THE CLUE

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 835, 13 October 1916, Page 3

THE CLUE

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By OLIVE WADSLEY S^SH Author of " The Flame " " Burnt Wings, " &c.

CHAPTER XXlX.—(Continued.) TICKEY'S WOOING. It Wits dark when she had .finished, but the darkness was the almost shining darkness of a snow-covered world. She put on her fur coat again, and decided to walk to the Court. The thought of a 10-mile tramp through the .snow seemed to till her with it glow of warmth and strength. Jt was not a vevy dreadful thing, though it would be late by the time she readied the cottage. The porter's directions —"Keep straight on, and ye can't miss it"— seemed simple, at any rate. She set out on the broad load, detcrinind not to "miss it "it common sense could guide her there. As she walked Iter mind reverted to the problem again. Was this fire a coincidence, or a real Calamity? Was Val's accident really an accident or a result of premeditation on the part of someone unknown? Tho moon came out, and made the road sparkle as if it had diamond dust upon it. "This is the sweetest place," Lulu said aloud. She had walked nearly four miles, and as she spoke she turned a wide corner of the road. Straight before her, high above her, B magnificent old house stood; one part of it was jagged against the clear night Sky, jagged ami broken. She knew she had come to the Court. , No one came out from the Lodge as she entered the broad avenue. Huge trees made a wall almost on either side of the wide pathway. Lulu looked a very small figure on the white road Walking between the towering sentinels Which threw snow upon her when the night wind touched them lightly.

i lie was a perfect lover, a great lover, this .spoilt youth of his time. All the spoiling had not taught him selfishness towards a woman, or made him lose his i clean, free chivalry.

1 "I 'II 1)0 awfully glad," he said, "wlieu everybody knows, and yon are j really mine. I'm so proud of having you for my own. Darling little love."

It came to Lulu that she was being given the very gift of heaven. She. who had nearly starved, had worked for a pittance a week, tramped the city looking for a job, was to lie given by one man's love all that the world counts worth while, safety from want, luxury, even a great name.

"If you'd been a beggar," lie said with a little choke, "I'd have loved you the same.'' Val came back, it seemed to him after endless endeavours ami endless patience, to a world which was not. all shadows. For countless hours he hail felt that lie was in a world made up of shadows, huge, looming tilings which seemed to crowd about him, and then, as if at a signal, swoop down upon him. He battled with them as best he could, but this effort was very feeble; he knew that, and that was why he had to try so often and be so patient. Then, but very, very slowly, some of the shadows seemed to grow smaller, and he overcame those. Then a very tiny thread of light seemed to lighten the shadow world, and that was dispelled one morning, and Val became conscious then for the first time that his eyes were closed. fie knew that he might open them, tiecause of the tiny thread of light, which had beaten so many shadows, and if he could let in a lot of light they might all disappear.

A man was coming down the avenue, whistling a tune, and walking at a swinging stride. Lulu decided to ask him if it would be possible to see Val perhaps, or at least his doctor. "Please," sho said as the man passed. He turned instantly and lifted las cap. "Can I help you?" he said. "This is Stevenage Court " He bent forward. "You!" he said, and his voice Sounded extremely g'ad. "Lulu!" "I—Lulu," Lulu said with a foolish little laugh. "And you, Lord Wyekham." He had caught hold of her hands; she noticed one of his was bandaged. "Oh, you're hurt," sho cried instant"That's nothing," he said hastily. "Don't bother. I want to know all about you —why you're here? D'you know, it's my homo." For no reason she felt herself blush hotly. rf l didn't know," she said; "I ought to have known." "Why?'' he said, still holding her hands closely. Lulu was wondering uneasily whether he would ihink she had come on purpose to his house to see him. "Are yon glad to see me?" he demanded, and his clasp grew tighter. She tried to laugh again, but. somehow the touch of his hands seemed to be influencing her very strangely. She felt an odd sensation of wonderful, shy happiness. " Are you'?'' ho persisted. "Yes," she half whispered, then forcing herself to be ordinary, beating down the strangely sweet feeling which held her, she asked quickly, "How is Val?" "Going on toppingly," Tiehoy said. "Isn't it splendid? Of course, you heard about the fire, and the operation, and everything?'' "No," she said, "I haven't." "Come on home, and you shall," Tickev answered gaily, turning back with her.

But his eyelids were tied down with lead —he supposed a rope of load —but a rope was too heavy for an eyelid. lie ceased thinking after a time and fell asleep, this time not in a shadow world. When he woke up he opened his eyes and saw Tiekey looking at him. "Hullo," he said in a very small voice.

Tiekey said: "Hullo, old sport, you are an ass—what!" Val knew that Tiekey was very much upset by the tono of his voice, and he wondered why he was upset, because he was very fond of Tiekey and hated him to suffer.

