INFATUATION.

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17438, 24 August 1928, Page 3

INFATUATION.

iIJ OUR SERiAL STQBY y,

By B. M. CROIvER. (Author of “Pretty Miss Neville,” “A Bird of Passage ” “Mr Jervis,” “Terrence,” “Beyond the Pale,” “The Cat’s-Paw.”

CHAPTER VII. JOHN HART AND OFFERS TO EM ANCIPATE MISS TALBOT. , “Mr. Holland,” broke in Maria, with flashing eyes, ‘ do you wish to "quarrel with me?” “Yes. and no; I desire to arouse you to a sense of your position, In your case, bondage has become second nature; your senses are benumbed; your aunt demands your entire abnegation. as her right. She will carry you in her chains tor me next twenty years: well-cared-for people live long. Then, when you are set free, you will lie a feeble creature, with all vitality sucked out of you. From such a fate I would release you.” “And, pray, what is my condition or fate to you? Why are you so anxious to set me free?”

“Because”—he paused for a second and added in a lower tone—“l love von.”

‘Oh, no, no, no!” cried Maria, waving him away with her hands. Then she suddenly, sat down, and covered her face with them.

“Why may I. not say it?” lie demanded, after an expressive silence. “There is an old warning. “Go not to meet thy fate, it is seeking thee’ ; and three weeks ago, when you followed your aunt into the hotel garden. 1 knew that my fate had found me.’’ “Mr. Harland. I never, never dreamt of this!’’ exclaimed Miss Talbot, slowly raising her head, and looking at him winth a scared face. “I have thought of you as a friend—l have often wished that you were my brother; but the idea of your caring for me in—in any other way never entered my head, for 1 am engaged to he married to Captain Bcrrodaile.” “But your aunt assured me that your engagement was at an end'.”

“Of course, she has told you my story!” she exclaimed passionately; “she tells it to every one. Oh, that is the one thing in my life which is intolerable! There is not an old woman in a boardinghouse from Cannes to Naples that does not know every par-

CHAPTER VIIf

tic-uhir of mv most private '"affairs. My aunt is deeply prejudiced and implacable where Norris is concerned, and 1. suppose she did not spare him?”

“1 must confess that she did not.” • , A ! lei '\ 1116 speak in his defence,” said -Maria; and as she rose to her feet she feftirned upon her companion a beautiful, eager face. * <<r l here is no occasion to defend your nance. Miss lalbot; that you honour Jinn Tvitli your faitli is ample guarantee tor any man. Only, if I had known tlie true state of the case, I sliould never liave spolven.” “I am more sorry tlian I can say,” faltered -Maria ;; “1 thouglit when you saw tliis,” and she lield'out her hand, on wliicJi was a ring, “that- you would have understood.”

I ought to have known, T suppose; but some girls wear rings who are not engaged.”

“It is time for me to be going; and as we walk down the mountain I should like to tell you about Norris Borrodaile. May I?” she inquired, as she looked rather timid tv into her companion’s face. >

“On the principle of locking the door when the horse is stolen!” rejoined Harland with a short laugli; then, in quite another tone, he added: “\es, since it is plain that j’am never to marry, I shall be glad to hear whatever you are good enough to tell me about the man who is to marry you.”

‘AUF WIEDERSEHEN.” M seem to have known Norris Borrodaile all my life.” abruptly began Miss Talbot, as she and Harland walked side by side along a path in the walnut woods. “He used to spend his vacations with the Brandons’ liecause his mother and Mrs. Brandon were old schoolfellows; the squire is our cou.sin, and I was a good deal at tho Court as a child; Norris and I were always friends—and he called me his little sweetheart, even then!” “And may I ask how old were vou,”

“1 was about seven, and Norris was eighteen. Afterwards «lie went to Sandhurst, and we never met again until.lie came to Brandon for partridgeshooting just before he embarked for India.” A long and expressive pause. Miss Talbot walked on for about a hundred yards without once opening her lips. Possibly she was leaving it to John Harland’s vivid imagination to fill in the brilliant picture of love’s young dream! But suddenly the St. G'-dthard express to Italy came thundering along below ,and roused her sharplyMVom her reflections. “We were not engaged,” .she resumed, “but he gave me a dog, and ! gave him my photograph, and promised! not- to forget him. You see. he was not well off. and I had no money till I came of age,” she added as an explanation. “Oil. yes, 1 quite understand,’ assented. her listener drvkv.

“When 1 was eighteen, my aunt took me to London, and 4 enjoyed mv first season, hut she was dreadfully disappointed because I would not- marry to please her; but then. I saw no one to please me as well as Norris. In three years’ time he arrived home unexpectedly; there had been some trouble about money—you know people hate to have to pay the debts of their relations—ail’d every one seemed to turn their backs on Norris. He came to Brandon; he was handsomer than ever—tall, fair, gnd cheery, with such a soldierlv air.”

(To he continued.)

uected her companion.) “His cousin. Lord Saxonhurst, who lives in our county, would not receive him; he was absurdly angry about something or other; but Norris was welcomed at the Court. He had not forgotten me, and he came o the rectory and told me all liis troubles, and 1 used to mend his gloves, just as in old days. The Brandons always declared that with Norris it was ‘out of sight out of mind,’ which I could vouch was not the case; they said he was ‘casual,’ which was another of their mistakes. Of course, I knew that ho was careless with money and correspondence. but who is faultless?” she demanded with pale eloquence. “I was within a few months of my majority, when my mother’s fortune of four hundred a year became my own. It was well invested in Australian banks and, as wo could afford to marry, 1 became engaged to Norris, and every ono was pleased. As for me, I was supremely happy, for in my eyes there was no one in the wide world like Norris—he was perfect.” (“The soul of reckless bravery and spotless honour?” quoted Harland half to himself.) “ft was arranged that 1 was to accompany him to India, and our wed-ding-day was fixed, when my father died'quite suddenly. It appeared that he had invested, and lost, all my money and. most of his own; and the shock brought on an apoplectic fit, which killed him. I need not tell you that our wedding was postponed; and Norris’s leave being up, lie went back to India alone; but his regiment was coming home the next reliefs; and we agreed to wait. You see, I was barely on e-an d-twenty—l had plenty of time.”

“Yes”—rather bitterly—‘‘‘to wait.”

“And then I came to live with Aunt Selina.” Anoher pause, and she continued more hurriedly, “Norris wrote to mo constantly—for him, for Norris loathes the sight of a pen. His regiment came heme; but he was too poor to serve in England, and was obliged to exchange. He is saving money now. and some'day he will send for me to join him.” “Ho corresponds with you, of course?” “Oh, yes, but rather irregularly. Sometimes for months I have not had one line. And this is what makes Aunt Selina sc furious; she does not believe in him—but I do. His silence meaus nothing; once he was silent for three years, and returned unchanged.” Harland pictured to himself a lovely girl full, of flattering trustfulness, in delightful contrast to a clan of"~ coldhearted connections, who doubtless had had to pay through the nose on behalf of the brilliant prodigal! “Thank you. Miss Talbot, for telling me all this. I see that my ca.se is hopeless.” “Quite.” was her laconic reply. “And we shall drift apart, and never hear of one another again?” “1 shall never forget you, Mr. Harland, nor this peaceful retreat; after our storms and buffeting, it seems a veritable haven of rest; I shall often recall our walks and talks, and I. shall ever take the deepest interest m all you write.” “Will von write to me?”—then, as the reply was long in coming, he added “or would he object?” “No no. he is no more jealous than I ambut Aunt Selina might think it improper, and ” “Yes. yes, I understand,’ he interrupted quickly.