THE MARRYING OF MARIETTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21951, 7 November 1934, Page 23

THE MARRYING OF MARIETTE

By MAY WYNNE Author -A "Henry of Navarro," "Gwennola," "The Barn." etc.. etc.

CHAPTER XL. —(Continued)

« Roy!" s ' ie cl) oked, " vou are Pricetfo 'i ave a " tapec * ollt <;om " ' eSS in that way Never, never did P^ ete | such a proposal made to • Midi a fashion. 1 believe vou hpr ,n * , , i without a " l,t wh ™ vo " *V v 0..-™ T° r boe " ove - „ , "And wore going to begin, he 'led " You'll ' iave to teach me, 8 f" lam a dunderhead about girls. I never took to them. A horse, or a i oC now, or—"And .vou expect.." mocked Marit her eyes dancing. that I am * ad'v to ( ' r ' assei ' u a horse or a Thev're sure a man s best pals, aren't they."" >'<• retorted, falling in ffit h her motfd. " And vou'd be a fine nal May.'' "You don't understand, ' she sighed, suddenly serious. " Life isn't only a •l„ it's a business. But —but I joy ruie. ee why Aunt Agnes wants us to marry, yoU well —you don't know what love means Roy; you like me and you think it would be quite nice to have me as a -life-phum. You can picture four life passing quite happily here in Sussex, with'a pleasant home, plenty of interests, a farm for hobby, many, friends. And you say to yourself; 'Well, I don't mind if I do.' But you don't quite understand there are greater forces in life; anfi if .vou learned to | ove to really love —someone else af'er we were married, it would be tragedy." Rov halted. " You are younger 1 guess" than me, May," he said very slowly, " but you talk old, as if you j, new a whole lot better than Ido as f,o how it feels to be in love. Sure! if •iliere's another man you think of in vnat way I'd never dream of saying a ■jrord more.", . Mariette's 'head was slightly bent, j-er pulses beat furiously. Anything—snything rather than that Roy should think she had given her heart to a man who misjudged and condemned her. In a curious manner she thought she hid never so loved —and—hated —Jack Anford. And her denial came breathlessly.

" Xo —there is no other man in my jife. I —only know what love ought to be-"

Roy laughed, gaily. " 1 guess," he said, "it's a bit of an adventure. Shall we try to fine! out the answer together, Kay?"

Again she hesitated, but the thought of Jack's Anford's distrust and coldness stung, goading her to a rash act. , "If you wish." she replied, "though I don't quite know what footing we ought to start on. May I think it over —and will you do the same?" "Sure," he agreed. "I wouldn't wish to do anything to make you regret saying yes to a big venture."

Mariette held out her hand. "Shake." ihe said, imitating his Canadian fashion. " And whether we become engaged or not, we must agree to be friends." "We couldn't help being," he replied, gravely y And so Miss Carstone, watching keenly to see what fruit her matchmaking bore, noticed something new in tta thoso- twa— and smiled, well content.

It was-no| many days later when Roy made casual allusion to Cottell s mill.

" Don't fuss .if I'm not home before morning, aunt," he said at breakfast time, "I've a game on to-night." Mis 3 Carstone looked across from her place behind the urn smilingly. " And that?" she asked.

Roy chuckled. " I'm sleeping at Cottell's mill," he announced. Mariette's fork slipped from her hand, and she bent to retrieve it. Her face had paled, but she did not join in the conversation. Miss Carstone was unbelieving and inclined to scoff. "My dear » boy! Do you want to study the habits of bats, mice or spiders?" she asked. " You are more likely to take a violent chill. Is it a joke?"

"It might be," said Roy, "but I was crossing the downs with Anford last evening and we passed near the mill. There was a light in the window, and as we knew the place was untenanted, curiosity brought us to inspect. The light vanished as we kicked the door open, and, though we searched the place, there was no one there. Anford at first thought of spending an Hour or so to see if the ghost lit up again, but at last he gave in to my having the first watch out. I shall go J'P to the mill about eleven this even•ng and see what happens. Probably some tramp is located there, and yet don't think it, for we unearthed a tattered old book on china and how to know it was genuine—not the sort of literature a tramp patronises! Anford 's as keen as I am. myself. He may TOme along to share the vigil. I like him very much — he might be a gonial—no starch like a few of the leighbou rs!"

