AT CUPID'S CALL

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 23, 28 January 1922, Page 21

AT CUPID'S CALL

3y CHRISTIE I p j , r . ■ Author of "For Love of Betty,' , "2'he Marriage of Anne, , ' and , "Helenas Married Life." y .

I ; CV.—A TRIP TO TOWS. • 1P j The following morning Mary rose enrlv ; and walked into the ' nearest village. , s : There were oorue medicines she must b'uv J for Dirk. ~ I Pacing- n watchmaker's shop sho spied some imitation jewellery in the window. rings, brooches, 'and yew-cans of various i kinds. 'I i here was an imitation "diamond" ' : ring on sale for a dollar. Curiously L - : enough, the •diamond" was very much _ the same size and shape as her own that ( she'll pooled up Io town! ■ ! .Mary, looking at it. hud a thought. '' i Perhaps it would be well to purchase tin; H i lake stone. j She couldn't analyse her thought. Hut she went in and for the modest sum of a '* . dollar bought the rinp. 11 j She naked the jeweller to remove the : «one from its setting, which he did. a r | triili- liufllly, assuring her that the little i ring was perfoet of it? kind. 3 I Mary didn't argue the point. And it v j was not long before ehe left the shop with ; the iV.k,. stone in her possession, carej fully wrapped in tissue paper. I >he then returned to the- Barley Mow. I gave* Dick his ini'du'ine. had a cup of " J coffee, and proceeded canards the rail- : waj- station. 1 i H was ; l pleasant sunny morning— ' i "exactly like (he morning of my dream."' * ; she told herself, laughing a little at her ! last nitjht's fears! 2 j On :i clear, fresh day like, this one I couldn't, possibly be nervous. - j And ye:—when she reached the railt J way station—she asked the slatiooniusj ier if he\{ seen a I. intraiee around. 1 'J'he stationmaster hadn't. Mary's mind was quite relieved. The train, when it camp in. was almost 1 ■ empty. She took a hurried survey of the <ar.-«. They held no sinister Oriental. siie found a comfortable seat in an . empty car wliii h she had all to herself. 1 The train was an express one and didn'i , stop until thry were close to town. She . I was eclad of that. •J'he whistle blew. The train set off. Mary glanced below t!ie seats, laughing a little at herself over her fears an.i tremors. But she wasn't going to take t any chances, if she could help it! , The pleasant countryside all radiant ' ! and smiling, made a pretty panorama. ; Mary leaned against the cushions and i I formulated plans. i