JUDY SAYS “ NO.”

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18343, 1 June 1931, Page 4

JUDY SAYS “ NO.”

Serial Story

CHAPTER XI

Olnderella Goes to the Ball, Judy went to the ball with Clive, but It was a very different Judy from the one who had danced Into Enid's bedroom. , Everything was spoiled just because Enid hadn’t enough faith and enough love. 'She could only think of Nick’s disappointment and the aohe that he was to suffer, of the tragedy ol’ it all. She, who knew he was going to be there, knew, too, how bitter would be the misery into which Enid’s engagement would plunge him. And then she found that Clive had possessed himself of her hand. .. ,“Judy darling, didn’t you wonder why it was that I got you alone?” he said ardently. “Oh, darling, 1 have been patient. I have waited all this time. The six months, is up in a day or two. Judy, I hope, yes, I really hope, that your grandfather decides not to make you his heiress, because then you will realise how deeply I care for you. I love you so tremendously, Judy. Make me the happiest man-in the world. Tell me that you care just a little.” , She gave a sigh. She had almost forgotten about this. Clive had been as attentive as -usual, but lately he had not attempted to make love to her. v

“I am not in love with anyone, Clive," she said. “Please don’t ask me because it makes me so unhappy to have to say no.”

"I shanlt give up hope," said Clive. "When a man cares as I care he daren’t give up. Judy, promise that you will care if you can?" His eyes were burning down into hers, but she was utterly untouched. For one thing, she was too bewildered and troubled about Nicholas and Enid to have any spare thoughts for her own love affair. For another, he did not stir her. Honestly, she would -have preferred it to be Gilbert. “I’m out of love with love," she said dispiritedly. “Please, Clive, don’t worry me to-night." He looked at her and realised that it was the wrong moment, and gritted his teeth in exasperation. It was as though she had put up a barrier. “You are going to dance with me," he said. "I shan’t release you from that promise." “Of course, I am going to dance with you." She gave a sigh. “Oh, dear, I am so disappointed about Enid being engaged to Roger Bourne.” “My dear child," said Clive cynically, “why don’t you leave Enid and her love affairs alone? You don’t seem to understand that Enid is a shallow little doll. She ' could not care vitally for anyone but herself. Honestly Nicholas hasn't lost a great deal In losing her.” But even that did not cheer poor little Cinderella up. However, when she got to Kenway Court it was so magnificently lit up and all so evidently prepared for a big affair that unconsciously she- brightened up. “Don’t let us forget our masks,’ she said : as she fitted hers into place. “We don’t any of us want to know who is who.” She went into the radiance of the magnificent foyer, smiling deliciously. Herbert Kenway- greeted her. He looked a magnificent figure. “Rlzzio, my liege lady," he said, bowing low. “You are Queen of the ceremonies, remember." She laughed delightedly. It was a dazzling scene. Nymphs and pierrots, pierrettes and columbines, costers and apaches, chefs and nurses, and a hundred and one other magnificent or simple -costumes graced the scene. • Dusk was falling, and the lights streamed from the trees like chains of jewels, flashing red, and gold, and blue, and green. And presently the band crashed out, and Herbert Kenway danced with her. It was easy to see that he cared, only Judy’s eyes were blind to the fact that this most eligible bachelor was hers for the taking. As a matter of fact she was watching out for one man, a Harlequin. Until he came she would know no peace, and when he came, if lie did come, she would suffer for him. She could hardly understand her own unrest. , . . • She saw Clive enjoying himself in spite of her refusal. She saw Enid, and knew that the fat, chubby, little man as Julius Caesar must be Roger Bourne. Would Nick ever turn up she wondered. "Mr Ventris has accepted, said Lord Kenway. "We shan’t know who he is until the finish, when everyone unmasks for supper.” Queer, but In spite of it being such a wonderful dance she could not get up - a thrill. Something was lacking. She tried to enjoy It for Lord Kenway’s sake, but it was as though she had a lump of lead for a heart. “Let me take you out into the grounds and show you how -pretty the lake looks with the lights strung across.” Innocent of his real purpose she went. And there by the lake he told her how he cared. And Judy's eyes filled with tears. He had been such a friend, yet here, too, love was coming in to spoil everything. Looking at her ho saw a tear splash from her eyes, and instantly knew the truth. “You don’t care enough, dear,” he said. “Don’t let that worry you. I can bear disappointment, is it because I am so much older than you are ?” “Age does not matter when you love,” said Judy forlornly, “but I have never been in love; I don’t think I ever shall." • ti “You arc only nineteen, Judy, he said gravely. “Some day you will fall in' love, head over heels.” “How r do you know when you are in love?" said Judy in a low voice. “It’s heaven and it’s hell,” said Lord Kenway. “It’s bitter and it’s sweet, it’s ecstasy and pain; it’s happiness and then doubt. You will know r when it comes, Judy. No one can ever mistake it 1 “I thought it was nice to be in love.” , , . . “If it is returned, my dear, but not otherwise.” „ ~ “1 have made you sutler, said .Tudv. “You gave this lovely dance for my sake and I’m repaying you like this. You have made things so much easier for me, helped so tremendous[V an ,i I have only hurt you.” ‘’“You are not to worry about me. If nothing else in my life has been worth while, to know you lias been Judy.” , , . , lie lifted tier hand and kissed It, (gen took her hack to the ballroom. Fciicng her. she saw Nicholas in bis harlequin dress.

