SERIAL STORY “Judy Says No!”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 141, 17 June 1931, Page 12

SERIAL STORY “Judy Says No!”

(BY

WINIFRED CARTER.)

CHAPTER IN. Flashing Eyes. And then she remembered Nick's face and the flash of his eyes and the set of his young mouth. What were all the proofs in the world against that? And presently Clive found her. He was very gentle, wiping away her tears and soothing her just as though he were a brother. “We don't understand what happened indoors, but Mr Harmer is in a tearing rage about something.” “Don't let us talk about it,” said Judy quiveringly. “I had an answer to my letter today. I wonder if you would like to know what it says?” He looked at her tentatively. His mother had told him a little of what hap been happening, and Clive had jumped to the conclusion that it was Nicholas whom Judy had been meeting. He was thankful that his mother had put the old man on the warpath. It was not part of Clive's plan that Judy should have anything to do with Nicholas. “Does it help us at all?” said Judy. The eyes that were tear-washed looked bluer than ever in the morning light. The vaguest suspicion of a thrill passed through Clive. Blase man of the world though he was, there was something fresh and dewy about Judy, and she had her enthusiasm which could be rather attractive to a man who had long lost real zest. At thirty Clive Crawford had sampled most things. But he had not sampled the thrill that came from association with a perfectly innocent, good-hearted creature such as Judy was. “I am afraid it will be a disappointment,” he said haltingly. “Then 1 don't want to hear it,” she said fiercely. “Better hear it, Judy. I think after this we shall have to give it up. It seems to me that our pact has done nothing but prove Mr Harmer in the right.” “Read me the letter,” she said. And out there In the orchard, with the laden fruit trees round her. and the sky above so blue that it almost hurt to look at it, it was so beautiful, Judy heard the crushing facts. “Dear Sir, —You write to ask me if Nicholas Harmer was at the card party I held at my house on the 25th of April. And though I cannot think why you want this information I can also see no reason why I should withhold it. Mr Nicholas Harmer was here. He also made considerable card losses, and before we retired I believe owed a very large sum of money to one erf the guests, which he paid by cheque. 1 have every reason to believe that the cheque was I honoured. I am. dear sir. Yours faithfully, A. VENTRIS.” He looked up at Judy. “1 did not write to Mr Ventris myself. I got a solicitor from Bridgeways to draft a letter. That’s why the answer is so stilted. I thought it better that we should keep out of it.” “I see." said Judy. "Then that letter means that Nicholas was at the card party, that he did forge the •heque? That everything is as grandfather thinks it is?” “I am afraid so, Judy,” said Clive Crawford sympathetically. “Fond though I am of Nicholas, and anxious for him to be reinstated. 1 am afraid that Mr Harmer's views on the subject are only too correct. I am deeply grieved that 1 think he was justified m his actions.” "You mean that in disinheriting Nicholas he did the right thing?” “Don't make me say it, Judy,” said Clive in a stifled voice. “After all, Henry Harmer is only human, and he wants his property to go to someone who has as keen a sense of honour as he has himself. If the property was yours would you want to leave it to someone who would commit forgery and bet, and play fast and loose with a country girl’s heart?” . “You're right,” said Judy.

She dissolved into tears again. “AH the same, I wish I had never come.. I have never been so miserable in my life—never.” And suddenly Clive’s arms were round her. “Dear little Judy,” he whispered, let me comfort you. It breaks my heart to sec you so unhappy.” “H's good of you to mind, Clive,” Jio said, sobbing abandonedly against its coat. “Judy, give me the right always + o •onifort you.” he whispered. “Why, of course you have the right, i am glad if you would.” said Judy, looking up from her handkerchief and gazing at him in astonishment. “I meant something nearer, dearer, Judy. Haven't you seen how it has been with me? Just, al first I was hurl, and wounded, but that was the way Mr Harmer introduced you. And then that night 1 realised that. I had never met. a girl like you before. 1 have met heaps of girls, Judy, girls 1 have taken a fancy to, but not one that I loved, Judy; tell me that you care a little, too." "Do you mean that you love me and want, to marry me?” said Judy in a startled voice. “Is it so surprising. Judy? Hasn't anvone told you (hat before?” “Oti. yes,” said Judy with astonishing swiftness. He frowned at that. He had thought the little country girl would be quite unused to such happenings as proposals. “So 1 am too late?” he said. “I am not engaged. 1 am not in love with anyone. I don't think I am even in love with you, Clive, but I hank you for being kind." “Don't say you are going to refuse me,” said Clive anxiously. “Oh. Judy, you don’t know what it means to me; you can't.” “But you have only just met. m° We haven't known each other for more than a few weeks. It can't be that you care.” “Have you never known what it was to see someone that you have felt as though you have known for years?” Judy nodded. Yes, she had felt like that. Not towards Clive. She remembered being flung right into the arms of Nicholas in the railway carriage, and thinking that it was odd they were strangers, she felt so friendly towards hini;

“Well, it was .just like that when I met you. Something here gave a leap, almost, as though it would come out of my body. You stole rny hear* right enough. Judy,* that, first night Judy, don’t, say no. Think It over. He took her hand and lifted It to his lips. “I won’t let you say no,” h said. Judy would have thought a good deal more about Clive's proposal had it not been that she had 'become s used to Gilbert Dean perpetually say ing: “Will you marry me. Judy?"

