BEAUTY IN DISTRESS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 142, 7 February 1916, Page 4

BEAUTY IN DISTRESS.

(All Rights Rbslkved.) OUR STORIETTE,

"Must she really eomc here, mother: Well, I call it disgusting. There are not enough nun to go round as it i~, and here is another girl thrust on me to take round everywhere, and a g' : rl who looks on men as born hj) wait upon li'-r. Sim is a regular little minx. 1 won't stand it !" Elsie Evorsh igh t ■•=.? :d her head indignantly as she spoke. ''Then you can take whatever alternative presents iueli to your mind Lilian is to be my Hues',, and 1 shall 3 ec that you treat her decently."

A lew evenings later the count! y ball was m lull swinj;. The band played divinely, the flown.- tilled the room with scent, and the balconies out-idc weie Hooded with solt yellow moonlight. Lls:c was raging -she didn't look as weil as she might in consequence. She had determined that it this hateful couiin upon whom she had at cue time fawned must be taken everywhere, she must be a failuic. At the country ball Elsie never introduced her to a single soul. She m;ght sit out the whole evening, and drain the cup of humiliation to 'he bitter dregs—a fate quite .'ojJ enough foi pretty pennilcs.s cousins.

But Klsic had reckoned without far broihcr Tom. Tom had a kind heart, and Lilian, who had come down in the world through no fault ui her own. had always a favourite of his. [|c therefore darned attention on her, introduced dozens of nice young partners to her, and helped her thoroughly to enjoy herself, l'erhaps the delight ot spoiling Elsie's plans and scoring over her had had a little to do with his gallant behaviour. *

And now Lilian was the .vknowlcdged belle of the evening. Men literally fought to get an introduction to her men Elsie would have given her ears to be dancing with. Xo wonder she looked sour and old as she danced with the common herd and heard the ecstatic comments on her cousin beauty and grace. Their drive home in the arriage was a very silent affair. Lilian was tired. Tom si'.vpy and victorious, Klsie baffled, si' k at heart, and furious.

The position was petting a woo bit strained. The next day was the tennis tournament, to which all the rank and beauty of Burleigh and (he neighbouring country families trooped in battalions. This year was to be a greater event than ever. Lord Dcnsham, the young owner of all the property around, had returned from abroad to take over the many broad acres that he had never expected to possess. He was to give away the prizes at the end of the day. and many a heart beneath its filmy muslin folds fluttered high at the thought of meeting the handsome younn stranger. Elsie was a magnificent tennis player. 11<• r hopes ran high. Here at least she excelled that hateful cousin of hers. But, alas! I'atC was altogether against poor Lilian that day. A twist in the ankle during the List dance, and treated as nothing after the first moment of agony, tied her to the house -she could not put her foot to the ground.

Elsie drove off with Tom to the tennis ground with triumph in her heart, while Lilian rein.lined at home awaiting the doctor's visit, hut Elsie's triumph was not enduring, nor was it all-embracing. She earned all before her in the tournament, it was true, in the singles and mixed doubles; but no Lord Dcnsham h.nl yet appeared, and lv was ecrtainly not jjoinir to play himself, as she had secret!v hi>r>rd. Lunch was over, and Elsie, r.tcket in hand, was standing talking near the gate-, when two vehicle- wcr-" seen approaching. In the fir-?, a high dog-i.nt. driven by a dark. i lean-shaven linn, was undoubted!? Lord Dcn-ham, ,md his ,ig«'nt «,n seated bj hi- side. The I'rime had come! Hut a-- the groom drove the dog-carl away, EKie saw Lh.it the next carnage tontained her niothei and Lilian. Tom dashed forward w it'i a a hoop of joy. 'il is not so bad. thrn. young 'tin.' he shouted. "You are going to play after all?" ''Ala-! ii". The dodoi sav. it will ;oon be all right, but I must test ,i >it. No play foi Hi' 1 . Tom; isn't it sad ; Please help me dm\ n." Tom slouched forward, hut anothei \,i- before him. ''Allow me!'" said a (hep. eager voice. "I claim the privilege of an oh' familj friend." Elsie's heart stnnd -nil. She saw her cousin turn and face I."id Dens'iain. She saw the radiant Hush on her f'iiee. the lii\c-light in his eye-, and her i up ol miserj was full. "John !"' her i ousin < i ied. "'Oh. is it really you, dear: I low did you come here;'' ) le lifted her from the < an iage and carried her tenderly away to a -ceiud ed spot. Mrs. Ever.sleigh busied herself tactfully with direi lions to the footman. It was no tune for conven-

