CHAPTER XLVIII.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 100, 2 May 1885, Page 4

CHAPTER XLVIII.

BREAKING THE NEWS. " Doubtlcsa wo shallbe modorntelv happy. She's a woman grown, and I'm not over sappy ; And wo'vo both confessed to many early passions, , =11 L . Which have bean outgrown along with other fashioi s " _ . Vandyxe Buown. " Tell your mistress I wish to see her." " Yes, sir." Tho servant withdrew. Colonel Vernell turned again to the window and stood there waiting. An afternoon in young November. A decidedly disagreeable afternoon, too— bleak, chill, g«3ty, with now and then a spiteful patter of rain. Neither stingingly cold nor yet snow-shadowy. One almost wished it eithor rather than this idiotic blow, blow, and drizzle, drizzle. Just the kind of a day one wants to shut out, to draw the curtains eaily, light the lamps, heap more wood on tho fire, pull closor over a chair to the hearth— this latter more because of the friendliness of tho blaze than that ono lacks warmth. 14 You sent for me, James ?" Ho turned at tho sound of his sister's \ oico. 4i Yes ; I wish to speak to you. Sit down." But Miss Dorothy mado no motion toward adopting his suggestion. Her blue eyes were fastened on him in inquisitive surprise. "I did not know you were going out. You aro dressed early. Where is it— the club?" No wonder MLss Dorothy stared, so elaborate was his afternoon toilet. His dress suit of lustreless black was brand-new. His huge diamond stud glistened on an immaculate expan=o of linen. A tie of cream coloured satin encircled his clericallooking collar. In his button-hole was a yellowish tea rose. Personally he seemed to have been dipped in a bath of rejuvenation. The thin face, with the high, narrow forehead, and slightly beaked noso, looked more youthful than it had for many months. There was an unusual light in the small, close-set cunning eyes. The whole figure had an alertness and animation new to him. On a chair near by lay a new ottertrimmed overcoat, on top of which was a stiff felt hat and pair of cream tinted kids. "Oh, you women," he replied; (4 one bound and you have reached the back of a conclusion, are riding it at full speed. lam going out, but I'm not going to the club." "Where, then?" Ho looked down en the energetic littlo worn m in tho noiseless, dove- coloured gown. She had held the reins of authority so long. How would she fancy their being wrested from her hands now ? He spoke deliboratoly, watching her nar rowly the while. 41 1 am going to be married," he said. 41 Married !" she gasped Then she put her hand on her fat fluttering bosom, and smiled. 44 What a turn you gavo me, James ! For tho moment I really thought you wore in earnest." Tho colonel laughed— a brief grunt of a laugh. 41 Thon I'll have to renew tho dose to infeure effect. I wag quite in earnest. I never was more so. lamto be marriod at six o'clock this ovening." "James!" And now he sat down. "Well? "-stonily. " You don't mean it !" 44 Don't I ? It is vory hard to convince you of the non-existence of a joke when you have made up your mind there is one io lurking somewhere. If you want proof, here it is ! " From his inside vest-pocket he drew a folded paper, which he extended to her. She did not offer to take it. She sat there and looked at her brother as though she had suddenly discovered his possession of a double noso. Now, if there is anything aggravating it is to be regarded in this fasTiion— isn't it? • 4 Dorothy, have you any objections to offer ?" came the irritable demand. She started guiltily. <4 CJreat patience, no ! Only— James 1" "Well?" He was roplacing his ignored marriago license. " I'm so astonished !" "I'm not." He took up his gloves and snapped the connecting thread. 44 I'm sure I never dreamed of such a thing !"— helplessly. Ho favoured her with a sly glance. 44 Didn't you, Dorothy?' Her old cheeks crimsoned, whether because of his misunderstanding, or with memories of the past, who could say. » 4 You know I didn't mean that !' J — in confusion He began trying on his gloves. 44 Yes I know." "The lady is " His rapid glance arrested her words. 44 Mrs Charu, of course," he answered. 44 Of course '"—feebly. The story Guila had told her recurred to her. She, poor girl ! had thought Grimes and the widow well engaged. And, lo and behold ! it was not Grimes at all for whom the fair sorceress had cast her nets, but her own stiff, taciturn, Belf-sufticient brothor i

" It's very sudden, isn't it ?" she asked. " Very sudden I" he repeated, deridingly, " It's not a death, Dorothy. Don't refer to it as though it were." Andhe smoothed down, with quite viciouß little rubs, the oream encased fingers ot hiß left hand. 11 I'm sure I did not intend it in that way, James. You must not wonder I'm— well taken off my feet, as it were." "I don't. But you have known it long enough now to have become familiar with the idea. It's almost five minates since I told you." The fingers had been successfully clothed. He began on the thumb. Miss Dorothy made a valiant effort to look at the affair in a common sense light. 11 Five minutes isn't quite an age, James. Why didn't you tell me sooner ?" " Because I wanted the affair kept quiet, tugging at his refroctory glove, <l and I knew if I told you, the temptation to spread the news would be irresistible." And here he screwed up his mouth and fell to tussling with the first button. " Why, Jamos !" reproachfully. Just how far this " new departure" (if the phrase is admissible) would affect her peisonally and "tho children", she was still too thunderstruck to think. He looked at her with a smile as he noosed the wee ivory button. " Dorothy, you know you never could keep a secret !" Couldn't she, though ! " Give a dog a bad name and hang him !" runs the proverb. Give a person credit f or anyparticular eccentricity or failing, and however lightly you may have flung the burr, it will stick. When or how her inability to retain imparted confidence became accepted as a fact she bad not the faintest idea ; but this one thing is certain— that the woman who is the recipient of more secrots, possesses more of her own, and cherishes all more guardedly and zealously than Miss Dorothy Vernell, hap yet to be born. So she only answered with a peculiar smile: " Don't you think so, James?" Without the day was waning. "The wedding is to be absolutely private —no, I'm not even going to take you, Dorothy. I refuse to do so through no desire to bo unkind, but because it is Mrs Charu's wish that no one be present Again, the dressing, trip to the church, and oHeal there would— what is your own word for it?— 'flurry' you. Stay at home and get over boing surprised. I'll give Letitia your love and congratulations." " Are you going away ? " " Yes, but for only a short time. We shall telegraph you what night to expect us back." He shook down his wide cuff over his left hand. Miss Dorothy was silent. He stole a furtive glance at her. The information had certainly been startling. He had managed the whole affair beautifully, he told himself — leaxc-ii-fully, with a congratulatory chuckle. "You look overwhelmed, Dorothy." " I could not have been more flustrated," declared the little old maid solemnly, "If I'd been a Cheshire kitten. I never was so —so " But no word in the English language was half expressive enough for tho emergency. The colonel had commenced operations on the other glove. " Minority cannot bo urged against me," he remarked, dryly ; "I'm of age." They could hear wheels. The carriage ordered had drawn up at the door. He put out his hat. " Time's up ! Good-bye, Dorothy." The little woman sprang up. She did what she had never before attempted with his saturnine majesty- stood on tiptoe, her eyes full of tears, put both arms round his neck, and kissed him. He had acted shamefully to her darling s',5 ', but then he was her only living brother, and he had been very good to her. That he had given her home, and food, and clothing, because in so doing he furthered his own Folfish and prudent interests, she never dreamed. "Goodbye, James! May it bring you happiness !" "There, there! thank you, Dorothy — good-bye." He touched her cheek with his greyish bearded lips, caught up his overcoat, like a boy ran down the steps and sprang into tho carriage, which rolled off down the avenue. And in the window Miss Dorothy stood and watched it out of eight.