FACTS AND FANCIES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 132, 14 January 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

FACTS AND FANCIES.

COMPLETE SHORT STORY. BY G. P. WILSON. Reginald St. Clair Johnson was all that liis given name implied. He had boen raised directly under the wing ot a fond mother, whose ideas toncernng the training of children were governed by sionie radical opinions of her own and what knowledge the had gaineu from i>rticles written by childless mothers for women's magazines. He was a perfect model of conventionalism. Had lie been a girl, Reginald St. Clair would have been a work of art, but as a man, v.ewed from a man's standpoint, tie was a decided failure. Private tutors had been his only source of knowledge; his acquaintances were cross-examined and investigated by his mother before he was introduced, and a game of billiards was the most exciting pastime he was allowed to indulge in.

Naturally he was as unsophisticated as a white rabbit. But underneath his docility theio lay dormant an adventurous germ, an inheritance from the late 31r. .lohiison, son., which had not been mentioned in his will. Mrs. .Johnson didn't knjw about it. Neither Reginald St. Clair. It fell to the lot of Mew Byrdio Ware, stenographer in the Alexander Hotel, to .stir this micribe into action. Reginald St. Clair's mother had gone niotroing with a party of friends, leaving him all alone for an afternoon and evening. She had implicit faith in Reginald. And, running true to form, lie had found a conr'ortable sei! in the hotel lobby, intending to sit there and wnile away the boms as a dutiful son should.

Then Reginald St. Cla'r noticed Misi Byrdie, and the adventurous germ began to kick and squirm, protesting against its heretofore inactive career. After the first giance, he sat gazing at her with infatuated awe.

Many a man. infinitely more worldly than Reginald St Clair, had done the same. For Miss Byrdie was as beaut fid and s.vcet as an orange grove in full bloom

All afternoon Miss Byrdio transcribed tedious dictation for an import-ant-appoaring be whiskered man who might have been a United States Senator or a promoter of a South American revolution. And all afternoon Reginald St. Clalir sat gnz'ng at her, hoping that the man's flow of words would soon stop, and wondering, tremulously, what course to follow when it did. Ho know th.it merely dictatm •. an ordinary letter would not identify him from her usual run of customers, and he racked his brain for some unique way of attracting her attention. As the bewhskored gentleman finally finished and was gathering up Ins papers, the shade of the astute „ur. Johnson, sen., must have rested for a moment in the brain of Reginald St. Clair, fci no was possessed of a bright idea.

He arose and approaches Miss Byrdio witn tne air ot a Chesterfield. This was one of the ruing* that Reginald St. Ckvi did well.

"Will you take a telegram, plr':'e 10 said, ns though dictating te'egrania was an hourly occurrence with him..

Miss Byrdio was not surprised. She came from New York and was therefore immune. But the unusual request did cause tier to cast more than a professional, disinterested glance at him. And ivi a mild way it aroused her curiosity.

Shi inserted n piece of paper-in lp-r machine and turned to him. "Snoot." t.lie said, her lingers poised above tiit! keyboard. "Robert W. Whitney. Attorney. Flatuou Build ng, New York," dictated Reginald St. Clair. "Can spare a million and a half at seven per cent. for r-ix months. Reginald St. Clair Johnson."

"Bull," murmured Miss Byrdio to herself. Then aloud, •'Great heavens, what a name!''

"It is rather absurd," Reginald almitted blandly. "But it is only part of my nrstortune. I'ntil to-day I've never been from under the watchful eye of a doting mother. 1 feel as free and dev ; lish as a butler on his evening out. Could you —would you. as an av: ot chuiin to one who need-, it badly, go to dinner with me and motor to » oirce ior the eveningF" "Please do" lie begged, as he noticed a sharp rebuff forming on her lips. "I've never been allowed to do anything unconventional; have "hvuvbeeu properly chaperoned and ell that sort of thing. For just once I want to throw discretion to the wind-; and do ai 1 please. Won't you please go?" The bewhskered gentleman's dictation had been tedious beyond W'ird>; the afternoon was insufferably hot. and ;-.s lias been stated, he had aroused Miss Byrtlie's curiosity. Being feniiiv'ne—she yielded.

''l'll go," she assented, uncomeious|j reaching for her powder-puff, "Meet me in front of tin- hotel at seven." '•Thanks," said Reginald St. Clair, and left hastily. fearing she might etiHnge her mind. At .seven o'clock sharp M'-s Byrdie emerged fnun the hotel. looking as cool and sweet ;i. a hunch of hothouse grapes just off the ice. Reginald St. Clair wa< waiting for her, standing by a big, racy runabout. " It's going to he a big night," mused Mis.* Ryrdie as he helped her into the inneh'no.

