"Pretty Penelope,"

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 11 August 1913, Page 2

"Pretty Penelope,"

(OUR SERIAL

By Effie Adelaide Rowlands, Author of "A Girl's Kingdom," "A Splendid Man," "The Interloper," "A Kinsman's Sin," "Brave Barbara," etc^-

CHAPTER XIX.-Continued

T>adv Susan stopped abruptly for a moment. Her voice was unsteady as she -went on speaking. "I have seen many painful things, my child, but none that have given mo greater pain than the sight of Denis' face as he stood before me. Hia voice was quite husky, and he looked like a, man who had gazed on some horrible thing, something which had touched the core of his heart and brought immeasurable suf- | fering. I put my hand out to him in silence, and he held it in silence for a moment, then ho tried to say something, to make an apology. Of course, I would not hear it, Pen. I had only to look into his eyes to read the onisery he was feeling. He told me he should go out and have a walk. "I may not be in until dinner time; will you forgive me?' he said, as he was turning away. I called him back, Pen, and kissed him, and gave him. a blessing.: I would have said something comforting had I known what to Say,, but •what'comfort could I offer? I watched him go through the j. doorway, arid my heart bled for him. I I know the Latimar pride, ,and I could not help feeling grateful that his mother was not alive to know shame at his '' < Ifady iSusan passed a hand hurriedly over her eyes; ;tears" were irolling: >down:,.her, cheeks. Penelope had intseii'and was'standing a little behind her. She had not uttered a isringl© word. There was such an indescribable agony in her throat; she could not have spoken even to save her life. •-•' Fortunately, the old lady could not see her or notice her strange demeanour, for had she done so she must have gathered a little of the truth, -.and - her/trouble would have been increased a hundredfold immediately.. Despite her sharply spoken reprimand..to her servant Shorten, Lady Susan did not feel comfortable about Marcia.. It seemed to her that there must be some terrible cause for such an outburst of wild, frenzied anger as had come to her ears. J£o sane woman could have conducted herself in such a way, was her firm opinion.

beyond words, and I must get back quickly. You know I have a little dinner to-night. I shall be very wicked for once, and give Marcia's accident as the cause for their joint absence. Do you think that will be best?"

Penelope had n one final struggle with herself. "She was trembling from head to foot when she spoke. "Wisest and best," ehe said, in a low, hurried voice. She turned to a bell. "I will have this note sent to Marcia at once," she added, "and — and I quite understand, dear Lady Sue, you would rather not go to her. I don't think it will be necessary to let her know you have come. She is not to know you brought this letter." At this juncture, Penelope felt she would havegiven all she possessed in the world had Marcia Latimar. been anywhere but under her roof. For the first time in her life, Penelope allowed anger to dominate her. The thought of Denis was the cause of this, and the memory of his wrongs made Marcia suddenly loathsome in her eyes "I do not want to see her. Ldo not want to have, anything to do with her!" she said to herself passionately in this instant, and then she shivered as ■wiih cold—a strange chill feeling had crept oyer.her heart. _ Penelope had-never' known, such . a-feeling- before/ Was it anger-—was it preseritiiment or fear? She could not have, told: She did not understand. She did not even question.- She only realised it, and the realisation was horrible and definite in its entirety.

Her horror and,> it must be owned, her newly born fear.of-Denis' strange 'wife would, therefore, have increased beyond all description could she have been led to associate Penelope even j in the slightest way with , Marcia's mad jealousy. .-."'■ > A glance at the girl's face must have aroused some suspicion of the, truth that Denis was closer, dearer to , Penelope than life itself; and, al- ( though Lady Susan would had no ground for imagining thatT the quarrel of this day had any connection with her child —as Penelope ners'elf did not for one instant imagine —she would most naturally have dreaded future possibilities. "Who knows what such-* fury •might not da?" the old lady,, had thought to herself as she had been driven" over to Thicket Groft. "In one of those fits of blind -passion she must .ho absolutely. Uncontrollable. Oh; dear! to; think such a terrible scene should have been played under my rcof; to remember that boy's agonised face; to realise the futwro life -with;Such'.a woman!" ■-,' -She said/ all -this v 6ut loud to Penfe4ope. - She was unhinged' and exported'/: she talked on very quickly, thus/giving Penelope time' -to collect her "senses and rally, her forcos; and there was another blow in store for the girl. Every word Lady Susan said, beat almost sharply on to her tortured brain.

The' rest of the story was but the realisation of a great fear and trouble Penelope had grown to anticipate. "When I had watched Denis go away, I turned and went into my den. I felt I could not bear her. Fortunately we ihad had luncheon, so, I had no absolute necessity for "meeting her just for the moment. Shorten came to mo by and by, and said Mrs Latimar's maid wished to know if I were going out driving, as hav mistress would like to join me. I sent back word that I should not drive, but that the carriage was at her disposal ; then I went to my bedroom 'to lie down, and so I escaped her. About half an hour before your inan arrived with the news of her accident these two note came by hand. IT&nis must have written them from the railway station, for it was one of the porters who brought them. Rend for yourself, my clear," Lady Susan gave Penelope an open envelope. "I cannot blame him, poor boy There is a limit to everyone's endurance, and*l felt when I looked on his. face that Denis could endure no more for the moment—and 1 was right, you see. I cannot blame him—no; and I can only hope it will have 'a beneficial effect, though I doubt it." Penelope opened- Denis' note. It was' Written in pencil, very hurriedly. She knew its contents reading. He had gone; ho could bear no more. Oh, how she had dreaded this! .

'.'Dear Aunt Susan, —This is a lire to tell you not to bo alarmed or surprised if I do not turn up for dinner to-night. To tell you the honest truth, I shall in all probability stay in London for the next "twenty-four hours—perhaps longer. . I don't feel in a mood for the ball, and! h>ve already telegraphed an excuse to tlia committee for my non-appearance. Give ft' business apology to your guests this evening for my absence from your table, and try to forgive me for seeming, T fear, both rude and neglectful. Your affectionate boy, D.L. "I have written-to my wife." "And here is the note," Lady Susan said, holding out a second envelope. "I think, Pen, dear, if you, don't mind, I shall decide not to see Mrs Latimar just ior, the momeart. lam not quite equal to it. I feel I should work myself into an agitation

CHAPTER XX. Marcia took the note from the maid with a curt word of thanks. The anger of a few hours before was smouldering in her heart. She had felt absolutely mad in that moment; she did not remember all she had said; but Denis' words, Denis' face, Denis' strong touch on her wrist afr on* particular moment — these stood out before her eyes in clear, strong colours. Marcia would never forget them ' } site had been unable ta control herself or to play her self-appointed part any longer; her jealousy could bear no more constraint. She had flung everything to the wind, and. let forth the stream of her venomous hatred 'for Penelope at last. ~ She could see now, as she sat star ing before her, the agonised look that had come over the .man's face as she spoke Penelope's name, the tender eagerness with which he would have shielded that name from her attack. (To he Contlnaed.)