The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7824, 17 May 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

fv "THE MAN FKOM NEW YORK. I, K'Tlie fat pony, crawling leisurely ? mfaog towards Hadley Common, paid •" Haot.llfce, slightest attention to the ' ipttfVer. a bright-eyed old lady of scvl&jnty, who, half asleep in the sweet Ngtammer sunshine suddenly discovered pthat the animal had come to a I and was eagerly cropping by the roadside. j £""Get along with you 1 " said old P*dy Polperrow, with indignant cm- . tahasis, as she realised the situation. - r' " Ah ! If 1 were only a man I could •, tio Justice to the occasion. Hut I j PSaicn't hit you because of Jenkins ; j Resides, he never allows me to have j aTwhip. I wonder why all my scr- ■ jmnts bully me so ? They make it ] So'disagreeable (or people coming to ; ftbe house that poor Edith has a Effwry dull tfcne of it. She's a good • ipjgirl, aad I'd like to see her happily ; Ijbmlrried. Go on, pony. Please ! " gSM the old days a lady coutd swear i Si&rHtlioat losing caste. Modern man- I 1-iJBerB are. not without their draw- : BTX The fat pony, finding the grass by | grots' roadside an agreeable change ||from his everyday food, and knowing; | ElUlMt 'there was no whip In the little ■ carriage, went on feeding. When J |§oH'Laidy Polperrow somewhat feebly gnepeated her request he turned bis HpSead lor a moment as much as to 1 |§jSBX. " My dear good woman, don't |&M>a see I am master of the Sittiaif' " U I were only a man I'd astonyou ! " The old lady tugged at reins ; but the pony behaved with contempt, well knowing ffuat her wish was without the range j of practical politics. f-_ ••• Was there ever such luck ! My p];«hance has come nt- last after a fortfcJßight's watting," softly murmured a &|guog< uaßv - who, .knapsack beside reclined, on. the bank almost ovular £ady "Polperrow's head, and watchIHSIB the struggle between pony and ss with ill-concealed amusc- " Stay, a moment, madam. I'll m a switch." rat the switch and presented it i old lady with a graceful bow." >ony eyed it somewhat appreely an 9 seemed annoved. r," said the old lady, with a le in her eye as she' took the i, " are yon . aware that we not been introduced ? I am sed at you readiness to waive istomary formalities even in i. crisis as the oresent." I. that's all right, madam. » no time for conventionalities you have to deal with this sred beast." The young men up the pony's head with Hull iron. " Besides, you can cut ter I have put you in the way that leadeth to " istruction ? I ' she asked, with mused glance from her bright r es. ». madam. To Hadley Comdrew the unwilling pony into >ad, straightened out the reins, »olced at her quizzically, "Here our reins." „ „ •H- sir ." queried the old lady, ~g?~£ b * t can l d< > wj th then 7 The seems to me to remain |||feltered."K: "I fear, madam," said the Voung bSSH!.\ "> that you can ' t "wnage" this Kg Moated beast. In my country I'd not ■gaiaSe any'bones about-the matter, Bpbut-get you home somehow, even |* though I had to call up a patrol |*.waggon." Et TOe old lady took in the stranger's |fe Aqliasomc, lean, saturnine face. He HF??" "•"'W" I "» *e regulation tour||>*fc. style, but >ith an unobtrusive Prmataess of fit which, together with B&AW gallant tearing, excited her adP4s!?* ' K I am not vcr >' much you area scion of the eagW? ••• - v *f? wYork V madam. How|gr-£? Jfartin, by name. Just a brief Wjrßr round to study your country and institutions." H" « Si courte you a PP rt »e of thcn> ?" fi£-«. ~ tbc coun ' r i—yes ; of the inSg. ftitutions— no." K. Tie old lady's eyes flashed. «• Do dare to " fe' .™ < £ lltra ? ,et oW »«« ? N evcr, madI ™* %eryour Pwmission to drive fclTt Y ° U ?*• lhis stulled jgP} mat won t move. £t llie old lady smiled. •• l n this r. to allude to age." i"""<K y° u n« man bowed. ." I n mv country nuldam, we reverence old age. partly because so few of us '*" ♦iT'.iu.iT oW : H is a compliment l *» allude lo it. Guess I'd better -, drive you home. I've a feeling tha[ r iS™.M to , nish 4 thi i.P on y even though if ; - Km to get him started." t* '}'*? wcM." said the old ladv '■' "" JOU so ', iw? i .. d Bl - 0 not use this switch, / r .*thougn ,t seems to be a good one s >Ws* r ,hat l ICaVe S"jour i *£HiZm^* man took " th ° s «-iich, j. jntpasitoA bis knapsack under the carg„..n«ge seat, stepped in, and thirtv Sct ?%*** ter tho fat P o,, y was trotv. «ng desparately; for the M a n from X. *ff t York made a Peculiar noise i. *™f n <ac;ted bim to madness as the |,,*witcl» tickled hi* fat sides. The g posy's tost ambitions revived, and broke into.a gallop. S.r"H ow <} o j- ou account ,- or the -change in hhii ? " asked the okl ladv J-,*atching the pony's efforis to eW rtftblish a" record. " It's the first _»ousß ob the left behind the popflaa£> r %" Contact with; a new country," J-Bwd;the young man, vigorously apMW"*" tno switch ;; and the pony, jg-dJalikihg the contact, lioltcd. iron grip of the stranger f«Spon reduced him to order. Ten igfautes later it was a very astonpony ihat dashed up the gra~mrV6X\ and with trembling legs and ;. heaving flanks, came to a standstill wtniore Lady Polpcrrow's door. • : As be did so, a fair-haired, handg»mo girl rushed out. v Auntie gauntie r What's the matter •> " She ~ 0 ,l 3 i? ing lhe s ' r anser, who, s*iteh in hand, raised bis bat. ?.} . At ' , fest ! " he murmured, '■* At PfkftJ?** ' IVe ™«t-hor at-last." f Motning, my dear. The gentleg«l was kind enough to apply Amfpsair- methods of persuasion to the &za> ii °S? C n,m hurry hom e: BW*<all. The pony has had a much Sfflfjto* from New York assisted Polpcirow out of the "oara kindly deference. She mm m» skill and gentleness, but eflfeE a dismayed look at the sweatSKWenkuis wjll never forgive m c ." §Sfia?2~ An ' *ere he coiees." 1 Who is Jenkins, marfThe old lady tremWsK*? Cbo fc y»u-ea»>'t you say the' ■asSa/" ** ay ? An y e«use is betKggy.jpga. none."

