THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 75, 24 April 1909, Page 4

THE STORYTELLER.

THE MANAGF?.

"Will it be too hut for a round of the links aft r lunch?" asked my brother Tom. "Yes," I replied, "I propose to spend the next couple of hours snoozing in a hammock in the llower-garden,' My pretty sister-in-law shrugged her shouMers impatiently. I knew that she disapproved of my laziness'. fcUe had urged Torn on to become a county couucillor, an active magistrate, and a light of agricultural societies. However, she was not conteut with worrying him—the misguided woman must lieeus worry me. I could see her eyes following me disapprovingly after lunch, as I picked up a novel and sauntered out. btiil, jier disapproval moved me not a jot. At any rate, I wasn't married to Maud. I strolled down to my own particular hammock in the shadiest nook of the flower-garden, but, try as I would, I could uot get comfortably settled on that blazing afternoon. Aggravating sunbeams would persist in shining just on my book. Finally, I leapt out of the hammock, grabbed my cushions, and Bought the shelter of the big weeping willow. There in a tent of green shade I could be comfortable. I read a little, found myself nodding over my book, and gradually glided into a peaceful nap. I must have been asleep an hour, when I woke with a start on healing voices close by me. 1 recognised-my sister-in-law's voice at once. ■'Tom," she said, "you might tell Smith that next season we'll have the Gloire de Dijons on this side. Mind you remember." Tom gave a gruat which I suppose signified assent. -'Good heavens," I thought, "here's this dreadful managing sister-in-law of mine again. Why can't she leave poor Tom alone on a sweltering afternoon like this! Anyhow, I'll lie low so that she won't trouble me in my hidingplace." The next moment She noticed that my hammock was empty. ""Arnold's gone, I see. I suppose that lie was too lazy to unsling his hammock and put it in a shadier spot, so I expect now he'll be snoring in the billiardroom." . , _ "Why shouldn't he be?" enquired Tom. "I've no patience with him. He's a good income and plenty of ability, but ho just lounges through life. Sheer laziness I call it. It runs in your family. You would have been just the same if you had uot married me." Tom assented—rather sadly I thought. "There's no hope for Arnold unless he marries, and I want you to help m?, Tom." I was nearly certain that poor Tom groaned at the prospect. "Now you know the people who are coming to-day. By the way, it will be time for you to drive over to the station in ten minutes. There's Jack Rostron and Millie Travers-of course, they make an ideal couple—and there s Clodagh Villiers—just the very wife for Arnold. I'm sure he liked her when they met at Henley last year. Clodagh is a strong-minded girl, the very one to rouse him from his sluggishness and make him do something in the world. Xow Tom, Jack and Millie will naturally nair off together, and I want you to use vout influence vitU Arnold to make hiui take Clodagh Villiers about. Understand, vou are not to do it—lea.ve it to Arnold" Shame him into paying the girl attention," ~ -f ßut it's a bit hard on the poor chap, said Tom. sticking up for me in true brotherly fashion. -It will;be harder for him if he grows into a lazv, selfish, middle-aged bachelor. Xow. you* must not say a word to nun about this. Come along, I want to show you the muddle Smith has made of the flower-beds behind the shrubbery. As thev walked away I parted the leaves and shook my fist at my manAging sister-in-law. This was what 6hc bad in mind wben slit; enticed me down from London to spend a quiet month in the country. Happily my eyes were opened in time and I could thwart her attempts to manage my life. I did not meet the newcomers till dinner. Jack BO&tron I knew well enough —a good fellow but rather too fussily energetic for my fancy. Clodagh Vilhers t remembered as a tall and stately blonds —a womaa with ideas who had insisted on talking about Womens Suffrage at Henley Regatta! Millie Travels was the only one I had not sl J e was a_ pretty little brunette with dark, sparkling eyes. She didn't talk much daring dinner—mv fair sister-in-law and Clodagh \ illicrs almost monopolised the conversation—but I liked her merry laugh. \\ hen Tom told one of his favorite stories—and Tom, good fellow as he is, does not shine as a story-teller—she scmed frankly amused. On the other hand, 1 ftoiight Clodagh Villiers listened to her host with a little air of condescension. After dinner we adjourned to the bu-liard-rooni. I found that Millie Travers did not play, and in absolute disregard of my sister-in-law's hints I would not play mvself. The French windows ead•Travers to me. A bright thought struck me. You should see the water-lilies in the l old moat bv moonlight," I said. The others were busily engaged at pool, so I ventured on a bold stroke. . _ ••Maud," I said 111 my meekest tones, "I'm going to take Miss Travers to see the water-lilies." "Very well, as neither of you \u» plav," she answered coldly. As we walked over the lawn Millie Travers looked up at me with a twinkie in her eves. "You ought not to be here." she said. "Why not?" I asked. '■l don't think that Mrs. Lucas was much pleased at your neglect." •'What have I neglected?" "Why, there is Miss Clodagh, and your sister onlv told me in my dressing-room before dinner that you were—shall I gay—devoted to each other." "Maud has a .gorgeous imagination, I replied, "but since you have begun to tell tales out of school, may 1 tell one?' "Xo, vou had better not!'' "Mv lips are sealed, then," I replied. I walked iu silence for about twentyyards to give her feminine curiosity t'me to grow. "Unless the tale is particularly interesting," murmured my companion. "I cannot pronounce on its interest," I said, feigning reluctance to be drawn. "Does it concern me?" "Well, yes, but it's of no particular importance." "I should like to hear it. Mr. Lucas." "Then don't blame me i/-it olfends you. My worthy sister-in-law Has ail idea that—what was the phrase von used? —ah. that devotion exists between you and -lack ltostron." "Indeed, there's nothing of the sort. llow tail she say such things!' '"Be very careful. Miss Travers. Maud is a wonderful diplomatist. If she says devotion exists —we'), sh'll make n exist before she's finished with you." , "Then I suppose that she will also arrange vour engagement t« -Miss Villiers." ' ;

