A LUCKY CONSPIRACY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 59, 3 April 1909, Page 3

A LUCKY CONSPIRACY.

j Nile entered i| u . 10 o m „| im , | l( , r father „ai plunged in a reverie, and threw down u book on the table. -M\ nei ws, Elsie! he exclaimed, with a smile. Imi -ij sorry. dud. The. exuberance "in >»» plea„e give that wok to .Mr. (Jirling when he calls* j' m ° 0, "o 1,111 l'"i' a. walk with .Jack." "Inn wont A],, (jjrling ], e j is)l|) . i'uinu-ar 1 I daresay, hm I don't intend to slop 1.1 the houre on a Jim- Suturdav aflernoon—tun i..i- anybody. IVsidcs. .jack's my coimii. and it a »irl ( -a .'i occasional walk with a male cousin. wluU .lie n-e of hviMjr j,,. a Jlw . coim . try.' (..Mid-live, dad! Don't wait tea '"il"",''. , I , VX, " >Ct wt ' ' ! 111,11 h j«W't out." | He Jield her a moment as she bent to Kl.se* In in.

"l'.lsie. if Veeil Girling spoke " "I don't want him to speak. 1 mean to remain here always and look after you. ->„u're Jirst. dad, and must alwavs continue lirst. Xow. ta-tu." Edward llclinore was left to his relltYtion*. tile was ilinUirlK'd in mind; this was lament from tlie ri'stkiss movements of Ills leet and hands. A two-fold problem stared him in the face.

len years had passed since lie had buried his wile—Elsie's mother— and he Kits ill love again. Why not? He was Htill in the prime of life, and his spirit was a» young as ever. Was it to be wondered at that for a second time romance had opened her portals to him? Ah. but dare he enter them'! lie had got to know .Jessie Bainliridge —that was her name—through the Hillings, with whom he and Elsie had been intimate ror years. .Miss liainbridge's means weie small, and for a good nia.iy weeks of the year she was glad to make he r home with the Girling*. And there \ the lircs ot love had: been lit afresh in the heart of Ediward 13elniore. But no, he must keep his secret to himself. With such un excellent daughter, granting his every wish and whiin, he must never think of marrying again. Dispossess Elsie, from he r high place in Iris heart and life— never! The "irl could never bear the thought of a usurper.

Still, Elsie might marry—marry Cecil Girling—and then the problem would be solved ini a most agreeable way. Latterly he had been watching those two with keen eyes. And day by day his hopes had grown. They did care for one another, but Cecil was extremely shy and timid, and Elsie disguised her feelings very effectually from everybody. Were those two young people *oing to spoil their own lives—and his ? Such., was Belmore's not very pleasant line of reflection.

Suddenly an idea came. Elsie must, oi course, be free to follow the dictates of her own heart, but suppose Cecil's timidity was the sole stumbling-block in the way? How can one conquer the timidity of a man .in love? He must be made jealous. Fear of a rival in the field gives a lover the courage of a lion. In a Hash of illumination Belmorc saw his way clear. He would use Jack Thaeker—Elsie's cousin—to kindle those slumbering fires of jealousy in Cecil's | breast. It was truly excellent that at this very moment she was out walking with Jack. Girling would be here soon. There was a book for him lying the table. As Belmore's glance fell upon it, an idea was. born that was sheer inspiration. He crossed to the writing-table and took paper and pen. With these he proceeded to make a drawing. The taskwas an easy oue, for he was a capable draughtsman, and luckily Elsie had inherited and was always practising, t!tf gift. Jn less than tea minutes he was looking down with considerable satisfaction at the (inched product. It was the drawing of a tree —the tre<> of life., an amazingly healthy - looking tree with luxuriant- branches. Half-way up the trunk was the representation or two human heart*, interlocked and pierced with an arrow. The kind of thing that you find on Lovers' Seats, although technically far more accurate.

