The Two Miss Carrs

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 88, 5 July 1927, Page 16

The Two Miss Carrs

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Thomas Cobb,

Author of “ Joanna Sets to Wo*.:’ ‘The Late Mr. Beverly &c.+ &c

CHAPTERS I. to XXX— Mrs. Fentiman flattei-s herself that she does not look her age, although she is 10 years older than Dick Wiirrender. He knows he has only to say the word and the lady and all hei possessions are his. She is trying to get his a post as private secretary to Sir Edwin Shackel. Mrs Fentiman returns from a visit to hei mother and sees Dick Warrender with a young lady companion. She Is handsomely dressed, and holds a Sealyham by the leash. Eater in the day Mrs Fentiman entertains Dick and taxes him about this veung lady whom Dick owns ne does not know On their way to tennis Luke Harborough notices that Dick Warrender waves his hat to a radiant-look - ing girl standing bareheaded at a cottage gate. On Monday Dick devotes the day to Mary Carr and on that morning Mrs Fentiman drives past in her car. She recognises the girl, and greets Dick with a distant how. In Hyde Park Dick comes across another lady with a Sealyham. The dog recognises him. and Dick scrapes acquaintance with the girl He brings up the tonic of Mary Carr, and his companion asks whether she has yet obtained a situat.on. Dick is astounded, and asks whether Miss Carr eft her last situation on Saturday “Yes last Saturday.” is the reply Having made up his mind to forget Mary, Dick does not take her home on Sunday, but, believing she wants a situation, he gets a Mrs Harborough to call on the grrl Mary says she does not mind being a lady help. Duke goes to an at home at Lady OannJngburv’s and there meets another Mary Carr with whom he takes tea He finds that there is some connection between the Misses Carr Dick sees the lady with the Sealyham eo to the house of Sir Timothy Carr, who leTt £250.000 and jumps to the conclusion that Mary is the heiress If that is so. she is eligible for marriage with him. He plans accordingly and tells T,nke he wants a job, then he calls on Mary. He suggests that shell should accept a position in a newspaper advertisement and later makes sure that Sir Timothy has left his money to "Mary ” Duke in response to an invitation calls at Virginia Cottage and learns that the two “Marys" are cousins. After another interview with the lady of the Sealyham who calls herself "Molly,'’ Duke has a new interest in life. Following his plan Dick inserts an advertisement for work for himself and tells Mary and Mrs. Fentiman that he intends to get married. During a visit to Molly, Duke learns that Dord Ftothnill was a suitor for Mary and that she went to Highstead to make up her mind. Dick calls on Mary and finds that she Is just going to town. Dater he tells her he loves her and she agrees to become engaged. He breaks thf* news to Mrs. Fentiman and Mrs. Harborough and goes to see Mary again. He finds out that there are two Miss Carrs and that he cannot think of marrying a poor woman. Believing that Mary has not a Deny he rushes away from the house. Meanwhile Duke discovers that Molly is the poor girl, and the mistake he had made. Mary, bitterly disappointed, decides that she will marry Dord Rothnill and Duke calls on Molly to get her sympathy for Warrender. After deciding to emigrate, Dick calls at 4 Quinton Gardens and is met by Molly. He is told that Mary will not see him and he declares he will go abroad Mary accepts Lord Rorhnill. and goes to view her future home. Barham pton Court. As her future husband is called away to visit an "H.R.H.” Mary joyfully accepts a holiday and invites Luke to dine at the Ritz. Dick meets Luke at the station when he returns, and later gioes to Mary and pours his tale into her ears. Overcome by his pleading Mary agrees to marry Dick in two davs' time and slip up Lord Rothnill. The wedding is celebrated quietly and the luncheon narty of four is nearly over when Lord Rothnill is announced. CHAPTER XXXI. A slight increase of the indisposition of the Duke of Stockton’s eminent guests and his consequent departure, had furnished Dord Rothnill with an excuse for bringing his own visit to an end. Anxious in any circumstances

