The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7948, 11 October 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

u PWJGY'S LUCK. We ciii'jstriiod him "Peggy" >" hls fir-l term. He owrd bis nickname first to a i>,«.iliar charm of. manner, which we • alt associated with the ieiuale sex, ami secondly to a girlish cast of countenance, partly due to a delicate boyhood, partly the result of a private school training. He hid not been long up when we discovered that Rood things had a Hack of coming Peggy's way. Though he dui .nothing to deserve them. Where Fcggy, wns. there Fortune smilid. Other men sowed, and be reaped. " Plums we all sighed for dropped upon his nioull»—they could not drop into it, for it was not open or expectant. Whin Aunt Lloys invited me to siKiid my "long" with her, I sighed, * 1!i.- invitation was really a com- . m.ind, for Audi Lloys was rich, and had hinlnl at an intention of leaving me something—if I heliaved my« self. I had lo do the obedient nephew, therefore, to the dear old Mill!.

Peggy was stretching his lazy 1.-iifth upon my sofa, when I read niv letter.

"Why thai mournful cist of coiin'mance 7" he inquired inquisitivelv.

I tossed the letter lo him, anil «- plaiK-d in an;rv snatches while he read.

l'e.:?y .'dopttd a tone of half re- !!•, iistrance. "Poor old wretcli ! I s.nipi s:- she's lonely—kind of ; and wents to see her boy before studies. A nice, affectionate relative to have. I should say." "Is she 7" said I. The phrase exI le.-snl much. I felt I could not belter ii. ton,- nirm-d to the sympathetic. "Ob, it's thai way ! Well, ch' ck l.er up." "I can't alfit.l to, worse kck." "Weil, look here, Montague. she s.ivs you mav brine a frin.d. I'll -lit L-o with" vou. Of course," m»,i,.stlv', "that is in s a y if you aren't iUi'.f' hr other company." •lis awfullv piotl c.[ you. and I 5!...u1l le awfully pla'l. Ilul you do ~„! know what a beastly hole tli. I lac is." "I pmss I can amuse myself, said ?nd he slid RraWfully off ihe sofa," ard wml in srarch of other y past ores. lie voted oW women a bore, anil was kind to thru; when he saw Hum.' .simple, he said-, because h_' felt sorry f„r tinm. "Must he dreadful to bo li':e thai, you know!" he would say ini,l'..iingly lo his fellows On this pii.ieiple he was polite lo Aunt I.loys when h.' saw her ; but mas cinttil to make those occasions as few as possible. He was not the deft rtntial man who anticipates with a tender snlieiluile the every Wiinl of his whin'-fixm! hosu-ss. I'er-'y Wis a jjoikl deal taken up with the satisfying of his own wants. Ti. • while I to my dear relative, ran her errands, and endured as

-est I might l»er acjditicb of speecli, disporltd himself at the vjl- !.■ y inn ami flirted with every girl v. thia a ladia.s of ten miles He deseribed these affairs n> me

ivierwanls with a delijjhtiul ami un-lense-inus srllLshnrs's ; awl inquired solicitously how the old Woman was C'tlinc aii.np, and J I had squared i( Willi dcr yei.

When we left to return lo Oxford .Hid i's pfryiicss I with a painful mi.lie of .matituile [or mercies rec i'til, Pcssy with a cheerful word of H.nks expressed in flie most elcr.ie'.ii.iry ami earclcss fashion, he assured me earnestly lliai he had had e it half a bad time. He seemed tn tiiink lliis wouhl console me for mv v.\Lstid summer Perhaps lie ihouijht. I nil rrmorsrfcl on his ac-ount ' I ih.l not.

Ami I„m.s rfepartnl this hfe in the mllowini; spring. She left her tnorivv to d (haritv in which she was i,it,'jested, with the exception of live' hundred pimiis wru .|, s , |( , w _ o'i-i:l;t-l io Mr John Halibert (othirwbe "I'et; K y">, whose "hri-ht face '•' '-'.as a pleasure to see." She hint- ' ' ■:■»! its hnejitness was welcome' in eyiilrast to the ,|our dei|,„.s. s „[ t;v f.xci'.s of persons who michi |„. liunl.nned. was wnuiwly rfislresscd. and have repudiated the ',; r ' "'" ■"■ylwn.v .dm, |. wipfi! . or. I spoke t„ |,„„ I|lr>lh , «"'ly «.n_ih.- p..ini. an.l h.- ,I c larel ,' '"''""""n "f fnr;i*„ K ,»e Thaaw lo Hi" tune ~) fcSilii U„wev,r we V< : ■'. <if toe money, a few , lf „|,ich i ..el.ne he adopted. „ ;\" '»y •-'»"■•■*. 1ir..1!. t rs. aunts,,,,,! n-. .... «ioi c ,o ask i„ what fasbi.m 1..1 henaved ,„ „„ ,„,,.„. ' ■". ■>■"" 'J»ys." yy replies U.,' l. h ' r ' rwl "' ««■ r«in;. The Jrtlcr. , , ""' "' l^at " 1 ' i,ul ""■ Pater re-i[-5...l me as a favour 1,, ad-.pi A r'.'Uhr tone towards „iv sisters ' "."• ,:,> sa ''''' "'•■"' it well. a„,| were i.' ly anvious for mv c»i.d !! was ahout ( |,' is tjim- J),„„ti, v I'.'el appeared e.» Ih-- scene. Mill" I lien.livniK abroad win *.,,„■ rcI.JHe- in i i lei io (oiiiplel.- her itinea He,,, and cam,. „,.„,,. „> keep house for ii. r father, who was ~ wellluioivn mirr and pn rally e.M^'.mel. •Sic had mi-ehievous eyes ami a

