The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7826, 19 May 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

THE MAN FKOII NEW YORK. _ .. (Continued). " I'm afraid I don't understand i , you.-" . ;; * ; ■ *', s " Look at Mm," said U» Man from New York, pointing with reverant admiration to old Sir How- I ard. " It's his power .of staying put, 4 ~that I like" if " Staying put ? " j* ■ } *?? Yet—staying put. Look at him ! | 1 • • I4>6en there eight or nine centur- f ieS, and hasn't been moved. No one p dare move him. Eigfyt or nine years I' is our limit anywhere in America. a. stability about him —a lack ,'i of restlessness. We're too restless. .. , .That's - what Che matter with us. < '' Now you always know where to find * ' an Englishman. A trifle of a huri- 1 dred years or so doesn't make any- i difference with, .him; but you can 1 never lindah American. He doesn't ' . put ! " 1 ' Edith, gave the Man from - New 1 . York a;handful of red roses from the < " j little wicker basket which Bhe car- f ' ' ried. " perhaps their fragrance will I reach hnn even now," she suggested. 1 Hie young man reverently strewed 1 the, fragrant flowers over. Sir How- j , i ant's-stony:; heart. "Guess I'm go- ' iog to mtxijfy myself a bit," he re- 1 ' • marked, stepping .backwards to study ' the effect, as the light came through"' an open .window and fell across the ' feet of the old Crusader. " • ■ " Modify yourself ? How ? ,f ' .Come. ioto : the sunlight. Miss ' Graeme, aßd I'll tell you." 1 They returned to the churchyard 1 and stood beneath a spreading old • hawthorn. The fragrance of the newly-cut grass came to them from the neighbouring fields. Away on the left waved the stately oaks of Hadley. To the right were quaint little ■ almshouses, each 'door filled with some poor old waif, peacefully loiterfog downward to tho grave. The young man stood beside Edith. " It's all wrong," he said, ~ gazing into bis companion's face; with bright restless eyes. '■'"What- is - all -wrong ? " *' This system of American girls marrying Englishman." " Why ? " | " Seems so ono-sided. I'm not de- l nying it's a good thing in a way, but it's selfish." ' " What Is selfish ? " " Our girls coming over here arid marrying dukes. "Why cant England reciprocate ? " "For the pll-sS<Bcient reason-that you haven't any dukes in America." " Not your kind; but, Miss Graeme " < "Well, Mr Martin?" " Don't you think that when two y*ung people recognise a wrong, it is their duty to help to set it " Well, then," he said with a sigh ol relief, " that's what I've been trying to get at for the last few minutes. We 'haven't any dukes in America, but we have men." r ; " Ye-es, so I have been given to understand."i' The going down intoi the pit may have robbed' us of what little polish we originally had ; but we've the sense to see that there is Something in this old civilisation of yours which o«ght to be grafted on to Amerieanntanhood." well?-"-

f Well, : our -American 1 girls are, grafting the Almighty Dollar on to Eng.ish manhood. Don't you think it's the—the reciprocal duty of English girls to graft their own sweetness'awr beauty on tor-" Ho hesitated^ ."To?^

i'Tbe American -manhood ? " / ** How can I possibly answer so abstract a question ? " " Oh, it isn't really abstract." He got up. " I've cabled to Pop." " You have cabled to—'Pop' ? What about ? "

He stood looking squarely down upon her. '■' You." " lleally, Mr Martin, this assurance "-

'■' Don't get niad," he besought her softly. "In America we do things in a hurry. We're born in a hurry, die in a hurry, make love :ltt #,hurry." His audacity left her breatliless. " Are you making, love to me ? " "%, I'm just telling you the plain square truth. Whether you take me or not, I'll love you all my life. Pop will be here inside eight, days."

"■' What for 7 " " To vouch for me." "But what has this to do with me? "

'" Now you're honest. With you for my wife I'll stand a mighty good chance of being President on:: day." . i | ■■;-, " Oh, if ambition prompts you ta make this outrageous pro " -"It does. Thent'd lay my power at your pretty feet, and give it all up if you said 'the word." • W—why ? "

"Just to prove my love. I've been hanging round here for a fortnight to get introduced to you. I saw you in the church the first day I canto here, and I—l couldn't go away.""

■'•'• Come ! " she said abruptly. He -followed her into the church as she walked quickly towards Sir Howard's tomb.

: The young man instinctively caught V- her meaning. When they reached the flower strown effigy he placed one hand on the old man's breast. •■' Sir Howard," he implored, " can't you wake up a uinment ? Just make one sign to tell: ker .how I lovo her."

A gust of soft wind Mew in through the open ,»i'ndow and Carried a vivid crimson rose from the old Crusader's .heart to, Edith Graeme's /est. . ."Ihs-bc's answered us," stammered tha Mao from New York, for once losing bis- self-possession. "Wi.l you-nnot pick it up ? "* She stooped slowly, picked up the rose, and went away. young man knelt bv Hie side of th« cross-logged efligy. " You dear old chap," he said brokenly " .vou dear old chap ! II yo S could only blow Pop over a little <|uick«r I'd bo still more grateful to you."