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Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 8 August 1908, Page 2

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"If husband and wife aro one, I am .already an old frieiid of yours, Lady Brantynham." Miss Frewea said -with. Lea- cold flashing smiki that was like a sunbeam playing on glittering iceL "I am very pleased to meet you," replied Cara, with, a rather poor attempt at fedgning a responsiveness she did not feel. Miss Frawea's beauty and amiability somehow failed to appeal to her. "She is charming, George," observed Misa Frewen, when after a little chitchat the group drftetd and scattered, Miss Frewen still retaining hear old friend at her sido. "1 congratulate you on, your choice." "Praise from Sir Hubert Stanley is j raise, indeed," he -quoted, i "Quite exquisitely fair," Miss Frewem oontinued, as if appreciating a picture, "and that mass of golden hair throws out the dark eyes so effectively. Sir George smiled to hiinsolf, but respected the secret o£ what he thought his wife's harmless littte vanity. "How well llhoda is looking," Lady Marlowe remarked that evening when they were talking over the day's meetings; "and sihci was without her shadow to-day." "Has she eet up a shadow?" inquired Sir Georgei with languid) interest. "Perhaps I should have said 'another' shadow. The line of tdiem has beien as long as the Kings in Macbeth. It seemed as if :<b would stretch out to thei crack of doom ! She was always an arrant coquette, as you know. Over and over again tHie might have be«n married wel\ but shohas gonei through the wood, and now I am afraid shei -s eroing to pick up the 1 crooked sticic at last." "Well, the crooked slicks must bo' packed up by somebody," he observed, "but I should not ha,ve thought the fair Rhoda was one for tlhat'pickingup And what about her stick? I suppose it has a name?"' • j "He rejoices in the name of Ouseabury. I did hoar a whisper that he> I had changed his Kama; and he is the j sort of man of whorr« c-nei can' quite be^ liiwe it. Rhoda picked him, up somewhere abroad, iind has managtid tofoist him upon same of her friends^ but he is not one of > us : ho is not a gentleman. I caniiab understand j Ifhodai's infatuation! " j "Cam one ever account for a woman's ' infatuation 1" i "Or fca" a man's," rejoined Lady •Marlowe, standing up for her sex. "I suppose we shall not. have the pleasure of seeing Rihoda'si infatuator heirei?" hazarded Sir Georges. "I have not invited him, and I do not? intend to invite him unless I am obliged. Of course, it' Rhodai marries him, one can hardly exclude him." Later that evening 1 when tihe Brantynhams were enjoying a tete-a-tete chat about things and peiople of tihe day, Misis Frewen's mine again oame up, and Sir George observed, "I hop© you will get on well together, Cara. I should like you to bei good friends." "I dare say we. shall bei friemds. all right enough as the world goes," she answered. "She is not. the sort of woman- I should like toi have for an cynemy. She. ia very handsome, but there is a hard, cold glitte<r about her beauty, and I believe she doesn't like me." ''Now, lihat must be/ your fancy, Carat ! She spoke of you in the most admiring terms." . "Words are easy enough, and perhaps she« -wished tot pleasei you, George." "Vain puss!" h© rejoined smiling. "So you think your praises please me?" "I know I shouldn't oara for any praises that didn't please you," she answered with a sweet glance from the great soft dark eyes. 'fWell, I do believe that, little girl," he, said heartily. In high, good 'humor with the things in- general and his wife's success in particular, George chatted on, giving her little biographical sketches of the people they had met that day, but her mind was wandering, end prwwently when he paused for a reply, she asked suddenly, "Was she aver very fond of you, George?" "Fond of me?" he echoed disregarding the. past tense "Good. Heavens, Caral she is a most) devoted wife; [why! she was married when I leit school." . "Miss Frewen?" "Why, wa had left her behind long ago. I was speaking of Mrs Lightr •way." , "But was- shot?" urged Cara, with a wistful searching glance. "Was who, what?" "Was Mise Frewen fond of ycu ?" "What an absurd idea," irritably, and flushing a little. "What put such nonsense into your head?" "Nobody put it there, it came M itself to-day. George," softly, and stealing her hand into his with a propitiatory caress, "do you know what I have been, thinking? That if you had not married me, Misa Frewen would not have picked up a crooked Stick, but have married you !" fuon-fr*aiie<j on page 3.)

"I think the fair Rhoda regarded me as a very crooked stick in those days," with a rather grimi dry smile. "Siiei would not have thrown herself away upon a poor beggar with twopence in his pocket. But put that idea • out of your head, Cara. I have always admired Rhoda Froweni - immensely, but she is the last woman- in the world 1 should wish to have: for my wife. Don't lot any groundless fancies tak* hold! of you, little woman ! You and Ehoda! Frewen will naturally meet, perhaps often, and T should not like there to be any coolness between you. I tell you frankly, I wish you to be on pleasant terms. Rhoda Frowen is a dangerous person to be at odds with." "So I can well imagine; that is exactly the: impression she produces on me." "I don't mean to set you against her," he interposed, perceiving that he was going on the wrong tack. "Oh noi you don't at all," said Cara with a re-assuring smile. "We are quite of one mind. Trust me, George, dear, I'll do all I can to carry out your wishes. I'll make myself as agreeable as ever I can to Miss Frowen and I've no doubt we shall get on very well." "Thaf s my own little wife/ said the satisfied husband, rewarding his dooile spouse with a kiss.