The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7916, 4 September 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

HER IDKAL LOYEK The gate latch clicked cheerily as |f fell ironi, his hand, and the nes'i breeze, crossing the rose garden at (fee left of the la»n, was sweet will! (be rich fragrance of roses. The man's step grew more elastic U be left the road and walked up (be path. The sweetness of the air in the cool shadow of the trees brought with it new life. He threw back bis drooping shoulders, his eyis lightened, and he felt almost strong. The ball door stood wide open. Th« glad, nameless charm deepened, Uid made him buoyant and glad. A small servant with a spotless apron answered bis ring. "Your mistress is expecting me." h* began, opening bis card-case, when a suit, ciieerlul voice interrupted him. } "Yes, anil you are Mr Lawrence Allen. I received your uncle's telegram. Are you very tired ?" She was standing in the cool hall, a woman somewhat above the medium height, and past her youth. Ihe bee was strong, brave, and tender, Witt dark, steadfast eyes, and softly parted hair. "Tired ? I don't believe 1 am, Miss %illowby. At least, 1 don't don't feel so bow." He held his hat fa bis bud aid smiled at her from the doorway, "And yet yon walked—l heard no carriage, and I was expecting one."

She bad ollered her band in a cordial fashion, and be was thinking bow cool and wblte and strong it was as she smiled up into bis face. "Yes, I was obliged to; there was Bottling at the station and it, isn't iar. You must not consider me as actually an invalid." "No, indeed," she smiled, ."assuredly not. You are far too young for that."

He Sashed. Somehow be felt sorly to be young. "It's the way I look," he said quickly. ''l am not so very young ; I'm twenty-three." "Are.you ?" she said, a little wistful smile showing about ber sweet, Arm lips, as sbe looked straight into bis eyes. "Come in. I tbink you should rest awhile before you go up to your room. You will have the sit-ting-room to yourself for an hour or iwo."

They had come into it now, the cool, home-like place with its soil couches and cosy corners and wide open windows, a restlul room with its dark colours and sweet odour* apd fresh hreezes. "I believe f was tired," he said, sinking -down .on a couch by the window. "But this is a delightful place and I must have forgotten. I am glad I came, Hiss WUlowby , I shall be as happy as a schoolboy here." She laughed softly. "Thank you,' ahe said simply. "My people feel very much at home."

"Why, do you know I'd forgoltcti that it i 9 a boarding house ? You are not in the least like a land lady." He raised his head from the Cushion and looked at her. It wa> hard to realise that he had not not known her before. "Nevertheless, I am one, and there will be no sweets for your dinner, Mr Allen, unless I go and make •ometttng at once. Picasc make yourself as comfortable as possible, 0&oci consider yourself quite at hontc-' When he was alone he began to look about him. A little table with some needlework on it stood near Mm. He stretched out his hand, and picked up the silver thimble from the folds of the sewing. It was larger than any he had ever seen. How large and strong and white her bands were ! Smiling, he frttc;l the thunble on his own fingers. Jt was too large for any of them. ''Dora s thimble is such a tiny af- , »ir. Her hands are such mite's. I wonder what they are good for'' Just to flutter rfiout. and look pret*T. I suppose," He turned the thimble about and read the words, "Dear KHtjr. engraved on the wide gold

rtmni. Tl»ts a lovers name rtople never give it unless a lot of ' ore , goes with it. A good mam doe! does specially ? Who gave her the ""V"! the thimble ? May be h»r s™**- And then be laughed. " sh! * e lde . a seeme<i inc ° n g'»- . the wonian to ,hat of thine ' lar-.^£S: the window came the tnmki l i oses ' Becs buzzed drowsily tumW.Bg lazily in " MUn tte 6^ o*'* 0 *'* in aßd lost it. Kr aw« a f ;ross the room. town tL the slow hum ol the heavily on ihL be4d sank n 'o« neamy on the crimson cushion ih» 'SSKtojf'j?* nJ^Z. ln alld boarder was asleep jed^. neXt day "* specialist cal . ww P a 'ient in the airy id t U^^ ,rS ' Ha » an-l'our passdoctor came down and tailed for Miss Willowby Miss Kate, to upset 1 y °. UrS ' b,t r 'l liavc to ??.? 15 brought down. The von t agree wiih ,1. » Of his - ,ni« -2 , th ,hat spiiw Won't you let h™ *Jththe small bedroom hoyom! ■>• roS? W " e Standin « <"e siuinglslK'he^.? P,tCr ' Bnd *< «™». «»P^ rM NorWriI,Xre h 7a., '1 " * Ch r l , ld * M for E° tt C' i . ami ™ * rat »P »' ter "■ The hoy *av ( d K'V „H .• k had ,0 j" m P for his ii.e, and—it s the old story." r t at J doc ' or sairl "o more «« Miss Kate dared not asked l i^n enC * T whrn ' the silling-room became his own. "K or its the homeliest place I've ever wopped into ; and I shall stand a chance of seeing you oftener, Miss K?t"i^' n if . ey S M he spok '' the 1 ™! y ' 111 ? looked at her with laug:-.-S «mii 2? " on >'°" r thimble" £ IwnilenUy, as she a !,ur Prise She was very grave, "Peon),. , io SS" U -1 I know, but you are that to the iif ° P n S.'°i ,ovc yo "' Miss K i 11 v I te calli. " early CV( ' r > ,BHlv be calling you so . Did your-swect-Mart g,v c lt t0 you ■>" ~! , s ,^ ish J f a« was so irank in its half-timid daring, thai the stem displeasure faded from Miss WillinvW^htly ark ey ' S ' i '" i S " t- ' au ß lui ' "Oh, no," she said. "I've never naa a sweetheart, anil I'm thirty." "I knew you were not that kind and it's so much better," he said' with grave approval. "I've found life very full ol hard work and genuine enjoyment, and « *?• neVer time for those sort 01 things."She arranged the last of the roses she had brought in, and smiled brightly across them, "You are not the only wnamn 1 bavo known. De you know"—and his »IL? y<, . s ! darkened and his voice softened—■'that yoti are the memory ol my mother come to life ? At first "puzzled You see mollrer died when I was a little fellow, and I do not rememtfer her. H, u f ve alltals wanted her and loved her. There I was no portrait, but a picture of 1 tar «ew m my mind, and you «„ 5L t- arf the living pictur,- " ..I.*™ 7 C i e le ™ s ' n the hoy's blue ' Willowby hent over ® r - Spicer's new patient became a l V2 ong Miss Willowliy's •Osrders. Miss ffillowby belselC S 6 to , devote ,0 hi '"- she road to Mm awl T hile he was aWc ,ok «'i' ; hj» when ,t wis too late for read- - s.n* Y , are lirtd 01 ""hh'c Burns m rn lore songs," he said, as she

closed the book and looked out into the growing gloom. •'No; it is only because I cannot see the words. I like the pretty verses. Besides, it is time I was looking after things outside." "Not yet. You like the verses, and yet you were never in love She laughed in her quiet, bright way, "I did not tell you that, but only that I'd never had a lover," and a wistful smile lingered about her lips. "But you are not the sort of woman to— to " "I think not," she said decidedly, a proud ring in her voice. "And yet lam able to understand. I dare say my conception of love is very defective, very far short; however, my experience has been entirely satisfactory. But all this is extremely foolish. Have you taken that last medicine ? Dr. Spiccr said —" "I know, about the trained nurse. I'm not bad enough for that. But won't you explain what you were going to say ? Whom have you loved, Miss Kitty?" (To be Continued).