(By WINIFRED CARTER.)

Author of “■Lass O’ Laughter.”

Judy Gets a Shock. “May I have this dance, Judy?" he whispered. “I ltnevv you, you see.” Into Judy’s heart came something warm and glowing, a strange new ecstasy that she had not known be--fore. His arms were round her, and he moved her into the swaying orowd. She forgot Enid, forgot everyone; she onlv knew the strangest sensation — stra'nge, aye, but it was bliss, too, her ache seemed to be "drowned in sheer esctasy “You dance beautifully, Judy,”,he said. She could not answer him. Her heart was throbbing wildly, it was a marvel he could not hear it. Looking up, she saw his eyes through he mask smiling at her. “You see I came, but only because you asked me. A hundred times I was doubtful." “I am glad you came, she willspered. A swooning sensation swept her. She yielded herself so that she had no will but his, as they moved through the gay and laughing crowd. Streamers were .thrown from the balconies, balloons floated overhead. . . It was as though she saw nothing but just his face, and his eyes behind the mask. And then she remembered. He loved Enid, and Enid was engaged to someone else. He guidedjier through an opening and into an alcove. t "There’s the conservatory. Lets cool down,” he said. “There s a crush in there." , Gently he lowered her into a cane lounge chair. Huge palms hid them from anyone else. And then someone spoke at the other side. “Enid, you’re enchanting to-night! Give me another kiss." Roger Bourne, and then Enid’s voice, low;' languid. “Why, of course, Roger darling." Then the sound of a kiss. . . . She closed her eyes. Panic caught her, a pain that was well nigh unbearable stormed through her being. Nick to suffer this! It was almost as though she herself had dealt him the blow, and she could not bear it, it hurt he? oven as it hurt him. She saw him tense, saw his hands clench until the knuckles stood out white.

“You promise that you are not going to keep me waiting? It’s a special licence now I’ve got your promise. I have wanted you all these months, ever since that young scoundrel of a Nicholas Harmer was first in the field, I am not a patient man, Enid. Now I have got you I mean to carry the thing..through.”

.“Whenever you like, impatient lover," said Enid. It made Judy shudder. The next moment Nicholas had caught her hand, and they were tip-toeing out of the conservatory on the other side. “So that’s the finish," said Nick fiercely. “1 only knew to-night. I did not know what to do," said Judy sobblngly. “I would have done anything to save you that." . “It was better that I should hear It like that, better that I should know. So she is going to marry him! It’s finished with a vengeance.” He looked' down at her, at the troubled, agitated little face. “Don’t suffer too much for me Judy, I’ll clear out now, go back to my farm. You can forget things fighting with nature. You have been a good little pal, Judy, you did your best. Perhaps later on you and I will see something of each other, but just now I’d rather see no one who had anything to do with that. Don’t fret for me. It’s a bit rough at first, but I was never too hopeful after the first shock.” She saw him vanish in the crowd. Everything was spoiled. She who had meant to have such a happy night, who had planned that things should be so different, she'who had meant for him to meet Enid, and for Enid to realise she could not let him go, had dealt him that cruel blow! And now there was that other affair. She had meant to confront 'Mr Ventris witii him, she had meant to say: “This is Nicholas Harmer, the man who gave you a cheque for fifteen hundred pounds a few months ago when you had that card party at Ventris Hall.” And Ventris would say: “You have made a mistake, my dear lady. This is not Mr Nicholas Harmer." And then she would know the truth, even as she did know it, that it had never been Nicholas, but someone else. And now that little plan was smashed too; she had blundered all along the line. All she had done was to give Nicholas a stab in the bad*, and she could prove nothing because he had gone. (To be uonllnued.)