THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 11 April 1907, Page 4

THE STORYTELLER.

"WHEK GREEK MEETS GREEK." I And now wliat is going to hapneu?" • asked Colonel Everett. i Lady JJeverlv shrugged Ikt shoulders. > "lerliaps nothing," *he said, lint her i'»m[Kini,>n shook his head. "I am not so Mile Unit we shan't \vil. i n<'-> a icry pretty comedy,'' lie said. • "there is good material, at any rale. I arc Captain Kenton and Lady' Nancy l J-awcett. Iliey are both celebrated as I the greii-cst lliru in Christendom, and ! t.ie past of o.ieli is strewn with broken 1 heart*. thev meet here in this conutvv house. and appear to be mutually attracted. What will be the result"; Are they lmji only trilling as usual, or will , one succumb to the fascinations of the other, and thus avenfje the many suffer- ; ings which have been inflicted on the previous victims!" I. ''That would be onlv justice, ,J sniii old Ladv Beverly, "b„ t I a. m afra d such re- : tribution does not overtake the wicked in this crooked old world. I'roni niv cx]>erionee it is only the undeserving' who prosper. And these two are 100 well posted in the rules of the ganio to fail n any way." , "Ah, well, uv shall see," he replied. ' "In a game there must always be one , who loses and one who wills.'' ! "Xot always.-' sli.-> answered. -It may end in a draw. For my part. I | would like to see La<ly Kauey properlv : punished. What anv man can see in 1 her. I do not know. People call iier / pretty, but I don't admire her. Look at her hair—in the old days we called it I 'carrots,' and I actually heard some love- ' sick swain allude to it as "Jluirnished ' gold' the other day—such ridiculous nonsense!" As ColoneUiverett did not agree with her, he considered it more diplomatic to waive the subject. In common with the rest of the world he knew that Lady Beverly had coveted a certain mau for a son-in-law who was head over ears ! in love with beautiful Nancy Fawcett. ''Well, to night will be a test of the r real feelings," he said, "I know that both little Dolly Wingate and Lord Bering will be at the ball at The Towers, and they were respectively the friends of each last season. I must say I shall watch the course of events with much interest. It only requires a rival to see which way the wind blows, and I expect j both the hero and heroine of my comedy will betray themselves to-night." "And I daresay you will be very disappointed after allshe said pessimistically. ''They are both probably tired 1 of each other, and will each go his and I her own way, and play about with someone else. Things don't as a rule hap- ; pen as one expects," ■ I "But I expect nothing," he declared, j "I am only anxious to find some evidence to tell me what to expect. "Hush ! | here they are. They have probably been ' skating together all the afternoon. She looks Hushed and happy, and he seems devoted. The plot thickens." j Lady Xancy drew her chair up to the ; lire. "Oh, I hope they will soon bring tea," she cried, warm-ng her pretty feet on the fender. "T want mine badly. Do come and sit down by me, Captain Renton," she went on in her winning voice, "and amuse nie till it comes. 1— ah, who was that?" looking round at the retreating footsteps crossing the hall. ! "It was only old Everett and Lady Beverly. 1 am thankful they liave gone, for if there is a mau who bores me more than anyone else on the whole earth it is Everett." Lady Nancy smiled. "He was talking of you in a superlative way, too, the other day," she said, with an upward glance. "He called vk>u the greatest flirt in the world. Is it true!" Kenton laughed as he looked down on her. "And Lady Beverly told me that vou were the most finished coquette in existence. Was she right!" "That sounds rather as if we had been testing our powers on them," she answered in an amused tone. "But I have never spoken more than two words to Colonel Everett in my life. I don't like him." "And I can asßure you that I have never made love to Lady Beverly. l abhor her." He dTew a chair eiosc up to hers and sat down oil it. "You haven't told me yet if her accusation is—true!" She laughed lightly. "Vou must hnd that out for yourself," she said. "Do you think I am a coquette!" "I hope to goodness you are not," he said seriously, and then added for a moment, "How many dances jire you going to give me to-night!" "All," she slid, "It is no good deciding now. One doesn't know who will be there; and think how annoying it would be if 1 niet someone nice, and couldn't dance with him because I had promised too many to you." And sac looked at him in a provoking way. But he frowned. lie was not used to opposition. "Of course," he said stiffly. "You can do as you please. Only,' firmly, "I do not cared to be danced with only because you can't get somebody you like better." He changed his tone to one of persuation. 