THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20691, 29 December 1938, Page 3

THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS

NEW SERIAL STORY

by ELEANOR DEERING

“Yes,” said her mother, “and 1 think you had better tell Colonel Beeston to-morrow that you'll not be able to work with him after next week, it's no use having that to worry about, and there's now not tlie slightest need for you to work there. If he had been paying good money it would have been different.” Anne nodded; her eyes were gleaming with excitement. She could read her mother well, and knew that Mrs Mayfield had not the slightest idea of rejecting Sir Edward's offer of a week-end at Carfax Hall. The house, Anne knew, was in Gloucestershire, not many miles from the beautiful old town of Cheltenham. “When are you thinking of going to Gloucestershire?” she asked. “1 thought next week-end,” said her mother. Bob will be here on Friday, so we can't very well go this week. Is that'all right for you?” Unce again Anne averted her eyes. She knew that her mother was very fond of Bob, and that in Mrs Mayfield's mind there was no doubt but that the marriage would come about. At this time Anne had not the slightest desire to upset the older woman’s belief. If only she could settle the doubts in her own mind! If only she could feel that her admiration for James Carfax was a temporary thing! If only there was something of the glamour, that seemed to surround him, about Bob! Bob was dull. True, she had been well satisfied before, but now she was able to realise that his hesitant words, whenever he talked of their regard for each other, lacked a fire that she wanted. She felt a longing for something fierce, something that would make her heart beat fast, something that had a spice of adventure in it, and romance. Romance She sighed a little. At least she would have to make up her mind for soon now There was no letter from Bob on the following morning, and Anne realised that there was now little hope that he would put off his week-end visit. But Friday afternoon —three hours before Bob was due to arrive—something happened to make her forget everything. • Friday was the one day in the week when she did not go to Colonel Beeston, and she was sitting in the garden reading, after a hard morning in the house, when the hum of a high-powered car disturbed the silence of the quiet village, and seemed to move the sultry, heat-ladened air. The day had dawned with a thick mist, and its promised heat had developed until the atmosphere was close and oppressive, herald of a coming storm. Anne looked up. She was in the middle of a story, and she did not immediately connect the sound of the car with anyone she knew. But as she looked up from the pages she saw the gleaming red body of James Carfax's car coming towards the cottage. She stood up, with shining eyes, and waved back merrily as he called out to her. In a l'ew moments she was walking towards the [gate as he was jumping out of the car with hand outstretched. In that moment Anne- realised all that this man meant to her. It was useless to tell herself that she had only met him once before. It seemed that he had been in her life for always, and from the warmth of his grip and the expression in his eyes, she knew that he felt towards her much as she felt towards him. In a moment the thought of Bob Hamilton seemed to disappear, and she forgot everything but the strange happiness that possessed her. CHAPTER 111. A Run Through the Country After the greeting, James Carfax smiled cheerfully, and explained that he had been spending a few days with friends at Bognor, and had decided to leave for Carfax Hall, some hours earlier than he need have done, in order to visit the Mayfields, and —he added with a twinkle in his eye—especially to see Anne. “You’re sure?” Anne’s eyes twinkled to match his. “Of course,” chuckled Carfax. They seemed to have fallen into easy camaraderie which delighted Anne more than she could say. It xvas as though she was meeting an old friend, someone she had known for many years. “How is your mother?” he added. “She is keeping very well,” Anne said. “I expect she has seen the car, unless she is at the back somewhere. Shall we go in, or have you no time to stop?” Carfax answered by starting to walk towards the open door of the cottage. “I have a couple of hours,” he said, “and —” he hesitated for a minute, and his expression changed subtly—“in fact, I'd been wondering whether you would care to come for a spin?” Anne's eyes gleamed, but. she forced herself to hide her feelings. It would never do to let him see just how much his presence and his suggestion had excited her. “If you're sure you have time,” she said, “I would like it. It's so terribly hot.” “Of course I have time.” He smiled a little, and she knew that he was pleased, but before they had time to speak Mrs MayfTeld came to the door. She had been upstairs and had seen the sports car outside, she told them, as she greeted the visitor. The next ten minutes passed quickly. James Carfax had apparently also come to further his father's invitation for the two women to spend the week-end at Carfax Hall, and it was definitely arranged that the following week-end should be the one. Further. James Carfax had promised to run down in his father's car—a closed one—and fetch them. “There's no need for you to worry about trains.” he said. “and. in any case, there would he so many changes you would spend all your time travelling. It's not so bad by road.” Shortly afterwards James Carfax suggested that Mrs Mayfield should come with them on the country trip that he had already suggested to Anne. For a moment Anne was more than a little mortified. She had looked forward to the trip on her own. and she was afraid that he was anxious not to give her any reason for feeling that lie had actually created an impression that he wa«s interested solely in hpr. It was obvious. hut the feeling was there all the time. A moment later slip realised that he could not very well have talked of

