SKY BLUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19986, 30 June 1928, Page 14 (Supplement)

SKY BLUE.

BY ROLLS VILLIERS.

CHAPTER VI (Continued). Morton's voice took a soft caressing tone cs he spoke. He knew his ground and realised that in the role of confidant and consoler lay the great opportunity he had been waiting for so long. " I can make you wonderfully happy, jYvonne. Just let me try. I'll give up the Air Foice, and we'll go abroad. We'll travel and I'll show you the world, make you forget and teach you to love. " As a slave you could not have one •more devoted, as a companion I will be inimitable, and as a lover I shall make your life one long dream of happiness." He paused to let the seductive effect of Ins words make the intended impression.

Then he went on. " Yvonne, will you trust me?' Will you Ijust give your self up into my hands and Jet me take all your trouble and cares from your shoulders ? Will you let me teach you how to live and love and be happy?" " I appreciate what you say, Morton, replied Yvonne in a monotone. 1 believe that you mean it all, but Im afraid I couldn't give you happiness. I m dead

"°Slio sighed, and a night bird gave out its little song. "Not: vet, Morton," she went cn. Just be patient with me. Wait a little while and perhaps, some day, I'll come to you and ask you for all you have promised. Now, it would be impossible." Yvonne rose and Morton-Strangeways lose with her. . , . ' He took her limp hand, raised it to his lips, and pressed a soft kiss upon the fingers. . ..Tin " Dear girl," he murmured. 1 snail always be with you." Yvonne felt a shudder go through licr; she felt as if, again, the old fear of this man was coming to wrap its cold and fearsome coils once more round her heart. Oh, if only Dennis had been " white, jf only her protector, her lover, her man "bad proved clean steel right through how different would hava been the song of the night bird, how different would the stars have shone and the world throbbed m ecstasy. Now life could only mock. " Good-night, Morton," sho said at last, breaking the silence. She turned away and walked into the house. CHAPTER VH. The days had sped swiftly for Sergeant Deane at the Pilot School, but the nights had been long and lonely. During the day-time, there had been long lectures and flight instructions, interspersed with flying lessons which had taken up all his thought. After all, was not liis whole life and ambition wrapped around machinery, -were not his hopes and ambitions centred far above in skies of blue ? , . And yet, thero was a heavy cloud hanging above his life. Into his life Yvonne had come, like a little lone child, seeking protection and, that given, it had turned into love. Into his skv-dreams of ambition had been woven the threads of ■wonderful love without which ambition be " Dead Sea Fruit." Deane could not reconcile the sweot inoments of their parting, the wonderful whispered words of love, with .Yvonne 8 one- short, letter to begin with and, then, her •silence'. That was the cloud. 1 Deane had passed through his pilot s Course, and, on gaining his " wings," was promoted to the rank of flight-ser-geant;:.' but lie got very little joy out of the prospect, without the accompanying interest of Yvonne. The morning on which he wf.s to return to the aerodrome at Alverstone, he went into the sergeant's mess early for breakfast.,- , "Any letters, Jones? "he demanded Of one "of the mess orderlies. He had writtdn' to Yvonne a final letter two days before, telling her of his success and the likelihood of his early

return. Without anv reproof in his words, he had, at the "same time, questioned her coldness, and rather pleaded for ah explanation of her unwarranted silence. "Yes, sergeant," replied Jones. "It ain't on scented mauve or rose paper as I likes my gals to write, but I'll bet it's from one o' yours,'* he grinned. " All right, not so much of your lip, laughed Deane, " hand it over! " He took the letter. Y r es, it was from Yvtmnc! What would be her welcome—and her explanation ? •' Deany," he read after perusing , the opening paragraphs of congratulation; " you ask for an explanation of my coldness and comparative silence. " Surely you will not have to seek far to understand. "You are the one man I should have said was the soul of honour and an example of frankness. It cannot he necessary for me to explain matters to you, as your own conscience should tell- you the reason why it will be impossible for us to continue any further our love. " That is dead —at least for me.

" If, when you ha™e made amends, and time has softened the terrible blow you have given me, you caro to renew our acquaintance—perhaps I can give you friendship." t -. Deane got no further. He re-read this part of the letter twice and then crushed it in his fist. What on earth was the girl talking jibout ? Had she suddenly gone out of her senses ? "Bacon and eggs, sergeant? ' asked

