The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7982, 20 November 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

TUL GRIKFINS CiAMK. TUe cluhroom at Mudnipur was ainnist deserted It was m the very middle of the hot weather, and all tdic civilians witli their wives and progeny had migrated to the hills Cnly a itew o( the less iuyrtunaie military men remained, loafing round the "wire lines" (mem.. F.xsliaw's liraiidy) in the cool ot the verandaii. shnilcd by Kliuskhus the Micrmonicter' stood at lirilep. Fahr. in the. shade, a playful way thermometers have in the giddy, goice«us Kast. Only Major Martiey, nf trie Corps of Scouts, and Ciiegson. •:•', the Gunners, loungril in the readitiKroom of the Mmlnipus tilth. The major, one o( the real old cuiry-atid-rite school, hatfd Oregon, the hit-lcr-|flßi;ued gunner of the New Kra. All the R.A. are supercilious. Applied mechanics and the casine make tliesu fellows so infernally conce,ud. Giogson was a sort of a Least, too. He always pottid his opponent s hall al liilliafds. and he was a demon at "snooker." The man who potted Hie whit; tlelibrrately. and of malice prepense, the major declared, was a condrmard vjtd, and no gentleman. They had each one and the same reason fur remaining—lhat reason sal in a bedroom at Ihe hack of tin; club premises reading a washv yellowhack. Eternally, cherihe/. la femme ' Si* had been appointed managrrss of the Mudnipur Club hy Corslin, on-> of Ibc dirtttors. who held lhat all women—from barmaids to inanagrev se,—drew the callow youth of ih • e iilonnients with the f.»rce of ~ molor-car. And the major and (ireg-

:■.>.« were sitting each olhi-r out, in itilit to havuu « ( .nl with th- ma i-.tgrcss, if only fur five iii,;.iit t s, alone !

Suddenly to tlicin appeared an a;>p.irition. It was the newest "rsi'i"liii," or greenhorn, from I lonic. lii honourable AußiistiiF, Coliguv Cli.ti luigfoni, a iiewly-ap|ioiii|.d ikrk in th- P.W.D. He was ostensibly a Rcntbnan, though a ghastly bour.ilcr. He dirt not explore the foundations of his molars with a horseshoe nail not did he k«p his linse nails in perpetual mourning in m.-m- ---• ry of the late Caesar Augustus, .h-.s illustrious namesake. His niapnifucni. apparel paralysed Jludnipiir, and thnatives fell at his feet as n he wi-rr Niva or Juggernaut. He took Use station by s-lorm—Mudnipur had never before had n ran.lv ami n p.-er ni the realm Combined 111 its immediate. vicinity.

"My socks '." he exi.laiir.cd. 011 entering the room, "are voti two Konlirfans round ' after Dis.v 7 You haven t got a hope ' It's 'no rare! The Cbaliinsford 11 en. the scene !"

fJregson absently hrlpcii lnm.s.-Ii t,, the last of the branilv. ami pm l< foot, on the ice blanket. Major Martliy turned sardonically to (in-'-nn ami with a wav,. oi 'his hand " towards Cballrngford asked : "What's this ?"

(Jrogson grinned. '•'lh« Honourable AtMtistus Clial'"1 ,7 ror ?;i > - ff - D - '" he 1 '" 1 i;a»jr "Charmed!" cooed the "jrriil'n" tjeinp the major through a gold-rimmed monncolc

'Voil don't look it,'' remarked the major icily, in the tone he adopted waen examining a malinprei-fcefore a morning parade. -And. damme Jjir, I feel sure >„ u don't feel •! • This climate don't a-r.-e wnti i U( son ol a (gross refei.no- In primal ancestors t., <; llS sii-i chiti,|..,,>„, lik.you. What tlie tthe reverse i.i lieaveti) do you want here •"

"Slaying atj the Dak Bungalow," chirruped ihe Honouiahlc (Jussie, im aiusuid -Heard al'about vou .Jolm-ih.-s lhi-al>. Thought I',t ,;„„,, illirl have a look at Disey. Kit ?''

