The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7971, 7 November 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

TO "LO\T., HONOUR AND DISOBEY." (Continued.) "Jack," she exclaimed, "you sure ty din t suppose for one moment that I aui going to play tlut part. 1 could never look my face —my face in the glass, I mean, again. 1 should always see mysdi with my nose red and a smut on the end. No dear, 1 have written to say that my husband did not approve of amateur theatricals, and that I hau 1 decidul to nsign my membership of the. club, but that I shall be pleased to pay my subscription." • J acta kepi his eyes < n the ground, but his moustache twitched. Bhe surveyed these signs with a demure-, fless that was suspiciously severe. Ife looked up, and as their glances met they burst into a duet cf laughter. Some lime after she learnt that it

wax hv special request from .Jack to the honorary secretary 1 that she liaii Iwii offered that particular pan. Hit* failure of this tout ni disobedience might have hern expi-cT.d t„ damp any further attempt*. So, )n deed, it did for a considerable time, in .so much that anyone would have iniaj;'ncl the bride io he tlu- most docile creature in the world It was an outside influence a?ain Which aroused -tlr spirit of defiance In her.' A cousin, who wa; likewise an old admirer, came <o -i,|[, had gathered th.* meaning ~f the little sne»*7.c at the ceienionv. and Wauled to know from Jae-k whether be managed to keep her in erd.r. •Jack ras!il» hintid at aiiaeis self-will and repent,--, n'-e. "I'd have made you or,-v me," said the cousin. "Jndcsrt you wouldn't." said ihe .bride, tossiir/r her be;;d "I tl-n't intend to oley jny man—unless I choose. Jnck took me on that i-Var understanding." He evidently keep, voti m e\c I- ' order, however. I .loirt lelieve you date ilisobe'y him now. 1 ' Daren t I ' said tin* bride ,j ( _ fiantly. "Then I shall just become a tesetcrian and a Christian scientist «o-raorrow. That'll show you wlrilicr I date do as I choose* or not. I'oth men laughed. Jack with a distinct air of uneasiness. I[ there was one thing that he loath, d even more biltirly than the idea of ama tcur theatricals it was the notion of women taking up fad, 0 f tins nature. As ill luek would have it a friend of the bride's with a morbid mania . s P»ndm K her substance on inteiVh'W.s Willi departed relatives procured thlotigh Ihe medium of a ei rlan stout clairvoyant?, callid tha< very afternoon 1 Would the bride conic to a scsire ' She thought of the scoffing c,,usin and her spirit rose in revolt, sir Would assert Iter indepe*ndence. Sh • went. She tounil herself sitting m a . darkened room, undecided whether to giggle, or scream with irrvousness. cold wat( r seemed to t,e tricklini down hi r back. She was aski-d if she would like to coinmunic-iic with any depart)d spirit. I„ i,-r confusie>u slie* replu.l at first sli.- w.iafiatil she did not know any. A man next to her. uho was also a newcomer, smothered a TIr medium, however, repeated lu't question with such impressiie sever.-: v that the bride hastily everi.-sed lor.Ring to converse wi'ih tie snirit of a great aunt who died some ' v--r ago. In a few moments she could see tile vague outline of a white-oLd figUrc standing quite near her. It \vurather a thin t'gure and h,-i aunt bad been stout m n,; s | lfl , ~U I siK , that spirits have no" flesh. I haie a message for mv niece, uertruUe, ' said the spirit. ' What is the message-v" dewand.-d tlr medium, L 1 cannot give it to-elay," replied tlic spirit. "The mexm is not in the

ight quarter. I must come again." 1 "Haw you anything to say to i itli.is pus. Nt asked the iiudium. ; ""ics," replied the spirii, anl piocedul to give information about laiioils othel depal led spillts of | ;'opto in the loom. r.,e bride arrived ionic in a great slate o! n: rvous cxliteineiit and oi cariosity as lo what, the message ioi could he. "1 detest all this nonsense," said .lack at dinner, when she had concludul a graphic description of tli" aiternoons pioccedings. "It's all tommy-rot. 1 won't have vou rush ing off to any mote of tliv.it meetings." "Hut I must,' 1 said the bride, ''l simpiy will luar Aunt Maria's message." "Don't talk lubhith, ' said Jack. "Ot couise, the whole tiutiß is a frauii. And 1 object to your going to this place to be made a fool cf ''

"Well, I am going.' said the hr.de with determination. "1 ci.li.-idel it my duty. I'om Aunt Maria may have something on her mind.'.' "So you don't gel entirely your own w d y. after all. Jack ?" said the cousin. Jack merely closed his lips I'mnlyi "Well, if you do go," he said presently, "I g,o with you. When is the next show "On Wednesday evening. 1 am sure you will be convinced when you have seen it." "Yes. 1 expect I shall," remarked Jack in enigmatical tones When he came in on Tuesday nigh! he opened a small box on the diningroom table, and liegan to examine the contents. "Aren't, these lather curious said he. "A new jK'iiny toy ?" she inquired. "You must spend fortunes on them." The box was full of small tacks. Jack airangcd a row oi them standing on their heads in front of him. lie pushed them with his lingers, and they I'.inl over and then rollul upright again. "There, do you see," he said. "the\ win ; roll over ' lliey are balanced on the ptiimples as those little bottles that you buy."

