LOVE IN FETTERS

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 267, 10 November 1928, Page 14 (Supplement)

LOVE IN FETTERS

By PATRICIA LEIGH

CHAPTER XXIII. } By the time Haberlin had come down frorii liis room all the niasqueraders had vanished as suddenly as they had appeared, and quiet reigned in the inn once more. The others were just finishing .their interrupted evening .meal .when he sat down at the freshly-laid place at their table. "How is the sleuth hound?" inquired Mrs. Blaney. "Very clever of you to follow our tracks ill the snow like this." "But how did you know I carrie in search of you? Have you a monopoly of Tirol?" replied Haberlin with his deep, cheery ; laugh. "Why can't I seek out a quiet spot for myself where I can learn to ski without a lot of smart folk watching my loss of dignity?" "I know what happened," put in Molly promptly. "You went to Munich to look us up, found we were not there, so snatched our address and took the first train on. Isn't that it?" "Guessed it In one. You are a genius, Miss Curtis," said Haberlin with mock admiration. They veiled their intense curiosity respecting one another under their old teasing manner, but it was left to Mrs. Blaney and Molly to do most of the talking. Una sat •back in her .corner oddly silent, her cheeks slightly flushed, as she covertly studied Larry. Haberlin concealed his astonishment at finding Molly with them, and waited till she explained her presence there. "I certainly am glad to meet you again, Miss Curtis,"; he assured her with a warmth she could not possibly doubt, and a little glow went through her at bis words. Haberlin was a very good sort, she told herself. And then began to study Una. ■ Mrs. Blaney, with her usual knack of making things go, quickly dissipated any slight .awkwardness that might have existed at' this re-union; and in a. very short time they were on much the old footing, almost as if nothing had ever happened to come between them. • Even Una began to take more part in the conversation, '..hough she still retained a certain detachment. "And now, Larry," said Mrs. Blaney, "I think it is about time that you began to' account for your actions since we last met. All we know about you is that we have seen various articles by you in the Daily Tribune from time to tirr.e, giving vivid but naturally impersonal accounts of your doings in the wild places .of the earth. Why did you suddenly dash off like that? Where have you been exactly; what are you going to do ? "There is not much to tell," replied Haberlin almost indifferently. "All that 'special correspondent' stuff is all in the day's work. The Tribune people made me a good offer, and naturally 1 accepted it." "What about that time you were lost' in trie desert and finally picked up by Bedouins?", prompted Sirs. Blaney. But Haberlin was not to he drawn into giving any accounts of his adventures that night, and after a while, as they sat dawdling over liqueurs and cigarettesj the two Austrian boys came over to their table and talk drifted to winter sport. . ,■-.'• Una became unusually animated, and devoted herself to the two, Austrian students, who were obviously flattered and pleased by her sudden increase of interest in tneiii. Later on, wicn a few of the villagers had drifted into the room and seated themselves : at the big triangular' table in the corner, Mrs. Blaney rose and joined, them, taking her little party with her and introducing Haberlin. He received a hearty shake of the hand from the postmaster, the shoemaker and the blacksmith, and flasks of red wine were brought in at a sign from Mrs. Blaney. v Haberlin found himself between Molly' and Mrs. Blaney, while Una- sat opposite between the two students, and from time to time he glanced across at her with speculation in his steadfast hazel eyes. The wood-cutter strolled in, a big, handsome youth with yellow hair and very blue eyes, and on his way he unhooked .the guitar from the wall and strummed idly upon it after the others had made room for him at .the table. ' Haberlin seemed to be in tremendously high spirits that evening. Loaning over, he asked to be. accompanied on the guitar. • "I am going to give you all a musical treat this evening," he announced. "I can. only sing one song.in all the world, and after you have had it,' we can settle down: for a real good time. I learnt it from my nurse when I was still in'my cradle." Then standing up, with a mug of Bock in his 'hand, he gave, in a rather harsh baritone: "Ach, du 'lleber Augustin, Augustln,' Ausustin. ~■.',, "Acli! Du lieber Augustin, alles ist him." * "The Frothblowers' National Anthem," cried Molly gaily,' when lie had fin-, ished, and, raising, her foaming mug of lager high in the air, she called out "Prosit!" ' \ There was a general clinking of glasses' and then the wood-cutter began to_ play'one of the old soldier songs: "jfuss i denn, muss i denn zum .stadtele hinaus," in which everybody joined. Molly, with her sensitive ear, was secretly astonished at the quality of their voices and the way in which they all took their parts. It was more like, a choral society than her idea of sing-; ing 'by a chance gathering in a village inn. ... .<,.;. For the next hour .and a-half tliey sat there, smoking, drinking beer and singing, several of the men taking it in turn ,to play tike guitar. The two Austrian boys gave a selection of student songs, and the older people present grew rather grave and reflective when . the, blacksmith sang with intensity of feeling the great song of the war, "The' Good Comrade." Finally ■ the ■ shoemaker, called upon Molly, who had hitherto- remained silent, for a song and, after, a.moment's hesitation, she gave them '^Haidenroslein." Una could not help feeling a pang of jealousy as ehe read the admiration in Haberlm'3 eyes while he watched the. singer. Of course, she told herself! fiercely, it was not her fault; -Molly wasthe sort of girl who could not help attracting' men. ' Nevertheless, she sud-, denly began to feel insignificant. She ; knew herself to be over-shadowed- : by j the brilliance of the other. At the clo"se of the song, there was aj stir of interest and admiration,; and; Mrs. Blaney explained who Molly was.> The'Hwb ""students'' were "dumbfounded. Several times they had tried to hear 'the great Miss Curtis, but something, ihad always cropped up to keep them

