The Troubled Journey

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19885, 14 May 1936, Page 4

The Troubled Journey

SERIAL STORY

By MARGARET GLENN.

sVNOPSIs. .' Joan .\lartin cannot “get on" with Janet,i her stepmother. The other Martin children, Felicity and Jimmy, feel the same. but it is easier for them, as Felicity 15‘ married and living in London, and Jimmy 13 away at school. | At last Joan revolts and sends a tell:B’PBm to Felicity, asking it she can live with her, CHAPTER Vila—(Continued) “It will be wiser," Felicity said, “to try and End a pleasant little family who need a paying guest. Do you still want to live in Wimbledon. dar—ling?“ Joan coloured a little. The meaning behind that question was, very obviously, Derek Graham. She' laughed. “I want to be within easy reach of it, anyhow." “The nearer you are to the city the better." said Felicity, thoughtfully.i “Leave it to me for a day or two; I'll‘ find something." “I suppose," said Joan, a few min—utes later, as she was nursing a Babs who 'had grown fatter, oheekier and: prettier every day. “you couldn‘t leavei her behind to 'keep me company ?" i “Not for all the money nor all thei sisters in the world,’ said Felicity. pressing 'her finger gently into the baby's cheek. ‘ Just for a moment Joan looked wist—l tul. Felicity, who understood many things at' which Joan didn't guess, nodded to herself. and wondered. That was a month before Dick and Felicity were due to sail from London. On the following day, Derek Graham was surprised to have as a visitor the sister of Joan Martin. Derek and Joan Were “friends.“ Felicity, in her own mind, was by no means certain whether Joan was really in love with the serious-looking Derek, ‘ although she was inclined to ‘hope so; ‘ Felicity liked Derek. She knew that beneath that cloak of reserve he pos—sessed a very real sense of humour; and she needed no telling that he was as straight as a die. The trouble would be to make him break down that barrier of reserve, or shyness, which seemed to curse him. ‘ Felicity did not know, of course. of the tragedy of Derek's previous marriage. She was sure, however, that there was no one in London whom she knew, and with whom she would more willingly leave Joan. She would have felt a great deal more anxious about her sister but for the friendship with Dcrek, But she considered it wise to talk with him about the unproaching journey abroad. She was wise enough not to ask him, direct, to keep an eye on Joan. 'ln—stead: “You know so many people about here," she said, “that you might know someone who'll be able to help me—and Joan, incidentally." .lle coloured a little at the mention of Joan, but Felicity affected not to notice it, Briefly she explained that she would be leaving England for at least twelve months, and she wanted to feel that Joan was with someone who would make her at once comfortable and happy. Derek was obviously pleased at the prospect of helping Joan. .“I've an idea that several people would be glad," he said. “\Vhereabouts does she want to live? Near here?" There was something in the eager—ness of that question which made Felicity want to laugh. But she kept a straight face. “ Not too far away, she says. ! think—“ Felicity could not resist this little dig—“l think she‘s made one or two good friends while she's been down here, and she doesn‘t want to lose touch with them!“ Was there a flicker of amusement in Derek's eyes? Felicity was inclined to think that there Was,‘and that he had realised she was pulling his leg gently. “Naturally," he said, in a level voice. ul‘ll give you one or two names and addresses.“ ' “ Joan doesn‘t know I’m getting your help,“ said Felicity, after she had thanked him for the names, the list of which she had tucked into her hug. " I Thought it wiser not to tell her." This time Dcrck really went red; but he managed a smile. “ I'm gl:ui,‘.‘ he said. Felicity shook his hand, impulsively. “ The best of luck," she said, and before Derek had really grasped what she was saying, she had left the oillcc. Derek smiled to himself. It was the first time he had seen Felicity more iihau to say "good—morning" to and ,he realised, now. that she possessed is. great deal of the charm which made {Joan so precious to him. For Derek