Jones. " No. take the damned stuff away, Knapped Deane. "Hello, Deane!" greeted Sergeant Davies, another man who had just gained his " wings " with Deane, and was returning that day to Alverstone also, as he came into the mess at this moment, i' What's the matter with you'? " You're not a liverish bird as a rule fct breakfast," he said, puzzled. " No," replied Deane. " I'm not liverish,,as you say. As soon as I've, got my papers from the orderly room, I'm of!! Meet me on the train, we'll get ail empty carriage—l want to have a chat with you." ''Righto," assented Davies, puzzled, as Deane stalked out of the room. "Got a, letter from a girl this mornin'," informed Mr. Jones the talkative. "He was all right till he read that, then he ■went all white like. He crumpled it up and pushed it in his pocket, and —well, I've never heard him swear before, but if you'd heard what he said " " Get 011," ordered Davies. " Dish up that breakfast and shut up." Deane and Davies secured two corner seats in an empty compartment of the train going down to Alverstone. Davies kept silent to give Deane a chance to say what was 011 his mind. At last he spoke. " Read this. Davies," he said, suddenly thrusting the crumpled letter over to his confrere.

Davies, took the letter, read it, and then handed it back. "Well?" asked Deane. "What do you think of' that? " " Don't know what to think of if,'" parried Davies. " I mean to say I know of your little affair .with that Frenchlooking girl at Yaunton—and that's her —but you see I don't know the position. What have yon done to make her write like that?" he asked.

" Heaven alone knows," replied Deano in an exasperated tone. " I can assure you that I haven't got the faintest suspicion of what she is driving at." " Had an affair with another girl ? " ®? ane 's companion, remembering " ° wn rat^ler vari-coloured love

A ROMANCE OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE.

(COPYRIGHT.)

"Good Lord, man, no!" ahnos shouted Deane.

And then as if he had a sudden inspiration, " You don't think that she believes that, do you 1 " he demanded. " I do," answered Davies, with dedision. " That's just what she docs mean. I know women, my iad, and you can believe me she's heard of somo escapade of yours or—if as you say you'vo never had one—someone has been making trouble for you."

" My God, I'd like to know the man or woman who has dared to do that," Deane said, fiercely. " Who on earth would want to play such a filthy trick?" "Got any enemies?" brusquely demanded Davies. " What about that swine, Morton-Strangeways, who tried to ' box' you over that oil pipe affair ? He's just a "likely bird, he is. to try to fix it with the girl. " Anyhow," ho continued, warming to his theme. " I have heard a lot about him and your girl. Always together, once, before you got in. Shouldn't be at all surprised to find he's tried to do the dirty."

"Really!" protested Deane, "I don't like Morton-Strangeways, and I believe lie would do me down if he could, but surely he'd never stoop to that!" Deane thought for a moment, and then as if arguing a case, " You see, I have never had an affair with another girl, and that being so, Yvonne would never just take his slander without first ""asking me for an explanation, would she?" . " Well, I'm not sure," argued Davies. " Women are funny creatures. They go off on the least thing, sometimes, and at others they will back you through. In any case the ' dog' could —and I believe ho would —fake up some evidence against you." " I say, Davies," said Deane, " you know we're long past the days of melodrama and that sort of thing. Those things aren't done! " iily hat, though," ho continued once more in a fierce tone, " if I ever found out he'd done such a dirty, filthy trick as that, I can tell you his rank would not save him from the worst day he's ever had."

" Listen," put in Davies, " I'm interested in this matter, because you're my friend for ono tiling, and I have a few old scores to pay back on the other. Let me investigate this business for you. I'll run this to earth. I'll get to the bottom of it."

Deane pricked up his ears at this offer. All the fighting spirit that was in him rose in combat, and all his love for Yvonne in a protest, against tile malicious way Fate had played his cards for him. He would fight and he would get to the bottom of the mystery. No one should come between Yvonne and he; no one should darken the blue skies of his ambition in this underhand way.

As tli«? train sped on, the two newly promoted flight-sergeants sat planning their investigation of the future. By the time the train steamed slowly into Alverstone there was almost a smile on Deane's face, a smile of confidence. CHAPTER VIII. " The commandant wants to see you, Deane," called Sergeant Alton, old friend of his mechanic days. "He s over at Number One Hangar, looking at that new 'plane there." ".What's he want?" asked Deane. " Don't know at all, but you'd better run over," the sergeant informed him. This was the morning after Deane's return to Alverstone, and he was wearing for the first time the coveted " Wings." He had decided that, in spite of all his hopes of Yvonne's love being lost for the moment, • he would not waver in his pursuance of his ambition. Until the mystery of the letter and Yvonne s false judgment of him were cleared up, Deane decided to throw himself heart and soul into the furthering of his work, in studying, and, in particular, to get seriously to" work upon the new device he had thought out to revolutionise high-altitude flying. . This was the only way in which he could hope to still the ache in his heart and keep sane. Other men might have turned for solace to drink, or to some other woman who would salve their wounds. But a man of Deane's calibre could never find distraction in those things. Ho wanted work, and plenty of it.

