“SHADOWS”

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17408, 22 May 1928, Page 3

“SHADOWS”

(BY PATRICIA LEIGH.)

SYNOPSIS. SHELAGH HURSTBORNE, tlic daughlor of a City flnanoicr who flics a ruined man, sols out to earn her own living. She breads off her engagement lo HUGH MOYSTON, a seirish young man-about- 1 own. Tlnn, io her surprise, si l3 receives a visit frem MARCUS DRAKE, the man who, she believes, ruined her father. _He offers assistance which she declines. After vainly searching for work, Shelagh is engaged as advertisement canvasser lo “European Art,’’ the editor of which, MR. STANTON, turns out io be something of a waster. One night he tries to make love to Shelagh. She struggles with him. Marcus Drake arrives and orders Stanton out. In revenge Stanton puts an announcement in the paper from which Shclagh learns (hat Drake is the proprietor of “European Art” and had especially arranged for her lo take the post of canvasser. Drake asks her to keep on with the work, in spite of her dislike of him. CHAPTER XVII (Continued.) “There are a lot of lliings, which you can’t understand.” He coloured slightly. “That was unnecessary. . . . Rut am 1 to believe Drake means absolutely nothing to you?" Cheating Herself of Life. “Nothing!” she replied with sudden emphasis. “If you want to know 1 loathe the man—l despise him.” Moyston drew a deep breath. “I can only say I’m relieved. That clears the atmosphere. And now—l can ask you something else.” “Well?” She glanced at him swiftly. Her nerves were on edge to-night. Moyston’s coming had forced alt her difficulties beneath the surface; he had made her speak with a dangerous simplicity. This was the first time she liad said aloud that she haled Drake; anil it was subtly different from telling it to herself. The words sounded curiously unreal as they fell from her lips. Suddenly Moyston leaned towards her. His eyes were probing her own, almost anxiously.

"You can't, tell me,” tie continued in i a changed voice, “that you arc happy, j The fact is that you arc miserable. I | don't think I’ve ever seen you look so ill and depressed. “I’m quite all right,” she retorted, rising uneasily to her feet. Moyston stood up at the same time. Before she quite realised it, he hud laid his hands on her shoulders and was staring down at tier. “You can’t deceive me, Shelagh. You weren't made for this sort of life. Won’t you let me take you away from it? Can’t we start afresh?” “You mean—” She looked up at trim, her eyes wide with astonishment. "I’m asking you to marry me,” he went on. “Since I've been away from you I've realised that we can t do without one another. You are cheating yourself of life—and you know I love you.” “You don»t love me,” she said. “I swear I do. There’s not the slightest reason why we shouldn’t get married at once. . . . and its what your father would have wished.” “But, Hugh—” i “1 can give you the luxury which j is your right. I'm not saying you wouldn’t succeed in a career. But i its not the life you were made for— j its lonely—you’d never be happy —” j “Don’t!” She looked at him piteous- j ly. The emotional strain of months j seemed to converge and threaten to ] snap her self-control. “Don't ask me,” she pleaded. “I can't explain— I don’t understand myself.” “Rut you haven’t ceased to love , me?" “I don’t love anyone. Love ! —oh why are we talking like this?” j She managed to calm herself. “You j must go- now.” j “Not until you’ve given me your j answer. The old objections no j longer apply." "What objections?” she asked wearily. "I mean I can give you Lhe position you arc entitled to. By my uncle s ileatli I inherit a very considerable fortune." "1 seel” Something vaguely like a tired smile touched tier quivering lips. "But please leave me to-night. _ 1 must have lime Lo think. And —1 m not myself.” For an instant a wild impulse to take the girl in his arms seized the man. She was beautiful, she appealed to his senses as never before; and there was no longer any shadow of a harrier between them. Only bis long habit of discipline—social rather than moral —prevented him from yielding. , "1 shall come for your answer, lie promised. When be had gone Shelagh sank back in lhe deep chair utterly exhausted. it was queer how deeply j she had been affected by Moyston s | return. Yet, was it not rather that j Hugh's coming was forcing her band, i rushing her inexorably to a climax she dreaded? , . She bad continually postponed 'the ( flay when she would cut herself adrift : from Drake; but now if loomed; straight ahead. She must face the t ordeal, but why had it suddenly he- , come so terrible? Why There was only one possible reason. ! She cowered back in the chair as though shrinking from lhe inevitable conclusion. But her thudding heart, i a voice speaking as it were, in the depths of her being, gave the reply to which so far she had deafened her self. "I believe —I’m beginning to care to love —oh, how I ought to despise . myself for the thought!” CHAPTER XVIII. The sky was steeped In gold. The wisps of cloud flung up from the west like a woman’s tresses. It was the immense, infinitely complex sky of high places. From lhe crest of Bone Tor a vast panorama could be seen, fertile valleys, watered by those snaky rivers 'that gleamed like veins of precious metal in the evening light. And away on the farthest horizon, glimmered the sea. Shelagh breathed in the pure air, and it. gave her a new vitality as it filled her lungs. She was glad now. that after all her hesitation, she had come into the country once more. She needed to lie strong. ... Drake was beside her. a tail powerful figure in a rough tweed suit. Occasionally, when his eyes no longer swept the vast distances, they rested on the girl and glowed with pride. Shelagh was conscious or this, aim his gaze seemed to scorch her, like a , fhrne She was happy—despite , everything— to he with him, slve found a wonderful stimulation in these long, j cross-country walks. And yet she j

