THE TELEPHONE GIRI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15234, 22 February 1913, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE TELEPHONE GIRI.

I BY ALICE AND CLAUDE ASKEW, • Authors oJ ■' " The Shulamite," - '"' '£ba ':■ Etonian," > "The Woman Deborah," " Behind Shattered. i.. Windows," " Lovo tho teater," eta- , - ! COPTEIGHT. ' CHAPTER XtfVl. ! : j Tti&zti was a dinner party sit the Martins* house in Bryanston Square that night 'in honour of the bride and! bridegroom of to-morrows Arrangements had been made for the wedding reception to. be held . in, the ; private rooms of a fashionable hotel, for a large gathering war- expected, and it was necessary '.that there should be adequate space.' London society had mani-: fested ■ no little interest in the event. The extreme youth of the bride, arid.the fact that she was being married before she had really "comeout," made people talk about her; while as lor, Owen—was he no|> heir to Lord : t Oavjersham, a young man l long regarded' as a "catch" by match-:, making mammas,. who _: had. sighed ' in. chorus because he had for.so long evinced ' no disposition /whatever -to ; allow himsiilfo ; to be 'caught ?.v- It: wis ? only natural: that these good ladies should! want to see and criticise the girl who had' been successful in capturing his affections. ' , \' • ' ''■•■-. :"'. A big social went. Owen and Amy both hated the idea, .of: being paraded thus for the inspection of ; society. 7 '-' ; .They .> -had pleaded • for a' qvuet wedding, but Honoris would not hear of such a thing.' ; Mrs. Martin was quite in her element, en joying herself thoroughly, and nothing had given he? keener pleasure than the \ writing of i the invitations to the titled folk whom she; did not know personally, but whom : she» was quite justified in asking since; they, ■were connections or friends of Owen's r Eonoria, in very truth,;was, in the seventh ; heaven of 'k delight- - Her : fondest j ambitions were about to be .realised—oven j now she was enjoying'"'a': foretaste, of the 1 ■ joys to come. She had gained her ''entree"•;.} into the society which till now had been more or less"closed to her; she w&g no longer to be a hanger-on upon the fringe —she had been duly inducted' into the : innermost shrine. "'■'.•' This weighed more with her even than the fact that she' would very shortly be" able to pay off some at least of the rfebts that had threatened to assume suchaiarm-; ing proportions. She had no real; idea of the : value of :' money—she i hardly : appro? ciated the tangle into which she had got her husband's affairs—and as long as she ; saw herself clear of immediate difficulties she was quite content to allow the future ' to take care of itself. > >; Amy -had con- ; sented that the money that: was,to come | to her should be dealt with by her mother j exactly as ';•■ she pleased, and Owen t had made liberal settlements, ; neither asking nor expecting anything in return.-, v.