“Judy Says No”

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1931, Page 14

“Judy Says No”

®y

Winifred Carter.

(CHAPTER X., Continued.)

“You're an absolute brick, Judy.'* “Wouldn’t you do the same for anyone if you thought they had been Wrongfully accused?" "Well, as for that, I am not in the position, but you are. Don’t , you realise that if you clear me it may jeopardise your position with grandfather?"

“Don’t you realise,” imitated Judy, *‘that if I get Harmer House, and get it unjustly, I shall be for ever unhappy?” •“ “But it wouldn’t be unjustly,” said Nick.

“It would be to my way of thinking. You forget I have been brought up by my father. Half- an untruth was as bad as a downright lie to him. He’d be the first to say I could not take anything under such circumstances.”' 1 She got to her feet, and her happy laugh rang out. “I am going to clear off now, Nick I don’t want grandfather to come storming through the woods and forbid me to go to the dance to-night. I shall tell him I have been round here though. I have made up .my mind there is going to be nothing underhand any more. But before I go promise to go to the dance." ' He looked at the Harlequin dress fend then up at Judy’s excited, dancing face. She wanted it so, dear little 'soul. She was so anxious to unite him and Enid. He was beginning to think that it would be waste of time on her part, but he could not dash all her good spirits ahd her hopes. : “Very well, Judy, i’ll come,” he said.

“You darling, Nick!" said Judy and turning, she bolted through the gate. <•’ He could hedr her singing as she Went through the woods, and he stood "staring after her, .listening to (the beautiful . notes that rivalled the thrush. What a glorious voice she bad! What a wonderful personality Bhe was 1 How honest and straight; What integrity! He was proud to think she was his cousin! “If she gets Harmer House it .will be the better man getting it!" he said, as tie gathered the Harlequin ■ult and the mask together and tossed .them on the chintz-covered' couch, fend 'went out.

And, lo and behold, the morning was blue and sold about him, and a robin, chirruping Impudently on the Hedge, was friendly. And the gold and wine-red of the beech trees was a feast for his eyes. And as he leaped into the tractor and turned , its hose up the field and set the engine going, he. found, himself whistling, i . No wonder Judy danced as she went back home. She had accomplished jwhat she had set out to do. She had’ made Nicholas promise to go to the 'dance. And-Lord Kenway had told her that Mr Ventris was ’ going too. She meant to-confront these two with 'each other. If, as she was beginning ito suspect, some man had been posing as Nicholas, then his redemption, '.drew near, • for to-night Mr Ventris 'Would most certainly not recognise Nicholas Harmer as the man who had handed over the cheque. But she -was as far-as ever from guessing who ■ the real culprit was, but that did not trouble her at the moment; it was Nicholas’s wrongs that worried her. Now the thought oi the dance became of supreme importance in her rnlnd. She was going to the first carnival dance she had even been to, and It was only .natural that .her feet should dance in anticipation. ■: . in spite of. her own idea to go as a Kate -Greenaway girl, her grandfather i&d decided that she should go as Mary Queen of Scots; as that ill-fated, but beautiful Queen, every detail true to the character, Judy dressed. She went in to (see her grand“ father when she was ready, and from under his beetling brows he surveyed her with something almost like tenderness ln hls glance. -. ■ - -

“You look very (beautiful, :my dear," he said, and his voice trembled. “Oh, grandfa’ier, I am glad you think I look nice," said' Judy. “I am ever so pleased with my frock; it’s lovely. Do you know the silk Is so rich It will stand by itself," she added artlessly. “I have never had a 'frock like this?" “I hope you will enjoy yourself, my 'dear. I wish I could come and seo you.” . ? “Couldn’t you, grandfather?" she feald, taking his hand and putting her soft • cheek against it. “I’d 'love it it you could come. I’d promise to sit some dances out.with you."“It would not be fair to rob thoss who want to dance with -you, my dear.”

“But I should' love said Judy, and he* saw from her face that/she meant it..

She kissed.him .warmly. .They had become very good friends, this sweet Judy and' this -old currriudgeon of a man with his difficult temper and ■his distrust of mankind. Judy was giving him back his faith. “fam going along to see how Enid Is getting on. I’ll tell her to come and let you have a look at her. 1 She is going :to be beautiful. She is the Queen of Sheba.” “She would be," said the old man With a chuckle. ...

Judy laughed, too. as she went out. She. hurried up to Enid’s room. “May I come in?" she said outside. “Yes, of course, you may," said Enid testily". Judy went in. Enid was nearly ready.* She looked a marvellous girl in her Oriental robes. She glittered with jewellery, not all of it real by any means. Judy gasped. “You will look the most perfect creature there, of that I am sure,” she said. "Oh, I am so glad, Enid. There is a special reason why I am glad." ■ . And then she caught her breath for on Enid's left had as she lifted it to arrange the striking-looking headdress gleamed a Jewel Judy had not seen before; a diamond sent a thousand sparks of. fire from its heart. “What a glorious ring, Enid. Where, did you get it from?” said Judy. 1 ' “That’s an -engagement ring, my dear," said Enid, yawning. “Now don't fuss, Judy, there’s a good girl.”

“Fuss I" said Judy In a tense voice. “Does that mean you are engaged to Mr Bourne?"