As he walked over to number one hangar, he tried to imagine what the commandant might want to say so early after his return.

It could not be a " detail," for work on that would naturally come out in " orders."

The commandment was standing talking to Morton-Strangeways as Deane came up to the hangar. He stopped a few yards away and saluted.

Both officers looked up at his approach, Morton-Strangeways with the scowl so natural to his countenance, • but which was quickly replaced an enigmatical smile that might have been a sneer. The commandant smiled as he returned Deane's salute, and addressed the new flight-sergeant. ■" So you're back, Deane! I must congratulate you on the report I've had from the school about your work. But that's not why I sent for you. I know your work here, and I understand, also, that you are a clever draughtsman and designer. They want a sergeant down at the Yaunton experimental depot. I want to recommend you if you'd care to go." " I would like to go very much, sir," answered Deane, who could hardly disguise his pleasure. " Well," admitted the commandant, "I think you are wise. It'll be wonderfully good experience in the drawing office, but, you know, you'll not get the flying practice you like." " That's all right, sir," replied Deane. " I need drawing office experience, and perhaps the flying will come later." "Yes, yes, quite true, sergeant," agreed the commandant. " And now you can go. You will be put through orders, perhaps, to join tho Yaunton depot next Monday." Deane hesitated a moment before answering, and then said: " Thank you, tar. By the way, I should very much' like to get permission to work on some designs of my own, so long as they won't interfere with my duties."

" What, you starting inventing, Deane?" queried the surprised officer. " No, not exactly, sir," replied Deane. " It's just a device for tho engine I have in mind that I want to work out. Mr. Bridgeman, of the Yaunton aviation company, has pr-omised to make the model at his works and stand the costs of the trials. I hope there's no objection, sir." "Very laudable effort on your part, Deane, very laudable," congratulated the commandant. " I'll see you have tho permission." " It occurs to mo, sir," interposed Mor-ton-Strangeways, " I am taking out one of the new ' Bee Type ' 'planes on Saturday. Probably you'd allow this promising young airman to take the other. There was a suggestion of a sneer in his remark to his senior officer. " Capital," assented the commandant. " There's a good chance for you, Deane." " I'll be very, glad to take it. Thank you, sir," said Deane, gladly accepting the proposal, although he sensed ascertain challenge in Morton-Strangeways unexpected suggestion. It made him a little suspicious, too. On the Saturday afternoon following, two people were standing on the Downs, near the Alverstone aerodrome.

They were Yvonne and Mr. Bridge man.

The rift that had stilled tho lute of love between Yvonne and Deane had in 110 way interfered with the long-stand-ing friendship between Yvonne and Mr. Bridgeman, even in the latter's role as Deane's mentor and friend.

The older man had long sensed the change in Yvonne and suffered silently for'both these two on the threshold of life. . But he was loth to pry into the estrangement for fear of losing their confidence. One or the other would corno to him sooner or later and confide in him. „ , , „ , So, this Saturday, Yvonne had called on the lonely old'bachelor and dragged him out from his garden to be her companion and cavalier. " All right. Yvonne," Bridgeman had aco;iiesced. " I'll come along—delighted. But—l say, you know—it's a very bad sign when a young and attractive girl must come to a p'oor, rusted old xn>n like mo to provide her an escort and entertainment." " It's nothing of the sort," laughed Yvonne. " You need dragging away from that old garden of yours and that secret cubby hole in the house." They passed out of the gate and turned up the road to Alverstone. Yvonne looking more charmingly bizarre than ever, in a country tweed skirt, thick stockings and brogues, and a sports jumper. Her Southern beauty lent the English country attire a strange but undeniable charm.

"Well, whither away, Yvonne?" Bridgeman demanded. " Oh, well, we'll just wander down toward the 'drome and then take the bridle path back over the Downs, she replied. During their walk. Bridgeman observed that she talked much and seemed to be talking in order to cover an unnatural excitement, and to take the trend of her thoughts away from the topic uppermost in her mind. And now there they stood watching an aeroplane, newly risen from the ground, circling round to gain a reasonable flying altitude.

" What's the particular interest, Yvonne ? " asked Bridgeman. " Arc 'planes so uncommon that we must stay and watch them now, or is there someone flying that lends the spectacle such a particular interest?"

" No—o," faltered Yvonne, " but I know that Morton is testing a new Bee type this afternoon, and I wanted to—l thought perhaps this might be he—that s all." , " Oil. I see," said Bridgeman. ' But I say, Yvonne," like a swimmer taking a desperate plunge into icy water, " I thought you always rather detested Mor-ton-Strangeways, and—well, what is the matter with Deany ? You two were such good pals before, and I don't believe you've seen him since he returned at the beginning of the week. Anything wrong ?