to return to Mary, he felt the more impatient because she had not written since he bade her “good-bye" after luncheon on Wednesday. Or at least he trusted that her letter had miscarried. She could scarcely have failed to realise what was due to him. Having travelled by an early train, he was driven from King’s Cross to his house in Piccadilly, where he removed the stains of his journey, and at once set forth to Quinton Gardens, calculating on staying to luncheon. It might have been possible for Freake to admit Lord Rothnill, even in the present circumstances, without turning a hair, but the less experienced, and perhaps, less fortunately endowed footman was incapable of attaining such a height. His lordship was engaged to the missis, who had married Mr. Warrender an hour or so ago, and was at present enjoying what might be described as the wedding breakfast. As William subsequently told the under-housemaid, he didn’t mind owning that Lord Rothnill’s arrival in the midst of thirfgs knocked him all of a heap. Hence the. disgraceful grin which still lingered on his face as he stood by the sideboard surveying the party—“all silent and all damned.” Molly was the first to recover. “If—is Lord Rothnill in the draw-ing-room?” she asked. "Yes, Madame,” said Freake. “Thank you.” He took the hint, quite understanding that they wished to discuss the untoward situation in privacy. With a commanding glance at the footman, he walked to the door. “Now, then,” exclaimed Lick, with what Molly at least considered unbecoming levity, “the question is who’s to bell the cat?” “Why. Molly naturally,” answered Mary, determined that, whatsoveer

Loth Rothnill should not be seen by her. “Oh ” murmured her cousin. “Upon my word I shouldn’t mind telling him,” suggested Dick, who indeed, scarcely objected to anything which did not interfere with his honeymoon.

The propos ’ however, was received in discouraging silence, broken a moment later by Luke. “If I may be allowed to make a suggestion,” he said. “Oh, do—please,” cried Mary.

“I think,” he continued, anxious to spare Molly an embarrassing ordeal, “that the —the explanation would come better from you.” * “I couldn’t,” she answered excitedly. “I positively couldn’t, could I, Dick?” “No, no that must not be thought of for a second,” he insisted.

“Molly,” said Mary, leaning forward witlq an expression of entreat ', “it’s up to you. Be a dear thing, darling.” Although Molly felt rebellious she was reluctant to spoil Mary’s wedding day. It was true that she might de-

serve little consideration. Her conduct apneared to her cousin entirely inexcusable. She ought at 'east to* l avc been off with the old love (it that was the word) before she was on with the new As Mollv rose from her chair, Hick darted to the sideboard bringing a bottle of champagne to replenish her glass. His practical sympathy was ignored, however, as Luke opened the ~l—i suppose you wouldn t care foi me to come with you.” he whispered, but she shook her head with the laintest of smiles and passed out of the

room. ~ , . Freake. waiting in the hall, yet not near "the door to occasion the slightest suspicion of eavesdropping preceded her to the drawing-room, where stood Lord Rothnill. tall, massive. pompous. with his large 'white forehead shining, and his chin sunk in his collar. •I trust that Mary is at home, he said. •Oh yes. she's at —at home, answered Molly. “Not other than quite well? he continued. Molly shook her head. “She has just come back from the — the church,” she faltered. “Church,” he exclaimed, raising lus eyebrows. “Saint Ninian’s.” Pausing for a moment. Molly moistened her lips. “Mary was—was married there this morning.” she added. « “Miss Carr,” said Lord Rothnill, “you must pardon my remarking that such —er —pleasantry is exceedingly illtimed.’ . “It isn’t pleasantry,” she insisted. “L-rd Rothnill. - I am very, very sorry, but my cousin was married to Mr. 'Warrender this morning ” •Married to—who the devil is Mr. Warrender?” he demanded. “Why, of course, he’s —unfortunately —he’s Mary’s husband,” said Molly, with a sigh. “They are on the point of starting for their honeymoon.” ‘.‘Their honeymron—good heavens!” shoulted Lord Rothnill.

During the next few minutes Molly w<£s as thoroughly surprised as Mary had been on the day she promised to be his wife. Walking, almost running, about the room, he broke into a torrent of the most picturesque invective. She could scarcely believe her ears. She had never heard such a number of variegated oaths in her life. He unbuttoned his coat as it seemed for the express purpose of buttoning it again, while Molly stood quaking, till

at last he showed signs of departure. She felt considerably less sympathetic than she had done m hearing of his inopportune return.