"isi'ver," I exclaimed vm[iliatit-all y. Then, after puusiag a moment," I added. "Shall wo arrange a treaty of alliance against the common foe?" "I cannot consent to speak »! our kind hostess as 'the common fov/ but 1 agree to tlfe treaty." i "You will take refuge from Jaek Rostron with me?" "Xo. certainly not. Let us put it this nvav. You will use me as a shield against Clodagh Villicns." "As you like, Hiss Travers. We will not quarrel out the wording of our treaty. Now, Maud was talking of our driving over to Hawkswoud Alibev tomorrow." "Yes." "Well, you 111II"t .have agreed tn motor vvilh me so that I ean teach you how to manage my Men'-i"! Otherwise vou will ride with Jaek l!o-U'i'ii. aud I shall have lo drive Clodagh Villiers ill the dogcart." - "1 shan't forget our arraiigcn>c.it." "Very well, I'll aunouiice it when we get in." A few mimitvs after <«e had returned from our stroll by the water-lilies 1 remarked casually: "I'm going to motor to Hawkswood to-morrow. Miss 'havers wishes me to instruct her in the rimning of a Mercedes." Mauil received niv announcement with ft stony silence. T glanced at Millie Travers ami saw the suspicion of a smile on her face- However, for the rest.of the evening ! was in disgrace. Maud .never even said "Good-night" to me. When Tom was smoking his last ■ .'pipe with mo that night, I could see that he had sometli'iig on hi? mind. Twice or thrice he laid down his pipe as if h- were about to begin a remon-«ivn-,ee: lmt apparently thought better Of it. I hope for the sake of his veracity that lie did not tell bis charming betterImlf that lie had taken me seriously to i ■ task for flirting witli tbe 'wrong person,

Tli? next morning I found that though ' Maud condescended to speak to luc at ] the breakfast-table, jet her maimer was cold and severe. She only thawed when < the tried to entice me into a political j discussion with Clodagh Villiers. But I '1 only said as niueh as was requisite for ( politeness, and then let the subject drop. 1 Though I kept uiy eyes on my plate, I ] could feci the glance oi reproof that J was cast at me. Luckily. Tom relieved j the tension by insisting on his wife giv- t ing him another cup of coffee. I ■ Well, we had a delightful motor ruu 1 to Hawkswood Abbey, and reached it ! 60 much sooner than the u tilers that we 1 had finished exploring the ruins when i they arrived. I took the opportunity to i secure llillic Travers as my partner at i golf that afternoon. I think that our ; partnership put my sister-in-law oil her ■, game, for we had the pleasure of giving ] Tom and Maud a most tremendous beat- , ing. Luckily, at night, too, fortune , 'favored us. When we cut for partners j 'at bridge Millie and I were thrown to- . gether, and our luck at the game was : really astounding. Ho things went on for days. If Maud suggested that ( 'should teach Clodagh Villiers to punt, I had always promised to teach Millie Travers something or other, ilv sister- | in-law grew colder and colder to me, and ! poor Tom became perceptibly uneasy. He even once said to me, "Arnold, old mail, I wish you'd try and please Maud a little more. She's not a bad sort, you know." j "Am I not wearing myself out in en- j tertaining her guests?" j "Well, you know what I mean. You're | putting your money on the wrong horse. Anyhow, I promised to speak to von . about it, and I've done so. Xow let's say no more about it." It was late one night and I had taken Millie for a moonlight run in my car. As she sat beside me looking so charming, even in her motoring costume, I felt- sure that Millie must always be my j companion. It is ail intricate business teaching a novice to run a car. It involves a multitude of instructions as to what levers must be grasped. It is even necessary for the instructor to take the pupil's hand and guide it. This time after I had placed Millie's hand on the right lever I held it longer than I could make any excuse for—yet she made no protest. I Lent towards her and said, "You remember our treaty?" "Y'es," she answered nervously. "Shall we make it a permanent alliance, Millie?" Her look up at me was enough. It wa9 luekv that the road was a straight •one, for it is a risky thing to leave a forty-Uorse-power car to steer itself even for a second or so. • Then Millie murmured, "There is one condition to the new treaty." ( "I grant it in advance," I said, "now tell me what it is?" "That you break the news to Mrs. Lucas yourself." "Good heavens!" I exclaimed, "I forgot her. Well, I've promised to do it, but not to-night. Let the happiness of this night, of all nights, he unmarrcd." ! I ought jo have spoken to my sister-jn-law after breakfast the next morning. However, I must confess that I played the coward. I argued that first I must try and get into her good books. I promised her that I would help Tom when the next County Council election came round. I even volunteered to go 'out and plav tennis with Clodagh Villiers, whilst Millie wrote letters. I put off the evil hour till after lunch, a-nd then, I took my courage in both hands and went in search of my sister-in-law. She was sitting writing in tie library. With a considerable amount of Jicsita-. tion I at last managed to make my confession as to how I had frustrated her cherished designs for mv welfare, amf J was eventually granted her fo.rjr.ivo- j n€ 5S, —By Radelifl'e Martin, iu M.A.P.