THE DESPERATION OF MRS. DUNCOMBE.

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

THE DESPERATION OF MRS. DUNCOMBE.

The Si-kin ot Aberdevine.''' reail ":! tin- Key. Alexander Dmiconibe. "■ irare «inter ri*itant- ' Did y, „ -peak. my dear;'' '•'»»: no. Alex." sji.l Mr„ IJ l iiii..iiib. hurriedly, bringing her ilioiiglil- li.uk 1., en nh.

I vim any comment in otlVr';' j eont;nu<-<I th«* vi»ar. looking at hei " So - n--ii" -v\, *.j,t wa-n'i !h----j -HtUßir jjKt a littl« loiifrjj " b.nir - ' rej>eau-d her | lAiti'4. M,m\ : It of nin-* j In., of wliicb, ut mav .*ay. are in "in- -.ri'inmtteivd. I'm :: m( \.h iU»] ni«> vory looli-h." ■N.»« ;»)oH-ii. • nU ,i little inafU-ntiv.-/' ji-ne- ■" -i*''' - -"iiH'tinic- in llock-i-i.n-1 ,b \A-Ac nmiiM-j.. at tli.it |M»riu«! oi »|,c >.MI ,Im. r-.\, |ll< i w lak» hU tin.-. Tlir- hii.l

•sh.i!l w.. il. ■ -'-kin I ill ; ;n->rrnr. r~ iirininirerl M;-. Diim-nmli. . ( (:lli n 11 ■. I o jlri.n-i »»r cult r;ii \ in- licr v.iuv. •• \\ f Imiv >|r>n>' iii" i-"MHii' li and i lic Br.uubiiag this nmrniiig—''

"I am particularly anxious to finish my book tliis year." "Hut, dear, you liave been at it for live years, so that il can't ivallv—- " l ive >'<'.< lie repeated, "exactly, ""I "ml is why I am -0 desirous of ''oiiipleiing it- that is my magnum onus. However, Mary, I have III) wish fur vim to may."

lie -.mik'd at her. nodded, and tli.-u Ijent liis head over the M.S., while his I||W moved. His wife watched him. \ shade grew into her eves, and her lip, trembled between laughter and tears. Hie latter won, and a long drop coursed s owlv down her cheeks, she turned to the door and put her hand on the knob.

Au rcvoir," i-hc said, trying to al, gaily. 1

" "nod-bye," he said, mechanically 'Hilnig over hi* work.

"'Mi! It will lie." she thought, ''one la >*.""I*t bo—Good-bye! Not -an

'•Voir'; not for a little'whilc. but f,.r ver!

She (mned round and st-ired .st !i--husband. Once he would have wot up and kissed her. o|a-ned the iloor tT.r her. ■vafelled her down the passage, listened till the echo of her feet died awav on the oaken stairs.

" I don't expect that." she told her- l! >ver and over again. - Indeed, hide I don't expect it! There's too much trouble and worry and anxiety in tlr world for that. But just a sign of love! just to leave this groove—this kill'iig. -titling monotony- oh! for one mo ment!''

" Plea se shut the door when von g i." nufmiireil the vieiir. " vou fidget me.'' Sihe went to liini swiftly and put her inns rottuil his neck.

''l'm sorry, Alex..'" she cried: "I'm a :'ooli«li woman. Hut I'm fond of ymi I love yon. Do you remcnilier how v.ei told me you prayed for my love';" " \es/' he assented. " I do not forg"t one moment of the glorious days of our courtship."

"And now?" "Now," lie repeated interrogatively Now? What of it?"

She gave a sigh and straightened her. self. A tear splashed down on the ser-mon-paper before liim. He wiped it away with his handkerchief.

"It worries you." he said calmly. " Literary work i* a great tax. I often lind myseli' strangely despondent, silent, and overwrought when I have concluded my labors."

She brushed away another tear, and a hardness, born of disappointment and hojielessness, came into her eyes. She went to the door once more, and as she dosed it silently behind her she heard him murmur.

" -The favorite materials for the nest is rut hill'—'is' 1 cotton'; lluni-iti-m-pli. ■arc'? l.et me lice—all! 'is.' of course! 'The wanes of sin is death?' "

"Your brother from Australia and a friend," echoed the vicar, "how can we house them, Mary? The vicarage is small."

