THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 136, 30 May 1908, Page 3

THE STORYTELLER.

..THE MAHOEOVRE OF BEATRICE (By Amy F. Cackelt.) She had f or 5 o long been alone in ll to inquire «he tin ■eotfrey 'ireuham had auy relation especially ai he appeared to be as lonel as she #aj. . Their little pictures luj hung -id,- l>< ■"•lj! (on the top line) at the Aiad.-nu' and had been e.pu|!y neglected bv Iwil entic and public. These simple "can?.-, bad brought tlu-m together and mad. them friendly; the mend-hip had riu ened and ended iu an engagement. ' The engagement was only a !i>rtJ!iii; old when a settled <i<-lid appear.-d oil Geoffrey's brow, Mildred watched it for days, and then, as it- visit seemed a long one, she thought ii wa„ time to discover its cau>e. "Worried about work, t.'eof;" she ijueriwl, a- she gaie liim 111- aiternooii Clip of tea, in her pretty, bright linkstudio. "Work!"' he replied laughingly. -Why, I've not thought of it i or the last fortnight, f've beeu too busy making mental picture* of a rose-iWrel cottage with a dainty little •' !" , '" l : laughing too. "But 2* f ' Jt i" rtu rc should not -ive v «.u "a the nTXrr' " " UrritJ luok '

-•There," said Mildred pcn„vehn/fh 1 10 the ideal svmpathetic wif e 0 f the picture, i: j t j r ,. wTk a " eep fr """ work ortootfinche, or even temper! 1 We (with mock anxiety) it is not teiun.°u te P*P cr '" he interrupted. r than be accused of tiiat Hi m'ther!" 1 8,0 ® bit Worricd abu " '"X our m °tber!" „ a iu Jlildred, all -urpme and sympathy. "I did not know JOB had one. Why have you not told He"!, W ? it , ed , t0 S ft » il ' Ul ' r from her.' . toyt™ " l "write eoU^hT'" 0 -?/" a:,iJ "»"<I °f course »hc will not. i> jni Jet tll ,, never hear l' T"' • V ° Ur motl,w hl * never heard of me; it is Uo t likelv that would feci pleaseo, at first."" "I suppose you are right, and I 6u»lit "iiut r w e i "T tcil it: " liC l>ut I had liopeti— you see, dear. I am : veiy fond of my mother. since mv father died, she has thought a grea't deal of me-too much. So you can imagine that I should not like to dis appoint her should not like to give her pain." fc 1 "Of couree not,' said Mildred slowlv. trying to realise what those words meant to her. It seemed as if a boll had fallen on the beautiful little world I

in which she ii.ul lived fur a fortni"ht. and shattered it to atom-. I n tiia! world she had thought and lived (or him and he for her, solely: nun- there w.ianolher, and he "would not like to cive her pain." \\\i„ this woman, his mother, going to take from her her ne«--iounr| joy in life!"' 'Geof, what do von mean*" iJnJ" 4 • " s, "" rc '' > nt woman, but the pain she was feeling escaped VO J W ' 1 "»•' expression. Geoffrey Trenham looked up. In a moment she trw in bis arm**. "- Vo -. no ' d-mt Ido not n,van . Th * ra He no nii,under,landing on that point. I would not, eould J»t, give you U p for all ,| K . moUll , rs jn the world. »e are for each other whatever happen... But," he went on wMfully, I Would luve liked to have ptawd her, to have not her consent, to tare made her believe tluit *h« Jn,l chosen you." " H hy, what uo you want, then''' -lie said, laughing heartily. " Mother wishe, me' to take you do« 11 to see her on tlw understanding that I am not yet engaged—am awaiting her approval.' he «aid neriouidy. "Is tliat all!'' asked .Mildred iheerfully. ~I do not mind, (Jcof. lam Mire ! shall love her beeause ."he i.- your mother, and I shall soon make her love me because shell see how much I love her son." j Geoffrey ..railed at lier thankful)v.! But still he looked troubled. "I am afraid you'll have rather i lad time," he said. ".Mater has dreadfully narrow view s and some—well,' Home very distinct prejudices." | "I don't mind a bit." repeated Mil- | dred. • I feel sure tliat I shall Ik; able | to maCe her love me." I Two d»>v I.it> r Mildred and lleelTrev ! journeye,l t.. hi. h-.me. A- th.y dre« nv.ir t.. the station lie Ih-i-jiih- almost painfully uervi.u-. I'n.iMe to un>l-r----utand this. .Mildred s|>ent the time diir ing the long drive to the house in making plans for the conquest of Geoffrey's mother, .she pictured a sweet, whitehaired old lady, all pride and iove for her son, and saw an ea-y victory tlirough her own love for that son. She finally derided to lie all warm smiles and affection, to start by kisxing the old lady fondly. She was, in fact, longing to Bbower some of the ovcrllow of her lore for Geoffrey oil his mother or on anyone for whom he cared. If her thoiigHFs had not Wen so occupied with her plans, the huge, grim, grey house, -and tiro cold expressionless demeanour and formal greeting of the man-servant who opened the stately doors, might have caused a chill to lier hopes and made her review her intentions. But it was now too late for any such change, and Geoffrey hurried her a row of tall, rather gaunt figures. "Mother," he «aid, with ail attempt at heartiness, "this is Mildred. Mildred —my mother and sisters." This start wa s not like Mildred's pictured one and she was disconcerted. But she remembered her purpose and beni eagerly forward. The austere lady drew herself up frigidly, and Mildred fell back in confusion. ••How do you do, Miss MaSterson?" Mrs. Trenliam said icily, extending two fingers. " I am glad to lie able to welcome one of my son's friends." Mildred would have grasped the fingers, but they slipped from her. Utterly routed, she turned to look at Geoffrey's sister®. She met two pairs of properly cold eyes and touched two cold hands. Then, as she turned to the third, she wa« greeted by a merry twinkle. Geoffrey's youngest sister hail a, sense of humour and also of humanity. "I'll kiss you, if tliev won't." >li.fiaid impulsively, and the nest minute rilC put her words into effect with great lieaft biess. ■Beatrice!" exclaimed three shocked voice". "Pray, excuse her, Miss Masteison.' •said Mrs. Trenham. "The late Mr JfastersOn made a great mistake in tin choice of schools for her. She is, 1 re jret to say, quite a hoyden." Mildred knew that no school h.v taught Beatrice Trenham that nfanjier it was in the nature of the girl. "Perhaps Masterson would iiki lo retire to her room, mamma." -ug gestM the eldest Mi-- Trenham. cold!; .surveying Mildred'- flulfv mil-. Mildred imni'-di.i'ely t.■'t uniMv. t.u „h* .elt reliev.-.1. -lie v,.,,.t-d tin. to rearrange her t'.Tee-.

