LOVE VENTURES IN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18494, 3 September 1923, Page 4

LOVE VENTURES IN.

BY FLORENCE STACPOOLI, 'Author of " Paxnela'a Pearl*," " Uu» King's .'■' i", \ Diamond," etc. ' ~ ■,"••• /,".■■:■;'■'''■••''•■.''::':'.' •;-,.■:.;..':'/■.,.■• ; '■': -; : ' -•">' : .-'''■''■;>^:-.^C"

':.', :^'^.; '.i:'? : : : :' : '' VV. ;; (Copyright.) y ;;.;>x;; ; v. : ;;';;: '';:■'; SYNOPSIS. ' : < : Philip Joscelyn, student, from: a Hottli-J M; cultural: is employed as aj> B«59«:a - hand by Sir Joa«i Trevor. • Bo finds diffi- , culty in control! himself tinder the over- - bearing manner of his master, WW, the Head .. gardener, Manroe. .<>.-/; : -">. :>f'<< : :- y , •■'.' .'■' CHAPTER (Continued.) ,< "By Jove! " He. really .is a most , picturesque figure! Is .'this one of the gardeners ? " i '•"'''.'-•.'•• "' '•.-" The voice was high bred—and rather high pitched. It was not an- unkindly voica but at that moment it grated horribly on Philip's ear. : . J ;;' The speaker was a man probably fifteen years old than himself. I ■ ."Yes, .it's one of Munroe'a helpers," said a deeper \x>ic3, as a portly elderly gentleman came to the front of the group and, contracting his grizzled eyebrows, looked at Philip with an appraising and :■■• disconcerting stare. , : .. " Are you the new fellow from Swanley," ho asked abruptly. "I am a Swanley Student. I came . from London last night," Philip answered, and tho tension of. tho moment caused him utterly: to, forget that. in his present position he would be expected to say " Sir," p to any gentleman who addressed him. " H'm," said Sir John frowning, "has Munroe put you to this . job ? " " Yes he has," answered the young

man laconically. . His heartburning at being put to such work had leturned strongly as he noted that all the members of the group, which . no doubt represented the house party at the Park, were standing still in various: attitudes of ease and nonchalance and' gazing at him. H0.... had heard the words of the first speaker and was smarting under them— words spoken, as he imagined, in insolent sarcasm, but which were really uttered quite sincerely. His tall athletic figure in brown boots .and leggings, brown tweed- knickers: and waistcoat and blue shirt sleeves was, in truth, an extremely picturesque object. The contrast of the gold flecked ' brown and rich soft blue went well with his deep hazel eyes, olive complexion, and closely cut dark hair. Added to this the look of hauteur which Ins face involuntarily assumed as he fronted the company from the house with head erect and shoulders squared, caused them all -to gaze at him in silent surprise. : - : '''"'."■ '■'•'•". : ■ '- ; "H'm!" ejaculated Sir John once more, " ho'd iio business to!" As the Baronet uttered the words he turned and strode off "saying,' Come Miriam, I'm going to look for Munroe! " "Let's'all go and look for Munroe and give him whsit for!" cried the .com-; mender of Philip's appearance; " or," lie continued, with a laugh, " if none of yon feel equal to such a deed of daring, shall we follow and watch from a distance tho tourney between master and man! " Tho words rovealed to Philip the factthat the elderly gentleman could be no other than Sir .John Trevor—his employer —and with a shock he also remembered that he himselfhad been very remiss in his manners toward him. • ; "He will think 'I'm an absolute boor!" he said to ; himself with irritation. "";■'■.■ S: He« had swerved /th 8"; '; horse hurriedly round and it was now plodding in tha opposite direction. It.could -.safely be loft for a few minutes. J Sir,' r John and his daughter were already a good way in advance of the rest of the party and were * following the circular Sweep of the gravel drive - on . their-:~ way to - the ■:■ gardens that lay- beyond the lawn. The Others, laughing and '''chattering, followed "with leisurely steps. Philip I; adjusted the horse's bridle so that it could hot' slip and then with rapid; strides followed his employer, o ,-'.-> ? At the sound of his quick steps on the gravel: behind Sir John , stopped. : , His daughter's hand- was through his arm.' They turned., , L , ■ '.'. ' " I beg your pardon, ' Sir John," Philip said hastily as he .lifted his cap, "I. did not know you were Sir John Trevor and I fear I spoke just l now in a manner .that you must have;: considered greatly wanting in respect, ;l;I ventured to follow you, sir, to say that when I spoke I -was not ' aware that you were my employer,, and that. I trust you i will excuse me .for ■■' answering Iso shortly." Sir John was;. eyeing the man with ' a puzzled expression. He was asking him.'self was! this,the kind of thing that Horti- ' cultural Colleges turned out? Eesjpectful as the words were the tone and accents of this newest 1 addition. to his v garden staff were not those to which he : was accustomed ;v;in: ; his (servants. This ~\ fellow's manner annoyed him. • ' : ■ : --'".I ctxtainly thought," he said stiffly, f" thai the people who trained 'you mado^a : singular mistake in recommending yon : : for a gentleman's service. My gardeners are in the - habit of. looking on me, as their r master—-they don't use the word * em- ;: ployer,' ' I was about to desire Munroe to :dismiss youbut as' yon have 'apologised ; I shall merely tell him to find work for % you moire' r cbmmensriratß with the - wages you are receiving. .You "* can go back to the: horse now if yon please." ; " Philip stood for a moment dumbfounded. He was too overwhelmed by •;,the manner ,'; in which his apology was received to take In at once the curt order to return to hi 3 :- ? work. J.:- :''.■.,:"'■

