The Storyteller.
Oa tlie Streagtti of Her Words. Tlip bovs had suggested a game of hums, and Oyril Wyatt came up irot.i the garde* lo get his tenuisracquet, ivNcli was standing in the i corner ol Hie verandah that ran r.mnd tlit back ol the Que old house, 11 was a lovely day in Uip height of summer and one of 'tfie. French) windows leading from the drawingroom on to the vurandah had teen left partly open. As Wyatt reachett for lus racquet, the sound of Elsie Riison's voice Boated out si tie room. lU' slopped and listened. From the fact that Elsie's tones were music to him,, it may be inferred that he was in love with her,. When he had accepted Mrs Ritson'a invitation, given at the instigation of his young pupil Ernest, to spend a portion of the summer holidays with them, he had certainly no anticipation of a romantic adventure. Books and learning claimed all Iris thoughts, rendering him adamant, as he fondly supposed, to ' feminise charms.
And now, in less than a week—nay almost at first sight—the tender passion had sought him out. For a' tutor ol hurrrWr means ud will aims in which women played in pan, it wag really, a most anomalous position.
Suddenly Cyril's expression changed, and bis racquet almost fell «ut of his hand. From his sideways position ha peered timidly through . the half-open window. ./ Elsie was oat of sight, sitting further back in the room, but Mrs Hitson, looking across at her daughter with an eager expression whilst some needlework lay idly on het lap, was plainly visible. And Blsie's voice smote dreadfully on his ears. "I could never marry anyone but Alfred, .mother," she waif,,saying, "lie will speak some time ; it must be hard for a man to speak when so much depends upon the answer. I'm a different girl since I got to know bim properly." Cyril waited to hear no more. Racquet in hand he walked softly down the few steps into the garden. What a enanged world it was ! Two minutes, before life had seemed a charmed thing, fraught with sunny possibilities; now it was clouded ail over with disappointment If only those few sentences, overheard, by pure accident, could be ban islinl to the sphere of unreality ! Alas ! their meaning was all too plain. Alfred Dryhurst, who had beer, at college with Cyril, was Elsie's cousin by marriage, and had jointd the party. What wonder that that strapping yonng fellow, excelling in every form of manly sport, with a charm and ease of manner that no mere book worm could ever attain, had woi. tin- girl's affection ; probably lonbefore Cyril came on the scene. " How small and mean and poor a mature he -felt beside Mm' Am! his store of karaing went fo& Bottling. He would have liked to hav< Kitked his books to Juidra, or fur- : ther.
Up irom the lawn floated tht voices ol the two Ritson boTs, calling to one another. Cyril stood stilon the garden-path last in thought. Now that his own case was hope less, should ho speak to Alfred Dryhurst and make the way plain before him and Elsie? It would be a generous deed—far more generous <han most men disappointed in love are capable of; could he do it ? Then he remembered Elsie's tendei and wistful tones as she confided in her mother ; her whole heart was in her voice. Yes, he would do it. He wuuld not suffer for his generosity. Ernest. Ritspn came rutmme ud the path. • K v "Hullo, Mr Wyatt, thought yon were never coming ! Couldn't you find your racquet ? We want you and Alfred to hurry up. Jove f you do took glum. Aren't you weH r* "I shall fje better, Ernest, after a game." That evening Cyril Wyatt and Alfred Dryhurst sat opposite each other in the smoking-room. Mi R;m, n had retired to bed, and so they, had Hie room to themselves. "Dryhurst," began Wyatt, puffing at his pipe. "You're a lucky man." "Depends on how you define hick." "Well, you've an independent iacotne, for one thing, and cait afford to marry. I wish I could. Now I want to give you a tip—a straight tip." "Mr dear chap, I never gamble or speculate." "Wise man ? There's no speculation, however, about my tip; it's a dead cert," His manner grew sod* denly serious. VI say, do you care for Elsie Ritson?" Dryhursfs cigar fell from his Kps in surprise at the question. "How did you guess that, Wyatt ? I thought no one knew it.'' "It was only a surmise on my part," replied Cyril, with.an enigmatic laugh. "But I want you to' go in and wfn." "You think that I stand a fair chance ?" "Chance isn't the word, Dryhurst. I know positively from Miss Ritson's own lips that yod are the one man for her." Dryhurst misunderstood, as was natural. "I'm sorry for you,,Wyatt. I had an inkling that you cared for her, ■but.