Cupid and the Law. . .

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 44, 4 May 1901, Page 19

Cupid and the Law. . .

TELL me what you by, and I will tell you what you are," runs a certain trade motto. Yet even this all-knowing sage would have drawn a blank if he had attemptod to gauge Harry Stone's character by a certain purchase which he made in his bachelor days. It was nothing less than a guinea's w orth of palmistry ! Such a proceeding might have show n superstition, or a taste for occult sciences , or it might possibly have indicated a frivolous disposition, eager tor amusement and excitement. As a matter of fact, Stone was about the most unimaginative clerk in the "Big Wooden Buildings" of Lambton Quay, and as grave as a graven image. He went, as a sceptic, with the base determination to compass the exposure of a fraud. Two years before Stone would have attempted to dig up the Pyramids sooner than act the unpleasant part of social reformer. But something turned the current of his life, and he lost his bearings for a space. It was no new story. He fell in love, and the inevitable quarrel occurred, but it was not followed by the usual reconciliation So when "she" passed out of his life, Stone tried to banish the tenacious memory of a pair of gray eyes by barring the windows of his heart, and with the temporary loss of lus emotions he became a womanhater. The little sanctum in Tinakon-road was cosily upholstered and furnished. Photographs and palms threw their weight into the decorative balance, whilst a profusion of ornaments completed a charming apartment. Stone eyed the elegant fittings with supercilious interest. "H'm !" he muttered. "Probably not paid for, which is bad. If paid for, then on the proceeds of quackery, which is worse." Then he subsided into an easy-chair, which gave a loyal groan — as of protest — under the weight of such disbelief. Apparently "Lallah" was a favourite, for Harry had to wait some little time for his appointment. A pretty, fairhaired girl, brimming with excitement, was the first to emerge from the inner room. She was immediately pounced upon by a lady, who was also waiting. "What did she say. Clara?" "Oh, she's wonderful ! Everything is true. She told me all about my past , and what do you think ? She said I had two lovers, but I did not know one, and I should marry the one I cared for best." Stone stiffened with indignation. "To think she can take in silly women by such arrant nonsense ! It's only a shade more lucid than the regular w aether prophecies. Wait and see how she'll tackle a man." But Lallan's bait was evidently suited to her fish ; for a few minutes later an individual bearing the stamp of a city man came into the waiting-room. He smiled approvingly, and expressed his approbation to the fair-haired girl, although he would not divulge the detail. "Very good, and absolutely correct," was his verdict. Stone had barely time to digest this fresh evidence of folly when the maid brought the message that Lallah awaited him. From the light and chatter of the drawing-room to a quiet, darkened room was certainly a little startling. As he advanced, Stone staggered for the fraction of a second, for the faint odour of some familiar fragrance met his nostrils. An elusive memory stirred m his brain, and brought a strangely disquieting element with it. He frowned impatiently at his weakness, and went forward. The rays of a hanging lamp lit the lower portion of the room dimly. The rest was in shadow, but the decorations seemed to be of a Moorish character. Near the lamp a woman was seated. She was clad in Oriental garments, and her face was completely veiled, except for an aperture, from whence her eyes bhonc with exceptional brilliancy. Lallah took no notice of Stone for some minutes, but crouched, gazing at her crystal. At length she spoke, and a musical voice, with an obviously affected foreign accent, inquired if Stone wished her to read the lines of lv& hand. He assented, and added "I think it's only fair to tell you I'm a sceptic." Lallali laughed. "It's half the battle to own your error." The sheer audacity of the speech staggered the young man for a minute , then he said hotly "Krror? I'm perfectly convinced — even as certain as you must be — that this is pure trickery." "Wait a minute. Perhaps I shall convince you." She took his hand in hers, and, hardly looking at the lines, began to spoak rapidly :

