1931-12-18 — Page 8

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China Mail.

T

Christmas Supplement 1931.

HONG KONG, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1931.

The Girl Who Bought A Ship

HE GREY-HAIRED man with the sallow, gentle counterance took a sip of his coffee, glanced round the great restaurant, and turned again to panion, a natured looking lady.

by J J. Bell

fling, lots, away. She needs a husband to I'm not sardonic!- 1. help her to spend it don't mean a wastrel. I'm fond of Norma." The grey-haired man lit a fresh cigar- ette. "Who is going to ask a girl with six

this com- | millions to marry him?”--

·

all so dif-

good. “Our young men are not at a

fident as they were in your day, Bob," Lady Hilyard said a little drily. "Norma does cot talk of those things, but I suspect several men of having made the attempt."

"You are giving me a real treat, Julia," he said. “It makes those wasted years out in the wilds almost worth while to sit with you in this luxury and hear you put half-forgotten names to half the strange faces

"Don't exaggerate, Bob," she inter- rupted. “The years have not been wasted. -you have served your country with them and I happen to know very few of the people here to-night. But some people, whom I know quite well, have just come to the second table directly on your left, and one of them may interest you. look."

Take a

It was occupied by four persons:

|

$

"I hope she may choose a decent man. "I hope she doesn't fall in love with one who will never ask her," Lady Hilyard said. with a glance in the girl's direction. "Norma is no simpleton, but her ideas are simple d no time for display and she Her father had has no use for it. She has a beautiful town house, a lovely little country estate, a magni- ficent steam-yacht and so forth; but, if 1 know the girl at all, such things count for little in her life."

"One moment.

Do you know the two

middle-aged woman, two young men, both ag fellows with her?”:

very presentable, and a girl with tawny. hair, and dark blue eyes.

“Thanks, Julia," said the grey-haired man, whose name was Meredith, "that girl is worth seeing. Her face is decidedly at- tractive. Who is she?”

"Norma Fortallisteir.” "Fortallistair!

Why, I've

heard the

name! It's an unusual one. Let me see.” The grey-haired man wrinkled his already: wrinkled brows. "By Jove! I met a man of that name out yonder long ago made a pot of money in tin

he

"He made pots of money in no end of things! When he died, nearly two years ago, he left the girl six millions. A year ego she came of age, since when she has been absolutely free to dɔ what she likes."

"Six millions!" He glanced at Miss Fortallistair. "And she appears to be happy. I should have thought the mountain would

crush her."

"It hasn't

but her father's death

nearly did." Lady Hilyard's voice became tender. "It was a cruel business. They were alone in the world and devoted to each other. After Norma left school she went with him

on all his travels; she was scarcely ever at home; the result being that she had no

chance to make friends, and when the end came suddenly-heart failure while motor- ing in the country”

this

"Poor child! Were there no relations?" "The woman you see, her father's cousin, Miss Laidlaw, was the only one in after the Immediately country. tragedy Norma and she went abroad and travelled incessantly, feverishly, for a year. Then Norma seemed to get over it and they came home and settled down. Norma has plenty of friends now."

"I could believe that, though six mil- lions were reduced to six pence. What is she doing about the mountain of money?".

"I understand she gives, but does not

'!!Ê!!?!!!!!]}]

F

Meredith has just been telling me that he met your father, long ago.”

I should like to hear about that,” said the girl warmly. “We are going down to Woodways to-morrow, for Christmas. Why not join us there as soon as you can? We are having a little dance on Christmas

aving a to danc Eve"

Then you won't want old-stagers!" "We want you, Lady Hilyard” —Norma turned to the grey-haired man --“and you, too, Mr. Meredith:” a

The sallow face flushed; the tired eyes brightened. “That is so kind of yon, Miss Fortallistair," he said, "that I don't know what to say. As for sparing time, I've been home retired for ten days, and al- ready I'm at a loose end. I seem to have dropped out. But for Lady Hilyard

Lady Hilyard turned to Nurma. -- matter of fact, my dear, your invitation is a godsend to us both.”

"That is splendid," said Norma. “Come on Friday. Mr. Dennison and Mr. Hart är to be with us for a quiet week-end. Then

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ you will get a few peaceful days before the m

"Oh, yes. They are frequently her escorts. They happened to be on the road when her father was taken ill, and were of the greatest service. The fairish one, Charles Dennison, is a junior partner in that mammoth firm of accountants, Dennison, Stark and Co., the other, Colin Hart, has, I believe, a pretty good position in the business. Do you think that they are both in love with her?”

“I think that one is very much in love with her and that one will shortly ask her to marry him," Meredith slowly answered.

Their going out brought them close to the table occupied by the lately-arrived quartette. Norma Fortallistair looked up and held out her hand.

"How nice to see you, Lady Hilyard!" "I've been thinking that of you for the past ten minutes." Lady. Hilyard returned, | and nodded to Miss Laidlaw and the two young men. "Let me present Mr. Meredith; who is seeing London after many years in the East."

"Won't you join us for a little?" the girl asked, looking from one to the other.

"That would be delightful, but we are due at the theatre," Lady Hilyard replied. "I hope we may see you again soon. Mr.

Christmas crowd arrives."

“By the way," remarked Lady Hilyard, "Christmas Eve is your birthday, isn't it?"

"Yes, but we never mention it Norma smiled, sighed, and smiled again.. "Daddy, when I was a troublesome kid, used to say that anything may happen on Christmas Eve."

"True," said Mr. Meredith quietly, "but only if one really wishes it may happen. I wish it may, Miss Fortallistair

She glanced up and coloured slightly. In the tired eyes was infinite kindness, also a look she did not comprehend.

“Come, Bob, we must really be going, Lady Hilyard mildy interposed. i-

As they passed out of the restaurant she said: “We shall be late for the play.

"Yes, but it can hardly be more inter

esting than the play we have just left. A girl; two friends who want her; one she cares for, and one who is not quite straight. How will it end?"

"You are guessing!" she said quickly

that one is not "How can you know straight?"

"I have been guessing for thirty years,” he replied, " and I've seldom guessed wrong. A sort of instinct, I suppose, developed in dealing with primitive people.

"Which of those two men straight?" she asked.

not

"I shall tell you that only if it should. become necessary.”

"Aggravating thing! Well, tell me what you wish for Norma on her birthday.

"That the man she cares for will ask, her to marry him.”

“And which is he?"

•

"That would be telling everything.

the restaurant Miss Laidlaw was saying: ""Just as well I didn't remind Mr. Meredith of how I used occasionally to meet. him long ago. It might have been awkward,

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