SHORT STORY.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 451, 8 December 1904, Page 7

SHORT STORY.

IIOITOERELLA OP TO-DAY.

I3§yS ifc * jolly shame,' said Tom -urayton, coming out into the con- | servatory to where his favourite sister Molly wag standing. «The Sylvesters have just come, and they have left Ella at home to look after that tiresome brother of theirs. IEJI u- ¥ rs S ? l *<xteT could not have stayed behind, if he were not so well, and let the three girls come alone. Mother did n*lf suggest it the other day.' Tom's mother was giving a ball in honour Of his twenty-first birthday, and he was naturally ratber put out to find one of his particular friends, and his sister's best mend, had been prevented from coming Ella Sylvester was a general favourite, bhe was not handsome and accomplished like her elder sister Gertrude, nor so pretty and fascinating as Tiny, the younger one ; out, for all that, there were many who llk f d °er better than either of the others. 'Why Gertrude told me the other day that if anyone were obliged to stay with Gerald, she should,' said Molly. 'Trust Gertrude doing it though. She is very good at proposing to sacrifice herself, but I have never known her do so. Ella is so awfully good tempered that she gets imposed on,' and Tom again repeated that it was a 'jolly shame.' Just then the band struck up, and Tom hurried away to find his partner for the first dance.

Ella had lingered a moment or two, after her mnthsr and sisters had started that evening, at the open door, where she could distinctly hear the sounds of stringed instruments being tuned in readiness to commence. The Grange was only a little way down the road, and she could see the people arriving, and every now and then catch a glimpse of a figure passing cne or other of the brilliantly-light -A windows. Tears came into her eyes, bae was only t twenty-two, and it seemed to her just then that she had said good bye to youth and everything in the shape of happiness and enjoyment. Had not her mother said a few days beforehand, ' Captain Derwent is sure to propose to Gertrude when he comes down to Mrs Drayton's ball, and when once she is married I shall be able to take both you and Tiny out together; as it is, I really cannot afford to buy new dresses for you ■U.' It was arranged that Gertrude should go, because Captain Derwent was coming down from London for the dance, and, of course, Tiny was to go because she never had been to a ball, and at eighteen one expects to do so. Ella had met the captain the year before at Bournemouth, and had grown to care for him more than she dared own to herself; he had always been attentive and kind, and, she even thought, preferred her company to that of other girls staying in the house. When her visit came to an end, Gertrude and Tiny had gone to stay at the same place, and the letters they wrote to her were full of Captain Derwent's doings and sayings, and Tiny had said she was sure he was deeply in love with her elder sister. Ella would have liked to go to the dance just to see him once more before he had engaged himself to Gertrude.

Gerald's peevish voice called her in, and, brushing away her tears, she made her way into the dining-room. She read aloud to him for an hour, and tried to be cheerful during supper, but it was hard work to keep herself from crying. Whan the old nurse had helped the invalid boy to bed, Ella again began to read to him. Beading aloud to him was the only way to distract his attention, and causa him to forget his helpless, crippled condition. This fourteen-year-old boy had become quite a tyrant to his second sister, Ella, but she was a willing and loving slave, and never provoked the angry bursts of temper the twe other girls did so often. •jDTncle will be sure to bring you some new books when he comes next week,' she had just said, when a knock at the front door surprised them. To her astonishment it was her Uncle Lionel who bad arrived from abroad, just a week before he was expected. He was a great favourite with his nephew and nieces, and was always welcome with delight when he came back from his travels to stay with them for a few weeks. He invariably brought them all handsome presents, and this time proved no exception to the rule. When it was explained to him where the others were, and why Ella had stayed at home, he was sorry he had not come by an earlier train, "then he would certainly have insisted on Ella going, fcr Gerald was never so contented and happy as when his uncle Lionel was with him. The good-natured old gentleman at Gerald's request, had the portmanteau that contained the present carried up into his bedroom, and the boy sat propped up with pillows watching, while one by one they were unpacked and laid out on the chairs. He had brought a handsome fur cloak and black Spanish lace shawl for his sister-in-law, and fans, gloves, and jewellery for he girls. Gerald's favourites he had remembered, and a large array of handsomely bound books made tap boy's eyes sparkle with delight. •" > -'•_? Ella left them talking together, and throwing a shawl over her head slipped out of the front door and leant over the gate to listen to the band. ' I must not show any surprise or disappointment when they tell me the news,' she thought to herself, her thoughts going back to what her mother had said about Captain Derwent. • Will my life always be so monotonous, I wonder? Is there nothing else for me to do but wait on Gerald and mend Tiny's and Gertrude's things? Uncle was right just now when he said I was a regular Cinderella; no one treats me badly, it is true, but ' * A penny for your thoughts,' said a voice at her elbow, and Ella turned round with a start and saw Tom Drayton, Molly, and another gentleman she did not recognise. 1 How you startled me,' said Ella. •Do come in, uncle has just come, and he has brought you such a lovely bangle, Molly.' 'Am I quite forgotten? Have you nothing to say to me, Miss Ella?' said the man who had come with them. I At the sound of his voice Ella's heart beat quickly, and she held rather a shaky little hand to him in silence, which Captain Derwent pressed warmly in his own. 'lt was too bad of you not to come tonight, Ella,'said Tom. • How can I come of age properly unless my friends rally round me?' 'Mother did not like the idea of Gerald being left alone,' she replied, opening the front door to let them in. Mr Sylrester was just coming down from Gerald's room, his arms full of the presents be had brought with him. * Why, Mr Sylvester, you look like a benevolent Father Christmas,' cried Molly, greeting the old gentleman affectionately, and helping to unload him of the fur cloakand other things, to enable him to give a hand-to Tom and the Captain. *We have come round to see if we can't persuade Ella to come and have a peep at the ball-room. No one would notice her if she came in the conservatory way, The marquee is so prettily decorated. Do come, Ella,' said Molly, persuasively- ' Gerald must be in bed now, and asleep.' 'Why shouldn't you, child,' said her