the trip without extending the invitation to the older woman, and when Mrs Mayfield shook her head and ‘ laughed, Anne was conscious of a real relief. “Not in that terrible car you’ve got there,” she said. “1 could never travel in one that is so low to the ! ground, but Anne will love a run, I'm ' sure.” The man's eyes gleamed, and Anne was convinced, now that this was i what he had been angling for; had I satisfied his conscience and the law I of convention by inviting the older woman, hut lie was .just as anxious as Anne that they should nut have a third party with them on the spin. Jt was just an expression in his glance as lie looked up at her that assured her of this. She l'elt more cheered than ever as her mother said: “Y"U won't he 100 long. Anne: remember we have visitors coming tonight.” Anne nodded. “Of course,” she said, “we’ll be back in good time.” She was heartily glad that her mother had not mentioned Bob's name. She wondered -whether the other had any idea that she did not want James , Carfax to know anything of the Boh Hamilton angft of her life. Whether or not. the danger had been averted, although for a moment her heart had seemed to stop when she imagined that her mother was going to say—“We have Bob coming to-night,” and she had wondered what on earth she was going to say to the other man who, so far, knew nothing about. Bob. Would it ever be necessary for him to know? Or would the situation ease itself without trouble of any kind? The start ol' the trip was spoiled to some degree by this uncertainty in Anne's mind. She knew that the whole problem was a troublesome one. So far none of the others had any real idea of what was going on in her mind, and it was better that she should have to decide for herself. She knew that her mother would never interfere with any of the things she did. On the other hand, Mrs Mayfield would ■ not hesitate to say if she thought Anne was being unfair to anyone. Anne's life was her own, but it was not always good for the younger people to do everything without any advice at all from their elders. Janet Mayfield had more than an idea of what Anne was thinking and feeling. She had seen the way her daughter’s eyes had lighted up when she had refused the man’s offer of a run in the car, and, moreover, she had sensed that Anne was not looking forward to Bob’s visit as much as she had looked forward to his previous week-ends in Hedham. So far, however, it was too early for her to do or say anything. It was quite possible, she knew, that the sparkling Carfax had turned Anne’s head, but she had real belief in her daughter, and she was sure that Anne would do nothing foolish. Moreover, Janet Mayfield had often wondered whether Boh Hamilton and Anne were cut out for each other. There was no one else in the village, or indeed in Anne's life, who could have attracted her in any way. and. consequently, she had wondered whether Anne was making 100 rapid a decision by deciding to marry Bob. Not that she had the slightest dislike to Bob Hamilton; in fact, she was as fond of him as if he had been her own son, and she would hate to think that anything could happen to hurt him. She did actually believe that they would marry; but she decided that it would be better for Anne, before she settled down, to get about with people of her own age, thus broadening her outlook and making absolutely certain that when she did make her choice of a husband she would make one that would be wise, and would not offer the likelihood of trouble during her married life. Anne had no idea of these thoughts that were passing through her mother's mind as the red sports car hummed along the narrow country roads, and the man at her side guided it with supreme control and confidence. Once, as they were swinging round a short bend, a farmer’s cart loomed perilously near, and Anne’s heart leapt for a moment as she clutched fearfully at the side of the car as James Carfax turned the wheel towards the hedge at the side of the road, missing the cart by inches. Not for a moment did his judgment falter, and as they swung past, he smiled a little. If Anne had not been so concerned with her own danger, that small incident nrght have opened her eyes a great deal as to James Carfax. She had noticed subsconciously that the horse had shied from the gleaming monster of steel that had rushed past it, and that the farmer sitting on the cart had had extreme difficulty in keeping his beast under control. Anne could have told herself that Bob Hamilton in such circumstances would have pulled up immediately and walked back to make sure that the horse was quiet, and that no harm had been done. Such a course had not occurred to James Carfax, nor had the narrowness of Their escape made him slow down in the slightest.

Still the red car sped along the road, and the quivering needle of the speedometer on the dash-board showed fifty-five—sixty—sixty-five, going faster and faster every moment. There was a Jong straight stretch of over a mile in front of them where Carfax could safely open out. The wind whistled past Anne's face, whipping the red colour to her cheeks, sending her hair streaming behind her. giving a sparkle to her eyes that had rarely been there before. She felt a fierce excitement rising inside her as they sped onwards. Never had she known such a moment of such joy. Nothing seemed to matter; she was there, sitting next to him. staring at the green hedgerows and tall trees in the distant fields, seeing it all as a vague dream blur. The moment was one she would never forget, but they could not go on at such a terrific spred. and ns they approached a curve in the road at last hr closed down on the throttle a lit lie. and the car travelled along at. forty mites an hour, slowing a little at the many corners across which thev came. As the needle dropped to forty .Tames Carfax looked at the girl at his side, and for a moment hr could find no words. (To be continued to-morrow)