JOAN OF THE GREAT HEART

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17974, 20 March 1930, Page 12

JOAN OF THE GREAT HEART

CHAPTER VL “So yon are both enjoying yourselves?” asked Lestcrlees. “Your father looks better; I am glad to see i the improvement. And you have been j comfortable?” i Joan's eyes shone, j “It has been a dream of Paradise | for us both,” she replied. “Y r our ! housekeeper Is a darling. As to Dad, i lie is a different man. I oan’t tell you how grateful we are.” “Then don’t begin to try,” retorted f.eslcrloes, with one of his rare smiles. “Come down to the lake instead and let me row you across." Joan followed down the path, she wished she could be rid of that uncomfortable, shy feeling with which this man inspired her. lie was so magnificently kind, so .considerate and courteous. If only it would have ! fooled there, what friends they could But it did not do so- Only half jcm hour ago when he greeted her loan had seen that sudden flash in the ; -grey eyes which betrayed their owner. • ’ She knew he loved her and she did ! not return the love- Yet for Dad s ■ mike she must accept these gifts from ! him. In vain she tried to make conver- ! cation, as the punt drifted on over the water. Lesterlees made no such cti fort. He only sat -watching her with 1 that quiet gaze of his —a gaze which ; ho believed hid bis secret. | “Dad wants to get right away with i the picture,” she said presently; “he ; can ijnish it in three more sittings. We ought to be getting home.” "Why?”- asked the other briefly, jaon hesitated; then tried to answer ‘as she might have done had she not i known his desire. I “There is so much to do in the ! early autumn,” she replied, “that is the time orders come in.. Dad hopes sell some of his sketches. The painting of your portrait is such au advertisement. We are full of hopes ' and plans.” , . , i ••You must not forget the doctors j warning,” said Lesterlees. hour I lather's health is the first considcra- ' i.ion, since 1 know it holds all your ! happiness." j Joan’s head drooped, j “That is true,” she whispered, ! o iU j for a time, thcro was silence between them. Then Lesterlees began talking of the garden, the neighbourhood, and casually asked if she bad ween to the Grange. -He frowned when . ne heard his sister’s message. “I dislike Sunday visitors,” he said : briefly, “but Erica must please herself. Ah, there 3hc is, coining up the drive- We must go back.” Joan was not sorry. She told hciIf os she -climbed the bank that she should avoid tete-a-tete -pilgrimages : with, her host. Mrs BayuelL looked keenly at them as they came up, ancl jean was struck at the abruptness of ■ Lesterlees’ greeting. Tills brother and sister did not seem particularly do- : voted 1 Alylne Sandall had been talk- : jii-i- to Ilardale, but at the first opper- : .tunity asked Lestcrlees to show her file orchids, of which he was very ; proud. Mrs Bay dell captured Joan. ••Gome hack to the house,’- 1 she re- ; quested. “I want you to help me get : some table silver out of the safe. Do : vou mind? Tony has given me the ! kev, but he does not like me to a sj. j the help of any of the servants as j there is a won-dca;ul lock which ha i to be set to certain letters forming the ■word barrier. You won’t mind leaving the others? Aline will have so much to say to _ Tony. They have not met for n fortnight. She spoke as if the two were engaged, little knowing how ardently Joan wished such to be the <sa ®®’ •It was not till after the evening meal that Lesterlees, who had shown himself abstracted since the departure ~ of the visitors, asked a question. j “Have you met Captain Menton at the Grange?” he said. Joan nodded. “ Yes,” she replica he was at tea when I was there. “ AJ-1!—-he was there-? y P ,, :r .. I did not bke him. Ho lives in Claxton Woods, does he not, and possesses a horrlbL, do„ I do not trust the monptc! c-r his master. I hope you will I not misunderstand me, Miss Joan my I feeling is so strong that I am prepared j to warn any of my friends against Imn. • I have warned my sister—but rim wih. | not pay attention. Personally I am convinced the man is a scoundreL I can’t put it more strongly- Now will j youx father be too tirod for a game of chess ?” „ f,... They had been standing on the L. - race outside the French windows of the library and a 3 Joan turned to , she Scied she saw a man sUp behind a flowering shrub near a Hlßbt oi steps but she was too uncertain to like to attract her companion s Yei as they entered Hie library, shuddered a little as with cold Lestcrlecs allowed his hand to rcM for a moment on her shoulder. “ You have caught a chill 7 - asked with concern, but she contrived a laugh and shake of the head. m “ Someone -walking over my S >- ehe replied, and noted the quick contraction of tor compooioo'o too™ biu hr did not answer as he led the way into the hall where i„ r joan went round to her Utaci s ■ S ‘s»t soto'cTto 000 you looking like your old self," she whispered, and he laughed with that gay note she I<n “T l could a work like a navvy after all this luxury,” he said, only v ' a n til l ic get home and I will show you. Lestcrlees had gone in search of a chess board and Hardale held Ins daughter’s hand. “We’ve got to consider that question of going home, Girl o’ Mine," he added. “We can’t encroach on such hospitality and we have nothing to give in return, Joan, nothing to give in return.” Hhj glance was one of anxious inquiry, and Joan felt her colour burn. Had'Lesterlees spoken to her father? She answered him slowly, and with emphasis lie could not mistake. “ You are quite right, Dad,” she said. “It Is because we have nothing | at all to give in return that vre ought to go home as soon, as ever the picture is finished.” Was it possible She saw a look of

