LITERATURE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 251, 20 November 1903, Page 4

LITERATURE.

A SPLASH FOB A MILLION. "Ye 3," said the professor, who/ at the conclusion of his swimming entertainment had accompanied a party of us from the pier to the bar of the Parade Hotel, "yes, it does take it out of one, particularly the high diive. "Yet," with a smile, "alter ali, it's a clean way of gettiug a living, cleaner than some other ways I've thought of trying in the past. For, though siuce I was the tiniest of kids, I've always taken to the water like the proverbial duck, I've once or twice endeavoured toescape from the necessity of depending upon it 101 my bread and butter. What I'm going to tell you about is of a reckless attempt I was led into making to escape from the necessity of work at all. I know well enough that my conduct in the affair was neither creditable nor dignified ; but I hope you'll remember, gentlemen, that 1 am older, wiser, and more scrupulous now. Anyhow, the yarn will amuse you, so—although it tells against myself—here goes." With which Professor Sydney Clinton, the aquatic champion of two iu:mk.iiit:ies, sipped his whisky-and-soda, cleared his throat, and began his story as follows : "One day, late in the summer of 189— 1 received a letter from my. Cousin Edjtli Selgood, stating that her mistress, Lady Coolworth, would be glad if I would arrange to perform at u. series of water fej.es which she proposed to organise far the amusement of a party of guests whom she was entertaining at her houseboat near Maidenhead. The terms offered were exceedingly generous, und included ft week's board and lodging on the houseboat, so that, business at the seaside being rather dull just then, I had no hesitation in writing to my cousin by letuin of post accepting the engagement. " Accordingly on the following Monday I. journeyed to Maidenhead ; but before 1 relate the incidents that followed I shcrald explain that Edith Selgood was a handsome ana welleducated young woman of twentyseven, whom, when a girl, I had myself taught to swim, awl who had actually assisted me in my displays until she grew discontented with her earnings, and loft me—on perfectly friendly teinis—to try her luck on the iniisscul comedy stage. Her. theatrical career, howefer—although j»he has since resumed It with soine distinction—had mot up to that time been a success, and she had abandoned it it. order to take a post as companion to Lady Coolworth, the charming and still youthful widow of Sir Abraham Coolworth, the eminent financier. From this gentleman, as is well known, the lady had inherited not less than a million of money.

"Well, when I alighted from the train ut Maidenhead Station, there was Edith, smiling and self-posses-sed as-usual, "awaiting me on the platform, and it was not long ere, having obtained my luggage, I seated myself in a fly, and we were driven oil towards the straggling High Street of the famous riverside town. We were to proceed to' Boulter's lock whore a punt would be in readiness to convey us to Lady Coolworth'a houseboat.

"For a few moments my cousin remained siient, and then she remarked in a low tone :

'• ' I'm glad to see that you have lost none o.' your good looks, Sydney.' " I was surprised, for I had scarcely expctiea an observation of this kind from Edith. However, I replied lightly :

■• ' Thank you ; that's the first compliment you've ever paid me. Allow me to return it.'

•' ' Oh,- you needn't trouble ; your looks are ol more consequence than mine at present.' •' ' Come,' I exclaimed, ' you *i>~ talking in riddles. Of course, with cne who is still a public performer appearunce counts for more than with ojjp who has retired into private Hie. Is that what you mean ?' " * Mo, - said Edith. ' I mean moie than that. I mean, Sydney'— stir, sank her voice down almost to a whisper— 'that if you only make tl-.rt best of yourself, both of your looks and talent, it is just on th* cards that, neither you nor I will be niu-'h lcDgci under the disagreeable necessity of working for a living. Now, lis-ten to what I've got to say, and, however astonished you may* appea 1 '. don't start or do anything to attract the driver's attention. If we're interrupted I may not be able to finish before we get to the lock, an.l one of her ladyship's servants will be in the punt, so that private conve.kation will be impossible. You understand ?'

" ' 1 wish I did,' I ejaculated ; 'but go on. I'll listen quietly, whatever you say.'

