"Pretty Penelope."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 23 August 1913, Page 2

"Pretty Penelope."

(OUR SERIAI

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

■ %■ will never speak again. She is dead,, Westall —and with a curse in her heart far me—a curse on her lips. She is dead!" Doctor Westall let his hands fall on the young man's shoulder. , <( Poor fellow 1" he said, in his; gentlest tone. Then lifting his other hand he took his felt hat from his gray head, "May God have mercy on her troubled soul, forgive her her trespasses, and give her peace," he said; and with that he left the living to battle with his mental agony while he went to look his last on all that regained of one who by sheer wanton wickedness had wrecked her own youhg life, and brought misegr ancl unhappiness to all about h^asr CHAPTER XXV.' / London was looking its very best; 'as yet the dirt and dust had not managed to spoil' the vivid green of the trees. The sun was obligingly warm; the parks were fragrant with lilac and with their gayly coloured flower beds. Before one of the fashionable hotels in Piccadilly, on a particularly delicious morning, a smart victoria came to 'a stop, and a young lady, with good health, good looks beaTiing from her, alighted and entered the hall, dismissing the ofr~' riage for half an hour. "Miss Desborough has the same rooms ,that .she had last time?" she inquired. "Oh, then I can find my way; she is expecting me." In a fever of delight and impatience Daphne de Burgh ran up the stairs in a most diginified fashion, tapped sharply at a door, and then burst n upon a girl writing at a table. "Penelope, my .beloved!!" she said. "Daphne!!" Penelope's face was suddenly illuminated. (To lie Conttiiaed.) !

CHAPTER XXIV. —Continued. Doctor Westall regained several hours in the sick room of the poor woman to whose sad and critical case the old physician had been so hastily summoned. Philip Gregory was unfeignecUy grateful to his older and more distinguished colleague for his assistance and was delighted when Doctor Westall consented to go for an hour to his rooms and partake of some refreshment before returning to Thicket Oroft. It was consequently quite late when Penelope's well-loved friend arrived at her house; and Doctor Westall had no sooner set foot in the hall than he scented excitement and alarm, Penelope, very pale, was trying to soothe her aunt, who was weeping and talking and gesticulating wildly. The servan -s were gathered in „ a group, and the doctor's keen eyes Immediately caught sight of Marcia & most patient maid, West, in a bonnet and cloak, with a look of fear written on her f&oe. It was Daphne Riley who saw Doctor Westall first. "You have co v ne at last," she exclaimed, in tones of extreme pleasure and relief; then quickly, in answer to his questioning eyes: '"You find us in a fine commotion; Mrs Latimar manages .to keep us well supplied with sensation'. Her last amusement has been to disappear mysteriously; she is nofe*in her room, and is nowhere to be found; in fact, we searched the house from tim to Mbttom —not a trace anywhere." ' He had expected something from Marcia'g quietness. Penelipe, as she saw him, gave a little cry, and ran towards him.

"Oh, ttear Uncle George, do come and say something to poor Aunt Julia, die is nearly l out of her mind. I—l don't know what to do." "She has gone to Latimar," Doctor Westall said tersely. He had ered from Mrs 1 Rochdale's incoherent words that Mavcia had read Denis* letter and had accepted it quite calmly, seemingly resigned at the tone of its contents; in proof of which state-, ment Mrs Rochdale quoted the answer she had given Denis, which West had been sent- to post. • The cunning of an insane person was revealed to the' physician at every turn. , "She has gone to LaU-nar," he said, and his face was very 'stern, "and I must go after her," he added deliberately. Neither Penelope nor Daphne made any protest to this; there was something in his manner that taught them howl seriously he regarded Marcia's last act of folly and madness. The will, of the woman was supreme; what it must have cost her to have dressed herself first; and then have schemed to Wave, her room unnoticed! Her will was indeed extraordinary, but what of her physical strengths "Useless to go by train. I must have the car and start at once. Have it send round, Penelope. And West, (get something to eat as you can ;,you must cone with me. Penelope wreathed tier- arms the old man's neck, resting her .soft clieek against his grizzly beard,, "'.Rear Uncle George," she .said, in her pretty, tedder voice, "hdw good you are!! And you must be so tired. You look worn out."

',l am all right—mustn't he tire | with the work I have got, before rne. Now, Daphne, just you see this child goes to bed at once —at oncfe. No '"sitting up with your aunt or any other nonsense; you understand, Penelope?" r His voice was gruff, but his 6y©s were tender. He held the girl in. his arms a little longer, then watched Daphney Riley take her away. The church clock was striking halfpast one as they entered the little village that had , bean Penelope's home fir si long, and where those bright, (mischievous days of her girlhood had been passed The big gates of Latimar Court were open, so they flew up the avenue. At the entrane there was some one waiting, evidently in expectation. It was Denis Latimar's man. He •gave an exclamation of intense surprise as he saw who had arrived. "We sent for Doctor Goodfellow. We did not know you were back, sir." "Mrs Latimar is here?" Doctor Westall asked briefly, though lie knew she was before he 'asked. "She arrived very late, sir, about ten-thirty. Sho is very ill, sir, I am" afraid," the man added. His whole manner denoted inten e anxiety. "We've done all we could; but we couldn't get no doctor, sir. J sent all round; but they were all out. It aunt be Providence that fecjit you to us, sir." "Providence first, and my own brains afterward," Doctor Westall replied grimly. As he crossed the hall a door opened, and Denis ! came out of a room. Ho struggled with his emotion, and then broke down, falling into one of the big oaken chairs, and bowing his head on his hands as a stotit tree bends beneath the fierceness of a gale. "Id is awful —awful!" he muttered. "I cannot bear it. She —she cursed -ne, Westall! . I shall have Llxat, curse with me always—always! 1 have tried to: plead with her. J have asked her forgirenness if I have wronged her. I have done all —" He broke off. "Do you need to tell this to me, Denis ?" the older man said. "Rouse yourself. Shake off this horror. She is mad, you know. She does not know what ©he isays. What is her ooui'se? The frenzy of a madwoman. Rouse yourself. I will go to her. If there is aiW trace of humanity left in her breasts-" Denis lifted his ashen face from his hands. ; "Do von not understand? She