"Pretty Penelope,"

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 4 August 1913, Page 2

"Pretty Penelope,"

(OUR SERIAL

By tfiie Adelaide Rowlands,-; a ±w «» "A Oirl's Kinedom," "A Splendid Man," "The InterAuthor of B sin/' "Brave Barbara,"- etc,

CHAPTER XVll.—Continued. Jsot to put too fine a point on it, Denis was about as miserable and uncomfortable in the present position of affairs as a man in complete health could well be. He could not altogether explain his feelings that came upon him, but a different sensation was running in his mind that there was something about this last whim of Marcia's he could not quite understand. She had given him much surprise by her intention to go to this ball, aiid her arrangement to visit Lady Susan; and then she had planned everything so quietly, so secretly, one might almost have said that Denis might be forgiven for imagining his wife had some other motive in her mind than the simple one he had given hi in. He was convinced die did not care a brass farthing for this ball or any other. He would indeed have been glad had she developed any of the idiosyncracies that belongnumoroto .. ~.; Q i v w<raia n Ed to the ordinary -sw»v-. possessed of wealth and position. This ball in particular. was by no means what could be called a smart affair, and Denis could not re illy fathom Marcia's desire to attend it. However, 'by this time, as has been stated several times, Denis had realised that so far as his wife's character and nature went he must regard them as a problem impossible of solution. It was the positioa of the moment that made him pause and attempt an explanation of her proceedings now. It was the knowledge of his near proximity to Penelope that made him so nervous, restless and uneasy.

If he had believed that Marcia had discovered his secret, he would then have at once known the motive of her present action, but believing as he did that Marcia was in total ignor-" anco of his love for Penelope, he could not follow her. It would have been only what he. niight have expected fi'&m her jealous, susplGl6us disposition, this scheming to bring him face to face with the wo-nan she held to be her rival, and then turning his every word into some different significance and treating him accordingly to one of her fita of fury. All this would have been according to Mama's usual style, and would have followed as a matter of course had her suspicions been romed about Penelope; but it was more than evident that so far at least his love was to be guarded from such a horror, and th tt therefore Marcia must have some other reason for her present course of action. All this Denis determined in the innocence of his heart, little knowing with what bitter lynx eyes his wife was watching him, and sharpening her facilities to bring some suffering —of what shape or description she knew not exactly, but suffering most surely—upon the girl who was so dear to him. She went on speaking. "However, if I cannot go to Penelope, perhaps Penelope would come to me, Do you think she would, dear Lady susan, if I were- to write her a little note and explain that the weather prevents me from calling upon her?" Lady Susan seized on the idea with absolute avidity. Her longing to see (Penelope was so strong within her. "I/am quite sure she will come with pleasure. I have an idea. Denis, you are not afraid of the rain; you shaH either drive or walk over to Thicket Croft and bring Penelope and her guests back to luncliean." Marcia went suddenly and Denis o;r©w first red and then pale us herself. N

"I will do anything you wish, dear Aimt Susan, 1 ' lie said hurriedly, and he rase a« lie spoke. The suggestion came .upon him ' al-nost like a blow. He had begun to hope that perhaps it would have been posaiblo to Avoid meeting the woman •>•- ador ' «<1 , so hopelessly. fc eforo " he had arnyed ha.} ia(J tried to prepare hjm _ self for everything of the sort, but he knew hpw futile all such preparations had beeh. Fate was stronger than liia will. He would never have sought this trial and temptation; but it had come, and he must meet it the best of his power and courag',, Marcia's whiteness turned *~"£' av ness as she heard Lady Sir „„ A 3£L her message to Denis * and then ring the be'', f T Penel °P e ' carriage in winch - for s °™ f™* mar to Thicket *>f nv % Mr . *?* '" brought Der- * Croft -, Marcia had lope's prr .-»? P«JP<»ely into Peneof eivi* jXimi ty for the sole reason ou £ t -Jg her some pain, of finding s+ flow true was her suspicion, of -lengthening her jealousy and hatred, of bringing about some punishment on the two whom, in her curiously distorted fashion, she had convinced herself had done her great wrong; and now that Denis was about to make a start in this peculiarly disagreeable scheme she had arranged, Marcia felt that if she were trying to hurt others she would certainly not escape scot-free herself. The mere thought now of Denis going fb meet Penelope was simply torture Marcia. Denis refused a carriage. "It is only two miles, you say, Aunt Susan; I will walk. I shall enjoy the trudge 'through the mud, and the rain won't hurt me. What is your message? They are to come back whether they like it or no. All right; you will see I will bring them if even I have to carry them all myself. Have you any message for Penelope, Marcia?" Denis turned at the door and just gla-nced at his wife. The look that, fl.gr inst his will, illuminated his face, liui' her sharply. "Tour love, of courseP" ';Oh! my love, of course," Marcia said, as easily a« she could speak;

"ana excuses; you will know what to say—the usual pretty speech. Men make such prettier speeches than we do, don't they, Lady Susan?" But Lady Susan was very busy. She had seated herself at her desk, and was writing a menu for luncheon, extended to large "proportions to embrace the Thicket Croft party. "If you will excuse me, I think I will go and write my letters," Marcia said, after a little while, when Denis had departed. Lady Susan was full of gracious thought of her guest, accompanied her upstairs to the boudoir allotted to her, and did not leave her until she had seen that everything was present for Marcia's convenience. But immediataly she was alone, Lady Susan gave a deep sigh. "It is no use," she said to herself. "I cannot like her —she gets on my nerves, and somehow frightens me. A very silly idea, no doubt, but there all the same. Well, slid can't do much harm to my child while I am about"; and then Lady Susan pulled herself up .sharply. "But what on earth ,am I saying—harm! What harm collld she do to Penelope, and why should I imagine, "horrid things ? lam a Very wicketl old woman ; that is about the truth of it, and when I take a dislike into my silly old brain I don't know where to stop. All the same, Lady Susan could not rid herself of that uneasy sensation that something disagreeable was threatening her child, and that this particular something would emanate from or through Marcia Latimar. (To be Oontlnaed.)