CHAPTER XXIX.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14095, 29 December 1909, Page 5

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE PARADISE OF LOVE.

A paragraph in the papers was the first the world hoard of Violet's loss of fortune. Lady Sherwell read it with a mixture of feelings, Dunkerley rejoiced meanly, other people were extremely amused. it would naturally amuse cynical sottl^s to bear that the man who had "caught" an heiress so cleverly, had been "sold" after all. • But what people thought did not trouble; Violet and Cedric in these days. They had forgotten their acquaintances, and their best friends had become mere meaningless ciphers in an address book. They were dwelling in a paradise apart — such a paradise as only perfect love and trust' can 'know, and that it was a furnished "flat in Victoria St., with rather a grimy outlook, and a continual roar of traffic going on below did not detract from their blissful idyll in the least. Even when the South, American Cousin- developed unexpected generosity; and presented Violet with ten thousand pounds, her jewels, and such cherished possessions as she chose to remove, they could scarcely feel happier than before, though it was nice, certainly, to be able to furnish a flat of their own, and to have a comfortable little income to fall back an in case of emergency. . "So after all I have married' an heiress!" said Cedric, hilariously, and to celebrate the occasion they treated themselves to a swell dinner at Prince's and — they brimmed over with the milk of human kindness — asked Dunkerley of all people to join them, he being the only near relative either of them owned.

And Dunkerley dame, and Dunkerley enjoyed himself, and Went about relating his experience afterwards to everyone he met with "his faint eyebrows higher than ever on his narrow freckled forehead.

"I'm hanged if he ain't happy," he said. "They're two blessed paupers, and he's working like a dog, and he's happy! Did. you ever hear of such a thing? Dooced glad it wasn't me !"

(THE END.)