“The Double Problem.”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 222, 19 September 1936, Page 14

“The Double Problem.”

SERIAL STORY

( By

FRANCIS BROWN)

(Chapter V Continued.) | .. And how docs married life agree with you, Nada? You know I have not seen you since the happy day, have J? Just a year ago! Imagine it, Nada—l am being married on the anniversary of your wedding day.” Nada’s face clouded. If I thought your marriage was going to prove as big a failure as mine. Miss, I should go down on my bended knees and beg you to pause before it was too late!” There was a passion of sullen resentment in the girl's tones—a curious bitterness that made Natalie look at her in wondering surprise. Evidently William Bradley was proving himself a brute, was the thought that leapt naturally to her mind. What a shame I “Oh!” she breathed, with a quick movement of sympathy, *• I'm so sorry, Nada! is he cruel io you?” Mrs William Bradley gazed at her former mistress with an expression near akin to pity. “Cruel!” she echoed as contemptuously as she dared- " William cruel! Why he worships the very ground 1 tread one—lie never keeps me short of money—he loads me with presents whenever he can afford it—he—he—l beliexe he’d commit any crime under the sun if he thought it would benefit me—he—oh dear! no, miss, he's not cruel ” "Then what is it that's wrong?" queried Natalie, innocently. r lhe pity in Nada's eyes grew. “Well, miss, 1 don't”—scathingly —“ want a door-mat for a busband, I want a man. I’ve no use for a weak, puling, sickly, servile- creature. I'd far rather have a man who'd lake me by the hair and swing me round like they used to do In the what-you-may-call-il ages—you know, miss?” Nalalie fell back in weak laughter. “ Why, Nada, }ou little savage!” she exclaimed after she had recov- | cred. " Whatever are you thinking of?” Then glimpsing something dangerously like tears in the other's eyes she became suddenly grave. "You foolish girl!” she chided. ‘Are good men so plentiful that you ean afford Io despise, one of them?” Nada shrugged in the old disdainful way. For a moment she had forgotten Natalie's presence, she was visualising William as she. invariably saw him. But how could Miss Natalie understand? She was marrying a nan—not, a. fool! With the. arrival of the breakfast "ay Nada rose to go, 'but lingered unit the maid had left the room. As oon as the door had closed she cast . quick eye over the contents of the ray. “ They've, forgotten your toast, liss-” A second iater she was culling slices '•om a crisp home-made loaf and 'olding them one by one in front of he gas fire until they were beautifully u-own and crisp. “ H's like old times, Nada,” smiled • atahe. "he never been quite so • ell wailed on since you left me." The girl’s dark eyes glowed. Praise •om her former mistress was as Inense in her nostrils. I must be going now, Miss.” she aid. after she had duly inspected and dmireti th© wedding gown. - Wilarn may be going away on business or a day or two and 1 have to pack iis things, but I shall be at church .0 see you married.” She walked to the door, opened it and hesitated. There was something wistful in the backward glance she ■ast at Natalie—something that made he latter move swiftly forward and Jss the scarlet quivering mouth of the ;irl who had been married a year ago. " I believe you'll be happy yet, dear,” Natalie said, " as happy as I hope to be. and 1 believe, nay. I'm almost sure, that some day William will prove himself the man you've always ioped for.” CHAPTER VI Something Terrible Has Happened. \t two o'clock Natalie was standing before a long cheval glass gazing with shy pleasure at the image it reflectedHer bridal veil, a priceless piece of work which had been lent for the occasion by Geoffrey's mother, was caught from her face by a spray of orange blossom secured by a diamond pin. Apart, from this she wore no ornament. The pin was a present from Geoffrey, as was also a large ivory | prayer book she was to carry in place of the usual bouquet of flowers. From the charming reflection of her face she glanced swiftly and with that same shy look in her eyes at her slender ringless fingers. Soon, she mused; there would ‘be a golden badge on one of them that would hind her for ever Io the man she loved. With a happy sigh she turned from the mirror and began pacing the room slowly backwards and forwards. Now that she was ready, it seemed an interminable time until two-lhirty, which was the hour fixed for the ceremony at a fashionable West End church. She had begun to wish she had delayed her toilet. It would at any rale have helped to pass away the time. Five minutes past two. \nolher fifteen minutes before she would enter the taxi that was to lake her to Geof - frey. He would be on his way to the church now. She wondered if he was feeling as nervous, and a deliciously, deliriously happy as she was? A beautiful, tender smile irradiated her face at the thought, and it still shone In her eyes when th© door opened to admit the aunt who had mothered her nearly al! her life-

Miss ’Trench shut ths door and looked it. hut Natalie was. too engrossed in her own happiness to notice the action, or that as her aunt moved forward her handsome features worn a harassed look, that her eyes were grave and troubled; neither did she notice that she was breathing rapidly as though under stress of some hidden emotion. Natalie, blisssfuliy unconscious ot the shadow that, threatened, performed a graceful pirouette. "How do I look, aunt?" she demanded gaily, and with one foot poised mid-air, waited with a. coquettish smile for the elder woman's verdict.

