PAID IN FULL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21199, 23 August 1940, Page 3

PAID IN FULL

NEW SERIAL STORY

by H. S. Sarbert

CHAPTER ll—(Continued) “He hated me from the first; he , will go on hating me, and he will not alter, for he is not the type of man who alters. I could have told him that love levels all, that there was no such thing as different worlds , when a man and a girl really loved each other. I could have told him that, but it would have done no good. But I’m quite sure of one thing: if you still continue to love me, and want to marry me—then you’ll have to choose between your father and me, my dear, but you will have to make it all the same.” Carrie spoke levelly, confidently, as one who is quite sure of herself. A slight shiver went through Harry. Those words of hers had cut him to the very heart. Carrie came nearer to him. She laid a hand on his shoulder. “And when that time comes, my dear,” she went on, “and you have to choose, tell me what choice you will make? Please tell me, Harry, for I’m most anxious to know.” “Carrie, don’t—don’t!” He spoke hoarsely. “I tell you it won’t ever happen. Dad will understand ” She shook her head. “He will never understand!” she told him. “Make no mistake about that, Harry. He hated me before; he’ll hate me a thousand times more now, because he’ll blame me for having taken you away from him. He wouldn’t give me or mine credit j for any success you might achieve He would only wish to part you from I me, and you would have to choose, j Tell me, Harry, tell me, would you ! stand by me, even against him? I i want to know how much your love is I worth. Do I mean more to you than ' he does? Do I?” She was standing close to him. Her arms were round his neck now, and she spoke with what seemed a passionate pleading. She was so lovely. It was all so wonderful to him. That she could care for him in this way! “I love you,” he whispered, “with all my heart and soul. I love you, Carrie. You know I do. I could never marry any girl but you, and without you now—without your love life would mean nothing at all to me.” “Then I come before him—before your father?” Carrie persisted. “Say it, Harry—and then you may kiss me as if I were really yours ” She paused and drew away quickly from Harry’s side, for the maid had entered the room.

“Someone’s called, Miss, asking for Mr Preston.” she announced.

“He says that he must see Mr Preston at once, on most important business.” A quick glance passed between the young people. “Who is it?” Carrie asked the maid quickly. “It’s no one who has called here before, Miss,” the girl replied. “I can’t say who it is, only ” “Then tell him that Mr Preston and I are just going out,” Carrie ordered, “and that it is impossible for us ” “I’m afraid that won’t do, Miss—” The voice came from the doorway —a quiet, deep voice. “I’ve come a long way to see Harry, and have a chat with him—and I’m going to have it!” David Preston spoke to Carrie, but he looked at his son. Father and son were face to face. CHAPTER 111. Distinctly Unpleasant David Preston’s appearance was a great surprise to both Harry and Carrie. To the girl it was distinctly unpleasant. She did not want Harry’s father to interfere just now. But Harry did not feel that way about it. At first he had been taken aback, had recoiled slightly, and the colour had come into his cheeks. But that had passed, and he had remembered that this was his father—his pal—who had come a long way to see him. “You’re pleased to see me, Harry lad, aren’t you?” David asked. Harry strode forward then. He caught his father’s hands in his own. “Why, of course I am, Dad!” he cried. “Perhaps I don’t like to face you for very shame. I know I treated you pretty shabbily in going off as I did, and if you’ve come—” David shook his head.

“I’ve not come to reproach you, my boy,” he said. “Get that idea right out of your head! I just wanted to see you again, that’s all, and to talk over old times. And, more than all, to know how you are getting on.

“I’m doing fine, Dad. Sit down, will you. I want to tell you all about it. I’m making a big success, thanks to Carrie—and Carrie’s father. You know each other, don’t you? Well, just shake hands and be friendly—do now, for my sake! I want that more than anything. I want you two to be on the best of terms with each other.” Carrie shrugged her shoulders, and then extended a slender, highly manicured hand. “All right,” she stated. “I’m willing to try anything—once! You’re father doesn’t like me, so it’s no good pretending, Harry boy. He took a violent dislike to me from the first moment we met, and that dislike has grown and grown ever since. But this does happen to be my house, doesn’t it? And he has called here—so I mustn’t forget the rules of hospitality! I’m glad to see you looking so well, Mr Preston—and very sorry if you have had any concern about this prodigal son of yours. I can add my assurance to Harry’s, however, that he has been working ■quite hard and doing very well indeed.” David shook hands with her. He could not do anything else but take the hand that was extended to him. But the old dislike—a dislike and suspicion that could not be mastered was still there. She was smiling at him, but there was something sarcastic about that smile. He knew she was laughing up her sleeve at him; that she was experiencing a sense of triumph. She had won the first round of the battle. Harry, his boy, was here with her, and he himself was just a visitor. (To Be Continued)