The Troubled Journey

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19892, 22 May 1936, Page 4

The Troubled Journey

By MARGARET GLENN.

SERIAL STORY.

I SYNOPBis. Joan Martin cannox *‘g:et on” witn Jsnst, [ ner stepmother. The other Martin children. Felicity and Jimmy, feel the same, but It is easier for them, as Felicity *s married and ll\.n» in London, and Jimmy Is away at school. , At last Joan revolts, and ffoes to live with Felicity, she attends a private commercial school owned by Derek Graham, a young- widower, and later is successful in obtaining- a post as secretary to Geoffrey Matthews, head «>r the vast commeicial enterprise of Matthews and '>y ai V Meanwhile, avarice has bitten wry deeply into Janet Martin’s mind. She tier stepchildren, an«l plans to hurt tnem Felicity’s husband goes abroad to supervise an engineering job. and Felicity ac companies him. After seeing them on _ a Southampton, Joan is surprised to »na Derek Graham waiting to run Daca London. CHAPTER XI. (Continued.) Joan feit that she could not speak. The past half-hour had been wonderful beyond words. The loveliness, he peace of this little place, overlooking the -sea which she loved—and which Derek knew she loved —seemed to get into her blood. She felt that she never wanted to leave it. She wanted to call it home, even at this minute. She nodded. Derek —you darling!” She was in his arms, surprised by the strength or them, by the passion of his kisses. This seemed a different man from that quiet Derek whom sue had known for so long. But there was something electric in him, something which made h.er blood tingle, lie was different —tie was a man of whom she could dream. The moment passed. Derek’s grasp relaxed- He smiled at her gently. • I’ve prayed for this, even since i met you.” he said. “You’re sure, darting, that you'll like to live here—with me?” Joan nodded. “There isn't any doubt. Derek — it was a wonderful way to propose. 1 suppose it’s why you never said a word before.” “Partly," said Derek. “And partly because 1 wasn’t sure that you’d say yes. 1 wanted that so badly, Joan.” They smiled at each other, with the assurance of lovers. it did not occur to Joan that she had ever doubted the existence of her love lor him. It all seemed so settled, so certain, as if it had happened before, or if she had rehearsed it several times. It was all so real. Derek was completely happy. She sensed that he was looking at her, every moment, and iu his eyes there was adoration. She did not dream, at that moment, that life would hold more complications. They left the dream house, and continued to Looe. where they had already booked their rooms. Joan found that hers was a delightful little place facing the sea. The view was very similur to that from the house which Derek had prepared lor her; she went to bed that night reeling that tlie world was smiling ul her. Derek's idea hail been wonderful. It was so typical of him. And not once had he breathed u word, although this must have been the reason for his occasional week-ends of extra “work,” and, she realised, the strain of getting it ready for her, and the fact that he had been forced to use every available minute, denying himself rest, accounted lor the paleness of his face. CHAPTER XII. On the following morning they talked more practically of their future. Derek said simply that he would like to get married with as little delay ' as possible. lie realised, however, that Joan would probubly want several months to prepare herself. They decided to marry at Christmas, a time which fully satistled Derek. ■Rut what are wo going to live on?” Joan asked, after they had fixed the date. She and led at him, and he delighted in the expression in her eyes. “You’ve the school to look after.” Derek's grin was boyish. “Ah-hal” he said. “That’s where I've another surprise for you, darling. I’ve been working like blazes on one or two technical books, and they’ve been published and taken up by some of the big associations and councils. That means we shall have enough to live on. from the proceeds of the books, for a year or two—and 1 shall be able to write others.” Joan gasped. “What haven't you been doing, this last few months?” she demanded. Derek smiled, still boyishly. “1 don't know,” he said; but I do know that everything i'\o done had been for you, Joan.” ' i know, too, Joan whispered, and pressed his hand. Derek explained more fully during the next lew days that he had established himself llrinly as a writer of a certain kind of text-book, and that he was one of the few such writers who would be able to get a reasonable living from the books. Due in some measure to the fact that the books were to be used in schools, a certain sale would be assured. “And what of the school at Wimbledon ?“ “I’ve arranged to get a manager for it." said Derek. “He’s a good, reliable man. and there will be nothing to worry about, white there will be some pro Ills to come, at the end of every year. We won’t be millionaires, Joan, but we shall have everything we ne< d in 1 mo si ol the things we want.” Joan was more than satisfied. She wrote to Felicity, wishing that her sister would be in England for the wedding, and she wrote to Jimmy. On the day following she received ‘a telegram from her brother. “Wonderful —but let me see him first.—Jim." Derek laughed as heartily as did Joan over that wire. It was so typical of Jimmy. The holiday passed all too quickly. Joan knew that she would find it difficult to face work again, on the following Monday. "But it will have to be done,” she said with a sigh. “Marry me to-morrow," said Derek, “and don’t go back at all." Joan laughed a little breathlessly. “I really belive you mean it." she said, and Derek nodded, although he was smiling. Joan shook her head. x qu so b ton as that,” she said. As she spoke she glanced down at tar left hand. Tim now’lty of wearing the eugage- - w i all that It signified, Derek had brought the ring from London—and