Instead of replying. Miss Trench look her niece's hands in a close firm clasp and led her In lhe couch. 11 almost seemed as though she were clinging Io lhe girl for support. “ 1 came tn 1 p|| you, my dear," she said at last, speaking slowly and wllli difficulty, " that Bruce Chesson is downslairs." "Bruce Chesson?” echoed Natalie blandly, “bul. why?—oughtn’t he to be in church with Geoffrey?” She looked lhe ‘bewilderment she fell. The shadow llial. threatened had not materialised; as yet no thouglil. that anything could happen Io mar Hip. perfect happiness of a perfect day bad crossed her mind. Miss Trench cleared her Ihroal. Of course he ought, my dear,” she replied, “ of course he ought—if • —if Geoffrey were there loo; but he isn't.” And relaxing the grasp on her niece's hands she sank back on a pile of cushions ami hoped she had made lhe situation clear. She watched lhe girl’s cheeks whiten, she saw the golden-brown eyes darken with a swift, questioning' look of fear, she noted one slim hand grasp spasmodically a fold of lhe snowy wedding gown; and lhe maternal instinct that had ever been strong in the breast of Christabel Trench made her lean forward impulsively and clasp Natalie in her arms. But Natalie, pushing her gently away, rose Io her feet and stood looking -down on her in stricken silenceHer eyes showed almost, black against j lhe pallor of her face; her girlish I figure in the graceful bridal robes was lense and rigid under the shock Lbal bad fallen. Her hand was still crushing the dainty satin. She looked like a frozen statue. And a moment ago she had been Instinct wilh life, brimful of happiness, never dreaming that aught should come between her and Geoffrey “Lord and Lady Claxers are both downslairs,” quavered Miss Trench, lowering her eyes swiftly after one glance al. Hip mask-like face " I wanlpd Lady Clavprs to IpII you; but —she emphatically refused; so—so. my dear, I had Io ” "To lell me—what?” demanded Natalie stonily. As she forced the question through stiff dry lips she wondered if it were really herself speaking. Her voice sounded so far away and strange. , - Once more Miss Trench cleared her ihroal. " \\ ell, my dear—Geoffrey was certainly not where he ought, to have been ten minutes ago, in church; and this is the, serious part of it —his man Bales says he has not seen him since a quarter to ten last night-” "Since a quarter Io len last, night?" repealed Natalie dully. "Then—where did he go?—and—and why wasn’t I told sooner?” Miss Trench gave her a quick look of sympathy. ■' I only knew myself twenty minutes ago when Lord and Lady claxers and Bruce Chesson came:—and, as to wher.i Geoffrey went last night—well, no one knows!” “Why didn't they come sooner?” " W ell, my dear, il’s only natural when you come to think of it. You sap, Bales let. them know the, very fust thing this morning that Geffrey had stayed out all night. Bates was really more agitated over lhe fact than lhey werp. They simplj concluded that Geoffrey spent lhe rest or lhe evening and the early hours of the morning with some bachelor friends to celebrate lhe coming event, and that he would certainly turn up eventi.idl'y. But Bales cannot be persuaded to lake a similar view. He has somehow got il into his head that something has happened to Geoffrey and the, poor fellow is in an awful way.” Natali?, looked down on her aunt wilh eyes that were feverishly bright. “ Yes.” she said. " Bates is right, somelhing has happened to Geoffrey— I know it —he wouldn’t have failed me otherwise ” “ Don't, be absurd. Natalie," interposed her aunt sharply. ” What, could possibly happen to a strong | healthy young fellow like Geoffrew except ” She broke off abruptly and Natalie smiled, a curiously twisted smile suggestive of pity and superior knowledge. "Ah! —I know whal you're think ing. Aunt Christabel,” she said “ You're thinking that. Geoffrey has made a night, of it—that he's not. in ' a fit condition to meet meal the altar) 1.0-day; that —but what's the good of! talking? I"—with a fierce gesture—“know differently. ] know that it's somelhing else that keeps him from 1 me to-day. Do you think ” —proudly —"that, he would force me into such a position if he could possibly help il? \'o! Bales is right—somelhing terrible has happened Io Geoffrey—l know il !” •Miss Trench looked helplessly towards a small French clock that was Licking away on the mantel. "There’s still time for you Io be married if Geoffrey turns up: ami in that, case 1 left directions that, wa j were to be telephoned at once.” j Natalie smiled again—a smile that j went Io her aunt’s heart. To her dy- ■ ing day she never forgo! it or the j tragic look on the girl’s face. She crept noiselessly In lhe door. ” I’ll come again in five minutes,” she said, looking back on the thresh- 1 old. j Natalie nodded, bul made no move-; ment- And when Miss Trench returned' she was still standing in the same altitude with the same frozen look on her face gazing fixedly into space. The elder woman laid a gentle hand on her arm. It will be all right.” she said—' ■‘you’ll see—Geoffrey will come soon;! it only means a—a delay—” “ 1 delay?” echoed Natalie, and herlip curled, whilst into her eyes lher&i crept that same pitying superior smile, i A delay?—do you think that Geof-j frey would insult me? No —Aunt; Christabel —there will be no wedding! to-day, or for many days to coine. He I is either very ill or—or dead—nothing else would keep him from me j n—olliing—” rrc be continued.)