John Sheldon's Ward

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 285, 2 December 1933, Page 10 (Supplement)

John Sheldon's Ward

By * DOROTHEA CORBOULD.

CHAPTER IX.—(continued.) Thus the days went on —outwardly calm before tho storm. One inorning Mrs. Gilrow appeared at tlie ofHce and asked for a private interview with Mr. Sheldon. John happened to be disengaged. and she was shown into his room, where, scarcely greeting him, she -began at once to state her errand with angry volubility. "So annoying!" she exclaimed. "Here is a letter from Sir Edward Dawes saying that Lady Dawes is anxious to get homo and asking mo to leave this day week. I really don't see why I should be chivvied about from pillar to post to suit her ladyship's whims. Of course, I know that I have been allowed to have tho house longer than I took it for at first, but when Lady Dawes had her accident and thev couldn't get home, I quite expected to have been left in peace till the end of the month. I gave up going to Torquay to stay on here, and now I must rearrange all my plans people are really so inconsiderate." John had listened patiently to his visitor's tirade, telling himself that the charming widow was not quite the wellbrod g(| ltlewoman he had thought her (for Mildred Dalroy was apt to forget her role when thwarted) and that his aunt's diagnosis was a correct one. "I am afraid," he replied, as Mrs. Gilrow paused, "that I cannot help in this matter, because a week's notice on either side was agreed upon, and "Oh, I haven't come for help about the house," Mrs. Gilrow inteirupted, and the angry look in her face gave way to her charming smile. "I wanted to enlist your good oflices in persuading Elizabeth to accompany me to Torquay. My brother takes up his duties in the North next week —lie had a letter from the firm this morning; therefore I shall be quite alone again." "But, Miss Gilrow, I don't see—have you asked Elizabeth?" "Not-yet. I thought I would see you first, because I feel pretty certain that she will refuse my invitation unless I have a friend at court to further my cause. I would ask Miss Sheldon to plead' for me, but, you see, Elizabeth j U i<rht not be influenced by her pleading on "my behalf as she would yours." "I'm not so sure about that, but all the same, I think the change will do my ward good." "Of course it will. Elizabeth wants to mix with people more, and Torquay is always lively. Do persuade her to go with me. You see, although I don t know if she returns my affection, I am very fond of Elizabeth. "Well, I'll do my best, but she is a very independent young person, and may make up her mind to remain at home without consulting anyone." Mrs. Gilrow's eyes narrowed into their cat-like expression. "I should have thought that, being her guardian, she replied, "you would have to be consulted." John Sheldon laughed. "Oh, she may, and probably will, consult me, but only after she has firmly made up her mind on the subject, and she usually worsts me in an argument. However, i may be able to drop a word in season. I will try." "That is very good of you. It seems a pity some nice man can't take Elizabeth off your hands; you will find her somewhat of an incubus, I should think, when vou are married; but her money would deter some men from entering the lists. My brother, for instance, is very much in love with her. She could attract him, because of those very qualities which might repel anyone else; but though he is fairly well off, and will make a good deal by this new billet of his, he wouldn't think it right to ask a girl with a hundred thousand pounds to marry him. I am sorry for him, poor fellow." "So am I, and I believe he would make my ward a good husband, but I should never influence her in any way upon that subject, except to refuse my consent, as I can if I did not approve of the match.' "But surely you wouldn't disapprove of Austin?" Mrs. Gilrow's voice expressed the anxious solicitude of an .affectionate sister on her brother s behalf. "Not if Elizabeth approved of him," was -the rather curt reply, and just then the ringing of the telephone bell caused Mrs.;Gilrow to beat a hasty retreat.

"There's something about that woman I don't like," John Sheldon muttered, as he took up the receiver. "I don't think I'll persuade Elizabeth to go to Torquay." Bift, to her guardian's astonishment, Mrs. Gilrow's invitation when it came was promptly accepted, the more readily because when Austin Melford had looked in that morning, to bring Miss Sheldon a magazine he had promised to get for her, he brought the news of his departure in, a few days for the North, and therefore Elizabeth knew that there was no chance of his appearing at Torquay. She had also another reason for taking this opportunity of going away for a time from Shrimpton. She and her guardian had not been getting on at all well together of late, partly owing, as I said before, to the fact of her showing herself at her very worst just now, and also to John's own private troubles making him irritable and exacting.

"I don't want to go to Torquay in the very least," Elizabeth said to herself, "but I think it would be a good tliinc to let John and Aunt Lucy get back"to the old days of their life together before I came, an any rate for a short time; and if they miss me—well,_ so much the better —they will appreciate mc all the more when I return."