Author of “A Modern Girl," Etc

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had no rigid !u feel happy. She haled herself for that confession which she made the 'Other night—lhe confession ol lhe heart to the brain. Mas it possible, then, Lhal she was falling in love with the very man she had set out lo punish, to destroy? She had vowed to wreck his happiness as lie had shattered lier’s. And now she was •caught by strong under currents, dragged beyond imp depths. She had set out lo ha If a rid had ended by lov*r,n No, no,, it, was unthinkable. She* must, thrust Hie mere thought out of her mind. Bather lhan yield to it she would turn lo Moyston. Moyston had come back at a strange moment. Although he aroused no emotions in her, it might be that she w’ould need him. At least., she knew that he was there, wailing, in case of emergency, and lhe knowledge was somehow consoling. It was as though she had sighted a possible-harbour, where she could find refuge if the storm was too furious. A slight sigh escaped from her lips, which instantly caught Drake's a!tenlion. He glanced at her shrewdly. “Tired, little girl?” Plie shook her head. “No —hut hadn’t we better turn back ?” “1 suppose so.” he said regretfully. “But do you realise that, for lhe last half hour we haven’t spoken tu one another?" Pile gave a nervous smile. “It’s so soothing not lo he obliged lo talk.” “It's more than lhal. It's a sign that we understand each other perfectly. Perhaps we were even thinking the same thoughts. He paused, his J’eet sinking into the spongy turf. ‘He was puzzled by a change in her expression, by lhe look almost of fear Iliat came into her eyes. “Is anything the matter?” he asked quickly. “No—nothing!’’ NVi lll a startled movement she tried to lurn away. Her face was paler than usual, and her long, llutlering lashes, only half veiled her troubled eyes. Drake, however, suddenly | caught both her hands. ; "Why do you look like that? Y'ou ! seem to have something on your 1 mind. j "It's nothing, I assure you.” i '"Thai isn't the truth," he maintained. "But wouldn't it help to contide in me? Don't you trust me enough?” As lie shared at her searchinglv tie drew her slowly against him. She dared not resist. The final scene between them would be lerribic —but she could not face it yet. Her heart started to beat with fear—fear of herself, tier own weakness, as well as of the man. Into the Scorching Depths. All at once he seemed io dominate her. Phe was caught in a fierce, spasmodic embrace. Site seemed fragile and helpless; for this man who was once at tier mercy, now- mastered her. She had played with a L\e flame, and now, like a moth, she was drawn into the scorching depths. _ “Shelagh!” he said hoarsely. “You act strangely sometimes. But surely—■nothing can come between us? You love me?” Stic made a feeble attempt to oreak ; away, but his arms held her. “Say you love me,” he insisted. “Say it!” His face was almost touching ners. The grim set of his jaw, and the curious glint in li is eyes, started a clamour of conflicting emotions. Iler tips trembled for a moment, and then, with an extraordinary sensation cf weakness she bowed tier head. “I love you,” she murmured, obediently.

“My darling—” He cupped her chin in one hand, and bending forward laid a long kis= on her mouth. She closed her eyes, conscious of nothing but a mad impulse to surrender herself to him. to yield to the sweet strength of an emotion that welled up uncontrmujly from her heart. The other voice, warning her, reminding her of her purpose, was dim and mulfled. -'c had found love: could she strangle it the morpenl it had been horn. (To ne eonunu--- ----morrow.»