J CHERRY FAYRE

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20603, 2 May 1935, Page 18

J CHERRY FAYRE

\ By

LESLIE CARGILL.

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. CHEIiRY VANCE, a pretty g-irl of twenty, joins her brother. TEDDY VANCE, for a trip in a light aeroplane to the sea for a bathe. On the way engine trouble develops, and in bringing down the machine. Teddy crashes on .the roof of a somewhat remote bungalow at breakfast time. The owner of the bungalhw is a young bachelor, GEORGE DALLAS, engaged on research scrambles on to his roof, and there, below the debris, meets Cherry. Happily, she is uninjured, but Teddy, Ims fractured bis leg in a way which, according to the doctor, makes jt advisable that he should not be moved to his home or to hospital. Thus George finds himself with two guests whose company is very inconvenient to him. He is very susceptible to Cherry’s charm, but he learns from her bortlier that she is already almost engaged to another man. VINCENT MELHUISH, director of a motor manufacturing concern, later visits the bungalow He is a prosperous, pompous fellow, who treats Clierrv in a somewhat rugged “caveman" manner. George upsets bis dignity by asking him to take the bungalow's charwoman. MRS. PHI BBS. on liis homeward journev agrees* an a'ln tl" f'* * VfHmisii in forma tioii ” • ins ' h, ‘ va j”° of the settin** rl 't& e °2Lni i * Uoi , M ”‘ ol h uish.^ a ft"r depart mental heads'.' and "t e"is*' thorn what he knows. He decides to get to know more, and. if need be. to use ,he knowkMge; Meantime at the bungalow. George, growing sent.mental about the name of his visitor (which she confesses is an adopted name), tells her about the Clierrv I-ayre. or market, that used to be held iii Ins native village. There is a mild flirtn--I'°- George s view of the girl is less flattering when, while he is at work in his experimental -shop” early next morning, she intrudes and shows too much curiosity about what he is doing. J

CHAPTER VI. could see no big reason for objecting, in spite of Cheiry’s caution. Before long lie would want a first-rate manufacturing concern to produce his cars and here was an influential representative already seeking him out. The girl s warning had been definite enough, but the risk would not be groat. After further talk he agreed to take the two men to inspect the experimental model. Hersen was particularly alert. He tried to elicit technical details. But here, George was firm. In no circumstances was he going to say anything that would be of benefit to potential rivals. They examined the machine carefully, noted its advanced body construction and were duly amazed at the quiet running. » “I had it on bench tests for several days and, so far as I am aware, the sound of the engine was not heard by anybody outside this workshop,” he remarked. “Interesting,” Melhvtish agreed. “But that is only a development that might be applied to many excellent cars already in production.” “It is an incidental point with this one. Noise is wasteful. When you can design an engine that is at least ten times as efficient as anything else on the market and utilise it in a car so constructed that frictional resistances are reduced to a minimum it is as nearly perfection as can be expected.” “Those are big claims. Mr. Dallas . .” “Soon to be substantiated.” “Lot us hope so. A road test is out of the question ?’* “At the moment. I have shown you more than I intended already, and the next moves will be carried out secretly.” “H’m! Won’t you reconsider my offer of taking up an option?” “No, thank you; not at this stage. Later perhaps.” “T may change mv mind.” George was firm. * “I must take that risk.” he replied. “If you are interested later I will promise to get in touch with you before going to anyone else.” “But. surely you could do with more immediate financial and expert assistance ?” George shook his head. Melliuish tried to pass off his failure airily, although .there was no doubt that he was considerably impressed. Before leaving he asked about patents, to be told that nothing bad been done about taking out papers, as it seemed safer to wait for powerful backing. Melliuish remonstrated. “It is .rather dangerous, young man,” Melliuish remonstrated. “Suppose an unauthorised person got hold of the plans? You would have no redress.” “They’re safe enough. Only I know where they are. and several essential points have not been committed to “Ah ves. that is a wise precaution, although I have”no doubt you’ve found it necessary to make drawings tha* would provide most of the information!” George agreed reluctantly. The words of Cherry came to his mind and he did not like the way the talk was drifting. “Nobody is going to get a glimpse of them without my permission.” he insisted. “Quite so! Ah. yes. quite so! You must be very careful. Such unprotected secrets are dangerous. Always remember that. I still think it would be wiser if you and I came to an understanding. What do you think, Hersen ?” The engineer did not answer. He was watching liis employer, a curious glint in his eyes. “Hersen. L asked you a question!” “Sorry, sir. My thoughts were elsewhere. You were asking Mr. Dallas to place his invention at our disposal, I believe. That would be a good thing —Tor both of us.” “Indeed, yes,” Melliuish said softly. There was almost a sinister effect in the emphasis he infused into those two With Moonlight and Perfume. Vincent Melliuish was a frequent visitor to the bungalow during the following days.