"'Ah ! Well, in the first place, Sydney, I have deceived you. Lady C'oolwoifcfc has no idea that you are a proft-SKonal swimmer, and now rumcinber your promise—she expects you as a guest merely, and not as a 'performer—far from It,'

" I checked an amazed protest with difficulty, and she continued : " ' Your, name is Selgood, not Cjipton, and you are a wealthy relp..ivo of mine, remember, extremely wealthy. I've explained to. her ladyship thafc you made your pile in Mexico. You'll find a book about that part in your bedroom on the houseboat, and you'd better read a page ur two in case awkward questions are asked. You'll be all rig u t, however, ii you're not too precise either as to the exact locality you lived in or what you did there. Her ladyship's guests consist of two banisters, with their wives, and an army officer, Major Mervin, who is a bachelor. He's rather an ass ; but he's making the running with her ladyship. Your task is to out Jiim out.'

"' To what ?' I gasped, for I could keep silence no longer. " ' To cut. him out,' repeated Edith in n whitper, with a glance at our Jehu ami a warning gesture. 'That's your task, and I'll help you perform it. The prize is one million sterling, and when you've made Lady , Coolwurth your wife I shall expect payment for my services o» a scale propou:onate to that amount.'

Oh. this is preposterous,' I began ; but Edith interrupted me with the exclamation— 'Ah, here we are, and there's Fitch with the punt.' "What possessed me, I know not ; but f seemed incapable of offering any fuitlier opposition to Edith's s.:heme,iriad as I believed it to be. So we dr-srended from the fly, and a few minutes later I had literally e... barked upon the strangest and most disreputable enterprise of my career. Also, perhaps the most ridiculous ; but as to that you will be able to judge for yourselves when I have lir.-shed.

"I need not trouble you with a detail.:,! account of the events of the fust tno or three days I spent upon the houseboat. Lady Coolworth received me with much cordiality, and from the moment of our meeting I was struck both with her remarkable cl.aim of manner and her remarvable beauty. Moreover, after a lulls while. I actually began to lancy that of all her guests I was the one most favoured—that is, with the possible exception of the major who was a tall, loose-limbed kind of fellow with a yellow moustache and a drawling utterance. He ceri P ;'« n J y u' S ''" , "! ed to t>e awfully smitten witk his hostess, and I could see tltat to cut him out, as Etirel had t^rnr 1 ; woi,M tak * «* Si had geizoo hoM of dm, and, heedloss

of cu;i§slauences, I determined to- see through. If Lady CoolW Cynthia—should prefer me to Major Mervin, if she learnt to love me* as she might do, then surely I had nothing to fear even when she became ovare of the -deception that had been played upon her. I went so far as to picture myself contessdng the truth to her in broken accents, and ofcMilling a tearful forgiveness and promise of undying affection. From ail of which, gentlemen, you will gather that I had worked myself up into such a feverish and infatuated condition, that I had lost my beaiiugs, so to speak. "I piajed my part as the man from Mexico * without disaster, however, and, assisted by Edith, managed to prevent numerous tete-a-tete between the major and Lady Coolworth. This was very satisfactory so far as it went, but, still, as the days passed by, I grew gloomy, for I could not | see' my way to bring matters to a I crisis.' Late on the Friday evening I said as much to Edith, reminding [ her that unless I were invited to prolong my visit it must terminate on the ensuing Monday. Her reply \sas to the effect that I need not worry myself ; she knew what she was about, and was only waiting for an opportunity to make the million a certainty.

