Strange Romance

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21139, 14 June 1940, Page 3

Strange Romance

By MARGARET GLENN

(I OCR SERIAL STORY I

CHAPTER XXlV.—(Continued) She did not know that Bill Grayshott was battling with himself. He was finding the past fighting against the present, and it was a stiffer fight than he had imagined. The ghost of Fay was with him sometimes. Laughing, happy, considerate Fay—yet who was able to look after herself, and who lacked the rather tiring simplicity of Rene Camson. Fay who had lied, deceived him. On the other hand, he was feeling acutely lonely. He had not realised how Fay had filled his life, and her going had .left an empty void, that had to be filled. Rene was hopeless with money matters, but otherwise she had a fine intelligence. She had a great deal to handle hereslf, and she certainly needed help with her brother. She was pretty—and she seemed retiring. For instance, she had made no capital at all out of the photograph affair. She belonged to his “set.” She had had the same advantages ot education as he had, while she was a friend of a friend of’ Lydia’s—who did not fail to dwell on the younger girl’s advantages when the occasion was suitable. She seemed to be made for him. Yet that ghost of Fay was there. Fay’s dark, waving hair as she ran down the beach. Fay playing with Bruce. Fay swimming speedily through the water. Fay tense with excitement in the air trip, or fascinated with the many side-lights of Paris that he was able to show her. Fay—Fay—Fay! Could he never get his mind free from thought of her? But Rene was speaking. “I’ll ask Mr Tilfer whether he recommends the same man,” she promised that day, and Bill Grayshott frowned. “I shouldn’t,” he said. “Jerry Tilfer is getting a little past it, Rene.” The younger woman looked startled. “I thought he was so clever!” A Little Perturbed “Ye-es. I say—l hope you haven’t been investing on his advice?” Rene assured him that was not the case, but she left the office more than a little perturbed at the thought that Bill Grayshott was not altogether trusting Jeremiah Tilfer. It suggested to her that the urgency for getting him to ask for her hand in marriage was increasing.

Lydia heard of this development an hour later. She scowled as Rene told her, and her comment was sharp.

“He’s getting too clever—and he’ll soon realise that Jerry and I are after his money. When this other scheme of ours to start multiple stores comes off, he will see that Jerry’s arrangements aren’t a great deal of use, and it could cause trouble. Well, there’s one thing that might make him propose, Rene.” Rene Camson laughed, “All right—l’ll try it! What a terrible struggle to get a husband!” “A rich husband,” Lydia reminded her sharply. “I’ll see him this afternoon—and you be at the Twenty Club tonight, my dear. Looking your best.”

Bill Grayshott said “Come in,” a short while later, and Lydia entered. She had. come ostensibly because she was taking a few days holiday, and wanted to find out whether there was anything he needed before she went.

“I’m going to the Twenty Club tonight, for the last time for a bit,” she said. “Coming?” Bill nodded. Dancing and music were his sole recreations—the only things that gave him peace of mind. Then it was only fleeting. “All right, Lydia. You’ll be away for the start of the new business, then?”

“Perhaps. It doesn’t matter, now the secret’s all right. By the way, I hear that Fay Langley is marrying John Emery after all. He seems to have his eyes on some of that five thousand.”

Bill Grayshott’s hands clenched, and his eyes were suddenly very narnow. For a few seconds he eyed the other woman intently. Then he said:

“So she’s getting married, is she? All right—thanks. See you tonight, Lydia.” Lydia was smiling—again to Bateson’s puzzlement—when she left his library, that was also his office. For she had finished Fay Langley in the millionaire’s mind, and she was going to be very surprised if there was no proposal that night.

It was nearly three o’clock when Rene Camson turned the key in the door of the St. John’s Wood house. Bill Grayshott was standing close to her, and she was smiling lightly into his eyes. She had never set herself out to attract a man’s attention so much in her life—and now her heart was beating fast. Would her effort succeed? Bill’s heart was heavier than usual. And yet He felt so terribly alone. He no longer really relied on Lydia, and Tilfer was becoming distasteful. He had to have companionship—friendship—love! His voice was very low. “Rene—l’m not much of a hand at talking, but—will you marry me?” (To be continued)