Sometimes he would make attempts to reopen the matter of the car, but after repeated refusals on the part of George to he drawn he appeared to give up the project. According to Cherry he was invariably on his best behaviour and it seemed as if the first impression of dislike had been unjust. Once he brought Cherry’s father, Edward Vance, with him. The great man bad the tired look of the born moneymaker who can spare little time for relaxation. Another day Mrs. Vance called. As parents they were not successful, however well they filled their respective niches in the world of commerce and society. Evidently they had both long since tlieir children, who both treated them with the easy familiarity that is an expression of the “emancipation” of the age. George hated it. lie had been left parentless at an early age as a result of which lie had built up an idealism of family tics that was founded on distinctly old-fashioned notions. About that stolid conception of family

life, Cherry was always ready to chip him. but when she did he glimpsed a wistfulness beneath her cultivated worldly wisdom. The days of waiting for /Teddy Vance’s leg to mend were happy ones at the bungalow. George's young guests ma’de lively company and although their presence interfered considerably with the progress of his work, he did not care to think of the day when they would leave. That inevita*bility was growing nearer as Teddy made rapid progress, to the satisfaction of Dr. Mureliiston and the triumph of Cherry, who was able to chant “I told you so,” with great v glee. Often she went tramping over the countryside with George, who found in her a sense of comradeship not at first suspected. She could fall in with moods and was generally able to restrain her own, though occasionally there would come flashes of individuality. Occasionally they quarrelled violently over small matters. George rather enjoyed these tiffs when they were over, for they contributed to a growing understanding. It would lie wrong to call the girl a flirt. All her life she had been granted the willing friendship of men. some because they liked her personality and others who knew that she was heiress to part of the Vance millions. “That money has been a bugbear,*’ she confessed as they sat in the garden. “You’ve no idea how it warps a girl's outlook.” “I can imagine it.’’ George told her. “Every man must be regarded as a potential fortune hunter, cli!” “Not every one. There are plenty of nice people in the world reallv.” “Then you don’t think I’ve got an eye on your family lucre?” “No. George. That’s part of the trouble.” “Trouble?” He remained deliberately obtuse. “I didn’t know there was any.” She shook her head sadly. “George, there are times when I should like to smack your face and other times “Go on.” “Never mind. This is a face-smacking occasion. Think it over.” As a matter of fact there was no necessity.- George knew quite well that his regard was returned. A woman realises immediately a man falls in love with her, but with the male, the knowledge unfolds more slowly. Cherry, however, had gone out of her way to encourage him. All the talk about money ami social position liad been in the nature of an explanation of her viewpoint, with a sort of apology for the existence of the barrier.

All-consuming passion would have broken down the golden wall, and /glorified in the triumph, but there was a streak of obstinacy in the make-up of the man that served as a brake, slowing down his ardour and helping him to control it. Cherry knew this. Deliberately she planned to release the drag for the sake of her own happiness. She chose the hour, a moonlight night, and the place—the garden. They were very close to each other in that moment. It was a night made for love-making if ever there was one. The magic of spring was in the air. For a time they paced in silence —a silence of sympathetic understanding. Cherry was the first to break the spell, only to cast another of Iter own choosing. “Toddy is nearly well now,” she remarked. “He could be moved at any “Please don’t burry. Glad to have him here.” ‘’Thank you. You have been very kind .... to both of us.” “I’ve enjoyed your company. And I’ve a new roof and chimney stack into the bargain.” “We’re still in your debt. It mounts daily. But I’m going back home on Saturday.” George stopped stock still and faced her. No longer was it a perfect night for him. Something darker than a cloud over the moon made the world suddenly seem very dreary. “Going!” he repeated. “Oh, but you can’t go—not yet.” “There is nothing to stop for.” “I—l thought you liked being here.’ “Of course I do. But 1 can’t stay with you for ever.” “Can’t you? No . . . . T suppose not. How I wish it were possible.” “Do you George?” She was speaking almost in a whisper, and he bent closer to her to hoar. “Yes.” That simple affirmative had an unrestrained warmth. “It will be very lonely when you have gone.” “Mrs. Pbibbs will look after you quite well.” “Don’t rot! You know what T mean. Since you came everything has been — different. When von <ro, it won’t be the same. Things will never lie the same again for me. How T shall miss you. On Saturday! It doesn’t seem possible. Only two more days, and then . . . .” “And then George?” Suddenly be was conscious of the catch in her voice. Tn the moonlight her face was a white blur but lie could see something glisten on her cheeks. “Why,” be murmured, “you’re crying.” “I’m afraid T am, a little. I’ve been

