THE PRIDE OF LOVE.

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 19991, 15 September 1936, Page 4

THE PRIDE OF LOVE.

By COMPTON IRVING

A Delightful Romance with an Enthralling Plot.

SYNOPSIS. 'Sir John Fenner, owner or Fenner Hall. Mervyn Fenner, Sir John’s brother. Mervyn and his wire live at Fenner Hall. Mervyn inanag-ing- the estate Tor Sir John. Mervyn hates Sir John’s two sons, because they‘stand between him and the title. Eric Fenner, Fir John’s eldest son, liv- , inic in Malta. 'Georg-e Fenner, Fir John’s younger son, now home temporarily from abroad. Bettv Wavne, nursery governess to 'Mervyn\s son Bobby. Betty and Georg-e Tall in love with each other. CHAPTER 11. (Continued.) “ I was thinking of your uncle,” she said. 41 'He has managed the estate for your father these past ten years. It would be a oalamity if you took it into your head to put someone new in his position.” “ i see.” George smiled a little grimly. He had never thought oT turning his uncle out but it seemed to him that it would serve them ‘both right. 44 It’s early days, to talk of changes,” he said, non-committally, at last. “ Oh, thank you, dear George, she cried. “After all, you will And your uncle very useful. He knows everything about the estate and you know literally nothing.” “And now I think I’ll toe getting away,” said George, and with that he hurried out.

CHAPTER 111. Betty’s Pride. Try as he would, George didn’t come across Betty until the following morning when he went to the river to swim. Oh, but the waiting was worth while. How wonderful she looked as she stood at the end of the diving-board, straight and slim as a young sapling in 'the rush-g Teen swimming suit. He loved those clustering brown curls, her great, hazel eyes, with theid dusky, and the thick, eyes, with their dusky, and thick, curling lashes. Little Betty who was more of a lady than any queen who had ever lived. “You’ve heard the news, Betty?” he asked, eagerly. “ Yes, you’re Sir George now.” It seemed to him that there was a cold note in her voice. “ Betty darling! What’s the matter? Please!” he cried. 44 You must realise, George, that it’s going to make a difference,” she said. “A difference? What on earth do you mean?” he cried. “Why, nonsense. It simply means I shall have enough money not to have to worry about it any more. And don’t you sec darling, we needn’t wait to get married.” Betty looked up at him in surprise. Could George possibly be so simple? “ You don’t understand, George,” she said. “ Everything is changed.” “ Yes. changed for the better,” he cried. “ All our difficulties and obstacles have been removed.” At this Betty shook her head disco uraginglv. 44 You don't understand, George,” she said again. “ When you and I were going out to South America it was different. Everything was going

to be all right. You would he just a man and I just a girl—and you know that any girl who can bake and cook and mend, out there, can honestly say she is your equal. Don’t you see, George, that out there I knew I could marry you and not let you down.” “ I say, Betty, what on earth do you mean by all this?” cried the bewildered George, his heart thudding with a nameless fear. Betty held him off. He had wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her into forgetfulness, but she couldn’t allow that. “ It’s not a hit of use, George,” she told him. “ You’re Sir George Fenner now. You will have to mix with all these society people. Don’t you see. you could never marry a nursemaid.” George stared at her, aghast. 44 I could and shall!” he cried. “it’s impossible!” she insister. “No, it is not impossible! Most certainly l can marry a nursemaid!” ‘ Well, in that case, the nursemaid won't marry you,” said Belly firmly. Betty hated lo see the look of disappointment in George’s eyes. “ This is nothing but pride,” said

