"MANY A SLIP."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 5, 30 January 1909, Page 4

"MANY A SLIP."

A man and woman were standing together in the bow of one of the smaller mail steamer* which were making their way up the St. Uiwrcnce towards .Montreal. If was a,i exquisite day in the early part of September, and I hi- im iparaiile picture made by the] noble city of Wolfe ami .Montcalm. ! perched oil its heights at the mouth of I the river, was presented at its best. As they made their way merrily up the river, the scenery perhaps lost a little of its majestic lieauty, but it was still enchanting enough to win praises oa every side!

Hut while excitement (if a pleasurable kind surrounded lliem, the limn and woman in tin' bow seemed silent iiiul unobservant. J "TJii'ii wliuL aril yon going t0 ''"•'', asked tin' limn, looking at llcr with eagerness iimL a certain yeanling in his v) i's. They iiiaili' a goudly pair as th'.'j' ' stood there, slio tali, slim, and iinelyI featured, lit well-knit and manic, with n „oldicr's air. She lifted her eve, to hi, with a Midden Hash.

JVhl There is milv nue thing to do; I will go on to my destination." -To Vancouver, and- and inariT the oilier chap?" he -.aid ilullv. -No," she answered. 'I will not do lhal. hut I will go there, and tell him the truth." •i'.ut why go, it we eare for one another, and surely we do that, Maud? W'rite to him at the hotel to-night, and to-morrow I can gel a special license, and we can be married before wc go on."

She lifted her eyes to him again, and something Hashed in them. "1 will" never do that. If 1 don't marry him. it is certain that 1 shall never marry you." i "■But, in Heaven's inline, why not, if we care for one another'/" "Von seem very certain about it; 1 am not," she answered, quickly, and was for a moment silent, watching the long trail of foam left by the steamer, and there was a far-away look in her

"But, Maud, what is going to happen to you?" he asked, desperately. "You have told inc how little nionev you have." "Yes," she said, passionately. "Unfortunately I have told you too much." "And you are going a long way; you must know how much it costs to come back."

"1 may not come buck. I have heard that they need women out there for—for leaching and for household tasks. 1 have been used to eara my own living, and 1 am not afraid, but lirst I will be honest with him, for the lirst time in five years." "Anil what is to become of me, Maud? Haven't f the right to—to some little niche in your scheme of things?" "No," she answered, clearly. "Not the smallest right to the smallest niche, Vc have behaved badlv. both of us, and r at least will do the 'best to atone for my share in it.' "11 can't end here, you know, Maud?" "It will," she answered, and she kept her word. They parted amid, the confusion at the landing-stage, anil Maud Legaril managed to disappear. When Captain Tremlett was released from the I,'nstoni-housc ollicers, who were examining hi-* baggage, anil returned to the spot where' he had left her, she wa*

gone, and he never saw her again. Three davs later a man, and woman walked slowly to and, fro the wide platform of the Canadian Pacilie Railway Depot at Vancouver, awaiting the arrival of the Imperial Limited Express from the east- .Morton Wingate and his friend. Mrs. Kaynor, lo whose care lie would consign the girl be hoped to make hi- wife in a few davs' time.

Wingate was the second son of aai impoverished Scottish family of goad I birth. Dish.artened by the lack of money and the lack of prospect at home,/ be had been lured to the West by the i hope of building up a better position and founding a home there. On the 1 whole he had not been disappointed.] 'lint it had taken a long time, longer 1 than he had expected. For six years he had lived alone on his ranch, silliering isolation, anxiety, frequent disappointment, determined not to ask the woman he loved to share it until the last corner should be turned and he could oiler her at least comparative immunity from care. The idea, nurtured by an unsellish love, had been the great mistake of Wingate's life. He had waited too long, lint he did not know it. There was no suggestion of anxiety about him then, only a visible imMirniT ■"- - t; " '■"'"-'' '»" ks «''"'"