-.;: <:.] r Amy had not made -this, concession to j her mother ungrudgingly. > In fact; she had spoken out with painful directness, Honoria had had to listen to home-truths from her daughter, and she had not been, . able to retort with one of her,, usual displays of temper, for somehow Amy, as wen's affianced wife, was no longer quite ; the same Amy who might be bullied and domineered over at will and who haa never ventured to retaliate. Honona, indeed, had a rather uncomfortable sensation . thai. Amv, alter marriage, was not at all unlikely to develop a; spirit 01 independence that might not easily be subdued, and this would be very troublesome, having resrard to further benefits that Honoria hoped to derive from the future Lady j Caversham- . : . '•'„;•'•'.,' , But for the present all was wei«, tncugn Amy had made it clearly understood that what she did was solely for her father's: sake, who, poor man, had been brought to the verge of ruin by no fault of his own; this was pronounced with a biting emphasis that made Honoria wince. And it was quite useless for Honoria to attempt ' to argue with her daughter—to point out that maternal solicitude had guided her: throughout. Amy had her own views : on the subject, whicn could be easily guessed, ■ even if they were not spoken aloud. :, Now, however, on, the eve of the ,weij?; ding, Honoria had put all such unpleasant.; reflections aside.: She was; satisfied with. herself and with the world at large.', And she expressed herself to this :. effect *. to Standish Grome, who was one of the guests that, night, and who,: had; arrived early on purpose to have a .cHtVwithiheir/. "Yes, I think you've scored.all along the line, Honoria," said 'Grome,".'He was very; well groomed), but it "struck Honoria

-,•"'"" " •■. |i !^"_ ,,, i ,i ':""_','" > ""'. t - , ; that the single diamond stud: he were.waaL' a trifle too:large, and he .miltdejtioo gres?f' a display of trinkets upon, watoh-chainV ' Somehow he suggested thijr Stock ■ Ktchange, and in its least, favourable aspect. She was; beginning, to notice these, things as she had never done before. \ ■.>['.■ • V ; He had dark rings under bis eyes t tooi and a higher colour than usual in his. cheeks. ; He looked like a naaa. who had been going 1 the pace—which was ;; quiti>. likely, and did hot matter.as long : : as >it* % was not made manifest; but that it should| be was a crime, according to Honoria-»| ethics. ,: "You won't forget, my dear cousin, that without me this happy day might never have come about at : all ?" Gronie continued, insinuatingly. They ■■ had the dra.-wingroom to themselves, for «£,:'■'>£< none of the guests had arrived, ; "'«. >' 1 fact is, I've blewed that two ; gave me, and I could do with a bit. 'W&- ' ' I There was no reason at all, so ha a - j-iifcd , to himself, that ho should not make hay b I while the sun shone; later on, when she knew how he had treated her, Hohcria could no longer be depended upon to -re-" plenish his shattered exchequer—but ■ then, if all turned out as he hoped, he would no longer have to ,go begging. " Honoria made a gesture of impatience.; Standish's exactions were becoming a distinct burden, moreover, during in* lair!; few days the impecunious condition of her I financial affairs had been brought home, to her with some acuteness. However, just how she wait feeling too ei'.atul to; worry very much " That'll be } all-right, Stendish," she said. " I know ■ ; it's due to you that Owen had to break off with Peggy. You we- u find me ungrate-. ful. By th i way, what about Peggy ? You'll put i.a end to you*" supposed en- . ( gagemsnt, I presume, as soot ;r safely manic.!? How bi'.k'.i;- -•-. -~'■ per "si who'll hebet ii sen - /at . >: ir ''■■'• A '. \ phone g'rl shouldn't bait 1 :i,k to c, \ big fish." ""•'>' -r >; I '* ■•■• -i'&y ftas been ill," said; : ■ Grouiop ' shortly '.'■". She'r p.n?.y. ! , hist on the merd.. I shall decide .whit.- '..6; —nil in good•' time." r "■'■' :..;.'.