THE HEART OF DIANA,

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12470, 11 June 1926, Page 4

THE HEART OF DIANA,

fPUBUSHED RY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.]

BY

DOROTHY M. GARRARD,

Author of “Iris,” “Roger North cote’s Wife,” “The Spider’s Web,” etc., etc.

CHAPTER XIII.

The Scotch Express was just due to leave Euston. At last Sheila had been forced to take her seat. Until the last moment she had lingered with Freddy on the platform. But now, she absolutely must go in. The guard was earning along, shutting all doors. “I'll tell Dad the instant I get home.” She weqs leaning out of the window now, her dark head as near as she could get it to his fair one. “But if he doesn’t want us tp- be publicly engaged just yet, I think, as I’m so young, perhaps, lie won’t, you will be patient, won’t you dear?” “I’ll be patient so long as he’ll let you ask me up to Coar for Christmqs,” the young man’s voice was determined, “If not I don’t know what I’ll do.” His smile belied his threatening words. “Why, it’s only a fortnight, or a little more now. Fancy, ugriing, 1 sfiali see you again, unless Michael cuts up rough, iu a fortnight and two days’ time. But how do you think he’ll take it?” his voice grew a little anxious. “You know I still feel a bit of a . cad for ever saying anything.” “If I tell him I love you and I want to marry you, Dad won’t say anything,” she spoke with cool assurance. “Besides he’s very fond of you, Freddy, and money isn’t everything. It doesn’t bring all the happiness.” “It doesn’t seem to have brought old Derek much, anyhow,” for an instant the young man’s happy face clouded. “He’s gone, I suppose.” “I suppose so. We heard nothing more from him. And Diana went, too, this morning. I don’t know where she’s gone, but she only just, took one trunk and her maid. And oh, Freddy, she looked awful. I don’t mean on the surface, anyone who didn’t know her pretty well mightn’t have noticed anything. But somehow I felt it. And she hates me now.”

“Well, you can’t expect me to like her for th&t. St-ill, it’s a bad business and I can’t understand it. But you’re just off now. Good-bye, darling.” “Yes, it’s time,” somehow, between the words, they had managed to get a kiss in. As she spoke she glanced down at her wrist. “Oh, Freddy, I’ve left my watch. I remember now I took it. off this morning when I was dressing. Will you go and fetch it and send it on to me? Dad will be so cross.’’ The train was moving now; she was forced to shout the last words, “Good-by©, goodbye. She leaned out of the window waving her handkerchief with all lieT might. AYhen he h/yi, Caught the last glimpse possible of her the young man turned away. His. -face was not so cheery now. After all, when you are m love, even a fortnight seems a long and weary time. And, as he, had told her, his official duties were not heavy. Still he could so and fetch her watch at once. That at least would be doing something for her and, if he packed it np, . ana sent it immediately, it would reach Coar almost as soon as she did. . He was about to call a taxi when suddenly he recollected his new-made vow agpinst extravagance, , Ha would -never, at least not for years and years, he able to marry Sheila if he squandered money on unnecessary taxis. So. instead, he took the tube, which landed him not far from his •cousin’s house. Hie clothes, after brushing elbows with the workaday throng, were not quite so speckless as usual. But he bore The thought of Sheila upheld him. As he walked the few minutes from the underground station to the house in Sherborne Square his mind, was full of his new-found happiness. Never had he believed that Sheila could care for him. It seemed too wonder-

fult to be true. And how pretty she looked, with that new tenderness in her eyes, as she had waved her hand from out of the carriage window. Why couldn’t Derek and Diana be happy like that? Suddenly the pity of. it struck hinu And again he wondered at the reason of this last ; quarrel between them. It was so extraordinary. After he had had that talk with Diana only three days before, it seemed as if everything were coming right. And now it was worse than ever. It was wellnigh hopeless. - Even the house, as he turned in at the gate had a forlorn, deserted lopk. It was his fancy, of course, but so it appeared to him. And in his own mind ho felt relieved to think that he would see no one there. He shrank, in his own happiness, from seeing tho unhappiness of others. Andrews opened the door. The two were old friends. Sometimes,. in expansive moments, the old man declared he had known Master Freddy when he was a small boy in sailor suits, and a rare terror he was! Now, when , lie saw who it was, he beamed all over his face. “Good morning, Andrews, • the young man smiled at him. “I’ve come-for- Miss Mackenzie’s watch bracelet. She thinks she left it on her dressing-table and she has asked me to send it on to her. Do yojj know, Andrews,” —suddenly he felt bound to tell the old man hia wonderful news—“we’re going to be married someday, Miss Sheila and I. We-re engaged. Isn’t it topping, Andrews. But ytju musn’t tell £nyono yet, upt till it’s properly announced. - “Very well, Mr Freddy, hut I nope you’ll allow me' to congratulate you, sir.” The butler’s voice was as respectful as ever, but there was_ a twinkle in his, ©y©t “She's a nice young lady, nice as well as pretty, sir, if I may say so. As to the bracelet, sir, as a matter of fact, I believe one of the maids did mention it. I will inquire at once.” Quickly be retired to the back regions, returning a few minutes later with the missing piece of jewellery in his hand. “Y©s, that’s it. Thank you, Andrews. And now, since I’ve told you my news, how’s the world using you ?” . “I am very well, thank, you, sir, air though I don’t get any younger, as I suppose none of us do. But, Mr Freddv,”— suddenly he glanced around him as if half-frightened he might be overheard-^ something I would very much like to speak to you about. I thought of. writing to you. There’s' no one else, so it.’ seems, I could consult. And now, why you’ve just come in. It’s like Providence. So I wonder if you could spare me a few minutes?”

“Qf course, Andjw*s.y The young man spoke after a moment’s pause, a pause, not. of hesitation, but of surprise. Never for an instant did it occur.: to him tp connect the butler’s request with'the domestic troubles of his-employers. “Go ahead, then.” “If, ypu don’t*mind, sir, I?d rather not say it here.” Andrews gave, another half-apprehensfr* glance around him. you wouldn’t mma stepping down into my room. It’s snug enough* and no one will disturb us there.” “Right-o,” Freddy spoke readily now. But for the first time real curiosity stirred in him. What could it be of such importance that it must be kept a secret from prying ears, that the old man wished to speak to him about?

(To he continued.)