They went to Levy's, and Reginald St Ola t ordered a ]>••r r" * - t dinner. And he t.-.lked with Ma-!; c'oouont ea-e that Miss Byrdie sat spcll-hound. 'Whatever other drawback-; Reginald St. Clair may have had, hi> flow of English certainly vva« not one of them. Tl did nobly at dinner, but as they drove into the cool night a'r toward the ocean he played—as our '■■-> enlightened brother might say—"lis ace iri the hole."

''l have novel known what life before/' he declared, slowing ti' • machine so that conversation unulld '><• [,<*.:,ihle. "I heiicve, Mi.s> liynlie. tb.it no idlo ricli do not reap the [»lpastir< from I'M' tliilt «•«' should. ! came Her. Irom New York on my privnto ya-Jit, :i:id although tic trip thronyh imcanal was heautifni, 1 d d nut enj'u it nearly so much a- I have the last '">-• v tiours v. : th von." •'lt', a hoautiful nmht." said Mill} rdic ahiont-niindedly. ''When rinc can from one j ■ I >■.->^ 111 • ■ • to anothi i." I e rout iniiod. to hi-) »iil'io-t. ''without thought ~f the cn.t, ii ivim* mm'.-apprr-i iation of [.lea-riv. It lion-- one ti. know tlmt every »Itim or I'am } < an I if. gratified hv mereh pas 'iiji for it," "It'. coo'er. [.n't it- ' said M - tiyrd-.-. " >m<c lioyhoo.l fivn ill 112 tlmt tllom-V lOllhl hllV !■!!> i .'.'II V. it 1111 l 111 \ rem li." (Re-inaM St. Clair *:i- too engrossed to notii c intcn upi ions. > " I !■ ■'..■ ni-vi r known tin- ii,\ of the fulfilment of 11 (I.'-in- for .vliiuh 1 icive wiited and -tniiiLded. I'v mi>M.| that tb>- greatest tiling in life. We ti'io }n\>' nnl inited wealth a; i- lift tl.e r.ln-: Mis* Hvrilt"."

"Come back to earth," advised Miss Byrdie with a yawn. "High finance and the tariff always bore me. Please cut out the dream-stuff and speak of something real."

" It was impolite of me to speak of my wealth," admitted Reginald St. Clair humbly. I npolog : se—and promise not to mention it again." llien they talked of tilings more humau and discerning from Miss Byrdie's point of view. At Venice they did everything from having their fortunes told to riding on the Ferris Wheel. They were like two children at a country fair. When they tired of Venice they drove 10 Santa Monica to lunch and dance at Nat Goodwin's.

Reginald St. Clair was having the time of bis life. .Miss Byrdie was a new type to him; a novelty which fascinated bini as nothing had ever done before, lie felt that he had found an ideal woman and was hi'ppier than he had ever been.

When they left tbe cafe they stopped to watch the ocean - n dangerous tiling to do when one is hovering owr the border-land of love. r i h. y stood in silence a long time, listening to the breakers chant their song. Then Reginald St. Clai- lifted her hand, and with a sigh kissed it tenderly.

"Ths is inw night of nights, he .Ti'i.-mured dramatically. •• I knew it was coming," mused Miss Byrdie to herself.

"'T love you, Byrdie," he continued softly. "All my life I've yearned for you. and now that T've found you. nothing can keep us apart, We will be married to-morrow." "We will not," declared Miss Byrdie emphatically. "What do you tnnk this is—a moving picture play? T couldn't get ready that soon—and T don't love you, anyway!" Then a mischievous twinkle came into her eyes. "What would your rich and doting mother say to such a match?" she asked.

Reginald St. Clair loked doubtfulhut only for a moment. "She'll understand when she learns that my future happiness depends upon it," he asserted bopeful'y. "Probably I was premature :n my proposal, but my Jove for you has caused me. to forget everything else. I'll take you borne now—it's getting late." As they stopped in front of Miss Byrdie's apartment, Reg mild St. Clair took her hand in both of his. " fleasc consider my proposal .seriously," he begged earnestly.

"i will," she promised, giving li's ham; a squeeze. "Thanks tor a good tinit."

Reginald St. Clair drove slowly back to t'ne hotel.

"I hope my wealth will not influence her decision," he thought. "I want her to love mo for myself." "He's a dandy fellow," murmured Miss Byrdie, as she went into the house "even if he is n chauffeur. I wonder if his boss knew about his having the car to-night."—"Argosy."