The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7980, 17 November 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

THE WOOING 01' *! AXK "ll isn't," said Mrs Moriartv. "as if .lane was as young as she nughi be. So trhal's takm •IhT I can't ■»ay. .Jane's gvtlmg on. Jane's six and thirty if she's a day." N<'UiMy all wutiuti tinve ai^ unhappy knack of atkling a >tmr or Uvo to the ages of those rider or younge,* than themselves ; with contemporaries they dtal more gently—in fact', | usually give thwn a most generous ! beUfit of any doubt. ".Inne's fuily thit." went on Mrs Moriurtx. -'iie-1 cause I remember well the day she . Wii,s b<»ru. It was a lloxing l»a\, ' how I know the (tato is the had kvu brought in for jam. ami my little Willie made hintself sick with rating them W illy Wits two at the time. tn-cause when he got thv doctor ho suit! what a line child he was lor two ; and lie's th rty-oig-lir. So that make* Jane six arid ihirly.*' > ' KiUrhish Ma.'.' interrupted Marv Mori arty. "Willy's a good Jivc\e«rs alder than .lane. Why I remember i quite wdl you ; . * awe when h«* made himself ill \\ ,Mi ' th." raspberries. lUrsidcs. I 1,.*1i-\«»it and not Willy at all." •" "Seems to me it's probable I know better than you. Miss. what h.vj'encd to n»y chihiivn It was , Wiliv, anH he was two. "iHt-anse that was ihe same year grandma emtio down and -had that had aUack of t /he'Lniatisujr-haiil the lash'mm was ■j damp." ! * *, X''o her shoulders unjciivinced, and Mrs Moriarty u.-nl I on. "I've always liked .Jan.* New, sh-'s Rot her hj» ad screw.-d ut> the ri- ht way, and I'w never blai.n I her for not taking Alee Forbid. he was 5 a easier, if ever here uns oi„- : ( „;r Ait t hat i nasi \ old PinVe*t« m :—tmt i «h> she should turn up I.m in-.-at j M.cUael olade is bvyojrd inc." I* was a matter thai was bev.<nd maul J»eo|le. for Ihe whole to.viisli p had watched the wooing w,th in-. rx.sf, and imagined that MiilijeJ hj« ! only to speak lo he inslnmly acrcptetl. Michael had everything >n his fav-

our—was of high moral character, owned a liirv farm, was a handspmo in.hi 4 i middle ace. and liked ami reNjn«etid in the township. Therefore. everyone had taken for granted that Ins fiKjuiiU visits to the News, his i-oustunt a»iendance at church where dnne sang in ihe choir, his soliciituis care i.l her mother, could fiily < i.d in one way. ]»m .lane had certainly ivfnst-d h'ni. and e\er\oiie was wfcd with :iii tosij r to know the reaxm why. Mr> Muiiarty took kn-nest interest m the alTair. for she hoped • hot his slight id alT»*ciioij rehtiiind m Mary's direct ion. and cure h -r of a ver\ foolish infai nation for m ahv.-ut sailor cousin.

■ lane hersell was the inly person who considered she hail ample iva'on for refusing Michael Slade. Mix New was biiterly di.sapp«»inhd. and said so. "It imi i as if \ou had an.\ thing acaifist him." >h.« o\cr an.\ over ae-aiii. I'oor Mrs New. Shxi wasw«ar\ oi the poverty and cheese-

paring which had her lot ever since she hatl married, antl Mi-cha-I had 'promls-il her a cottage. rent-ir<.' wb-n h<' married .Jaive. and low u seeiiif d improbable that bo would mai-r\ .lane, ard Mrs New wept bit terly.

"\oull he a miserable old maid, and ha\e to wcirk ior vour own living until \< mi "drop into your grave.' she sol>ff»-*l "Possibly." i"»'furned .lane, coldly. Sh>' had a deal to put up wit h in (hose da\s.

"1 doubt if you'll ev«r have enough lo alToi'd a headstone." 'That's <|uite likely." "Your jpoor father's cost lue.Seventh n pounds, and I paid cash down. It would go against every feeling of deevnev to owe a half-penny on such a thing for hall" an hour." I daresay it woukl "

M.'chael found it ditlicult <-miughio understand why .Jane had refused him. He was deeply hurt and pain--1 ed. for she owned she liked him vei \ much There was no one vise, she assured him. but she would not marry him b»-cau*e he took the whole ihing so tor granted. Ai litst h.-rhc»ught she was m. iev leaving him. but he saw she was in earnest when she said fiercely,' I-i:*»U here. Michael. You've phuin« d the whole thing from Iteginning to ettd. Before you vven asked me \ «»«i promise,J inor her * I hal cot I jg?. i»eiYre \ou e\Cli a.skttl me you beLa'i p;ii r; up (M!W rooms af your ><ue. Vnu've 1M >ee from thi» ii st day \<>u look rue inr a drsve 'h it \ on took (•>!■ granted iJ was rn.M.-h ask ai,r{ hav«-. Hut it isn't " '■'Hi-m. it I waii. ma> 1! speak "No." she returt-d. "No. \«mi iHii» can l"'i. not ene e.ho'ar- > eveiv thioi; just as he wains, ,\ho Jhrews his handkerchief when h ir\e-vt in«: is lione. and he sees hj.s to puMiiiu uii a draw in'-room I know V !; w.i> i>.ia i t'n.>ut;hi of ~u | I'm put ling up ihe draw ing-rooiu. 'w.oWs, ft i>. 1,,, Use to Inc." "I-'«r all that, it is because your 'ii- must ha\ w a draw iitg-rrom. not ofjny jfeisonal pleasure thar -• J.-iiiL' budt." "\ou are ci iiel ;,nd unjust.'' "No. I'm mil You've thought on :.v oi \our>elt. Michael, not of me at all. bidi; i I know why you

