THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 319, 18 January 1908, Page 3

THE STORYTELLER.

TH* TKMPTATION OF DONALD STANLEY.

I. It u .is night. Ten u'clvck had ju»t struck. Ami it was raining, coming dawn in a slow, steady drizzle. NeverI lit its.-, tv.j men were leaning over the parapet ft the Thames Embankment, jidnji at lbe rainswept river. Truly a aUinal object on which to gaze! But the men's minds were in accord with all that was dismal.

Both were without hope; both longed to end their da»s. lloth gazed down on the fast-moving waters, fascinated by the knowledge that tho«e water* held the power to cut abort instantly the aimlessness, wretchedness, and hardues* of their lots. They had not exchanged , a word. They had not even looked at each other. But intuitively each wa< K nwiotk. of the fact that their miuds ran on |t.irallel lines of despair, 13otK w re friendless, both were broken-heart-ed. Boili iij.l reached that fatal moment when t lie ability to endure patiently the ill. of th.ii orercast lives was at an end. Turn round, walk hack to the brilliantlvligiited st recto, mix with those in whose nnad hoi* 1 anil joy lived! Sot they! Sot they! They lud parted with joy and hope! Neither held any place in their minds now. They had mentally bid farewell to this world—its gaiety, its light-lie.il tednew, its wondrous fascinations and joys. They had ceased to be in touch with the alluring sweetness of existence. Despair had chased all h*ppmeas from their minds. They were Worsted in the battle of life, and had thrown down their weapon* and were waiting for a passing wave of courage to enable them to nuke the final plunge into eternity. And the rain continued to descend.

Still th« men stood thare, leaning over the parapet, noith«r ipvalclng nor stir- . . . . . . .

Kaeh man was glad of the Other's presence. On* was in ray, the other well dressed—his olotkes costly. A diamond pin glistened in his necktie and he wore a handsome signet ring. Poverty hail not brought hlm'to the parapat; bat his theogbta were similar to the man in rage—despair I From time to time people tramped put—people with aims, hopes, and ambitions. A man and a pretty girl approached. The former wu talking gall; as he held his umbrella over his companion, who was looking up Into his face aliyly and happily. The two despairing men had each known similar moments in their lire*, hut both were past feeling any qualms of jealousy.

Again they were alone. Xo one was in eight. The man in rag* tightened hit hold of the parapet and peered over. His companion noted the action. Quickly he moved toward) him. "Why are you doing it!" he asked, in a low, *harp voice. "Why—but 1 knom you! I know who you are! You are Donald Stanley!" "*ies! That's mv name! And —good gracious—why, you're Hubert Godfrey." " Yes— oaronet and ticket-of-leare •nan. 1 was liberated ten daya ago." " Bat why are you doing it?" •• Because my life ia a burden to me." M A burden! a burden!" wotted the

man in rags. •• You! You, who have £IO,OOO a year, aay that life (• a burden? '

*" Yes; and I repeat it." "(Jive it me! Give it me!" was the frantic rejoinder, as grimy hands, opea •ad imploring, were Bbot out towards Eir Hubert. And the speaker .turned his back on the river and looked towards the millions of bright lights that spoke of life and gaiety, and ail that monsy can bur in luxurious London.

" Money is of no uae without hope or low." Sir Hubert almost wtispsred the last word.

"Is Ina Montgomery married to another fellow?''

"No! But I'm nothing to her now—nothing. She has struck me out of hat life and I can't fight on." Tool! Give me your wealth. Givs me your title. Trust me to 'get happiness out of them."