tionalities. Beneath the -hade of the tree-, far far (null the maddening i mud. he plat ed her on a pre 'n tnoss\ bank, and slowly and liiiK'orinply withdrawing his arms he Hunx himself at 11■ ■ r feet. -I.il) !" he said. bteethle,.s|y, slidinn his hand gently over 1 n t ~. "M\ darling. I have found v oil a! last I am not too Lite:" lie .:-!.<>!. in a lov sti.lined voice. She tiniircl h l head aw, y. "Am 1 -•' he asked ~K . -iin. 'Oh, t, 11 me. deal, .piicklv. I haw waited -<< loph .did -'i patii nl I )on't s,i\ i! is all in \ alii. " lie bent In- lead alul 1.1-.,, I ||, 1 small hllH 1 - pa-em.,!' I) She |..r.k.-(| up al the d.ilk b, nl lead, and ~ |....k ol hue. aluio.si mateiii.il in n- leiidi i ■ ness. r t.i.>-1 ■ -1 11)< < 1 ln-i r'.n , . '"John deal," -In -aid. ...Illy, "il is all so ditlciciii now ..in positions are i evei sed. Tin n I had money, and Will wife too pi'olld to wed me. Now She Mil 111 d a" ,iv 11■ mm hi'evi s. and U icil to loose In r hands f,,, ~

proudly, "I am penniless and depena* ent on relations for the very loud I eat and clothes I wear. 1 am no fit bride for you."

He laughed -a happy. lontcntcd laugh. ''That is just as I would have it. sweet." he said, and kissed her hands again. ■'When I left you to go abroad and make a home for you, weren't you ready to give up all your splendour and luxury and join me when I call' <1 to you Voir sweet woman, you know you were. "Lily his arm < rep: around her waist, and he. drew her gently up against him. "Lily." he said again, passionately.

"1 i mild almost wish [ had not come in for all this. I never expected it. and I had jitM sol such a jolly lit lie home for you. We would have been so happy out there- the life would have kept us so dose together. We should have meant so much more to on.' another- ' He paused and laughed, and buried his lace in her hair. 'Dear, dear little woman! What an ungrateful '.hap I. am. 1.'.1y"- he beni i loser. "Lily!" he said earncst'.v ag.t'n. "Yes?" "You know what I want!" he said, huskily. She raised her face, and he kissed her long and passionately on her red lips.

"My swprt woman!" he whispered low. "Mv little treasure! 1 have been seeking you everywhere. Directly F got Ihe news I wired to you at the Hall and received no answer. When I readied England I went there hist. \o of you. They said \our father was abroad. They all seemed i" thmk you had gone with him.. I was nearly desperate. 1 had to come down here to put things straight, and the agent said it would look well if 1 tinned up lure to-day. I didn't wan? to I only wanted you. Thank Heaven I (.one! And now. when is it to be?" he asked masterfully. "I ha\e no intention of waiting, madam. I may tell you. If I am not (.ireful you "ill be marrying that impudent young man who (alls you 'young 'iwi' in front of me, too. It was his extraordinaiy form of address that made me first look at you before I heard your sweet voice I should know it among a thousand, lias he been proposing to you like cvervbodv else?"

"Xo, he has not," she said, laughingly; "but Tom's a dear. It's all right, he is my cousin, and has been my brave and bold protector—till you came." she added softly, with an upward trusting look.

"Then he shall have the run of the shooting," he said, warmly, ''though T shall always hate him for having in ever so little taken my place," He turned her face up and gazeel long and loviigiy into her eyes. "I wonder if you understand in the least how I really love you:" he whispered. And they kissed again. iThe End.)