'•hose nit', because L am an excellent housekeeper. dress neatly, have never flitted. have apparently all the virtues. That's why. Hut you didn't choose Hie het'iliisv you loved jm\ so v«'ii ran gc Alter much of this kind of living Michael took Ivis departure. and Fane had never likitl him So much •»s when lu* tell, saying- in a low voice. "I want you, and I'm going o have you." For weeks she saw nothing of hiia. iiid Mrs New never ceased her lam••ntat ions. Then .something happened thai put Michael out of Jane's heaii. A letter ani'' from a younger brother, sayhe was in »real trouble. lie had .em iram-hTing and he must have lifv pounds immediately, or his ac"UMs would l.e 'discovered to he w. i nt;. iunl he would have tr go to .ao|. \!so. his uito was ill ; would lane somehow raise the money, and t possible (tune to his help injiii,vl«ateh.

Mrs New tit te»l\ broke down : but l was i.ot with the erring doe she was nnuiy. inil with Jane. "If nnv v "'f h:id tuarrn-d Michael Slade von w - iiM be in a position to help ■< «»nce. Now we're all ruined to.ether."

I'iiil. white dane was puzzling o\er lie In.pejess kjiiest ion of raising Colt ' lelejiam arrived. sa.\ing, " \II dis- '' \eiel. .Mai.el and the bahv going o \ iiij J o-<|a\ "

Ma'i-l aiul i Imriy arrivrrl. n s cl,!\ helpless pair, ;iitil Me \,.\ v •'•I I'li-.'l ili.s-fi-nci. ,■ i,kl trouble it looking •nfj.r tli.-iii. I'll.' 111• \I dav 'lie papers riiitiiimij a lull arnitinl ii .!(.,' N'ew's misdoing, and .ln ltl . rciilis.il iii-.it |,c had i,,...,, in „ th|M u'nilil have 'luvn sn prison l™ ; aK ,, " »» s « "lisenvlile allair. ami I her . >v. s ll()thii;,r 11,|• it 1,1,1 1,, I„.. |r is In s| 111, a roiil.l. ,|,,- ,|mi,. |r > rouble I.clcrc. aiirl lint. f,„- 11„. Kj n ,|_ "• s ci' 1 1-,„ linn |,p was wurUiiiM f,, r ■nl„' up her ,i!,| I rude «f dres.iiinl,ill:l 1 1 ill !("•!■> . ill uhici, s ]„. ''■'" ' boroiii. lily trained.

sl '"' Ml "111 that ailcriiiii.il 111 »" 'I Iter ..1,1 p.-,irons. He more nealil,., people '•en alii,l 1,, s ii,. „,, rU Mis Muriarly s;uv li,-r pass. iitui -aid. "I'iHil" .lane. sli,.'|j „; s |, slit-'i! inn plii.v.ii the Hi,;, Mirhiirl -li!c l.mv. lint (is i.ir Michael. [ Iniesiiv ll ' S K |„(| lie's 11,.{ llli\,d UN ■n it." ' •lane -Ml several ~.(|. IS in;.l turned h'liiH-Wiirils. She Hii.s H-cari amideit uas n. ally eu-vn::, u.i.l , ll,r ' llisl ' « "as permissible i,, |,.f lev. I, Mis lilll, i(i|- u ] 1o would >l"' v..is s, nne win , ,i, | ~i ii,,. '• « n-hi|i. „„ |he ruail l Inn |,-,| ■ "I" II she SlKl.leniv heaTv't ' man S step I ~si,|e her. "I Iwi-tt it uas V„„. ~\e„ i„ ihe •I'lsl,. eWi.t 1 1: ~| Mil hill 1 sia.ie. I've just Cdllle Ikk-I-'vm : I 111 •<;,>« II 1,, 5 ,., ; .bom • I•" 1 .iirei ti\ I saw that linsi-n-ss in 111,, papers. |l ~,„ l iltl . 1,, ""•* "'ii'ST I'll' ll'ill. poor nt. .liine. von iv in i fining t.i |„ a" out ni \.„ir I roubles. 1 ■l'lle w hole family i s i|is:JTa.ed" • obb.;il .I line. ■Willie lainilv liehai.e. .1. I want ■'"J Will .Mm hclie\ t . that it is v„ii ml Mai only I \\ ant A "; 1 '• r, iplir, .-I ten little mjj.sii.u !o ln-li.-vv ji llirn.