Fotheringay's Son.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 14 January 1913, Page 2

Fotheringay's Son.

S (OUR SERIAL 5

\ BY ALLAN ADAIR. 4 1 Author sf "An Wand PrliiMii," "A Marrlaga of FfllloC c*w " Et °"

(IiAI'TKR XXIII. (Continued.) I-.- '-t I mi led primly. If only ho had been heir to an honest name! Then ho felt that he might have had tli.i* world at his feet. He had a 1a a.\ s been conscious of power, luid always known that, he might become a leader of men. But the last three years, v,he !i!i(l boon eating his heart out iu ln's post as assistant master in a grammar school, had taught him that lie must :humble himself. Whatever his appearance was ( he knew that he had not even the illllcritar.ce of an honest mstn's stainless name. Hut now thiit lie •had entered into a. lartrer. fuller life, he felt that- there was vr longer any necessity to repress himself. 'Now he eou'd be his i-eal self, and si with his puoil lie soent much time in developing both ahis own and the younger lad's tastes. Be could not d'i'-guise from himself the fact that lie had completely !n«t his 'heart to Sylvia, and ban an intense longing to know something of the girl's thoughts. "Of course, she would, never think of me, her brother's tutor." lie said to himself. "There, is no danger for her. but as for me —well. 1 am de tilled to love unhappily. No man of my nature cctiW love an ordinary woman." Hi* was walking alone in the woods one hot afternoon. Crossing 0110 of the small bridges, ho. caught a glimpse of a white <figure through the trees. It was Sylvia 1 . "I an here!" cried the jrlrl. "Mr Lavender," she went on, as Donald approached, "I called because I was expecting some one to come and help me. I sprained my ankle on one of those stepping stones, and Mis Mirse lias gone to fetch assistance." Tie knelt down beside her. "T am sorry!" he said impulsively. "Have you a knife?" she asked. "My hoot must come off. T don'!-, mind the hurt if it is quickly over." Donald opened a pocket knift, and with trembling hand he touched the injured foot. She moaned. "Oh. 1" can't do it!" ;he said quickly. "It would huH you." "You must do it!" setting her lips firmly.

He made an attempt to insert the knife. Again she groaned, and, looking at her appealingly, he said:

"I cannot do it if you moan. It wrings my heart to hurt you !' ' Afte rsomo difficulty he succeeded in ripping the boot open. The pain was excruciating, but she bore it

bravely. "Thank you." sheisaid; "it is much better now."

e' ''bject to a telltale face. ' "I know you are fond of music by j that self-same telltale face. 1 have j often looked at you while we were playing." "Have you?" he asked, rather surprised. "I. thoughr your eyes were never off your music." ".lust as yours are never off your book!" she answered. Mr Lavender, do you know what I saw yesterday? I saw a young man, a student, engros- ,• sed in reading a book upside down!" He blushed. ' "Was I?" lie said. "Well, if you will have me confess, T must tell you that I can do nothing but listen to the music and look at the group round the piano. T 'should like to paint it. "Is it so very paintable?" she asked. ... "I think it is. Everything in the room charms me. It is just the room that I should have dreamed of .just the fitting surroundigs for you all. You know I come of very humble people, Miss Glazebrook. I had never ever heen inside a. house like Glaze- ( brook, or had to do with any one more exalted than Doctor Bernard, so that it all takes my hreath away a j little." "Does it?" she sked, in rather a surprised tone.' "Then you have adapted yourself to our mode of living extraordinary well; voit. look to the manner horn!" | "I am glad. 1 should not like to have seemed like a boor in your eyes." ! "You are anything but that." ! "Then you will give me a few words when we meet, Miss Glazehrook?" lie asked after a pause. | "Of course! I expect we can'dis--1 ' cuss many subjects together. Tam n bit of*a student myself. Mother does I .not mind what I pore over so long as Ido not spoil my eyes. Do you know I was about to ask you something?" "What is it?" "I used to read Latin with Doctor Murray, any brother's last tutor, and [ I thought- perhaps you would not mind , helping inc. a little now. Miss Morse frankly confesses that she has given me ali the help she can. If I came ( into the study when lam better and . read while my brother is preparing . his work, do you t'hink it would both- , ' er vou ?" j '"'Bother me?" lie cried. "Indeed ! 'not! Why, it will be perfectly de- • lightful!" 1 "I a.m not so sure. Tam not. Lady [ Mane/Grey, you know. Mr Lavender. , I shall shock you dreadfully with false ■ ' Quantities and wrong constructions. ' jYou will think I am terribly stupid. ! (but, for all that, I shall like it.'' | The sound of voices came on the I breeze. Donald rose to his feet.