It was tauntingly said, yet in a voice of bitter impossibility. Tell me, how is it that you are in this sorry plight?" asked Sir Hubert. " 111-luck—nothing worse. And that's enough. As you know, 1 went in for the jnedk-il. I hated it, and threw it up wlore pa.*>ing the final examination Once ..i twice I've got a post that looked like bringing ia a decent income, but it «a» only been for a few weeks, and theu Oh, it' s no uae giving you 8 mital 0! my failure*. I'm tick of'life!" He »wung round. Again his hand grasped the parapet. w h* » fool! Don't!" exclaimed pir Hubert, u his hand descended with quickness of lightning on Donald's shoulder. - l'ou used to resemble mr ty an extraordinary degree," he continue.! in an eager tone. "People used to say we -were more like twins than cousins. Have you clianged? Hare I ehangedt"

"Meve both changed! We've both grown rough and unpolished," came sharply in reply. "But we're marvellon«h alike, all the same." "ics, marvellously alike; and, look owe, why should we not utilise that res»mblanct!"

- Utilise it J Utilise it?" Here the man's word* began to come spasmodic - ally, in little gasp*, as if his mind were lilted with sudden bewildering joyou* an. ticipation. " lou're not thinuag of taking my words in earnest, are you?" "All, then, yon didn't mean it!" Sir Hubert spoke in a hard, disappointed voice. " lou know tie world too well to care to struggle on under a load ol scorn and disgrace like mine/ "i did mean it! I did me«n it!" flashed back the man in rags, turning his jwid face imploringly towards Godfrey. "But can you—can you give ma alii Bang the ticket-oMeave business, it would not influence my happiness a fraction to go about witb it nailed to mv back. To live in lmffy and enjoy bitsell » all 1 want!"

I 'K'abtl We'll exchange identities 111 be the poor man with an unsullied character. I'm -willing to Utb on drr •read rather than be cut as a jail-bird.'' "And your title—income—all will be "un*: You mean it-you reailv mean it: You're not raising my spirits onlt to dash them to the ground? Do you mean it—do you mean all you say!" " fces; every word." "Then it's arranged! You'll take mv name? \oull call yourself Donald Stan- /! fV*' '•!!' W Sir Hul *rt Godfrev, of Godfrey Towers, with ten thousand • year.

Donald Stanley held hinwelf erect, walked slowly towards the Are, and leaned with his baclc against the mantelpiece. Suddenly the question flashed a .Tost hit wind—was thin a dream, from which he would awake to find himself ghiveria# on a doorstep! Xo! It was the grand, undeniable truth, n-l the mirror opposite to him supported that truth. He studied himself in it with keen eat* factiun, for great wa« the transformation that the last few hours had effected in In-* appearance. He touched the Ml for brenkfa-r. then leisurely took up from the table some letters, .ill addre*e*<l to Sir Hubert <iodfr>-y. The tir«t three were bills. He glanced casually at the sum-totals, as one to whom large amounts hail no terrors. The fourth was signed Marie HelTemtone. It »as .1 brief letter, and stated in concise words that the writer was in possession of faet. whiih Mould enable Sir Hubert Uodfrey t<i <l.-• r hitu--elf from all guilt, and prove iticotiti -1 ably that another man c-oninii:t <: ■ forgery for which he was .-.enl-» <! : . five years' penal servitude. •■liuod graeiou*. tin- j« iinpnrt.mt information; woiild have the whole face of Ilui'ert'- 'le-ji.llr it it li id arrived yesterday." mentally eielaimed Donald. 'I wi*h <!i»- dx-ken* it had not arrived. »" far a.» I am conivrned. I •han't be in « liarrj To ad in the matter. I wonder wli'j 'his other letter is IPMiI As he asked him=elf the i|ix«iii>n he tore ..pen iU «*nve*»|.#. It was a fashionable -hape, dainty in t-> -lour live .<t feminine taste*. I " Frmit a girl!*" wa» hii nflent anil in- I tere-te.) -omment. | And the next moment hi. eyes were racing over the content'. The letter | was from t'na Jfnn'jtnmery. She"wrote most sympathetieally an<l tenderly. Every word breathed of her faith in Hubert and intense dnotion to him. Of an absolute certainty she hid never eon templated dtrilcitiir him >n' of her life. The delay io answering hi- letter, whieh had emi-ed such havoe nith hi- fortitude wa* owing to h.'r latU"r lieing 11k. 1 < i!! in the train during their return jn-!t'l'Y from the South of Franee. Thev ■ been foreeti to remain for -everal 11 > * at Avi«non, while! Iheir lett.r- awaited them in Pari*. She lm|»-d tint ll"i. r' ■would come lo »ee her in-tantly on t'teir arrival in England.

