Fotheringay's Son.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 27 January 1913, Page 2

Fotheringay's Son.

(OUR SERIAL

' ""What do you tliink of the lad?" "Kotlwringav's son ? He is charming, with Fotlieringay 1 a hamfeome looks and his own very good bead. "'1 am glad you think so well oi him,," sair Sir Arthur, his face shining satisfaction. ,v You do not know how grateful I fool, Lady Wilmington.'' I "Oh, 1 am Mire of that!" she replied, with a. laugh. "Do you know what I have done?" ' "I have written to Lady Glazebrook and told her all about Fotheringay and hii.s coming here. I have asked, her to send Sylvia—you know- I thought he was - a little taken in that quarter." I "A little!" exclaimed Damian. i "Why, he is his father's son! Ido not want, him to make shipwreck of 1 liis life on account of a woman.-' j "But Sylvia is not like that; she is ' a dear girl and might' easily car© for him. With his appearanceand brains S ond your money he would be a match for anybody, and Dora need not let j hep corns unless she. likes. I have been quite candid with her." "And is she coming?" "I think so. She does not know that she is to meet Fotheringay, and you will not tell him?" "Of course not!" said Sir Arthur, feeling immensely pleased. - Lady Wilmington's euests were to leave at the end of the week. She was expecting o. younger contingent, she tokl Donald, of whom she soon became very fond. "Yo-u will have to make yourself agreeable to young ladies," she said jocularly. <; I wil make' an effort," he answered. with a smile, "but I do not think 1 shall succeed. There is only one youny lady I ever-thought of, and slue i.s miles above me, and always will 1)0."

"I am glad you are so modest," she isaid, not wishing to talk to him about Sylvia. Slu> was anxious that the voimi;- girl's ]>resence in the house slvouitl coma aa a surpries. Sylvia was met at the station by Lady ."Wilnnington. "TliaJik you so much for asking rue.," she said, sis soon a.s she found herself alone with her hostess. "I was jetting hippod at Glazebrook and did not want to go to Scotland! with mother. Here we shall be quieter, shall we not? Mother al.nva.ys goes to such gay houses." "But you oguht to like gay houses, | child ; you are not eighteen yet." ! ''l feel a hundrwl!" said the girl. "Next year I shall have to be preseut- | ed a nd* go through all the delights of j a season, I suppose. In the meantime i I prefer quietness." | It was not until they assembled in I the little ha!V before dinner that SylI via canto face. face with 'Sir Arthur

Pamian. "i did not know you were here,"

she said. "I have brought my .adopted son, Donald Fotheringay," he .replied, watching her closely. '•Your adopted son?'' sJie exclaimed. "I did not know you had an adopted son. And his name is Donald?"

"Da you like the name?" "Yes," slid said,- in a low voice. '"There is still ten minutes to dinner time," lie said.- "Come into-the garden and lei ns have a talk." ■ Tlicry had riot gone far when "Sylvia round -herself face to l face with Donald Lavendor.' Sylvia parted. • , 7."Excuse me a moment—l have forgotten samcthing," said Sir Arttuw: Damian, ..and he huried back tar the liau/se. "I did not know you were Mr Lavendor!" the g;Lrl said. "I have been 'here a week," he .replied, "I am not Ma- Lavender- —my real naame is Fotheringay. I am. Sir Arthur's adopted son." . "I hjad no idea that I should meet you here," said Sylvia. "And I lhad giot thought of the ■ gpcsati hick that .-was £ earnerthe reply. ••• ,;Y" ■. "v . ' "Nobody warned me"? T&ry have!" she said, . ~•. - had /warned ycra, you not have he -asked.;.,- ■ ; "You a,re cruel I" she cried patSM-oai-ately. "You should not have asked Lka.tC

"<jr,uel?" 'he said. "I cruel to you P ] Heavens, liaw could I bo that?" "You raiust have forgotten What passed between us. when we last ra-ot!" she said, with trembling voice, i j"lf you. think 1 could ever forget," • ho gaid, ".then you cmust think I am the most unworthy creature in the world!" "I do not think that," she said softly, "but I cannot forget that I told you I loved! you—and vou —ran "I." he said—"l lied to you! It was the one thing I cwild do! AndH<Jvaen forgive me!" "You lied?" she muttered. "Sylvia," she said,"don't ynu know now that I lied ? The marvel to me ivS that you could ever have believed

BY ALLAN ADAIR. Author sf "Ah l«*m! Mumm," "A Marrttffi sf FBsl* If y " Et»

me!" "Do you moan," .she asked eagerly, "that there was no other woman?" "There never was any one but you!" he said. "There never will be any one but you! I was bowed down with the knowledge of a painful secret. I was poor and a nobody. That is why I lied to you. I knew your splendid •generosity so well that, if I had told you one word of my feelings for you. you would have sacrificed everything for me." "Yes," she said, with tears in her eyes, "you are right;-1 would gladly have given up everything for you!" "Sylvia, you have lost your love fop me?"

"No, she said, "but I have fought it down. Oh, you do not know how ,1 have fought it down! I have had no peace—but now— —" "You love me still? . Sylvia, teli me, my darling!" said Donald, taking the girl m a. passionate embrace. &he made no answer in words, but laid her head against his sVvlrler. Donald's happisees was complete. "Sylvia," he .said tenderly. "you know how much I love you. You understand why I lied. Tell me that vou never for a. moment doubted my lore for you!" "I did not know what to think," she said. "Sometimes I thw' belonged to another woman, and my pride re belled against lovi"tr p -■ who did not care for me, But now ' know I am yours whatever the world may say."

'*My dearest," iho said, "don't you understand that I have com© to , you (because the world ca,n say nothing, because I am no longer a nobody ? it is a long story, but I have no wish to tell it to you now*. Only this I can tell yon—that happiness is now well within our reach!" There is not. much' to tell now about the career of Fotheringay's son., and the happy life he led with the woman he loved. They were married before the New Year. Donald roso to eminence in the political -world, and was ever ia favourite with Lady Glazebrook and her «>n, just as ho had 'been in the early days -with the pood doctor a.nd Miss Bernard. No words oould ever express what he became to Arthur Da mi an. Indeed, the only rival that Tony ever had in his friend's love was his own son. TOE END.