"A childhood totally unmarred by illness. Yon are singular in this respect — that you have had few of the usual infantile ailments. When you were 14 you lost your mother." Stone perceptibly started, but these i ovelations> were certainly striking "Come, come!" he said impatiently. ' After all, every boy is alike. Pass that over, please." "As a young man your character was very untrained. You caused your relatives much anxiety. I can see evidences of excesses — both — " Stone interrupted sarcastically • "Indeed? How do you know that?" "The lines tell me." ' Then you exaggerate grossly." I can see," went on the fair inquisitor, "several love entanglements, one of which might have proved disastrous to your future career. But here your hues alter for the better. Your character undergoes a marked improvement, and another influence enters your life " Under his breath Stone breathed the word "Maisie!" "A pure love on both sides, which should have blossomed into perfect fruition. But what is this? A separation — jealousy, suspicion ! And the fault is yours, and yours alone. By your blind stupidity you have crushed the gladness out of her life, and drowned the light of her eyes in tears." Lallah's voice thrilled, but Stone laughed ironically. "You are certainly at variance with the facts," he returned. Lallan wen on unheeded . "But I see no more. Your nature changes. Prom a frank, light-hearted youth, you degenerate into a suspicious, gloomy character. Yet, again, the good influence enters your life. You meet her again. You will marry her in six weeks' time, and joy will crown your future." He dropped his hands, and Stone took up his hat. "Now, let me speak," he said. "You have told me absolute nonsense! At first there were a few lucky shots, but the last was rank rubbish ! It proves conclusively there is nothing in the art you practice. Come, be sensible! I'll give you the chance of retracting all you say. You had better own up." Lallah laughed. "I have spoken your future. It cannot be altered." Stone's lips tightened. "Very well, IVe warned you. Now, remember that I'm speaking to you — not as a man to a woman, but as to a quack — in the interests of humanity. Your impositions must bei stopped. They are a disgrace in. such an enlightened age. Give me your promise to stop this gipsy humbug!" Lallah's eyes flashed, and her voice sounded defiance. "The gipsy's words will come true!" "So be it! I warn you I shall come again to-morrow, and, however painful it may be, proceedings will be taken. The matter will not end here." As Stone made his way towards Lambton Quay, he was only conscious of a storm of chaotic feelings. His moral indignation met in rather cramped quarters with undignified bad temper. He had had his life wrecked by a girl, and then an impertinent trickster dared to cast aspersions on his character, and, worse, take liberties with his future ! But, worst of all, Maisie's ghost was raised for the evening, and stayed with him tdl he turned into his club, when, like a well-conduct-ed spirit, she vanished before the fumes of tobacco-smoke. Next morning Stone woke up in an evil temper. His moral scruples returned with his cold tub, however ; and it was in a particularly virtuous frame of mind that he called at the Tinakoriroad sanctum, accompanied by an individual whose plain clothes successfully veiled the majesty of the law. Stone left him in the waiting-room, and, unceremoniously pushing aside the curtains, penetrated into the inner shrine. All the glamour and mystery had vanished. The Oriental hangings looked like "a wonderful bargain" at a cheap sale. On the table were a bowl of flowers and a woman's glove. Stone winced suddenly. He realised he was tracking down a woman. He hurriedly turned, but on the shelf facing him was a sight which made him catch Ins breath sharply. A photograph of himself! He had barely time to grasp its significance, when the portiere was pushed aside, and Lallah, radiant in modern mourning, entered. Stone's heart beat like a sledge-ham-mer. "Maisie!" he gasped. "Harry l " was the reply. "After all these years l " began Stone, in a tone of suppressed emotion. 'You've come to arrest me," Maisie finished, in a matter-of-fact tone. A brick colour mounted to the man's brow, but he faced the situation. "What does this mean?" he asked, sternly— "this tomfoolery ?" The answer was simple.

"I must live." "But when I left, you, your people were well enough off." "Yes; but the crash came afterwards. Didn't you hear?" "No. Besides they told me at Christchurch you were going to marry Darnley." ■'They? Well, they were certainly right in that. It would have- been a capital way out of it; but I did not choose that alternative." "Why?" Maisie looked at the carpet. "Never mind 'why.' Oh," she burst out suddenly, "don't think too badly of me. After all, I've done no harm. What eJse could I have done? My limitations — well, I was all limitations." Stone pondered a little. "Why didn't you teach?" he hazarded, lamely. "Teach? I should have done harm then, by giving an imperfect education; but, instead, I've only given hope. And the last two years have proved the value of having something to live for. You don't understand it until you've lost it."

There was silence; and then Stone said, in an altered voice: "Perhaps you have suffered?" "You know you treated me very badly," Maisie only answered. "I never was untrue to you." But Stone, for the first time in his life false to his principles, suddenly accepted this bald explanation, and doubted no more. Three blissful minutes slipped away, and then a cough from the outer room startled them. Harry spoke gravely still, though very tenderly. "You had better understand the gravity of your position. You have predicted an absolutely untruthful future for me, and placea yourself in a very serious predicament. Unless you can verify your words, I must call in the services of the detective. You tell me I shall be married in six months' time. That will be impossible, unless I can marry the one woman I want. Can you accomplish it?" It was certainly a grave situation ; but two minutes later the Law was ejected by Love.