A TIGHT CORNER

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16035, 21 January 1918, Page 8

A TIGHT CORNER

[COPYRIGHT.]

By ARTHUR W. MARCHMONT,

Author of “By Right of Sword,” “The Man Who Was Dead,” Etc. CHARTER XV.—Continued. “Miss Truscott is not home, sir,” said the maid. This both surprised and nettled him, for ho had caught a glimpse of Enid at the hay window of the flat as he turned into the court- He hesitated a second what to do.

“I’m very sorry,” he said then, giving the girl his card. “Please say that I can’t come back, as I have to catch a train.” Calculating that Enid would watch him go, he hailed a taxi and stopped to give the man detailed instructions how to find a street that didn’t exist. “All’s fair in certain circumstances, ” he said to himself as he drove off. “If she thinks the road clear she may come out.” So ho got out when he reached High Street and went back to a spot where he could await results. The ruse was successful. Half an hour afterwards Enid came out, walked | along the High Street, and went into Kensington Gardens. _ . I “I hope you won’t think it was ! very mean of me,” he said as he overtook her. ■ , She turned with a start. Sir Robert Marlowe!” “Oh, no. Just Simmons, the chauffeur.” he said with a smile. “Ho wishes to ask you a little favour. He called at Burnham Court just now. and wants you to overlook some rubbish he talked about a train to catch.” The' trouble in her eyes touched him to the quick, but ho was careful not a sign of his concern in either voice or manner. , “You should not have come, she said. Her voice was quite firm, hut its tone was as much changed as her manner. As if she had grown ten years older in the last two days.

“Yes; but as T am here, suppose you tell me wby you were not at homo to me?” „ , .. , “I—l could not see you, she replied after a little hesitation. _ , “I know that; but I’m asking why. “You must not ask. please.” “Then let us go and look at the boys sailing their boats on the Bound Pond, ft will give us time to think, for one thing.” “I must go back home.” But he was in front of her and did not move. “No, that brings that scoundrel Jean Colonne here; and he’s not the sort to Jet anything of that sort happen.” ' She looked up, and their eyes met. “No,” ho said again, shaking his head very decidedly. Then he smiled. “All you can do is to call up one of the keepers there and gh’e me in charge for molesting you.” “But you have no right- ” “Hadn’t we better agree to smile at it? Jean Colonne has a favour to ask this time, and you can’t very well refuse him, you know.” , “You wish to take advantage of my obligation ?” “Yes. Anything to prevent your hurrying off in this way,’ he answered calmly. “It may sound a hit swinish, but I can’t help that. I may not have another chance.” . . . . “But when X denied myself just now, you must have known I had a strong reason.” „ “I did, of course; and deemed at once to find out wlyvt it is.” “I don’t wish—l can’t tell you.” “Then we’ll talk about the weather. It’s a glorious day for a stroll in tho gardens.” . . “Will you leave me, Sir Robert? “Oh. he’s gone long ago. This is Jean Colonne, and you know what a truculent rascal tho fellow is. Hangs on like a bulldog, too. That’s better,” he added, as her strained look relaxed for an instant. “I always smile at trouble. It’s a wonderful help.” “If you persist ” “Oh, I do. No mistake, about that,” he interposed.

“Of course I can’t ” “I know that,” he interrupted again. “I’m going to have my own way.” “What is it you wish to do, then ” “To go and look at the boats first. It’s a most harmless business. Good,” he said, as she turned to walk on. “And when'we’re tired of just looking we’ll talk.”

“You don’t understand.” she murmured, “or you wouldn’t do this.” . “Perhaps that’s why I’m doing it,” he replied meaningly. “That’s a fine boat,” he cried with a change pf voice, not heeding her start and quick questioning glance. “A clipper; I believe there’s a toy sailing club here, and men have these boats as playthings. Funny sport for a man; but it prob-' ably keeps him out of mischief.” And he rattled on in this way, chattering more quickly when she tried to interrupt him, until they reached 'the other side of the pond. “Now, I think that’s enough of this exciting sport for one afternoon. Let’s go under, the trees there and have it out together.” Enid ceased to protest and let him take her where he had pointed. “I can’t understand one thing about you. That you should take the affair so much to heart. I don’t blame you in the least for having yielded, but you surely don’t believe for an instant that your friends -will allow anytliing of the sort?” “What do you mean?” she asked, her eyes full of concern. “And yet, you know, I’m trying not to feel glad that you do.” “You’re puzzling me. Intentionally?” “Yes. I’ve been thinking while I was talking that rot about the toy boats. And 1 feel so—so beastly happy that I want to laugh all the time.” “Because you see that I am so troubled.” “Yes,” he nodded. Doesn’t that sound just like Colonne again? I don’t believe I ever felt more relieved and happier in my life.” “I—l don’t understand.”

“It’s dead easy, too. It’s because you were afraid to see me. Why? 1 wouldn’t have believed you were afraid of anything—of that sort. I mean.”,. She was silent a moment in perplexity. “I refused to seo you because—” “I know that first reason, I think, or can guess it. I had a talk with Mrs. Gendall the other night and she told me about Blount and—you know. But, even so, why were you afraid to speak to me?” “I was not afraid, hut ” “Stop a moment. What about,your wanting to bolt away just now?” he cut in. “It was not fear,” she cried. “Surely I am not bound to speak to anyone if I do not wish to!” “Enid!” She caught her breath, her cheeks crimsoned, and her eyes fell to the ground before the look in his. “I am so glad, my dear.” And for a long time there was silence, eloquent of so much to them both. “We’re go-

ing to thresh this thing right out here and now,” he continued presently. 1 don’t care what the reason may be, but you are not going to many bimeon Blount.” “But if you knew!” “You are not gomg to marry Simeon Blount,” ho repeated with tho utmost earnestness. “The moment I saw you in that villa at Chatilion 1 settled that question in rogavd to him or any othei man—so far as I was concerned, of course, and I know what 3011 feci about him No, don’t interrupt for a moment. I have had one experience with a woman; only one; and that was years ago, when I was a boy. 1 thought it disastrous enough then; but I know otherwise when 1 saw' you that day m the villa. To-day, only a few minutes ago, when I told you how I rejoiced at vour distress the reason for it flashed across my mind, and 1 knew the other side; your side, i read it again m your tace just now; Ihere’s no need for words; we understand one another too well. ‘ So 1 repeat, you are not going to marry Simeon Blount, whatever ho or others may have done to force you to content.” • Sho did not attempt to reply. For the time she was too ecstatically happy. Presently he laughed. “I think that’s the longest speech I ever made in my life; but then I never felt so strongly about anything before.” “I wish it all could ” she began, and stopped. “You'll have your wish. 111 see to that., I’m going to clear this tanglo in mv own way; and 1 don't moan to ask yon a single question. 1 know enough to get to know more.” Sho shook her head quickly and nervously. “It is impossible. And I mustn’t see you again. 1 must not, really He made me promise.” “Then we’ll make tho most of this chance; and when 1 do see you next, it’ll bo to tell you that all this nonsensical rubbish is over. And now, let s put him and everything about him out of our thoughts and he happy together ■—as happy as wo both moan to be for all the years to come. We’ll just protend he doesn’t exist. If the men there can play with boats, surely we two can have a game to ourselves.”

Tho game was a very engrossing one and lasted all the afternoon until the keeper had grown very impatient to shut- the gates and grumbled as they went past that it was long past tho proper closing hour. And when they parted. Enid, flushed and smiling, and happier than she had ever thought to be again, took home with her big, big hope, which Bob’s buoyant confidence had given her. Love’s richest gift, perhaps.