"But I hurt you horribly!" "You could not help it. I think you would make a good nurse; you touched me so geutlv. Who taught vou?"

"One gets accustomed to looking after sprains and cuts and bruises when one is captain of a school." he said. "Were you that?" '

"Yes," be replied; "it wa s only a grammar school, hut Doctor Bernard, the head, is second to none in the world!"

"What an enthusiast you are!" she said, with a faint ■smile.

"\es." he replied, "1" am nothing if not an enthusiast I eitho.r love or hate strongly." "Do you? I love a man like that!" "Do you mind if I stay here with you?" he asked suddenly, she said, VI do not mind ; I a.m very pleased that you should be

here with me. It wa-s very lonely and the pain wis so bad I thought I should faint. Miss Morse will be away some little time. She has gone to Mitchell's farm to ask if they will send the low pony cafruige." "I do not think I could ever bo .grateful enough far having been led to walk in this wood today," he said, after a. pause. "Why?" she asked.

"I think —J Fear it is Miss Mo>r so coming back with some one!" ho saicl - Sb/> hca-rd tho. wove! "fear," hut made. 110 comment. she, too. in her heart of hearts, felt sorry ! that the interview was coining to an i em *' , • ! "Miss Morso must have burned. aI ffrcat deal," she said. "I did not think she would he hack so soon." i Tho .governess did not look exactly j pleased to find Donald with Sylvia. I She listened to all ho had done for ■ Sylvia's comfort with rather «. rueful ' air, "which changed to something anproaching consternation when Sylvia added: 1 i "I have just been arranging with Mr Lavender to go 011 with my Latin. jYon thought iho would not care to I give nve the t i m r* that Doctor Mnr- ' rav did, but be dies not mind <it all." I "It will be a great privilege," sa:d i "Donald deferentially. ! "Well T must make arrangements, th'en. a.nd wo- will sec what time wo can devote to it.'' Donald helped to carry Sylvia to tho nonv carriage and then wandered back into tho becchVood and o^ 1 " .the stump of a tree, resting his chin on his bands. He thought and thought and seemed not to weary of thinking.

"Because I was able to be of a slight service to . you, and also because 1 wanted immensely to hear you speak. You have never spoken to me except one sentence the first night wo met, and that wa.s scarcely to me, but in defense of a book you were reading." "Have T not spoken to you?" die asked.

"No," he said. "Indeed, why should you? There was | nothing you could have to say to your brother's tutor."

"Don't!" she said quickly. "I ha to to hear you speak like that. It

sounds as if I were discourteous—a •snob —that most horrible thing!" "I do hot see it at all," he said warmly. "There is no reason why you should not talk to every lout who comes along." "To every lout? Your description of yourself is not flattering, Mr Lavender!"

"We are all louis compared to you," ho said impetuously; "and there is no reason why you should

speak to us. All the same, lam glad

to have heard you speak for this little while, although I had to hurt you."

"ft scarcely hurts at- ail now," she

•said. 'Mr Lavender," she added playfully, "you luiro a very , telltale face!"

"Have 1 ? Is that meant to condemn me or to encourage me?" "You 'may take it in tliQ way you like best," she said, smiling. "Then T will take it that you do

(To be Continued.)