SHORT STORY

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 391, 5 November 1903, Page 7

SHORT STORY

(Continued from la a t week.) ' Yes, jeß,' said the little lady, smiling threwdJy. * You axe very open, Edward.' 'Mother, jmt explain yourself, will ycuP' •Ob, yen needn't look soeolemn, Edwaid. My dear boy, nothing would give me greater pleasure thin to see you married, and well married. Why, that is what I sent you to Europe for, chiefly, and lam Euro she must be charming.' 'Who?* * I'll whisper, since jou are bo diffident, 8. G.* Winslow started again, and stared at his mother. ' Oh, I'm a necromancer,' she said, but at the tame time threw her handkerchief too adroitly over a package en the table. He lifted it, and aa<v a package of his letters beneath it. • His mother laughed. 'So you've.caught me.' He glanced at the uppermost letter. ' Good grandmother!' he exclaimed. 'lhad entirely forgotten. What! that little S.'iena Garland at Dresden Mrs Cabot's niece F So she wat —30 she was.' Hia mother locked*at him blankly.- He seemed to have swept down her house of cards. ' I see I must tell a plain story in a straightforward way,' a aid he; and be told hia mother of meeting Miss Grayson en the steamer, of hia unconquerable affection for her, and of the evening's embarrassment -Of course,' he concluded, " I don't care a snap of my finger for what anybody Eajs—' But he happened to catch sight of his mother'e woful face. • Yes, I ao care for ycu, mother; but ycu OBly need to see her, and all your doubts will disappear.' * I don't know—l don't know,' she said, shaking her head. 'Everybody will know. Wbb Mrs Talbot there ?' «Yes.' ' Dear! dear! She will never atop talking.' * Pooh! nobody would notice her. Yes, they would, too. But no matter. 60 tomorrow to see her, and your doubts will all vanish.'" Winslow went the next day, and very early. He asked for Mrs Cabot, and when she left the parlor Mies Greyson came down. She had not gone to Chicago, and she did not go that day. Mrs Winalow herself called in the afternoon. 'I think we can arrange it, Edward,' said his mother, a few evenings afterward, as z4b talked it over with her eon. * Mrs Cabot has found another place for Mrs White, a place as housekeeper in a widower's family, and haa invited Stella to make her .a visit. We'll give a party, and drees Stella's hair differently, and nobody will recognise her in the world. We'll invite everybody who was at Mrs Cabof e. The tnly trouble is Mrs.TalbOfc Site has oeen twice, when Mrs Cabot was out, on purpose to try and persuade the pretty lady's-maid to come to live with her. She let it out, for all she thought she was so shrewd. 2t was, of course, a very dishonorable thing to do. Shall we ask. her P' 'Oh, invite Mre Talbot, of course.' And Mrs Talbot was invited. She looked very narrowly at Winslow's fiancee. 'My dear,' she said to her husband, afterward,' that Mips Greyson looks extraordinarily like Mrs Cabofs lady'smaid. You remember we saw Winslow speaking to her at Mrs Cabofs party, and she said her name was Stella,' too.' * Very likely,' ' It can't be that they are the same.' • •No.' Stf is •Why can't it be?' * Because you just said it couldn't.' Mrs Talbot did talk, but' she could find nobody else to xecogniie the likeness, and Mrs Cabot herself declared she never had employed a lady's-maid.-'lt was a narrow escape, though,' she said, several months afterward, to Mrs Winslow, when the gossip had died down.

