“Judy Says No!”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 140, 16 June 1931, Page 12

“Judy Says No!”

SERIAL STORY

(BY'

WINIFRED CARTER.)

CHAPTER Vlll.—(Continues.) "That’s what. I thought,’’ said Judy, shaking her head In bewilderment, because how could one explain what that girl had said yesterday with this? And yet she was convinced that it was Nicholas who spoke the truth. "I don’t know why you should want to know,’’ he said. "Because I feel you are my friend. All the way through It has been as though you and I were bound to know something of each other. You made things better for me here.’’ "I expect It has been a hit horrid, you poor little kid,” he said, with sudden interest In his eyes. “Coming from home where everyone cares for you to a place like this must have been difficult. I say, has old Rapson been good to you? I told her we'd met, and told her about the incident in the train. I \ws sure when she knew she’d be good to you.” "Yes, thank you, she has been very kind,” said Judy, and she hesitated. Now was the time to tell ; him who she was. She would explain that she hadn’t come to take his place. She would let him know that she liked him very much indeed. The great eyes were fixed on his face. How handsome he was! Never had she seen anybody with that physique. She liked the proud defiance of his look; she liked his attitude to life. How many men would have taken that knockdown blow that, he had received In this manner? He was putting his shoulder to the wheel. He was going to fight and make good. The thought of the poultry that was coming that day hurt her almost to tears. Somehow or other Nicholas Harmer would forge his own way, and be the better man for all the trouble and trials he had gone through. Surely it would help him to know that he had a friend at court? That she liked him and wanted to do all she could for him. "There is something I have got to tell you,’’ she said. "A confession?” He was laughing now'. "I don't suppose that you have done anything that, you oughtn’t to have done all your life. By the way, I noticed that the traps have gone. However did you manage it?” "I showed my foot.” “Jolly good scheme,” said Nicholas, admiringly. “I’d not have thought of that. You’re a bit of a magician, you know'. The old man is very keen on his shooting rights. He is a magistrate, too, you know. They all fear him round here. But you seem to have got the right side of him.” "There’s a reason for that,” said Judy in a low voice. "How do you mean?” said Nicholas interestedly. "It’s a bit of a long story. Once upon a time my mother ran away from home and married a poor man. Her father cast her off because of that, and all those years they never met. Then mother died and father w-as left with us six, something of a family to bring up! And then all of a sudden mother’s father thought of his daughter and of -the family she had left behind. He sent a message ,'hat one of them was to return, and if she would he would do things for the others. 'She did not want to go. that gin, nut sne naa been caned after her grandfather’s wife, her own grandmother.” "I understand,” said Nicholas, wondering where the tale was taking him tfl. "She wont for the sake of the others. She did not really care for the things that money could buy. She wasn’t very old, but she had learned that much, that to be happy was the chief thing. It almost broke her heart when she had to leave.”

"So that’s where you were going that day, that was why everyone seemed so unwilling to let you go?” "Yes, they knew I was going to the ogre's palace.” Still he did not understand. ,l And did you find the ogre’s palace very bad?” “Not so bad. She learned something there that hurt her. Nicholas, don’t you understand?” At that moment a harsh voice broke the silence. “So 'there yon are I What’s the Idea of this, Judy? Creeping out in the early morning and sneaking out here like this. Come and account for your actions.” Very slowly Judy got to her feet. She turned and faced the angry, irate old man. Over the hedge she caught sight of his face, twisted with fury, believing, as usual, the worst. “Grandfather,” she said clearly, "please don’t say something that you will be sorry for.” “Don't you dare to dictate to me, madam,” he said, shaking with wrath. “How dare you creep out like this and come here?" While he was talking he was walking to the wicket gate, and now he had opened it and stormed into the peaceful little garden. For a moment there was dead silence ns Henry Harmer and Nicholas, the disinherited one, came face to face. A thrush on a bush trilled out. a heavenly lay. In the fields nearby a lark shot up Into the blue, pouring out a flood of melody; the Alderney lowed close at hand; harmony everywhere, an exquisite peace flooding the earth. But hale welling up, and fierce pride, and enmity in the hearts of men. "So you are the man who bought this place?" “Rented it,” said Nicholas Harmer, grimly. “To be an eyesore to me! You knew it would anger and irritate me and that’s why you did it.” "I did it because I wanted to try my own hand at making good,” fumed Nicholas. “And not. content with that you have wheedled Judy here." “Not wheedled, grandfather. ’ said Judy indignantly. “This is lhe man who helped me when we had that, fcident on the railway. It was he \ho found me when my ankle was lught in the trap. 1 did not. know ill that morning that, he was Nicholas farmer.” “But I suppose he knew you were ludy Warrender? 1 suppose he knew that you were the girl who was to inherit in his stead? Meant to get round you. did he? He imagined that if he could win your heart he might walk into the old man's possessions after aIL“

