Short Story

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 372, 25 June 1903, Page 7

Short Story

'm?: Ki* Woman, my dear Gilbert,* observed the Colonel, as -he deftly snipped the end ‘ of his a ter-dinner cigar, * woman is the bane of man’s existence. When oar first maternal parent engaged in that charm* ing little episode with the serpent, she - commenced the bobbery, and her daughters hive kept,the ball steadily rolling with ceaseless' activity ever since. From the age of eighteen to forty, we lords of creation (save the mark) are tbair willing slavea in the, capacity of lover or husband. After that, - ' those, who have escaped bondage begin to realise that the lack was with them after all, whilst the others suddenly hear the tattle of tbeir chains and feel the pressure cf the gyves oh their wrists. Ton see, the cold steel was carefully covered with velvet, sleek and soft to tbe touch, but the years have worn it eft, and the deuce of it >is that as the fetters are in constant use they can’t possibly be re-dressed.’ •Is it liver, or doesn’t the cigar suit you. Colonel?’ I interrupted at this point, and my mouth distended in a sympathetic grin. •/* ’ ‘ .* f •Liver a good deal ‘better, than .yours .. will be at my period of life, sonny, and the weed is .- excellent,’ returned the - Colonel, ‘ Iff a age, apd the consequent dismusion %ag*brfcgqTk I £ I .JS * Here, I say, you can’s possibly enter fox the Methuselah Stakes at forty-five,’ 1 remonstrated. ‘ And aafor thismiaan- . thropical attitude towards our sisters—well, hang it! it doesn’t exactly square with tbe ehppacter generally ascribed to ' Colonel BichArd Wandle where the fair sex is concerned. Why, it was only last week that a certain lady described you to mesa a perfect ‘Squire of Damee.’ and delicately hinted that if I moulded my. demeaaour upon yiurs 1 should be better for it’ * Mere subterfuge to delude the enemy. A kind of rear-guard action, magnified by the foe into a general engagement, bat really T designed to withdraw 'my depleted forces to. a strong position, where I can act sdfely on the defensive.* " * Ton’ll excuse my saying that I totally disagree with, your premises.’ I fetor&d. ; * Woman is the poetry which leavens man’s sordid naatenalism, the torch which lights his weary path, the incentive which urges him on to noble deeds .and, , riiivalxoua actions. I know one girl who could be all that and more. The sort of v gizl at whose feet a man might place all that was beet in him just to gain one smile of approval from her tender lips, one kind thought in her pure heart.* •The difference in standpoint between twenty-five and forty-five, old chap,’ answered* tiie Colonel, and L/.noticed ar i kindly tinnxle in his eyes. ‘ Would it be fair to ask the name of- your divinity ?’ Ho, better not,’ he added hastily. ‘ • Much better to keep to generalities. Woman in the abstract, was my. point Slf you cite any particular instance you’ll get inside my earth works,and■ I’m, lost. I’JUL-adipit : that there aid perhaps one or two women who shatter even my philosophy.