disappointment in her father’s cyan? Was that a shadow of regret that passed across his tired face as lie let go her hand? Why, surely not, since he had always been so eloquent in his hope that they two should never be parted. Had she not given up Michael for that very reason? In spite of her loyalty to the father she 'adored Joan could not help feeling a stab .of resentment. Just because this T-cstcrtccs was rich he could buy what lie- liked . . and even Dad would he . . . content. 11 was the haunting thought which kept Joan from a full enjoyment of the clays that followed. Days ol' sunshine, peace arid beauty—-always with the exception cf disturbing visits from the ladies of the Grange. Joan v;as sharp enough to know that neither Mrs Baydcll nor Aline Saudall liked her. She was amused, 100, to realise how vain were their efforts to belittle

By MAY WYNNE.

her in Lesterlees’ eyes. But the situation was difficult, and oh! bow thankful she was when at last the portrait was finished. It was on the very evening of the last sitting that Joan unablo to sleep for restlessness and •the excitement of knowing they would so soon he returning home, rose about one o’clock, and, taking her book, seated herself for a quiet read to induce drowsiness. But even this failed and, before she had turned three pages she was on her feet, her pulses racing, her ears on the strain to listen to what she believed she had heard. The The window of -her room was open and -she was sure she caught the whispering of voices on the terrace below, followed by a curse. With trembling fingers she snuffed her -candle, then slodd -hack —still listening. And there could be no mistake. Some-one was down [here at the library window . . . attempting to get in.

CHAPTER VEL Should she arouse the household? That was Joan’s first thought, the second was fear that her father, who was a light sleeper, might be reused by the sudden commotion -and have a heart attack. “ If I go down with a light,” thought Joan, “it will scare them away. Possibly they are just tramps, and a housemaid has lef the wiDdow open toy mistake. I am sure I heard the squeak of an opening- casement. Shall I take the poker?” She was smiling with memories of certain vivid cartoons she had seen of an elderly spinster, with hair in curlers and armed with a huge poker, dislodging a burglar from under a bed. Anyhow she had no hair curlers —and she had slipped on her clothes. “If it isn’t anyone I shan’t have made a fool of myself,” decided Joan, with a nervous giggle as, minus the poker, ancl plus the candlestick, she opened the door. All was still. The staroase and passages wane empty, a calm white moonshine revealed dust along the woodwork of the gallery. (To be continued.)