry. Lady ltayburu looked at her for a moment, uncertain what she should do. Virginia bad never encouraged caresses —she was undemonstrative by nature. A kiss from her meant more' than a kiss from most people. Lady Hay burn embraced her daughter and tried to comfort her. "Virginia," she said, in a tender tone, "I always knew you were to bo trusted. I always know you :had deeper feelings than any one knows of. Be comforted, my darling! Your father and T will do all we can to make you happy." (To be Continued.)