Mrs. Cabot's Guest

* Shut up, Tommy!' siid Hemming, the rising barrister. 'By the way, has any one seen the Pxofeesor this morning ?' • I saw him grovelling in the kitchengarden,' drawled Barker; ' and, when I asked him what he was up to, he muttered ghastly things about some one having seen a death's-head amongst the potatoes.' ' He's a queer chap,' said Hemming. 'His trousers are positively indecent,' said Barker. ' He has a nice voice,' caid Kitty. 'I believe Kitty's in love with him,' said the Boy. «I saw her stroking one of his butterflies the other day. It spoilt it, didn't it, Kitty?' 1 1 didn't know the c ilour came off,' protested Kitty. ' Ah, that was a female butterfly,' said the Boy. ' Well, ycu fellows, if anybody wants to re-label portions of a small museum, they'd better come with me. Ifs jolly slaw here, and it's horrible to see Barker yawning in the corner over thero. I wonder why Barker looks eo dreadfully unpleasant' wh6n he yawns! I think it must be hia teetb. Never mind, you can't help it, and hitting me with a billiard cue won't improve your method of yawning.' •You'd better leave Mr Sinnetfs specimens alone,* said Kitty. 'i4hd so had you,' retorted the Boy. '[l don't go Jstreking all the colour off. Ton know, yon won't get him to love you that way; entomologists are awfaily touchy people. I heard of a collector who disinherited his only son because he Bat on a chrysalis. I say, Barker, don't you - think you'd better go to bed,or cover your fac3 with a newspaper ? Huilo, there is the Professor! Don't look at him, Kitty ; his "trousers are positively indecent— Barker eaid so.' Alfred Sinnet stepped lightly acroes the lawn; a basket, swinging from a leather strap, banged against bis right hip; tin boxes bulged from hia pockets, and in his left hand ho carried a Btick conveniently hocked to pull down the branches of trees. He was tall, daik, clean-shaven, and, apparently, about forty years of age. •He is coming in here!' exclaimed Barker. ' I expect he's coming to look at jour teoth,' "said the Boy 'I shouldn't wonder if he wanted to put them ia his collection-' ' He's more likely to put a lot of beastly gravel on the billiard table,' said Fanshawe of the Coldstreams. • Perhaps he has some beetles with him,' suggested Hemming, the rising barrister. Everyone laughed except Fanshawe, who suppressed a shudder. 'Never mind, Fanshawe,' said the Boy; 'beetles can't run as fast as guardsmen. Look out, here he is! Does anybody know a few lines of Darwin as a recitation P he mijht consider it a delicate compliment.' The Professor raised his straw hat in salutation. ' Any eport ?' asked the Boy. The Professor raised bis eyebrows, . interrogatively. «Have you got anything to kill ?' went on the Boy. ' There's nothing like drowning for caterpillars.' The Professor smiled, and his smile was rather pleasant. ' No; I have brought home nothing alive this morning,' he said. ' Not. even a death's-head,' suggested the Boy. 'Barker was in the kitchengarden this morning picking roses—cab-bage-roses, I suppose—and brought home something half alive. He calls it George Fletcher Barker, Esq. I think it's about time we sent for his relatives,' ' May I see what you bava collected ?' asked Miss Kitty, 'I shall be delighted to show you.' 'The Professor opened one of the tin boxes and extracted a small specimen of blue quartz-' ' This,' he said, 'is peculiar 'and different from any I have hitherto • eeen in! this neighbourhood, but if you can spare me a short time after lunsh, I shall be able to show you my recent acquisition? with less inconvenience to your friends.' And he smiled pleasantly at Fanshawe of the Coldstreams. • I should like to hear you talking about ' quartz! very much, if it didn't make Barker, yawn,' said the Boy. ' I am sorry if I bore Mr Barker/ apologised the Professor.

' Not at all/ said Barker, glaring at the Boy, who was telling Fanshawe that the Professor had quarts of beetles in his pocket; | •If s so good of you to take so much trouble over me/ said Miss Kitty to the Professor. J ; \j J 1 1 ' I ajm veiy glad if you find my hobby of interest/ said the man of learning.

'I always envy you scientists; every foot of the road contains for you some objectlfor study of which the uninitiated never dream,' The; Professor beamed. «You must come jwith me one morning, and I will show you how to observe all the ciwioua minutiae whic i are lying around you at every itep. Will you excuse me now ? I Bhall jbe rather Busy till lunch time. Good morning, gentlemen.' A choius of good mornings followed the Professor from tbe billiard-room. Barker} yawned; the Boy whistled ; Fanshawe of the Coldstreams snorted; Hemming, the rising barrister, smiled;

Kitty blushed. The Boy Bhook his head at Kitty, reproachfully. * You might leave the poor old Professor alone/ he said. ■He never did you aßy harm. He didn't put caterpillars, in your bath, and he didn't make beetles run after you.' ' Don't be silly,' aaid Kitty.' 'That isn't the argument,' said the Boy. The next morning Barker, tho Boy, Fansaawe, and Hemming, watched Miss Kitty' Haret and the Professsor pass through the wicket gate at tho bottom of the rose garden, and ester the copse a few yards beyond. Tte Professor walked hurriedly, avoiding the patches of wet clay by instinct, Miss Kitty had more than once to request a less speedy progress, and at the stile, which they reached after a few miEutes hurried tramp, she was glad to stop and recover her breath. The Professor informed her concerning tbo properties of the berries which

clu.tered on the hedges, and of the weeds which grew rankly in the ditches. ! Overhead the sun shone from a sky of epeckless blue $ not a cloud of even the Jightest 7spcuT broke the azure monotony. .Qia&ti beeches spread their shadows over the goldtn grass on which a flock of Bheep was grazing; slowly moving forward with remarkable regularity; many birds of divers notes sang in the trees and hedges, and late summer wild flowers made points of colour on the groundwork of green, J Isn't it lovely V gasped Kitty. ' This

meadow and tbia copse are worth the wholo of the London season.'' Two months hence Kitty would be dying for a dance! The Professor looked at the flowers and dissected them with hie eye; looked at the butterflies and classified them at a glance ' Yes,' he said ; «it 39 very lovely.' They walked on until the basket and the tan boxes were almoet full, and Kitty heard about many things which she tried vainly to. remember. Kitty Hurst felt happier than she had been for a very long while; there was something instinct with pleasure in thrts wandering through peaceful meadows, beside hedgerows, finding wonderful things in ihe least considered places, and feeling your step spring npon the turf with continually renewed vigour. On the following morning Kitty «nd the Professor again set forth with basket and boxes, and on several successive mornings, until the young men who assemblpd in the billiard-room began to deteiit the Professor most cordially. The Boy maintained an optimistic outlook on the situation. ' She's only having a lark with him,' ha asserted, confidently. '.She's a jolly long time larking,' objected Barker.