'* lt'« doubly certain th*t if this li.nl fallen into Hubert's han<N I -h.-nM m-t !*• lirrr. Of course. I ought to s*nJ b 'ib lrtt»r-i on inimedijtrlr. i>r .-.,ur-e. U» ovght to answer Mi-- Mna'uoiH'Tj - ';

out* iml also place tielverstone'fl in lii* e«!i» ior'i hand*. How eagerly lie would ■»n&a*h at being righted in tbe eye* of tin- world! Hut «U that would mean Id* taking huckitll tint be hmuied over to lite la*i I'm ijiiilc uuwilliug lo r«sliii>|ui*ji everything. It wai given mt I'nely and willingly/

At this moment the waiter enterad with breakfast. He eyed it with satisfaction. It was yenr™ since he liad -partaken of -.ii.K an exuellem one. H« liked the good tliinga of thin world. And greatly the luiuriousntws of hia »urrounding* appealed to him; for it wan a handsome suit* of rooms that Sir Hubert had engaged at the Hotel Savoy, on his arrivaLin lyjndon. Donald threw tlie two letter* on the table. He looked desperately thoughtful. The V.ik-e of conscience' was whis luring that immediate action in the matter was demanded. His face spoke i>i maddening disappointment. EniUess were the ways of enjoying himself on Hubert's CTTi.inHi a year that liad already occurred to him. A shooting ex I [■edition in Central A trim, a month at] Monte Carlo, the purchase of a motor car and a yacht, and many other objects| I>n which to spend the money had flitted across his mind. The best (f good times lay liefore him—if he destroyed these two letters! In deep thought he passed the ne.\l haif-hour. It was not a man's dutv to sacrifice himself for the taneflt of others, an evil voice whispered. And Hubert was not a child, he was fully capable of counting the cost of hi* anions. He had forfeited of his own free will the chance of hearing from Ina. It was liis entire work, his entire doing. Why should he. Donald Stanley: seek to negative his own splendid good luck?

He sprang to his feet anil began ti pace the room.

At last he brought himself to a sudden standstill in front of the #re: "No! I'll stick to my good fortune, I'll stick to my ten thousand a year. And her# go the letters!" Toe neft moment naught remaiaed of them save ashes.

Una Montgomery ruled her father with cheerful despotism. However, they were excellent friends, save when her engagement to Sir Hubert Godfrey was mentioned; then Mr. Montgomery's face grew dark, and his language empirically strong against Hubert.

"I refuse to allow the suiundrcl to enter the home/" were the last words he had uttered bu the aubjeet, and that was just a week ago, on the day of their arrival in Paris, when a letter in the " aeoundrel'a " handwriting awaited Una.

-Now she *as nestled in the window - wit of the library, looking down the rain-swept aveuue of beeches. It was ] dink. In a lew minute* the darknt'a« ol night would shroud all from view, and the tilth day of watching for the up -' proach of tli» man she loved would come to an end. The room waa brightly lighted, and she had ordered the curtains to remain undrawn: for -lie liked to think that she herself stood out sharply silhouette! against the bright light! within, and would be the first on whom hi* eyes must rest. But why had lie not come Wore? \A h:it could have caused this delay in answering her letter in person? These were the which recurred con-•t.-'uily to her mind.

