LEAVES OF- DESTINY

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12406, 27 March 1926, Page 19

LEAVES OF- DESTINY

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

By

DOROTHEA CORBOULD).

Author of “A Fatal Friendship.” .“His Faif Enemy,” “Held in

Bondage,” Etc., Etc.

1 COPYEIGHT

CHAPTER IX.—Continued. In the meantime -Sir Lindsay Charters had somehow managed to discover/that the car was a hired one, and from whence*—and one day made. It his business to "call at the place under pretence of wanting particulars about hiring a touring -car for his own use, and in course of conversation with the manager nzentioned Bates.

, *1 saw him diving one of your cars a short time ago/ - * Charters said, "and .1 was rather surprised, because' he was mixed up in a very shady affair just before the war, and didn't come out very well. Of course, it is nothing to do with I wondered how he had managed to get a berth here.” "Well, he came with a recommendation from ; Colonel Dare at the War Office,” was the reply, "and we have found him. a., very quiet, reliable .young fellow ana an excellent chauffeur. I c|on*t know if you happen to be acquainted with Mr Anstruther, of Collingham Hall—Bates was his batman during the war,- and • he thinks very highly of him. In fact, he ordered a car some weeks ago, , and would have no one but Bates, td^drive-it-—•-'”/> - » . "I- .see ... Yesi I know Mr Anstruther well,; and it was his car I knew, that the fellow. . driving—fetching a young lady from the,theatre eVary even- • ug. I know her. “too—Miss ‘Denning.” - . "Yes,-that's it, Bir—and I think you must be mistaken about Bates*, 'How

soon can you. decide about the car, because that one is wanted—"l'll let you know to-morrow—and I must be mistaken about Bates. ; Mr Anstruther would not be likely to employ a shady character-good morning.” And, haying gamed all the information he wanted,. Sir Lindsay left the office. The days that Allowed Reggie's departure were terribfp'dull and dreary ones foV;. Barbara. r Sn*e ! sorely missed the little boy's companionship, and the occupation which the charge of him necessitated during, her leisure 'hotirs. He was. aomebody ,to love, and. she knew he had given her - all the affection of his little heart. *

Now she was doubly alone—more so, even, than before the episode in her life which began on the night she had gono out to/sing in the streets. Then} her lot had seemed inevitable, and she had made up her mind to endure it, but havihg had a-glimpse of another world, a world of genial companionship with a kindred spirit and a decided interest in life, the reaction was almost unbearable.

.The Diadem was closed for a fortnight, and therefore she had not even her work to take up h portion of the long, dreary days Everyone in the theatre but herself had a more or less joyous Christmtfstide to look forward to r-sho had nothing. And this Christmas iJay was perhaps the most miserable she had ever spent. The Bloggs had a family party; she. could hear the sounds* of merriment down below, mingled with other, sounds of festivity in Harker's Buildings, but except when Mrs Bloggs brought her dinner up with a halfhesitatmg request that Miss Denning would come later on and, 'take a bit o° supper with them,” a request which Barbara refused on the plea of not feeling up to gaiety of any kind, no one came near her.

The next day was fine and qqite warm for December, and feeling stifled; in her room, Barbara made up her mind to go for a long walk, and get her tea hotel on her Teturn. ."It will remind me of that evening at the Savoy,” £ie told herself. "If it Wft sn t so expensive. I would have dinner there by myself again. It was aljucst a pity I couldn't bring myself to take that cheque Mrs Anstruther sent. I could have gone away to some place away from home, and tried to enjoy myself—hut I couldn't.” Carefully arraying herself in her best clothes m view of her .projected tea at the Savoy, Barbara set off, after an ? ar i> n J3 er * taking an ohmibus t° Hyde Park-Corner, went for a walk in j ? ar k* She was a good walker, and. enjoyed the sunshine and winter air, which brought the becoming colour into her cheeks, and an unwonted sparkle to her eyes. And then, suddenly, her enjoyment received a feevere shock. Turning to reher steps from the Marble Arch, she came face to face with Sir Lindsay Charters!

There was no avoiding him, and Barfound herself shaking hands with her "bete noir,” who was regarding her wmi open admiration. "This is luck!” he exclaimed. "I was just saying to myself-that these sort of days in Town are a perfect nightmare. I shouldn't be here, only the frieffds I was going to for Christmas wired to say the whole household was down with nu, so I had perforce to remain in Lpiwign. But now I need not say how glad I am I did so, since it has given me the onportunity of seeing you, Miss Denning!” "I think Christmas is rather a dull time if one is alone,” Barbara replied, not knowing what to say/ and feeling unable, with Sir Lindsay's friendly manner. and evident pleasure at meeting her, to keep up her haughty manner to lum. "T felt obliged to come out for a walk to-day.” "Well, as we are both lonely people, won't you come anil have tea with me somewhere? I’m staying at the Carlton at present ”

"Thanks, but I—T must get back ” "Oh nonsense! You must have some tea first. I know you don't like me very much. Miss Denninv. hut put nwjw your animosity just for this once, won't you.

and let us be friends. It*s Christmastime, you know." People said Sir Lindsay Charters had a way with him when he chose, which no one, especially women, could resist. Just now. his pleasant voice, half amused, half deprecating, impressed Barbarawith a feeling that she had been unjust towards him in believing he meant to' annoy her by his friendly advances. And after all, it could do no harm, just to go and have tea-; — "Thank you,” she said, “for your invitation—as you say, we ; bto-two lonely-' people—at least I. am—and I was goiyg to have tea somewhere, so— —"

