Short Story

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 369, 4 June 1903, Page 7

Short Story

* Bai Jove, what a owush !' • - • * Patience, old chappie '■ We're on the road to Heaven, you know !' - ■ i The first speaker tried in vain to settle an eyeglass in a somewhat diminutive optic, but he was so squeezed and jostled that at last he gave it up in despair. The fceae was the staircase of Lady St Mervyn's Maiaion in Eaton Square; occasion, her first reception of the season; time, ten thirty; period..-an evening in June. It had been a Ecorching day, and the evening was oppressive and sultry, the scent of. the roses whicS festooned the balustrades and doorways wpa almost overpowering in its heavinesp, and it was with a (rasp of relief that the two friends found thenu elves enabled, by a movement of the throng, to reach a little ale ve which formed a landing half-way up the ■ staircase. When the Honourable Bertram Egerton at length succeeded in adjusting hia somewhat obstreperous monocle, he again gave vent to his favourable exclamation : * Bai Jove, what an elegant creature 1' He stood upon tiptoe craning his neck, and clutching at the elbow of hie friend, who towered almost. a*i .-unle/of. feet above J him.

'Tea, quite ja little, romance in. .that,.. quarter,' answered Godfrey Lennox, who , who was special* cerrspondent fdrithe' ♦Daily MconnSa PSnet,'Tknd ' had just returned from an < xpedition on which he had been sent for the purpose of studying the Kangaroo language. Tee elegant creature referred to was a tall, somewhat statuesque blonde,, who stood by tfe r'de of the more mature Lady St Mervyn, assisting at the reception of the guests. - 'Bai Jove, I'm not surprised/ was tie answer. ' Who ia she, dear boy V • The wife of Jack St Meivyn!' *No P Bai Jove! You don't say so ?' 'Yesl 1 herein lies the romance,' continued Godfrey. Another movement of the crowd put a somewhat abrupt end to the conversation,-' and a moment or two later the special correspondent and-the Honourable Bertie - were in turn bending over the hand of the fairest woman in Loudon. 'Now for the story f said Bertie an hour later, as they bowled along Fie-, cadilly in his iuxuricus bansem, still perspiring, and almost exhausted. Lennox did not reply" jaet •at the : moment, being engaged in lighting a cigar. ■« • • *-• The Honourable Bertie, who never indulged in anything beyond perfumed cigarettes, was already enjoying his somemild luxury. 'You would hardly think' that Mrs. Jack-had aver posed as an employee in a , milliner'■ shop, would youf 'No! Bai Jove 1' •Butshehas!' ;; v 'Thedcocer

Whenever the Honourable Bertie made use of so strong as expression as 'the dooce,' his emotions were stirred to their very greatest extent; he only supplemented it by a long draws whistle, which was the cue for Godfrey to proceed with his story. 'lfs a fact. I assure you. Of.course everybody knew that when old St. Mervyn died, he left everything to his widow perfectly unrestricted. Jack had fallen head over ears in love with the daughter of one of his college tutors. | Iffy lady was furious, stormed, threatened, but all in vain. Opposition only rendered Master Jack rood obstinate. He married the girl and tailed for America to carve their fortunes by his own hand. Well, of course, so far, ifs riot; by any means an •riginal story, and the rawest, amateur might fill- in the subsequent events of failure, poverty et cetera. - -•. -' ' However, time passed on, and my lady, who was a.mpther, after all, conceived the idea of taxing a trip across, the pond, and at the same time to asiure herself "of her boy'B welfare*, for : he i bad; always, -kept their family solicitor acquainted withhis address.! 1 ■"* : '"' " '""' " < * ' ' However, whan she arrived at the address given to her by the solicitor, and which was anything but a pretentious one, it was to find that the Mr. and Mra. St. Mervyn had left only a few days earlier. It was not until she' had disclosed h«fld«jii|y that the e proprietor of the troaflr fla£" which they had rented confided to her the troubles of his whilem tenants. Then she learnt- that Jack bad been away on some vague ex. pedition, its only result being, an attact of fever. When sufficiently recovered hj» had made the best of his way home, when he succumbed to a second attack, probably induced by exhaustion) ana the'lack o: necessaries that weuld have enabled bin to regain health* and strength. 'To her herror, Bhe heard that it wai absolute poverty that, had driven them fc seek a etili more humble refuge, and tha bis wife, whose life had hitherto' beei passed in the seclusion .of a country rectory, had been compelled to seek em ploy me nt for ther mutual support ' The ytiung lady had " been luck; enough to obtain a position in one of th leading milliner's shops in New Yorkthanks to her 1 pretty face, the propriefb informed her ladyship. But it was ban work to be on feot all day in the shot and tendir g a rick man during the loa, weary hours of the night, as Bhe had don for several weeks past •In vulgar parlance, that was the lat straw. Although unable to direct her t their new abode, he furnished her wit the addref a of the shop in which youn Mrs. St liervyn was engaged. 'With ? rush of conflicting emotioai she gave the order to be driven ther with all re pidity, jn the meantime evoto ing m her own mind as to how she shout best introduce herself, when it sudden! occurred to her to simply enter as acui tomer, trr sting to chance to discover he daughter-in-law, and_draw int lun i uiß'aWfiTl 1 rfrirhrevealing her identit; 'Although they had not met, she wt ncvertheli as familiar with her represent: tion, in the shape of a photograph, whicl ranch to her annoyance,' had adorn* Jack's mantelpiece for sometime before l had taken the decisive step. ' Her musings were brought to a som what abrupt conclusion by the sudd* drawing up of the vehicle in front of tl shop, and her heart beat faster as si descended and bade .the. driver await hj

A Pretty Milliner.

return. 'The large emporium was filled with a fashionable throng, through which my lady was conducted by an attendant to the Bhow-'room, to which she had asked to be directed. Seating herself upon one of the luxurious lounges, her eyes wandered over the room in search of the girl whom she had come to seek, and after declining - the attentions -of- an employee, upon the plea of rcovering from her fatigue, Bhe I had ample leisure for observing all- that was passing around ter. § The hum of conversation was like the buzz of so many bees, aud gaily attired women were flitting about in butterfly fashion, from mirror to mirror, posing with the different creations upon their heads, and chattering like so many magpies. • Suddenly her attention was attracted towards a tall, graceful figure, who was in constant demand f6r fitting oh 1 the various Hats and bonnetß under discnßsion, for the inspection of the women, who never guessed what "guys they themselves appeared, after seeing her lovely: face framed beneath them.