It was altogether inexplicable, altogeiiier mysterious, this xilence on hii part. She sighed, stood up, gazed eager- j iy into tlie mist and darkness. Suddenly her eyes lit up. Could her evea deceive her? .No! Of a certainty, a man was walking slowly down a side path which led direct to the sotffh terrace, and the library opened on that south terrace. That man was Hubert Godfrey. She recognised his walk. .Now he wag quitting the path and placing himself in ths dark shade of a fir tree. Why was he hiding himself? Why did he not come | straight to the house? He must have received her letter—the letter asking him to come at once. His conduct was entirely inexplicable. Already he might b« walking away. And she, Una Montgomery, was not accustomed to be delied. Jt was quite against her principles to allow anyone to act in opposition to her washes.

"I will solve the mystery,'' she said to herself, as a look of determination darted into her eyes.

The next moment ehe opened the window and stepped out on the terrace. Regardless of rain, regardless of darkness, §h* hurried to the spot where she had taught the last glimpse of Hubert. He saw her coming; guessed at oni-e that she had detected hit) presence. "Ina!'- he cried, in a choking voice, as he strode forward to greet her. She made no response—shu did not utter a single word in reply; but she flung her arms round his neck and clung to him in eilent joy. And he mtraineM her to him, revelling in the sweetness of holding her in hi* arms.

~ I only came for a glimpse of you before leaving England tomorrow,"' he murmured huskily. "Vou did right in not answering my letter. 1 ought not to have written it; but I was carried away with the pleasure and excitement of my release, and I was also under the delusion that I could upset the verdict." "1 did answer your letter. I posted it myself about a week ago, immediately cn our arrival in England. And, of course, your innocence is going to be proved. But we mustn't remain here in the drenching rain, tome into the house. She linked her arm within his. " laeless your saying no. I'm a determined character."

" 1 know you're a despot. I'm thank ful I came."

A carriage drew up at the house as they entered, and a man alighted. "A caller! How annoying!" exclaimed Ina. "Just when I wanted to have a quiet, important chat with you. 11l tell Lloyd to say that I'm not at home, and "

" Don't, please," broke in Hubert; "the man is Donald Stanley, who must have kept your letter back. 1 want to learn the cause M his coming here." In© mystery thickens!" exclaimed Loa.

Hubert moved forward to meet Donald. But the men did not dhake haiidd. " You here I Thank goodness!" exclaimed the latter, speaking in a quiek, excited voice. •• I have been trying to trace you the last two days, for I have a great coniession to make. 1 have returned your generosify in a most mean and contemptible manner. Two important letters came for you; and 1 yielded to temptation and burnt them both. One was troiu Miss Montgomery • She h.l, Jii-t told me of it," broke in Hubert.

The other was from a man named llelver«toni\ offering evidence that vou wen- wrongly condemned."

"You burnt it? You lost his ad•lr<s». rierctdy, eagerly, the question* were a*k*d.

Ini thankful to *.iv I remember the |«u<Jre«. It wa. Is. burn l>lau» Kensington. I've to give you back a " J" u ga*e me. I've proved mvself to be most meanly ungrateful!" * Ue ceased to rush on. but looked straight at Hubert, painfullr anxious to hear n«xi words. A ilead pause followed.

Iful>ert drew himself up, »tood erect—squarely erect. (Morions new«. that evidenee of lii- innocen.e m, f. J rtl..r»iui,i K t It »nept away all tV> lun- of resentnicnt.

Beside,, lud not Hit jtirtu saved hiui on that terrible nigßTTn both their live*. «hen side by -ide tbev stood courting d.-ath: He -tc (l |„.,| forward, niacin., his han i ..ii IXtiul.lV arm.

"It 7 i|Uite forgiven.'' he K iid. in a low voire or emotion. "If it were not for .vou. I should not have [ived to see mi* day. \on ran rely on my friendship and help tor ever. We both errad. And now. old man, we'll lie«in a new ami braver chapter in our live- Shake hands."

And never were hands more warn ly grasped.