STRAIGHT AS A DIE BY Mrs EDWARD KENNARD, Author of "A Real Good Thing;" "Killed in the Open;" " The Girl in the Brown Habit;" etc. CHAPTER XXXII. A BARGAIN.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 361, 20 April 1889, Page 6

STRAIGHT AS A DIE BY Mrs EDWARD KENNARD, Author of "A Real Good Thing;" "Killed in the Open ;" " The Girl in the Brown Habit ;" etc. CHAPTER XXXII. A BARGAIN.

Already Mrs Shepperton began to see a \ way oufc of her monetary complications. With such a son-in-law in prospect, a very trifling amount of judicious management might persuade him into lending, or -even giving, the bride's mother a handsome sum for the trousseau, and out of that sum surely something could be saved to relieve their most pressing embarrassments ? 'Probably,' continued Mr Denver, 'the attentions paid by me to your youngest daughter, Miss Dulcie, may not have escaped your notice completely. Am I justified in entertaining such a supposition ?' The joyful blood mounted to her cheeks, dyeing them scarlet with emotion. •Just latterly,' she responded, 'I certainly did think that you began 'to show a decided preference for Dulcie ; but she is only a mere schoolgirl.' He smiled grimly, feeling vaguely irritated by her evident delight. ' I suppose the mere school girl has been cunning enough to keep her own counsel, and did not inform you of the fact thai", for some reason or other, she distinctly refused an offer of marriage made by me to her last night?' Mrs Shepperton stood aghast, declining to believe the evidence of her own senses. ' What !' she faltered, increduously, ' Dulcie — Dulcie — has — refused you ? Impossible ! Surely you must be joking ?' ' No, I'm not, Mrs Shepperton. I never felt less like joking in my life.' ' Tut ! The girl must be a born idiot to behave in such a fashion. I can't conceive of anybody being so foolish as to refuse a man like you.' These remark?, uttered with evident sincerity, poured balm on the wounded vanity of the gentleman. Mrs Shepperton was a shrewd worldly woman, capable of appreciating at its proper value the offer he had made. He foresaw that, the* mother's co-operation j once obtained, the daughter might still be wooed, won, or cooiced. He did not much care which of the three, so long as his object was attained. 'I have set my heart on making Dulcie Mrs Denver,' he said, with an ominous contraction of the eyebrow ; ' but, unluckity, the young lady appears to have fixed her afiections in a totally different quarter.' c What do you mean, Mr Denver?' gasped Mrs Snepperton, in tones of increasing excitement. ' Are you by any chance alluding to— to Bob Mornington ?' •Yes,' with a spiteful smile. ' That, I believe, iathe name of the lucky individual who has been so fortunate as to win your daughter's love.' * Pooh ! Love indeed ! Don't call it love. What do girls of seventeen know about such a sentiment? Absolutely nothingBesides, it is her mother's duty to insist upon her daughter marrying suitably when she has the chance.' 'But,' said Mr Denver, admiringly, 'how can even you — clever as you undoubtedly are -make a girl say yes when she means no ? The thing is not at all sd easy.' * There are a good many things in this world, my dear sir, which, although not exactly easy in themselves, can be accomplished when fairly tackled. I tell you frankly that I cannot afford to keep four great grown-up girls for ever. Even as it is, I am deeply in debt. If you require confirmation of my words, read this,' handing him Messrs Smith, Hollo way, and Smith's letter. ' You will perceive the extent of my difficulties, and that I have not exaggerated them." As .-he finished speaking, she cast a tentative glance at Mr Denver, by no means thrown away upon that gentleman, whose perceptions were in some ways singularly acute. All at once he began to see his way more clearly. But he sat there quite coolly, determined she should glean nothing from the expression of his face, and, taking the proffered letter, read it carefully over. Then he tolded it up leisurely and said : ' Mr. j Shepperton, there is no occasion for you and me to beat about the bush. We know each other too well. Let us come to terms as quickly as possible.' 'I'm sure I'm quite willing to do so,' she murmured. 'Very well, then. Answer me this question — Are you, or are you not, prepared to assist my suit ?' * Most certainly. I will do so by every means in my power.' 'That's right. Now listen to the proposal lam about to make. You have just hinted at certain pecuniary embarrassments. Weil, if you can manageto arrange this affair, and bring Miss Dulcie to a more reasonable frame of mind, I will undertake to defray any liabilities that you have hitherto incurred, and will also give you a handsome sum— say, roughly speaking, five hundred pounds — to defray those necessay expenses attendant upon a wedding. Do you understand ?' * Weddings are very expensive things', she said. 'Five hundred pounds are soon swallowed up ' ' Pshaw ! Dan't let us haggle over trifles as if we were a couple of hucksters. Settle the marriage, and you shall have a cool thousand down There, does that satisfy you?' Mrs Shepperton's eyes literally glittered ■with greed. Oh ! what golden eggs she could already discern awaiting her handling ! With a liberal son-in-law possessing fabulous wealth, she could picture a luxurious home for the whole family, little peiiodical trips abroad, visits to towns, an entree into high society, and all kinds of pleasant frivolities within reach. In comparison with all these incalculableadvantages, what did one foolish girl's romantic fancies signify ? 'Well? Do you approve?' asked Mr Denver, smiling involuntarily at the intense i satisfaction depicted on his companion's face. ' You are too kind,' she answered, pressing his hand with an access of sudden affection. 'My dear Dennis— you must let me call you Dennis^now, won't you ?— I really hardly know had to express the pleasure* that I feel at the prospect ot "our becoming* so nearly rented. As for Diilcie, set your mind completely at rest. In three months from -now, you mark my words, she will have forgotten all about h\er flirtations with Bob Mornington, and thank us, for having prevented her from making a perfect fool of herself.' Mrs Shepperton was sanguine by nature, and, not being aware of that solemn engagement which had so recently taken place, believed the truth of the above statement. ' H'm ! she aeems uncommonly fond of him at present,' rejoined Mr Denver, incredulously, for the remembrance of that sweet, passionate face, and the loving anguish depicted thereon when Bob had t alien fainting to the ground, still recurred his mind with a disquieting' persistency.