But when she got inside she be came aware that .there was an ai of tension about the house. Mrs Crawford, secretly delighted at th success of her acquainting Henry Har mer with the fact that Judy was talk ing to a strange young man, wanevertheless walking delicately, because she wtls not a little scared o Henry Barmer in his present mood.

Like a bear with a sore head h‘ had come inside, fuming and raging. The whole household was immediate! on tenterhooks, terrified for the squall that was imminent. But the letters had come, and Judy had forgottei everything in revelling in a long screed from home. There was one from her father.

“My darling,—Your letters have reassured us. Be happy, that is all I care about, for I know you wil be good, Judy. If anything happens there that truly upsets yx>u, come home. Remember tihat nothing counts but your welfare to us When you had gone, Judy, I asked myself if I had done right, to le you go alone. After all you are our darling Judy, and no one and nothing can make up to us for your loss. Money and the good things that -money can buy count so litth when the one we love so dearly has gone. It sounds trite to call you our ray of sunshine, tout indeed that’s what you are. God bless, you my little girl. “Your loving Father.” She kissed that letter rapturously, and then turned to Patricia’s. “Judy, dear girl,—l read between the lines of your letters and I am not so sure that you are as happy as you make out. Is that Mrs Crawford nice to you? It makes me wretched thinking that anyone can be unkind. Of course I under stand the position, but there is onthing I don’t understand. Why doesn’t that Clive do some honest work and Enid too? It seems tc me that they are wasting their lives. From what you tell me about Nicholas I don’t think he is the black sheep they make out, and I am glad you are setting about to find out the ru’th. Darling, I may be quite wrong, but I don’t like the sound of Clive Crawford. Be quite sure he means to help you. Fron your letter it seems to me it would be to his advantage for Nicholas to be kept out of favour. I may be prejudiced, but you know I have always had a bit of Scotch second sight, and I don't somehow take to Clive, so I am warning you to sift everything he says and does. You musn’t take them all at face value, because, though I am not much older than you. Judy I do know that we have all lived a very unsophisticated life down here. Dad’s training Is unworldly, but people in the big world outside are not necessarily to be judged by our standards. There are people who would do wrong in the hope of gaining something. We know that they have got it all wrong. But I have got a horrid feeling about you, that you ere in some sort of danger. . . . je may ne just knowing that you are away from home. I haven't said a word to dad. He wanders about like a lost soul. I suppose all the lime all that is really happening is that we miss you. You would think in a 'big family such as ours that, one couldn’t make such a blank at parting. Judy—O, al! the gold of Golconda doesn’t makf up for your absence. I don’t think we shall any of us stick it for sb months, so you had better hurry up and make grandfather so tired ol you that he sends you back to us We’ll welcome you with open arms "Your loving s-lster, “Pat. ‘‘P.S.—Gilbert is always coming over to see if there is any news from you. He has got a new horseman, and I believe he’ll leave him in charge and pop over one of these fine days. Is it going to be any good? I don't think he ought to be encouraged unless there is some hope for him. Frankly Judy, old girl, I hoped you would marry Gilbert and settle down near the Vicarage. I am uneasy at you being so far away.” There were two other P S 's. One from Rob and the other from Aggie. And there were crosses from the little girl Daphne and Peter. Beading them made Judy first dimple up with happiness, and then sigh. Darling Pat. thinking she was in danger: She did not understand! And then Judy sat down and thought very seriously about Clive. It was no good saying that one could count all Patricia’s fears as foolish. Often in the past Patricia had sensed things and given a warning that had been invaluable. ou couldn't ignore Pat’s curious intuitions. As for her judging of people, Judy went by her heart, but Pat had an added sense, and she had never been wrong yet in her diagnosis of anyone's character. “But. she has not even met. Clive,” thought Judy. Stilt, once before a visitor who had been coming to the Vicarage, recommended by the lay reader, had turned out to be a charlatan and a doubtful character. And even before he had arrived on Ihe scene Pat had been dubious. "What on earth would Pa! if she knew he had proposed to me? Would she begin to tliink he had mercenary motives?" The thought startled Judy, because it. had never entered into her head before. What would say when she knew that Nick hated her? Tears came in a Hood, aud while she was so engrossed Enid came into the. room, a novel under her arm. She frowned superciliously at JUdy sitting hunched up there in* the window seat reading, so oblivious to the world Cfw be conUnwedU.