SERIAL STORY “Judy Says No!”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 142, 18 June 1931, Page 12

SERIAL STORY “Judy Says No!”

(BY

WINIFRED CARTER.)

CHAPTER IX.— (Continued.) “Your grandfather Is looking for you," she said. Judy started and looked up. then her face clouded. She wanted no more lecturing. ‘‘lt's something about the singing lessons; they have been arranged for you." Listlessly she went. Her grandfather was disturbed at her sober face. A recollection of her that first morning came, not dressed so smartly, but with such Joy in her face, and such laughter in her eyes. Already the laughter was quenched, the soft, curved mouth was wistful. "I don’t want you to be miserable, child," he said, haltingly. She smiled and made as though to speak; but she was afraid she would cry again, so she turned and went out and down to the car. She forgot all about her sorrows and the fruitless fight she seemed to be waging on Nicholas's behalf during that singing lesson. Signor Farnovitch would have no slacking. He worked her tremendously hard, but she enjoyed it. There was a thrill about singing, a thrill about getting the best out of her voice. And though he growled at her and blazed away once or twice when he thought she was inattentive, at the finish he praised her. "Some day, if you work and give your mind to it, you will have a voice that will be worth using. It’s there. L’se your intelligence and the big thing will come. Promise you won’t let those social affaire come in to take your attention?" ‘‘l promise," said Judy earnestly. ‘‘Really and truly, though it wouldn’t be truthful to say I don’t like the good times I am having; yet when I sing it’s worth all tho rest put together.’’ "That’s the spirit that wins through; that’s the artist talking! Put your art first and everything else second and you’ll win through.” She went out of the hall where he gave his lessons heartened. The little market town was busy to-day, for it was market day. And Judy, utterly unconscious that she was doing anything that would displease her grandfather, told the chauffeur, who was waiting, that she would just like to take a walk round. He touched his hat and she went off. It was four o’clock, and many of the old market women had sold all their goods and gone away. But there were some stalls laden with flowers still. She bought a great armful of delphiniums. They reminded her of the Vicarage garden. There were asters and great, moonfaced dahlias, culled from cottage gardens. Then, feeling undoubtedly cheered, she set off back towards the waiting car. As she did so she saw a familiar figure on the other side of the road. Just for a moment, however, the face, so familiar, could not be placed, the name of the person evaded her. And then suddenly she remembered. Why, it was the girl Marion Jackson 1 Not dressed in the pretty pink gown of the dairy-maid any longer, but fashionably dressed in a very smart

nrinted silk frock. On her waved black hair one of the very latest, in hats was drawn well down. So smart was she that it S av « Ju . dy . ’’"‘J® shock to see her. She looked flashy and rather underbred, whereas in the field she had seemed a handsome, splendid creature. But now she seemed rather tawdry. And then something else became impressed on Judy's consciousness Coming down the High Street on that dilapidated old motor cycle was Nicholas Harmer. In the equally dllapi dated old sidecar, which Judy had not seen before, was a crate wNch held half a dosen ducks which Nick had evidently bought from one of the stall keepers. The ducks w ere making a great hullabaloo, as though expostulating at this method of being conveyed to their new home. Nicholas's face was scarlet. It was impossible for people not to stare, to. the ducks were better than any motor hooter could have been. Judy, holding up her armful of flowers so that she could not be seen, stood still for a moment watching. Poor Nicholas! What an ordeal for him. Oh. dear, she did wish that he wasn't so angry with her She would have liked to have gone down to-morrow and seen where he had housed the ducks, and find out ( the White Wyandottes and While .eghorns had appeared, and If any t them had stalled to iay yet. Ynd upon that, moment she reeolcted all the bother that had occurred etween Marlon Jackson and Nicholas Jhat a doubly awkward moment I icholas was coming very slowly own the High Street—he dared not o quickly because of the quacking ucks. Ami there on Ihe sidewalk wa. ne girl. It was impossible for them ot to see each other I Just as though fate was against Nicholas, as he came up to Marion lackson the machine began to sp.l uni expostulate. With a groan of irritation Nicholas jumped down, well iwaro that he had run out of pelfol. ,te had meant to get a fill up while in town but had forgotten upon seeing 1 tho ducks and realising that they were I going cheaply. . i ' Judy held her breath as M arlon I Jackson looked al Nicholas. NlclK ' la ’ I stared straight at the girl. He did I not speak; he turned back as though hB did not recognise Her, and un- | screwed the petrol cap. . . • the i girl too, though she had given Nicholas a pert stare, did not recognise him. If that Judy was sure. Watching it all Judy was absolutely paralysed with astonishment. What did it mean The Out Direct. ludy stood there, her head on one ilde., her eyes filled witli doubt. No, ho would not ask Clive. Afl ® r all- - was hardly to be expected that a nan who had hoped lie would inherit vould merely wish the other man to be entirely reinstated. I er ' iaps 9h ’, had expected 100 much of Clive At any rale, he had done his best and failed Now she herself must set to work to get the truth disclosed the real truth and nothing but the truth. Just then Nicholas, having tilled up his petrol tank, started up the machine again and mounted. Now he saw Tndv standing there Flaring at him. Distantly a rather rueful smile flashed “to hl. face. He would have prefened that she should not have seen him in that awkward predicamel .. Tti» ducks, subsiding somewhat, Aill

kept up a dulcet quacking. Not that Ihe little town was unused to such i scenes. A cattle market every Mondiy meant that sheep and cattle went backwards and forwards often enough, together with clucking fowls and expostulating geese and ducks pennY'd behind comfortable fanners i and their wives. Still, Nick wc ild I have preferred Judy not to catch him quite like that. I And then suddenly he remembered and the smile froze, to be replaced b? a cold stare. Judy had stepped for ward eagerly.

