"THE SHADOW OF A DREAM.”

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14194, 18 August 1920, Page 7

"THE SHADOW OF A DREAM.”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

91 By CHARLES PROCTER, 9 j Author of "A Splendid Butterfly,” "The Woman Pays,” "The Rock- I HI well Combine,” "An Innocent Adventuress,” etc. j

(COPYRIGHT.)

HI CHAPTER XXL—Continued. §§ I Monica happened to be in her ovvi m I room when a servant brought the new: [9 I that a gentleman wished to see her ai I I once on important business. She lia< i I spent the morning shopping in Bournef I month with her aunt —at least, her aunt 8 I had taken her round the shops and in--0 I sisted on buying a number of things in | I which Monica had felt no interest. I I Geoffrey had earlier announced that he 11 had made, all the arrangements for the. | I wedding, then left for London to order f j his uniform. Monica, who had slept 11 but little, had fallen into an apathetic j I state —resigned herself to her fate— S j ami had walked about mechanically, j J Lady Valentine, after lunch, had rotir lied for her customary siesta, so Monico 11 was alone with her thoughts when her I meditations were disturbed by the anI nouucemeut that a gentleman. had called. I "A man from one of the shops, I supI pose,” she reflected with a sigli, as she rose amt went to the lounge—to find I Jervis awaiting her. In a moment her I apathy vanished, she drew in her breath sharply and stood staring. I “You,” she exclaimed rather breathI lessly. "What, do you want.?” "Some information—but don’t look so scared, dear lady,” drawled Jervis I with a smile. "I happened to see Geoffrey Valentine visiting a parson this morning, and that struck me as unusual, so I made it. my business to I interview the payson immediately afterwards. ' ’ He paused, glancing enquiringly at I Monica, who was gazing at him ns if fascinated. I "I made the amazing discovery that j Valentine had fixed up to be married to I you to-morrow morning,” he continued. I looking straight into Monica’s eyes. "I I guess he has scared you into it, but

I thorp isn’t going to be any wedding. Monica! At. least, you’re not going to I marry Gooff Valentine, and I 'reckon I you don't, particularly'want to, eh?” Monica 's hqart was throbbing with I excitement and an unusual nervousj ness which was not exactly fear, and she was trembling slightly. But she I succeeded in controlling herself with I an effort, and forced herself to speak calmly. ‘ ‘ What right have you to interfere ?” she asked with assumed hauteur. "Well, I happen, to love you,” Jervis explained with a quaint smile, "And I don't choose to let you marry a crook like Geoffrey Valentine, if I can prevent it. If you eared for him it would be different, Monica. Did you ask him about your father’s money?’-’ "I did, and discovered that you have been plotting to get possession of it,” replied Monica defiantly. Jervis’s face flushed slightly, his brows drew together, and his eyes flashed. ‘‘That’s a lie—a lie that Valentine told you, I guess,” he exclaimed in altered tones. "I don’t want your money. I would’nt touch a cent of it! You’ve got to trust me. Monica. T swear that what I told you yesterday is true. This marriage must not take place! ” A ti Monica was strangely stirred, and that moment she felt that she could trust him, that he was speaking the truth; but some little demon prompted her to refuse to believe him and to defy him. "How do you propose to prevent it?” she asked coldly. "I haven’t quite decided —yet,” answered Jervis, calm again, and dropping back into his customary drawl. " I could pound Geoff Valentine into a jelly, thrash him until he was a hospital ease, or I could run away with you. I reckon it would be easier to run away with you —savd trouble. You don’t want a scene or trouble with these relatives of yours, 1 reckon, so you had betor make up your mind to come away 'quietly. ’ ' "You must he mad!” exclaimed Monica in affright, for she realised suddenly that Jervis was in deadly earnest. "No, I am quite sane,” Jervis responded quietly. "You can’t possibly wreck your life by marrying a crook you don’t core for, and who is marrying you for your money, and the best thing you can do is to run away. I’ll take care of you, find you a home, and look after you until you arc willing to marry me; I can wait, and f won’t worry you, but I’ll act as watcli-dog.” lie paused, regarding Monica seaivliingly, as if seeking to read her thoughts. 'And if you don’t come willingly, I guess I’ll have to take you!” he added, grimly, after a pause. "Either that or smash up Geoff Valentine. Which is it to be, Monica?” Monica knew not what to say, and stood silent, still gazing at him half fearfully. Jervis’s question seemed to bring back to her something she wished to remember, but could not, something .yvhieh was now like the mere shadow' of a dream. Actually at, that moment she was trying totear <jtiwn the veil which hid the past from her—but. she failed. It flashed upon her suddenly, however, even as she sighed despairingly, that the idea of marriage with Geoffrey Valentino was truly repugnant to Injr, and she would welcome any chance of escape. "What do you want me to do?” she asked tremulously. "Leave these people and come away with me,” answered Jervis promptly, his eyes lighting up. "Let me prove to you that I have told you the truth about Valentine, and then—well, then you can use your own discretion. I ’ll bring a motor round at once if you like, and take you away, take you anywhere you like. Oy you can come away at once—now.” "No, not now,” said Monica, tremulously. "Late to-night—after dinner.” "Nine o'clock?’-’ suggested Jervis, his eyes shining, and stretched out his hands as he spoke. "Yes, nino o’clock,” breathed Monica, and gave him her hand. She stood quite still, watching Jervis as he went out into the street. Then