away from' lier concerts. They spoke to Una in an undertone of their amazement at finding the great singer to be nothing but a lovely and unaffected girl, and she was piqued to find ho>*' quickly their interest in her had died down. She was secretly delighted when they, got up and danced to the accompaniment of the- guitar, for dancing was something she could do really well, and once again the two students focussed their attention upon her, almost quarrelling ajjout having her as a partner. Before they all went up to tied they had planned a trailing party for the next day. "That suits me very well," purred Mrs. Blaney. "I can sit comfortably in the sleigh beside the driver whilo you all trail behind in the cold on your little sledges and get tipped over into the snow at regular intervals." " CHAPTER SXTV. Una and Haberlin stood on the platform at Innsbruck Station and watched Molly waving to them from the carriage window of the Basle train. Then with a sigh Una uirned and began to walk away. "Is my company as depressing as all that?" asked Haberlin, with a twinkle in his eye. She started slightly and flushed a little before replying, for the sigh had been of relief rather than regret. "I was only thinking what a pity it was that Molly had to rush away the minute you got here. We might all have been having a wonderful time this afternoon, and now even if we have our trailing party to-morrow, it won't be half so much fun without her." "I am sorry to hear you say that, but I will do my best to cheer you _ in her absence," Haberlin assured her, with perfect gravity. "Molly' is really awfully kind and good-natured. Not many people would have "one off to Brussels at a moment's notico°like that merely to help a friend to get married. "The local post office was somewhat confused by the.length of the telegram, which was all in English, but from MissCurtis' behaviour it appeared to be urgent, and I was glad when those horses reached-tho bottom of the hill in safety." Una laughed at the recollection of their headlong flight to Innsbruck to catch the 1.15 train. "And now," continued Haberlin, "what about a little lunch. I can't promise not to eat with my fingers in my eagerness, but I will do my best." As they crossed over in the direction of the Maria Theresienstrasse a curious sense of constraint fell upon them. Neither had been able to recapture the careless relationship of the old days. They were both aware that in some way they had subtly changed within the. last months. * Characteristically Haberlin did not ask Una where she would like to go for luncheon; he merely walked steadily on toward the Herzog Friedrichstrasse 'and led the way through a doorway under the arcade into what looked like a great cellar. "This, is one of the old inns, and it is really very comfortable here," he told her as they went up a flight of stairs on the left-hand side. A waitress who .came towards them as they entered a pleasant room with oak benches built all along the daffodilcoloured walls gave a startled exclamation when she saw Haberlin, and then accorded him a very warm welcome. "You seem to' be quite at home here," \ exclaimed Una in astonishment. "I had no idea that you had even been to I Innsbruck before." ! "Oh, I am a bad character; you see for yourself that I am quite well known even in odd corners in Austria." Una continued to see him from a fresh point of view. The man whose companionship she had always taken for granted in the past was, she now realised, of somo importance in the journalistic world. His recent series of articles in the "Tribune" had attracted considerable attention among the people •who mattered, and it i began to dawn upon her that his knowledge of European countries was also much more extensive than she had imagined. But then, as she remembered, he had never been in the habit of talking about himself, and in the old days of rush hi London she had not given him much thought, but had simply taken him for granted. Again, characteristically, not even inquiring what she would like, he ordered a most excellent meal, some of the dishes being specially prepared for them, and gradually their constraint began to wear off, although Una still retained a little of her newly acquired shyness. Her broken engagement had had one effect upon her; it had definitely impaired her self-esteem and made her lose confidence in herself. It was very pleasant to sit there with Haberlin in that frio'neily room. " Except for a group of business men collected in a corner at a "Stammtis'ch" they were alone, while Mitzi, {he waitress, hovered round eager to anticipate' their wants.' By snatches, just as one idea or the other crossed his mind, Haberlin began to relate various happenings and minor adventures of the past months, while Una listened attentively, flattered by these unaccustomed self-revelations. He also questioned her about her life in Munich; and by mutual consent they avoided'all references :tolthe old days ;iu London. For both of.. them it,almost seemed as'though they wished to date everything from the moment when they had gone abroad. It was late by the time they had finished their meal at the' "Golden Rose,'? and after Una had been into one or two of the art' shops to select a few water colours she wanted for her room, they went into the Murichner Cafe to look at the papers and listen to the music. When they, came out it was quite dark, and Una gave a little exclamation of "sheer delight as she looked up at the full moon and the myriads of stars dancing and twinkling in the clear air.. 2 -• ■ ■' - ; . • V. "I always have an absurd idea that the moon and stars are not the same here; they • seem so much bigger and nearer and brighter than they do anywhere else. Sometimes Mrs. Blaney and I walk all the way to Igls for dances simply because we love-being out after dark, when the mountains look ; so mysterious and tho whole world seems unreal." • . \ "You ; are a pretty good,walker," said l Haberlin tentatively. . "I'suppose you wouldn't feel Uike going'all the way-to' Altdorf on foot?" . , ,;. "I'd simply love it," she replied with alacrity,-."it is no distance really, and hero one feels able to .tramp on hour after hour without feeling it in the least." They set off through the crowds of men and girls promenading up and down the Maria Theresienstrasse, and