-■ '-•.";..;;">;■; : : ;'v > .: Z'; was tr-.e that Peggy had bets:; sl'irC She hti'l bjiken down under the; L-:±ji <■ which yhe rad put upon;h^seM/.; s I'--, : , letter tr.' Owen, perforcsi worded so co!6i.?> had_ been the last straw. : During ' '•■'• > ol- ■ ;lp i -Jflllg:'^•■'wMk^':she;':' i ■^yas;^M , (Ti?j; ' ..-, . she struggled ~iv» ->vft Jv i% ,-;,,, a«t;- r - - '-• the', Exchange : .Jih.a;.: J 'iii-k.,. /.Olrceti:, ?•<*-io, succumb.; (:Oid upon iiin, p^amon 1 i fsuu r i:- '; ■venae ' '<- - l - ,>"- - ''' Helen and Winifred 'did ; everything' \'t\ their power, ar.d Mrs. .Jeffcott was '. Hvdr ; ; ness perse; ;'!/? :d. Peg;;;/ 'had.aV.iiphy'/tiA constitution, and it w:|l? nevs?it rackoned that;!she was in act^iii'idasgsr.- She .Irjrv very quiet andpassi" A'cep&"';?h,h : StaiidishGrome came. *o «!-•--■ . anu -■ ii&, ;ti<ueh;to .thevpu.^j; ~'&.\"' i^'Kiads, shc>' ■.appei ?edv a'-'., igp,ly\:-oLf t <'iiinect to .see.' . -NoveifhelCiSSj'' -, > ch\ ,sl he. vlyV^.:-- (hy, J brought flowfy^^W/l^'■ a?>'unse;rai,vtiiig;in: J his attentions. ,-'.-:- Jl, "Of course; Pegyy' air.efe '"^ss .'& vary I ti-ouhl- • '.i.i -.rifS-bat'.-fe v &J1 -.GronieTa plans, j H; ■ 'x.&t p,OT..aocd f*( r v'Rg. , / lr u»a\yiaga I jyer a* a.' 1 bossihie.v lull' he h; '; V:&ecT» her as hw' ;; i?s he cor thii*./ j ; Ci- f .. approaching i Lord ', Cavirtslfam, ■ [ brfeftlyig .the- news to him that.'Peggy;,vv.i,a.' y hia . .\tX\iox*^t. child -or the - lost Mary I Rttst > .1 Caversham wcrfd rally refiiisci the ttuth of the ; story, 1 bufc -he • happened '■ to [be ;'. acqaair ted: ; with Grome'it chai'actc and busine«?. recqrdi and' would neve? t ;i lisak of accepting .such a man fbv j hi? son ; iji-'jaw. What he would almott j ceKtAinly do would tw?: to restore Peggy > to Owen's arms. ' , .So, Orhme .was"; powerless to: move 1 till! Peggy was his "wife; sjid in the meanwhile thei's - ftjyj the precarious state :: »>f ■■■ I^orcl health to be c «vsidep>e..':.:Snpposiv'g i-ieggys father were to die without having koowLor acknowledged his daughter? ,That "would mean " thai .the whole fortune would bit otherwise ; disposed -'i)l, .and '-'Peggy > would, ha'fe no real claim sat .'alii In such a ease Gromo would have to reconsider j his; position;; and - y as," he did not -..propose', to benefit Owen, he would probably have to sell his secret. to Beau- | champ Hushes. . . But to* Peggy was.fast.regaininghiealtli and strength, while • Lord : Cav«irsbarct wa« no wares. ■ .All promised to be .well ii«?|ai as JtCTiiagx'J With. Peggy, was concerned. Grome fiihcely hoped that. it : todght ;■'&>. 1 ; for,' yery much: 00 ihia: surprise, *;he;na.d , begun to realise that his attachment to tin girl had become l reali-J?eggy ,' in some ini- explicable way, had;;capturedEhmShlsflirt. He had been morethaa a little hurt at hex coldness-. towairds hhn during her illness. Yet isurely ahe c\red, or why. she have Accepted him! ■ •' ~.;,- Hf.'noria realised that- Grdaae did not wish to discuss Peggy, an<t : so she chaSged the subject. She i wis,; indeed, full pi ■ her projects for the futerej and vxatiiL). preferred to . talk about them. She was ! ciia»mßmg. eloquently upon;tie topic of Owen's .trtlcd;i>elat3oTiS. with, whom she would now be upon -familiar tejms,"when Sie door opened -aud John Martin entered tb<.roou. ''.''•'• '■' . **. '"" : ; ':'- lie : *.'