'lt would he better to fix them up now," he pleaded. Nancy laughingly shook her head. It was her usual custom to keep her admirers on the rack. "I am not going to bind myself," she said, hugely pleased to see his angry face. "You will have to take your chance with the rest. ' His face fell, and his eyes flushed ominously. "In that case, I will retire from the contest," he said, controlling his voice with difficulty. "I do not care for competition." She put out her hand, and laid it gently on his arm. "Don't be cross," slis said, raising her charming face appealingly to him. "Perhaps when we arrive at the ball I will give you as many as vou want." "Perhaps I shall not want many then," he answered, all the more ungraciously, because lie did not find it an easy matter to resist her. But she oniy smiled confidently. And then the servants came in with tea, and other guests appeared in the hall, so the conversation was not continued. Nancy was very secure in her own power. Therefore, when the Weylands' party arrived at the Towers she experienced quite a shock. Captain Ronton only asked her for one .lance, and that one' to come off rather late in the evening. The fact came as a blow to her selfesteem, but she hid her feelings Successfully, and turned with an added sweetness to answer Lord Dering, who had hurried up to her the moment she entered the room. But there was a keen sense of disappointment in her heart which grew heavier as the evening wore on. Almost unconsciously she kept note of all Captain Kenton's movements, and knew exactly with whom he danced. And it seemed to her as if he were always with | that stupid little Wingate girl, and presently a raging jealously took possession of Nancy—a feeling she had never known before. The stories about him were quite (rue. He was nothing more than a despicable flirt. He had simply been amusing him • self'with her at Weylands', because there were no one else. With her! !lrr had actually dared to trifle with Nancy Faweott? ' And she—she had aluu.'fc lieen deceived. She had liked iiiiu-sht could not deny 'viat she liked him—he had interested l ev than anv oi.iti man she had ever met. But it was a aood thing she had found, him out in; time He should see how little she cared for his defection—he should neveiy think she minded—(of course she did notj really mind)—he should realise that he had only heen trifling too. Those and «uch Uk« thoughts rao?d through her mind as Lord Dering bore her round and round in the mazes oi the dance. They made her reckless and unnatural. She scarcely cared what fill 1 said or what she did, and her partner's hopes were raised as they had never lieen before. Only the glimpse of l)nliy 1 Wingate's blue gown in close proximity to Renton seemed to set her heart ' aflame. The evening dragged its weary course away—had there ever been such a long ' evening since the world began! It was nearly time for that dance to come off—that single dance that Renton hail asked for as a matter of duty. Did he expect that she was going to stay for it? She r wondered scornfully. She went up to Lady Weylands. "I am so tired—so very tired," she said. "I expect I skated too much this afternoon. Do you think I can go home! I shall fall asleep if I stay any longer." "Of course, dear," said her hostess at onee. "Vou can have the brougham, and then it can come back again. T don't suppose anyone else is ready to go.'' Major Tlraithwaite was standing close by. and overheard the conversation. "I wonder if yon would lie so kind as to drop me." he said, coming forward. "I am staying at the Bcctory, which is not

very far from the Wcylands' gates. I have to be off early in the morning, and 90 do not want to slay up too late." . ljiulv Nancy consented at once, though she iran very anxious to lie In' herself. But she could not very well refuse. .Major Jkaithwnite was one who had loved her long and in vain. He knew very well that iiis ease was hopeless. She comforted herself with the thought that she could pretend to he asleep during the drive, and that would preclude her from the necessity of talking. It was a bitterly cold niglil, and snow was falling fast. The strains of an inspiring valsc struck .Valley's ears us she stepped into the brougham. It was the dance she had promised to Captain Renton. It was rather a long drive, but the Eectory was at last reached, and Major llraithwaite was dropped at the gateshe would not let tlieni drive tip to the house. "it has stopped snowing,' he said, "and I have a very little way to walk, (iood-nlglit, and thank you very much."