Tin- result of the «a-,li'-p*ir. fur -In' knew I li.it -he j>.-> —< —<■<! no art to win HonlhvyV mother. Sli.felt Klin 1 tii.it failui"** would Im* tin' r.' „clt <H lirr every attempt: ill nut. .ho •know not where tn stari. She hail no fccv l'i the plan °' , ' 1 '' ri '" < tri'-liril to capture. Mr-. Trenham was unlike everything Mildred had imagined known, «Ar Silt it pci-fnt piitiirc of dejection i j JtniK-k mi tin* door win followed I t'l r*!'"' l en'mil"' <)f •> 'mad. f toM me I" "i*e yOu his love." ~. <iy, "And. f -ay. lmek up! iL' r ' Faint heart' vmi M ' ,ri I -fl di-anwari-d. ami Mil "r.r-f,.,'- u ->• -bp bad "IP" fiM'tul.. , ... , , , Her freshened l„„,. however. The 0 J - approval of ev.-rrthinj sh** a ."' ' in whi.h the afternoon anil «"'"2 '« ■' Wen passed, lia.l aftfin r.dm'«> t»-r m iMiinir when "111' retired to her room " r the nisht. Ami the worst »f ttvit somehow thev man:itr«-<I to ni. l * her feel lh=»t -In- wa> all w n.na ! Her wish to pleat niaile her alviir.il < j sensitive; and tin- knonledsre that '•lie hii.l fnilixl to will iUlvthinn lmt tli".'!' proval reilm ed her to honelessne-. Her fleieeteil imaiMiKitii»n yavc her a '' niu'lil. ami her wa-lied-ou! look. pro.lured remark- i" the ii'orinn'-' -I ,ini afraid m.u'w n'> ■ ~,n afli-r all." reinaiked Mr-. 1 r."i li l ••Ynii look i-niiiidi'ti U w..rn '"it -vonr journey. T -HIM" 1 -!'. ' ! " r l "- 1 in thi* nioriitnir-ri'..;'! ui'h • , '" rover vijiir look-. Mi-- M.i-fr-i'ii. • f am .mite well. I a-.,re v.,„. -m l Mil.lre.l 1-iehtlv. "and C.vjTr.-y l'«nii«...| to take nie round _ The surwi-e in Mr-. I r-' ii.i.im •• 1 ' »We.» Mildred ♦'•»! «.1w ,WM to btvfuir b:-r ii'ii 1 ? dhKiV'V