The. major snoiltd like a war l.orjic. 'You will tiird tin- lady, at 'illi'n' in five minutes. I leave you to her tender meicies.v She will "no d'.-|..'n lie. delirlued-tvmporanly-with the society of ; , <sang-n;niy)

p. htlilcss. imper-smi: klni; son nf liazwx cvwlic." The major smiloU satirically, breathed h.auly, tu,\ roarc-l I at life smiling I haliingiie-d : -'l n.'\c no hi-sitiilioit iu saving thai I ho|»-. tliat 'Discy' as v,,i: call In r. will I ileal with an empij -headed sour withI nui whiskers lik.- Mm ,:s | will. V tm I iiicon chested call, .1 ever you siimY. I Vour n.ih nose liefore me aiu.n Vou should ncv;-r liav e I• -■ t v tl ur keener !" " '

I'uiple in il.e fat.-. with salne cWi'iii< an-iiU, the major cluttered down Uie club steps, mouthed his P'.ny. an I galloped on to l.arrack,,. "lln of an emetic t| u t |,uu|icr „f yours, eh )" said the Hon. Augustus to i.reeso,,. V,,,, ],ad i,,.,,,.,. <l( . t al'.iu to Hie lurra-k-.s. There's " a whole pile ol Inters and things K one UP t'oi you ittmi tin- Dak Ufltiv.''' r 'ii'u on jumped up. said somciliii.a tunnus tiadei his hi-e.ul,. a ,a| hunied1> lo!l„w.,l ,|,e „,a.„„. ].-, v ~i n|ls ait-r Mi.- C,,11..,-\ (.hoop |„,-, 0 ,„ „ . ls t)iri.b'/:n.4 a-,i„si,. t!,e 11. li; ,ur.i^!e ; r rr OM - , ,' Mi '" sl;iri ''i-»«t.-...i I'tr li[,.s sceniid'as if ~|u (, ( l under his waxed inouMuthe After ■'<v,.ral in, imnts „! delirious t.nl(rtaiiiiitmt ;h- ■• K ri(lin" spoke ' "hen do ,l„. entries r10... ■■■• answ,,-

■''>-'«■- the ,„,.,„„-, ,„„„.,.. • -.in,. „,||." sh> . ~.,,,„■,, ,he „„„„, ,{*„,,.. "- ts ,aei,,e thai l.ia.-k" \,-al, inare. /ule.ka . >,„, know her !" .aid • V.-S. „.- ;■„,„ hj,- a, l.nrkiiow List v...ir. T|„'i did ~oi ~,0..„i5,. V..U. eh '" ■ ' ■' ■•\-. my - !;h .. lepll.ll. h.T eukl,,, Ills '..SI puekel. "Vmrv... t < f ,|„. powders safe \ h0p..." [,..- said aiiMouslv. I*.,iv .I w .,m.„„| ,ho i,„p, V sM„„ ~, Her i iiny head ~n his epi-asirims is she vie„rou,ly n0d.1,,1 l-i'fvn -.e.a.ik ,„ a no-iher i„,o X j. atine inieiliiile lollowed, and then. •fT.i'limr a s-ejiarution jiitlicioiislv. the jrrillm nude l>ais\ a h tsn fai-ew.ll. and pass.,l o,„ i,,,, i„ ' t to escape the :,ar,-a,ks piy-handed. >'■■- "nit day .uiwanl Miss c.,t----t-r iin-.. Ma.n.e Ma,,|,.> and ('.„,. ''"" , ' 1 v,, r> op|hiriii„iiy o: h.. Mi- priva,,. and e,,„1„1,.„i ,al ,„„ vei-s.,i„,i,s „i,|, „..,.. -1,,,, due oll:h, Mudmpuj- races ap|iroaeh, .1. and both Major Marlley and Captain Crefisou felt eonlidulii: of wiuiiin K th,. w,..!•rii India I'ony Derhv. Ca|itain f;r, L on 0wi..,1 a Maclv Aral, ,„ a re of ,himils si,umliie>.s. l,ut under his ,■„„- nine hard she could e,., ,„ ,|„. '■"'- "»1 'I a n.il.-. under „,,•,,„, r.'ssii,-,.. niHiout iialulejnj, in ~..; yii.us rights which necessitated he. down or staillliu;; OTI 1,..: l-'ail 1,.0 .ill.-ll The laa.ior had ; liaiids,,!,,... c.,ii„try-l,v.<rl sri-1.-|inii, reeiilar clipper at six fiirj,,„es = :' l„:i it ii.i'iirei a masi.i-ly lian.!liii«,- t, K "'P him vin S „| l(|li j at ih,. 'ij„k: 01 ■< ia-t-1-,1,1 ,„j[,.. |.„,|, ,; 1( . ,„„,„. were traiiieil froii: the ("Int.. w|„ ~