l: His face crimsoned, and, involuntarily, his fist clenched. ; Indignant words rushed to his lips—•. words that would instantly sever his connection with Trevor Park. They were arrested before they became articulate. ;,,.-..,.,-,.,. •'A'- whisper reached his ear—though it was very low--" Papa—dear papa 'don't:'*; ;; ''^' !l ':- : ';":-" ■*.•"-: ;^-; ; : " --'-^-"»' ■-■: '^*.-i.« - : ■: The current of, his anger was suddenly stemmed. V A quick revulsion of feeling began to make him ashamed of himself ashamed that he should -not-have had more control over his temper-^—that he should not have been able to take reproof calmly - and ; accept with: philosophy > the position of being " liable to have his dismissal conveyed to him by,, a head gardener. . »"';'"•"" ''■■■■.. t .'"''.'^'".:":'i ''■"' . His face changed from crimson to whita' —he murmured something hoarsely. Then he bowed and turned away. ■ ,; ,

CHAPTER ILL

, So you've made the acquaintance of Miss Trevor! You're in luck's way and what do yon think of hernow you've seen hereh?" .: ' Rose Bradell was superintending the new. gardener's supper in the same way that she had presided over his early breakfast.-' /■:''•■'■■. She had contrived to dispose ; of her fatHer and mother by inciting one to 'get to a meeting at the Mechanic's Institute and persuading the otherwith the help of a little hot rum arid waterto go to bed at an unearthly hour. . ' So she had Philip to a tete-a-tete supper . and was ministering to his wants as- she had done in the small hours of the morn- : ing. ■■:,■:■ '■'-,:'' ,"• ■.. " Do you think her as handsome as some' of the folks say she is? ".,;, As Miss Bradell spoke she cut a liberal hunk from a wedge of " double Gloucester " which she had placed on its dish in -front of her ,' own seat. "Thank yoS," Philip said, as he took ".. ' the plate she held out to him. There was no smile on his face-in response.to hers, and he made no reply to her question. '"Do you?" she repeated, arid although she did hot stamp with impatience at his silence there was an insistence in her tone which gave much the same effect to her words as if she had done ;■ so. , "As I can't possibly know how hand- ..' some 4 the : * folk * consider Sir John Trevor'a daughter, I don't see how I can tell ' you," lie ' replied. He was cutting the - slab-of-' cheese on his plate into small , pieces. Amd his eyes were on it ; 'as he '-.<■ spot©. :'-■ A better educated, ffirl than Rose would ■i have noted the significance of his repetition of tho word "folk.'* She, however, , ■-:.■■■■,'