“Really, Judy, you are trying 1 Who else should I b* engaged to?” "Enid, I implore you, think .before you take this vital step. There "is something I know, something that I am going to prove. Nicholas is innocent. I swear to you that - grants father will have to admit that he- has

wronged Nicholas, and things will be

as they once were. I have got pr-oof.’’ . “Don’t be ridiculous, Judy, said Enid snubblngly. “I don’t believe for a moment that you have found anything out." ~ “But I have,” , said Judy frantically- “ Some 'Other man has been taking Nicholas’s name." “I never heard a more astounding story, and I don’t believe a word of it, and I’d very much rather you didn t start interfering in my affairs. I am going to marry Roger. Bourne., I.haye made up my mind. I promised him 1 would marry him this afternoon. “I warn you that you will regret it," said Judy. Something ih her white face, something in those bright, despairing eyes startled Enid. It was as though she uttered a warning which she could not ignore. Would the time come when she would regret? If only she could believe that'Judy had got proof, even at this eleventh hour she would give the ring back to Roger Bourne, because, deep down, she did love Nicholas, not enough to marry him aS a poor man, but as deeply as she had it in her. to love. There was sure to be a catch in it somewhere., “Who is the man?” she questioned cautiously. , " “I don’t know yet,” said Judy, her face clouding. Enid tossed her head in indignation at Judy. .

Nicholas would not come back into favour. She would be left stranded high and dry, a poor man’s wife, If. she. were not very careful.- The break had been made. Much better to go on in the way that she had mapped out for herself. -/’Judy was just a silly, credulous little creature. It wasn't likely that she knew anything that would prove Nick's Innocence. With a gesture of dismissal she turned back to the contemplation of her own beautiful face in the glass. Feeling utterly cold and miserable. Judy went slowly downstairs and to the car.

CHAPTER XI. Cinderella Goes to the Ball.

Judy went to the ball with Clive, but- it was a very different Judy from the one who had danced into Enid's bedroom. Everything was spoiled just because Enid hadn’t enough faith and enough love. She could only think of Nick’s disappointment and the ache that he was to suffer,'of the tragedy of it all. She, who 1 knew he was going to be there, knew, too, how bitter would be the misery into which Enid’s engagement would plunge him. And then she found that Clive had possessed himself of her hand. t

“Judy darling, didn’t you wonder why it was that I got you alone?" he said ardently. “Oh, darling, I have been patient. I have waited all this time. The six months is up in a day or two. Judy, I hope, yes, I really hope, that your grandfather decides not to make you his heiress, because then you will realise how deeply-1 care for you. - I love you so tremendously, Judy. Make me the happiest man in the world. Tell me thatyou care just a little.” She gave a sigh? She had almost forgotten about this. Clive Had been as attentive as usual, but lately he had not attempted to make .love to .her, ■

“I am not in love with anyone, Clive,” she said. “Please don’t ask me because It makes me so 'Unhappy to have to say no.”

>“1 shan't give, up hope," , said Clive. "JVhen a man cares as I care he daren’t give up. Judy, promise that you will care if you - can?" His eyes were burning down into hers, but she was utterly untouched. For-one- thing, she was too 1 bewilder-; ed and troubled. about Nicholas • and Enid tp have any spare thoughts for her own love affair. For another, he did not stir her. Honestly, she’ would have preferred it to be Gilbert. “I'm 'Out of love with -love,” she said dispiritedly. “Please, Clive, don’t worry me to-night.” He looked at her and realised that it was the wrong moment, and gritted his teeth in exasperation. It was as though she had put up a barrier. “You are going to dance with, me," he said. "I shan’t release you.from that promise." “Of course, I am going to dance with you." She gave a .sigh. /‘Oh, dear, I am so disappointed about Enid being engaged to Roger Bourne.” “My dear child,” said Clive cynically, “why don’t you leave Enid and her love affairs alone? You don't seem to understand that Enid is a shallow 1 ) little doll. She could not care vitally for anyone but herself. Honestly Nicholas . hasn't lost a great deal in losing her." But even that did not cheer poor little Cinderella up. However, when she got to Kenway Court It was so magnificently lit up and all so evidently prepared for a big affair that unconsciously she brightened up. “Don’t let us forget our masks,” she said as she fitted hers into place. “We don’t any of us want to know who is who.”

She w’ent into the radiance of the magnificent foyer, smiling deliciously. Herbert Kenway greeted her. He looked a magnificent figure. “Rizzio, my liege lady,” he said, bowing low. “You are queen of the ceremonies, remember." She laughed delightedly. It was a dazzling scene. Nymphs and pierrots, pierrettes and columbines, costers and apaches, chefs and nurses, and a hundred and one other magnificent or simple costumes graced the scene.

Dusk was falling, and the lights streamed from the trees like chains of jewels, flashing red, and gold, and blue, and green. And presently the band crashed out, and Herbert Kenway danced with her. It was easy to see that he cared, only Judy’s eyes were blind to the fact that this most eligible bachelor was hers for the taking. As a matter of fact she was watching out for .one man, a Harlequin. Until he came she would know no peace, and when h« came, if lie did come, she would suffer for him. (To be continued.)

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