wittful mouth.. She Ikw' aI--i> a mas, | n[ cirlv brown !i.vir. and a bewitch- j ins sniilc. il.Uf the ft-lt'n.vs mrr m love Willi li. t. In it Mi.- did not s,rm lo tare for any «.i«- of Hum in par- | ticulnr. She M. lic*..w«3-. a pr-" deal f>l tlr c.ciuctle m hi r ifispi.si- I liOll lU'l Mis Ik'liuct.

Of ii.uiM', it was ill,<■<)'.ci(il that PcgiV was a distant relative of tin 1 lite Mrs ISci.iiel. We all gnashed our teeth, aul commented tl|inn the opportunities of Ihe discovery , but we could nut prevent lVwJy iron) Hotting off to call upon his "cousin" Whenever Hie faney took him.

We used I" question him el'.sely about these visits, but Fe,.gy was alwavs siiiiilarU ret .rut 101 c ruing them', ami we came l«> the conclusion llul Miss Hcr.net was m the habit of [iiilliiiji oui p'«.r IVg'-iy into what ~!«■ coiisihii.l his 'place." We twilleil him on his changed luek but he 1...1 V shriigAed bis shoildeii ami changed the Mibaci. We might have thought him sh> hut ii never occurr<(l in us to a|i| ly such a term to Peggy. Mis rccoid w d s against him.

Guy Mutton was Miss Hennet'4 most' ilesnerate case He shared rooms wiib me. and I liail the lull benefit of fus agonies. Huiloii is not of a us.TVid ilispositinn, an I every fallow iK his acquaintance.—and a few others beside—knew what was the nutter with him. He grew so thin tint his clothe* hung upon him, ami the most storing depredations of our landlady passul uuiKitieeil. Hutlon—tbe noiiual aulnml—is inclined lo parsimony, so 1 knew he was pretty far gone. At first we attributed his c.mdition in pan lo the nearmss of Hie .schools ; but when If.' emerged from that ordeai tnumphani, end still .not thiimer. we became impatient. "Ask her, or leave her alone!" said I one evening in disgusl. "Do anything except go on as you are going. Man. you're celling on my 'nerves. I r.m't take my food properly for thinking of lhal fine "I yours." | "Oil, you're rjghi enough !" cried he ungratefully. "I haven't ealen anything; for—" I "The mole foul you '" Peggy broke Jin in Ins lazy, drawling voice. He ;liad ealleil—lo gel rid oi an hour. [he said—and was poking about my jl'ooin, putting everything ( iu( of place, land passing uncomplimentary remarks upon the various ornaments. He paused Willi a photo frame in bis llanl. ' 'Montague's ([mh , ,j s | lt . V()U are only making a fool of yourself, it's about time \ou attempted something more diiricuit,"

"To make a fool of her," I sur'fcesud under inv breath hut l\«v\ iwas not h.i'.lint;. "You re simply ttastui' v,ur t.me," •he ciiiitinuid in a dictatorial tone, J "and you know vou haven't not much to waste. What tiirl do vmi Suppose is goiu' to wait until 'an 'ußly iK'gcai- like yon ■ 1 ses to li»d lit comei.ienl l<> him 7 What di.is lour convenience nutter • It's .iust she ih. i matters. 'an' the sooner ymi ask her and rc|licvr her oi the si K ht of that deaths I head tf yours the heller I" When he ;s excitid l'eiin} s ;rammar—to say nothing <■;' In.-, manners '—is apt to leave sunu'thin", l.i la de'sircd. hut hutton 1.a.1n t it m Inn. Ito be critical. 'iou Hutu I shoiill mam I,ei. . at ou" .' ' he asvd h.-ipl. s-ij.. I'c>::;y ii topped tin- , ; rapli frame and smasln .1 it. He planed Ut the luiii.s with a in' caieies n ss wh.c.i I, at I'asi, ioui.,l it iinpossihli to share. "haven't yon c,.n,.,l r.il the mailer lour, ." ne as,,, (I uisgvsUdly. "I-, rhaps voii'd like to put the question somewhere a-yuil the lime of the next liv-A-e '.' 1 shouldn t hum myself, if i were \ou ! '