York's eyes flashed as a servant came mnuiug to the pony's haad. "Who's been ill-using one of. my 'hosses? ,' the groom growled. "Your ladyship, 1 " " Stop ! " thundered the Man from New York. " Don't you dare to address your mistress like that. I do not like your style. Guess we'll go round to the stables and talk it over,"

He seized the astonished groom's collar, and gave him a shake which turned him apoplcctically purple, and led both groom and pony round the corner. From the stab,le-yarJ there was a sound of a brief scuffle, then a suggestion of someone being forcibly held under the pump, and the swishing fall of a miniature Niagara. Presently the young man sauntered back adjusting his cuffs. Tho knuckles of his left hand were slightly swollen.

The beautiful girl came up to him trembling with excitement. " Thank you so much ! I've often wanted to Bo it myseH, but auntie said it was not ladylike. I—l ought to have pumped for you ! Where is he now 1" " Looking round for a bit of raw beef steak to put on his eye," said the Man from New York. " ts theic any other matter I can rcgi Ex'cuse inc." Me broke off for a moS' ent. " Here's my card—Howard P. artin."

I "I am more pleased to meet you than the pony was," said the old lady. " I am Lady Polperrow, and his is iny niece, Edith Graeme." " Charmed to know you, Miss Graeme, sure you haven't any more more fat servants who'd be the better for a little efierciso ? ,' The girl laughed merrily, then glanced at her aunt. " After Mr Martin's exertions', the least we can do is to give him some lunch, auntie. I seem to have seen Mr Martin haunting the neighbourhood for the last few days." ■ "Do you think it is safe to give him lunch ? " asked the old lady, .with mock earnestness. •' lie might at us : he has such a masterful way with him. How do you know wo shouldn't be exchanging one form of servitude ifor another ? " I The young man's eyes turned from I he old lady to the young one, and lingered there as he dropped on ono knee to kiss Lady Polperro's- hand. I "If you would have the goodness to give me some lun«h," he pleaded, ." I'll thrash every servant in the place for you. I've walked twonty miles since breakfast, and could eat a wolf. People can do what they I ike with me when I'm not hungry."

| '•• Surely you must have some English blood in you," said the old lady. " Heaps ! " admitted Mi- Martin. " That's why I'm here. There's a little church behind the woods and in hat church reposes one of my ancestors. I've c*me all' this way to take his picture, and wouldn't daro to go back without it." As the luncheon bell rang he offered Lady Polperrow his arm. '' That settles "it," she said. " Edith, Mr Martin will be our guest." " That is very' n ' cc of you, auntie." The young girl walked on the other

side of ihc old lady, from time to time casting amused yet approving glances at the young fellow whom she had seen several times during the last few days. More than once, she bad asked what he was doiag !n the neighbourhood. Now, with sonc subtle feminine instinot, she tried to hide from herself her pleasure at meeting him. The old lady scented a romance and was secretly amused. " You think we ought to take him in ? " she asked casually. "'Of course, auntie. We could never

face old Sir Howard dc Martync's efflgy again, if we allowed a desccridant of his to depart hungry. Kesides, you wouldn't have had uny lunch at all if Mr Martin hadrft 'brought you home."

" That's so," said the unabashed young man from New York. " This

is the first adventure I've had In this country, and I'd like it to turn out well, i— l'm eternally obliged to that pony.. If I give that fellow five dollars to help him mend his eye, we can call it square." The girl met his glance. He had eyes blacker than sloes, and his wellshaped, clean-shaven mouth, in spite of its determination, drooped humourously at the corners. She decided that she liked him. He was so very much alive.

A stout, somewhat frightened-look-ing butler came forward to meet them. " Gilchrist," said the old lady with a firmness which surprised herself, accustomed as she was to being tyrannised over by her pampered servants—" Gilchrist, take this gentleman's knapsack and show him his i'oqhu"

Gilchrist hesitated, for ho had just come from applying raw beefsteak to the groom's eye. There was something in the expression of Mr Martin's eyes, however, which helped him

to decide quickly. " Guess you'd better carry my grip,.' said the Man from New York, and Gilchrist's actions betoEcned that he guessed correctly.

When Gilchrist had put the "grip" down, the Man from New York j;ave him a couple of sovereigns. " There is one for you nnti one for the child of adversity with the raw beefsteak in his eye," he said 'i\s he looked round the old-fashioned room. "Tf you behave yourself I'll double it before I go,"- " Would you like some hot water, sir ? 'i asked the astonished old butlerj (To be continued.)