The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7904, 21 August 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

* k SATISFACTORY ARRAKGBMENT. Ami this is the girt my nephew alb.id niarried !" said old Major istiiitse to himself. "Why, she is ting tout a cfeild; awl a (oyaiy 6, too." ie soft, yellow twiUgft was »' SBg the.drawinp-rooßi iaiita rented glamour ; and Dolares, ftaint ?utr piiano, stpod wltl) fuge and heigbtvned nlott to WflTt mw uncle. She was oalr sevea* g, but as she stood there In i in of purest white ah* 1 ootid a »; of womanhood. 'ounc L'Estrange looks# irst ai wile, and thea at hU incle With jurat pride. she is, air !" said ( fce. "My $! Dolores !" did the old gentleman eourtesßsMdvanced, holding oat oDf sleader •tocratic haad. 'I am tery (lad to we yon, my flfi" mid he conrteously.'aad ant Burnt a tender accent ot aleMfcaa k«l from that momeat alt Del am' let fear and dread of her ka«jd's unci* taaisM.

am so (led yos are Nt a old crab," she said imßßtave-

{Has Paul glvew & safe* a '»d luracter as aaid tfee aid Itleman smiliag. Oh, so, oo !" cried Dfll«r«. "Bat lalways says: 'My ucle vH) HSe k—my uncle will disapprove »f it,' unttl, don't you see, I tare Hit to.be afraid of this aaseea kntatc ! But," sh« Added with a ike of her blue-black earls, "I am t afraid now! Oh, lam sure I >ll love you tery, terr much! rtt I kiss you, please?" fVou mighty try," said the Major, iking very pleased , and from that Meat Major L'Estraage and bis ice-in-law were sworn allies and m friends. "And you love him very much?'' id the Major, speaking, of course, ? the one Prince Charming. '"Oh, Yes cried Dolores. "I am re, Uncle Gerald, tMat there ia no le like him in all the worH. No fc!" "And he is good to you ?" *'Ycs, always." "And you arc happv »"Yes, and—except—i'Haflo!" said Uncle Gerald, "a (*. in the diamond—a crumple in p rose-leaves ! There ought to be f s">ich thing as an except fThcre isn't," stoutlv maintained lotiS. "Only—" '/It's the same thing," said Uncle ffcld, shaking his head. "An 'onf! Ctome, Dolores, what is it ' cn confession, remember, is good i the soul. What is the metalng this mysterious 'only' ?" hung down her heal) tfe Ik-black lashes dropped over be: Bach-blossom cheek. ,"H isn't anything at all, Unclr she said. "Only I shoald ke a little money to spend aomeBn«." '"i-h ?" said tba Major. ow ia this ? Paal isn't a miser, 1 *s*" Not in the least !" cried Dolor p. "But—but—l hardly know how » explain mygelMw thinks I oifht B come to him for every penny I peiid. He thinks I should keep withI a certain limit. Of coarse, he * Wit ; bnt it is a tittle hard som«F fofs- There's no need for a womat. pemling money, ha says. 1 * "Ah !" commented the Major. e-"And I wanted some chocolates (KVdfulJy yesterday," said. )Dokirrs pighing and hlashtog. "Of coarse t's ridiculous—a grown woman liktije wanting chocolates like a child; Bt, indeed, Uncle Gerald, I conWn't tip it; and I was ashamed to ask for money to buy candles with ind if there's an organ-grinder or a (tjfjar or a poor worn** selling batons and boot-laces, why, I have my and my ribbons aad my brutIfets, but Dottisg ebt.*' ;The Major smiled, and suqM Imi HO':stache as he sat ttere ih the Wi light. 1 ""H is a hard case," said to. "Yes, isn't it ?" cried Dolores eares»!y. "I told Paal ha eafhi to jvo me a regalar stutk (ot ?• hut he only langhs at me, and *ys I am a little goase Bow could be like it fcimseU, I %«)- Itr ked

• "And flowers!" crie* Dolores, slasping hct har.ils "There was a {jrl along yesterday wul «• Wert»t lilies and tube-rases, tad 1 could »t buy one. Oh, Uncle Gerald, I lid so want those flowers ■ But Paul lays it makes a womai extravagant to have all the money she wants ! lould the lilies bare bees «rtravapuit. Uncle Gerald

said the old gentleman, ooking at the betntifol speaking ace. "I don't think they would, kit now, little Dolores, there eome* wr pony up the drive. Go away md leave me to sleep." But the Major did not sleep at ill. He meditated. He faced the sandal problem of the V Estrange ousehoM, and resolved to conquer

Paul L'Estrange eame home that svening in excellent spirits, "My dear uncle," he said. "I shall have to call on your generosity Mice again. Only fancy my meeting Sail and Ovington on the Parade [his afternoon ! And they tell me -olonel Praed and young Jennings ire in town also So I have ordcr-

d a little bachelor supper at the lub for to-morrow evening." '"Ah •" said Major L'Estrange. ''l looked at that chestnut- mare, ir," added Paul. "She is simply erfcct, so I tnM the man io trim er up here. I am to have her (or eventy-fire pounds. It s a bargain.' '"lndeed '!"