“Oh, Nick, I am thrilled! So yoi are going in for ducks? I do hope they lay well. We had them once You must remember to keep them in until they have laid, or they’ll drop al their eggs in the pond; they are perfect fiends for that."

He did not answer her, and Jud} drew back in dismay at the, cold stare How could he be so unkind as to look at her like that? Was he never going to speak to her or let her speak to him?

The next moment the motor cycle rattled off down the street, leaving her standing staring after it. With a sigh Judy went back to the car. It was too bad of Nicholas to judge her without giving her a chance. S’he could see that he believed that sh? had deliberately come intending to take his place, and it wasn’t just or right. She was at least giving hin the benefit of the doubt.

Her lips quivered as she sank int< the comfortable depths of the car. Arriving back, she had to face th* music. Her grandfather questions her closely as to what had happened And when she told him that she hat gone round the market square he wa. 1 vexed. She was amazed at this dis play of temper. “If you don’t want me to send Mn Crawford with you every time you g> out you will obey me to the letter Judy,” he said irascibly. “Well, I like that, grandfather,’ said Judy indignantly. “It’s as ba< as being in a prison if I can’t do wha. I feel I want to. At home Dad allowet. us to come and go as we liked." “It’s different now. You forge’, that you are nominally my heiress.’’ “If that means being bound hand and foot then it’s not a very pleasant position," said Judy dubiously.

She went out and up to her room There was a great deal of red tap< about this business, she thought. I was one thing being Judy Warrender one of the Vicar’s numerous brood and quite another being the selecteheiress to Henry Harmer’s large fortune. Perhaps she was not the on!? one who has seen that with adder treasure comes added responsibility. To her astonishment, as she wa> going down for dinner Clive jumped out on her and caught her in his arms.

“Darling," he said eagerly, "where have you been all day?" “I say, Clive," said Judy in a startled voice, “please!" For his arms were round her, and if she were not careful the next moment he would be kissing her. She saw his determination, in his eyes.

“Well, we are as good as engaged, aren’t we?” he said cheerfully. “Indeed we are not,” said Judy. I am engaged to no one. I’d have to be a great deal more sure that I care for a man before I become engaged." “Don’t be ridiculous, Judy,” he said teasingly. "You and I were made for each other. We love each other; that’s good enough for me.” “You may mean that you love me, said Judy; “but you don't seem to realise that it takes two to make that sort of a bargain." Just then Mrs Crawford joined them. . , .. “My dear Judy,” she said sweetly, “Clive has been telling me your happy secret. My dear, you have made me very happy, and incidentally you have righted a wrong.” “I don’t understand, said Judy, blinking a little. This was rather too swift for her. “Well, my dear, your grandfather as good as promised that Clive should be his heir. Now everything will be all right, because, don’t you see, you will come into everything that your grandfather has. and incidentally Clive will come into the good things too. ’ “I see,” said Judy thoughtfully. “Still. 1 haven’t accepted Clive.” The firmness in her voice showed that she meant it too. She was very, quiet during dinner, so quiet tliat her grandfather wondered if his reprimand had wounded the child. Consequently he set about being as charming as ho could, and in the end won a smile from Judy. His manner, so different from the everyday, only proved to Clive and Mrs Mrs Crawford how wise Clive had been to get some sort of a hold on Judy. There was no doubt about it Henry Harmer had never been as fond of anyone in his life as he was of Judy. Mrs Crawford wished that Clive could have persuaded Judy to be properly engaged. Naturally this took a little doing, but no one could resist Clive for long, of that she was sure, especially such a little country girl as Judv was. When Clive had had a little more time to bring the battery of his fascinations to bear there was no doubt about it that she. would succumb. But it would have been so much more satisfactory to have got the girl really in love. Judy, however, was thinking very little about any of them. Her mind was with that scene in the High Street of Bridgeways. That girl and Nick! They had not recognised each other! How could she really get at the truth? Then an idea came to her, and later Uli, when they went Into the drawingroom, she stole across to Enid. “1 say, Enid. 1 want to ask you a favour,” she said falteringly. it is something you will want to bite my head off for asking you. but please try and realise I want it for some very big purpose. Have you got a photograph of Nicholas?" “Why, yes," said Enid, looking at her coldly. "Please let me have it. I want It frightfully, f will give it you back in a day or two.” "You needn't think I haven't heard about you going and seeing Nicholas," said Enid frigidly. "I don't think It’s a very nice thing for you to do, Judy. Certainly I shan’t give you a photograph." (To he «»ntia«d.i