THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 36, 1 February 1908, Page 4

THE STORYTELLER.

"THE ARBEST." o (Uy llerliert Jauuejou.) The etenc was the (jcaricV drawiugruoui in Brlgrat ia; the time, late afteruuuu. He and site sat in constrained altitudes ou still drawiug ruoin cliairs, planted fully two yards apart. Sofa in background-a desolate waste. "Ibis is Thursday," Hilda Searle wa» saying, "and it's only the third time tliat you've been here this week." Harold Tringbam shrugged his shoulder* in expostulation. " My dear girl," he replied in his best literary manner, ' do try and appreciate the full circumstance of the case. Here am I, a young novelist, -with my way to make. That way can only be male by work—hard, intense, persistent wo:k. But it's work to an end—marriage. Six months ago in a rash moment " "Oh, Harold, not rash!" "In an inspired moment, then, I got engaged—to the best girl iu the world." "Oh, Harold!" ' Don't ask me to retract that epithet, (or 1 simply sha'nl. I rejoice in our engagement; it's quite the best thing in life that has happened to me yet, not even excepting the publication of my lint novel. 1 would love to past, every hour, every minute of the day with you." "1 should be a horribly selfish girl if 1 insisted on that. 1 only want you to take me to the tjueen's Hall concert to-night." His f»oe fell. "That, as I said before, is wholly itu-

puuible." -Bit why': "TV most vital chapter of my new ■ml is at my fingers' ends. 1 must write it out thu evening, or it will be gMe by the morning." "Couldn't you manage it after the MMfcrtf "Mo, because 1 am not a journalist, but a literary man. I never burn niidMftoHt I«mw<wM. Hilda, please !" he atoVd, fcaftartagly, noting the appftotch vt MWa. "1 don't benVre yon love me a bit," the totted. "Btttog!" "Atft t Mt! It'« only that wretched book of yOBTs you care about. 1 hope that every publisher m London refuses it, and tut U sever get* into print. 1 iknnH like just to <k> what you told me ttMtiffc'a sarvaat did with one of his laity old manuscripts— pitch it into the BN." Harold Triagaam's eye, widened in hefftted surprise. Such heresy from to*»s tip* Was traly awful. The girl wtt heals* herteK, mad. He rose in dig tinea protest. "HHda!" he said. "1 think we had better end " flat he got no further. What Re wished to end— their engagement or only the present painful interview—was leu obscure. Hilda's mother, discreetly heralding her approach by a cough, opened the door a couple of inches. "I don't want to hurry you, Hilda, hut the dressmaker says that she can't {naaiUy wait any longer, as it's now past avc •'dock, and her husband " - Pit see yon tojßorrow," said Tringham, jumping at the chance of escape.

The Searles were at breakfast next turning, iom, ■ young gentleman U ■eraucea, wow 'had just started busiocm is the City, and behaved like a Woesus oa iio a year, completed bis nuaUy quartet.

"toilre looking pale, Hilda, this niornjng,' said Sirs, bearle, more (or the sake at saying MHuelhing than otherwise. "Ihe gate kept me awake,'' said Hilda curtly. WhKh wan perfectly true; but the gait the really referred to had not raged beyond the realm-led area of the dra<v-la|-'rpom. There had been no peace altar that storm. She had had what )am would nave called a "rotten" ■late, lite -awn fou, u Usual at breakfast, MR •* commmnicative. ilr. Seaxle - at M»l» it toast auisily, reading steadily ■♦he.-wiHe liroagh Kw lending article ■Hfce.-fßhuaßertr." Xu» devoured kid -My-an* haoou, Mectiag akippetd in the ■?«*>» '*••••" *y way ot meawl retredHWit. -father aUtou, H is needle* to Wry, <*riole-lwi.r»edry despised one ■miMv-mmptn. SudiWHy <tWn taifc and fork clattered oft-hJs plate. His eyes were glued to his Mger. **oi, luay, here's a go! Just listen toUSii"