"But, of course, if you think I ha better -tav in-," she iinished hunch willing to conciliate. "I <K" "Tiled .Mrs. Trenham se tenly, and I!I v puujix-t dropped. "I ~iy. w u are in for a loi.-lv tin;, now, v\luspered Beatrice with twinkliu' -no' P' Wt lhv l,ri ' a ''l'.ist-iabiei Do von hapjH'U to have a good old family to b upport von:"' "A long line of ancestors, do v ou mean! a-ked Mildred. I'er head energetic "It will be all right ii \„ u |,. lv ; 1 lie it yu tbicK; tlu-y love iu"' 'But I am afraid 1 haven't," said Mj|. dred, ,till somewhat puzzled. | "What a pity: .Never mind, make oil, up. I hat Will do jiisl as well. You know the kind oi thin;:." "J am sure i could not ,| 0 - -aid Mihir.,l. laughing quietly ' f!.',"'; u, ' K,,lii Mother will' „!!!£;

! uuu| ii not in- ai.ie t„ i,,,,;: •!'ij' "! of the peerage books.'" -Miiartd had only ij !n . t.» -hike 1.-.r tun '"er'ily Ivfo,. „r, Treuim.t'. and oirered I„ cou.iu.-l her i„ f! li'TM'jf uit It a d-iM.rVf •• '" either ban, I. and' Mihlral ti;i:e 11 " ioi "'y "I find. Miss M irenliiin. -that you aie no; conu-'ct'ed' »»«!.' the JUtersous t!IU ' U ' Mill "-? 1 ' ,frai(l 1 not," 'Jai.r Mulled, smiling seretielv.

"Yours i, the L'uinberlnud family f "W?"'- -Mrs. Trenham. ' ' w-, o'V i f ot T" kno,v tlut tI«T ■ re;M:i c^ n, ' famil - ° f I suS;J re " ha " 1 ' S t '' Vl " ,r ° >V " »"»' »!' i- ' inentLed--''" U ° 0t "" r 3Urt( " r -«' f l "' le f l otr suddenly, and there waa long, deadly pause, which was at la-1 orokeu by a 4 uestion in a prepared-for the worst kind of tone. I hen who are your people. Mis-Masterr-on!'' Mildred caught Mglu of Beatrice .resticulating wiMly from behind her mothers chair. I am afraid T have no people; or. if I have, I do not know them." she replied. -Mrs. Trenham and her two eldest daughters politely tried to strangle their hornfi. J and Iteir me. how extraordinary! How very strange:" told Mildred that her la-t ehanee of winning .Mrs. Treiihani's consent to her marriage with lieoirrev had gone. W'h.-n she retired to her room before lunrh, her di>ap|>ointed hope, welled up and found relief in tears. ' The door biiivt open, and Beatrice I l'<"kf'd in.

I. "Geof .-ay " .he started. ; ,n,l then t caught sight of .Mildred's face, n "Oh. I say. you |kmr dear thing, you s are not taking it seriou-Iy. are yo'u;" ■; In a moment lier anil-' were round Mildred. rj *'-Don't let what tliey „ay trouble you. What does it a ti v rr (leof's all right, you know." i. "15ut lam di*apjw)inted. dear/' j Ihml Mb.lred. "1 did -o want to win y your mother. J -1m 11 go hack in the t.' morning and ?»he'li never consent to our engagement, and Oof will look sad l and worried/' "Uh, dear, said tin- perplexed Beat- [ rice, - how frilly it all i-. Why didn't j you make up a family; Jiy \lovc, [ ■ have it—a lovely plan.'' - " What i> thai: f asked .Mildred, look--1 up hopefully. i "No.' replied Beatrice, mi-ehievou-!\ [ thought fill. "No, I shall not tell you Vet; you'd go and .-poil it. out • with me in the grounds after tea—only for half an hour. Mother is going to impress you evening. All the people in the neighbourhood are going to call. Be -ure you come out whru J ask you. whatever happen-:' and Beairiee danced u»vay without waiting for an answer. Mildred had little faith in Jteatrice's uiiknown pkin. but -he wa- cheered by her ©uimy champion-hip. and more from fun tluu from any hope of help, she l went into the grounds when Beatrice i' a-ked her. Tlicy hurried away to oa<Of the gate.-. out ol sight of the house, and there, to Mildred'* *urpri-e. were time gentlemen apparently waiting for ■ them. I "Oh. you d«-ar .-aid Beatrie.'. | enthusiastically. " I do hope we've not

