Literature.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 145, 23 June 1904, Page 4

Literature.

IIF.AF ANH DU ill. "I've just dropped in tor a lew moments, Henhert," said yo ng Edward * Ofjden, a fair-haired, hp wlsciue l>oy 0 i aiiout fourteen, enteri .g the bachelor apartments of his cousin, Herbert Lawerence. "I'm or. my way liack to boartliftjf-school. y° u know'; : I regret to say it opens on t.h- ist ot September, Mother instimini me to call here, and to remind you ot that promised visit to Greenlavii Cottage." "Did I promise, Edward, to pay her a visit ? Oil, yes ; 1 remember. It was last April, just bWore she leit town, and 1 said ' upon my honour, ■ I'd come,' and all that sort <>; thing." Hero Air Laweivnce mysteriously express*-" his sense of how tie . recollection of 'that promise allccttd hill), tjy a nervous pull at his moustache. "Whin does she want me, Nod ?" "The first week in September, as you agreed, Herbert." "I'm sorry, Ned ; but 1 whall have ' to delay my visit till the 10th. I've positively engaged myself to join a ;.hui> i>nrty for tlx? next few days. The "lUth will be |MTn'Cll\ convenient , to your mother, won't it?" Perfectly, I expect. She only wishes you io keep your promise. .' sonietnne during the month. ily word !"—as Kdward glanced at t|Kclock over his cousin's mantel —"I'd no Tdra it was two o'clock, Herbert. I must liurr.v oi'i, or I'm iKtuiul i*, miss the train.'' "A liKiiikin. more. Xed, if you please. I!;ts your mother anyone . staying with her at present? Any ycuny lady, I mean?" The boy laughed merrily. "No, Herbert, or you may be sure that knowing your hatred for tin species she wouldn't have asked vou. >;.xeepfiitg herself and Mary Curtis, therv is not a person at (ireenlawn. male or female.'' "Mary Curtis?" Herbert asked, "who is she?" "A young lady ; but she hardly counts us one, poor thing. You'vi heard mother speak of her, haven't you ? She's deaf a nd dumb." How charming she must be !" ex* claimed Herbert, so seriously that ins young cousin burst into !t peal af laughter, long and loud. "I shall lenm the tnutc'sr alphabet, Xed, so at, ;>to be able to converse with her I've lalways considered that a woman's- . tongue is the greatest drawback she can possibly possess. Mother s told iw of your odd sentiments, Herbert, ljefore now. Well" Im sure you'll like -Miss Curtis. She has a lovely interesting face, and is really very clever in her own quiet Mother is very fond of her «nd so am J." His cou&in's words filled Herbert with no sljgjht curiosity to meet Miss Mary Curtis, and on arriving at his aunt s house one pleasaat afternoon airout a fortnight later, the young gentleman felt that his curiosity had been growing stronger an<l stronger during his journey to Greenlawn. " I say. Aunt Charlotte," he remarked, wilrile occupying with Mrs Ogden the tasteful little drawingroom into which he had Ijeen shown, "has she gone yet ?" 'Whom, Herbert ?" asked his aunt, opening her eyes in genuine astonishment at the interested manner which which accompanied her nephew's use of the feminine pronoun. "Why, Miss Curtis." was the reply. ■ 'Edward told me that she was staving with you. A charming, lovely jjirl, with the rare attribute of not being able to talk. I was really <Jiite anxious to meet so precious a s-ocial curiosity. I'm SU re we should like each other." "Yes, Herbert, Miss Curtis is still staying here,,' responded his aunt lafter a moment's hesitation ; "would .Vou like to foe presented ?" A'lkjvo all things. Of course ] shan t he able to converse with her, unless you teach me the manner of doing so. Is it hard to learn bv-the-way ?" Airs Ogden appeared not lo have heard his question, however, and left the room a moment alter it was spoken. She remained al**?nt aji unusually long time, Herbert thought, considering that her errand was so trival a one as merely to inform Miss Curtis that lie desired an introduction. "Perhaps she's assisting the fair mute in her. toilet," he meditated. I suppose deaf and dumb girls share the flippancies of their talkative sisterhood. Women are slill women, perhaps, even without thoii* right of speech." His aunt returned presently, accompanied by a young lady, who struck Herbert, the moment his eyes rested upon her, as exceedingly and fascinatingly beautiful. A mass of soft, wavy hhir was brushed I nick from the whitest forehead imaginable. Two dark, lustrous eyes looked out from fti>neath golden las-lies. A mouth of the most enchantingly sweet expression smiled amia'bly upon him, as lira Ogden said, or rather motioned, her fingers as a means of communication : "Let me present Mr Herbert Lawrence.." There was a somewhat awkward pause after the introduction had taken place, but Mrs Ogden soon broke . it by addressing Herbert. "As you are unauy.iaintwl with the alphal)et for mutes, I have requested Mary to, bring jmper and pencil. She converses very fluently in this way, if I may use the term You will find her ready to reply almost before you -have written your sentences." Herbert glanced towards the young lady who was now seated opposite to him, although at considerable distance ; and as their eyes met, with a charmingly graceful gesture she pointed to a vacant chair at her side, using in the action a roll of tinted note paper which 9he held. Not long afterwards Mrs Ogden was a smiling observer of her two guests, while they sat, with a small tafb'le tptween them, engjagtid in what appeared to be a conversation absorbing as it was silent. Heribert Lawrence Soon found that the fair mute with whom lie held communication wa.s one of the most accomplished and brilliant women whom it had ever been his lot to meet. She wrote with a brevity, wit and style that

eAiite put to shame his own literary powers, and accompanied this tete-a-tete, to ller/u-rt so novel and agreeable, witli smiles and glances that seemed to him to bo more than attractive. Her tjtiick perception of the ideas which he wishe-d to express considerably lightened Heilbert's lalwurs with the pencil, and she bore her own share of the chirographic interview with an e>ase that truly surprised him. "Are you at all tired ?" he wrote, at th*' end of an hour. Her answer was a prompt negative. (To be continued.)