The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7977, 14 November 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, OR MINERAL. (Continued.) "Cloul byc," said Mr Bland,"am 1 to think of anything ?" "Anything you like ; bui don t make It too hard to guess." "Too hard for ye.u," he crii-d in astonishment, as he went. , Milditd began to explain the scientilic principles on which Hi; question should be framed. "How .jolly.'' said they all. Out io the hall Tteldy liland began to think hard, a-s instructed, 'ihc first thing he thought about was whether il would be possible to find the nursery without making unduly impertinent im;liiries of the servants. If little Willie would only give a hint as to the diiiCtionb) crying out again. Littlo Willie seemed ready to oblige. Most distinctly it was a sobbut the nursery must be very nearer it was a most penetrating sob. lie stole on tiptoe to the door known as the library, because all the Othet customary names for rtwuis had teen used up, and otherwise it would have bfeu nameless. In the darkness ihere was some-

thing while, ll was too laii;r lob.little Willie, tut it sobbed again. Softly he .stepped in, >ln.t lb.'door and tamed on tin- electric li^ht. • Winifred raised a rid and tearful face in alarm, gave a lit lie shriek, ani looked round fur 'h' door. Then she blc«" her nose ami went (. ly to a bookshelf. " "I beg your pardon," he said. "I have been sent in here In think." "Oh," she sai.l "You mean seme —seme game 7" "Yes ; was Willie afraid of ill'"dark 7" "He—he usually it.'" "Ai.il are you alwajs orderid ofT after diin.T to soothe him?'' "I—f wasn't i_r.it red off. 1 hl.e 6V'"g" Facing (lie bookshelf, she \v«s doing the best to clear up the tears, and how rid lnr iace was. "1 must go up to him now—l was just getting a lenA lu read t<> him." "And you hadn't even turned on the light." "Thank yo»- I see belter in tiedart." "Oh, no- If there are any cats in the hou.se you are not mo i j tiiem.'' "My aunt is your hostess—you've Bo right to call her—" ; "Who was calling her anything ?" "She had no reply lo nuke. "Please I must g<> t () Willie.'' "" "N'o, you mustn't. Wi'l c has slept soundly since his last meal." Il< lowered his voice. "Do you think 1 don't understand ? Are you ofiei. tnatcd like I hat The clearing away of the tears had Mo he begun all over again. "Do you tl(ink." be went on. "thai I was Lot as angry as you were?'' She gave up the attempt to hul ■ th? truth antl looked up at him wi:h unconcealed gratitude. "You hate been sitting here crying ■ your heart out with rage. And I • was just on the point of piing oi: ■i a hunt to the nursery—1 0 tell you your aunt and cousins v.pie rats. Does (hat help ?" It did wonderfully , nut - lie said nothing. He came nearer to her "Mr Bland ! Mr Bland ' Are you nearly ready 7 Can't you think of something He leaped to the dour, tunrd out the light, aiiil st:p|H.i int.* the tail "Why, you've given me no tune - There i» something just on the tip ol my tongue—but I can't unite tet it fixed." "Well, "don't be long. Am! don't let it fce too difficult." "Just a minute, and it shall he something you will g«e ;s at once. Confound the game he muttered, Closing the door. Tins time lie i'oigot, to turn up the ijehi. Mildred had expiai-u:» !...«• the

quest ions should at lirst be general and c.imprclieiisivc ; should giadua'ly lniH-w down the licl'i of inquiry till uily mo altcrn ni.'cs wcic le-U ; should not jump wrh t"j great rapidity at conclusions or amount te> mere sci. ntifir g-ie.iws i.i, upporle'l by ratiocination based on the -ij;h. ds of exclusion -mil dilier-Mice. I "Ah, ' said ihey all, -how interI .'stina H will be 'o w ii' ii vou do

Hut she impressed upon them the fact that they must all ask tpeslioi.s , that it ought not to lie left entirely to her ; that fourteen heads were Cotter than one, rven though one was better than hers.("'No, no ! no they ejaculated, but she w.i.e.l the ejaculations aside). Site pave them instances of the Unions knotty things which were sometimes thought) of. such as the left l;ig tee of the Pone, and sketched for their guidance a sell.me of (|uestiins which woul". inevitably solve even a problem so complicated as that. Another twenty minutes hail

passed and Mr liland was still think"Mr Bland, are you going lo take all night '•Sorry," cried a distant voice from the ilar«ness of the library. "Just coming. Much more difficult than I thought." "Do hurry up." And in a minute he sauntered into the room. He was followed immediately by Winifred. Mildred seemed surprised. "Are the children asleep already she asked, haughtily. Winifred showed no resentment. "Quite," she said, "tliev never were awake."

