Literature.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 137, 14 June 1904, Page 4

Literature.

' MY WARD'S CONQUEST. (Continued.) "Now, Willis !"—and llehitablc's hand was laid reprovingly on my arm. : "Alter seeing her, will you persist in this insane dislike ? She ' ' is a sweet, lovable child, a little fay ward, perhaps, but you only knpw that from what vou have i Jreppd." "I detest flirts." "You do not know she is a flirt " "Well, enough said, Mehitatole The fact that she was thrust on me in this manner is very disagreeable " and, turning wearily, I left ti*> room. And so it went on, dav after dav «V 4 week after week ; it' seemed as M the girl had bewitched them nil • she called Mehitable "Auntie ' caressed her in that clinging m I called '■• snaky." Shf m S were inseparable, and aa lor tew haviour to me she showed *£ <«£ worship her , I al o?l0 detested her L 7a W '**«• VT aC ' or Reared on wlVb it a'nZ^ 6 Hastin^ r,. ,» P • i Lieen an old e£ 5,h ~ C,CI *- But the Sirl play- ™ with ium,_ as di<t with all others—one 'J'-ty all. smiles and as gjtasious as A qfxeea,, the next coW s e)-' i n BC.nd indifferent. lat c«m a. great, liking to Gerald P , u>ok invite<J him to G.ir«j> f castings, accepted my invitation cables. He plainly his passloß#* • I I saw riel. .ue love for Mu"What a C l>e," thought ..pital thing it would to * -I, "if I could marry \otedly ' 'Hastings ;he loves her deprick'- . ' 3dy conscience sometimes <lo*- .d me, as I wondered if I was * .ng exactly right by the daughter of my old friend, but X would ease it by saying : "Pshaw ! what made him bring her up in that manner One day Gerald came to my library, asking the hand of my ward in marriage. lie said she had refused him twice, but he could not give her up. I promised to do all I could for him, and went to bed, resolving to speak to Muriel about it. The next morning at the breakfast table, Jack said : "Have you heard the news?" Of course, we were all anxious to hear it, and he continued :

"Old Mrs Raynor's son was run over last night and nearly killed. He is not dead yet, but cannot last long; and I heard that they had hardly a mouthful to cat." We 'were all expressing sympathy and regret, when Muriel said, with that shrug of the shoulders I hated so "Oh, do not talk about suck horrid things; they cannot hear you expressing yojur sympathy, and they would not appreciate it if they did. That kind of people never does." I looked ,at h n r in amazement. What kind of «. woman was she to talk so heartlessly of her fellow creatures ? The talk drifted In other channels, and as we rose from the table, I said : "May I see you in the library in the course of an hour, Miss Marsden ? She looked at me in surprise, then said Indifferently : "If you wish it." I went to the library, and sat thinking what a beautiful woman sho was, but how heartless und cruel. How I wished I could marry her off. My thoughts were interrupt cd by the frou-frou of skirts, a tap at the door, and she stood before me, looking as haughtily at me as a queen might look at her lowliest subject. "You wish to see me?" "Yes ; be seated." "I prefer to stand." "Very well—Mr Hastings last ni-ght asked your hand In marriage."

At the mention of his name a look of disdain came on her face, as Bhe said :

"And so he has appealed to you, has he ? What did you tell him 1" "Miss Marsden, as your guardian, X am bound to look after your welfare, to a certain extent. You can never find a better man than Gerald Hastings, or one more passionately in love with you ; besides that, ho is wealthy, handsome, has pleasing manners, and I wish you to marry him."

"You wish me to marry him ! I would not marry him for that, reason alone, even if I loved him—but I detest him, therefore shall not marry him." She gathered her skirts in one little jewelled hand and prepared to leave the room.

"Stop ! I wish you to remain here and think this matter over carefully."

"Sorry to displease you, but I have an engagement; and besides, J never think; it is too tiresome." Bowing rtsjly, she tripped down the hall, whistling: "Good-bye, my lover, good-bye !" I smothered an oath. So that was the way I was to be treated in my own house, by a chit of a girl. I should never stand it. Walking to the window, I saw her on the lawn, engaged in a skirmish with Jack, over a book. At last she threw it at hira, and turning, ran into the house. Such antics were disgusting to me, and I determined to find Mehitattle, and have a talk with her about it. I entered the dining-room, and at first thought it was empty, but a second glance revealed a little figure curled up in an easy chair, before the Are, which we always kept lighted in the autumn, reading. It was Muriel. Jack came in after me, and approaching Muriel, Baid : "I say, Muriel, I'm awfully sorry, but I have got to go to Harßgreen to-morrow, and wo cannot have our ride." "I am sorry too, Jack, as in that case I shall have to ride alone." "What horse will you take ?" "Black Beauty." "But, Muriel, I hate to have you take her when you go alonq; she s dangerous." "Oh, I can manage her. I shall not rido any other." "Then you cannot go," said I. "Indeed, and why not ?" "Because Black Beauty is no fit horse for you, and I do not want j'ou to take her." "Well, I intend to go, and I shall ride Black Beauty, so what are you going to do at>,out it ? Come, Jack, I am going.for a walk," and, taking her hat, she left the room, followed by Jack, while I proceeded to the stables, and ordered John on no uccount to saddle Black Beauty the following day, and then went to the house to do some writing. As the dinner bell rang, Jack enme in alone, saying Muriel had grown tired of him, and sent him back, ' while she finished her walk alono. I straightway dismissed her from my mind, as an unpleasant subject. My writing finished, about six o'clock I

started for the post-oflice. As I neared the cottage of Mrs Raynor, 1 thought of the poor woman and her son, and reproaching myself for not helping them, resolved to stop and see them on my way home. Suddenly the door was opened, and I heard a voice I knew only too well : "Oh, that is all right, Mrs Raynor, lam glad to help you. I will see that he has a more comfortable bed, and to-morrow will come again." Could I believe my eyes ? There stood Muriel in all her bright beauty, and beside her Mrs Raynor,thanking her, in a broken voice, for what she had done. They did not see inc on account of the dusk, but as I walked on my mind was in a verydisturbed state. Was this the woman I had called heartless ? Hah ! It was only a new freak of hers, this trying to play "Lady Bountiful." I was detained at the post-office, therefore it was too late to stop at Mrs Raynor's on my way back. As I neared my CiWjj door, I met Gerald Hastings coming lipwn tfie steps, with bag in hand. "Good-bye, Mr Craig," he said, offering his hand ; "I have seen Muriel again, and it is all up with me."

"Why, Gerald, are you going?" "Yes, but I thank you for what you have done for me. I cannot talk now, but will write you.i Goodbye !"

Morning dawned, bright and clear, and as Muriel was not down to breakfast, I did not see my ward ; but as I was sitting in the library, I heard the clatter of hoofs down the drive, and Muriel, radiantly beautiful in her dark habit, mounted on Black Beaufy, dashed past the window, and was out of sight before I could recover from my amazement. I called John, and wrathfullv demanded what that meant. "I could not help ife, Mr Willis," said the old man. "Miss Muriel ordered me to saddle the horse, and when I told her what you said, she went to work and saddled her herself, and I could not help it, sir, she would not stop." "That will do." (To be continued.)