\ : h,-\ W.-IV M. t i,|„,|. ;.„,! t ll«-il- <„V,|.T■mailf i;.. wiivi ~f (hi-ir rws:i-.liv. chain-, s. Ami.ni; t In- untii-s for HilYm I'-rln uas tin- Himimralil,. An -Uslns C'liallin.m'iir.r.s hay Au.slraliai i pony llairanalnnil-r ; l>nt. as the n«r. it hail m-vi-t uli-tolittfl\ ridilvn in . ,»'. »n<l as hv his im, n jliim (if riding iii- himself, nolion, :ar. .1 to back his hi.rsi-. Me.nr.vhil', , I».iis> «ns l-i■!■(.' strmi- u*h Mai.. Man I,? jiini Captain {.'n-Mni. On 11-„ -iVht l-im- th,- i-aiw. ai'ier In l.itirlli ' p.-y anil a must sati-In.-t»r\ chat uiih .Miss Cotier. thi-nia-Jin- hail a „a|, ~; thr.-.-.*iai-t..|-s <•■ an iiiinr mi tin.- \i-i-amlah at th. villi). Hi- si, [it s„ .soundly (hat tihn r.n«- in later, lia.l aiii|>l.> i,|i(i..rtiiiiiiy i..r a spoon with H..isy-a„ ~i,iin,.inly at;r—.l!,!- sp,,uh diamond ru._' im h.-i- tinB .r. a, I a. tl„- .a,,.-, ti 1,,,-s.ni..-her i..:h a l.i.j ehi-.p;- i.„- prelm.in uy . ->.|..-ns. s 11,, t1,,. m-iinini; ni 111, ran, Mi--- fntti-r «-m i.n- a in!.- ~, h-r 1.i.'.i1.-. ul.-rli ~1-,,. k-pi nil,. -laid,-, uh-iv lit- horses w. n-train •'I. Si„- hail a un, .1 look at 111-ir -ill I:.-! 1 ■■turn, uh-11 th- sm-... «,.,-, iii.iv at tli.ir l.r-akinM Major Mart-.-, wa- .-e<T-t., 1-v ~,; :

ir-asm.-,- ..: -i 1,.- M. f l,,,i.ur H,< ,■ dm. a-ul !-,,- iri.T..l,. U.I.- ■•,-;,•1i1i.-'\ sum i" .-.-.- his ~„„v ,-. :. ~ .liso'isti..::'. li-i«l la-i. (; U |,ti,jr. <:.. ~„, „;..„,•.',:; ■I f. ;,i l.i- 1...1K :-, ran- ~ ypra ami hi- cam,' t.. the .-ondiisioii tn.,: I hi- n.are hail mo a chill and cniil.l no! i;.ill.i|>. Hj 'ln- m;. iianan;. l.nitK'i* mm. .■!,-. .in. \wih »ii« hi' Im-iw.,l, hi< -jams, l.v ; .i, 1,-,,...!,;. ami 11,.- Ihaumrai.U Cie-sie n.-ai In Ml ..It in lini-.li .11-^. Ilt-.i ill V.