after passing along a fey'uninteresting and characterless streets, they found themselves at the bottom of a steep hill leading up into the mountains. Here it was nothing but a slippery sledge' track through the snow, and Una was glad when Haberlin put his arm through hers and helped her along. In his heavy winter travelling coat she thought with a smile that he reminded her of a large and friendly bear, and she found herself chattering gaily to him without any reserve, just as if no awkwardness had ever existed. He looked down at her from time to time, happily and with a certain confidence. ■ Both of them seemed to tread on air as they made their steady ascent far into the stillness and silence of the snow and the mountains. Once they paused at a big bend and had their last glimpse of Innsbruck, some gigantic gathering - of fireflies, dancing far beneath them. Then they went on, alone under the moon and the stars, in a world of utter silence. Una began to think dreamily that it would be wonderful to go on through life with Haberlin, feeling so secure and content, with no need of anyone else for companionship, no incessant striving for distraction, in order to get away from the deadening sense of loneliness. She bean to wonder what would become of him and what his immediate plans for the future were. "Now that you have returned safely from this expedition, are iyou going to settle down in London again!" she asked curiously. •; ,«I am not sure yet what I am going to"do; it all*depends:on you," was the unexpected answer.:.-,. Then, before she could say anything, he went on, gravely and calmly. • "I have had three offers made to me; one is to go. off to the wilds for a couple of years wiiu a South American expedition; the other is'to go back on the staff of the "Tribune" in London; the third is to go to Amy home town m

Portland, Oregon, to take over control of a group,of newspapers belonging to my cousin." He stopped for a moment while Una waited wonderingly, a queer feeling of warmth and security stealing over her. "You know, Una, that I have always loved you, always wanted to marry you. With you back of me" I feel I could do great things out in the-Middle West, and I believe you would like the life out there. Can I take you back to the States with me J" "Why, Larry—l never thought of you in that way. Of course I am most awfully fond of you—" she broke off, startled by a new-found desire to melt into his arms, to go off with him to the ends of the earth- if need be, and to start life all afresh. "I have had to wait for you, Una, but you are the only girl I have ever cared anything about.. We will be married anywhere you like, just as soon as ever you can fix things up." He picked her up and held her with her face on a level with his own. Then, in the stillness, alone amidst the snow' they kissed for the first time. ' (To be concluded Saturday next.)