•' ' You don't imagine,' she added, ' that I've brought you here on a wild-goose chase, do you ? Oh, no, the coin, my dear Sydney, shall be yours ami mine, sure enough,'

• I neither liked Edith's tone mor her reference to her own interest in the great stake for which we were playing. But I kept my true feelings to myself, merely remarking that it was to be hoped the opportunity she' spoke of would not be long 'delayed: " " ' It won't be,' she responded, ' it will come, I expect, with'j)he full moon to-mcrrow .night. I'll do my best to bring it about then, anyhow. You shall know/ how I have succeeded aff,er dinner to-morrow. Meanwhile, however much Mervin hangs about her ladyship, don't interfere. Till to-morrow night you may leave matters to me ; then, dear hoy, you shall have the middle of the "stage to yourself. Ah ! hush.' "Wragsby and Clej"Son, the two legal guej-ts, had mounted to the upper deck, where we' were sitting, and, with a gay nod, Edith Jeft the three of us to our pipes and ' wmu below. Shortly afterwards we heard her at the piano playing an accompaniment £0 a. mandoline solo by Lady Coolworth J I'm not ordinarj-, jy a sentimental man ; but" as I gazed pensively across the rippling river, wittt(!birig the p&wirig «f an occasional belated rowing T,o&t and listening to the ascending harmony, I surrendered myself to the most extravagant dreams of enduring happiness.

" " Cynthia,' I murmured to myself, 'it is you I love. You only, you always. What do I care for money ? Nothing, nothing, nothing.' "As I have already said, gentl* men, I had lost my' bearings, but it was a beautiful niglvt, beautiful ! It was, also, though I did not know it, the la*t I should spend on Lady Coo!worth's) house-boat.

"The next day the whgle party of us went up the river as far as Henley on her ladyship's electric launch, returning to the houseboat in time for dinner. That nieal over, Edith—who I had frequently observed during the day engaged in apparently confidential conversation with her mistress or the major-—called me apart, and, with,a merry smile on her face, uttered a low cry or delight. •' ' I've managed it,' (?he said; 'it's been difficult, but I've done it. We shall be all right now.' " ' Indeed,' I responded, ' may I ask what it is you've done ?'

" ' I've persuaded her ladyship to allow Major Mervin to take her out for a moonlight trip on the puny, on the undovsitandTng '—here she gave a little laugh—'that I will go too.'

•' ' Oh, 1 don't see ' " ' You never do, Sydney,' she said. ' You are very dense, but I'll soon enlighten yeu. This is the position in a few words. Lady Coolworth cannot swim, neither can Mervin. Very well, then,' she said, lowering her voice ; 'if the former should,'-by any accident, fall into the i iver, the latter cannot save her. Therefore —do you see now?' " ' Good gracious, no.' " ' Therefore, you must,' " ' 1 ?'

" ' Yes ; there's n# use beating about the bush, so I'lJ tell ypu what I'm fcoing to do, and what you jvjlj have to do yourself. When we're jn the punt the poling will be uonc either by me or Lady Coolworth, for JHervin admits that he's no good at it. Well, I'll arrange to be on duty till we get quite close to the houseboat, when I'll ask her ladyship po relieve me, anji in handing her Jhe pole I shouldn't wonder if, either through her own fault or mine, she should fall into, the water. You, dear boy, will bo on the upper deck here bitween 8.30 and 9, and if the accident I fear should happen, you will hear a loud, scream. Kemember I'm a tniiaed elocutionist, and then you will take a header right into the liver and swim to her ladyship's assistance.. Thus, is a dramatic manner you will save her life, and place her unfier so heavy an obligation that she cannot refuse to marry you—absolutely cannot. Mervin won't have a look in. "It won't be he who will have the speradiag of the million—not ft peony of it, "Well, gentlemen, it is dlue to myself to say that I expostulated vohe-, mently against this extraordinary proposal before, in the end, I weakly assented to it. At the risk of being wearisome I must repeat that the fascination of Cynthia's beauty had caused me to completely lose my bearings. Honestly, the million, so far as I was concerned, was a secondary consideration—quite secondary. "Moreover, in giving my assent, I made Edith promise that if for any reason I should fail to effect a rescue, she herself would do so. " ' I shall be precious angry if I have to, all the same,' my cousin remarked, as our conversation ended.