“Oh. grandfather," said Judy miserably, "how can you say such a thing? He never even knew that I was Judy Warrender. It was my fault. I let. him think I was a servant up at the big house. I did not want him to know who I was, because I thought he would hate me." » Nicholas Harmer turned and looked at Judy. She stood there crestfallen, her shoulders drooping, her eyes filled with dismay. "Judy Warrender 1” he said. “Judy Warrender!” “Well, there’s one thing about It, young woman,” said Henry Harmer, savagely. "I utterly forbid you to have anything more to do with him! As long as you stay under my roof you obey me. And I’ll not have you speak another word to Nicholas Harmer. He’s an out-and-out rotter, and I don't intend you to know him.” “Grandfather, please,” said Judy wildly. "Don't bother to make a scene, Miss Warrender,” said Nicholas in a low, sarcastic voice. "Really, there Is no need to trouble I” Then he turned back and faced his grandfather; his eyes were blazing, his hands clenched. “There is no need for you to worry, sir,” he said furiously. “I wouldn’t speak to her again for anything on earth. No power could persuade me to say another word to your granddaughter!" Quietly, deliberately, he moved to the wicket-gate and opened It. “Good-morning.” Feeling utterly heart-broken Judy went through. She gave him one look, her eyes piteous, but he was staring straight ahead. Nicholas Harmer meant what he said. At Daggers Drawn. Judy looked at the hard young face as she passed, one last look. He would never forgive her for the deception. He believed she was against him even as the others were. The uttermost desolation fell on her soul. Nothing like it had happened ever since her mother had died. Thai grief had been bitter, inconsolate, but at least she had had the others round her. But now she had wounded Nicholas to the very depths, and there was nothing she could say to erase it. She walked alongside the irate old man. Henry Harmer’s face was purple with indignation. The veins had swelled on his forehead, and the bushy brows were drawn together in a thick, unyielding line. “The young scapegrace,” he muttered irascibly, “to go and settle himself at my very door, to be an eyesore.” “Indeed that’s not true, grandfather,” said Judy with spirit. “He is going to make good on his own, going to prove you're all wrong about him.” “Don’t answer me, miss!” said her grandfather savagely. “You have disobeyed me. You know I won’t even have his name mentioned, and yet you go and carry on a clandestine affair K '“ v * , pd my backl” “Don't you dare any that, grandfather!” said Judy, with a stamp of her foot. "You knew everything that went on. It was just his name you didn’t know, and 1 didn’t know that myself until after he had saved me from the trap. And when I did know who he was I knew you had been wrong. I am not afraid to tell you that you are mistaken. Whatever proofs you have got I am convinced you are wrong, for Nicholas Harmer is straight, and honest, and true.” "A silly sentimental girl’s opinion, of what value is that?” She turned away desolately, a tear trickling down her cheek. She was utterly forlorn. Things had gone awry. He never wanted to see her again. What had he said? No power on earth would make him speak to her again. The only real friend that she had, and that friendship was broken 1 “You understand that I utterly forbid you to go there again?” growled out her grandfather as they reached lhe little white gale that led into the grounds of Harmer House. “I understand,” said Judy. “And you are going to obey me?” “Nicholas said he did not want to see me. How can I go?” “And if you meet him in the street, cut him,” flashed out her grandfather “You understand?” “I don’t think he will ever take any more notice of me. He Is disappointed in me, thinks I deceived him wilfully, and all the time I was only trying to find proofs that he was innocent.” Just for a moment the old man’s hard face softened. “Take an old man’s word for it, my dear. There are many handsome scoundrels in this world. Nicholas is handsome. He has got round you with his clever tongue, but do you think that I would be mistaken? I am quite sure things were as I said, before I faced him. It was a bitterer blow to me than to you, when 1 knew Nichalos was a blackguard.” She looked at him fiercely; the light in her eyes wilful, rebellious. “I don’t believe you were sure. You couldn’t be sure.” “1 was sure, I tell you,” he snarled. "Come up to my room after breakfast and I’ll give you chapter and verse After that, understand me, you must abide by my decision. No more communicating with Nicholas.” She broke away and ran down Into lhe garden sobbing. Over the emerald green lawn, past the Little Dutch garden. never noticing the swimming pool that lay cool and green to the left of her. Now she was in the orchard, huddled up on lhe bole of a gnarled old apple tree; Judy wept bitterly, for broken hopes and lost ideals. (To be