"Pretty Penelope,"

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 1 August 1913, Page 2

"Pretty Penelope,"

(OUR SERIAL

By tffie Adelaide Rowlands, Author a* "A Girl'a Kingdom," "A Splendid Man," "The InterAuthor oi B t( 2

CHAPTER XVn. ' 'Oil! hut of course you are not serious, Pen dear. You must come! to the ball. Do you hear what she is saying, Daisy? She does not intend to turn up on Wednesday night. Why, it is absurd!" "Dear Daphne, you are as vigorous and vehement as ever, I find!" Penelope laughed. /She was very glad to see her old girl friend again. Daphne Riley and she had never v indulged in one of those h<?t and strong friendships which occur in the lives of most girls. In faot, they had drifted apart considerably when Penelope had been at school; but there had always been sincere liking between them, and good-fellowship. Daphne was not pretty, but she was essentially a nice- girl, with a good figure, clear complexion, superb teeth, and equally magnificent constitution.

She was of an altogether more robust type than Penelopej oould be in the saddle for hours, ride anything, jump anything, dance all night and ride again all the following day. Mrs Warriner, iher married sister, who Was to do duty as chaperon, was a replica of Daphne, only on a slightly more' scale. . The advent of these guests completely metamorphosed Thicket Croft. Penelope was A little dazed fey the bustle ana chat- i ter for the first hour or so. As Doetor "Westall had prophesied, Daphne j Riley would do her best to "make the ' house jump"; but Penelope soon found considerable pleasure in the innovation. . It was strange to her to find herself laughing so heartily, being danced up and down stairs, and through the halls and corridors, having anecdotes screamed at her from odd corners,and finding herself in perpetual request. "It is just angelio of you to take us in, Pen, and such luok your being able to do it„" cried Miss Riley, when she had made herself breathless with explorations over Penelope's domain. "I was wondering how on earth I was going to get to this dance, and then all at once I set my brain working, rubbed up rtiy memory, discovered you were absolutely on the very spot, and I lost no time in throwing .myself on your mercy!" "And very glad I am to have you," said Penelope* warmly. Indeed, she felt wonderfully cheery for the advent of thesd two bright girls; Mrs' Warriner was very little older than her sister. ' It was not possible for any one to remain low-spirited, however, very long when Daphne Riley was to tbe fore. She carried an atmosphere, and awakened the old flow of spirits arid mischief. , "I don't know when I have laughed so much," Penelope said, as they sat round the fire in her bedroom, and brushed their hair. "Daphne, you are too funny; bvit how cruel you are to tbatpoor little Frank Neville. " You know he adores you!" Miss Riley made a move, and her sister laughed,slyly. , "Oh! Frank's sun has set long ago, Pen," she said. Pen was, all agog. * "Oh! Daphne, who is itDo tell mevOu know I sUways criticised your flirtations. • Is it any one I. know? Do be an angel, and speak out." .Miss Riley, however, averred with considerable emphasis that she had nothing to tell; but Penelope observed that hericolour deepened, and her warm sympathy was immediately touched, for she felt at once that if fras no mere "flirtation" with Daphne this time. Mingling with her sympathy was a quick throb of regret that was 'almost like envy. 1 She did not pvess her friend to real anything: knew Daphne would speak by and by. The conversation turned once again on the ball, and Penelope's statement that she was not goirig was greeted with absolute dismay and disappointment. "My uncle has not been dead three months; you forget that, Daphne," she said gently, when she had listened to much protestation. "But—" Then Daphne paused. She knew Penelope well enough to be sure that if her mind were once made up on any point all the urging in the - world . would not make her change; .moreover, it was impossible to argue down the girl's mourning as an objection.' "I shan't enjoy it one bit now," she said dismally. "Daisy, isn't it a disappointment?" Mrs Warriner was as cordial in her regret as her sister. "Are you going to remain in mourning a whole year, 1 Penelope?" she asked., "I .mean, are you going to live just as you are, and go no-' where?" Penelope was gazing dreamily into the fire. <{ .' Do you know," sho said softly; "it is not at all a disagreeable prospect. I am sure I shall be very happly and peaceful here, except of course, on occasions as when my friend Daphne pays me a visit, which I hope will be-very often. You are not exactly synonymous with peace, you know, Daphne, dear. I came to [ Jive here on purpose to avoid society in the ordinary sense of the word. Had I done what ,my aunt, Mrs Julia Rochdale, desired, I should have m&de very different arrangements! but I don't regret my choice. I have my house, and love it, and I mean to try arid be as ha/ppy as I can!" "I don't think you will have to try very hard, Penelope. I call it the dearest old place in the world, and, I warn you I shall be dropping in upon you wlien you least expect me." Per "lope was only too glad to keep the ci n versation to this groove. She dreaded the introduction of Latimar's

name, it was such pain to have to sit and hear again the story of Denis's unhappiness. By some means or other the subject was not introduced, and by and by, when Daphne went away to her own room, her sister stayed behind a few minutes to say a few worls about her to Penelope. Those few words gave the girl a touch of real, sincere joy and satisfaction, for they spoke of the strong friendship and interest that had arisen of late between Daphne and Harold de Burgh, and of the possibility of something closer and more lasting springing from this friendship. It was long since Penelope had heard anything directly of or from j him, but she had never forgotten j him, and her thoughts had always I taken a sad tinge when he rose before j her. The prospect of his finding a wife I and happiness with another gave | Penelope great happiness, and relievI ed her heart of one of its ever-present regrets. "How glad I shall be I Oh! Daisy, I hope we shall see this oome to pass." "Do not tell her I have spoken, Pen," Mrs Warriner said. After all, you know it may come to nothing. These things fails through so often; but I (hope, for her sake—" Penelope Was full of quiok sympathy. "I will say nothing; but I am sure it will end well, Daisy. I know Mr de Burgh always liked her. I have heai'd him speak of her so warmly time after time when lie came to see my mother. Is he coming to the ball?" she asked. "Not t( dance, but to look on," Mrs Warriner smiled. "Oh course, you know he arid Mrs Latimar have come to daggers drawn," she went on, "that is, if one can use such a metaphom to such a man. Pen, my dear, what an odious creature she is; I never could endu;re her! What on earth ever induced Denis to make such, a fool of himself? This is one of those things I shall never understand; but, there, if I begin on this subject I shall keep you up all night, and you look very tired already. I don't think you are quite as robust aa you used to be, little Pen. You must have <somo one to take care of you one of these days, soon. Good night, dear, and pleasant dreams." "Pleasant dreamsi!" Penelope murmured to herself, as she sat alone by the dying fire. '.To "oe Uontln-ied.)