“The Courage of Love,”

Wairarapa Daily Times, 11 January 1932, Page 7

“The Courage of Love,”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

COPYRIGHT.

CHAPTER XVIII. —Continued. It cost the older woman more than she possibly could have described, to have to continue to play on the sweet nature and credulity of this child. And when Toivnley was in such a state as he was this night, the woman went absolutely in bodily fear, not for heiself, as to what lie might do to the girl, whom she now knew was such an important factor in what he planned for the future. Fortunately, however, he did not stay. The car was waiting for liiin, and he got into .it and drove away. “I’ll be here in the morning,” he said. It was not the usual ear he was using. Indeed after he had gone, and Mrs Stonton had come downstairs from comforting and helping Diana, tenderly, and carefully, to get undressed and into bed, Garrett, the usual chauffeui came round to see her. She had made use of the occupied bedroom. She had lit a lire, for the evening was very chilly, and she had tried to make the room as cosy and comfortable as she possibly could for the girl whom she now loved so warmly. When Mrs Stanton opened the door to Garrett, she saw' by the man’s discoloured face that he had cither had an accident, or been fighting. CHAPTER XIX. Tho appearance of the chauffeur brought fear to the heart of Miriam Stanton. “What has happened?” she asked nervously. “I saw you were not driving him to-night. H'hve you quarrelled?” “Well,” the chauffeur said with an attempt at a smile, ‘ 1 we had what you | might call a bit of an argument and I come off the worst!” Mrs Stanton held the door open for the man to enter the kitchen. “Tou have given me a turn,” she said. ‘ ‘ Once on a time I was strong, I could stand up to most things, but I’ve changed; it doesn’t take much to upset me these times.” She paused a brief while and then said, “I’m not thinking about myself Ed., it’s this child we’ve got hiding here.” Then she stood and looked at Garrett, and the man spoke hurriedly.

“Yes, you may look at me!” said the chauffeur. “He fair knocked me out, brute that he is! Of course, he’s given me the chuck, too! Well, I tell you, I don’t intend to sit down under it. Of course, lie’s kept me going by way of threats just because as you know I did time once. He’s held that over me, but I’ve been a fool just as you’ve been, Miriam. After all what can he do to us?” Garrett laughed bitterly. “Why I can do a lot against him! And I tell you I’ll do it, too, before I’m done with him!”

“Come in and sit down, Ed,” said Miriam Stanton. “Let me attend to that face. What a IjIoav!” “BIoav!” the chauffeur said. “Why, he all but killed me! Look here, Miriam, are avc going to stand for this mucli longer?” Garrett sat doAvn, and Mrs Stanton brought a boivl and soft towel and poured hot Avater from the kettle. As she bathed his face, Garrett lapsed into silence, and then began speaking again. “And this child upstairs, this Miss Ladbroke,” he said. “If you’d seen her as I suav her Avhen she came out of the hotel that day!« My, she Avas strong and beautiful! There Avasn’t anything of a helpless idiot about her then. I tell you, I thought she Avas killed Avhen I saw her lying on the road, all bleeding as she Avas. And I Avanted him to let mo take her to the nearest hospital; but Avould he do it? Not he! Hoav is she?” queried the man. “Is she all right?” Miriam Stanton answered this sloavJy.

“She seems a little bit disturbed tonight, she isn’t quite the same as she was. I think she’s beginning- to know things are all wrong and she’s frightened. Of course, he’s been here, and he made a most frightful scene because my son was to have met him, and he didn’t come, and that upset the child upstairs: hearing him shout and rave! ’ ’

“Ah!” said Garrett, with a short laugh, “your son, Francis, knows a thing worth two of that! Look here, I ask you again, are we going to stand for this much longer, Miriam? He’s kicked me out, and he owes me live weeks' wages. Each time I’ve asked him for it he’s sworn at me! I spoke to Burke, and he promised that I should have the money yesterday. Burke would promise anything!” the chauffeur said with a sneer. “Where is he by the way?”

“I don’t know,” said Mrs Stanton, “and I don’t care. I suppose he will turn up here, and want a bed, and supper, and all the rest of it, greedy pig that he is.’’

“Well I’ll sit around awhile,” said Garrett, “because I mean to see anyone as comes here to-night. I’m not afraid! It’s all very well for him to threaten me, bully me, and knock me about! Wily I’m bruised all down one side. But I’m through with him, Miriam. And if you take my tip, you’ll follow my lead.”

“Ah, my dear, it’s not so easy for me as you think,” the woman answered him. “But stay where you are. I’ll get you something to seat. And if you want some money, I can give you a little.”