* the carriage did not go on at once, a,ml Nancy put her head out of the window to know what was c,iu>iiig the delay. A tall man came forward, brushing the snow off his coat. "May I come with you now Bra it hwaite lias gone?" he asked. ''lt is so cold outside." Xancy stared at him incredulously. "Captain l.cnton?" she cried. "Il"w did you come here?'' "1 came on t'h" box," he answered. ".May 1 come in? It >s freezing." She assented wonderinglv, and lie entered the brougham, and sat down beside her, and they were driven oil'. "Why did you come away from the ball?'' she queried. Tier heart- wis beating ridiculously fast. "I believed you promised me a dance but as you evidently prefer to sit it out, lam just as happy. Anyhow, my time is yours for the next quarter of an hour." "Our dance is over long ago,'' she said, with a nervous laugh. "You are cutting your next partner." She could feel he ivas looking at her, but the moon, who had now cleared a place for herself in the heavens, was not bright enough to reveal the sudden access of colour which appeared under his gaze. "Why did you come away from the tall?" he asked after a minute. "Because I was tired and—and rather bored," she added. "What? Bored when Bering was dancing attendance, and hanging on every word you said? And Braithwaito too," jealously. "Why did you allow him to come home with you? A prosy man like that—no wonder you are tired. Why, he can talk of nothing but himielf." Nancy liked his deprfceiative words, and smiled to herself. She knew how to deal with men in this mood. The sleepy sensation which she had declared had overpowered her the first part of the drive no longer seemed to affect her. Her great dark eyes were shining very brightly. She did not answer his question. "What has become of Miss Wingale?" she asked. "Has she gone home too?" "I am sure 1 don't know or care," he replied testily, and for a few moments neither of tiiem spoke. She glanced out of the window. Tiny two seemed to be driving through a world of their own—a white world of snow, and moonlight. The only sound that broke the stillness was the deadened "KIop! Klop!" of the horses' hoofs on the hard snow. There seemed something strange about the landscape. She turned round in a bewildered way. ' Where are we?" she sail. "This is not the way to Weylands. We arc going \rrong." "It is all right," he answered coolly. "I told him to drive a long way round." | "But why?" she asked—"why?" "Because I have so much to say to you," he answered promptly. He turned round to her suddenly. "Nancy," he urged, "you have behaved very badly to me this evening. You would not promise me any dances before, and then you tried 'to cut my one ewe lamb. What have you to say for yourself? You don't want me to believe all the. tales I have heard about you, do you? You don't want me to think you are really a coquette?" He put his hand over hers, and she did not take it away. "J—l came away because —because 1 thought you would not really care if I were there or not,' she faltered, telling the truth almost ii: spite of herself. "You seemed only tr want to dance with Holly Wingate——' His grasp on her hand drew tighter, j "Nancy," he cried, triumphantly, "I be lieve you are jealous!" lie turned tc | her. and all at once his voice grew verj I tender. "Dear" he said, "1 love yov | so—l want you so. This evening lias been desolate without with you. Wil. you marry me?" "Do you want to marry a coquette?' she asked. But in spite of her banter ing tone, her voice was a little unsteady "If you are the coquette, I do," hi replied—"more than anything else in thi world." His arm went round her, am he drew her towards him ill a niasterfu way. "Nancy," he whispered, "saj "Yes." "I suppose I must," she answered witl a little tremulous laugh. "You havi been so horrid all this evening, I an j quite afraid of you." "Is that your only reason for consent ing"—slowly—"because—you arc afra'( 'of me ?" | "Ah," she said, leaning her head oi : his shoulder in sudden, sweet surrender I "Didn't von know you had all my lovi —long—long ago ?" "Well, things have turned out veri I differently from what we expected," saic .Colonel Everett, as he and Lady lieverl.i isat over the fire the next afternoon | "In all our guesses as to what wouh j happen we never dreamed that an en jgagcmeiit would ensue. They have botl had their fling," he declared. "Thfij must be tired of making conquests. J expect they will settle down as a mode j couple. It will almost be a pity," lu added, regretfully., "for model couple: | are only interesting to themselves."