“The Shadow Of The Verneside.”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 281, 27 November 1936, Page 12

“The Shadow Of The Verneside.”

NEW SERIAL STORY . . .

By

Verne’drew her close to him. “ I’m sure it must be another ■wedding gift.” she went on. ‘ and on, Maurice I don’t want any more. • ow that I have you nothing else matters. “My dear little girl.” lie returned, kissing her tenderly, “all ’ ,os ® horrors are past for ever. "‘ ia open the parcel for you’She assented with a smile am turned away as he cut the string, the paper crinkled and there was a tantalizing pause. She wheeled io And herself caught up in his arni» •nd covered with kisses. “Little fraud!’’ he said fondly. “You’re full of curiosity after all. Now look.” He released her and motioned to the mantelpiece. There on the creamy shelf, her rich colouring and graceful outlines reflected In the mirror behind, stood the K'wang Yin Goddess. Joy clasped her hands together with * little cry of delight. “The goddess!” she cried with shining eyes. ** Oh. my dear, nu dear, how very beautiful ’. But where did it come from?” Verne handed her a paper lie had taken from the box ami she. read • loud: “To my dear friend, Joy Hartington, on her wedding day, a giit which I am honoured to restore to tier family. May it bring to her good fortune and happiness. She recognized Gustav Tully’s stiff writing. “ It has brought good fortune already,” she said. “It came just in time to give me my own true. lo\eback again. Oh, Maurice, 1 love you eo deeply that sometimes I t p el > nu cannot be real.” Verne drew her down into the big chair beside him and her sunny head rested on his shoulder. , “We will always have the little Goddess to bring us luck, sweetheart. Just think, the K’Wang Y'in has cmne to you again after all these years ; I ■ Is like a gift from your dead There were tears mi •!“> s lasn ?. “ It was her dearest possession and Fhall cherish it always. And il was your mother’s too far a time. deal. A maid tapped at the dom. “ Your boxes have arrived. uh■, dam.” she said with a curlescy. ■ r ° “ Whal ? Leaving m p a finery, sweetheartcried \erm-. tu- • ing io draw her barn. I sa>. i called after the retiring maid, ‘ aren we going to have any lea. -Serve it in the little the garden. >"ra,” pul in .my. >■ broke away from Verne and made tot the door. Nancy had been told lo send only the things that Jo;, had worn before her engagement to Sir Philip. JOJ wanted never to see any of the trousseau again. In another fen minutes she had donned the lavender rnusl.n that Maurice had loved her I" wear on the river. The vpn-li.-m lm-e collar was fresh and dainty and she caught it in front with an amelhysl Hasp, the low “ V” revealing the lovely lines of her slender white thma.. men shp took a cluster of while violets from a. glass bowl nn her dres>in-» table and pinned them loosely whme the points of her collar m p t. A final glanre in the mirror brought the cour to her cheeks. chapter ia’i:. Love and Sunshine. errne hc.ird light f-’t-

FENTON YORKE.

fall and rose. The love and admira- > limi in his eyes made Joy’s heart b p at • mickly. “ My darling, my darling!” lie cried j.; he took her in his arms. “ Now von are mine In spite of other days. How lovely you look! I have never seen you so perfect. Where did you fmd that pretty frock?” “ Ah, Maurice,” replied she a little wistfully, “don’t you remember my I.vender frock on the river last sum- : “ Why, of course I do. And white violets! You are wonderful, dear. ■ You must always wear that dress. Those were happy days, sweetheart, until I spoiled them by my. . .” She placed a hand over his mouth. '■ Hush,” she commanded softly, ■ we, will never talk of anything but ihe love we have known.” Verne released her with a final caress as the maid came into the arbour with a tray. With fascinated eyps he watched her pretty gestures over the tea things. “ You know, dear, pleasant as it Is here, we mustn’t linger too long,” he reminded her presently in a more serious tone. Joy pul her cup down quickly. “ We needn’t go back to Verneside vet?” There, was a little note of fear in her voice. “ It will never bp as it was before, sweetheart. You will be mistress now .mi need have no one round you that • ■.il do not want. But 1 have a plan. We will not go hack for several months.’’ ■ No,” she cried happily. ” lei us >!,iy on here till the autumn.” Verne laughed ruefully. • You have married a man with work io do, Joy. There are a multitude of experiments wailing Io be completed.” ■■ Anything so long as 1 am not left ‘ As though I could bear to be without you for a single day I Then we leave on Tuesday.” “Yes. and Maurice dear, I believe th.if after a few months in London I shall have forgotten all the unhappiness of the Hall and when we go there. together we must make it Hie happiest spot in the world.” - It will always be that so long as you are in it, sweetheart. No place without you will be home to me again.” The shadows were lengthening over the grass when they came back from their stroll later in the evening. The room was still unliglited and in Hie gathering gloom Joy’s lavender frock took on lustreless purple tones. Her eyes sought her husband's with a world of love and appeal in them. Verne caught her up tenderly and kissed her yielding mouth. “My dearest,” he cried. “My. own little girl of the violet shadows! God make, me worthy, sweetheart, and true to my great love for you. This moment makes up to me fully for an the unhappiness and suffering J have ever known. Tell me again that you love me dearest. . . dearest. . •” “ My dear, my dear,” she murmured, her arms about his neck. “I can say no more than I have said. Aou arp. my heart’s greatest treasure. 1 will love you always, always.. . .” Their lips met in a Jong, lon® kiss. [The END.]