* •1 don’t mind telling you. Colon?!,* I responded. *lt is your ward.’ * ; * J - Elaie Brinton. Ah* that’s toe way the wind blows, does it, you sly dog. Undoubtedly a charming girl, but hasn't she just as decided views about our sex as I have enunciated regarding hers P* ‘Yes,’ I agreed rather 'glumly: Shedoesn’t think mhoh of ns, and one cannot wonder at it. We’re a poor lot, taking us, all round** is sS ,> ».<? ■wt'/!-- . -»■ * Personally, I can decidedly endorse that, as at Colonel with precicus little , more than his half - pay, he remarked grimly. ‘ Bat it’s, a different. case so far as you ’ >v '' n> * ' •Yes, I know, but my own irapecuniority was panting to be expressed,* he said laugjhmgly; * There is fto reason why;. you shown not try. and convert Elsie,’ you know. ifrantf win, you can be'sure of dolence I fnShe event of failure/ ». .~, '1 have to claim the latter, v.vs - * r ' ‘Faint heart,’ he quoted, and then added meditatively: ‘ Of course, Elsie has had every encouragement to grow sweet and womanly, 1 cannot .conceive a girl i&o 'was nfcthried ‘Yeefl interjected, ‘There’s another good woman. Where will you find a better thaftsxy auat ?* • * Ah! Your aunt, my boy, that is quite, a different matter. We were talking of ' women—Lady Trevilla is.an angel.’ ‘Thank yon, Colonel Wandle,* came a clear voice from the doorway of the dining-room. ‘You pot the old. adage concerning listeners to the blush.* ' *’ The raouwas that of my :adnt,< and as she spoke she.entered the room, followed by Miss Brinton.' u1 ' v The Colonel nee and responded., * Madam, there are some listeners- who can hear naught out good of themselves, for the obvious reason that there is no evil which one can speak.’ The low courtly bow with which he accompanied the words here prevented him froto&eeing tbe soft look, which came to my aunt’s eyes as he spoke, bat I observed and'tmdentood its toeaning. 'Forgive this intrusion on that hour which is sacred to men folk,’ said Lady Tjeville, * bat Elsie and 1 drifted into a discussion which had jour sex as a basis, and, being worsted in wordy argument, it seeped to me that the beet way to controvert ‘her heretical opinions was to bring her into closer association with the foe.' ......... , • The fact is we ventured to take to our- ’ selves one of the vicee of men, always sappoeing-ihat you admit you have any,’ chimed in Miss Brinton with a merry laugh. ‘Now, that’s not playing the game, Elsie,’ interrupted my aunt. *We ought to niakwearofeU: observations, theft retire once more to our own domain, and there settle tho vexed poipt.’ ‘You know we shouldn’t agree,’ returned ; Eifie composedly. Then turning to me, she continued: ‘Lady Treville was extolffng ihan's courage and kindly feelings towards the weaker part of humanity, and X laid—-that is the term, I believe— pairs of gloves to one that your sweetness would not sustain' the shock of our intrusion at this juncture. Now, on your word of honour, Mr.

