Fotheringay's Son.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 21 January 1913, Page 2

Fotheringay's Son.

(OUR SER AL

| </H.\l I TKR XXVI!. <(.' nntiniied.) ! "What a virago you ; 1 J ha;! i-.o iilva my daughter had it m 1 i, t .r ,k : . feel .wrongly about a- meie ! ! I did not give you credit tor iso kind a heart as you undoubtedly ! have. My dear child, he may '*| l> ! 111 1 ii in tn<? world, but tl j he'ir' <1 ;l vou.ng man w J ho suits me ; ' v ,4t>M- I Khali siMid Lavender a«iy. You i 1 :i.■"• t (ont'f'S your-i'lf that it is !ii.! awk.vard t-"> hav, a. young man ;,1 cat's house whom one cannot ask to mo-.'i guests. "Hut why can't you?" • ; \< v ('ear <mi-1 it is impossible! He i, not of our world. Only think how I s'ace.ld feel if any one of our acquaints were to take a fa™? him. I should never forgive myself. "If any girl were to take a fancy to said Svlvia firmly, "and if by ai'iv' chance he should take a fancy to her I -should consider her much U> lie on vied. Ho has brains to make aay position lie likes for himself, and his manners are perfect." _ Sylvia wheeled round proudly ana walked away. "1 always heard that grown-up <rirls were nuisances to tbeir mothers, ' said Lady Glazebrook, "but I never thought Sylvia would be like this to me- "i am sure. I never gav.e way,to nonsense of this kind. It i.s perfectly absurd. Still, to-niQrrow the good young man will take his. conge, and b\ th:> time we return from the picnic he will have gone. I h.ope 1 shall have no trouble with him. Ido npt know what lie thinks of Sylvia, He is a fcol if lie is not in love with her, and lie may take it in his head to be disagreeable. I must wire Lord !Maclsinnoii. Gla/.ebrook must be given to understand that I wanted to oblige an old friend. 1 wish Sir Arthur Damian and his interest in the young man were at the bottom of the sea. It is too had when I have worries of mv own that I should have my dan-

filters lov<> affairs thrust upon nie as well. They might just as well have lot mo enjoy this one remaining year of youth." Lady G lazcbraok's worries, however great they may liavc been, were not enough to keep her awake that iiigSht, She slept soundly, not even tliinking of the proud, passionate young heart that was! feeling its first pangs of love.

CHAPTER XXVIII. Donald "Lavender had. a. sleepless night, and with the break of dawn wandered aimlessly into the roso garden. He was weary and dispirited. Life stretching out before him seemed to promi.se nothing that was good. Fioni the first lie had known that he v.-i" destined tr> love unhappily, n.v! i.o-» he had the knowledge tiiat the pa : :i which he had thought would be liis alone was shared by a beautiful \oi.nn u,-irl on tli.p threshold of l:i>\ ' 1 have brought her happiness," he said to himself. "Yet how could T have dreamed that she would ever ocmlesceud to love me?"

And then, loverlike, he roc;)lied every word lie bad .said to her, every look lie lnul intercepted, everything she had said or had done. She was generous a.s so lew \wo man were t and through lier very generosity she would suffer more than most women. "But she shall not," lie murmured ".she shall not! I will clo everything F can to show her that T am unworthy of her love. I will do anything rather than let her blight her life through loving me. It must not be, and J will prevent it even if it kills me!"

With that resolve lie went hack to his own room. Mortimer Glazebrook was reading a lertter when bis tutor made his appearance at the breakfast tahle. A telegram lay on Donald's plate. He 'hastily opened it and uttered a little cry. Glazebrook looked up. "What is it? No bad news. I hope?" "[ am afraid it is.' Miss Bern a•" lias telegrai>hed for me to come home. My mother is very ill." "Oh, lam L%orry!" said the young man. "You must go at once, Lavender. Let me see ; yon will not be able to get a train until one o'clock; the nine-thirty will, have left before yoir can get to the station." Donald looked at his watch; it wanted a few minutes to nine.

"It is out of the question. Miss Bernard only savs. 'Your mother ill; come as soon as you conveniently can.' A few hours will not make much difference." • understand. H v.-:!! jy'" l - ?/'•- time to pack up." "Mort than time for that,"' said Donald. "My posmssions a<re but few. Perhaps you would kindly advise Lady Glazebrook for nie' J " "Yes, I will tell her a-s soon as she makes her appearance. Shall L send my man in to help you?" "No, thank you," said Donald, "I will do it myself. It will lve something to make the time pass. When I have finished T ishould like to come ,in and talk over tho Work with you."

ESY ALLAN ADAiR. AulJwr sJ "An Jatend PrlnoiM," "A M*rrlaa* •» FelHIt v " Etfi

In half an hour or so Donald had finished his packing, and in order to while away the time went for a stroll in the garden. He had not- gone far when he heard a voice from behind call out:

''Mr Lavender; f must speak to you!''

He turned quickly. It was Sylvia, who appeared to be very excited.

'"Not here," she «iid ; "eonie into the beech wood. We might bo interrupted here." "Very well! Will you lead, the way ?" "Yes," she answered, and did not utter another word nnt.il they h<id reached the shelter of the beechwood. "We can sit here," she *>aid., pointing to a log. "I have something to say to you, hut it is difficult. Ido not know hoiv I can get it out if you do not "help me."

"Is it absolutely necessary to say it?" ' • '

"\es." she «ud. "Mr Lavender, my brother tells me you are going a wa.v.''

"That i.s correct," he said.' "My mother has sent you away. T knew from her behaviour yesterday that she would. She spoke to mo about it, and her words were so insulting. They have hurt me all night long."

Have they?" He had intended staying some distance away from her, but 'he could not. Unconsciously he drew a little nearer. "X am sorrv," lie said, "that you should have troubled—very sorry! But vou are under a misapprehension. Lady Giazebrook has not sent me away. A telegram came to me this morning from a friend telling me that my mother is ill and asking me to come back at once." "Oh," cried Sylvia, "I am relieved ! I thought mother had sent you away with some is,ud). words perhaps as c..h'o 'had said to me last night. And if she had done so I should never have forgiven her—never!"

"ho, it tva-s ray friend's telegram ttaat summoned inc^.

r&m so glad." slip murmured ; " h o very glad! Then you will come hack soon?"

"I do not think T shall come hack," no said slowly

The glad look faded from ho,- face. You "vvilJ' not come back?" she wied. ''V.an will ncrt come hack 0 Ymi ninxt come hack, for I uill not nve my hfe without you!" "I cannot!" , s aid 'ijonald. "W do not understand, Miss Glazebrook, w?.,v ■shall not be able to come, back " IJie temptation to let himself , r „ to pour out hi s love to her, was "so groat'that }ie rlid »ot know how lie liadi the strength to -force back the paMoQ&a j wiorck that came suraiixr to Ins J'.os. "

•'" is • vou 10 do understand Mr Lavender," .she ft roii^ or exquisite tenderness "Why do you force me to tell 3 * ClI * Wl/ V do .\°u make me play the man's paitp" . ho said, struggling with all his 'might to keep his "feelings under restraint, '<l do not understand uhv you should play any part. You have always been very kind to mo, nd 1 am giad of this opportunity to say '"ondoy to you alone." (To be Continued.)