"Pretty Penelope,"

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 10 July 1913, Page 2

"Pretty Penelope,"

(OUR SERIAL

;By tffie Adelaide Rowlands," * A u «a r.'rVc TTinirdom " "A Splendid Man," "The InteriUth°r "A 5Ss Sin," "Brave Barbara," etc.

CHAPTER IX— Continued,

Penelops' already overladen heart shrank beneath these bitter thoughts, and the, vague feeling of remorse and self-reproach which had lived with her ever since the day she* had worked so hard and so successfully to drive Denis away, grew now into absolute ant definite form. Denis, glancing now* and then at the white, set face, which was rigid and hard with the intensity of constraint that Penelope had put upon herself, was full of anxiety and yet ci admiration for her courage md he quietness. He was surprised at her selt-ccn-trol. It was not what his former im pression of Penelope's character would ham-lgd.hi.-n to expect under such oireumstarices. The old feelings, however, toward her did not 'assert themselves in th moment. Denis forgot everything belonging to the pasb. Love aione dominated his thoughts, filling his b;ing, blinding lis eyes, and dulling his remembrance ,to all that had happened, and :all that liy.« before him. m the future. ' , - , With gentle "hands and careful touch he cut away the riding boo+i, and ■ freed '*jfe.i°<>s. *"# swoll«fi. ~ >'-,--■' -' «No: use ■• w&rtin^-4ol" tfh>- doctor,!* te» : sad taking off his; white siMc wrap he tore it into strips, and bound it tenderly and firmly about the aching limb. " Penelope sat very still as he kneli in the mud at (h-er- feet. A dreamy sensation came over Mpr, a weary a'c quiescence to "fate : mingled with a. thought: . ' , Vlt would be good to die now—now while his heart is softened towards ma and be loves me a little."

His doctoring over, Denis steed upright and looked' -yearningly at the lovely, pale face, more lovely than e.vej in his sight with that wan pallor on it. ■ ' "If I only had some brandy!" 'he exclaimed, as she sat with her eyes averted from his. "It" is to be hoped Misg Eiley will think to bring some. How long were you alone before I 'came upP Is ifc time for her'to be back' hv now - * He stepped into the road and looked down the lano where Penelope's late companion ..should appear; There was mo sign of Daphne, however. "What you 'would have suffered if I had not-chanced to come!" Denis said hurriedly, his brows knitting at her evident pain. "I wisSh I bad you ■l •■:\v\ in Stevenstone."

' 1 asked Daphne, to bring a fly if possible," Penelope said, trying to speak and be composed. "You—you must net let me keep you here, Denis. She is sure to come soon—and—and—"

He did not answer at-ft-rat, he was still looking down the road; as she ceased, and s:t again in silence, he said, and this time his voice was no longer tender: "It is. impossible for no© to leave you—you know that very well." "Penelope coloured a little. "I don't.see th e !iimpossibility,'' she answered; -with a .'touch of her old spirit;; .V^'j^;you. ; had not come, I ;;BKould:^av^-viv^ ! '^ v /Of :: 50ur«^.--Irrit v -wa-s r very you. I ah* grateful. f '- Penelope was floundering a" little, and then her face brightened. "I hear wheels coming —it must be Da phne. ?' ' l)enis turned on her almost savagely.' „-.■•■ "You surely need not be so. ready to show "ne you do not want mfe!" he said.'. ■"'■''''"-"^

Penelope bit. lior lit). ''Your teniper -is just as bad as ever, Denis," she said, in her most indifferent, impertinent fashion; ".and really, you are most, difficult—did I even "suggest that, I wanted you to'go. away? lam not so silly. I may want you to do more things for me. You can be useful even if you are disagreeable!"

Penelope','"'safe fnrn the glance of bis keen eyes, let her own rest on 'his h'-ndsome form, with a yearning that was so breat she had to press her lips tight together to prevent a cry escaping them.' She waited for him to speak, to give her time to frame her words and to school her voire., As the moments "passed, and he wi* still silent, he poke n<gain with a <vt>tid©rful assurnotion of netu'lance. "I really think it is so silly oP you to lose your temper so easily. Denis. Now, what did I do to make you flare up like you did just now? Ynn are as <rrowly a s any old,he : r. I can't =.'yv." she finished, with a that sounded very like ihe old Penelope of Wavoston days—"l can't say I envy my Cousin Mania von- much. I he;r she is going' to be your wife, poor thing!" I Denis turned his head and opened

his lips a s though to say. something, but the words were unuttered. Penelope drew a deep, sharp breath. Miserable as this acting was, it was s-.fe at least—there was.no danger of hearing the love in his vo'ce. ef seeing the love-light -gleam from his eyes, while-that hl-ck shadow brought up 'o.easilv bv her words and maimer

rested, on his face. Hard as. it was to know the hot, contemptuous thoughts this manner produced, Penelope felt she was better fit. to hear that old burden th-.n combat the new" a-nd miserable element of his love, which; must never be left for her any more.

"The wheels are coming much nearer; go and see. if it is Daphne,'', she .-after a pause. "You know, Denis,", with ;;>■ weary shadow of her usual happy laugh, ."though you think me a beast, and I —l think much the same about you—we shall have to pretend to like one another now that we ;>re going to be cousins,

|; sK&H be-glad "to get. away | from she said,; witk a .shiver. *"lt is very good'of you, Mr de Burgh. I—l will go." She tried to lift herself, and then as the rector bent forward she looked at that other tall form standing aloof with the white, stern face. "Denis—will you?" she oranmired. She was conscious long enough to feel the touch of Ins hands. Then as she whispered eagerly and scarcely audibly, "Mother —niother —she must not be frightened—l must get back, and you will ride on —you will not let her think I am-" The words died away, and the slender burden in Denis' arms lay still and inert as .dea-f-h.; A pang like a knife went through Denis' heart. - Like lightning hi s anger grve place once more to his love —love and pity And admiration, and this time another feeling, a stron.fr throb of remorse, as he remembered how 1 he had held this girl to be adamant to all human feelings blind to all that, was pure and swelt and good. That broken sentence, preg nant with love and anxiety for he: | mother,' wis like the dream of ligth: | across tho <lai"knes.s v of the picture tlvi Km mind had drawn of Penelope. i I /!.. be Contlnaed.)

and —" then Penelope broke off. "Oh! it is Mr de Burgh's brougham," she cried. "How lucky 1 perhaps he is there. Yes, I think I can seo him. Now I shall bo all right!" Denis' face flushed crimson. "Penelope!" he said, in a voice that was full of passion, and then he Stopped abruptly. He turned away too quickly to see the look that flashed into Penelope's eyes as that one word escaped him. Had that look met his, it must hive revolutionised his whole nind—have shown him all that she- had worked so hard and so cleverly to conceal. But as it was he saw nothing, wiis conscious of nothing but that sound of pleasure, and satisfaction in the girl's voice as .she caught sight of Harold de Burgh coming toward her. The rector spring quickly out of the brougham as it stopped. "I have just met Miss Riley and learned of your accident," he said. aa he hurried toward her, and hii tone was full of• agitition. "We thought it better I should return for you smd take you bacrk to Stevenstdne. There is' no doctor to be had in Little Winstead, but Miss Riley has- ridden on* to warn Doctor Westall you' are coming, and to hwe everything in readiness for. you."*.