"My dear lVirsy. >ou i.r-' cii'r.iitiicnie.r vonts'li, i i.iurmor.il sof.ly. 11 ciii.se in ijiii'.i.' the gentle sanasm

■•AKii nay i as., , f ~,u i.- I. aw I my—or. rath, r. :ir. l.in lladv s—pn.Ipertus hloie- 7 Von e,.iii,oi imagine | now ili.'.- 1( . things i!.'i,a-e in value Iwhen in pieee>. It's a nuil:ipliealion by division kiidof .iiian-,-[inei.l, an! tu.- terms, are stncilv .ftisli. I am uiiaid I : asii you to disi.i„iiiiiue ji ~i L ,. of .x----phiratinii. my ii it i:.l. .'ii'.s- will not stand it. Now, if \,„i "

I and In- Imikt'il i.ut of ic.-niii-r. I «a« 'surpnst,l. I ! , ■s.-£)' '--. A.i a rule, one of tli. mest noo.l-naluiv.l (f mortals. "I wish you .! -•:,'!; up ' iM'oaiud Hiittiiii. "You haven't am svmpapliy, >ou allows. I say. I'i-sy, I jwish you'.] say a wi.r.i for ire'" | An < -i-<-i.'iuati< ii (.mi.- ir.iai ill' sofa. I'ir;)- sat upn^iit. I.i- looked at Hiiltmi. -'l'm liania-il it I wj!] '" he Mid vn,|,riHy. His i a r ( . was scarlet.

Mutton's face had lit up when he mail,- his appeal. "Well. lii.re's an enil to lin mat lei.'' \.c said ile-s----pairimjy, "I shoiilel never dare to ask 1.,-: unless—unless I ihiu.;in ther, Was soiiii' clijim "

| "It's beyond my ceiiiipih, n-ic n '" said I. "You can he perfectly ji'-iky enirtii.li when vou'ie Willi oilier Idlows. Why, you -hoisl.i t..' it. sec'i a iimrtal funk a',.o.ii

I '-Oh. il.at easy enough to iir-h-i----slaiid." Hiiv froiii lie sofa "Do M,iii up. Moinaiue, ii lo'i'ie so eleli-e ' It's waillm" .iliotheT i'ellow te, do ,1 I can't uiilii-'mi.l. Seems to me I.i holt il on; some Way or aiiolh.-i. ti I wen- you . or els-.- kec|i Ihi- thiiii. lo mis. Il alioi-i'ther. Why, the "he.le- place ki.ews ii. It's simply disgust in" 1"

response to lliis tirade. He' looked out ofiiln- window wii'.t an air which said plainly that life for him li.nl come tee <tii end.

I was resanlMi.u: him out ol ilhe i-oiiier ol one ancry eye. The n he luinel l.i- ejts in ihi' direction id my pipprack. Appal. n : ly lie was r.'-ie-ulin-

| 'I s'pose lee ,L'«.l t" 11-' somellniw lot' you," he- sinl uirjiaciously. He IswniU' hir.iself ir..in tie sofa. and 'lifted a eeiiiple of I'tisi.l'-.i'S from ihe 'llooi I!,- tos-s-.l I'e-m upon the ■eeiueh Willi an ..ii of i-Mreini' nutjalrtli.y. | Hu. ion's fee.' !.,e,i iliuii,:n,ele'd. 'He l.t--aie to pour ..in ~ sin.im e [ |cwifu7.i thanks, hit took him'sel! away in the middle of them. I "111 ii- -ee-IV- !:;| t..-|,:.. m ,v.'. I'll ji'Ollli' m .ii,' irll you afli iw.ii Is." he ifillid v-:,\ v.li. n'ha'f-.v.u |,m,, t| ;r !stj|i> (.;,>. iuus!t Ins task eiid not i please him. I iollow.-.l him io the front iloo,. 1 "Then you think tk.-iv's some- hope

ior IliiUiin •;" I siid reflectively. IVu.nv halted a moment. "1 be'ieve she cures fur some one." His tone sounded deject,.l, iin.l 1 el! surprised. V.e hail never in spite ,1 „ur ih:ifl. liiuuher.d JVtttt' iimoiU Ins cousin's admirers. He had nr.t uiven us any reason lo »lo so. I saw him on the morrow while oji his way to Ihe Bcnii'ts'. lie had just turned tint c< ri.er ot l'.all.i \. .-•Hiking from The ISroad, and a merry ,pirit aJ.-oie was prompt.d lohaptin' him from a widow with a generous aipidv of wine. V<\?£\ looked up. "Whal tlie-thc dewl—"