iHr. ijwk fatted hat paper testily. ~ -J^flear ; X&pi, tbe* are How tuu X possibly read uiy newspaper it jrou persist at intervals m sUuuung out extracts iruui tail rag:'' 'lorn Bid nis excitement under .13tiuueil indifference. " Ail right, paler, only you'd be awfully iMor>ic«l in Hub. lou see, it's about ilwwU Iringuaiu. MuMUua suddenly appeared in three ItoiWUtw laces. A paragraph about Harold, the ruing literary wan, and Hilda s fiancee! Dal nut Mr. Stark- pass all »«r* paragraphs round the nrsl-ciass smotong ouriage in the morning*! Did nut Mr*. Searle karn all auen para grapaa by heart and retail tbem hi iielgravis drawug-fooms! Had not Hilda atruady rtMlcfe » targe scrap-book, in which/all such paragraphs were lovingly punted!

~Ub, what!" exclaimed both ladies in a breath, " l«u read it oat, Pater," said Tom, IniatHag an*-the newspaper. Mr. bearjes initial impulse was to iefese a*y personal contact with the'rag, but hi* curkMit; gut the belter of him. lie fixed hi* eye-glasse-i more firmly Ja Ue bridge ot ab nose and read aloud: Harold Triigham, a novelist, was arrested in Uolborn at a late hour hut night tar being drunk and disorderly, lie will be charged at How Street this mnrm-ijy **

For a fecund or two there was awfal silence, whilst Tom watched the senav tiua he had caused. Then Hilda's head wink Sown on the table, and she broke into convulsive weeping. Jin. Searle new Hand the table to ner assistance. Jir, Searle rose. He had nut realised the true nature ot the paragraph until he got half-way through it but now even his fancy waistcoat was inflated with his agitation. " Tom," "he bawled, " how dare you give me such a thing to read! Just iooa at four poor sister!" Uilda glanced up with streaming eyes. "Father, say it's not true!" "Jto, of course, it isn't true, Hilda," shouted Mr. Searle. "Tom, 1 strictiy forbid you ever to have that paper in my house again." "Oh, but it's true, I know it's true." sobbed Hilda, "and I've driven him to If Mr. Searle addressed his wife. "My dear, nadn't you belter take Hilda up to her room! She's not quite herself. This is most distressing. We—--1 must consider what is best to be done. Dear me, this has quite spoilt my breakfast. Tom, you might, at any rate, have had sufficient consideration for your sit« •*

•' But what could I do! The thing - happened.' I "What could you do! Anything but what you did do—giving me the m»rpaper'lo read aloud. Von might bantam oil a bit of tin- paper, written on it, couie out of the room at once,' and then quietly pas-«i it to me. Then you could have shown me the newspaper outside, and we could have diw.ii-.wl what wa» to be done. A, it *-. you -plultcr it out. and-that's right. Hilda. y..ud tirttfr go to vonr room. Vou'll In- all right sonn." lie -losed the '1"»- behind lii- wife ami daughter. "«'li. dear, tliiis really very ,|i«rrwlilable. It will re fleet «o much upon is--" "Then von don't think it all ga>:" - There' mint !»• a modicum of truth

or-l iper tru-t tlw-c i«-'|"l'' «'"' ar ti.li»- trmperamMit-. Tin-} re alu.i.imilK »rrm2 ill *»■»<■ *»>' " T " ,l "' r - "'" »h*t a mrrvv »c M- ("»'"l "<» "'.- " li! " - cerrtt »k-.- M""- Hilda married him. Xi.«. U-t in.- ■*<•! What'- tin' l«-t thin; 10 Ik don.-! IH ff» l" '!"• "»''"• "I* 1 " thr Inters, and th™ straight tn li<™ Strrft. Ilu-iness mii-t n»t l«- ne«lect -d. liut- —"

