"THE SHADOW OF A DREAM."

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14200, 27 August 1920, Page 7

"THE SHADOW OF A DREAM. "

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

By CHARLES PROCTER, Author of “A Splendid Butterfly/’ "The Woman Pays/’ "The Rockwell Combine/’ "An Innocent Adventuress,” etc.

(COPYRIGHT.)

CHAPTE R XVII. —Continued. ; "I don’t need money, and I don’t think I shall go back to the sea,” said .Jervis. “I have decided to settle down, and I 'm now managing the Loudon branch of my father's business. It happens, you see,” he added, by way of explanation, "that the'dad is one of tiie biggest manufacturers in the States and* reported to b<3 a millionaire. At ’ present lie’s making another fortune supplying stores for the British and French troops, and I’m looking after the English end of the business. The old man is very pleased about it, and has treated me like a returned prodigal. You can investigate my credentials if vou still have any doubts.” He smiled quizzically at Monica, and she blushed hotly again, then laughed almost in spite of herself. “X am ashamed of myself and the last, of my suspicions and doubts has vanished,” she exclaimed, looking ad- ' arable in her confusion. "Good!” said Jervis, his eyes shining. "Now we understand each other'/ What about the Hebrew? You said he was a director, and you guessed you would be dismissed. Ydu will go on working —want to go on working until you get your fortune?” Monica nodded, looking a little distressed, and explained exactly who Mr Isadora Lewis was, and how he had pestered her with his attentions. "Don’t you worry any more about him,” said Jervis reassuringly, when he had heard her out. "I guess he is only one of a crowd of directors, and the' rest aren’t going to sack an employee because she—er didn’t like him. You stick to your job, and leave the rest to me. I’m going to have a talk with the managing director ot. H.arridge's to-morrow morning, then I ni going to see Mr Isadorc Lewis again.” "Oh, please, don’t!” protested Monica. "I would rather try to And another situation than have any trouble or be talked about,” "There isn't going to be any trouble,” Jervis assured her with his slow smile. "I’ll see to that—and if there should be any trouble, I’ll collect it.’ Monica sighed, realising that it would be useless to protest further, and a few minutes later they left the restaurant. Then Atonica would have said good-night, but Jervis ignored all hints and insisted upon seeing her home. In fact, for a few moments Monica feared that he meant to come right into the house with her, and wondered despairingly how she should introduce # him to Mrs Walters and Miss Smith, and she heaved a sigh of relief when Jervis held out his hand and took his departure, after having escorted her right up to the very door. _ She went to work next morning full of misgivings, and feared the worst when she was sent for by the managei during the course of the forenoon. That worthy, however, merely wanted to asdc a few questions regarding the events of the previous evening, for Jervis O’Neill had had a straight talk with him, and used threats which had scared

holding Monica’s hand fast. "No!” answered Monica decisively, and turned away abruptly. “1 shall see you to-morrow,” Jervis called after lier, not in the least abashed. “I’.ll be here at J o’clock.” Ho was as good as his word, and Monica was waiting for him, for the simple reason that she did not want him to come to the house.

“I want you to understand that you are persecuting me,” she said, with all the-indignation she could muster, as lie doffed his hat. "Please go away! I don't want you to come here—don’t want to see you again.” "Let’s go for a walk and talk the matter over,” suggested Jervis. “I don’t want to annoy you, Monica, but I’m very much in love with you.” Monica tried to protest further, but somehow her indignation, and resentment seemed to have died down, and presently she found herself walking along with Jervis and listening to his straightforward confession of his love for her. "It doesn't matter what I said when we were on the Glenoglc,” protested Monica. “The past is dead to me and I don't care for you now.” “I guess 1 can make you care,” said Jervis. "I mean to make you care. You ’ll get used to me in time, I reckon, and to the idea of marrying me.”

him. , , . "1 shall report the matter to the managing director, Miss Moncrief and 1 am very sorry that you have been annoyed,” was all the manager said; and that was the last Monica heard o the matter. What Jervis said to Mr Isadorc Lewis she never discovered —although she gathered that he had seen him—and she did not see Mr Lewis again She found Jervis waiting for her outside the staff entrance next evening, and was practically compelled to accept his escort to Brixton again; indeed, Jervis seemed to take it c.s a matter of course that she would l>e pleased to have his company. He was waiting again the next evening, and the next- —py which time some of the other lirls employed at Harridge’s had seen him and began to chaff Monica about her "young man.” The fourth, day was Saturday, and a glorious day in August, Harridge p closed at four o’clock on. Saturday, and Monica who had hotly' denied that Jervis was her "young man” vvlit'H challenged on the point by some ot Hie girls as she changed from her uniform into her ordinary dress, found Jervis waiting for her again when she emerged from tiie warehouse.- ( _ "1 won’t, trouble you to see me home to-day, Mr O’Neill,” she said icily, as Jervis approached her smilingly. "1 am not going home.” "I didn't suggest that you were, responded Jervis calmly. "As a matter of fact, you are coming up the river with me. I have a motor waiting at the corner of the street.” •‘1 don’t want to go up the river, protested Monica. "1 want to be left alone.”

“Sony, but the motor is costing mo money,’’ responded Jervis. 'M've cn-..-a-ed it for the whole day. Vou '-an have a trip to the, country if you prefer it, !>ut I recommend the river. It s fine!” • ’ Monica began to protest, but he paid not the slightest attention, and before she quite realised what was happening he had bundled her into a big touring ear and they were speeding westward. “You need fresh air and a change after working a lift for a week, .Monica,’’ remarked Jervis, after a slioit silence. “We can have an hour or so on the river, dine at one of the ri\eiside hotels, and get back to London late in the evening.” Monica turned and looked at him steadily, a feeling of annoyance struggling with one of admiration for his

masterfulness. “] suppose it, didn’t occur io you that I meant what 3 said when J. told you f wanted to be alone—that I did not want to come with you ” she said after a pause. “Why do you persist in t!or<*i»*r vour coinpjiny upon mo li»<c this*”

“J guess it’s because I love you, Monica,” Jervis returned. “I’m going to keep oil worrying you until you promise to marry me.” “.Rut—but 1 don’t want to marry von,” protested Monica emphatically. “I don’t care for you, and I don’t believe I ever wil.” “You admitted aboard the old Glenogle that you did care, and you will find that you do care,” said Jervis quietly. ‘‘You’re just prejudiced; but we won’t spoil the afternoon by discussing that now. Presently you’ll wake up and find you do care —your heart will wake up.” He changed the subject abruptly and fur the rest of the day was merely a delightful and interesting companion. Not until he was shaking hands with Monica late in the evening did he re-'-vert to ihe subject, and then lie did so with characteristic abruptness. “Will you marry me?” he asked,

CHAPTER XVIII. MONICA CONSENTS. Evening after evening, with scarcely a break, Monica found Jervis waiting for her when she left Harridge’s, and his dogged pertinacity, his masterful manner, and air of calm assurance drove her almost frantic. He seemed impervious cither to hints or snubs, he waved her protests aside, and insisted upon accompanying her home, and on making love to her time anj again. This continued for a fortnight, and during the course of that time Monica refused him at least half a. dozen times, and snubbed him a score of times. Actually Jervis exasperated her to such an .extent that she seriously thought of throwing up her post and leaving London altogether in order to escape from him. Only’ the knowledge that he would probably never rest until he had found her again deterred her from the step. But she decided that she hated Jervis even more than she. had disliked Geoffrey Valentine, and convinced herself that she would never, on any account, be persuaded to marry him. (To tie Contthned.)