OUR SERIAL STORY TRIPPED AT LAST.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 182, 19 July 1911, Page 9

OUR SERIAL STORY TRIPPED AT LAST.

BY

HEADON HILL.

CHAPTER XIV. FATHER AND DAUGHTER. (Continued.) “VI ith that vulgar wretch who came at night in tlio lauini-h, I suppose,” l.uciHe replied, tossing impatiently on her pillows,. “No father, lam not afraid of the wind and the rain, but lam very much annoyed by it. 'Die sea is so rough that Doctor Harold cannot- possibly come to see mo today.” “You are feeling worte. darling?” “No, but it is so deadly dull here. Doctor Harold’s visits are all I have to look forward to. and he wets to have brought Miss Meldreth with him to-day. It is very disappoint' ing.” “You like Doctor Harold Chetwynd very much, I think, little one?” sand the Colonel, stooping down and arrangwig the pillows, but. at the same time keeping a watchful eye on the pale, upturned face. A slow flush suffused it now, and the Colonel, who was not altogether surprised, spared her eoitifnS'iton by turning round to find himself a ohiaiir. By the time he had placed it at the head of the couch and sat down Lucille had recovered her composure, and answered quite serenely—- “ Yes, father, I like him very much indeed. He has l»een so kind and patient, and I fairly love Mies Alejdreth, whose acquaintance I owe to him. And now this horrid weather will keep them both away for a w-holie day, for they rriill never be able to come cross that foam-crested sea in a small boat. Look how the waves dash past this miserable island and break against the quay wall. We are on the sheltered, side of the house herg, towards the land, but it must be blowing a hurricane.” “Yes, it is pretty bad,” the Colonel admitted absently. And them, after a pauiso, he stretched out his own delicate but sinewy hand and smoothed the hair from his daughter’s forc-ht-ad. “1/ook here, little woman,” he said. “I have generally got you everytliiug you wanted. I think that most of the tilings that I do are directed to that end. How would you like to have Rose Meldreth for your

second mother? Your own died before you knew her, so that there would lx- no wrench of that wort. And if I were to make Miss Meldreth my wife she would be with you always.” Lucilile raised herself slightly, and gazed Nt her fa tiler’s face as though she would read him through and through. "But you do not Jove her, father?” she said, with a little catch of her breath. "Are you sure she would be happy?” “At any rate if she consented to marry me I should try to make her so,” the Colonel answered, avoiding those searclring eyes. “But, father, you know what that would mean,” Lucille persisted. “If she was to be made happy there would, have to be a chamge in—m our way of life. You could not ex peed her to take kindly to our wandering existence and to—to other tilings. You would have to give up-— —” Coloneil Crcmirn cut has daughter short with unwonted toughness. “Of course, of course; I know aJI that,” lie said. “There would be no nevi for what you call a wandering existence aind other things, especially for the ot-her thongs. Miss Meldreth is the da tighter of a very wealthy man, you see."

Apparently Lucille <l:d see, ior she nodded comprehcnditigl.v. But when she spoke again it was to put forward a new argument. “You would have to gain her consent, ’’ she said wistfully, “and there yon would find difficulties that you have not forseen, I expect. Has it never occurred to you that my Doctor Harold thinks a good deal of Rost' Meldreth ? 1 have noticed him looking at her sometimes as though he were her devoted slave.” “Ami that ha< hi.u!i- my child sad:'” purred the Colonel softly. “She would prefer Doctor Harold to bo some one else’s devoted slaver

The girl’s sick eyes shone very bright as she answ eri <1 ' ’ You have read my folly like a book, father. It is no good trying to have secrets front yon. but. oh! isn’t it madness for a poor crippled creature like? mo to have such thoughts as that. I hate felt- so much better lately, or 1 do not b-elicve that they would have nne to me.” “You are going to get tpiite well; Harold Uhetwyml shall continue the cure ho has begun,” said the Colonel. “And see here, child: thtre must he something of the nature m a bargain between us. 1 have my mind on making Miss Meldretl. my wile. 'You will not oppose me nt carrying out that intentioi: r“ (To be Continued).