Fnil L'Estrange turned quickly BUtwl and looked at his uncle.

"Is anything the matter, sir»" he lid.

' The matter ? No. fin should h i* be ?" "Only your tone is so peetiliarb i is all." '■'. Veil, to tell the truth, I was Iwnking," said Major L'Estrange. °'« what ' sir? ' "Of where yoa meant to get the iriey to pay for all these things,' lily answered the old man. "Why from you, of course «*><! Vil, half puzzled, hall amused, Trou have always given me all Uhjrmey I wanted."

"But that) h no siirn that Tchal l ways continue to do so," defibert' ' y remarked the old £f*Ti f Ipma n "Look here, Paul, lam thinking of nrnin? orer a new leaf." "I don't understandjyou, *ir." Don t you ? Then i must ectlia°ur J? flucirfate my meaning a title. The monw is mine, isn t it >" '•Most assuredly it. is !" p M ] an*nr«J. with knitted hrows. "Well, then, T fiave a rigfit lo 1 p,Ms '' An.l I am thmkingt of stopping vou' liowanc*!" *

r" PP ™ 8 allowance, Unrle

"Yes. If you want anything you 'f ft"* fo . m- 'or it, you know " r .';' k f, 1 schoolboy. Uncle Oeral.l'" « ma "' " ,h -

s ' rfnl T *sked the old that i. V" ln " W - V " »" tnat n nnl'fs a niin rxtrava. lilt to have the handling ni too ft; h moner. That, r Mierr, Is VYu s your opiw'w aIM. 1 ' Nine, Hi •>'' f ctwed Paul ild iS J'T.l f(m WI *" ur wife," * tstrww, with a twitch P r . n "!>'« <" *>« monk. J>ul looked puzzled. is * Wom»». sir i ,£?; i ."' o '®- sb * 'w* ■« wants ~,a t 'one, my bo» ?" '.. am a '*»y* read* to tiu her Flfons sh ? wants ''' eidaimed the w»tr man.

J?*?® ' lbt Platform whiri* I octo respect to tob." said o*rb Am ye* you don't seem satis-

fled with the arrangement I propose. Com* ! Let's be judicial, my hoy. i Let us be perfei tly impartial. II my, nieer's money it to In dealt oat «t [a penny at a time, so miit m] b» Iphew's !" "lly dear uncle,'' cried Paul, jumping up, "I never looked at teething in that light 'aefore ! My poor little Dolores ! What a sordid old miser I most hare appeared to her ! Why didn't someone do me the favour to t«!l me what an egregious idiot I was making of tnyseltnhat shall I do. Uncle Gerald ? Shall I mak« tier a rejelar allowance —co much a week ?" "I dare say wc shall find some s*i istatorjj method of adjusting k tihe balance," satf Major L'Estrangc. With a smile. "H was a real tronble to little Doiorea. and »o I

I woaM jast hold ip a lookingglass to yoi. Nephew Panl Bnt do not look "so grsTe. yn'i fh*!l h»v ironr supper at the <i"h. and ynur chestiat mart, anfl all these other littla luxuries; of We which have* grown necessities to yon But Dolores mast have her chocolates anß flowers and other such things also." With alt my heart, and*," saiS Paal. laughing. kri so little Dolores won her eanse, after aH She came to her uncle the next d*v "08. aaiele." salU sße. "I am so sorry f yen tfcf altari Pnt u •'Why. my «e*r ■>" asked the Major.

"SeeaM* we Bate talked tfle matter al! over," said Dolores, "and he 'is ae good. I am to bars a regular allowance all of my own. Isn't he splendid ' And I wouldn't have him tfriak I complained of him for aft the worW!" "Don'* he aVraM. my flear," said tfl* Major. "It shall he a State seere* between us two for ever and a day. And you are sure yon are quit* happy now *" "Oh. yes, quite," declared Dolores, with emphasis. But she did not know that Uncle Gerald was (he magician who had wrought this wonderful change.