"You will have it . with me! That's awfully sweet of you. Shall wo walk to the Carlton, or would you prefer a. taxi

“We will walk, please. I want to tire myself out to-day." Barbara was,-sorry she had not chosen to drive to the Carlton, however, when presently; as -she and Sir Lindsay were walking down - Constitution Hill, they met Mies MaoArbhur, accompanied by a man whom Barbara recognised as playing a small part in the new Revue at the Diadem Lil favoured Sir Lindsay with her .sweetest, sihile, and seemed inclined say merely 'raised ‘his brit, and passed’ on, while Barbara; encountering a look' of fury, towards herself from the other girl, answered it by u slight bow, and coloured uncomfortably at the sound of Lil’s cackling laugh, as the latter and her companion went on their' way. ' She was wondering what construction Miss MacActhur would put upon her own apparently friendly relations with the mao she professed to dislike. The Carlton was crowded this afternoon, but Sir Lindsay Charters, was evidently a personage there, for the waiter instantly found’ a table, and set thereon * sumptuous tea. "I call this uncommonly joUy!" Sir Lindsay remarked as Barbara handed him his cup; "it was awfully good of you to give me this pleasure, MiSs Denning, especially after your former refusals of my invitations——” “I - never accept invitations of thatsort,” was the reply. "I do not know ,V>u well enough, and " "But you dined with Anstruther that evening,' Charters said, noting the blush which the mention of the name called up in Barbara's cheeks. "I felt quite jealous, of him, but I suppose he Is an old friend and therefore privileged as you also use his car to return at night from the theatre,” Barbara raised her head, and into her face came the haughty look with which she had hitherto rec3ived Sir Lindsay's friendly advice. "Oh, Anstruther inade no secret- of the fact," he hastened to add; "in fact ho rather boasted of it —as showing how little chance I had as his rival in your regards. Of course I know I haven’t—but "

“You say Mr Anstruther told i you I used his carp” The sparkle had gone out of Barbara’a eyes, her cheeks had assumed their usual pallor, and, looking at her, Sir Lindsay almost regretted having told her the lie.—"l don't believe it!" _

“My dear Miss Denning," shrugging his shoulders, “why should I say what ie not true? And after all, ae an old friend of yours, there can bo nothing in Anstruther offering you the use of his car when he doesn’t want it himself."

"Well, lam not using it now. Mr Anstruther 15ft for .the North some time ago, as I daresay you know, and I have not heard of him since." Was there—or did he fancy it I—a. little note of regret in the girl’s voice P Sir Lindsay’s former jealousy of his rival, returned in full force.

"Anstruther is always backwards and forwards," he replied. "I really forgot when I saw him last, hut it was only a short time ago. His people are entertaining a good deal this Christmas, I believe. -By-tho-bye, Teddy Mordaunt had some cock-and-bull story about Anstruther having been married, and.that ho had lost his wife, but Sis son was at Collingham Hall—l wonder if it is true?"

"Yes, quite true. I knew Mr Anstruther’s wife, and his little boy was with me- for a short time after Mrs Anstruther's death. That is how I knew Mr Anstruther,” Barbara said clamly. "I see," But Sir Lindsay wbb evidently taken aback at the news. Perhaps, after all, Anstrutber’s sentiments towards Miss Denning were merely those of gratitude. He abruptly changed the subject, and made himself so greeable, that, smarting under the double insult, as Barbara regarded the fact that Anstruther had boasted of her; using his car,, and had actually returned to London without seeing her or his hoy, even allowing Reggie to he fetched .by his mothers maid, instead of taking him home himself, that she almost forgot her former animosity against her "bete noir.” Whin, as they left the hotel, Sir Lindsay proposed their returning for dinner and the theatre afterwards, she astohished even herself by accepting the invitation. She would go home and dre s and return to the Carlton at 7.30. "I am doing wrong/' she told herself, as having on the strength of riot paying for her tea, indulged in a taxi, she was whirled away homewards, "and I shall probably suffer for it but Mr Anstruther had no business to talk to Sir Lindsay about me at all in the way he evidently did, and, of course, he has forgotten all about mo by this time, or he would have come as he promised. I —I hate him. I wish he knew that I am going to dinner nnd tho theatre with Sir Lindsny Charters!" (To be continued.}

an offender, the first indication that the birds are pulling feathers is the loss of plumage, bareness and redness of the skin -pver the posterior part of the back. Sometimes the skin lias become nbraided by repeated pecking, and sores result. If the birds are watched carefully, they will be seen to catch one or more feathers in their beaks, tear them out, and swallow them. They are apparently most fond of the young, growing feathers, the quills of which are filled with blood. . I have already mentioned idleness as a definite cause of * this vice, but other causes have also been assigned, the most popular being improper rations, whilst in certain instances it may originate from irritation of the skin caused by animal parasites. In general, it may be said that anything which produces an abnormal appetite predisposes to feather-eating. Obviously, the first step to remedy matters is to ascertain the cause and remove it. The birds should he given as free a run as possible, or 'they should at least he made to scratch for a large part of their food. This exercise improves their digestion, and gives them something to occupy their time.