was certain enough, now, of his love for Joan. The only thing which had worried him, before, had been the tshadow of that previous marriage. But the past was the past. He found thimself picturing Joan's adorable lips. her fine grey eyes, he found himself imagining the Smooth texture of her hair as he ran his fingers through it. Dreams—dreams. Derek Graham deserved his dreami. for life had not given him a very heafitiful reality. Several times on the following evening Felicty burst into little ehukles. which Joan couldn‘t understand.‘ , They were calling at the various addresses which Derek had Supplied. of people whom he knew were prepared to‘take in paying guests, and whom Derek had been able to recommend. ' “ Thoughts," Felicity would answer, when Joan asked her what the trouble was. Secretly, she was enjoying the fact that their calls had been made on the strength of Derek‘s list; she wondered what Joan would say if she knew. But Joan didn't; know. At that moment it was just as Well that she didn't; a few months later it wouldn't matter at all. and she would laugh Just as much as Felicity was doing. The third house at which they called seemed more suitable than either of the others. The _flrst had been owned by a pleasant enough little woman, but there were three other boarders, and Joan was anxious to get a place where she was more one of the family than one of several “ paying guests." The secand}l address was too close to thei Gra am School of Commerce. Joan didn't say that was the reason why she ‘ disliked it, but Felicity was sure . enough that her sister didn‘t want to be sitting, in eitfect, on Derek’s door—step. The-third house, however, one in a winding avenue of homes very similar 'to Downs Road, was owned by a plea—sant—faced woman of middle-age, who said quite frankly that she was anxious . to make a little money so that it would be saved up for the inevitable rainy-day. Both Joan and Felicity liked her frankness, the obvious taste with which , the house was decorated, and the fact . that a huge Dalmation dog took to both i of them immediately. l Sam, the dog, would probably have turned the seals even i! the other ciri cumstances had not been so promising. 1 As it was. Joan arranged to go there , in ten day's time. i Mrs Gregory shook hands as they ieftthe house, and said: “ You‘ll be as happy here as you can ; make yourself, Miss Martin—we shan't . worry you in any way." , “And that‘s as nice a way of putting it as I can think of," said Joan, I as the two sisters walked from Mark- , ham Avenue. . That evening, Joan wrote to her ; father, and told him what she was [ doing. She received a reply, by re—- , turn, asking her to try and visit Dan~ , chester with Felicity, before they . moved. ; The only opportunity which presented itself was that week-end. In , any case Felicity had wanted to. visit , her father, and Dick, fortunately, was . able to get the Saturday and Sunday free from work of any kind. They . motored northward-s, and reached West , Side towards six o'clock on the Satur- . day evening. They were surprised, and pleased. to find that Jimmy was home for the Christmas holidays. and that Janet . Martin had gone away for the weekend to some friends in the country. Old John had arranged it. and Janet had not desired to meet those members of his family who belonged, so definitely, to a period before she had arrived on the scene. But against these two things was the disappointment at finding Old John so ill. He was not ill in the sense that he was bedridden, But it was obvious that he was breaking up. Only his spirit was as young as ever he had been. Joan felt a pang of remorse as she looked at him. She wondered. for the first time, whether she had been rtn‘ht to leave tier home. The pos—sibility that he would have kept in better health if she had remained haunted her. It was her father himself who put her mind at rest. ‘ “You weren't happy here,” he said, when they were alone for a few minutes. “and Fm glad you went as .VOU did, Joan. I don't need telling that you‘ll be careful, and that you‘ll look after yourself." ‘ “You're sure?” Joan naked. and

She was very close to tears. “I‘ll come ban-k at once, if ynu‘d like it." "I‘d be very unhappy," said 01:! John, his eyes suspiciously moist. “lu feel that you were feeling and living as you were bolero. We needn't 5:0 deeply inlr) it. my dear. but [ was blind I‘ol- n long illne— and then 1‘ could sou You (lid rig‘lllvly, Juan," ‘

For the twenty-fom- hours that they stayed, Old John seemed to plck up wonderfully. The colour returned to his cheeks and his eyes sparkled. Twice, however, he went very still, and they saw the 'blue tlnge spread: over hts features. All but Jtmmy‘ realised that he was very 111. And‘

Jimmy was too full of his enlhusiasms to lhink deeply about life and death. So the. \~nd passed. And ilespile Hm shadow of ihe thing which they knew could not be delayed {or long, they were very happy. Mary Martin seemed to he beckoning her husband. prepared to reward him for the lruuhlcsunlc days which had followrd his mistaken Effort 10 provide a second real home for his children. I ‘ U . Geoffrey Matthews was proving an ideal employer. He was friendly enough. but he never presumed on his position. and in‘ the months that, Joan worked (or him,l

she did not once have reason to complain about hls manner. She learned to admire him, desplle the fact. thal physically he was not, far removed ugliness; She did notice, however. lhul. he grew grun’er and more terse than lu- lmd been in the first few weeks of her position as hls secretary. \\’ilhuut knowing why, she came to the conclusion that he was worried. (To be contlnued.)