He wml mil int.. th.- lull. At .-v-o lure on* w»-i remind.-.! <•* tin- ilw-i-r. Thrw *»•. n» ''»<• '" hrn-h hi- tut. an-1 Ik had not the hrjrt !•• Itii-Ii ii him - v..i.--npfiirs. hi* wiff »tteni|.tin? t.. -..nthhv paintinj; Tri»»fcani »- ''lack as |.\ ,\Ur. ami Hilda upbraiding hir-.li m ■ shrill UM>- F°r * lm ' ""'• hy h ' «-rn»l irrwrh** thr previ..u- .it'ern-...ti. f.ir.«l Harold t» dn.wn hi- Ir.mU.- " •Irinkt . Mr. Searlc hi' th.- h"ii-" .n'h !■<■■•• ' hmd. TV .•vtrav.i'.'.m t t.<km-.' ' U\Ui\, to th' <i<> «■•"■ "' < •"-•. P'J .|nnabl». To f*"- "ven •■'!'•' f-;■ " i r»fl«rav .-arrU?.'. *a.h fully i""' ■• hi* futurV -)B in |j«'- ,|i!in.i.i-is. • •' '- natnrallv. imp«v«ihli Mr. sW, r W slum. iui-. !. : - "Hi" 1 ■' »- -llailv II..»lfr" ».i. ih. •'■' his ckrk» tk-rived lUdr ■ :■'■

I ions from. Why, the wry juniors would ibe po>tcd ii)> in tlip terrible scandal! A few minute.-! later he left the olli e with the laconic announcement, " 11a k in an hour!"

He hired a hansom and told the driver to lake him to How Street Police Court. lie »hivenil as the word* pushed his lips. A» a respectable, law-abiding eitizen he hated the sordid atmosphere of police court-. If Triiighani were remanded, !.e wondered vi-ry much whether he would lie e\j>eeted to furnish bail. He jumped out of the eal> and made for the entrance. A big policeman barred the way. "Sorry, sir! Court full!" " Hut I have business." " Sorry._»ir. -Must carry out my instruction-." Mr. Searle turned and walked a fewpaces away, his eyes on the pavement. Then someone clapped him on the shoulder, lie swerved round and faced—liarold Tringhain. Taken by complete surprise, Mr. ■searle did tin- la~t thing in the woild tint he had intended to do. He wrung Tringhain furiously ny the hand. My dear l«oy, so delighted to see you'.'' So you've been here after me, too. have you!'' " I was passing, and—how did von get oil? "•let off? Von don't suppose I wis ever in. do you? Shall we move on? We're blocking the pavement. I suppose you read the item of news in the 'llailv Howler."' "Tom did.' ~ The whole thing lias been a case of mistaken identity." "1 know it from the lirst."

It has all come about through my helping a man who had got into low water through drink. He'd been touting, you see. for niuall stationery orders, and out of charity I gave him an order for fifty visiting cards, last night the fellow was taken up hopelessly drunk in Holborn. The only clue to Ins identity ■were those wretched visiting cards, which chanced to lie loose in his pocket. The authorities read tue name, and naturally thought they had arrested me. I've ju-t been to explain everything to the magistrate, but, fortunately, little explanation was necessary. The man was siifliciently recovered this morning to give his own name."

"My dear Harold! I knew there would be a perfectly ca-v explanation." "Thanks! Hows Hilda?" "Er- naturally a little distressed at the lie." v. "Poor girl! 11l go and see her at once. Where are yuu bound for? The office?"' "Er—no, home! I'll go with you. Hi! cabby!" j The third cab that morning! But Harold was worth it—now. Arrived at the house. Mr. Searle entered first. To his relief, the ladies were still upstairs. He might yet prepare them before " 111 go and call them," he announced. Harold toyed with a spaniel in the drawing-room. The door was flung open and Hilda sprang into his arms speechless. Fortunately, her mother was behind her to supply the words. "Our only consolation, dear Harold." •die said, "was our faith in your complete innocence."