Yvonne turned her face up to the soaring 'plane to hide the deepening blush of rosebuds. " No, of course there's not' anything wrong," she replied, but without conviction. " What on earth makes you think that. Why, Deany and I were just pals, and—well, he hasn't had time to come and see me yet—at least, I suppose so. Look! Here comes another 'plane —same type as the other. They're going to test them both, I expect," she cried, with half-suppressed excitement. " A battle of peace, a bloodless war in the air against the forces of Nature," suggested Bridgeman. " You know, Yvonne, I have lived aeroplanes for the last fifteen years, until one would think I'd be sick to death with them," he continued. " And yet they still thrill me, more so, if possible. I'm just like an old hunter grazing in the field where the hounds pass by. I've got to rush to the hedge, and whinny like any young, unbroken colt."

Yvonne suddenly clutched his arm, and said excitedly: " Oh, look, they are speed-testing as well. I'm sure they're going to have a race. Oh, Ido hope—" "What, my child ? What do you hopo ?" asked the puzzled Bridgeman. Yvonne took her gaze from the two planes manoeuvring in the skie;>, and her eyes, sparkling with the promise of thrill, sought those clear, sombre eyes of the man. For a long moment they looked deeply into the hidden depths, and then Yvonne spoke, as if rushing through a confession:

" That's Dcanv in the other 'plane. Morton told me the other night that they were both going up to-dnv, and that's really why I asked you to conic along with me to-day. I feel that a lot, of what you said just now about a battle in the air and a bloodless war is'true. But they're not fighting against the forces of Nature altogether. They're fighting against each .other." " Why, what do you mean, Yvonne? " demanded Bridgeman. " Well, you must know, old friend, that there is no love lost between those two men, and Deane has just come bnck with his ' Wings.' Morton told me that tliey both wore taking up new ' Bco' type 'planes to-dav for testing, and suggested that I should come and watch. I believe ho means to demonstrate how much cleverer he is than Deane—for my edification—that's all."

The hand that held Bridgeman's arm trembled ever so slightly, and Yvonne's eyes sought' Bridgeman's face again, to try and find some assurance there.

" Oh, well, if that's all," he said, with a smile of confidence, " we'll just set a merry little match of manoeuvring, and there's nothing to worry about." He pressed the . littie hand that trembled on his arm.

" Oh, but it's n<U fair, really," protested Yvonne. " Morton has such years of experience, and poor Deany is so young. Still," she burst out, " he's a beast, and I hope ho gets a lesson." Bridgeman looked at her intently, but refrained from any immediate questioning. Who was tho beast ? Deane, apparently. Well, decided Bridgeman, lie would stake all his worldly wealth on It that Deane was not a beast; that this was, perhaps, just a lover's tiff; or perhaps, there lay behind the estrangement some deeper motive. Of one thing he was sure, and that was Yvonne loved Deane still. Her passionate little outburst had proved this.

Bridgeman contented himself by saying: " Well, experience counts. I agree, but not in all cases. Judgment, nerve, and quick thinking go a long way in flying. Personally, I shall put my money 011 Deane for the best showing. You young lady," he said provokingly, " can put your heait on him—safely." Yvonne made 110 reply, and the two turned their eyes to the 'planes in the air. At last the 'planes seemed to have been tested to the satisfaction of tho pilots. They had twisted and turned and manoeuvred like a pair of swallows in an airy game. Both had corny down to about tho same level, except that MortonStrangeways held the upper air by a few hundred feet. < As if by one common consent, they set off on a great circle, flying with cngiiiepower nearly all out. "it's a race now!" cried Yvonne. " Look! Morton is in front. He's leading by lengths." "V\ e'Jl bee," counselled the man. " Mever make tho mistake of forming judgments too soon, ivonnc. In any race it is not always tho obvious which is the truth. In lite it's just tho same. Bo very careful not to jump too quickly to conclusions. Don't think. Know! Be certain! There is more sorrow caused in life," 110 continued reminiscently, " by hasty conclusions than by many other causes. Unfortunately when we are young, when our hearts aro too nearly concerned, wo arc apt to take too much for granted. Wo arc in tho frame of mind in whi(jh tho dividing line between happiness and unhappiness, lovo and hate, is very slender, and the least thing may break it down." Tlie 'planes were almost out of sight in the distance, and Yvonno turned to Bridgeman, her blue eyes wide in a wondering surprise. " Are you lecturing or merely philosophising she asked. "Philosophising," he replied, "but if you feel the need of tho lecture you are welcome, my child, and don't be annoyed with an old man." " It's all very well for j*ou to talk like that," said Yvonne, frowning slightly, " but there are judgments and judgments. (To be continued daily.J