*Mj lady recognised her in a momest, though the bonny laughing' face with whose presentment she was acquainted had become pathetically tbin and pale the laughing eyes seemed to "have lost their smiles in tear?, and there was a wißtful expression in the drooping curves of the slender figure which e.poke in eloquent language of both physical and mental suffering. Yet how patiently she - listened to the questions, suggestions, and contradictions that. followed closely upon of each other from those devotees ,|of |a£bior, and with what an assumption jpf jjtejßEt she replied, when her opinion was solicited, as to the relative merits of blue or crimson, of autumn tints or delicate greens. And yet what a mockery it must ill appear to her. The dollars spent so lavishly upon the flowers and ribbons and laces that were all round in such profusion; the interest and the energy frittered away upon costly trifles, while the' one for whom she had sacrificed home and friends must lie between life ■ and death, alone, in order that she might earn the few paltry dollars that were to. keep body and soul together. But she had a part to play, and she played it bravely and well, and none would have guessed the smiles that played around her rosy; mouth,-were forced frqm an aching-heart. ■} f - . i T •Taking advantage' of' a slight lull, which for: a moment left her free, Lady J3t. Mervyn enlisted her services, ;and became still more impressed by the sweetness of her voice and manner; and:was adroitly leading the conversation" up to t the theme of their mutual interest, when both were startled' by the appearance of' an employee, who was advancing along' the show-room, gazing from side to side, and repeating: '• ' '' •' ' 'Madame St Mervyn! Madame St. Mervyn!' 'With a hastily stammered apology, and a frightened look in her large blue .eyes, the modiste stepped forward ex-

claimiHg: 'My husband ?' ' Yes!' was the reply. ' A messenger is awaiting to see you. It is feared that -Mr; St. Mervyn is much worse/ Then ne added in a lower tone, although Lady St. Mervyn.could still hear distinctly, 'The manager is annoyed, and I am to tell you that if you absent yourself during businesß hours, you need not return.' 'The girl's pale face' became almost deathly, and her eyes distended with honor, . as she clutched at the neatest lounge for support. But employees are not allowed to exhibit weakness or emotion* ' ' Come, madam,' he said harshly, ' yon must not make a scene here; already you . are attracting attention 1' 'Thus admonished, the. girl made a valiant.effort atrpulling herself together, .while her tormentor turned with a suave bow to my lady.- apologising for any asnoyance sbe might.have suffered by the incident, .and begging her to allow him to;bring afresh attendant to wait upon her. E St. Mervyn declined the" offer, 1 saying that she wished to speak to the young lady. ' ? j Gin I "help you In your trouble?' she a asked, and at the kindly words and tone a - quick rush of % tears filled the eiri's eyes, and the httie hands clasped;each other - « * You are very kind, madam,' she answered, ' but I fear no one can help me.. I . do not know how to act) My husband is | seriously ill, and all that we have to depend upon is wbat I earn by my present occupation. A messenger has been sent for me—le may be dying ! If Igo to him, they refuse to let me return, and I shall be unable to provide him whh food or shelter, in case he lives. And yet I cannot let him die without me beside him I I must run the risk V • Yes, you must certainly go,' Lady St. Mervyn replied, in a tone of such authority that the young wife looked up at her in surprise, which was not in any degree lessened as she .vent on to say, * and don't, trouble about the manager, I promise that you slsall not be the sufferer by going !*- * k * / - - • *- - "-

r 'Of coarse the.. Yankees do not believe in titles and all that nonsense/ Lennox continued, «but the' obsequiousness and 1 politeness displayed' upon the production 3 of the bit of pasteboard on which was in- " i scribed the name and address of Lady St. J Mervyn, was intensely amusing.'-:' [ i i '- *Tou must fief me drive you home l' ; '» Lady St Mervyn said, signing to the girl ' to enter the awaiting carriage, but for a 9 second the girl hesitated. • . * • 'lt is such poor, quarter/ she said, * blushing Tividly; ' 0 . '.You want to reach your husband as a quickly as possible,' the elder lady urged, 1 well knowing that argument would be sufficient, as indeed it proved, and the ff next moment they were "bowling rapidly 8 in the direction given by the girl; ' J MS. ' For a short time there was silence 1 between them. Lady St. Mervyn broke it 1 by saying jsomewhat nervously, for it was ** her turn to feel ashamed. r •My dear, will you take me in with you o —to see Jack ?' ; . i , T> «To eee Jack?' echoed the girl in * astonishment! L ' are you ?' i- - : 'TheE an idea suddenly dawned upon *» her. <* \ ' It—is Jack's mother I* 6 - * Bai Jove!' exclaimed the honourable httle gentleman. ' And bow they're at *■ home again V n ' Yes! The woman pulled Jack through 10 a pretty sharp attack : of fever and ague, ie and now'm'y lady wouldn't part with Mrs. * Jack for all the wealth of the Indies !'

' Bai Jove!' said Bertie, as he dropped his monocle, « if I don't leek for a pretty milliner myself!'—Mbs. A.. S. Beadshaw.