LOVE'S DARK JOURNEY

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21039, 15 February 1940, Page 12

LOVE'S DARK JOURNEY

by MARGARET COOKE

! ( CHAPTER XXII Continued j “Judy had to know,” James Marj tin said simply. | The baronet did not reply for a ; moment. Then his eyes narrowed, | and he extended his right hand, i “You know, Martin, I’m an old ■ man, but I can read between the i lines a great deal. Judy—Judy means a lot to you.” Martin nodded without speaking. | and his face was drawn. “And she’s fond of Mark. I can’t understand Mark. I have never been able to understand him. A creature S of moods. Martin. A Renway, but j with some strange blood in him somewhere. Dammit, do you know, man, I had set my heart on a match ; between him and Judy? The Frenj shams were old friends. Deuced ! sorry when things started to go wrong for them, and that sweet girl —but I’m a doddering old fool talking to you like this.” “I don’t think so,” smiled Jim Martin. He had a greater hold on himself now, and he was acting mor% normally. “Can I tell you one thing. Sir John?” “Say what you like, my boy.” Sir John Renway was glad, although he did not realise it, of the opportunity for filling in ten minutes by talking with Martin. Martin’s soothing, comforting manner was there, even with members of his own sex. “It’s very simple,” said James Martin, and his sincerity was obvious. “I’m prepared to do anything to make Judy happy. If she is not for me, then I’ll accept it. If at any time you can see a way in which she—she can be made happy, you won’t hesitate to tell me?” The old man’s eyes gleamed with admiration. “I won’t,” he promised. “If God allows Mark to live, perhaps while he is recovering he will have time tc see his folly. But—he is a Renway, and his word is his bond. He has promised marriage to Rene Willett—” “Do you think she can make him happy?” asked Martin, realising how strange it was that he should be talking to Sir John in this manner, and yet feeling a desperate anxiety to thresh out the truth while the opportunity was there. “I—l don’t know. I don’t think so.” “Then if there is any way you can show him that she will not,” said Martin frankly, “it’s up to you to do it, Sir John.” The baronet shrugged his shoulders. “I know. But I made a mess of it when I tried.” He hesitated for a moment, and then he poured out the whole of the story. The relief of being able to talk was tremendous. and he felt better when he had j finished. James Martin was a perfect listener, and as the story was unfolded he understood something of the tor- ! ment in Sir John’s mind. It was a | strange mixture, this affair—an af--1 fair of emotional storms, of the queer reactions of the human mind under stress and strain. At the moment there seemed no solution to it. Judy, who mattered more to James Martin than anyone in the world, was in love with Mark Renway so deeply that she was brooding over the knowledge that he was lost to her. Renway, perhaps blinded by the strange passions that filled him, was promised in marriage to Rene Willett, but now instead of being the strong, handsome man who had reared nothing, and whose sardonic had always given an odd fascination, he was badly broken and so sorely hurt that death might yet step in. What then? Martin could not know, but he felt the weight of uncertainty very heavy on his mind. And he was terribly sorry for Sir John Renway, although there was nothing at all he could do for the baronet. “I don’t think I should blame myself,” he assured Sir John when the story of the quarrel was related. “There was hot temper on both sides, and you had the right, you know, to talk to Mark. I—” He broke off quickly, however, for the door opened. Sir John explained as he saw the white smock of the doctor who had been with his nephew. “Well?” The query came like a bullet shot. The doctor was a tall, grey-haired man, whose lined face was very grave. “I cannot make any promises, Sir John,” he said. “Mr Renway is conscious, but very badly hurt. Only an immediate operation can save him, and we are making preparations now. In three or four hours’ time we shall have some news. If you will allow me to make a suggestion, I would like you to return to Tanton.

I will telephone immediately there is news.” The baronet's face was haggard but obstinate. “No, I must stay here!” The surgeon said nothing for a moment, but glanced at Jim Martin. The other guessed the truth. Sir John, old as he was, was really in no condition to wait during the night hours. Martin spoke quickly. “Let me wait, Sir John. As soon as word comes through I will hurry to Tanton. and the telephone message will arrive at the same time. Someone will be watching for you.” Sir John hesitated, but a moment later his decision was made for him. A nurse hurried into tlie room, and spoke quickly. “Lady Renway should be taken home at once, doctor,” she said. “She is bordering on a collapse, I am afraid.” The .Squire’s eyes narrowed, and the words came abruptly. “That settles it. I will return immediately, doctor. You will stay here, Martin?” “Yes,” promised James Martin. “I will just write a note for your chauffeur to hand to Lindene—it will take me only a couple of minutes.” He wrote briefly what he was doing, and assured Judy that there was no need to worry about Mark too much. Then he saw the baronet leave the hospital, knowing just what was in the old man’s mind, and feeling a tremendous sorrow for him. He smiled grimly as he realised the irony of the situation. Here he was, waiting to get the first tidings of the man who had proved the only stumbling block to his happiness. Judy loved Mark Renway, and he. James Martin, would have laid down his life for her. It was typical of the man that there should be no bitter thoughts in his mind. He waited in the room, reading a little, but thinking for the most part. He wondered whether Mrs Willett was anythink like as seriously hurt as Mark Renwav. (To be continued)