"I happened to find your cousin," said Mr Bland, "and she helped me tu think of something. She knows more about the game than I do." "Ob,'' said Mildred, with some show of interest. Mr Bland and Winifred took their seats. "Well, begin asking." "Is it the left big toe of Ihc I'ope ?" said Mrs Gravier. "No." "Then what is it ?" saul Captain Winton (2.ith East Middlesex Kille Volunteers). "Is that a fair question asked Mr Bland. "No." said Mr Mervjn, "you're all Leginning at the wrong end. Aren't they. Miss Wareman ?" Mrs Warwuan gave him a glance hat was meant to wither. MrMir.in was there to till up a gap. not >•> talk. "Yes," cried they all. "you bejxin. Miss Wareman. show us how* to do it." Mildred had been strangely backward, hut sl.e obeyed and showed >hi in li.iw "Is it animal

Mr island and Winifred looked at ea'li other in doubt l;cf f, re deciding. "No. ' "Is it Vegetable 7" "No." "Is it tmnetal 7" "Xo." "i-ut i: must he soiuetliiu^." "Is it li n rete ?"' Alain a doubt, but the answi r was "No." "Is it abstract 7" "Well, I'm imt clever, but 1 supPi so so." said 111 llland. "Ilss it any relation to anything to annual ?" Winifred blusliitl. They both nodded. Ib.-y s'.ipnos, d so." "Has ii any relation to human he ings 7" "Oh, yes. certainly !" "Human beings in Kn-I.ind I "Yes." "In London 7" "Yes." "In this house 7" \ " Ve -" I ''n tins room '.''' "\es.'' "How clever, i!iv\ -a>pr.l. a'l ii I Ik in.

"llas ii irot le;is t:,l Mr MefHi. excitedly. Th.'ir silenc ehtlh-i ililil.

"*\lios' :eo;he. ~1-i nv u it';" 5.,1. 'apiain Win'oii. "Imptoii.r :|ii,s nei," s.uil Mr Hl.md with scorn. "Mine or "|er. :n's ; ' aslel (lie Captain. "H.,th tio uii. .Vi.-. "\es. lo on, .'ear. ' s.oj Mis Wareman, "\ou ,:re ';e!li;ig near it.' Mililihl Went on. '-Is u rilalcd t one person in tin.-, room "No: only one person," "To t wo persons " Yt s." "Itoih ietninine 7" "No." "Oiivtoiisly one gentleman ai.-.l one lady." said the Captain. "lius't." said they all. "Is it a mutual or a common i'tlatimi ' 1 •I'ei; paid..ll 7" s,iid \;r I 1..111, .Mil.lird CNpla.nt'd the dtfierilite with sumn for such persons ,s cen iusul the meaning of the two words. "Oil iniilual ' ' said Mr Hland, "and l.r.rly (oinnioti." 1 "A !iiutu;,| relation between a lad; and a gimU'inan.'' said Mr Merviii J thoughtfully. "'X„w, what mutual rejlati'.lis ale there ween- " j Visslr.il -a.ve him a 1,,0k. Ho

paused. "Ate they married?" said the Captain. For a fraction of a second Mr liland and Winifred looked at each other. "No."

Mildred ought Winifred's eye. Winifred was blushing a flrcv led. Mildred became unusually white"Oh, we shall never find this out!" sni.l Mildred. "Let's try another game." There was a chorus of dissent. "This is getting interesting," said the "You say they arc not married.'! j "Yes ; not married." "Going to be '" said Mr Mervin, who would not lie repressed. There was a pause. Mr liland looked round with a cheerful smile. "Ceitainly," he said.

luteins:- excitement. "Somel-ody goin.' to be married. Oh, who is it Who is it Ku'ry/hody looked at every Body else, hut W.nified's eyes were en Hi, ground. Mildred yearned to go outside avd scream. Hut il wouldn't do. Too many people in til.' house. "I see how to get at it," cried Mr Mervin. "Were the two people in the room fifteen minutes a"o "No."

,l Al)a !' Mr Mervin lay bael; in triumph. Mrs Wanemati wore a dangerous smile, but he was blind, "I have it," he eried-"the relation is going to be married between Mr liland and " "Winifred," said Mrs Wareman with a gasp. Everybody was so happy and so pleased and so interested, and congratulations and good wishes anil healths flowed as a great stream Mows to the ocean. Three only were silent. The hearts of Mrs Wareman and Mildreil were for the present i o o full f o r v.nrd.i. Ihe tl oughts came lafer. "The gratitude of poor re'.a'ives" said Mrs (iravier to herself as <it e found her way lo her carriage "j S a wonderful thing t„ contemplate