Literature.
"" 1 o *S , PAUL THE PIERROT. (Ccmtinmed.) " Oh; I can't, Paul," she cried, clinging to Jiis arm, .a«l looiuoag el own, saw a face "bathed iit tears. Bending, ho kissed her and lifggca tier to confido .in bim.i She poured ■ tlw whole story into his listening; ears, and her downcast eyes did not, • see tirctyjecr smile that played • about his lips, " Anil vrtvat will you do ? heia- ; Quired, wlien she had finislhed. I only know I low youi Paul, she answered- "You told 111 e y° u me, don't , you? " looking lpto his eyes.- - leu V me. Let me hear, you say " " I love you," and he drew her to kissed her. I love you, [* TwlS-.Wt JloW fcan X ask yoii, to, ' asking, expect you to leave * your home aqd ail its comforts to share JlMfly life ?! I-have no fortune to offer you. We could not live as you have lived , you would miss your dresses ' : and your jewellery, : all thp comforts i ■ you know now ; you would be miserable,' you would iblame me for tak<l \rtg yotij'andin the end hate me." ' ."No, tto> Paul ! " -she cried. "It true.;' You do not know me. I * I have no' comfort without you. •il yWtel' iiafo dresses and jewellery ? i ■ apil trifles compared 'with •, the one you love." i ''vil (Bit ,'pqrhapa. J am a mere, adven- ' " turer, a fortune; seeker , as your peoplo Slave painted me ! ' he went on. " > " Then you will not marry m\" sfae, answeredj &' It I marrjj jr°u so with nfy eyes wide oputt to the «'• ftfet that my father disowns me, l; caste me off penniless. But I love 'r you, Paul dear, and I am ready and v. ( willing to share Vou r life, your pov ' ' erty if ijceds be." , <{|W«Uig+Jt;her.ria' te arms and kissed her again, and again. ' :"■« '''Heaven bless you Dolly," he said. " I am going away, but only for a short time. f I shall come! back, uerhapa in a few ; days or a week, to £-<3&iiH you.'' I
On the following afternoon Sand-lci-gh rang with a great sensation. -jr(. [KauL the Pierrot hail suddenly left; / t 3»*ut that was not all—Mrs Saunder- 1 feiiSfpon; who Jiad been staying at the ifci" Pier/Hotel, had left too, and ' with ■■■'' him • . - i ■ :■ -i .». , They hud eloped together. Mrs Pointer was the first to carry, the 'newa to her husband and daughnvrfer •! , - "il don't believe it,":was Dolly's -■ r? first l ronia.i"k, " It's a lie, a scandalV-' i oils lie; a plot ! " «r# ' "•But,* niy dear. child," said her ntother, " tihey were seen at the station together. And Mrs HaunrtcrA son .is reputed ■ to' 'he a very wealthy, •' >' v.on*aov;, lodeed, it ia whispered that' ha isn't her name at all, •i- .-fth&tshe is a lady .of title./'' , iAnd /bow is -all this known ? " i asked. Dolly. ■ She had turned Tory T pale and wasi trembling. , y** Saiumderson only came "down .tod! London an hour ago t,o' stay : flt rter> If His astonishment ai not find■ir.! Wg jheu cannot be described. Bays , Johnson, the hotel clerk, and when ' ™ teamed that she had gone awnv .with a minstrel,' leaving not a- word her ' 'he swore frightfully.. He Ims tgoKl bacl ; to town in a hurry." " I don't .believe it! " said Dolly fEJ" 1 ! ** bro,ke So™* and w 'tor head i a her, arms, , 1 Th f, re ' j * ) here. Dolly, don't' . ta ke on so, advised her father kindly. Mti ° k .Awsielf 1" cky Ft Mi's p oin ter r n f, w V** no good. X daresay Dolly told hiin that she would a penny if sihe married hint." , Lite a rush came the recollection t D _the girl of the night before. Could there be anything j tt it? No-, a thdu- ... sand times tio. She could not, wcfuld not it of Paul—her Paul. It I .. .was lies, all lies. Let tihem talk. She knew him better thuji anyone else. ,She was sure ; ho would return.
Four days elapsed, during which Salidleigh talked of nothing but the elopement; but on the fourth day it was provided with another topic, or rather a new development of the ease. Dorothy Pointer had disappeared. ' She had walked out of the house oQ the previous evening and luid never returned. Those who knew all the facts of the case hinted at suicide. Paul had deceived her, and she had sought solace in death. Dolly's parents were distraught. Search was made everywhere, but without avtail- A day passed, and there came no news, but on the second there anjived for Mr Pointer a telegram. " Have married Paul," it ran, "We are coming to see you. lyThe Pointers' grief was suddenly turned to rage. " She shan't set her foot inside here,"- said her father. . "I never want to see her face agjain;" said her mother. Two hours later a carriage drove up to the shop. "You stay there, darling," said Paul, alighting. " I shan't be three minutes," He enftercd the shop, and handed his card to the assistant liehind the f counter. " Mr Pointer," he said. , " Yes, my lord," said the young man, reading the card, as he hurried away. " Gentleman for Mr Pointer," he ■said, Hand jug the caid to his mistress. " Lond Haribrooke," she read "Dear me, Joseph, Joseph. Dear me, what a man lie is to he sure ! I must apologise for keeping his lordship waiting," she looked in the glass, twisting a curl hero and a eurl there. I Then she entered the shop. | " 1 am very sorry, my lord, she i said, " court,esying, but my husiband ; —=- Why "—as she recognised Paul, and turned with some ingidnation to the assistant—" I thought you said ' Lord- Haribrooke." Paul v,; a li,,i mi,„~
Paul lifted his hat. There was a smile oil his face as he answered : " Quito so, madam. 1 an) Lord Harbrooke," as Mr Pointer entered the shop. " And my daughter ? " asked Mrs Pointer, her good husband being too astonished to speak. '' Lady Harbrooke is waiting in the carriage," he answered. Mrs Pointer flustered tß.'Ough the doorway. ■'•'Oh, you clear, naughty girl ! " aho cried, at the carriage window. Come along, " opening the door. You wicked girl ! " a 9 Dolly stepped into her emforace to lie kissed and huagad. •" What a fright you have given us. My dear Dolly ! " and she half led, half dragged her into the parlour behind the shop, while Dolly was crying and laughing together. Of the explanations that ensued it is only necessary to tell here that Lord Har)jrooke had masqueraded as a Pierrot just out of fun, that none of his companions had dreamed • of his identity, and that his mother, ■ whose second husband was Mr : Saunderson, had discovered him . quite by accident, and learning of " his engagement to Dolly Pointer had 1 insD'sted on hia breaking it and re- - turning to town with her. i But my lord had prevailed upon his mother to change her mind, a 7 task he did not find so-difficult when ' he explained to her bow devoted Dolly was to him without knowing - who he really was. A letter to Dolly, a special licence, and the wedding ' was followed by. a honeymoon.
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Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 288, 9 December 1904, Page 4
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1,195Literature. Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 288, 9 December 1904, Page 4
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