so happy these days. It’s peaceful and homely and—and you’re rather a dear you know.” With stern effort of will lie prevented himself from taking her in his arms and kissing the tears from her eyes. Only by reminding himself that she was aii heiress could he restrain himself. “Dm triad that you've been liappv,” he stammered. Some thin wisp of material appeared !n her hand. The gentle odour of the flower perfume she used was wafted to iiis nostrils. There was a heady, intoxicating quality about it never noticeable before. Cherry dabbed her eyes. She seemed to shrink closer to him as if grateful for the comforting touch of a hand laid sympathetically upon her arm. And how it happened neither of them could ever be tttre but she was nestling in the protecting shelter of his shoulder. Over the Golden Barrier. “Darling,” lie muttered, “you mustn’t fake it like this. We’ll meet again 50011 . . . . Oh, curse the money.” . Dver went the golden barrier. To-nior •ow it might be rebuilt. That night it was less substantial than the moonbeam*. ... “I love you. Cherry.” That was all that really mattered. “ But you’re so—so—unkind.”

“To you? No, that could never be. If I’ve stopped myself from telling you before, it is because I know what Jt means for a poor man to marry a wealthy girl. People talk. All sorts of unpleasant things come about. . . .” “You haven’t kissed me yet,” came a small voice, muted a little by the tiny perfumed handkerchief. His* fears and theories weighed little with Cherry. She was not prepared to take them into account at all. She was a woman, and love was the only thing that counted. Fate had thrown her into contact with the only man who ever really meant anything to her, and she was r.ot going to permit happiness to be snatched from her grasp without a struggle. “Let’s go and tell ,” she said at last. “Tell him what?” “That we’re engaged, of course, silly-. Haven’t you proposed and haven’t I accepted you?” Strictly speaking, nothing of the kind had occurred. Perhaps it rarely doc«» happen in a conventional sense. George said he supposed the case had been correctly stated. “But isn’t it usual to give a ring?” lie a*ked. “Well, yes, it is, dear. But I don’t suppose that is done at once. It will do some other time.” “No, it won’t. I’ve got one in the house that iwed to belong to my mother. It is the only tiling of hers I’ve got, and I expect it is very old-fashioned. Would you accept it?” The idea, to some girls,, would hate been offensive. But Cherry knew her George, knew the thought that lay behind this seemingly clumsy offer. Was ever a woman engaged on a second-hand ring? “That,” Cherry said in a subdued voice that surprised him, “that is the nicest compliment you could have paid me. 1 couldn’t ask anything moPc. Teddy will be frightfully thrilled.” Teddy was, or said he was. Whether he was really surprised is another matter. Being an intelligent young man with eyes to see and ears to hear and with plenty of time to observe what was going on around him, the growing romance eoukl hardly have escaped his attention. Grinning impishly, lie waved a hand in an airy gesture. “Bless you, my children. Didn’t I tell you this would happen as soon as you started bullying her? Keep it up and you’ll never have an unhappy moment in your lives.” Alone with his sitter, Teddy asked the inevitable question. “How on earth did you bring him up to scratch? George is disgustingly proud, if I mistake not, and don’t forget the Vance millions.” “As if I’m likely to,” Cherry sighed. “How do you imagine the old folks are going to take it?” “Easy. They’ll only be too glad to get me off their hands. It would be better if they raved and cut me off with a shilling. George wouldn’t have anything to worry about then.” “Except you. And that’s enough trouble for any man.” “Don’t rot, Teddy. I’m dreadfully serious, and money or no money, I’m decided about marrying George. “Atta g> r ß” murmured the irrepree* sible brother admiringly. (To be continued daily.)