The Troubled Journey

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19899, 30 May 1936, Page 25 (Supplement)

The Troubled Journey

SERIJL STORY "‘1 m I i I 1

By MARGARET GLENN.

3VNOPuu. loan Martin cannot "get on“ with Janet, I her stepmother. The other .\lctrlin children. Felicity and Jimmy. feel the same. but it is easier for them. as Felicity lsi married and living in London, and Jimmyl is away at school. I At last Joan revolts. and goes to live with Felicity. :lle attends a private com- ' merclll solmol owned by Derek Graham, .1 guns widower. and later is auccessi’ull obtaining a post as secretary to Geot"3' Matthews. head or the vast commcl-i ct enterprise or Matthews and WyattMelnwhile. avarice has bitten very deeply into Janet .\lartin‘s mind. She hates hel- stepchildren, and plans to hurt “12an in overly way she can. Felli: ty‘a husband goes abroad to supervisa In enfilneel'lng job. and l-‘eltclty ec« tomuames him. After seeing them on MI Southampton. loan is surprised to film Derek Graham waiting to run hack to London. I CHAPTER X\\'i (continued). , But. it seemed lilat she “as iatod not to get the opportunity she needed to talk with llerek, 5 She wrote that evening, tolling him, that. she would he at ‘GiCl‘lilalll on the {allowing afternoon, but received a telegram soon after she had ii\vukened! next morning. The wire read: i "Consulting publishers to-day i and Sunday writing, 2 Derek.“ i Joan could not understand that‘ mesase. I She knew that Derek was getting worried about his new text-book, for. he had been unable to work for two months and more: but it was unusual for him to consult. his publishers on‘ a Sunday; it “as even more unusual tor him to see them at Sussex. 3 U! course. it. was pessiblc that he was coming to London. it would be like him to keep the visit a secret. and to call on her. ful‘ the sake of seeing her expression when silo saw him. ‘ She hoped that he would not come' that day. 4 tier hopes \\ ere granted. The letter which he had promised (ll‘l‘iVCd by the: evening post. and 'he explained his telegram. ilis publishing manager—4 and old friend—had arranged a visit to him at Glenham. to save the need for his trip to London, and he was by no means sure that he would have any time to spend apart from business. Joan smiled bitterly to hersell‘., Things were going at trees purposes with a vengeance. lie was probably worried in case she was upset. by his; wire: she was wishing that there was; no need to write ‘him, or to see him.‘ The worst. of the temporary l‘espiiesl was that the task seemed doubly ditli—cult when the time camL to face it. I On the following .\innuay, however.“ aha had more than enough to occupy; her thoughts. i The affairs or Matthews and Wyatt! were concluded. and the bankruptcy omciala told her that her services, would be no longer required She; had been expecting that. and was not‘ our-prised. i But she was surprised. a's the dayal polled. at the difficulty she had in ob—l “thing even interviews with proapeo-. tive employers. Once it. was men-I tionod that the had been secretary to; Geofl’rw Matthews. all interest in her named to fade. The fact that' the had a slowing reference from him made no dinerence. I On the Wednesday lunoh‘time she' met Dorothy Sayers. I Dorothy nodded when she heard her Itory. I “It‘s about what I expected.“ shes laid. “You see, .\latthows has a bad' reputation-now. Although there's no prosecution. mnsi of the menE who‘ve done business with him frolni time to timr— and there aren‘t many} deoant tirms‘ who haven't—are. con—‘ vinoed that he‘s a rogue— and they're ; not sure that they can trust you.“ I Joan coloured at this unpalatable; truth. but she arimilimt the liketifi hod ci’ i, Dorothy dill .tai Emlievl-l in mlnoinx words, and in many ways: it was just as well, I It was that week—end when Fit?) wrote to tell Derek iim: Filt‘ would lie, down on the Sunday, that stir: realised:

how serious her.position 'was. She had been put to a great deal or ex—- ! pense one way and the other. and she Ihad. not realised how fast her small I savings were disappearing. When {she went to her bank to get enough I money for the trip to Sussev, however, she received her pass-hook. and was ' staggered to discover that she had a ‘balance of less than five pounds. - Five pounds between her and starvauon! That was very nearly a literal feet. She could not expect to get money I from Janet, and she would have hated to touch it even if she had. Her inlromo had completely stopped. Ralph and his father were almost venniless. She felt frightened as she went down in Sussex. . DPrt‘l: would persuade her to c’hanfie her mind. she knew—or he would try in. And hr would use very powerful Enrzumonts. She was out 0! work. and she had no means of getting money. lie had the house. near Looe. all rcndy {or her, as soon as she would torrent. it. They were engaged. he iwould say. and there was no reason. i why they should not get married im--3 mediately. i th could almost hear the words.‘ i But she knew that her answer would ! havo to he no. No matter how desnnrntn the situation grew. the stark .i'hrt remained tha she loved ’Ralpi .\tatl‘hrws. it would be madness to Marry Drrnk: and it. would not. he fnir. ‘ .\s the from approached ‘Glenham llnlt. hnvwm‘or. her mouth felt dry. Shh hated the task which was in front of her. There was a slight drizzle in the air. and the day was chilly and depressing. 1 Her spirits drooped still more as shei t walked towards the cottage, and 5116] longed for thtl sight of Ralph‘s strong ' rare next to her. 1‘! only she could lwut‘ his voice—— ‘ But this was a “task which she must. ‘ tackle alone. As she turned into the lane which lnrl to tho outtake, she saw two figuresl walking along it. nearly a‘ hundred: yards away For a moment she did not. recognise oithnr of them. Then sho saw the man was Derek. _\ moment later she felt tlabbergasted. Tho woman walking with him was 1 Dorothy Sayers! . Joan laughed at herself a moment later. After all. the cottage really ‘ belonged to Dorothy, and there was ; no reason 'why she shouldn‘t he walk—;ing with Derek. The thing which I had startled her as much as anythingl i was the fact that. Dorothy was‘heré. : although she had not told her thatt ‘ shc was making the trip this week_end. I ‘ The couple disappeared into the cot‘ 3 tage. As John neared it she heard 1 the excited shriek of Baby Bob's voice. i and the deep laughter of Derek‘s, the [ silvery laugh from Dorothy. At first ithere seemed’nothing strange about ; that. 3 Then Joan stopped dead. i There was something strange. She had not heard Derek laugh like that for over two months. Not once since I the accident had he been in such good i spirits, and she had imagined that‘ t he would be as depressed as ever that week-end. But he was laughing, with ’Dorothy.and ‘her child, obviously in the best or spirits. ‘ An idea flashed through Joan‘s mind. but. she dismissed it as absurd. ]t ' couldn't. he. that there was anything - between Derek and Dorothy. It was 3 iuodnoss to think of it. But. the very .f possibility sent. a wave of relief through hor. If only it would trans—- ! oirr- that Derek wanted to break the I mmngemont too—— i Fhe tapnml on the door at the cot—- : intro. interrupting the laughter inside. 3 Thorn was an abrupt pause. ’l‘hcn : Drrrk's voice came. ouirkly: | “i woudrr who that is?" ; “I‘ll SPF." said Dorothy. ,‘ Joan i‘orrrrl a smilo to her lips as . she heard the latch being pulled up,

and saw the door open. Then aha looked into the from. room of the cottage, into Derek's face and into; Dorothy‘s——nnd she saw something In‘ their expresslons which sent her pulse! leaping. ! They were staggered by her zap—l pearance. and for the first time in! her life Joan saw Derek look sheep—l lsh. ' Dorothy recovered herself first. _: “Good heavrns. girl, we didn‘t knowg you were coming down I'D—(lay. Vtht nn earth made you choose a day like' this for a quick trip?" i “I didn't rhoose ll." said Joan, rue—i fully. “I'd written and told Derek! I was comimz. and I couldn‘t. very well; disappoint him.“ ' “i didn't get any letter.“ said Derek! quickly. ‘ "Dlrln‘t you?" asked Joan, stepping into the room and taklng off . 'her! macklntosh. ”I expect it‘ll turn up to—morrow."

Dorothy took it from her. and hung" ' it behind the kitchen door. Bob. on ' the floor, requested a kiss from Auntie ’3 Joan. Joan laughed and complied. 1' She felt light-hearted. absurdly satie'l lied. with lii’e. It had seemed im- ; possible. but she was ours. now, that 'i it was true. ‘: Derek and Dorothy were ln‘ love ’1 with each other! | Both of the others felt awkward. .I They saw the bright colour on Joan’s cheeks, and they could sense her hap- ', piness—and they naturally assumed 5‘ that. she was glad to be ba-uk wlth ‘ Derek. Not for a moment did they ': dream the truth, Joan waited until she felt that she Kicould control her voice before she said quietly: .1 “I'll give you two guesses, Derek. .to say why I came down here. Just‘ {A for a day." 1 ‘3 Derek forced a smile, but he was i obviously lll—at-ealse. ‘ “I supose I ought to say you come “