imposed upon hb7TpTriH!HW!ll!i train. Mill it came, at last. His keen, swift eve, trained to cover immeasurable distances, quickly singled her out among the throng of tlie passengers, and Illsprang forward. Xornh liaynor, very sympathetic, even a tribe emotional, the occasion being one which appealed to all her womanly feelings, stood back until: such time as the lirst greeting should, be over ami Wingate should bring this traveller to her side. She saw them before they found her, and had time to make a 'little mental picture of Maud Legaril. She liked her, though she thought her face preteriialurally grave, even a little hardly set, There was nocloud apparently on Wingate's sky. He presented her with just the right mixture of boyish happiness and manly pride, and while Nora, moved by a very natural impulse, kissed the girl on both cheeks, she felt her heart go out to her, and yet was repelled by a certain haunting coldness in her eyes.

'Mrs. Raynor lived in Vancouver, 'whore her husband occupied a Govern-1 merit position of considerable importance. The Raynors were warmly attached to Wingale, believing, him to lie 1 one of the best of men, and that no Avonian could be too good for him. And they had rejoiced with a very hearty and sincere joy over his coming happiness. But Nora 'Raynor. with the intuition which seldom failed her, knew in that very moment of greeting that, 'something had happened, and that Wingale was not to sail just yet with (lying colors hito tile port of happiness. But. she said nothing, only made herself busy about the girl's welcome, helping by her cheery speech to relieve the strain of the moment. They drove directly to Raynor's house, ihe size and luxury of •which ini-pi-Hcd Maud liogard very much.

When they entered the house, Mrs. Ravnur considerately left them. She had three little children, and it was their dinner-time; she explained that the good 'mother likes to see what, her children eat. So she left, them at the drawingroom door ami absented herself for a long time. She was summoned at last ■by one of the Japanese .servants, who made her understand that, the gentleman wanted her. When she went downstairs s'le found him standing in the middle of Ihe hall. Hi- face was .mite white, and his looks desperate. •■Morton, whatever has happened?" she cried, sharply. "Kvcrylhing. It's all over," he answered, with strange breaks in his voice. -All over! What do yon meanY Why. she's here; nothing can be over wheili she's actually lierr." -It's all over, t tell von. There's an-, other man she likes bettor." "Then. why. in Heaven's name, did she come? Tlr-.it. was Ihe unforgivable sin. surely?"

"No. no, site's like thai; she'll face the music, Nora. She thought it her duly to como right out here and tell inc. ■Resides, it vmly happened on the boat."

■ "(hi' ilit» boat, an Atlantic nidation. (Hi. thai, will he easily disposed of." said the small woman with a note of relief in her voice. "(—I don't think so. she's altogether changed. Mrs. Raynor; she says she •ought, to have been here from the lirsl; that live years was 100 long; in fact, that nothing is ||„, „!„,„., Anil she won't marry me. lin „ir hack to the ranch. You'll look alter her. won't von. till-till siMiiclhinL'eaii be done. I miisl get away, you understand, unlil I see light"

' "Yl-s. „f r<HLI-M'. mill. Morion, yniril slop iiway mill leave me In engineer Ihis thing, won't yiui, dear, Slunli'V and I together? I believe we can do it." 1 "I dmi'l iiiiikl wliut vnn ill). I sup■|iiis!' she'll «(, luioTc to' Knghind: yon must liml mil. everything, ami let'me ■know without telling her. Slic will need money eveu. It's a diniciilt business, u monstrous thing altogether, lmt I'm hipped, ton niiii-1) hipped to In- able to ■lhink of anything. ] must leave it nil In von." '•Why. ves, of course, tlint's what I'm here for. Co-.r„ now. Morion, nn.l slop ul. Ihe islaiiil (ill [send fur von." ■ Morton Wingntc iliankeii her as ho knew how. Mow lie blessed her for her quick perception, lier restruinl, lier practical sympathy, she would never know. though the dav came when he tried to tell her. Tic passed out, of (he house. Xora Tiavnor dashed some venl'y angry I ears from hoi- eyos. hut wiped (hem drv liefure she entered the room 'whore the girl sat. Tt was impossible 'to mill) ""t ii eourso ctf conduct for circumstances so wholly) unexpected; she