it fitted perfectly. “How did you manage to get It like that?” Joan had asked. Derek had laughed. “I borrowed one of your gloves, one day—the rather stiff ones you’re always complaining about—and took it to the jeweller. He was able to judge the size without any trouble.” Joan laughed. There were unsuspected depths in Derek. The small hotel where they had been staying had been ideal for them, and they arranged to spend a week of their honeymoon there. Joan refused to take more than a week. "I shall want to get to the house without losing a minute,” she said. Derek was very persistent; it was almost as if he had a premonition of trouble, as if he did not believe that their day would ever really come. “Why not make it earlier than Christmas?” he asked again. "You won’t- have to wait so long.” “You’re an old scoundrel,” laughed Joan, “and I can see you’ll be persuading me soon.” “I wish I could,” said Derek. “Let’s stick to our arrangement,” pleaded Joan. Derek nodded and smiled. The following day, Sunday, they prepared for the run back to London. It was a clear, cloudless day again, similar to the first day of their holiday, and for an hour or two they seemed to be floating through the air rather than driving along the road.

“Do you feel different from what you did when we came down?” asked Derek.

Joan nodded, and squeezed his arm. “It’s been wonderful,” she said. “We’ll have a terrible lot to do, though, Derek, one way and the other.”

"We’ll love doing It,” said Derek. They relapsed into silence as they neared London.

It seemed to both of them that they were leaving a dream world and going into reality, which was not half so pleasant. Joan had a mad fancy to do what Derek wanted —get a special license and be married immediately. But she fought back the temptation to voice it.

“Another twenty minutes,” said Derek quietly. Joan nodded and shrugged. It was at that moment that the thing happened. The Morris was going along smoothly, without any trouble, and the road seemed clear. Before they realised it a lorry swung out of a sideturning and bore down on them madly, terribly. Joan shrieked. Derek went deathly pale. It all happened in a second.

Joan caught a glimpse of the lorrydriver's terrified face; she saw him wrenching at his wheel, and she saw Derek doing all he could to get out of the lorry's way. But she knew that it would be impossible. Not for a moment did she expect to avoid the accident. There was a sudden, rending crash. Joan felt the shock of the impact, and heard the lorry driver shriek. She had an awful feeling that the ground was giving way beneath her, and she felt liie lit Lie Morris split into parts. Something caught at her leg. She pulled hard at it, but could not get She was caught. Desperation filled her. She looked at Derek, calling his name aloud, in high-pitched, agonised tones; but her cries fell on deaf ears. Derek was lying back, his face deathly pale, an ugly feash across his forehead which was streaked with blood. Joan felt sick. All these things happened in a few seconds. The lorry was still moving. Its front wheels had come off and it was slowly sinking towards the ground. The driver was pinned in his cabin, and the expression on hi-s face haunted Joan. Terrified though she was she was the only one of the trio to be conscious, and still sane. A confused murmur of voices reached her ears. She caught one dreadful word. “Fire!” Every nerve in her body seemed to quiver at that. She guessed that a crowd was gathering round the wreckage, although she could see no one. Due of the watchers had used that awful word. Had it been just a casual mention, or was there fire? Joan knew a moment later. A dreadful emptiness was in her. For the smell of burning came to her nostrils. Desperately she tugged at her leg, but it was caught belween the side of tiie car and the broken dashboard; she could not move. And the smell of burning grew stronger. It seemed like hours as she lay there. Actually less than a minute passed before a man’s face loomed above her. “Steady, miss,” he said. “We’ll have you out in a jiffy.” Joan hardly heard the words, although she realised that help had come. She looked at Derek. (To be continued.)