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CHAPTER 11,

"Mary, dean*, did you get my poem?'" he inquired somewhat diffidwutJy on meet ing that yotrag lady about a week later.

Mary burst into a merry laugh. "Oh, Jack! whatever tempted you to do it? I told you that you couldn't write poetry."

"What was wrong witih it?" he queried, not a little hurt at this reception of his production. "Why, i? was all wrong together ! I showed it to Mr Jones, and he " "Oh ! you did, ddd you ? Is that bounder hanging around still?* What ddd he say?" "You should just have heard how he laughed ! I forget all he said, but he said the rhyme was faulty and tihe rhythm impeiueot, and that it was evident the ■writer hadn't the slightest idea of accent, metre, or feet."

"W'halt the ddekens Las poetry to do with metre? Does he think I'm a gas company? As for feet, if I had him here he'd find I've a pretty good idea of feet, and how to use mem, too.

"Look here, Mary,'" he continued, working himself up into a heaf of passion, "I've had* enough of this chap, and I'm dashed if I'm going to £<ba<nd the beggar any "" longer. You've got to choose between him and me. Either promise to hare nothing more to say to him, or els<? "

» "I'll promise, nothing of the sort!" interrupted Mary decidedly. "The idea! What right have you to dictate who I am to speak to ! I'll speak to anyone I like, and the sooner you realise that fact the better for all parties." "And you won't promise to have nothing more to do with this chap?" " No ; I certainly will not." "Then — good-bye," and with a jerk of his head the young man. turned abruptly on his heel and walked rapidly down the street. He had not proceeded many yards when he regretted his hastiness. Slackening his " pace for a moment he felt almost inclined to retrace his steps and apologise. Looking round he observed Mary marching in the opposite direction, her head poised defiantly in the air. Hang it all ! If she was going to get on a high horse so would be. And **>ith a muttered exclamation that was I'emaTkably like an oath he proceeded homewards. * A fortnight elapsed, during which Gordon realised more keenly than, he anticipated the bland which the estrangement had created in hits life. He realised, alco, that he had acted in an over-hasty manner. No doubt it was extremely .galling to listen to the laudation of Mr Jones, or whatever the iellow choee to call himself, but, at the same time, he was hardly entitled to lay down ihe law or dictate to the girl to whom she was to speak. i Indulging in reflections of this nature in the course of a solitary walk it is not surprising that, almost unconsciously, he directed his steps towaids the house where Mary was employed. Halting irresolutely at the garden gate he gazed longingly at the building that , contained his charmer. t To the fronit all was dark. In the rear a faint glimmer of Hght proceeded from what he knew to be the kitchen window. That gleam?, of light meant —

. Mary. Moved by a 6udden impulse he opened the gate and stole softly along the path. , He had no intention of making his presence known, but a great lonping to see the girl once again took possession of him. Reaching the window he paused and ( listened. The Blind was closely drawn, : precluding the possibility of peeping ! "within.. i For several 'minutes he remained crouching at the window. Realising at length the J futility of remaining longer, he was about i to return to the roadway when- suddenly ' a stifled moan reached his ears. j /With beating heart he listened. Yes, there could be no doubt about it. Again .he heard an unmistakable moan! Next. instant he was inside the house. The kitchen was empty ! Ear a. moment jhe stood irraeokite. ' Suddenly a light , dawned upon him. Crossing to thepas- ! sagje, he threw open the do&r of a- coal cellar. Inside, crouched on the coals, lav Mary, . her arms tightly bound, and a handkerchief thrust into her mouth to keep her J from screaming. It was the work of a few seconds to : cut the rope that bound her and tear the gag from ' her mouth. As soon as I she was free the girl threw her arms i about his neck and burst into hysterical ' weeping. ' " Oh, Jack, Jack," she sobbed. " I'm so glad you've come. I thought I was going to die!" " Whatever is the matter, dearest? Who has dared do this to. you?" ! "It was Mr Jones. Jack, you were quite right. He is a scoundrel. Knowing I was alone, he came to the door to-night a.nd proposed I should help him to rob the house. When I refused and tried to slam the door in his face he , tied me up and locked me in the cellar. 1 He's upstairs now stealing the silver." ; "What! The scoundrel still in the ; house ! What luck ! T^et me get at him !" Disengaging himself .from the girl's arms he seized a, heavy rolling-pin, and with an expression on his face which boded ill for has whilom rival crept cautiously upstairs. j In the' meanwhile Mr Jones, who concealed under his cognomen the identity , of a famous professional cracksman, was burily engaged in the pleasing task of making a valuable collection of family . plate. Hearing the scuffling downstairs he paused in his labours and stole softly i to the landing tc investigate, only to receive a blow between the eyes which , sent him staggering against the wall. 1 Ere he coiild recover his scattered senses . he was seized violently by the scruff of ! the neck and propelled downstairs with a 1 velocity which threatened to destroy his further usefulness in this world. Before he could rise his assailant was on the top of him, belaboring him with the rolling-pin. Never before perhaps has I poetio critic been trounced so severely ; by his victim as was the unhappy Mr Jones. " What are you going to do with luim?" inquired Mary, a little- vindic1 tively, as Gordon was at length forced i through want of breath to desist from his labours. " Shall I call a policeman? " I ! The young man scratched his head reflectively. | ! "I don't think we should bother the j ' police," he said. " You see, Mary, the brute might try to make out that you encouraged him, and get you into a ; scrape. I know it's not true, dear, but a fellow who writes poetTy is capable of anything, and I wouldn't have you get- j

. ting into trouble for worlds." ! The girl gave him a grateful glance, and he continued : " I think the best plan will be to simply fire him out of the premises. He has taken nothing, and I am inclined tc think he won't forget this evening in a hurry." Suiting- the action to the word Gordon raised the groaning captive to his feet and -conducted him to the gate. Then with a parting injunction to take himself off, emphasised by a vigorous kick which propelled him into the roadway, he dis-

missed him. J "Mary, dear," said Jack,, when he re-

turned to the kitchen, " I've made two good resolufaons, and I mean, to keep them. In the first place I don't intend to attempt to write any more poetry, and in the second place I'm never, never going to quarrel with you again." * '• Another thing, darling," he added, in a softer tone; "it's coming near the .end of the year. Don't you think we might, you and I, start the New Year — together? " And Mary, with a blush, intimated that for her jiart she saw no reason why '-they shouldn't. — Glasgow Herald.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19090818.2.481

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 90

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,311

CHAPTER 11, Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 90

CHAPTER 11, Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 90

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