must ju>l (ruai to licr. own intuition j and to the induration she. inijjhl yet for! tile lIIOIIK'iIt. | "J. am sure vou arc famished, MUsI 'Lcgurtl," she said tliccrily. "Do come' Mini yet aoiiK'tliiny 11) cat.' My husband I does not come huuiu nt middle day. and we'll have a cosy lunelieon together.'' Maud Lcjranl turned to her in a maze-1 lllellt. "Have yon seen Mr. Uintah'.' lias he told you wlial ha- lia|i|ie.iw|y" ■Ull, ye-. Imt one iniiM eat. tliou«h i the heaven-, fall. (.If course, I am sorry illiimt it. He's such a verv j-imd fellow, and he has worked so hard lo yet the

home ready for you. it is a beautiful plan', rcailv; ii-I ucarlv like I'aradisc us any spul" i-iiii In- lii-ri-" below. Itiit, of course, Dili' cillllliit lll'lll oni'-i feelings changing. I am thankful von had tin'] courage lo lii' ijiiite Imni'-l. I have known casis wln-ri- i-om'ii»i- «a> lacking, and the consc<iucnccs disastrous, ('nine, llii'ii. ami let ns on l; then we can go into a committee of ways ami means aliont vou later on.'' Hut '.Maud hung back. "I think I ought not to break bread ill your house. Mr-. liaynor. I fi-i-1 myself a sort of traitor to' your friend, litis your trieud. isn't lit'? - ' ■'■iMir dearest one; lie ami my husband an- like brothers. Vim mii-tn'l laum'li iiie on tlie subject of .Morton U'iugalc, my clear, because there uuulil lie no cud to' it. Hut vou neeila'l worrv aliont him: he'll quickly console himself. I know at least half-a-dozen women, every individual one of then) suitable, ami ready lo jump at tlie- chance of going to that heavenly island. The iMitisliun is alioul vou." ■ "I will'go to the hotel,'' .said .Maud, liravelv. Mrs! liaynor sal down in front ol her, uikL lixed her steady clear eves on the girl's face. "I don't want to ask you any qucs-. lions, dear; it isn't any business of I mine, as 1 am fully aware; but you are a long way from home, and 1 must | mother you for the sake of those who are left, and siot at all because of Wingate, lie can look after himself. Now, what are you going to do?'* ■ "1 thought 1 would take a situation of .some sort liero, Ills, liaynor. 1 suppose there would be something I could don

"Oh, heaps. 1 huvc heard of your capabilities; then you are not thinking | jf marrying the other man soon?" "I shall never marry him, -Mrs. Kaymr, find lie knows it." "Oil, then, that simplifies everything. Well, dear, you can stay here until you llnd something. You need, not shake your head. Mr. Wingate has gone hack to his island, and we shall not sec liim j again in a hurry." "How far is if;'' "A seven hours' journey, anil he does not come up oft*ncr than three or four times a year; so you are .perfectly safe." ■ The look of strain left the girl's face, and something else took its place, ;i wistfulness which Nora Kaynor hugged to her breast. She left Maud Legard lying down that afternoon, and look the tramcar lo her husband's ollice, paying liim a most unusual vUit. ■ Ted Kaynor was a person of blunt i speech, and he *uiU some things about Maud Legard which relieved his own and his wife's feelings, but when tlioy met at dinner that evening he was perfectly courteous to her. Maud did not know that the plan of campaign had been arranged. Acting in obedience to Nora Kaynor's instructions, Wingate practically etl'aced •himself from their ken. .lft- ueitber wrote nor came, and Maud had no means of knowing what he was about, or what had been the cllVct of her treatment. She took a -situation in the city as governess to some children in a household where she had to work very hard, and where she received very little appreciation. Nora Kaynor allowed her to continue i» the house of bondage for iiearlv a year, when a judicious letter lo tile island brought Wingate down. And this time he was not cheated of his reward. —David Lvall, ill the British ■Wceklv.