George, sternly, “and I didn’t think it of you, Betty.” “ It’s the pride of love.” she said. " Would you rhtlier have me just a little gold-digger who would hang on I . you like mad now that you’ve come into I lie title and all this property?” She shook her head. ” No, my dear.” ** If you mean I hat, you can’t really “ It's because l love you that I can't dream of our getting married,” she said. George began to be afraid now, realising just how strong and determined Betty was. 44 But you can’t possibly mean it?” j he pleaded. 44 Betty, my coming into the title and everything can't make | one scrap of difference.” Once again she held him off. I “ George dear, it’s no use,” she I said, firmly. “ I admire you and love . you all the more for wanting to stick j to me, hut it wouldn't he fair.” | 44 Wouldn’t be fair to whom?” ho j demanded. Betty thought quickly. If she weren’t very careful he would win her round after all. She realised that it would he fatal to her plan to allow him to think that she was sacrificing herself lor his sake. No, she must be more subtle than that. " It wouldn’t he fair to either of us,” she said. 44 Think how bitterly humiliated l should feel if married to you, mixing with all your fine friends and having them look down on me and scorning me behind my hack.” George was watching her sharply. “ You’re quite sure you're not thinking only of me?” he said. Betty knew she’d have to he very careful now, or he’d never let her go. Oh, how tempted she was to yield. “ You're wrong, George,” she said, firmly. 44 Let’s be quite honest, one j to another. The fact is I’m thinking only of myself—my future. Don’t you see, George, life would be just hell for me being scorned by all your line friends.” With that she sprang up and drew her rainproof round her. “Betty, you can't mean this I” he protested. “ You can’t mean you care ! for what the world thinks of you I more than you care for me?" I "I do mean it!” she cried, clenchling her hands to steady herself. 44 Just I think how I'd hate being scorned by your friends and laughed at. Say it’s pride if you like. Well, so it, Is.” * “ But uur love can t cy""-* Ui win end

like this,” George pleaded. 44 It must,” she said, firmly, starting to go towards the house. And then she turned to him again: 44 And In future you must swim after eight o'clock, or I won’t be able to swim ’at all. Don’t you understand?” And with that she fled.

George never attempted to bathe that morning. He stood there on the edge of the river fuming and fretting. One thing he was sure of, there was no altering Betty once she had made up her mind. Pride I It was a strange quality, was pride. He had rather admired it in Betty up to now. She was, of poor parents, and only a nursemaid, and yet that imperious pride of hers had given her such dignity. She couldn’t help it; he was certain of that. Perhaps it would he best to leave her alone for a day or two, but she was wrong if she dreamed he would give her up for ever. As for Betty, she did her best to avoid George. It rather wourrded her that he had accepted her explanation; but it was not her pride. True, it wsa pride of a sort, but it was hot selfish pride. It was pride for him and his best development. Perhaps it was pride in herself, for she’d hate to be a drag on him.

At times during the next three days she would upbriad herself, tell herself that if she really wished to have nothing more to do with him she would give up her post and go right away from the district to some place where it was impossible for him to trace her. And yet, somehow she was unable to do this. Upbraid herself as she might she found it an impossibility. To-morrow, yes, or the day after, but not to-day. Weloome the Heir. The morning of the fete broke gloriously sunny. The fields around Fenner Hall were luxuriant with the green of springing crops and early flowers, spangled here and there with the brilliant red of cottage roofs. Fenner Park was resplendtontly gay with streamers. Marquees had been erected on three sides of the broad lawn, and there was a Punch and Judy show and other entertainments, and as much refreshment as any of the villagers could wish for absolutely gratis.

George was grateful to have Mr Leach to help him, but it was not long before he was terribly bored by it all. With he and Betty estranged, the whole affair seemed nothing but a hollow mockery.

Before the fete began, Mr Leach told him that he had received a letter from Eric’s solicitor at Valletta with the death certificate and various other documents, so that all was in order in that respect. As George stood on the upper terrace listening to the village band and watching the villagers, he looked out for nothing but a sight of Betty, and always he was disappointed.

Betty was there, however, only she was hiding. It was an ordeal for her to watch George being congratulated by the gentry who had motored in -for miles around. Handsome, \Vjelhdressed men, and pretty, elegantlooking women. It made Betty flush hotly. No, she knew she could never have competed with those girls. She wouldn’t have been happy. She felt she had done right. The very thought of dragging George down was horror unspeakable. And yet, to see-those pretty girls smiling and laughing with him, so much at their ease, so selfassured, it was an ordeal too painful to be endured. No! No! Most certainly she had done right! They were two utterly different worlds. If she had married him, she would have died of shame and humiliation for being such a drag on him. Steadily the day wore on. There were sports, games, and every form of amusement, always not forgetting eating and drinking, for which there was lavish provision. At last came the great event of the day, for which everybody was waiting. and up to which everything else had led. There was a gaily decked throne, with a gaudy yellow-and-red canopy above it. And now twelve local maidens and twelve youths came singing up towards the house, forming a procession around George, and escorted him to the throne, where presently he was seated. And now it was Mr Leach’s turn, and after re-

citing the history of the Fenner family, reaching back to the glorious deeds in the Crusades. George was formally declared to be Sir George Fenner, baronet, etcetera. And then the cheering knew no bounds.

But the cheering had no effect on George. If his face assumed a merry aspect, his heart was like lead within him. (To be continued.)