"What's up?" lie whispered. "You soon will be, thank God," Tic key answered, still in the voice which made Val feel troubled. Tho' you very nearlv did us all in, you old blighter." "What did I do?" Val whispered again. "Never mind," Tiekey said hastily, remembering l)r Hastings's injunction that Val was to 'ne told nothing and only to see people he was fond of and knew well. "Never mind, I was only rotting." "I feel rather queer," Val managed to snv.

"I —can't come to your house," Lulu said. "Why on earth not? I want my old governor to know you. He'll be awfully glad to, and my sister, Judy; she's ft great dear, a real pal o' mine." He was taking her along masterfully, his arm in hers, his hand stiil clasping hers. Suddenly he stopped. "Lulu," he said, and his voice changed and became very earnest. "You must know, T think you do, though we haven't known one another long, what I feel about you. It 's real, darling. I may seem an ass often, and as if I didn't mean things, always joking about as I do, but Ido mean this. I love you. Will you be my wife, will you trust yourself to me, darling? I swear I'll try and be worthy of the trust. Oh, Lulu, you don't know " he broke off, and tenderly, without speaking again, drew her into his arms.

Jlo placed her head very gently back' against his shoulder and kissed her. Lulu lav still, conscious in every pulse of her heart that she was living at last, at utter peace, and that this man, whose arms held her so closely, was the one man of her dreams and of her love. "I love you,'' she said, looking U|> into his eyes. They (dune; together like children un dor the shadow of the snow-laden trees. Common sense, the every day hardness of tilings, claimed Lulu first. "Darling," she said in a half wins per, "darling, your father, your poo pie." Tii'key laughed at her fears with the victorious laugh of a lover. "They'll love you as I do as soon as they know you," he said with the irresponsible oblivion of youth. "I'll tell tlie governor tonight." "Oh, not to-night," Lulu said quickly. "Let us have one day of joy that, belongs only to us."

''You don't say so! " Tirkoy answered. "There new, don't talk about it. 1 Ye a bit of iu'ivs for you, old chap. Guess who's coming down?" '•Doris," Val said instantly, and a smile hovered over his white face. "You're some guesser, aren't yon?" Tickev said tolerantly. "Doris it is." "When?" Val questioned. "I must look an awful sight —here in bed " "Now, then, go easy," Tickey said; "you look—or—striking, old pal; most handsome. Set your mind at rest." A nurse came and beckoned him sternly out, then, so he was obliged to go. unwillingly. He decided'to do a tramp, to try and curb his irrepressible spirits. He set off down the avenue, and saw a girl's figure approaching. "Doris, unable to wait," he told himself. He was glad to the depths of his heart about Val'a marvellous recovery; it was marvellous, Doctor Hastings assured him of that; a phenomenal success. "Of course, Mr Sterne's very strong," he said to Tickey thoughtfully. "But it was Sir Henry who saved him, body, soul, and spirit; it was a magnificent operation." "Hurrah!" Tickey said impulsively. "Cheers! How long Ml he be laid up?" Doctor Hastings was guarded about, that; but ho was comforting on one point. Val was to see people he liked; he was to be kept as cheery as possible. "Trust me," said Tickey. It.was great unselfishness on his part to give up his Inst half-hour with Lulu to Val; he knew he would not be able to be in the room; one visitor at a time was the unbreakable rule. But he also knew that Val would feel glad to see Lulu, and he was so thankful Val was able to feel anything at. all that he did not care what he did for him. He took Lulu to the door and introduced her in a stage whisper to the nurse in charge.

For Hip. first timo since her meeting with Tickey and all the consequent wonder, Lulu remembered all her thoughts of the journey down when she «w Val.

lie was lying wiMi his fa.ee turned towards her, and, of course, his head was bandaged,.

Tickev's arms wont, round her again.

"All thai you say is right. By -Jove, I'm the luckiest fellow in the world." Neither of them thought tor one second of the property and name that was liis; he had no sense of eonferring a gift upon the woman of his choice by giving lier his title, he had no memory of his Wealth and power; they were lovers, find nothing else mattered to then).

i: ('■-., ne am! see Val," Tie key said coaxingly. "And then I'll take you back to old ('rump's cottage in the car. A to morrow,'' he crushed her to hiu; again, "tomorrow you'll come here where you belong, do you hear?" She went with him to sec Val at onr-e, though seeing Val had been largely an excuse for a place that was warmer than the freezing park to make love in!

They met no one in the great, hall, and Tickey drew her into a little anteroom and knelt down beside her. "Say it," he ordered. She said it, her lips against his. "When will you marry me'?'' She said that, too, as'ho wished it said: " vvhen vou choose."

What, had Leon coincidence, what planned fact? lie smiled at her. "Hullo, Lulu, how ripping of you to come! '' Lulu took his hand. " I'oor dear," she said, trying hard to make her voice sound gay. The door opened, and Doris stood in the doorway; she saw the picture, the clasped hand, Lulu kneeling beside Val, and then Val, with a weak cry, saw her, (To be continued.l