Literature.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 160, 11 July 1904, Page 4

Literature.

"TURNING THE TA ILES. Walter Hcaton surveyc f x'-.o por- ! trait on the wall with a -ue " smile i •'My fatht'r used to ti'.'. ui that ' there is always a way ol setting i what you want if you hae the will:, j •Where there's a will thero's a way!' 1 pride myself on having studied his | advice and 111 undertake to say f that 1 can get most thing:, thai I j set inv heart on. Now, let us see : j I've made up my mind to be rich, j and also that 1 a<" going vo many Lena Urookes. I think that hovh desires are on Ihe high road to realisation ; in tact, I s-hall I'Ut the latter to the test to-morrow , and I'm sure oi winning. Vul the task in ■both cases has offered considerable dili.culty !" He putted away contentedly at his cigar. .At the end of.a few seconds lie resinned his hulf-amii'blc monologue. "1 first determined to be rich, and. as at that time 1 had no fancy lot marriage, t did not set about making a fortune by the unintelligent method of trying to captivate some rich widow or 5,1 Uy girl. I am succeeding well in my own direction. What that direction is I don't tell ! A wise man keeps his own style of fortnniMiwiking Secret. 'ftie least said about that, the safer ; And the wife? Ah !" It was a long-drawn exclamation, which tokl of anxiety to possess. "That girl would not have married me in ordinary circumstances. It is not flattering to me, I'll admit, bui that's the lact !" So ran Heaton's thoughts. '-She is not beautiful, only just pretty, but with a smile am! an expression in the liquid eyes that takes Jhe soul out of a man from tin very muinent he se>ts eyes on her. At toast, that's the way she affected me "Was in love with her from the first moment, and I said that if my eminently respectable parent was correct, I could have her for my wife if 1 wanted her. I did want her, I de. mean to have her ! "It didn't take me long to see that she would not take me in the ordinary course of things, so strat«gwn bad to be resorted to. And I hit upon a very pretty little plan, which worked like magic ! "She was skating. I knew that she would be at it in good time, and: I prepared things accordingly !" A curious lig'ht came in hi 9 eyes at this instant. "I kept close behind her, and she got cross, so she studded away and I followed her.without appearing* to notice her i Oh, i worked the oracle so thftt sue could suspect nothing ! And all ..c om> someUiing happened. Isn't it strange how accidents happen, now ? She went over, just at a particular spot',That accident couldn't have happenedat a worse spot, even if the thing had been planned ! "Before she realised it, Bhe had gome through the ice. Of course, 1 was just in time to save her. I got • her out before she had been fairly in. I had saved her life, so I managed to insinuate in a very innocent way and, naturally, she was compelled to be grateful ! She couldn't help herself 1

i '"'After that I took good care that I should reap the full tanefit of this affair. I pressed my suit upon her gradually, and she couldn't tell me to get' out. I contrived to keep the life-saving business just enough in - .%) foreground to make her feel that ate must receive my attentions, an« all the while I appeared as if I was cot tanking of that, but was taking Jt for granted that she liked me for , myself alone ! And I've got her so j tight m the meshes now, that I don't see how she can get out ! Will she with me ? Why not ? It , ~ will be her fault if she isn't, and M ,„ , I have to consider da that I shall be ... .happy with her !" F m f n H TT y thou S ht mossed Iris |. mind at that moment. Was there fe anyone else in the background ■> CcrH -tain indications suggested an affirmE- fttave reply, and he did not like W that. i < IT"**", il is """Mono of whom her ,- father does not, or would not, approve, so r think there is not much cnence for him. On the other hand she might take it into her dainty head that she preferred to remain Angle if she could not have him. & That s where my hold comes in I'll force her, out of sheer gratitude, to marry me !" iT— Walter Heaton ought to have been W contented with his prospects, considering that he was so sure of his ul- _ .timate success, but he was not i„ pleased. Something had disturbed F ' »nm. so he strode from the apart- * . Want and put on hip coat and hat u ' * m in»te later la was striding I hlong the almost, empty street in the darkness. The air was cold and the | wind keen ; he felt a certain exhilarr S£L° n , aS J Ie . walked ra l' idl y "long. I J^^ h m l Was dis Pelling the trS- * uoled thoughts and cooling the hot ji -brain. Lena Brookes would marry Wk tarn ; she must. He could win her w father's consent ; the old man was wealthy, and could not tolerate a £ poor son-in-law. Walter Heaton could prove that he was well-provid-L ed with this world's goods, and likeP ly to have a still larger share in ,-, the future. And there might be some | Other power of persuasion ; it might | N possible to find out that Brookes I was. involved in something or the £ .othe*, and it was not beyond the 6 mage of possibility to get him ing, volved if ho were not so already ! y He had arrived at this stage when I?- he pulled himself up short, just in Mb time to" prevent himself from stuinbI >**■?-on two people as he turned the K corner. They were going in the same f direction aa himself, which helped tam to avert a collision ; thev must have crossed from the opposite corner just before he reached it with , Ms long strides. He was turning a--8 voice of Lena Brookes fell upon his f ear with astounding suddenness. She was addrewing her companion, a r man. ' ■; "I wish. I could take as rosy „ aat , taa asyou d °' "*" Si f Sa ' d WUh a *&• "Papa . WIU not consent to our inairiaJ I : know quite well » And how can I get Brid of Mr Heaton ? He saved my life ; and it would be the ibasest ingrati- « tilde to treat him so coldly !" p "I know that you are distressed, Lena, dear,'l,-rel.urned the young man

—his voice so foil of infinite tenderness that Heaton set his teeth hard and stifled an oath. "But you will never entertain any offer of marriage from this Mr Heaton, will you ?" Heaton waited with bated breath for the answer ; it came in a low, clear tone : "I do not love him ! He would not make tho offer unless I gave him some encouragement ! But we must return, Harold, or " Heaton darted into the road, and was on the other side of the street before the young couple had turned to retrace their steps. '■' So that',s how the land lies eh'?" he muttered, his face white' with «mger. "That must be Harold Winslow -Well, he will stand no chance with the old man, and as for Lena she shall be my wife, and if grati-' tude will not help me then I'll arrange it otherwise ! I'll begin tomorrow !" b Ho w as very busy all the next dav, but he .appeared to .be satisfied wUh htlTr' tofl :' "'hen he shut himself up m his own special ,1,,, in the evening.. (To he continued.)