“WILD GRAPES”

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20263, 4 August 1937, Page 4

“WILD GRAPES”

By THEODORA WILSON-WILSON.

SERIAL STORY.

CHAPTER XXVI.— (-Continued). They had to laugh, and Mr Maitland lay hack restfully. A bargain that was not a bargain, and yet—what a bargain 1 At any rate it sent the Joy flooding, and alter the reviving evening tea, Robert and Olive were quite willing to pass into the adjoining room to the piano. Robert had not sung since his father’s death, but somehow to-night, he was 6ure that by song, he oould assure his father of his happiness —and of the strength that had oome to him through Olive’s oonfldent love and hope. At last there came the lovely Beethoven song “Ich Liebe Dioh.” I love thee—stay with me —love of my heart.” And then there was sllenoe, or soft rnurmurings, and Mr Maitland waited satisfied. What matter that the wound agonized, that it was difficult to remain in his chair —he was now oontent. And when later, Robert tapped at Paula’s door, she brought him into her “See, Robert, I’ve been p-aokin-g a whole trunk full of things for that poor thing. lOh, how ashamed I am of all the years of extravagance l” “I know,” he answered. ‘‘But I say, old thing —” “Bob! You’ve settled it —you and Olive You have, you look like a different being 1” “I’ve apologised.” and he kissed her. “Oh, my deal*, dear boy, now let’s buck up and work —work —and who knows what may happen?” “We’ve to get into training yet," and he -laughed, as though the prospect did not alarm him. “I think there must be something In being twins,” she said. CHAPTER XXVII. The Labour Market. Now Paula, after thinking most desperately over her possibilities of money-making, in order that she should be no burden to Robert, nor on her too willing Aunt -Claudia, had -come to the conclusion so far as the skilled labour market was concerned, she was just a terrible amateur. She had never had a real training in any direction, yet had looked upon herself quite complacently as deoently educated and up-to-date. Yet faced with any possible employer, what could she pretend that she could do? She had indulged In carving, brass work and various handicrafts, and she oould even make a decent basket. She had a flare for unique creations in knitting and crochet-work, and had supplied her friends and bazaars with careless generosity. Such “creations" as she knew commanded absurd prices in the exclusive West End shops, but what was there handed on to the actual worker? Paula laughed at herself for the very ridiculous Idea that grew within her. But Paula was nothing if not direot, and she deoided without much premeditation that she would go and consult Madame Jasmine. It certainly 6eemed a wild Idea, and when she entered the shop, It seemed difficult to think that she was there, not as a customer, hut as a commercial traveller. Madame Jasmine, in private life, Doris Smith, had been greatly perturbed at the death of Sir John Hammond, as had her brother, Stephen, whom she was supporting at Glare College. She could not forget that one of his last actions had been to pay up his wife’s four hundred debt, and to give her his personal advice as to her own health. | Rumours had spread that Lady Hammond had ruined her husband, and I her brother had wondered how Robert i I and his sister would be affected. She and Stephen had been making a fight for it, since the death of their father, the Vicar of Gowthwaite, in Westmorland, and they were only just beginning to feel solid ground, and when an assistant told Madame Jasmine that a young lady, Miss Hammond, wished to see her privately, Deris welcomed her pleasantly. Paula, carried a small suit oaso which she began, to open at once. “Madame Jasmine,” she said, trying to keep an unexpected nervousness from her voice, “I have really come to ask you for your advice. I expect you may have 'heard that things have gone wrong with us, and now, if I can, I want to earn money. I’m no good, that’s the worst of it, but I thought I’d like to show' you these—in i;ase you think there is any market—” She pulled out the goods. Jumpers, ties and smart little caps. "You see,” she added, “I thought I might get right off into the country somewhere, and live very cheaply, and make something extra out of this kind of thing. I have just a tiny income to go on with.” Madame Jasmine saw at once that there might be a market for Just such unique goods, but all she said was: “May 1 look through them, Miss Hammond?” In fact, she wished fo give herself time, for the reason of this visit was not altogether clear. Her brother, only that morning, as ho was rushing off to Cambridge, had said bitterly: “Of course Hammond’s sister will ho all right. She’s engaged to Lloyd Manners—the bounder!” But if Miss Hammond were engaged to a rising young barrister, why was she suggesting a flight Inin the country, with knitting needles and a But presently, Madame Jasmine set clown the case. “There is certainly a. market, for individual creation* —no two alike, and the pay would he comparatively good, : and, of course, 1 should he most ! happy to give you an introduction to j our leading wholesaler in this line — , with a Paris manager. But anything | you would actually earn would feel i very small—” “Oh, I know I shall have to count in shillings now,” said Paula eagerly. “But I don’t mind slaving, I —l’d rather enjoy it. We are selling up I everything, and my mol her is going | abroad, and if I could find sora* cheap