only noticed ■'. that this * maniaer ,waa "Stiff, hia tone what fsio? stigmatised -a as " opI pish." - It that his maimer was stiff, his tone what she stigmatised as " oppish." If/ nettled her. ; :■:' "vWhat ; d'you/ think 'of ; her • yourself, ■ thea?" she rotorted. " You've eyes *u your head as Veil as another. Yoa were standing opposite to her,: talking to her— :-' know -whether you think her pretty or : not." ' (•■":■- '■■':■" -'; v.: ,■'■ ■;■-'■ ■;'- •■'.:., #•<•';, k ;"How do you know I 'was- talking9to ; "Miss Trevor?'"' he asked looking up.: •> "1 heard it. from one who - saw yon." "You heard what was not-the fact," ' ha said' shortly. ■ *; ■'.■/■■ ■ " . "You were talking! to her," she protested. ' - ' ;;■ ''Excuse feme, ; ; I c was not.". ... : " But you < were ' standing 'opposite to her— can't deny that. If you didn't actually , talk to her you looked at her— you can't deny youi ' had 'it'; good look at herAh! Ha! You- can't deny that—j can you!" ■ t '_ ;- ■ ■■' A flush had risen to Joscelyn's face.. It deepened angrily at Che vivacious raillory in his hostess's voico. .: " Why J • You've- gone quite red ! I declare you have!" ": She went on with a sprightly laugh, "and when a lad does thatwhy it tells! eh? You can't deny that it : does—that ..: "/shows you think her— I" There wait, a moment's pause. Then she added significantly. "Someone else thinks the same as you do —I can tel! you that ' • ' " What do you mean?" he said. He was far from wishing to question her, but the words came' beforo he could sCop them. She was resting both her bare elbows on the table, and her eyes were fixed on him inquisitively. : Sha had put on a machine made lace blouse with hanging half sleeves. It was the piece do resistance of- her wardrobe which she had assumed for this fete-a-tete supper. The sleeves were frilled with lace and gamished with cherry coloured ribbons. The frills as they fell back showed her plump forearms. Her chin rested on her folded . hands, and she was eyeing him shrewdly. " I mean what I —someone else] admires Miss Trevoras I see you dohe 1. he!" She broke off with a giggle, and ~ then added. "Someone you also saw this morning!" To this sally Philip made no answer. He was stolidly eating his bread and cheese and resolving Chat nothing should make him utter the words that rose to his lips. Miss Bradell, however, was not a person whom silence ever repressed. On this occasion it seemed to act as a goad to her tongue. " You saw a lot of the ladies and gentlemen who are staying at the house they came out* on the drive beforo the lawn. Maybe you noticed one of them? One of the gentlemen not the youncest-*-a well set up man I call himthough not—so to sayhandsomehis hair's getting grizzled a bit—well— him In spite of himself Philip looked at* her interroeatively. The man she spoke of was the one who had called nim . a picturesque figure. At the. recollection hs brow darkened.

"You know which on© I -meanl sea that," she said with another; laucrb..; " He admires Miss Miriam Trevor — he has a right to," aud she eyed the young man with a gleam of defiance in her jef? black eyes. She saw the question in. his that his lips would not utter. "You want to know why he has a right to admire herdon't you ''Why should If" he replied coldly. "I think the less 1 interest servants take in their master's guests, and their master's doings the better." " Well I never!" ' : *

Irrepressible as she was his words had taken her aback for a moment.

" Is that the sort you Eire !" she cried. "But I believe its what you-really think—you only say it out of aggravation. Well then—whether h yon want to hear it or not I'll |ell you. '■■} He's i; Sir John's heir Sir John has no son yon know. This gentleman, Major Gerald . Ormskirk— is a distant cousin of the family, arid will get the title when ] Sir; John dies, and-.-. She paused dramatically before concluding. "And ho is engaged Co Miss Miriam

She could not see the effect of .her 'communication for the new gardener's eyes bad returned to ; 'his plate. She went on loquaciously, "He's very rich. I don't kuow' how many thousands a" year he-has. I wish I had a shilling for every one :of =: them I know 1 j I call him jolly lucky—don't you?" ," I suppose he is," J , . "There's not much supposing about itno one could call him anything but lucky. He's got everything he' wants—-money and all that, and to marry Che prettiest girl L in the —she's reckoned the prettiest" but,"; archly, "you haven't? given me your -opinion of her yet Mr. Joscelyn you- call her pretty— 5 "No," I said with.a curious emphasis, "I should never think of calling her— pretty." - '...-,;■, : . ;';.';;■': :?3' ■ ■>:.'" " "My!" ejaculated «, the t girl- : gleefully, " you don't say so—really and * truly? I never did! Youi must hard. to please, 'Mr. Joscelyn." '," * .-'■' ' ■ .' - ' : She : turned her ; head coquettishly. Then she cried, "Oh !" for. he had risen, "you've not done already!;,-: Have some more cheese, or some cold; pork, or. tart?" .-.:", " No more fhank you—-and you must excuse me—-I havo reading to do upstairs —I am still a student you know." v- ;; Her ; face fell. It did seem .too bad to have ; put on her best ; ;blouse >for these few minutes. '' *''*'•■•. / . " Good nighf," he said. '% " Well —but.—" and she put out a; detaining hand, " before you go—just- tell me this, Mr. Joscelyn—did you really mean what you said— you wouldn't call Miss Trevor pretty?" , " Yes, I meant what I said." " Then who 'would your call pretty—* if not her " . "I should call• you—pretty," he answered. -.-..'•■' -■-■:■' ■,'-'"-<>..:. -'' ■' ' The comnliment, however, was made more unsatisfactory tfhari it might have been, for directly after he uttered it he emitted the room and shut -fJhe door behind him. , .-"< : (To be continued daily.)