"Hut what is the use of that said the bride. "You don t want tacks in stand on their heads and d.) acreiatic trick*. You Want them to turn up the oilier way and keep th:ti;s tiisclher." "That depends." said .lack. ",-ii •he u>e lor wlmli they are jntiiid,.l." (in Weilnesdav ivuiii.K J;"* was in l.ilat spit it's, luidlv ill keeping with the class oi entertainnieut hv wa-. about to at lend. " I'or nondne.-is' sake i,o behave ; '.at' eil, sa d the In ide as th 1 trove "n 'lie eaii to then dest ihal.M.. "C-l eoinse 1 sl.a'l hi hate. I ate ti.-iviaid to nuctins Ami' Mar,,i iiiimen-i ly I -'Don 1 talk 111 Ilia! frivolous w. > It makes me sh.ier. It ,s so liisits|wiful to poor Aunt .Mana s spirit llo'.vi'vei. ion II change y,,ur 'tils' uhe.i yoi l'ealij se ■ li r. .lack, mi mi ion a chair near i:ie 1 am 5..: i shoird scieam this time li yi u w) r. n't near.'' Aiir.td al the house ol the vlau voyanti- Jack assumed an air of tin utmost interest while l:i' submit n.I to lntr,i<luctei to various ia'l tes. eliii ily m hoine-made e. "Don't you uei creepy wliispei 1,1 the bride v.lien the lights w\t. loWeri d. "S—sii." saiil ill" clanvoyanle, "> am about lo begin." Ih-.ii in wi'":ihi. i tout's. I call i.n t!i • spirit i.i Miss Maria Hryanl who ins a ine.~ sage for one prtsint. Aft) r scleral moments' pat's,curious light appiare.l in one eoi ii, i il(' the rooLii that gradually evoiie.' itseif into a wlnle-clail figure nloc iin,vid slowly forward. "Who caile.l mesai i a de> p voice of alnust masculine ton.'. "1 did." said tlie ciairvoyante. "\'ou ha'e a message. 1 believe, from the oth. t world for one who I resent " 'the liiide iiho w;.s tr. milling viohntly icll for .lac'-'- hand in lbdark and squie'.i I ii ' ji.i. lie pu. his arm round hi! i■) i.: ■ r;ingly. 'lll' spirit loon.l forvv.,id agaie nioii' quiekly and then sielil illy an--une\peeieilly llnie was a yell, ileiei o|)itig ;nl)i the 11illy littni4ii expleim "Confound it

A liutrn v..is snuck a:;d Hi a iito mciii .Jack li.vt li-.'Hi.l i;.,c , » di.splayul K. 111.- i.mihin- eyes of i!:. company iln-. i 1 —a cadavei nas yoiins man .1 it , i a :li.'i <u.ti,. slmvi. N.tsn. K on i!jp tll'.■ an.l p;ekllK lacks mi! o! Hi- soles of Ins socks. "I iiaii Ho idea a ai c. was sm li spurt." said Jack as lli.y dim, tiimic attain 'Tin- t, IC Ks work,.: spl.-inlnlly. didn't tlvy ".Jack." s.ml tl„. tiii-,-1-lv. ' i am afraid I'w mi,!,, a f,,0l ~f" n.iself BKiiii.. I always s,rtil („ vl;'ii I xo my own way." "St ill". Villi H:\el piullusi I to i..,.'\ you Said la- k. flii-.-t /uMv ;;ii I uncoiiccirKilly. "No. but I Ihink I will. I lx-1 i,. V( . ; should liaU' made myself quitv ill

if I li.ul gone U> many more of tlmsc things. I'm sure 1 would have I'aintei) t it you hadn't put your aim around me when you did." "But I didn't. What do you mean, dear "You didn't put your mm round mi' .' You didn't gasped the bride. "Tinn good gracious. Jack, it must have betn that horrible little creature with the long hair and the crumplal shirt who sat near us. I notice! hill! online; more than ever afterwards. The little wretch. Anl I squeezed his hand—how awful ! And, oh, null—lie kissed me !" "Yes, that is who it was I expect. You sc.-, 1 stood up to throw the tacks. If you will go t 0 those sort of entertainments " "But I won't, Jack dear, darling I won't go anywhere \ o u don't want me to." Then, after a pause, in a low voice: "Do you think it would h- possible for us to lie iiiarriid again .''' "Married again.' Good heavui-i, We liaven'l been divorced yet'." ".No, but I think I shouldn't mind | savin,,; 'and obey' now."