“Disgusting! Atrocious! Perfectly disgraceful!” he exclaimed in the hall, continuing to mutter as Freake with an impassive face opened the street door.

“Mrs. Warrender has gone to her room,” he said, as he closed it, and thither Molly made her way, to find Mary looking on while her maid put the previously selected things into a large suitcase. “What heaps of clothes I shall have to buy in Paris,” cried Mrs. Warrender, and when the maid had gone she put her arm round her cousin’s shoulders. “Dearest.” she said, “I can’t tell you how grateful I feel.” “You ought to,” was the answer. “What did he say?” asked Mary. “For goodness’ sake don’t ask me! I couldn’t repeat it. He reminded me of a drunken man I once saw being taken to the police station on a stret-

cher bv four constables.” “Molly,” said Mary, looking parucularly charming with her head slight on one side, I should love to know what you think of me.” "You wouldn't in the least. but. added Molly, ”we won t waste these last few minutes. It s too late lot reproaches, anyhow. All I hope is that you’ll be ever so much happier than you deserve.” The maid came back to say tliat tne car was at the door, and the two Marys went downstairs together arm in arm, Mrs. Warrender looking more rad.ant as she heard her husband’s voice from the dining room. He had won, and he was laughing. „ “Time we made a start. Mary. nc exclaimed, meeting her in the hall, and a few minutes later, the farewells were begun. Dick took liis seat bo- j side Marv in the car, and as it started Luke and Molly stood on the step waving handkerchiefs. “Oli,* what a morning!” she cried, [leading the way to the drawing room. I “I’m afraid you had a bad quaitei 1 of an hour with Rothnill,” suggested “I was never more astounded." she j said. ’ I had always seen him so self- j possessed, so dignified. But he seemed to lose every shred of control. Do all men use such fearsome language on an emergency? Do you?” “I’ve never been put to that sort of test,” he answered. “I’m hoping I never shall be. Molly glanced hastily round the large room. . . “How desolate and flat everything is,” she murmured. “We ought to celebrate the occasion by going somewhere or doing something,” he said. . I “I don’t feel like that, either. returned. "I am too apprehensive 1 “About your cousin?” he asked.

She silently nodded. “I think that’s unnecessary," Luke insisted. “Look here. Molly, I m not out to whitewash Dick. It’s admitted that Rothnill has been treated pretty badly.” . , “Oh, he will get over it." sale; Mollv. “He will marry Laura Can: ningbury. Not that there’s the least excuse for Mary. I know she has heen horribly wicked, but if only I could thing she would be happy “Upon my word. I’ve no doubt you may,” he urged. “Oh, Dick will spend her money—you may count on that, but he’ll see she has a good time. Y'ou may count on that, too. She won’t have to complain of fulness. Dick Warrender’s the best-humoured fellow I’ve ever known.”

“Then you don’t feel a shadow of anxiety ”

“Only for myself,” he said. “The one.person you never seem to study.”

"Oh, yes. I do,” he answered. “I’ve got my way to make. I have been taking stock. I could make a modest start, at once, or I could wait ’ Molly looked a little demure. “What for, Luke?” she asked. “For you, though I don’t want to wait.”

She held out her hands, and it was some time later when he looked at his watch.

“How shall we celebrate the double event?”, he asked.

“Comparisons are odious,” said Molly, ‘but of course your duty is plain. Y'ou must take me to see your mother this afternoon.”

“I was hoping you might say that, he cried.

“Well, next time you hope I shall say something, please be nice and tell me, so that I shan’t put my foot in it.”

“Good,” answered Luke. “We’ll ask Freake to ring for a taxi. You shall bring a suitcase, and stay at least over the week-end.” “It’s true,” murmured Molly, “the house seems horribly dull now that Mary has gone.”

Within half an hour a taxi was standing before the door. Freake carried out Molly’s suitcase, and Luke followed her down the steps. They were driven away - together, the butler standing on the pavement and looking disapprovingly after them. He might have seriously to consider his position. He had not been accustomed to this sort of thing. (The End.)