kept you waiting. Thi* i* Mi->, „\la*tcrs»n. Millv, th»-e are I»r«\ rren-ham. Mr. Tojdiam. the Sipiire. and .Mr. Lipthol pe.*' Mildred -hook wunderingly. "Now. don't forget, all of you." Beatrice rattled ou. "And don't all come at once. 1 will be so grateful. Milly doc* not kuow yet; I'll tell her by and by." "You young madcap,'' said the squire, pincliiug her ear.-. " I tlou't know what you'll lead us all into one ot the-e day*/' Lord Freu-ham and Mr. Lipthoi p • both looked unutterable things, which plainly told Mildred that Beatrice \va« not likely to remain a trouble to her family for lon^r. Beatrice refu-ed any explanation as they hurried back to the liou-m*. u Voull know to-night. Only, fall into it. there's a dear. If you go and spoil it, I—l—won't romo ami »tav with von when von are married/' * "That settles it: I'll do everything that you want nie to do/ the invstified Mildred laughingly. In the evening -Mildred stood near her and had been introduced to several people when Mr. Lipthorpc wa* ' announced. "One of the oldest families in the county/' whimpered Mr*. Trenham im- : pre*si'velv as he came in. "How do you : do. Mr. Lipthorpc": l>'t me introduce vou to Miss * "My dear Mrr. Trenliam. nobody who ha* lived in London need* to be introduced to Mi*< Masterson/' said Mr. Lipy thorpe. bowing gallantly over Mildred* " hand. " KverylKMly knows her. you kIMW.* , Mildred*- e»dour ro*e. and was

alrniit to make a remark when -lio noticed the pleading in IWtrieeShi- flashed a twinkling prote.-t anil accepted the situation. •Dear me'.'-' -aid Mr-, Treiiham. lookill" at lit-r in plea-ul riirpvi-e: and Mil-,liC-d f.lt the air l»Tn-|>til>lv warmer, "ri,,. n.-xt minute ill" Squire h.nl l"' 1 ' "> t«i*U luiii'i-. \[ v ili'.ir Mi-- Ma-t.-r-i.n. what mi „ l i..yi l eete,l plea-nre. I never dared >" hope tll.lt bnuloll would -pai'O it- tlCilme to "race our dull countryside." *ll,e SpiireV <ri>ud-tenijiereil lookin-j la.lv -honk Mildred warmly by the hand lil .■ \n <»M aHiitsnntanop. while Mi*. ; Tn-nham looked on g.i-pinjr with amaze- : had no idea—' -lie started. «„t . before -he could ttni-h la,i*,l 1 entered, and after shaking hand, with : lii- hote-s turned to Mildred with a fine , s hnw of plad surprise. Mi,- Master-on—you i Well, lam r Uo von 100. k"o w Ma-ter-on.' ,1 tV ••-ti.imde.l Mr-. Trenhani. ' ' KiM.'w Mi't l,i~ v.-arV A'-.idemy I''',:"",*', , 1 ,10. >*..t to know Mi- - -1..- . .

- n would Sm' —ii<«t l«» b»> k.»v«uou-; l ' Thi- *'*' 111111^T "- n ' u ' u . ,n wa- .:.)livin«d >■ had mail.' a lm?' 1 »»■- t ike. , I am -0 ;_'lad. she -Ummep'd. lon Vnow lieoirrey and Mi- Master-on-Mildred—are <!ii?age<l. iVallv. i- that true. Mi- Ma-tn-Well, lie i-. a Ui' ky do-. 1 "'l'' -i.itulale him." . -T thought as «■': U ; , . ini-ht annoiiin-e it. deal. "'"T .i l.inl "I ve oillv lieell waiting Mildred op the Inon. "wi,;, the lis!,,, were out Uoatrur l„,rst into her ."on., Wasn't it .1""' ' . TLv i • u iL' iiii : W.irit t It JUM ■■ Oh. \"ii dna.lt.il . , f ,. e | ' I don't k""U what I I''' I l' kl , irator. I!»t J'"" i"".: 1 ~ ~ ..wliiltv "O'ld of you. .. { .n'.iu't «!o it all f-r you. >"U km,"'. I, was parllv for my-.-lt. "Why. what do you - *'~ k Mildrn) in siirpn--.;. ~h , i n. -Well, von -ee. said 1 . , ~ u . .-1 re.illv do want to many ami r» -Ullt 1 •"" """ " ''"••'x-o " lieatrii-e . i.n t inn i'.l eagerly: [ ronldirt wait: and thai i' « •'m-Irike while von w-ero in hi!* f«"'» li. i .1,1 mother von've iiniti'd me u . v.-i,ti vou. and si," -ays I ma 1 ...line iKNt week." ' "Really " MiM'- o ' l joyinl'y.

I will be awfully jollv. <<coi' and I will " "1 don't illiuk that will U- Decenary,' replied the imperturbable J lea I rice. "I've told Lord lieiirliam that 1 am join's to stay with \uii, ami yivcu him your addix^-." " W ell, you - " luiumeii.-eil Aindlnl: lull lioiiirkv li.id A week later L«»id i'Veiishani went Up to London on and how it >eem> eMn-nudy likely tluU Ml*. Tjvu. ham will look with a favourable counteiuuno ou both. I I r ~' I