"I have no doubt Mr. Franklin wili HO to the inn." said Mary, keeping the excitement from her voice. " Fancy, dear old .liinniy coming back!"

" Your brother has been in—in the scrub many years?" queried the vicar. "Oh, yes—ten or twelve." "1 hope lie will conform to the rules and habits of the house," remarked the vicar firmly. " Some people fancy they may ride roughshod over other people's prejudices, inclinations, opinions " "Jimmy won't." she said gently. 'Please try to like liira. lie's my only brother—my only relative, lie- all 1 have in the world."

She said it purposely. She longed for bim to lie hurt, to remonstrate.

f ' All," she repeated, staling over tho urn at her husbaid. The Rev. Alexander continued his breakfast in moody silence. He cut the top of an egg with exaggerated care and gazed at the creamy white surface before plunging his spoon into it.

" I wonder if he has studied the mi gration of birds," he reflected aloud.

" He was always keen on natural hi: tory.'' answered Mai v eagerly.

"Ah!" The vicar looked across the lawn. " The cuckoo grows very hoarse." le commented. " he will soon leave lis."

" Don't write to-day," said Mary, as he pushed hack his plat r*. •'Xot write!" he ejaculated, turning to her in surprise.

*l—J want you -more than the hook. 1 ' *he cried, "lie with me today, Alex.' " My dear Mary," he observed, •• the two hour* which I devote to my book in the morning are carved out of my parochial duties by the exercise of considerable mental effort. The choir nnet at eleven. I have numerous calls to make in out-of-the-way corners of the parish before lunch. A mother's meeting in the afternoon, the D'Allenby's At Home, my croquet match with the doctor, bellringers' conference, a christening, my sermon for to-morrow, two letters to tV Times, the one ' Episcopal Apostacy,' the other 'Mimicry among Finches.' a "

"I'm sorry." she murmured; "of course you wouldn't have time."

" When you married a. hard-working and, I hope, conscientious country clergy, man." lie said, "you fully realised tliat your life would not lie that of the dollwife. Vou " -Mary went to the window and drummed her nails on the window pane.

"'I shall not be back to lunch," lie concluded. " I shall go straight on to the D'AllciiliVri and meet you there." 'You forget Jim," she said slowly. ' I must go to meet him.'' "You can scarcely omit your visit--"

" I would omit anything to nice! him!" she cried vehemently. "Do you think these dull parties, these neverending nieetingH, these ghastly working afternoons would stop me';'' "The daily round luay lie irksome," he agreed, laving his hand on her shoulder, "but we still have eaeli other."

'• Have we?" cried. "Have we. Alex? Oh, it's your duties your life, your—book before me!" ;The viear sighed. " I won't write today." be *aid with an air of martyrdom. " Your brother will amuse you this even in'*?. T will write then." "Our cribbage?''

" Must lie omitted." he said." " Vou will have your brother .lames, and I. my lHiok." "The first time for live years." sh. murmured, dullv.

" Let us go into the garden." he said throwing open the French windows.

"The blue tits have built again in the letter-box. From all evidence I can collect I believe a pair has built there for the last 78 years." The viear came back 'lo dinner iluslici with his croquet conquest over the doctor.

"Hy four points. Mary!" lie exclaim ed. "Most exciting- Ah! i* thi? •TiiuiP^"

"•la-James couldn't pome," said Mary with it Strang note in her voice. "Tinis Mr. Franklin, Alow*'

The guest put out his hand and shook the viearV.

1 " f hear you arc a great authority on bird life." lie said. " I am delighted t.i meet you. T take a great interest in them myself, but only from an amateur point of view.'' The. viear warmed to Mr. Franklin, and immediately c;iiim<l liim «<fl' In hi> «.ludv.

"A well-read man. an intelligent man. n good listener, a lover of nature, and an excellent companion,he observed to hi- wife that night, "so I would sum him up at fnxt acquaintance.'' 1 hj- viear seized the opportunity while hi- wife had a companion to devote lu< entire leisure to the book. "Every evening he would retire to his study. "You will e\<u>e me.'' he would observe. "if f leave vou. 1 find myself more attracted daily to mr work. T love to watrh if urow beneath my hand. Mr Franklin. I hope T -hall *ee you of in :ui for a la*t pipe."

