CHAPTER II. FORGOTTEN?

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 330, 2 January 1889, Page 4

CHAPTER 11. FORGOTTEN ?

I call this most awfully interesting,' said Miss Carruthers, coming in from a round of calls on the afternoon of the following day, and planting herself comfortably on a 0 w seat by the open window of her invalid guest's bedroom. 'I call it sickening,' returned the invalid, ' Well, you aro ungrateful. If it had happened to me now ! But some people never know when they are in luck. Let me sketch the situation. To begin Avith, you are the topic of the day, not to say the talk of the town.' 'Don't be so odious, Carrie." 'I must be truthful, my dear. Your noble preserver — it's no U3e groaning — that is the very least, unless you profer deliverer —gallant deliverer 1 No 1 Well, I like tho other best myself. Your noble preserver, then, is having a fine time of if. His poor limbs generally have been freely amputated in half-a-dozen drawing-rooms. Nobody will hear of less than both hands and both feet. Mrs Knowall cut his legs off above the knee, and sticks to it. ' 'Carrie, you are too horrible !' * What do you say, then, to old Mr Garpe ? She has killed him outright, and telegraphed to his family for the funeral ; she hasn't quite decided whether there will be an inquest, but thinks there will be. as his features are quite- unreeognipable. Ah, there is our hero^ and with one hand already out of the sling. That looks bad — very bad. W hy, the man will be well before we have half enjoyed ourselves. Here ho comes ; what message shall I give him for you, Winnie V ' None,' replied Miss Falconer, curtly. * Oh, you are quite the haughty heroine ! Now, if anyone had kindly caught a kettleful of boiling water, instead of letting mo catch it, I should have a good deal to sny to him. That reminds me,' she rattled on, 1 you have never enquired for him even, I shall do so at once.' * Don't, Carrie— don't. S reaushb you will do no such thing.' 'My dear ff innie, yom h*re no sense •* what is required of a heroine. I must acb for you.' By this time Mr Lynwood was within epeaking distance, and seeing Carrie's smiling face at the window, stopped and asked after the invalid. The voice, but not tho words, reached Miss Falconer, and Carrie, after a few minutes' conversation, looked back into the room with laughing eyeß. ' What shall I say, Winnie? He is making the tenderest enquiries.' But no answer came ; and then, to Carrie's unfeigned dismay, she found that Miss Winifred was quietly crying. Tn* usually calm, composed Miss Falconer crying ' Carrie was confounded. ' Good gracious I I have been horrid ! But my poor dear, I didn't mean to vex you. I never thought you would care one bit for my stupid chaff.' __ s Never mind ; leave me alone for a little. No, lam not angry : I only want to be alone. It is too silly ; but I suppose this ridiculous affair has upset my nerves — anyway, I am quite ashamed ot myself.' And Miss Falconer wiped her eyes impatiently. 'It is for me to bo ashamed, Winnie. And now I'll just leave you in peace : nobody shall come till you ring. Good-bye ! t wish \on would box my eais well.' But Mi«s Falconer only kissed the penitent face, and promised co ring directly she wanted anything 1 . Left toher-elf. Winifred began weeping afresh, this time with a sorb of angry ?elf-?corn. Presently her eyes fell on the hand mirror ■which Carrie had loft l\ing on the bed. Winifred took the ela^ and deliberately surveyed her own features a-, therein refieete 1 "?. ' Foigof-ten V «he mused : ' of couise ho ha« forgotten' In ten year-- nn\one ran forpet anvthinjr- -aiuone,' fc'ie «ni»l n elding at herself in the gla^. 'It i^ no great, wonder that he failed to tecoL'iiiv \ou, you poor olfl face ! Twenty-eight fan'r look iiko eighteen ; but the name — the name must ha>e recalled anything he ivi-ln rl to remember. Well MrLvtiwood, if inj menior sones mo better than vour^, no one w ill ever know it, not even \onrself. Bud, oh. why can't I too forget V'