Miss Carstone protested and laughed 8t the idea of ghosts or educated tramps, but told Roy if he liked to re ®ze in discomfort simply to satisfy furiosity, she had nothing to say. She 'Snored the mention of .lack Anford. "ov looked across in surprise at lariette. " 1 half expected you to laiit to join the fun," he teased. "And J°u don't even offer on opinion. Won't 5* c ° ni e and find the ghost among ® spiders?" , Certainly not," said Miss Carstone. istily. but Mariette was quite capable R'ving her own refusal. ~I P! dl it a vcrv stupid idea," she tartly. "If. as I expect, a poor tramp sleeps there, you'll frighten 5 to death. It's not kind." , : 'T grimaced. " Sorrv," he apoloriit l-i" nt i can't help it. Anford him do K ' ro aiK ' shan't let. Mariette did not reply

CHAPTER :;jj j,.^J should she do? M.ariette paced Dm' 1 Quick, nervous steps. fa^ S .."°, rds ' ,at ' reminded her of the y. (i w f'' 0 '- had looked down at her from than 111 i.' o ' l - ''"'he had not had more iiar fi n I K0 - but her conviction was Weli-t " laii ev 'dently hiding in the *hr, i i 1 ' 1 " was the mysterious tramp Ijgjj so distressed V. vienne. " He MariprV 0 " 1 £°' n ~ a wa\,'' whispered y as • L> herself, "for lam sure he oearlc' 1 le ( ourt library when the a bla,.i Mere , slo ' < 'n. He is* a thief and 'f sho i'" il P Vivientie spoke as ref, o!?tii ° V i he is found and What l ~' r 'may almost craze her. s , hail I do?" -hinkin , paf ' Ptl to and fro she was fear hf '• Vivienne's distress, her the lnsis tence on sending help to Anford ;p W V llail - 11 mi « ht ki]l La(l -\ abroad i - scandal were noised ti°n nn an , (l People put wrong construcone D j r ' an destine meetings. So, first flitted dU ' another suggestion HtaHv ?? OSS her mind, till she. was tfanin liitv, ii e Captain Jack w ill kil W K' Jfhe thought, " and he will r °, he r . Supposing the man is 5 ' lover, it may make it dread-

A POWERFUL MYSTERY ROMANCE

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tul for her if he is found; or, if he is wanted by the police and she cares for him, it will be dreadful. Or again, if he is a blackmailer he may give away some secret. Shall I go and tell him that someone will be in the mill watching out. I'll warn him and tell him that Vivienne is away for a lona time."

I lie decision was reached in the early afternoon and Mariette put on her hat and coat hastily, opened her door, and, after listening anxiously for fear someone was abouj,, stole down the passage and back stairs. Aunt Agnes had been talking to Roy in the library. She herself had hoard her aunt ask the latter to come to look through _ old drawers and cupboards where his father's belongings had lain for nearly 30 years, and as she passed the closed door Marriette hoped the pair were still busy. There was every indication of a sharp frost. The roads were hard and white, but Mariette was not afraid of the cold, and hurried on, eager to reach the mill and give her warning before her purpose failed. She was impetuous and inclined to be deaf to the whisper of common sense when her mind was made up. Yet she was undoubtedly nervous as she emerged from the wood and began to climb the slope to where the black arm of the mill stood out stark against the evening sky. Should she return? After all it was no business of hers! "I wish I had let Roy come with me," she thought. "I could have coaxed him to let me peep in and if our tramp had been there, I could have whispered a word. And yet how stupid of me! Roy would only make it more difficult."

She was fairly perplexed, and hesitated as she reached the building, eyeing the broken wooden door with questioning in her gaze. Should she look in ?

Suddenly the door opened and a man came out. Tt was Vivienne's tramp.