Inside one heart Belmore put the letter E. standing for Elsie; inside the other the letter J, intended for Jack. At the foot of the paper {this was the crowning touch of his inventive genius) he placed an interrogation mark (?). The application to the drawing above was perfectly apparent. My word, it was a lovely inspiration and so non-committal. Who would ever suspect a man approaching fifty of concocting .such a piece of .sentimentality? Precisely the sort of thing that aiiy young girl of artistic instincts might do under the soft influences of « first love.

With a wicked gleam in his eye Bel* more inserted the finished drawing loudly in the middle ot KUie's honk. There Uiriing would lind it u*ad—iuiatri 11ation pietured the result. If tho drawing that KUie had presumably made did not bring that young man up to the .scratch, nothing in tlie world would. JJelinore chuckled hugely. The viVtim was 'not long in walking into the carefully-prepared net. A ring at the hell, and Uiriing was shown in. "Alt, (litiiiig. lovely afternoon!" But the young mail had no thought for the weather. 'is Elsie out?" '•l'm sorry she in. She left half-an-hour ago to go for a walk with Jack." "Oh! M L'ecil (Jiiiing's brow was distinctly lowering. •"Sow JMnrore brought his diplomatic forces to bear.

4, F see you're disappointed, Cecil. Well, I reminded her you were coming, and would naturally expect to ilnd her hi, but she would go out. Oh, by the way, she left that book for you." "Thanks!"

With an air of disgust he took up the lwok and tucked it immediately under his arni. Every look and act betrayed his disappointment. Bebnore knew for certain now that the inaa wa« in love with Elsie.

iln live minutes Girling excused himself. He had now apparently time to consider that it was a lovely afternoon. He too. he said, would take a walk. He did not take a walk; his steps, iollowing tin* lead of JiLs heart, were too heavy for that. He went home, lie wanted to see nobodv.

And there 071 the doorstep the servant told him that Hiss liaiiihridge had just arrived (a little earlier than expwted in the day) and that his mother was out. "Bother!" said Cecil Girling, dint he went in and made small talk for ten minutes with Jessie llainliriilge. She noticed and commented upon his wearv. preoccupied air. "Only a headache!" lie explained. "T insist upon your going and lying down."

"Do you mind lieing left? Oil. I say, here's a book for you." "That's lovely! Whose is it?" "It's " —llO. lie could not bring himself to utter Elsie's name—''from Jk. Belniore."

"I'm sure T shall enjo\ it llien. lies such a good judge 0! books. Yon needn't mind leaving nie in the least."

Cecil did not mind. What a fortunate thing .having that book under his arm! And he was very glad now that he had pretended it was \tr. Itelniore s. "Miss Bainbridge would have suspected Klsic's literature.

■Jessie llainbridgc ensconced herself mi the s'ofa, and opened the book. The first few pages were somewhat disan■poiTitinff; she turned piupiiiringly t.o tin 1 middle. All. an illustration, a loose illustration! 11ow carelessly books are bound nowadays! It was BelinoreV; drawing. A moment of bewilderment. then one of intoxicating rapture! Two hearts interlocked and labelled respectively J. and H.! Jessie and Edward, of course! And that interfl-ogjilion murk! The dear man had chosen an absolutely delightful mill original way or proposing to her. The charming audacity of making Cecil an innocent intermediary! The book fell to the ground. The drawing she was kissing over and over

"A note for me! Whom from?" '■l'm not quite sure. sir. but I think it m, tin Hillings' new gardener." Edward Belmore opened the note with perfect unconcern. Ooiiiniiinieatiii is were not inlreipient between flic Mrlmg and llelmore houseliold.-, and this iano-cent-lookiu" envelope proiui?cd nothing out of the ordinary. It was growing dark. ■>« dark that lie went to the window to make himself acquainted with lilt' contrlll-. A fen-fill discovery followed.

