CHAPTER II.

Clutha Leader, Volume XVII, Issue 833, 4 July 1890, Page 7

CHAPTER 11.

Frank Holmes made his way to'; Cadouan Place. With this charming girl, who blushed red with pleased surprise on seeing' her old playfellow in London, Frank Holmes quickly resumed in the most natural and unconscious way his former familiar relations. Not that in resuming the friendship of childhood they thought of love or marriage ; but all the world knows how such relations end. On the part of one of them at least the result was coming as surely as flowers in June. .

Meanwhile, it was not long until the patent affection of Frank Holmes for his absent friend grew to be a subject of curious interest to Mary Clayton. Holmes talked about him on every suggestion, described his appearance, and read his letters to her, until she knew as much about Faune as Frank Holmes himself did. Frank was too honest himself to pause and think whether he was acting wisely. Miss Clayton could not help being deeply interested in this young man from hearing so much about him — and, as already hinted, Faune was a charming letter writer, , a gift that goes further with women than might be supposed. Tf Frank Holmes had been wiser or less generous he would have felt the danger of creating so much interest in this girl for a mail who might some day come back — especially when, as was inevitable, Holmes himself was already in love with her.

After that affair of the draft of LSOO, all went well for sometime. At length, one morning when Frank Holmes was looking for a letter by the Indian mail, instead o£ a letter came Claude Faune to him in person.

The first surprise of his friend's unexpected appearance over, Holmes advanced with open arms.

- The glow faded quickly 5 from the other's face, and his hands dropped by

his side. 'Frank,' he said, 'I ought not

to be. here. I ought to be at the bottom of the sea — where I should bo now only for a longing, which I could not resist, to look in. your face once more. — And now, Frank,' he added, bowing his head, ' I'm ashamed to look at you.'

The story was soon told. Mr Claude Faune had got into troubles in Indiahad, to put it with a plainness which Frank Holmes generously refrained from adopting, fallen into disgrace. He had been compelled to leave India and resign his commission. The manner in which he made the- confession presented many suggestions of excuse, and these Holmes was willing to make the most of. He thought himself in a manner responsible for this weak being, who had gained such a hold upon him.

The worst of the matter was — and it was the last of it confessed — that before Faune was permitted to leave India, had to draw - upon his friend again. This time it was for L3OOO !

It was a staggering blow to Homes, and it was wonderful that he bore it. lie did bear it, however, and even recovered from it. If Faune had been less prostrated and apparently hoppless with the sense of his disgrace, the affection of his friend might not have withstood so severe a test. But he could not look upon Faime's face without raising him up, for a few days he suffered keenly, and then shook it off. His stronger character softened towards his friend's weakness. He defended him bravely to Mr Clayton when he had to see that gentleman about procuring the L3OO0 — defended him so warmly that the banker's interest was strongly moved as to what manner o£ man this Faune must be to inspire such feeling in Frank Holmes.

And so the matter ended and was soon forgotten. But that which might have been expected soon came to pasp. Faune was introduced by his friend to Mr Clayton's house ) and having all his time on his hands availed himself of the privilege with a zest that gave pleasure to Frank Holmes. And the pleasure grew to a feeling of friendly triumph when the engaging ways of Claude Faune thawed even the banker's prejudice against him.

That Faune employed all his arts to win his way in the house in Cadogan Place was undoubted, and the generous and confiding friend to whom he owed everything was delighted with his success. Coincident with his introduction of Faune to Mary Clayton, Holmes realised for the first time his own love for the girl. Faune was quick to discover it, and the way in which he spoke about it was characteristic.

' What a charming girl Miss Clayton is, Frank !' he exclaimed one night after they had both dined there. They were smoking in the Adelphi lodgings of Frank Holmes ; Faune had rooms in the more aristocratic quarter of Mount Street.

The words seemed ingenuously spoken, and Holmes was pleased.

• Are you in love with her already, Claude 1 ?' he asked, laughing.

, No,' he answered ; and then added, with a certain shy hesitation that was interesting, 'but — may I say so, Frank? — I know who is !'

Frank Holmes blushed to the temples and laughed again. ' I am not sure,' he said, ' how it is with me exactly. You see, Miss Clayton'. — and here we may remark, as worthy of note, that without specially meaning it, Frank Holmes never spoke of her to Faune as ' Mary '— ' you see, Miss Clayton and I have known each other since we were little children ; and the recollection of these old days are the most frequent and interesting subjects of chat that we have even still. It is hard to know where one feeling ends and another begins — or, in fact whether there is another at all.'

'Oh, I don't know,' exclaimed Faune doubtfully. 'Of course, you mightn't notice it so soon in such a case — yourself ; but that would not prevent others from seeing how it was,'

HoLnes did not care to discuss the subject further ; he certainly would not encourage Faune to give his opinion as to the young lady's sentiments, interesting as it would have been to know. But Holmes had not yet had the serene course of his love disturbed by the possibility of rivalry. Once or twice, indeed, he had reasoned with himself that it was natural he should love her, but not necessarily that she should cherish any such sentiment towards him ; there was all the difference in the world between the two things. So he was content as matters were, and would so continue until he saw her love going to some other man.

The subject dropped, and left only two thoughts with Frank Holmes, after Faune's departure. The first was, that perhaps it was as well that Faune knew so much — Mary was so lovable a girl, and he was now aware that he must take cave of himself. The second thought was that it would be good for Faune if he did fall in love with some girl like Mary Clayton, and win her for his wife.

(To be Continued.)