The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7907, 24 August 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

THE LAYEXHEH I'APEK liOLL. Th. of the Children :! Hospital were giving a paper doll social I kI tli" ho;:-t of'.Mrs Townly. The froui ds and housn had teen lent to them, and Itw Uidieti had planned i•upp<r oil the lawn with a lottery i.; .ance in the eveninj. Yoi.n c girls were to te divssvtl as pa[*' dolls and trait upon the tables. In th." etfniDS the young men must buj I their partners for the dai.ee In Use lott-Ty. The girls mad? pai«r dress«f, vilh paper hats to match. atfi practised a stiff, doll-like walk. "Uildral Little. Ob, she is in lavender with vollets." said Henrietta Sui in answer to a i,u>"-ticn. * '1 h ■ woman who w a s interested in Mildrvt thanked Henrietta and walked awaj-. She was a till nomtn witii hair and larye dark eyes, motherly woman who wanted to help kti :on m his troubles, but did i.ol know what to do. Seating herself at one of the tables the begun to watci the people. Twice was the girl standing by hei sids •compelled to ret eat her question before Mrs DelCoe was aware 0 1 her presence. "Hay I serve you ?" Mrs l>elcce turn d hastily toward the small demure in a id<n. gowned flon: head to fcot- in pole lavtllder paper, adorned with bunches of violets. 11i« fice was expressionless Th* blue eyes startd wide open while no doll need have been ashamed of thos« pink cheeks and that

■uiooth brown hair. Mrs lielcoe re- ; cognised Harold'o ruling tyrant, Sfal drcd Little. The mother understood In a moment her son's worship. This girl's charm had already stolen upon her.

"Poor boy, I wish Ij could smooth out the wrinkles for bim." she said to herself, "I was waiting for m\ Bon. I see him coming, so you maj take our order." • The Paper Doll did not turn U: look at the young man -who Cauic up aid seatod hinisell at her table. Sht waited in silence for her order. "Wbat would you like, Harold ?" "Your cbpiee, mother." At the sounrl of that voice the La'ta \er IV} 11 camo suddenly to life am looked directly at the speaker. When their eyes nut Harold Delcoe sniilvr, but Mildred had regained control o: herself. She was aj£iin tie Lavender Doll- The young man's face Iccanx scarlet, and be looktd in an opposit* direction. Mi dred strve l her table faithfully yet h r hand would treuible. Twice sht ,t re her rufllcd slirt and *«: to hunt for glue, but whenever she passd Harold sh" was oiil. a raifr doll. Hi 1 man would have Ifft ih but mother detain- , cd, -h-'in. Why fie did so she could not tell, .vet she felt that Harold wou:-! I e »t :ed. The fU;,per tables hid been rarritd away and tl;e lanterns lightod among th? trtrs. Henrietta Summers. th< wh U- A ill. b»d l« n bought in Ih lot*-Ty by a tall. lfcht-haind youth While LotUe Edwards, tl«€ Kcbrlet Jkili. wii'.tzcd nwoy with a youn. lietiteaaiK. Thus tley wer» chosen, one by one. The only colour missing from the rainbow was lavender. "I wonder who bought ili'.l.ed'; ticket ?" snid Heiriettn us sill «b ri<d about the room on her partner s arm. Now and then a Mnothmd lauph wns board, acoompaniet by the soft rustle of tearing paper Some Unfortunate young man had (mangled himrelf in bis partner'* flut d ruffles. . "Who '[ill you say ?" repeat d Hen rietta, as she turned toward h r part ner.

"lIpIoW IVlCce." was th« nnswer. llarr ld hid left the room and was walking in the deserted garden anions the swin£iit< pupr lamps. H neat! tall. spreading trer; was a tent, in • huh a It rtune teller had been sit earlier in the evening. Findinp it il'sorted he entered. Lying upon a telich was the red and yellow robe the form« teller had won. Sittitj down Harold leaned his chin upon his Hai'tls and looked gloomily out gf the optn doer at the swinging lantern*. in ih? distance beneath a group of trees the young uuin saw ft girl, her ftiff gown standing out about the shirler figure like the ruffle adorning a I ir!e's bouquet. The girl turned an ! cane slowly towaids the tent In a moment Harold had conceived an idea. Seizing the gay gipsy robe hj» wranptd himtelf in its folds. Then extinguishing one of thu candles hnd drawing the hoc«l well bown over his face, he waited. I'ur a moment the girl hesitated at the door, <hen SKing the veilod figure, sfe came slowiy intp the tent.

I tillUfht, you bad gone, Gretta." The tart figure sitting on th< bench shoot it- hooted head and continued siiufflinp; the cards. "Well, you aS well read my fate- Let me see what the future has in store for the I/ivender Doll." Th? fortune teller shuffled the cards then Mildred cut them throe times. The shrinking figure Lent loner. I a muffled voice began to read th-.ir meaning. •"Had ?" Mildred laughed. "Have I lost him then, and toll nie wjs Ik rich or poor ?" I Ihe fate reader rsjnored the question. The dull muffled Voice went, on reading the cards. "He did diai'ly love you. but now there is. that is. there seems to t." son ecne els-*, it?" he is K»ok-. n.; in another direction from you." Mildred's smile had fad d. Sh» lT.ncd foraaid and struck the card-, fioin the fortune teller's hind. "I don't tetieV' it!" s!e crie<l angrily. "You itiav hint u lilt ion pleas', <!ietta Harris. Imt you shall not. say Haro'd is unfaithful. Vi.u were always jealous, vnu Inou \ou werv. fjet ine t -II >on. my d<ir gi'l. tint- it was I who sent Win j away ! I with him. I j dr.v.v mm away. To-nit:hi 1; ■ want- } eti to b> friends, l-ut 1 was a " Harold cudd control himself no lon rer. Springing to hi* fct InWd'i a):mit to laVe the fjirl in 1 .is arms when Milirnl. who had r. tc gnfced him. attempted with an .inj_r. exchnntion. to |.Ush him aside. He stmnbled against thu table nnd then

Mildred ha I reached the edge of the a tiftcial lake, where slie hesitated :or a mou.-nt. In thai moment IlaiMildivd was running across the Ihwii. her paper flying from her n brilliant sparks, a halo 01 flames cnv< loping he:- nrr.i. Close behind •er. his te th set. the starlit robo higged to his treast. was Harold.

..!d. nith one last great clTort, sprang t> her side. Throwing the gipsy cloak a'jout her. lie gathered her in its trim- and sprang into the water. Ten nimiUs later Mildred was l.uins{ on the bank lenrath Uio trees. When she opened ier eyet a pale, wet face was landing over her.

Harold I've™, Milly !

The girl lifted her head arul looked .own at hiT dress ; it was g ; >ne. Ihe wet gipsy cloak was w'. appe l aiout fcer. A wan little smile crejrt nto her lace.

"Poor little LaVendev Doll, nil.re ii Jie 1 "

•' Urne forever, thank Heaven ! But Milly has returned."