“I’m not going to take your money,” the chauffeur answered. “I’m going to get it out of them. Strikes me, Miriam, as they’re getting a bit short. I overhear a good bit in the car, you know, and it seems like as they ain't pulling it off like they were. There’s some trouble out in America, some official there who threatens to

BY MADAME ALBANESI. (Author of “Love’s Harvest,” “The Boad to Love,” “The Way to Win,” etc).

(To be Continued)

come over here and straighten things out. It doesn’t seem right that they should have so much money out of Miss Ladbroke’s bank. Queer business, that’s what it is, a mighty queer business. ’ ’ Mrs Stanton sighed.

“You’re right, Ed —it is a queer business; and the worst of it all is that I’m powerless to try to get out of it or help this girl as I want to help her.” * * * *

Mrs Stanton’s theory that memory was beginning to stir in Diana’s shattered mind was a correct one. The night she slept for the first time in that shabby old house (so different from the one which they had occupied in the north), though Diana had closed her eyes and had let the housekeeper think that she had fallen asleep, she lay a long time wide awake, staring into the darkness. A lamp in the road, sent a flicker of light into the room. There was rather a high wind blowing, and this brought to the girl’s mind the suggestion that perhaps her father, whom she still believed to be in existence, Avas haA’ing a bad time out on the sea. She longed to see him. She could not repress a feeling of excitement that sent a thrill through her as she pictured the moment when she would be in his arms.

Her love for her father had always been a very beautiful thing with Diana. And now, although she was conscious that there Avas something strange Avorking about her, and especially since this sudden move to another part of London, the uneasiness Avhieh possessed the girl became more definite. She was very grateful to Mrs Stanton, and she dung to this Avorking woman, although every now and then it came across her mind that she really did not know Mrs Stanton, that she had never really had a plaace in her life before. And sometimes there would come, when she ivas half-awake, recollection of the old Thatch House, of the garden, and more particularly one night, when she and Hugh AVaverley had met and spoken together. There Avas nothing A'ery clear or defined in that memory, only it was something that gaA r e extreme pleasure to Diana, almost a touch of happiness. And then her mind would slip away from that recollection, and she aa’OuUl be back in somo A'ehicle that Avas traA - - elling very rapidly, and all she Avas conscious of was a terrible pain in the back of her head. The pain in the back of her head came to her every now and then in reality, though the Avounds Avere healing up, and there Avas no disfigurement, because Mrs Stanton had trained the hair to curl over the injured part. It Avas strange lioav Diana ’s memory tried to force itself into clear vision AA'ith her this night. The sound of ToAvnley’s A-iolent anger had frightened her, and at the same time it had served to rouse her. Once as she lay staring into the shadoivs of the roohi, she asked herself Avliere she Avas? And Avhat was passing Avith her ? She Avas conscious that something very strange Avas taking place about her, but Avhen Mrs Stanton crept up a little later to look at her, she found the girl sleeping quietly. Sleep ivas, in fact, the one thing that Avould restore to her bodily and mental strength. And though Mrs Stanton did everything in her poiver to encourage that return, her heart Avould falter Avhen she realised Avliat Avould lie before her if and Avhen Diana should return to full consciousness.

The liousekeeper and Garrett sat talking together until a late hour, then, as Mrs Stanton had stated, Burke arrived in a taxi. He blustered as he came into the hall asking for Toavuley, and lie SAVore at Mrs Stanton, though, at the same time, he gave her orders to serve him Avith some supper right aAvay.

When she ivent back into the kitchen she closed the door.

“It’s my belief, Garrett,” she said, “that he”—with a backward nod of her head —“lie means to do a bunk! He’s got that cab waiting, it’s standing on the other side of the road, and he’s got a suit-case with him, which I know he packed this morning. 1 haven’t prepared a bed for him, and I toIcT him so. But he only grunted and said anything would do for him, that he would sleep on a sofa. That isn’t like Henry Burke!” said Mrs Stanton with a sneer. “The best isn’t good enough for him. He hasn’t been drinking as hard as he usually does.” “I wonder if lie’s got any money with him? I’ve half a mind to go in and face him. Bless you, I can put the wind up Burke, he’s quite a different proposition from Townley, and J can make it very uncomfortable for him. ’ ’

“Oh, lie’ll have money about him somewhere,” said Miriam Stanton, with the same sneer in her voice. “I’m perfectly convinced that Townley would give a good deal to get rid of him, and he won’t grieve if Burke does run away. ”