Literature.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 282, 2 December 1904, Page 4

Literature.

WHICH OF THE TWO ! (Continied.) I spoke sturdily, trying to look as U all were well and happily arranged. Father looked more Satisfied- I fed him one by one, with the rich, juicy grapes. . "I, suddoso it is aU flight, he. said. '•' You know best. I liked poor Regie, but he was hot much ol a match for my beautiful daughter." He looked proudly at me. I smiled. " See K what I have inherited from jny handsome father," I said lightly; ■'' my beauty has brought me fifteen jhousaad a year." ff'SMßUteett thousand a year. Surely Dot as much as that." " Yes, father, fifteen thousand a year.. You needn't trouble anymore your (Situation, Algernon has promised .-to secure you one as soon •uj you are strong enough." ■' TSiaatf God ! " he said fervently, Myjgie, you little know what a load you have taken off my you little know." He was weeping quietly. I had never seen father weep. My sacrifice was not in vain. i " Yoy will get well, now, dear," I (whispered; "you needn't worry ..afeoujj, anything ever again." That evening Algernon Westlake • , came toisee me. I knpw he- was.com- ' Ingr-heihad ; told me so intiie note that my brothers and sisters bad treated with /suoh'SCant curtesy. I put on my white dress, and went- into the drawing-room to await him. My heart was rather soft to him tonight ; he had brought relief, to my dear father* heart. For thia I could almost! love him. Perhaps he noticed something different in my welcome, tor he came forward with a light of iove and joy upon his face. ¥ Algernon,'' I said gratefully, " I catff-thank you enough" for those beautlfM grapes and flowers; father, liked thpm so much." *' Ami did you like the bracelet, dear ?" he asked eagerly. '•'Madgie, (bhat bracelet was my mother's:" "It was lovely, Algernon. You ■' shouldn't give me such things, you forget that lam only a poor girl; they, are too grand for me." He said nothing, only pushed me a little further away from him, and surveyed me proudly ; I flushed. " Mpdgpe, how beautiful ypu are !" With a sudden remembrance there came to me the thought of how often Regie had told me so, and what joy it bad given met 0 hear it. It gave me no joy. now. "Madgie," whispered Algernon, softly, "Tell me that you love me, dear, I have never heard you say so yet." " Oh, Algernon, I am so grateful to you," I faltered, " I feel that I •an never thank you enough." "Gratitude is not what I want, , , Ifadgie," he said disappointedly. . ■•' .Have you no warmer, feeling for ' -me ? " , I looked down on the floor like a guilty child reproved for some fault. I did not answer. ** Madgie," he said gravely, "when shall ourwedojing be? I shall never ' ,;. be itappy till I have you as my own. , Don't you understand, dear? Let it be at the end of the month." I shivered. He stood beside me, looking down at me with perplexed '...» eyes. When he went away that evening he had some kind of promise from me that the wadding should take place in four or five weeks. '•*• « » #