Thai ;h.. ci.lii was !iii.-.l I, ov.-rll.mm,; »iih ilsli.irs. ami dur he' could i-'iv.- ' ~„ a-.-.iiml. Maio'i Marll.-i lost Lis Kan.liiii-. ■•.•iitaii. ilia all Hi.- (akin- al lii,- Uaiv Cln!. iul-- lli.il .lav. The Lin lia-l 1.. |. left s.iu:v|., l..ck,i| U|. ii. Hi.. .>U:r. of Ihi- cllll. al II nYloek : „l T. .•Ylock it inn yon.- I'aii i„-ii ;..-!• ill ifliivs ..r |.oli<-,- ~v , -r 5,,h,.| i hi liiin.-rv .1 ill..- r.iliiu-o Mi-. Cot i-r, in a slat.- i.f \ irt 11..11.- in ilimiation. i.-M-n.-l h.-i ' [i.i-ii 1..11. 1,10k.-oil li.-r dual .-lilM-ele.. lil, v.i'l Maim- Manl'-v aiti Captain ::r.-s. n. Hid was 1.-.I i.. Hi.- limi.. n. a! alia:

a lew nwts after ley •the Honour- 1 i":',, A " K ? l " s <'h.'llingloid. The l'« U. anil Mudnipur lost a shini,,.. ''Ulit ..I many horse-power when U,° lion (.iissr. resign.-!! j, is p „. s it.Hiii. mid c..iim-..,i| |.a,|y C'hallin-f,„ x i >wny irom Hit-evil influences of Mu'lmpur clumlom. And a new inniiayl'ess leaned in lu-r stead. Due inornin- Cre-sou (muni lijm--eli alone vviih Major Mart lev in 111" elllli ni,,in. T.'Muse hiv revert inj.- I,i an old. •sine, major. | m t ,|| ( | yu „ I;iU)w , n ., v lhat bounder Challingl'urd Has marriiil lo .Miss Cotter before she eamo nvc u. inanum- the elnli •>" "No - Was |„. ~,.a | ly •.- asked the astonished.ma ior. •Well, lie m„s, have ~. „„• ,he He|"il.v Commissioner's orderly heard Challiiiejord say i,., 1,..,-. when Ihev «.Mvl,.i,vii,j; an,.,- ih,. weddine there": Tins is lhe fourth 1 im>- ur'.v,- placed this -an,,.. ~;,|. „,„„„„ ;' - "Tin- ili-vil 11.. ,li,l "• exclaimed the "\,s." said t.'r,-s,,i. 'Tlirv were a small loi. Where on earlh (lid •on j.,-1 to on i lie niejii Unit the 'IT,,, moior l,liisl„.il -niliiiv. •■Shi- u.-rd-.10-io-wisli 1,,,. noorlI Wen-supposed 'lo l„. cneupil-" 'I In- devil ;■' cried Cn-Soli. "(i 0 Ul " "Well, as i|». rhrii was >„ crowded die invilcil i,„. down lo the compoiniil. Ol course. I coulilu'i sav where I was. .Sh,. cost in,., nearlv •"> ' rupees !" The major lid.nedtod UlliMsil.v. ■■My hat ! Sh,- e,,i a ."»nii rupee • liainoiiil lin.u I'roiii me and a cheque lor litXl rupees lor a ll ollsseilll :" .tamuioivd Ci'ivm.ii. Th,. moior uiriK-d awav to the. window, and eloweriiie al Ih,. nion--oonal ram oiitshle. mill leivd : • l-'or-niiii' is false, and hope a dream !" Anil Captain (ireuson drew a mental tangent across lhe ropes suplinrtiiie 1 h.' heavy punkah, whistling meilitativeh. Al lellj;lli he .spoke : •So that mis the Crillin's Came:"