'bhortly afterwards I stood at the open window of my roomj watch . ing the punt moving slowly U p stream ; its three occupants-each of whom uas clad in whibe-lookin E to my excited fancy, almost ghostly i n the moonlight. I could not long distinguish it, however, from amongst the unusually large number of craft ot a 1 kinds which a line and warm hum'.ay evening had brought upon the river. So I turned from the window, and, having loosened the laces of my shoes so that I might be able to slip them off easily, I made my way to the upper deck. The two barristers were there enjoying their customary evening tobacco, having eU then- wives napping Jn wicker cha.rs below. Clerson, who was a snort stout man of about forty-live made a casual reference to the absence of ou, hostess, coupling her ' ' They didn't want any of us to wife ' 6 ° oti saW as " luch *> my " ' To mine, too,' replied Wragsby wo d"" "° te , d for usin * « s tew' words us possible. versa \„ aUd thon the c "»- SteU 0 J o ''' simple enough i„ how I wns anxiou • >£ t w mas possible about it r " ° pricked ~ BBrhnn, Conscience ■W two W tbr. !»,„„.,„ " r J^Zi

Mexico, when Wragsby paused in the "act of lighting a fresh pipe to ask me a question which sent a colder shiver down my back than ever I experienced in the sea, •' ' Been in Poolbeaeh ?' he queried looking straight at me with a pair of keen grey eyes. " Now Poolbeaeh was the watering place at which I had performed during the whole of the summer of the j.revious year, so that I suddenly felt myself confronted by a danger I ought, had I been in my right mind, to have anticipated. How if Wragsby had seen me there, and now recognised me. •' ' Yes, have you ?' I answered at last, trying to speak in an indifferent tone.

Spent, six weeks there la«t

J' eEU '- , . " ' I've been tlit-re several times.' "'Oh ! Ever seen a chap dive from the pier ?'

"I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. " • Might have been your brother, Selgood—so like you. Wife noticed the same thing. Mentioned it last night. Ever strike you ?' "Before 1 could reply a piercing shriek caused us all to start to our feet, and J saw a white form struggling in the water about twenty yards from the house-boat. So, even while it flashed upon my brain that, if Wragsby had guessed the truth, I was about to turn his suspicions into certainty, I threw off my flannel jacket, slipped out of my shoes, and, mounting the low d«ckrail, dived headlong into the river. "Rising to the surface, a few strokes took me alongside of the struggling figure I had noticed from the deck, and I hastily observed a punt close by. But the figure was beginning to sink, so I at once seized it—seized her—and, keeping her head carefully above water, swam baclf to the boat-house, and was helped out of the water with my adorable burden by Wragsby and Clerson, who stood at the head of the steps, " Tho burden was laid on the deck, and, just as I was gazing hor-ror-struck at the face for the first time, a lough voice from a punt containing several over-dressed individuals which bad just come up, cried otit :

"She ain't much the worse, I *ope, sir. It was 'er own fault she would 'aye a t,ry with that there polo, though I'told 'er not to. An' now she's' lost 'er at and' taken ' all the starch out of 'er white drill dress, an' a. pretty picklo she's in to gp back' fp London' by tho last train along wifjh "ftr fqying 'usba'nd. fF ? a WW fine ending to a day's 'ff'idtty; bigssqd if" it ain't. " Many thanks to you, sir, {pr what you've done, all the same,'

'Tiiero is jjttle more to say, gentlemen. It was not the cockney tipper who was the worse for the evening's adventure, but myself In the excitement at the rescue I had failed to hear a second shriekEdiths this time—and "when'a little later two mora dripping figures were helped up the steps or the houseboat, Wrugsby fgpked at me, and calling „,e aside, said with a'laugh ■ _ ' ' Knew you from tire first!' Clinton, 1 wondered what your gume was, Think I know now- Qverhpard part of your conversation with Miss s>elgood on the upper deck just after dinner. Chance had dealt you a knock-down blow, my friend ; and if you and your enterprising cousin don't clear out at once, it'll ho my duty to deal you another.' " After that, gentlemen, you cannot wonder that my cousin, and —I spare you our mutual recriminations—left the boat-house within un hour, thus relinquishing", all hop« of that confounded million, and, so far as I was concerned, of obtaining the hand of the charming Cynthia, whoso surname, by the way, is now Mervin,"