ancle. «I am here in case he should wake

™J?J y ,°" mua V "aa Tom. -We have and won,t take a °y ™3? tfo Foack. I am engaged for the next dance to Tiny.' ' HeSssf put this on,' said Uncle Lionel, picking up the long fur cloak; 'it is just the thing No one will see you have not a proper ball dress under it.' *lt is cold out; you had better put this over your head,' said the Captain, handing ner the Spanish lace shawl. hy !, you look liko s Olll6 princess, vix Molly '' in that lovel y fur -' Ella laughed. ' I may as well complete my toilet,* she said, and picking up a fan and a pair of the dainty kid gloves, she answered that she was ready to go with As soon as they reached the terrace that ran along the front of the house. Tom and Molly left them hurriedly, saying their partners would be wondering where thev were. J •And I daresay you are engaged too, Captain Dement,' said Ella. ' Please don't stay any longer with me—tell Molly I ?hall be behind theso palms,' sbe added, pointing to a group of palms near the entrance to the temporary ball-room. 'lt vas rather too bad.for those two to run off and leave me.'

For answer Cyril Derwent showed her his programme, which, but for one or two names at the commencement, was empty. •I reserved all these purposely,* he said, 'as soon as I heard you had not come, and I should certainly have been much annoyed if Tom and his sister had not taken their departure. It was my idea we should come and fetch you, and I hope you are not vew.d with me for doing so.' Ella glanced at him inquiringly. ' Couldn't you guess why I came all the way from London to this ball to-night ?' he, bending down to look at her face. Ella thought he was trying to enlist her sympathies in his suit for Gertrude, and made no answer, but sat playing with her fan, 'Tell me, Ella, is there any hope for me ? I felt when I saw your people come without- you that you had strayed away purposely to avoid me. Did I guess rightly last summer that you did care a little for me?' Ella still sat speechless, but allowed him to take her hand, and the young man continued—' Last year I was not in a position to ask you to be my wife, but since then my uncle died, leaving me his heir, and there is no reason now why I shouldn't speak. Ella, put me out of suspense.' ' Oh, Cyril, I thought you cared for someone else,' murmured Ella, too happy to give him a direct answer ; but Captain Dewent was satisfied, and they sat unheeding the dancars, and never noticing several angry looks Gertrude directed towards their corner, till a distant clock rang out, and Ella started to her feet, saying she should have to hurry back to be home before her mothers and sisters. ' I don't think I shall tell them to-night that I came here,' she said. 'Just as you like, love,' he said, tenderly. 'I shall come and see your mother as early as I can decently come.' * * * #

Gertrude and Tiny /did not seem to have enjoyed the ball as much as they expected. Tiny told Ella that Gertrude was much offended with Captain Derwent; the greater part of the evening he was nowhere to be seen, and when she did find him he was so engrossed in conversation with some girl he took no notice of her. They were at breakfast, and Uncle Lionel put down his newspaper and looked at Ella over the top of his spectacles. He had been made a confidant the night before, and was very pleased to think his favourite niece should be engaged to so eligible a ' parti' as the Captain. Ella looked somewhat confused, and Tiny continued—'Who she was I don't know, but her complexion was too good to be natural.'

'Are you speaking of that mysterious stranger in the conservatory?' said Gertrude, entering the room at that moment. ' She was a Londoner, I expect. She was awfully painted and powdered—some actress or singer that Mrs Drayton had met somewhere, I daresay.' Half an hour later Mrs Sylvester came into the morning-room, where they were all assembled, with Captain Derwent close behind her 'Ella, Captain Derwent has brought back a shawl you left in the conservatory last night. You never told us, you naughty girl,' she said, smiling, 'that, like Cinderella of old, you went to the dance without anyone knowing.' ' And I have come to claim the same privilege as the prince did in the same story, when he brought part of the lady's wearing apparel,' said the Captain, handing Ella the shawl, and taking possession of her hand. 'As Ella's godfather I agree to your doing so,' said Mr Sylvester. Both Tiny and Gertrude were speechless for a moment, but Tiny broke the silence with a laugh. ' Well, you won't find us like the haughty sisters in the tale'; and Gertrude, hiding any resentment and disappointment she might have felt, held her hand out to her future brother-in-law, and gave him her congratulations.—A. J. Nib.