-when did she tell you this ' "You're quite wrong. She hasn't told me at all. And I've nem said I a word to her—in the way you suggest." "Then, how do you know ?" "1 played unwillingly the part of eavesdropper this afternoon. Listen ' Open-mouthed Dryhurst. listened to the account of the remarks Wyalt had overheard when looking for his tennis-racquet. By the time the recital had concluded, his face wa> radiant. "What a coincidence. Wyall, tin'. you should have been there at that particular moment < t can imarir.r Elsie, confiding to her mothf r ; thev are as thick as two peas." Wyatt watched the other pacing tin- room in his extitement. "Now you understand why I called you a lucky chap." "1 do. But it's splendidly generous of you to tell me. caring for her. as you do. yourself." "Nonsense > You see Miss Ritsnii's happiness is everything to mr. Now that a word from you will put mailers right, when will vou speak hi" "To-morrow !" "Not later, mind •" Dryhurst held out his haiv.l. "Thanks, old man, a thousand thanks ! Ami you'll lie the best man at the wedding ?" Cyril did net look wholly delighted at the suggestion. "If you can't find a better," he said. Next morning, when Elsie Ritson was starting out to do a little shopping, Alfred Dryhurst appcai'cd as by .magic in the hall. "Goitrg to the villapc, Elsie '" "Yes." "Guess I'll come with vou. We want some more tennis-balls." "I could get those for you." "I think TJII come to. I'll be glad of the walk." She noticed that he had dressed more carefully than usual, amhjbat there was a rose in his coat. He held the front-door open for her with unusual politeness. "Since when hare vou developed this fondness tor walking, Alfred ?" He felt the sarcasm in her voice. It was not an aispiciaag begjuniiii;. "You are loml of chaffing a tallow, Elsie. I'm net very sweet' o* walks because they seem to me such meaningless things. But to-*lay;l'vc a real object in view." "Buying tetwis-halls ■>'• "Ye—es !" Tbcy had; passed beyond the boun-
Danes ef the garden and were hi a oniei country lan». Ehit unserved that his footsteps lagged somewhat. •Km I going toy fast for joh, Al-' "Not in the feast ! (Jnlv, when ?. chap's got something important on his mind, he likes ta go slowly " ' ,De ? r me '- J shouldn't have that a single purchase toul;l cause such inxiety ; hut, then, you're a ma». l'» kalf-a-dezea things u> buy." Mat tare Were g»tling worse and worse. He felt that Elsie, anticipating the subject on which h e wa« about to speak, was purposely talking this eool and distant fashion. ■i? Wtr * 9* cer « r ea»«res. 'Elsie, I've something more important t» think of Hub tennis-balls, tan t you guess ■'.'• Sfte shoot hef bead, Wing ver* stupid. He stopped short and too) n*r arm familiarly. She looked up at Jna i* surprise. 'in"? 00 J l "' Bad * «*• "«» { «r me. Wsj« Not every fellow is lucky eni? kBOW th » 1BSW « »e'H gel whw he purs « question like mine, cisie. I love p,u passionately. Will you marry me, darling •"• She slipped out e! his grasp. Is that your question, Alfred '" ies •"
"Then my answer must be-no. 1 c«uWn't possibly." He stared at her, flouhting the evidence af his senses. I'You cannot roeaa it ?" I «»! Have 1 ever led you to suppose that 1 cared for you '" • / CKo, "* ll r ! But your words ii tbe drawing-room ?" ;|My words is the drawing-room '" tear*""* W,at * accidenH r °»«- "li* o "'.* J? 0 * wlßrt y°B mean." mJTJ DMn '* routdl your mottottat you could never marry 2T!L bnt *'• that JO" *«e a ainereirt girl since you knewmc and «»y waiting for me to speak v Never !" A horrible suspicion struck Dryhurst that Wyatt had deceived him of i ih? M Tfj,ster emberSOmet,,ing "Not one syllable >" "But Wyatt positively assured me." "He was mistaken." isn't telling the truth." "I'm afraid you're not." "Elsie !" l 'Don't Elsie me till I get to know the rights of this matter. My purchases can wait. I'm going back to see Mr Wyatt at once. Don't come with m e , Alfred." She turned on hex heel and was gone, .leaving him lfl a state t>f stu.pefication. He bit his lips in vexation and i called her name, but she took no notice. He walked on slowly to the village. Half running, half walking-, Elsie proceeded home. If Alfred's, story were ttue, she bad been deceived in one ol the nicest men .she had thou K hi possible. Wyatt) appealed'to her in many ways. * ffUS" 1 . whteut being pedantic, interested in books yet; with a larjw interest in lite, he was her ideal c: a clever cultured man. Her faith u, hunua nature bid teen shaken to its toandations. i C £ U ?** hfoßsh »S over a »ijook in the drawinj-r«om wfen the door was flung open, and Elsie, panting .J"* tim «. entered. Histhoughu were elsewhere. Was it an appaiition ? ge'nf^! 1 ' l Ul °^ 1 VOU Were a "I hope " inl' 1 !? liere rou ' T,! **™ talk,ms to Alfred in the way he tells m e tin. .l a , re ,. y °" pul words in, ° mv lips that I've never uttered '" He partially understood. ' 'I hate playing eavesdropper, but .yesterday ~ wa s unavoidable " vou heard me say what Alfrc•' 'when mf ' Wilh ' Tc " n:c And he narrate.! the circumstances To his astonishment Elsie's only
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Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7901, 17 August 1905, Page 4
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1,735The Storyteller. Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7901, 17 August 1905, Page 4
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