His chum pause;! Willi a decanter in liis hand, surprised, hit delie.hted it Hi s ebullition of an,a i I was .hoii'hiiiil. I knew there was .sotueiiin.i sevioi:sly the mill I. r with l'cg- «'• Hut ton led me a li.r Ihat day. 1 101 l liiii) to ko an 1 iiiown hiinseit, .ml he reiusul to ohlie.e inc. 1 he,an to lonj; for IV;;)' s airjval ; and i f.-iv il ii Lore l,ai Clings 1 sh. .ill t ii,l it diliicili to re sony 1..1 hutton.

P, fipy came very late. There was oineiiiinA in ll'e i'ii'S of his step ;m hr came up the Hairs at which prepared me for the revelations. I relieved llultim noticed it, ,iin. His (ace was a reflex of many emotions. t\lu n entered the .o-',in—i,i a slri'.ne.Wy r.lnelam I'ashH.ii —lie did iot ask ;.uy q.us i .lis.

I'e-cy s.al.-l hies 11 c .inloriali'y .ii ihe' ..nil of Hi;- sola, and swuiij, His le-s. "i)o. pleas", he careful," 1 said, "that arm comes oil." ■'Siems lome you've .not a mania (or iliseasi.l iuriiiture," sajil 1 c.-i^,y. I'h. ii lie couched. 'lhe sound of liis voice s; elllt .1 ti surprise him, anil no wonder. Such a i rokciwh.wn. quaver.us, i:piu>.l. juh'ilanl km.l ■ f aiian.m'im nt I In;.I ",e\er beloi'e listened to. I have sine,'. I leant hack in mv chair, lb., .lay aad belli loan, ai.il a tril'.e livinj, , and 1 felt I liesi rv.il a i.wai.i in .le s;.a, e ol i. n-w seiisa' 1.-n.

' Out Willi it !" 1 cried •imiynut ton look,,! j;loomi'v across at iiri, tin n turned his head awav. "She won't have me '.' Well'. of course, 1 knew she wouldn't." He dun his elhows into his knees, anil flower,.l inio space. "ll's just in\ luck." r, iterated.' i ihoii(;!it he had merely mislaid liis vocabulary; then I h.ean lo see a .uliniiiicriiiji of 1-hl. "Ah. Thtn she's noin;; 'o have y,iii :" Hint'.n started u|i, siveariiit;, (lien lie sank hack inlo his chair. I'i'fiKV nodiled. Iliitton not up. His face was while, Ihi! il had a pluckier look in il than I'd c\er sein tl'.rre heiorc.

"Tli.nk i..ii. I'rwnv. Yi.i'rea i;o„d fellow I wish you jen ,'.he sai.i, ail in jerks. Then he- went awnv, an I we heard him slipping out of the house-.

IV.-W went in the winiluw alli'l' liiin, with ey,s full of e unpune. lion. "It's just mv Jtiek," he said Inn h • i-oul.l not make I i, v. ,■• sorrowful.

'l"l'" J is ol \',-w /,,,l ;1 „:l an-lo- ''"> >" »"> B".l 101-i.n.i,vi,ri,l,. 1" -"I"". 'l'he ~eo>lT,.| |„.|„. iM ,1,,. ••I'-'s is .'i.'l.-.1. 1.i..-- lieels iiflan-l 'ii'" e.siie.il |',„. ||„. Mnoi-is. |'l„.i,V"o.:; i.i.'i. are ~1„ca.,..1. ini ~..,-e,-,,l ..i Maoris 0v,.,-5iv,.,,,,-„„ ,■,,„! aivd

"' lai'l- The, :„:■ eepivs,- :l i„ 11,« la-j51i,!,,,-,.. ,\ Mauri e,,11, !; ,. stau.ls al I'.- Aui„. Il.iuke's I'.-u . and not a lew ol ihe el.-ven-e tf.ioi'i Muitlis have. |)liss,.i llll'olluh the ela-ses ~i Ihi. \ew Zv.eiaiil I eiiv.esif. . And m-i . sins Hi Xllstl'illiisiilll i(ni„H Hi l!,-vivws, nllie-h s,-l. loelll Ih.s,. fj,,-Is, the M.-lO-i is. iin.i.-i- that in\sie- urns law lhal ii'iikes „ n v.i ,■„<■.■ i.uiish lud'oe,. 11..- heath oi Hie ;-.il-ioni|iieriiie