The day. before tlie departure of Mrs. Oilrow and her guest for Torquay, Miss Sheldon came into Elizabeth's room, where she was finishing her packing, holding an open letter in her hand. "I have just received this from Mrs. Gayle," she said, holding it out to Elizabeth. "and I cannot understand it. Do read it, my dear, and see what you make of it." , Elizabeth took the sheet of paper, emblazoned with a monogram in gold and covered w : tb large _ spikey handvriting, and rca.l it "\vitli a puzzled

frown. Dear Miss Sheldon (it said), 1 am writing to ask you if John has heard lately from Myra. We have not had a letter for nearly a fortnight, and the Sparlings were to leave Aberlocliie on the 14th. Of course, we expected Myra home then, but she has not come, or given us any idea when to expect her. 1 have written twice to her, but have received no reply.' I should be much obliged if you would kindly let me know ■what is the latest news John has received from her, and if he knows whether she is still with the Sparlings.—Yours sincerely, Letitia Gayle.

"She looks like a Lctitia," Elizabeth said, as she handed the letter back. "I don't believe John has heard either, and that's what is worrying him so. You, you will have to ask him, Aunt Lucy, .when he comes home to dinner —or, better still, give him the letter."

"I am beginning to feel quite angry with Myra," Miss Sheldon said plaintively. "It is so terribly careless of her to leave John, and her parents, too, in ignorance of her movements. She ought to write to John at least once a week, and I have not seen a letter in her handwriting nearly as often as that; but perhaps she writes to the office." "Xot she! Myra Gayle is one of the 'out of sight, out of mind' sort. I wonder John puts up with her." "My dear, you don't know John. He would, condone anything in a person he cared for, I feel sure of that. He will never hear a word against Myra, and I fear she takes advantage of his leniency." "She is a beast!" was all the reply Elizabeth made, and changed the subject by asking Miss Sheldon's advice as to the packing of more than two evening frocks and the knotty question as to which to select. John seemed in better spirits than usual that evening. Miss Sheldon had decided not to worry him about the letter till after dinner, and the meal passed off more pleasantly than usual. A new client had cropped up, and the case to be undertaken promised a satisfactory bill of costs—and the next day was that on which, when she did write, ho usually received Myra's letter. "We shall miss you, Elizabeth," he said. "How long do you intend to be away 2" "Oh, only about a fortnight. I'm rather sorry now I settled to go, but I've thought lately you -and Aunt Lucy might like to have the house to yourselves again for a little time—l haven't been quite agreeable lately, I know. When I come back, and the Dawes are living at 'The Laurels' again, I shall be myself again, I hope. I mean the 'Adeneroft' self, not the self of old Millport days." "You mean when Mrs. Gilrow and Melford have gone. Well, you will perhaps have had enough of her by the time you come back. Nothing like being in the same house with a person to find out what they're like." "You needn't rub it in, John. Only there is such a thing as making allowances for disturbing elements. Aunt Lucy knows I'm not really a bad sort, and that I only get out of temper with certain people —don't you, Aunt Lucy? If you knew as much about Mr. Melford as I do—but there! I won't start that subject on my last evening at home. I'll leave a good impression behind me for this once, at any rate." "I had a letter from Mrs. Gayle today, John," Miss Sheldon said, as they rose from the table. "You had better see what she says and tell me what to answer. I wouldn't bother you till you had had your dinner, because you might like to go round to the Gayles yourself." Elizabeth watched her guardian's face as he read the letter, noting the sudden paling of his cheeks and his tightly compressed lips. He made no comment, however, but, taking down his hat from the stand in the hall, set off then and there for Doctor Gayle's. He did not return till Miss Sheldon and his ward were about to leave the drawing room and retire for the night, and then instead of joining them to say "Good-night" he went straight to the little room formerly the surgery, which he had made his own, and they heard him slam the door.

"Either Mrs. Gayle has aggravated him beyond endurance or he has had bad news," was Elizabeth's comment as she and Miss Sheldon went upstairs. "If that girl were here I wouldn't answer for her feelings when I had done with her." Miss Sheldon made no answer; she never did to Elizabeth's outbursts, but she often agreed with her all the same. When the three met at breakfast next morning John gave no explanation of his visit, and there was no letter from Myra. Elizabeth was to drive with her luggage to "The Laurels" and pick up Mrs. Gilrow, who had already dispatched her many trunks to the station, and John went with his ward to see them off. "I wish I wasn't going," Elizabeth said as, having exchanged a rather; tearful farewell with Miss, Sheldon, she and her guardian drove away. "I have given Mason orders to call every day for orders just the same as if I was at home, and you and Aunt Lucy are to use the car as much.as.ever you like —then you won't forget me." "We shan't do that, kiddie," was the reply. "You have become so much one of us that you will always be in our thoughts, and you must not stay away long, or I shall" come and fetch you." "Yqu may be sure I won't. I've such a horrible presentiment that something will happen to prevent my coming back —silly, I know—but you would come, John, wouldn't you, if I were in any danger or—" "My dear child, don't talk nonsense! What could possibly happen to cause such a-catastrophe? Of course I should come if you wanted me, but you must go and enjoy yourself and not have presentiments —you're much too sensible." Ej.ut, as she leaned from the carriage window to wave her guardian a last good-bye, Elizabeth experienced once more that horrible sensation of fear which seemed to tell her that for her, and for her guardian too, fate was preparing a tragedy. (To be continued daily.)