«:iii''-d : wiirib3-,iu^ ■ to •• receive hit guests. .BaVi'ißrs was-eoteething about hi : appearavts: vhat made> : and Gws« gaze at hues with surpTise and alarm. ::His aspect w tixat of a. mar. who had iusfe received isi»;terrible shock. • -": Hcno'.xa sprang to hex 1 feet. " Good] !;2avcnii, John,"- she : cyied, "how, qneej 5 'jita'look ! What on earth t-Fs wattec-t? . CHAPT3ER XXIII. ;/' . f ohn' Martin, .usually; &> wst. &nd ;,d?bo. nWir, looked as if he liad thrtifira hiß'Sriis dollies oh anyhow- • His fair hair, alway brushed with greatest precision, had I parting sic/ping ou : io the teft'.i&s s-.cad of observing the middle line with, it unswerving; exactitude. ( His. cheek ha<s -lost their healthy glow, and the sallow hue. whidh had .crept over them wts,.th most marked change of alt v .,-"•■■ ■'.■'.' Goa-i heavens, --' ' John! ~ What- 'isv th matter V repeated. Honoria. ; ; ■■■■ . John Martin made no inside?. .'He stop ; regarding his^wtfeJand'-hwr^TOXisms-wit mild' blue eyes sparkled with , .wonted, anger. < His lips twitched. ■ Oroiae hadriaeh too. ■ He streteihed 01 his hand, afiectihgi'.not to notice that thai ■was anything .- "How ore you, Ma tin !•' 'no inquired.. genially. '*' A. -festiT : ■"ocoaßxo^''eh i .'oatf" --"'."\ '.",;".'' Mr. Martin ignored the' proffered ham ' ostentatiously'.putting his own behind h .back. Tiieh he turned te-hisfwae.;'; " You want to know what's the matter Well, I'll tell you. I've seen Pick. ;>:B . came to me at ray club. The, poor,boy-broken-hearted, and threatened to hike fc ; life—" . ■ " ■:.,:-.,; ' *' Pooh, what i honsense!"KnJtermpte r Honoria. "And is that all?" '■■ - - "It isn't, nonsenses He meant it,: I ifi ■: you. ■'■■ He says that .Amy loves him, that -she is being forced into .a marnag against, her mcJmatMns;>jppiifc:W.^t^B not true, for, heaven help me, 1 is ' I've.abetted it myself;). I've helped t« compass the misery of my own child. Bn« I thought Owen loved Amy, MWatihe?bs^ got over his attachment, that,.had gjva Miss Eyiey up of his own accord: Now ffl know --he didn't—that he .. would neve voluntarily have given herjpp.pou cheate* them both—yon,. Honoria, , audi this % prec ous cousin of yours, Standish Grome—rß man whom I've aaked you over and oveß again not to see so much of—'* ■ " John, how dare you J What is th meaning of this ridiculous; outburst*■ Honoria drew herself Qp''hanghtaly,---'» splendent in; her rich gown, glitteixog wilfl jewels. , m -rttj For the first tune in her axperiehce'-.:'< him her husband was.not abashed,: :y| took a step forward, pointing a tKes&rkfl and denunciatory forefuiijer at Honoria"l say you cheated;them.]^l^~<>«r* and Miss Ryley.: You i 'got Griino^ta^niM fere, to pretend to make love to the gifl JHe is supposed to be (eEgag^ ; ii> her ?«oi t let him deny it if he can. ,jr ; \\ - :- ! *iS|^ i Why should:.:l deny^ -:'.riii, ?"* drawig I Grouws; . :■ .- v '- Martin turned: upon him fiercely. : Wiw colour was flowing to his ; sallow cheeaj "Will you attempt to denyi&at the whH jtM».g was a-faroe,-t6 force Owen'to kM on engagement that he wanted : to be in •from ? - You cannot. ' You've made d boast of it. . That is how, it camo to Dfl Pennant's ears. ; And so through youivplH ting; the paliri.-oi you, we've come : torwr»| that Owen aid Amy are going to ma» each other to-morrowy.though each of. th V loves Uomebody; else, that this poor gfl 'Peggy J^yloyV*has. been matte a tool lotH »0 dropped an soon ■as ifhe h&s : served purpose, and that Dick Pennant, son af<| old j friend, \is in 1 detrpair, and, fojrv«Jlß| know, may carry out .'iia threat.to,tele*;™ life."- fTo he ooiitJnued d*B '*"■'' "' II