she turned and ram quickly back to her I room. Something akin ro panic had I seized her suddenly, and she only knew I that she wanted to escape—wanted to j j get away both from Geoffrey and Jer- I vis. I Hastily she dressed and crammed a I few tilings into a small handbag, and I within ten minutes she was hurrying I towards the statiou. I “* A Moucrief never breaks a prom-j iso. The words occurred her as she I sat. in the corner of a third-class' car- I riage of a train for London some time I later, and she laughed bitterly. | She had broken two promises—run I away on the eve of her marriage—and j knew not what was before her. I CHAPTE R. XII. A SINISTER SUGGESTION. Geoffrey Valentine, still feeling—and I looking—well-pleased with himself, re- j turned to Bournemouth from Loudon in | time for dinnery to find his mother in a I state of almost- hysterical anxiety. Her I thin face was white, she was biting I nervously at. lier lips, and wringing hey | bands as she paced agitatedly to and | fro. j “it isn’t my), fault, Geoff,' she ejacu-j luted as he entered. “You needn’t | blame me!” Geoffrey stared at her in bewilder- j ment. She was far from being a. nerv- I ous woman; indeed, he had always I credited her with having nerves of steel and never had lie seen her in this | nervous, half-hysterical state, although | often he had seen hey passionately j angry. “What on earth is the matter,’-' he | inquired, then started suddenly, as a j suspicion, flashed through his mind. | "Where's Monica?” he added. "You | * don’t mean—” "She's gone!” burst out Lady Val | m eutine despairingly. "Gone!” "Gone!” echoed Geoffrey, the colour || draining out of his face and his jaw I|| dropping. “Gone?” he repeated, star- 9 ing stupidly as if unable to grasp her j 9

meaning. "But. liow —vvliat the deuce [9 1 —where— ” 11 I His expression changed suddenly, the |9 blood rushed to his face, his eyes blaz- I 9 ed, and he sprang forward and gripped I I his mother’s arms. H “What do you mean?” he cried, I 9 shaking her savagely, his fa.ee contort- I it] ed, his lips curling back from his teeth I 9 like a snarling cur. "Out with it! 9 Have you gone back on me? Where's S the girl?” 9 Hi.s mother gave vent to a gasping I I cry of fear, but. recovered herself at 9 once. His violence and fury seemed 9 to calm her almost instantly, and in- I B dignation took the place of nervous- 9 "Let me go at once!” she ordered I B her fine eyes kindling, and flung him 9 off. "How dart l you treat me in this I B fashion? Sit down, you blundering I 9 fool, and control yourself! ’ 9 (To be Continued.) 9