to lee me." he said. ”'l‘hat'e an evaston." wdv Joan. “Why do I went to use you?" Dorothy gave a little laugh which sounded very forced. . :‘D‘on't forget I'm here before you start whtsperins your secrets," she said. Joan smiled, and there was a soft—ness, a radiance in her face which staggered the others, and rendered them speechless. “I don‘t think we ought to best about the bush.“ she ‘said. impulsivelyclasping ratth of them by the hand. "I can guess your secret—but you haven‘t guessed ‘mine. Derek—l want you to give me my freedom." The-re was an utter silence in the room which lusted fol“ sixty seconds. Derek broke it at last. 119 did his best. to hide the delight which he telt at her words. but she could see that he was pleased; that he had wanted her to say those words more than any—thing else. Joan didn‘t pause to wonder why he should have changed. She only recognised the truth and was tremendously thankful for it. “I? hardly understand," Derek said. haltingly. “Don‘t you?" asked Joan. “It’s plain enough, my dear. I want to back out of our engagement.“ It was Dorothy who spoke next. . There was a wealth of appeal in the older woman's mix-n, and the expres—sion in hrr mm hurt Joan. “Juan." rho suitl. very quietly, “please don‘t say that, unless you mean It. We both of us realise that our—frionttshlpHutustn't come between you and Derek. \\ e‘re prepared to forget onrh uthrr——" “ But I don‘t want you to!" Joan cried. “Can‘t you understand? l‘m in love—but not with Derek. I want to be free so that I can marry the other man. And I've lied and pretended for weeks—months—trylng all I knew to prevent Derek from learning the truth. i came down to-day, prepared to break our engagement, no matter the 9051, and l find—this! It‘s too good to be true!" ll “as lturnlh)‘ who laughed. ll “as a strained laugh. but it set ttlr'r vnmtiuus I‘rrr. More]; chuckled. Juan .\milml. umt thru [Jr-gnu In laugh. Hull}- l-iulx. nu the [tour imitatrri lhcut. .\ lilth- lttlvr IH-rt‘k Suit'l: "It \\us I-unliuiz rluwn horn that l-uuwtl it, nlilJll. Imrulhy and her halt} l't'lllillttl'll mo 51) fart-ilrt) ul‘-—-tu)' first \\‘ll'v. Sllr- was l't'lllllltlt'll nt‘ hol' lltlhlltilllt, ll .\m'mwl My .\illlll-ll‘, so natural. that tho l\\.. of Hi. \\lm haul tu-rn w luull} IIIH't l 1) t'uli‘. htlllllld “I‘ll: tu lwnl I'.H‘ll HUNT-h wounds. " But their \\u< you. “ Noilhrr ut‘ u, \\‘nulti hun- lt‘t )‘lltl nutTr‘r, \\'t» huth lmr .l'tlllivlltl'rtfl‘t‘lill). .tl‘ t't:l|l‘>l‘. cult \rry (It-opt); _\n:l rather than haw \\orrivtt 3511.1 we would Imw pnrtml. Now w”..— Jim” >‘nltvli_ Hhr‘ tvlt lmmuiw thun s‘ho hn'l uwr «tour in hm“ ]ltt " Nun z-erhing'a just as it would he." r-hn mitt, "Uh. my (tears. t'\‘l‘ hall .1 trrrihlw |i:ut‘ «luring the past month nr l\\'\_!.' 11'.» lmrn lwuunl “writs," “ \inl l'w lmnn ]t.|tl-'"l|l])l""“tl twrnusl‘ l couldn't help unsett.” Sniti ltt‘rok. "t'vre lmmt u Cnt," said Dorothy. unnslmmwll}. "l'rr ltf‘l‘ll"-il lui\tu|'r' of tmth.” mitt .lnuu, .\‘hr lulu-hell :unl limiu‘i .I Iltll‘liHhV. "l'll lmt )nu l‘ull'l Kltl'ifi \\lm l‘m ~-|'m rhunrzin: l'ur llvrvlt.” >llO .\.litt. \\nrtls \\r'rv .\n 0:»); iii!“ that tho}. \\nullt nut hurt. litrl'mlh)‘ lnultml xvttnxlc-11. "Yntl \\nrnml mr :mntimt him Hnr'v‘.” will Innu, “ll's ltulph .\lat~ Htl'\\.\. llu- tl‘lu .ilmn.‘ tlnt‘ltllt} \‘»;l|>lll'll~ unit Cl'llllltl'Pll. "5.. Hut}. .1” thv nulivr _\Hu tnlxr ut' ill) \'..t|'ulu‘.'~.' :llv ruin]. “I tllt‘ .\tj. lw \\.t‘ .l nit-v lull, ”much," "llv- Ex," wlll .tllJll, t'l'ru-nll). \l'll Illrn Hi tin-w- rrt' thvm t.l|l'(ll"lt. ugh” will at .\ltrvr high hlvli'ilh. (To be continued).