' Miss Hurst,' said the Professor, staring curiously at the twisted trunk of a massive oak tree, 'do you intend to undertake a serious study of botany ?' ' Ob, ifs very interesting!' said Kitty, ' and it's very nice to be amongst these delightful green fields and copses; but as to becoming a really serious botanist, lam afraid that J'm not built that way.' ' Yes, if s very pleasant,' said the Professor ; « and youv presence seems t make it even more pleasant' The Professor paying compliments was a phenomenon which startled Miss Kitty, and made her blush deeply. * It's very good of you to say that, but I thought tnat you scientific men always

spoke the truth as far as your knowledge allowed. In fact, I thought that that was the basis of the scientific spirit, and what made it so objectionable to tue imaginative creature.' 'As far as my knowledge admitted, I spoke the truth,' said the Professor. 'Ah, that's because you haven't the artistic instinct! If you had, you would know that my person in its present relation to those trees ia abominable, and that my frcek ia 3imply revolting besid thoa' purple flowers,' The Professor smiled and walked on. Blue shadows dappled the golden grass; a soft breeze shook the boughs overhead; the morning was perfect MUb Hurst and the Professor stayed suddt uly in their walk as if by instinctive syagatby and gszaci at the soft line of the dov nsl which stretched far on their left hand. The air sras vary still, save for the lazy hum of insects; a herd of cattle grazed in a near meadow; at a distant farm a dog barked intermittently, the sound., robbed of its poignancy by the distance, being pleasant to tho car. ' What a paradise, this pastoral England !' said the Professor. His glance had syathesysed, not analysed, Kitty nedded. There is an elecaent in such a scene that hushes the human voice; articulate words souad coarsa beside the harmoijioua speech in whbh primitive Nat-ire utters her messages. 'For thia,' went on th 9 Professor, ' would you care to give up a great deal of the pleasures wfci-jh are in your London life—tha dances, theatres, and concerts—to take Nature as your sole entertainer, to watch her in her passive and dramatic moods, in her minute and her mighty effects ?' To such an appeal as the sunlight offered who could gay 'No ?' Kitty xnew that dances and theatres must be loathsome, and wondered how she could have considered them satisfactory, .'. Yes,' she said; ' I could live like that wiih thorough happiness. lam sure that one is very foolish to consider so many trivial and artificial pleasures.' « And would you care to live that life with me, if I tried to do all that might lie in my power to increase your happiness ? I love you. I am not an old man, but not young eHough to get bitten by a passing fancy. I know that you have scarcely known me long enough to beable to say whether you would be -happy as my wife or not. My manner of living has been entirely different from yours; but I could make some concessions to your habits, and that need not be a barrier.'

The Professor was trembling; his hand shook as he held it forth to give emphasis to his words. Miss Kitty Hurst suddenly discovered why she Led been bo contented during the past faw days. 'I should be very, very happy with you/ she slid. The Professor was an awkward lover, asd his embrace was not carefully considered ; he had had no experience in such matters since he left Eton. Miss Kitty Hurst did hot rebel at his want of grace, but clung to him as his lips touched hers. The group ofjnen in the billiard-room were spending an uncomfortable morning; Barker swore; the Boy salked and broke the jigger; Fanshawe, of the Coldstreams, pawed his moustache; Hamming, the rising barrister, smiled. * Fancy Kitty Hurst being engaged to the Profess or,' he said. - K S.

'This/ said Mr Jneigottit, who was entertaining a few friends at dinner at his club, ' is the eharge-d'affaires of the feast/ Here he indicated the choicest dish on the table. 'No, no, father/ interrupted his embarrassed sob; 'you mean the chefd'oeuvre." 'I suppose I do/ said Mr Justgottit; ' but the word 1 ueed gives me more of an impression of the cost of the dish.' Customer : Why doesn't that spinster, Miss Brown, deal at your shop any more ? Grccer : One of my clerks ineuiteS her. Customer : How ? Grocer: She overheard him telling sumo one that she was our oldest customer. Shamus D)gherty stepped into a jeweller's to buy a ring for his wife to be. Alter waiting until )-a could obtsia the ear of the shopman, he i?hispered to him hoarsely, ' Give me the best wedding-ring you have in the stop.' ! 'Eighteen carats?' aekod the shopman. ——- * I want my photograph to be a natural likeness, without any retouching or embellishing. I suppose you will charge less ?' •On the contrary, madam, we must charge more.' 'More? Why is that?'

' Madam, to let an exact likeness of you go out of this studio without "my im proving work upon it would cost us a hundred customers at least.' Americans &ra said to hav-3 been seriously debating the question as tc whether a lady may speak to a gentleman over tiia telephone in attire which would preclude a mora personal encounter. We own that we can see no moral or material obstacle to such a course; in America they seem to think that it would lead to a * wire entanglement.' A regular slave mart still exists in many country districts of Finlaad, Once a year such paupers, luhatics, and aged people of each parish as cannot support themselves, are put up to public auction, and consigned to these who will board . them at the lowest prive offered by the parish authorities.