The Wooing of Elsie.

Forsyth, don't you wish we had left yon in peace ?,Bi careful. Think how much. more dignified it would have been to stalk into the drawing-room in half an hoar’s r time, with a lordly air of condescension—a kind of.gracious benignity lighting up your face.’ If I had expressed my real answer, it -wonhLhoxe.been :‘Ever since I opened the door for you to pass out I have been longing to once more join you.' But duringber speech I bed glanced across at the Colonel, and thought I. caught an exhortation to agree with her in the solemn wink be had baa towed on me i so summoning up all my comage, and with a mental reservation, I responded in a mock-heroic tone: * Ton have appealed to my nobler feelinge, Miss Brinton, and—well, you cannot imagine what a charming companion Colonel Wandle is when unfettered by the social restraints imparted by your couvenfcioh-lo vfng sex,’ It .struck me she looked rather disappointed, i)ht she answered * What, a blessed relief : it is to meet a thoroughly straightforward man. . I should like white with blacf stitcbiag, please. Lady Treville.’ . • ? v ‘Ton have not won them yet,' retorted my aunt; ‘There is another to be consulted/ Colonel Wandle, my hopes rest with yon: On ydur soul as a good man and true, refnte the assertion of that degenerate nephew - of-mine !; I should like black with white stitching, please, ‘ I am; sorry. Lady Treville,’ he an- |‘ But out.of the mouths of babes and sucklings—you know; 1° all else- 1 am' the -willing slave of- year sex, but leave ns out hour after dinner/ ‘Come, Elfiie. ’Hy faith in masculine human nature is shattered/ she answered merrily. I And the comment the Colonel passed after~they had'departed was: ‘The only reparation you can make. Gilbert, :is to tell me your aunt’s size in gloves.’ | When we finally went to join the ladies we foupd my ahnt alone. She was sitting at the piano playing some soft dreamy piece of music, and the Colonel at once crossed ever and joined her. * Elsie is on the terrace,* she retnaiked. 1 Whetherit -WSETmeast “as a hint, lam " not"prepared to say; but, at any rate, I eagerly'seized ;the; opportunity f and . intimated *itfy -'intention- of - joihlng- -hlrf ; As I passed oat I caught a glimpse of .her leaning : over the halos trade at the’! fair end, gating out at f the setting son.' The glorious light had settled on her white drees, pencilling a delicate of colours undreamt of in the weaver’s philosophy.’ - She greeted me with a smile, in which I seemed to trace some sign of tenderness. Together we passed down into the grounds, and wandered away side by side. ‘ I respect you for your honest avowal this evening,’ she said. ‘ I like a man to -. treat my sex' with the same candour he giye* te his, own. The majority of men seem to think that all women deem insincerity in positions such as..we involved you to-night a subtle courtesy. I do not. To me it seems an insult to our ■ intelligence— of masculine protest against a meiewbman daring to have a discriminating mind.’ She spoke the words as : thongh her creed demanded them, bat just beneath the surface there was a larking, wistfulness which begged me to controvert her proposition. . , . I should have taken her in my arms and told her that I had been sailing under false colours, that I really deemed every moment spent apart from her as wasted, '•.but wh were within sight of the lodge windows. Even the mere words were denied me 1 for at that moment onefqf the rage-keeper's who was-edming .towards ua, tripped.'np.on .the gravelled drive [and ..Bha ran forward . and’ picked him up, hushing his frantic Cries with- tender, words. 'The gravel had' cut' the poor mite’s knees; I took him from her And carried him to the lodge. It was pretty to see he? 5 bending over to aid the.mother to bathe and bind np the child’s hurt. I noted with pleasure how soon the mantle -of nawwomanism was discarded when the aeej| for loving sympathy became apparent. She, would not Leave until the; child’s sobbing 'ceased.' S' :V , f§ t s -,. Aa Wiwlked^backi now muhh the little scene had touched me. speak as though* the most ordinaryr attributes of a good woman were lacking in me !’ she responded. ‘lt would be a hard heart that was not touched fay the sufferings of a little child.’ r On the contrary/ I protested, ‘I. give you credit for all that is sweet and true, but—forgive me if I speak plainly—you seem to take a delight in hiding all those endearing qualities from your fellows as though it were a sin to let them appear. Why; be cold and distant to those who 1 love you, "»nd-are blindly groping in the' dark for some path which will lead them , straight to your heart ? I know of one such louajy. finds the road strewn; Withr ana teeming.with turnings'which lead him astray; for their devious twistings only land, him at the starting-place. Could you.stretch forth your hand and in ail kinduess guide his erring feet f ’ ' r ‘ And, supposing I guide this wanderer to the citadel asd surrender at discretion, can Ibe sure that he Will not requite my kindnesaby loading me with chains and making me his slave ?’ ‘ 1 no 1 Bather will he ereet a throne and set you upon it as faia queen. Elsie, giy& the wayfarer a iittle hope. He ia anxious to woo -you as you would be : • wooed.’ \ , r There was a tender light ia her eyes as they met mine which made me take heart of grace, and<• her, voice was tremulous as she responded shyly t. ■. ‘ Then it must oe very little. I cannot forego conviction of years in a moment- Yon must give me time to think it out.’ Then suddenly changing her tone to one of light raillery, she conteQued archly. ‘Ton see. I have got to disabuse my mind of a preconceived picture representing man as a raging i tyrant going about intent upon destroying the mental peace of woman, rather than the gentle, dove-like creature yon -depict him. Why, I had no idea that yon were willing to let us have our way in aU things!’ - : ‘I never said you should have your way in all things J‘ I cried,' stimulating indignation. ‘ Oh. then, I quite misunderstood you, and we need discuss the matter no