Mariette gasped and retreated a step. "Oh, it is you!" she whispered. The man had recovered instantly from his surprise, and a look of amusement crept into his dark eyes. "So it is the pretty little heiress," he said, "my kind little messenger. Has Vivienne sent you with more billets doux, my dear?"

Mariette coloured hotly. There was a new familiarity in the drawling tones; in the dim light the man's face looked wholly vicious. And they were alone in a very lonely place. But it was no use becoming woak-kneecl. " No," she replied icily, " Lady Anford has gone away for a long holiday. I have come to warn you that probably Captain Anford and a friend will be spending the night here to find out about the ghost of Cottell's mill." She noticed swiftly changing expressions cross the cunning face of the man, who contrived still to smile. " Now, T call that friendly," he drawled as she concluded, " really friendly. I knew you felt that toward me, my dear, and I'm grateful. AYe ought to be friends; we are going to be friends..Give me your hand, loveliest of messengers—l want —" " How dare you speak like that? ' said Mariette, hiding her fear. " I should not have come if it had not been for-Lady Anford. I—l expect prison would be the best place for you. But—--1 have warned you for the last time. If I see you about anywhere again I shall speak to Sir Neville." "Never!" he mocked. "You are kinder than your words. Come in and rest, and tell*me how I can repay such loving sympathy. You —" He came nearer, and Mariette, in a panic, turned and fled down the slope. He was following! She was sure he was. following, and—the place was so lonely—so desolate. BeTore her lay the woods. If she reached the shelter of the trees she would escape. Nearer — nearer —she dared not look round for fear of fresh panic. Nearer —and she had reached the woodland path, panting, stumbling, yet driven forward by her fear. From out of the shadows a man slipped quickly in front of her, and her pent-up terror was voiced in a shrill scneam as strong arms caught and held her fast. "Mariette!" Roy Carstone's tones were filled with surprise but Marie tie had no explanation to give. In her panic she clung to her cousin, begging him to take care of her. <e Someone has scared you stiff poor little girl," said Iloy kindly. " Say, did you think you would go and locate the ghost, first?" " Yes," she stammered, ' and a man came out. He .... was rude . . . and I was frightened . . . . 1 . • ■ - I expect he wanted money—and I ran away. " Sure, you ran," replied Roy, with a short laugh. " I saw you from the bank and came along—but there was no one else in sight. Shall we go back together and see if the ghost is around?' But Mariette shook her head, bne had been badly scared and was unnerved. " Please—l'll go home," she whispered. " Don't go near the mill, Roy. It is a horrible place—and don t tell anyone I was so silly." " I'll tell you what it is, he replied, placing his arm around her to guide her along the path, " you want someone to take care of you. Say, Mariette, we'd better be engaged. It s a good starting point, and it'll be an excuse for me to forbid you doing crazy things. It's too lonesome for a kid girl to wander through these woods m the evening." .< hp Mariette laughed hysterically. Of course. I walk about alone." she said, " and I shall ride too." " And tell Aunt Agnes we are going to marry and live happy e\er after," he concluded. He seemed very resolute this evening on an engagement and Mariette wondered why it was. Nor was she in the mood to argue. After all, no comrade could be more true than this cousin—and she would never rest content if, some time in the near future, she robbed him of a You know I don't love you," she said slowly, " but 1 like you tremcndouslv. If that is enough we may as well 'go in and make Aunt Agnes ha '' Good," he applauded. " That wins the day. We shall get on. famously Mav onlv von mustn't go running oft to lav ghosts without my consent. Supposing you twisted your foot, you might have lain there all night. " So 1 might," she agreed with more solemnity. " How shocking! Wei, J won't go to Cottell's mill again without vou I've had quite enough of it—and— We shall be splendid pals. Hoy. He bent lower to kiss her cheek—not a lover's kiss, but a friendly embrace of a brother, and as she partly drew back steps sounded in front of them, •uid Jack Anford came into sight. Roy greeted him with a shout which jarred on Mariettas nerves. ' Say, saul Roy, " vou're too late. Anford. Ihe ghost is'laid—or fled . . .and the heroine of the occasion is Mariette mv fiancee.

(To be continued daily)