It was bi~' drawing—the drawing of f he I ret.' of life, returned to liini. Wlrc'il lie saw it was that, he reaebed I'or the envelope, which had fallen lo the llooi. Yes. it was certainly addressed to "Kdward 15.-1 ntiiie. Esq.." and in a hanilwritins that seemed vaguely familiar. Then the plot had beeiv discovered. He hcht up the drawing to the light, flood heavens, what was this addition at the fool below his vn<|uir'mg H was "Yes. dear Ed-ward—Jessie." He fell into a heap on the nearest chair. I lie drawiiiL' eriimpled in bis hand. For about ten seconds ''Yes. dear EdwaTil—.Tcssie," had conveyed no sense to his astonished mind; wow lie saw uvery thing with startling vividness, The

, fa 11,,, ,i,io tin, wrong illUl d.s hri , r V r 'n a " lls ° f ,kssi< ' . "10,. -Keating tlic initials K. alll l ,|.„ n tho,e marvel.wish--depleted hearts, , vJmt »-om er that *he luv.t misconstrued them Mw*" *4 "*■*"» And wlien id I'.vw HI to thi' note of jutcrroi'aturn, "hat wore natural than that "lie a one, eonee.vod it to b, a- J)ru| , otfll «' }"«r r, «8"! lu.lt of the romantic leinlli" !'' | L ' l '° 1 " "' uma l' could . • llilv « translated it otherwise !;• IM'Td, t|„. in hi 6 „ it . lti Ui,t I"' 'l«r That divine crealine accept..,! him. Should ho explain . ami break. Ji,. r • - Nl ' v, ' , ', ! . ih ' I'l».v the man. 11l HUM see tin- nia tter throui'll lnit pour Klsir! Alter all, was ho to hlaineV 110 h-id »"'■ intended this thing; fato, lucl; ehanco, what vou will, had brought it a lOm And- .now, his liint coiisternation o\er. little waves of joy came ripplim; tJiromjl, his heart, lie had done his best to deny hiniselt this <fladueHs, heaven kn.'W, but such was jtot to be. JUit poor J«]|sie! He wa> still sitting there in grim darkness (physical only, f or i\ u> j R . avoJls were ablaze in hi* i lwlrt ) w j u , n his (jinighti'r returned. Khe stood at the door ami peered into the room. **\on tbere, father?" dear!" As quietly Ur; possibly he was transferring the drawing to his pocket. Xo oilier eyes save his and Jvstiie's s)(.ould ever look upon that. She would not Jike it. Why o«t earth don't you rin ,r ior u I ig-h t Y** * °

"I've, been reading, and—er—l had no idea it was so dark." It was poor acting, and Elsie smelt a rat. "1 isay, father, there's nothing the matter, is thereV I'll get a light at once."

! "-Not for one moment! Please don't! ' I'm. quite nil right, but—ev-l've got a . piece <uf news for you. llis tone was very alarming. "It's bad news, I'm sure. You don't want to see my face nor let me see yours whilst you tell it me." lin afraid it will be bad news—for you. Come here, dear! A little nearer, so that I caia hold your hand. Elsie, a very important event in my life has happened this afternoon. A lady has been and " 'liut Kate said only ( Ceeil had called." "You don't understand. it has all been done by —er correspondence. Elsie, Jessie Bainbridge has consented to be my wife." A shriek of delight, a bear's hug, kisses galore. "Oli, how splendid, dad! Now I know why you've told me in the dark. You didn t want me to see y<our blushes. Wh}, it's grand news. And it opens way so splendidly for Cecil and |

"Cecil and you." "Yes, I've been keeping him at arm's length all on account of you. Didn't you <>ver guess it? I went out purposely this afternoon because I was afraid of another proposal from him, and my resolution has becu getting dreadfully weak lately; I love him so. But now you won't mind in the least, because, dad dear, there'll l>e a double wedding."—Herbert Jamieson, in M.A.P.