A CUL DE SAG.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2092, 18 January 1908, Page 3 (Supplement)

A CUL DE SAG.

(By Chris Sowell.) “Talking about- matrimony/’ observed Constance reflectively, as she poised the teapot in mid-air preparatory to negotiating mv second cup of that uncomp lomising beyerage, “I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m much too intolerant even to lot it enter into my. calculations. As a matter of fact, we hadn't been talking about matrimony, and I hinted as much; at the same time signifying my willingness to prattle of it tilf doomsday, if it amused her to do ! ->•

“Don’t he silly," said Constance li„ht!v, waving the teapot to show how ' ihsoltuely insignificant my remark was. "1 forgot you’d only just come. It must have been auntie and t who were talking about it at lumh: anyhow it lingered in my mind aid. as 1 sav, I’m too intolerant even to'consider it seriously. “Intolerant?” I interrogated. “Well, it- must bo intolerance that, makes me see such drawbacks to ai the ihgihle young men of the place. “Drawbacks?" 1 murmured again.

“For goodness sake, Boger, don ; echo my words/’ cried Constance with exasperation.

1 hastened to apologise. "But honestly, I don’t quite understand you,” I went on. “I've always flattered myself that wo are a singularly high-principled, inoffensive set. Why. there’s not a black sheep among us. come to think of it. Constance put down the teacup, threw back her head and laughed. “You don’t- class yourself among, lie eligible partis of Medford, do you?” she inquired pleasantly. I stroked my moustache ami looked as modest as I could. “What else am I?" 1 asked. “You’re a dear, middle-aged, res-pectable-old thing,” add Constance inconsequently, “and it’s aw.V.lj pretty of you to think all the girls are tearing each other’s eyes out for you.” “Steady!” I protested, raising an admonishing hand; “-that’s a lined on my claims; but leave me out of -■ -the What, for instance, is ihe glaring drawback to Odes Bassett?” “Golf.” announced Constance, gloomily. “Perhaps I’ve been spui.t, but I couldn't have my horizon bounded by a few aches of turf and a few dozen discs.” “Well, ihere’s Jack Ledbetter.” “He talks about himself—it’s the only subject in which he’s really -forested, and there are moments when I reel I must have- a good’ listener or buret.”

"Oh! Of course, if you’re so particular! Then there’s Jack Trevor, Elliot Bun bury and Bob Manfred.” I counted them on m.vnnger.s. Constance handed me my tea and

sighed. “Hose,” .die said concisely. “North country accent, and two sisters never likely to marry. You know, Roger, poor Bob (who's really nice) is going to have them both to live with bun when lie takes a wife; he told meco ! “When he suggested that you should i«ty 9 1 * I remarked. “Exactly,” said Constance, dimpling. “He hasn/t enough money to pension them off, poor boy,. and keep up an establishment of Ins own as well.”

“I don’t think/' - I'said cautiously, “that I mentioned either tlie new doctor or the curate?” “The new doctor reeks of antiseptics,” mused Constance, “and I can’t lire on the same side of the street as iodoform. -Though lie’s got nice eye:;, too,” she added regretfully. “And the curate’s been engaged all along —I always said so, only no'one would listen. It came out when old Air Pile told him that there was no misunderstanding his attentions to Miss Pite. Fancy, she’s fifty, if she’s a minute, and not quite right at that; and the poor thing only talked to her bemuse he thought it was safe.” “Well, then,” I observed, “that completes the list, unless you like to fall back on me; and anyhow, Constance, I challenge yon to find a glaring drawback in my case. I don’t play golf. I have let a cup of tea. grow cold and u muffin, tough while I sat enthralled by your con.•_Vi_rsalion. I defy my worst enemy to find faiuPtovith my nose- or accent, and iny'^sj§a? r died in infancy.” Constance laughed, again—l fancied however (but I’m imaginative, perhaps), that the laugh sounded Stioro forced than natural. “Do you know, Roger, you say rather smart things occasionally,” she admitted. “By the way, though, there is a drawback to you apart .from your age, you know—a more glaring one than all the rest.” Sim said tin’s .as if S’ caking to herself, and afterwards, I fancy she wished she’d been more discreet-.

film leaned back in her chair, and her cheeks grew suddenly very pink. I felt sure she would change thesub-"jec-t if I didn’t stick closely to it. but I had a sudden sensation of power—a sensation I had never experienced, when i.n tlm company of Constance before. “Is it anything very bad?” I asked cautiously. “No—l don’t know —that depends on the point- of view—hut —” “I’m going to have six guesses,” said I. “Nonsense,” -sakl Constance, very hairTeoly, “you’d never get it ,in sixty. Have jam finished jumr tea, because - —” Her cheeks were getting pinker everv minute. As 1 watched them I ; proportionately daring, dy tea can wait,” I sub’.. . hen on first discover this- —this delincy?” years ago (very cautiously), 'when I was about sixteen.” “Where did you discover it?” “What a silly question.” “Where did you discover it?” “Don’t look at me like that —in vfie ■emSTner arbor by the rose garden, u j-ou must know." f nibbed my hand- and drew my chair a little nearer. Alj- seeoiKl cup of tea remained untouched on a little Oriental table beside me. “Was it one- afternoon —one r.vecl summer afternoon —when jam asked me if I bad ever been in love, and 1 tohl you. —” “Vcs, van if y on liki'; there sno need to go into tint." she spoke very hastily. “I was a stupid 1 , inquisitive child.”

“Don’t interrupt. I told you, 1 remember, that .1 adored a girl with all my heart, and though she was not -or me I knew I should never care for anyone else.”

“What on earth has all this to do with—with the drawback?”

She spoke with an elaborate air of surprise, but her hands were trembling, aii-d 1 was not to be put oil -the scent. 1 knew her very well, you see. I'd held her iir my arms when she was only six weeks old and 1 was a downy youth of eighteen—probably I’d blushed then as she was blushing now.

1 rose, walked over to her side, and sto.nl looking down at her. "I'm going to make my first-guess,” I said.

“Why, you’ve made about seven already,” murmured Constance hysterically.

“Those were preliminary questions Look at me.”

To my surprise, she obeyed—she was not, as a inle, given to submis-

“The glaring drawback you find in me,” 1 said very slowly ami distinctly, “is—” Constance gave a slight scream. '■ “Is that 1 do not- love you.” ! It was out —and I breathed again. I don't- know if I expected an imligmint denial or ribald scorn. Got nei tiler. Constance buried her face in her hands ami began to cry. j 1 knelt down and drew her hands away —1 didn't know myself in this new, reckless mood of mine, hut it seemed to come natural somehow. “How,” I said, “I’m going to pay you hack in your own coin, and tell you the great disadvantage there is to you. You're a deal too ready to jump at conclusions, and act on the ■ jump.” | “What do you mean?” “You were the girl I loved, but how could- I guess that the dear, respectable middle-aged old tiling would have any chance with the pretty, carehvs young creature who looked' on him as a father, or at any rate, as a very elder brother? So he was con-tent to stand by and .see her carried off by more suitable rivals.” Two unshed tears made Constance’s bright eyes very bright indeed 1 —her cheeks glowed with dew-washed roses. A dimple appeared slowly in either cheek. She gave my hands a small- — a very small squeeze. “Roger,” she said, “it’s too terrible—l verily believe I’ve proposed to you.” “Upon my word,” said I, as I kissed her, “I verily believe you have; but anyhow, after deceiving me for four years, there was nothing else left for you to do!”