A Charming Story with Delightful Appeal.

little lodging somewhere, Pd like the country to be beautiful, I shall be quite all right.” “And this is all the work you oan do?" 1 “Praotioally. Of course, I’ve done a good lot of Arts and Crafts, eo that I could ttiaoh the young people round About The Grange. But that wouldn’t cut any ice I I wouldn’t buy one of the things we make myself, not but what our Club has won in looa). competitions. But I mustn’t waste your precious time, Madame Jasmine,” and Paula rose. “But wait, one moment, if you care to leave that case I’ll have a word with one of my buyers. But I was thinking—would you care to take a post as Handicraft mistress, right away in a wonderful Westmorland dale? Teach the children to employ themselves usefully?” “But—would anyone take me on ” “I don’t knowl” and Madame Jasmine smiled. “But only this week I had a letter from an old nurse of mine “ —from Go wth waits, where my father was onc-e Vicar. She mentioned that the new Vicar’s wife was very keen to introduce a teacher. Have you done handloom weaving?” ‘‘•Only a bit,” admitted Paula. ‘‘But I could learn. I’m quick that’s one thing about mel” and she smiled. J “It’s miles away from anywhere.” I warned Madame Jasmine. “That’s what I’d adore 1” said Paula. “So long as there’s a paroel post to oarry off all my Jumpers and things.” So Madame Jasmine suggested that they should have another talk, out of business hours, and Paula gladly agreed. “If you care to come for a cup of tea on Saturday afternoon, at my little Hampstead flat, I should be so pleased.” said she. “I should know better what to advise by then.” “It’s awfully good of you,” said Paula. “No, If I could repay your father’s kindness to his daughter—” But Doris Smith stopped taotfully, for she noticed by the trembling of her young visitor’s lips, that she could not, at present, stand references to her father. “Well, Miss Hammond, Saturday, any time after three o’clock,” she said brightly. “Thank you so much. I’ll get my brother to bring me in.” “Then —I mean—my brother has gone back to Cambridge.” “But mine has thrown up Cambridge.” said Paula. “He has decided to train as a professional singer.” “Stephen has told me of bis wonderful voice,” answered Doris.. But when Paula left the shop at whioh she had been such a distinguished customer, her heart was full of new thought and new hope. She had never earned a penny in her life. It would certainly be rather marvellous to begin. CHAPTER XXVIII. Second Thoughts. When Gordon Tate rushed away frofti Sir John's consulting room, he was gripped with that terror whioh has been known to assail the evil man In the presence of sheer goodness. The unfortunates In the New Testament often felt the same as they came In contact with the Christ. Sir John would 'have pushed baok any Insinuation that he was comparable to his Master; but at least he had tried to show himself as a Christian gentleman, and Gordon Tate had sensed It. Yet his Immediate reaotlon had been of exasperated anger, which he had shown in accusing his own sister and Sir John’s wife of the deed for which, he was responsible. That evening, he had read of the sudden death, within a short time of his interview. A ghastly fear overwhelmed him, as | to how far he had been responsible. It was certainly necessary to drink such a notion aside. Later he read the account of the funeral, and the obituary notices which proved that in so many directions, Sir John Hammond had spent himself for others. He clutched on desperately to the information that for some time, Sir John had known that a fatal disease would carry him off. Yet he could neither remember nor wholly forget the earnest words the great doctor had spoken to him. He had reminded him that the best years of his life were still in front of him, and had even offered an amazing personal apology for not having tried to help him sooner. He had offered to give him his best professional 'help so that together they might make a fight for it. Yet what desire for flght had he? He was hiding in a second-rate hotel, hating himself and every face that happened to turn towards him. He knew that there was no danger of prosecution from either his sister, his nephew or his niece, for the picture-thefts, and yet he was afraid. Gordon had taken pride in mocking at Hell; but he was now experiencing Hell as it rose ever more vividly in the clear gleam of the nerve specialist’s eyes. (To Be Continued).