* . : did not come to say " goodbye," and I wasglaß he did not. The day before he sailed I was restless and uneasy. He was going eway" tor four or five years. When he returned he would find mean old married woman. " Madgie," paid my little sister, clattering into the breakfastrroom * where I was sitting making belief to read, *' I saw Regie Kent down the road; he kissed m»just terrible many. times, and his whiskers were as wet as anything. I just don't like Regie Kent's kisses." " Did he say anything about me? " I asked carelessly. " No, nothing about you ; I 'spects he forgot you. He says he's going away for years and years, and when he cornea back I shall be about grown up. I guess he'll marry me then." f- I'went on with my book, turning over' the pages blindly—my whole be. ing throbbing with unutterable woe. -'' Jteii day Regie sailed. Preparations for my wedding went on apace.' Dressmakers came and Bent. I moved about as though in a 4«WL :-; ■ ■ Quiet as I insisted on our wedding itoouldibe, yet I could not go to the . Hall without clothes. Where the money came from I guessed too well, and I shrank back into myself with an overwhelming shame. It was now the beginning of August. In two more weeks I shouW be Madgie Carlton no longer. Algernon had said that I was looking pale and had dragged me out with him one day far up the cliffs to get a little colour into my cheeks. It waa morning. Sea and land were bathed in a soft, warm glory. We sat down on a seat and looked* flown on the dancing, shimmering 3»ateu. I did not want to talk. There was a daily paper sticking half out of Algernon's pocket. I pulled it out and carelessly ran my eye up and down its columns. Algernon sat) back lazily in his seat, arid drew out a cigar. Far below us passed the little ships to and fro, and the gulls were flying from rock to rock, crying with plaintive voice, like a child in pain. ' ;• " Oh, Regie, Regie ! my own true .», j, I put down the paper with a. stifled moan. I forgot the man at my side. All I saw was those awful words • "Loss of the Europiawith all hands." J' Regit is dead .' " I said hoarsely. My- Regie dead ! Oh, my God ! • wtat shall I do ?-oh, what can I I«ou1d not weep ;my h«rt was «„2 CoW hnnp of stone - A " * knew and felt was that Regie was dead. '. - * ocked : Iput o»t my tana involuntarily, alWrtas.ifl.wpecterfhimto ke *!!.*"*£!!'"£ Bai ' d «****%, " are •W is this man io you tail*?* f^Jf e "" Bood *» laarri «« ' aL^L 18 indaed *"** ' m i.\ *~ you were as good

and broke it off in order to marry a richer man ? I would not believe it ; men are ever fools where women are concerned* Tell me—was it true ? " He spoke sternly, coldly, I hung my head with a deep terrible shame. "Tell me," he said again, "is it itrue? " ■ ->' It is," I answered. " You gave up this man, loving him best, in order to make a better marriage. Your engagement with me was a mere matter of money." How course, how horrible it sound--1 ed, put forth in black and white like [this. Could I, Madgie Carlton, have I done all this ? "Yes, it was a mere matter of' money," I said shamedly. " But, Algernon, I would have been' a good wife to you; inded, indeed I would have been that." " You love this man, this Regie Kent's little finger more than you oaro for me," he said bitterly. '•' A fool I have been to be so deceived.! Well, at any rate I have discovered it all before it is too late." He stood for a moment stern and dank by my side. Then' he went off with quick agitated footsteps down the pathway. He did not offer to touch my hand in farewell. I sat on in unspeakable misery ; grief for Regie, trouble about my home-people, shame at the part I had played, and mingled with it all & feeling of indignation, that I had been am unwilling victim. Algernon did right to be angry; how could he help it? But I, oh,! was I the unmercenary wretch he thought me ? God knew I was not. Perhaps He would let it all come right one day. Wearily I rose up and went down the cliff path. How could I tell them the news at home ? How could I i face the sorrow and disapjwintment ? I and, alas ! what ol the debts that had so accumulated of late ? Slowly I dragged my feet up the garden path. There was a sound of excited talk end laughter coining from the diningrrooin. Evidently they had not heard that poor Regie was dead. " Come in, Madge; something splendid has happened," said my mother, uoming out to meet me. " What do }ou think, child ? Your great aunt, Lucy Carnstairs, has died in America, and has actually left your father all her money." I put my hand out and caught hold of her to steady myself. " Yes, isn't it wonderful ? She who would never answer his letters. It means five hundred a year to U9." " Why, what's the matter, Madgie ? How white you are ; here, let her lie down. Why, Madgie, 1 never knew you faint before." "It'sjust too late," I moaned. " Poor Regie need not have gone. Oh, mother, Regie isidead, and I have billed him." "She means the shipwreck," said my bnotlrer. " She must have seen the paper ; but, Madgie, Regie is not dead. Didn't you see in another part of that same paper that a boat full of passengers had been picked up ? Regie's name was among them." It was too much. The glad tears rained down in showers. I laughed and cried in turns. Thank God ! oh, thank God for ever more ! Before a month was up there was a quiet little wedding at the parish church on the hill. Regie and I plighted our troth with a joy too great for utterance. ■" It has all come right," I whispered, as we passed down the aisle together. " You were my own dear love all through."