'Do you know, Mrs Sliepperton, I have an idea.that your daughter's attachment is not quite as skin -deep as you imagine?' "' N/o matter,' X guarantee to bring Miss Dulcielto her senses in double quick time.' 4 You will ehoWgreab talent if you succeed; But,' a trifle distrustfully, * I should like to know what course you intend pursuing. Won't you gratify my curiosity on that head?' ' No,' she replied, playfully. • You must remain content, with the results. At pi-esent, I am cogitating a variety of plans, but they require maturing ; although in the long run I entertain no doubts whatever of success. Sfcill, it will not do to shut our eyes to the fact that Dulcie is a peculiar girl, not wholly like other girls of her age. She has a decidedly obstinate temperament, on which any attempt at coercion wouKl be entirely thrown away. On the other hand, sho is exceedingly warm-hearted, and capable of any self-saciifice ; consequently, if Lean but appeal to her sympathy, all I will go • l merry as^a marriage" bell." Mr Denver winced ever so slightly. He did not altogether approve of the introduction of that"word self-sacrifice, or of tho image presented to his mind of au unwilling bride being dragged up to the hymeneal altar, like a poor littlo innocent lamb to the paschal sacrifice. A flush of annoyance rose to his brow. ' You do not propose employing force, or any but justifiable measm-es, I hope V he said, experiencing a sudden distrust of his companion. 'ISo, of course not. Dulcie shall marry you of her own free will, and with a full appreciation of the advantages conferred by so doing. Never fear.' Mr Denver rose from his seat, and took one or two rapid strides up and down tho room : 'Very well, then, that is settled, and I will not forget my promise. The letter from your bankers need give you no further concern ; it is my affair, remember.' He looked her straight in the face, and sho drooped her eyelids with well-simulated coyness. They understood each other thoroughly at last. ' Give me your hand, J)enni3,' she said, cordially, holding out her own as she spoke. 'We shall be good friends and get on capitally together.' Whereupon the two conspirators shook hands, apparently highly contented with their afternoon's work. And the mothex"'s heart felt no compunction in thus bartering her child away. She experienced no qualms of conscience at having" sold her like a bale of goods to a man nearly double her own ago, of ob«cure origin, bad reputation, and doubtful antecedents. Like the digger who grubs all day long in the river's ted with eager, avaricious eyes, washing yellow sand in muddy cradles, she saw but the prospective gold. It dazzled her vision, and rendered her oblivious to its uncleanly surrounding 3 . Mrs Shepperton quieted any small scruples by telling herself she was acting for the best, and desired nothing but her daughter's good. Besides, Duleie was only a child, and far too young to know her own mind. ' Why," she exclaimed, involuntarily, ' I don't believe I could ever rest in my grave if I allowed the foolish girl to turn up her no.°e at a hundred thousand a year ■' Mr Denver laughed uneasily. Heguaged this wom-in's character pretty accurately, and inwardly resolved, his wishes once attained, to wash his hands as much as possible of hU dear mamma-in-law. 4 When shall I hear from you ?' he paid, abruptly, seeking to put an end to the interview. * In a few days' time.' Whei'eupon they once more shook hands, and Mr Denver took his departure. When be had gone, Mrs Shepperton sat down in order to consider ways and means, and so considering fell into a brown study. After a time, however, her brow cleared, and her eyes sparkled with intense inward satisfaction. 'Ah !' she exclaimed, giving vent to a sigh of relief, * I have it. 1 see my road quite clearly at last. Aha 1 Master Bob Morninprton^ there's a nice rod in pickle for you.' Then, like one intent upon tome resolute purpose, she sat down to her desk, and deliberately wrote a carefully - worded letter, folded it, thrust it into an envelope, and proceeded to lock it up in a drawer, to be used on a future occasion, as required. She intended to take one whole night to weigh the mattes thoroughly before lioing on the morrow prepared for action, opposition, and — final victory.