|--faither,' she anßwererHn similar tones to i my owe. I 'lt i 8 very wrong of you ;to take an unj fair advantage, yet.l Buppose I must subuiit. When may I have the answer? .Let me implore you that suspense may not be protracted,' waß my re joinder. ' Let me Bee—this is Monday. Shall we say Saturday in next week ?' 'A. fortnight 1 That is an awful time to wait 1* St a appeared to consult the ground as we walked on, and waited for some other rf mark from me. Finding none came, she continued the discussion. ' May one ask when the would-be lord ard maa'er thinks he should receive the answer ?' she asked, sweeping me a mocking curtesy. ' Your co-Inheritor of a crown in prospective/ I corrected, 'thinks sometime to-morrow— preferably the early mcraing—would be qaite long enough/ 'I Bee; well, I shall sleep upon it!' she exclaimed ;• and, bsfore I could utter a word of thank p, she. had slipped away to be seen no more that night. - When I returned to the drawing-room and made Elsie's excuses, I noticed that there was evidently something in the wind between my aunt and the Colonel. She was looking radiantly happy, and her guest at least five years younger. ' I suppose we had better tell him ?' said my aunt. " f ~ 1 ■ ' Certainly,' said the Colonel' ' The fectrjisjildchap, Lady Treville" and. I— '■—'; , 1 Have decided to run in double barn< 88,* finished my aunt. ' Strictly entre nous, I had to practically fling myself inte his arms, for the dear old stupid would have let my wretched rent-roll stand in the way of our mutual happiness, and it was not likely I was going to allow that,'- she concluded composedly. I gave her a 'congratulatory kiss, and then turned to the Colonel and extended a hand, observing reproachfully: * WelJ, of all the deep-dyed traitors you are the defepest !;;;.*Womar>my dear Gilbert, is the bane of man's existence. When our first maternal parent ' 'Stop!' he interrupted. 'Bamember, I qualified the statement when you started to introduce personalities into the discussicn; and, besides, Lady Treville—' ('Dora,' remarked that lady parenthetically) 'Dors,'; amended the Colonel, 'will bear me out when I remind you that I especially pointed out that den'zens from another world did not come under that heading.' I rose r arly the next morning, intending to take my usual stroll before breakfast. As I left,.the house 1 caught a glimpse of Elsie' some distance ahead; She was carrying some fishing tackle, and war evidently heading for the stream which runs through Treville Park, By the time I reached her she had got to work.' Whether it was my unexpected approach that startled her,.l don't'know, but, at any rate, before I could catch her Bhe stumbled and fell in the water. The river was somewhat turbulent from the effects of heavy rain, and by the time I got "her the current had carried her out into mid-stream. She could not swim and must have been badly frightened, but was too plucky to. give utterance to a. single cry, and ceased to struggle tho moment she felt my arin around her.

f Taererwaff- a rock a little lower down, and for this I steered my burden. Reaching it I clang on wit'a my disengaged arm. £fV;i*»J • Can yon hold oa for long ?' she said, as soon as she had regained her breath. 'lf not/ yon must let me go. It is of no use our both getting drowned.' ' I could freeze on here for years," I remarked cheerfully. 'But I don't know but what I shall let you go unless that answer you were going to give me this morning is satisfactory?': The words had the desired effect of reassuring her. ;•> *• :.";■ 2. 'Come! what is the verdict?' I demanded threateningly. ' That I wish to goodness I had learnt to swim !' she replied, But, as she lifted herself of her own accord and pressed her lips to mine. I took leave to doubt the assertion. #• ; v if • ? . •.*.:; -*■ The secretary'"".of Bights Society, of Which; she had been president, wrote, stating (hat the members looked upon heraa-a miserable backslider,[.',. ." - I happen to know that her answer was • ' Please teH jtfcjv-Bfsfarhood that a girl never realises a 'mere man's real importance until only Ms arm stretches between her and a watery grave.' T E Which, viewed in the light of a reason for marriage, is (with apologies to Euclid) H. Potter.