ADVENTUROUS ANNE

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16465, 18 June 1919, Page 8

ADVENTUROUS ANNE

d: lightful story of love AND ADVENTURE;

By E. EVERETT-GREEN,’ Author of “Defiant Diana,V ‘‘Married in Haste,” “A Queen of Hearts,” etc., etc.

CHAPTER. IX.—Continued. Her classes 1 were of five pupils at a time. Uue tat in Iront wnu’ her learning. Four in tue body behind watciieu and Kept open eyes, and were summoned 'in turn to tue wheel. , On a sort of. dicky behind sat the exsoldror in his smart garb, ready lor any emergency. But nnue was nrm tiiai her pupils should learn something more than just tue guiding of tbo car; and in the garage sue gave them demonstration lessons concerning the mysteries or the engine, although upon tbo road alio only insisted on their trying to diagnose the reason for any stoppage, and tile actual repair was left to tbo man.

Anno enjoyed herself vastly. Her fees more tnan paid all expenses she mcurred; and tno weeks ran away extremely fast. The Dagberts were friendly, seeing that AuTic was a success, and she could have had plenty of social festivities bad she eared about tins; but her days were engrossed by her pupils, and by evening she preferred ulie pleasant solitude of her own room and balcony and tile company ot her own thoughts. One evening when the delightful mildness of the moonlit November night -had templed her out, and she was leaning over the rail, looking seaward, and thinking of another moonlight night, and pair of eyes looking into hers, while a voice She pulled up short. This was the kind ot dream .she did not wish to indulge ; and at the same moment she was aware of a rustling sound in the room behind, and came hastily back through the window to find that tier privacy had been invaded by a gorgeous personage in parti-coloured robes whom she instantly recognised. Khc made a .slight, movement of recoil; but then in spite of herself she smiled. “Madame Hartmann!” she exclaimed. The other advanced towards her with beaming' face; and Anne was aware, not .or the first tope since their meeting in her school-days of that subtle sort of chnriu which this woman undoubtedly possessed, together with a. rather gorgeous laud of sensifbus and voluptuous beauty.

“'Ah, don’t call me thatj 1 want you to call mo Olga 1 I want us to bo friends! You wonder whyP Let mo see if I can explain. I am a rather lonely personage, and I think that you are the same. But I have lands; and I .surely think that you hare made a coup of some sort 1 1 have watched you iucso many days. You arc magnificent, my dear. Everybody is talking of you. You arc the fashion—a great success. It is your gift. I admire you immensely for it. I myself have something of this gift. I get my own way. I succeed. But with all that lam lonely. iS T ow listen to what 1 come here to say.” At a sign from Anno she had sunk into a deep, padded chair. Anne followed her example, and rang for coffee. When they wore alono once more, Olga, who had never really ceased to tafk. telling of her recent doings and her successes at Monte Carlo and the tables there, took up her original thread.

“But, yon see, I have had enough. You also, I think, see that you had better now disappear. That is. the secret of success—never let the .world get tired of you. or even too well used to you. Your automobile and instruction classes have, created quite a little furore; but soon other imitators will arise, and yon will sink to the level of an ordinary instructress of ordinary pupils. Don’t wait for that. Finish the courses arranged, but accept no new,pupils. Tell them that you leave for Some. And let us go there together. I have au apartment in a splendid palnzzo. 1 won it at the tables. I mean that I lent money to ah Italian prince on the understanding that I href his fine quarters in Rome for the winter season. Anne Desborongh, come with me! Let us set up together. We should not bore one another very badly in a few weeks. I hate being alone, and you are never dull. It would be an experience for yon. Why not?” And 7\nne suddenly found herself echoing the words—why not? In memory film was hack at Val'Chester Towers. She was hearing again low-toned, anxious conversations between Lord Raven lull’s mother and her old friend.

“It is that woman, Madame Hartmann, whom Iso greatly feat. She lias my poor hoy on a string, as those Americans call it. He is safe now, away in llorwny; but, that cannot last for ever. And 1 fear that woman. I believe she means to get him. Jack will always Chink it hard lines on Ravenhill that Tie cannot marry. It is hard; but we ought to hold him back. Jack ought to succeed, and his children after him ...” Anne seemed to hear it all. and the discussion which followed, and suddenly it seemed to her that perhaps here was her chance to do something for Jack—for the man who had saved her life, and had come near to loving lur, hut whom she must no'or wed. “Well,” she said slowly, icgaidhig her companion with appraising eyes, “I do not exactly toe why not myself. Anyhow, why not try? I'll take you along in my car to Romo. I can give lessons across the Campagna if the fanev takes me. Anyhow, I can pay my footing all right enough. And if we get tired of one another ” “Why, then—pouffl—wo kiss and part! That is the champ of the sudden inspirations. There is no solemn pact involved for as long as we both do live. I call it quite charming of you, Anne. You really are very attractive. I fancy I am also. Together we will make a little splash on our own account^—a, little furore. We •toll get horses and hunt. That is the smart winter amusement in Rome. And your riding it—well I Ta-ta for the moment. We shall have lots to talk over and arrange. But, remember, no new pupils. Work off the old ones only and then away en route for Rome. And a. merry life for us both.” (Continued daily.)