Literature.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 287, 8 December 1904, Page 4

Literature.

PAUL THE PIERROT. * "It as nothing short of scandalous," Mr Pointer remarked, conveying a slice of buttered toast to his mouth. . • Outrageous," added Mrs Pointer, wiping her fat, ring-covered lingers on her serviette. " And you ought to know better, Dolly," turning to her daughter, who ait with her untouched uieaHust before her. •■' A mere common nigger ! " Foin'tcr pere went on. " He's) not common," Dolly expostulated with a show oi indignation. " He's a gentleman, even if he docs sing on the l>ouch." " And cadge lor his living with a sea-shell," added Mi- Painter. "Of course, gentleman do that." "He isn't a nigger, and he does not cadge," the girl persisted. " Well, if he has not got a black

; face I dare say he's a black heart," •i Mrs Pointer put in. "A mere adVenturer, flirting with any and every girl that mates eyes ut him, and—" "Oh, mother!" from Dolly, whoso face 1 , usually so pale, was suffused with a crimson wave. '• Just waiting for any girl with prospects," said Mr Pointer, finishing the sentence to the approval of his wife. " Quite so," she remarked. "But if Dolly persists in keeping his company," he continued, " she'll never see a penny of my money." ! '•' I'm sure I don't want it," was the girl's answer as she rose from . the table with diamonds glistening in her eyes. "I am only sorry you ■have'not a different daughter." " Don'tj be rude to your father, Dolly," was her. mother's sharp rebuke.

"-1 oan work for my living," Dolly went on heedlessly. " I think be- . forq father was so rich you work- ' bd,"- addressing herself to Mrs Pointer, to whom the recollection of those early days of drudgery behind a counter in a little village shop .was decidedly displeasing. "And don't insult mc, Dolly," , said Mrs Pointer. " I won't have ■>*lt j'ilidcwl I won't," flustering up from the table. "To think a. child of mine should turn and rend mc like this ! Mr Pointer, can you sit there and see me insulted like this ? " as Colly left the room. " My dear," be said in most com-

placent tones, " what can I do ? " " That _ is for you to; think, Jos-S>jU&ph-r;l*declare I won't stay in the same house anouher day. I'll go to my sister's. I " •" But, my dear Martha, I can "

t> j" f '■! You are Cha,iriiian of the Coun- • til, and you can stop these low nigger fellows coming here \\ What's the , _ use of being Chairman ? " "'"■l'm not the Council, my dear," ho reminded her. "Ofcourse, I think like you, and " Mrs Pointer, to her hus|bamd's great relief, bounced from the room with her nose in the air, and just then his presence was requested in the shop. The customer's order taken for the' repairing of a silver watch, tha proprietor looked round him with decidedly mixed feelings. Here was he, Joseph Pointer, EsJl- , -v Chairman of the local Council, with every prospect of. next year filling the "Mayoral Ohair, attlw growing seaside resort known as Sandleigh, and the leading jeweller and siKerJthfth' of that rising town, being flouted, by his daughter; It was galling.

"But it is just like Dolly to want to marry a mere beach singer when! .;aha might find a husband in young] 'Morgan," he told himself. "Of course, a penniless minstrel is preferable to a gentleman with a thousand a year, son of a landed proprictcS whose prospects of a baronetcy at is>. Do distant date are " But he : - broke off, for he suddenly thought of the days when he was a struggling young man himself, and Martha had refused a much tetter offer to marry *•'■ ; him.

1 ; fetill, reflection did not soften his 'heart any more than it did that of his gdod wife. la their case things hadTieen "different; their parents had not been Messed with riches, and Joseph and Martha in inarying .one another, had no heritage at : st*kc. '

' ttjVs-tairs, Dolly, in tears, was go»ifg through a very bail ten minutes' with:'.ne'r mother, whose dim! decision' wias that no nigger minstrel should ever enter their family. •'•But I love ham," protested the gjrl, "and I am sure lie loves me; I ain' sire he is a gentleman, moth- '&•:"•'

, ," I'cS, probably drives a cab in winter," was' the motherly comment. '•These minstrels shall be hounded out of the place, or we will move !" A good cry brought no relief to Dolly'sagitated mind, for she loved ... taiil Br'anscoinbe, "" Haul the l'ierl*. rot," as he was known locally to the inhabitants' ami visitors'. He was a tall, well-built young chap with fair curly hair, and an ,;> open honest face set with eyes' as the summer sea k And if hjs appearance and frank, jolly manner liad not affected more than one maidenly heart it was certain his voice would have done,, for be was a sweet singer whose repertoire of songs was made up of the highly sentimental. ■ -There was no mystery about him; everyone knew that his winter occupation consisted of teaching' the mandoline, Imt many thought he would have done better in the concert hall. Nor had he any of that cheap - familiarity or pronounccfl conceit so apparent with some members of similar, troupes to bo found at holiday resorts on the coast, though he had a pleasant smile for all, and a reafly .wit, -devoid of any vulgarity. It was no moro astonishing that lie should fall in love with Dorothy . Pointer than that she should fall in love with him, for she was a beau- . tiful girl with a chami of manner pot usually associated with one of such plcbeiam extraction., .They met on the evening of the flay that brought the wrath of her parents on Dolly's head ; he in total ignorance of the unfortunate occurrence, she wifully determined to -/manry him come what mightj after the had been 'told her story. In place of the cherry look Paul usually wore, there was sadness in Ids eyes, and Ms demeanour was strangsely quiet. He did not seem to Notice any change in the girl. " ■'■' I'm going away to-morrow, Dolly," he said suddenly, as they strolled on the cliffs above the sea." ■She gave a short, quick gasp. Going away," she replied vaguely. Then it rushed to her mind that her parents had had an interview Wich Paul and acquainted him with (their determination. " Yes," he answered, " I must." ■'■' But I thought you were here for the season. ? " - " I was,"- he said. " But something has-happened to change my plans."

" You have seen my father ? '-' she '--'.blurted out. " Your father ? '-'■ in surprise. •"No! Why should 1 see him?" " I though it was 'because of that you were going away." ■"■ No ; your father' does not know me? "- '± *.» /•' We, have been seen together. "■ ■*■'- ;'''-Y*es?'i - *i."i A ? d , ,10 knows J' oll love me, that I l o ve you." -,-. -''You told him? " and *> I told my mother, '■•' But," he said, " go on.'i (To be continued.)