| Hi* would nod to his wilV and lo hi lock hinwdf into his study, writ< until juvrwdv the hour n;tfolleel lit- thrust them into n hox. pae'h lit- pipe with methodiral fare, open th» door, sine] thrust out his head with :i enll: '' Mr. Franklin! Mr. Franklin! T am now at IMiertv!" >mile hmitrnly on his I "n"-! a- lio -tilked in. then throw him- ' -•'!'* hjjrk in hi-. hi'i armchair. mount j hi- conversational hohhv-hoise. and he | '•on»iimM;iti»lv happy till 11 o'clock wawjrie -c --hoo. hoo—hoo. IiooM!" lYom tlie f-uf-koo clock iu the hall. and it was tintf for bed. " When <hir-i your brother rome?'' ho n-k»'il. n* lie W;i- leaving hi> wife one eVi-UMICr. I" To-morrow." -In* H«- «a*v li'*r »lance at Mr. Franklin find he w.indeipd at it. for the fir 4 | time In felt ji vajrue fi.rohoilin.". Mueh I tin- onlv in ;i fjjc levelled decree. J |, ; .,t ivit when olhcr men had ! talked of Mn v before their manias. Tie t" hi- *tud\- and r down. Hut ihou-'h hi- linV»'i- 'iiuirht no the »..'i) he . !; «1 not write. hut stared out of tlf window. He ii°'iv<| \farv'- vni-i- <lvawin«r nesiv•V. u.»w inron-iih'V;itP of h'M". lie ihnuir'i. Sli- niknow h«iw jiv -il"iirc w;i- to him. M'hv coiihln't • IH* k. rt» to iinothcr t»i»H of thp ir-uihrn? A nightingale wa« thrilling the air with

his pulsing Hood of song, and suddenly " i lie Rev. Alexander Duncoinbc leant forward.

Oh, it means nothing to him,'' he heard her cry, ••only a little brown bird. Ilut to me—oh, it's just love calling The cry of a woman's heart, John, vol! hear if; Love-lorn, despairin», broken-hearted " "

" And yet if we wait it will change," "a d l'lailklin, quietly; "do you remember what Coleridge says. • A melancholy bird! oh, idle thought, in nature there is nothing melancholy'; it's just because you re sail, lieeause—you're crying for llu' moon."

"I* it fh,' inooir:"' she queried. f wonder."

u * iioti! It'fl not iho moon, Mary, it < .somrtliing infinitely closer, immeasurably dearer. It's love, Mary; ii man's love, anil you have it all." l liwli, he heard lw»r whtKpcr. "Ale* will hear u>.**

-\oL he! ' cried John Franklin, in a In.l voice, "he'* in his book, Alary, lour husband! Your husband! Why. he's nothing in you--witsc tlt mi tliat. lie doesn't care for you, ne«lect« you worries you-h,.'s killing y, m . . ' ' I .M H'ii'»ting for you. -Mary. .Mary, my little heart. I 'love you!

I lie vicar leant from the window I|,. ->w the man's arms about his wife in he moonlight He drew back and dosed the window with a snap. 1,,,,! 1 i'' ' UV( ' ' he murmured hoarsely, nervously fingering the slices "I paper on his desk.

i-iniV"!l V '' her Ik "'- v 811,1 S0111 " brain L ""T", fr °"' his (brt " r "' l nnl . ? • vn into Ilis ''hair and stared into the empty fireplace. franklin did not hear the usual call ■ evening, b ut M „, v t<) h<>r J'-'tid. She put her arm round him gent-

" Alex," she whispered. "we » r n henSu-'T T- S 0n I,is knp " 6 Si^l!;r t hamK an,, ' >roSSin « hi9fa ™

"Mnrv," lie cried, "I'm a cow,ml T "ml.li.it face life without you. 01,! you it no « <oul(ln't help -no woman—no angel ~/ !u ; V '; to you, « s I love you V ' • Vmi ' m - v "We wife, ,l,: " 1 "'"'l'l appeal lo"in vou--[—fyp "nlolVnlJ; S ■ mit Asawtr* •%- «>nld never blame. tlnwo" 1 "/ ,!'" •l" Kt '"'gging for forgive.

Are you very angry?" she nal-„i ■•looping very close to him with hi..,,-- he « nw( . red . Iv '"L!iu *'"" nihv] -' *'id Alex, -rave. »ot wait and wit.li gether-he'' ' OV( ' di '' alto. n ' > m\ iirotJier .Tun!"

A. C. tJreeinvood, in il.A.l'.