THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 78, 11 July 1910, Page 6

THE STORYTELLER.

THREE POINTS OF VIEW. PART I.— MISS BARBARA'S POIXT OP VIEW.

I found three more grey hairs this morning. But still, I'm lucky to have so few at thirty-eight. 'Some people have lots of grey hair at that age. 'I hirty-eight! When J was in my teens I thouylit anyone ill the thirties must be dreadiully old, and now I've got nearly to tie forties, but I don't feel very old. But there's a difference. Each year that an unmarried woman puts * on, marks a decrease of interest taken in her by the opposite sex. Sometimes I've felt very lonely when I've seen young ■girls about me only to have to lift a little finger to bring men to tli"ir side. I'm afraid I should have to lift and wave both my arms, then perhaps the men would come to me because tliey would think I was mad.

Of course there's a different story to tell when I invite people to my own house, they have to look after me a little then. But it is my niece who is the attraction.

Katie Drummond is a very pretty She is my eldest brother's only "child, and when she lost her parents in a yachting accident she came to live with me.i She is just eighteen years of aire, but she might 'be twenty-live, the way she behaves.

I won't say that I am left entirely in the cold, for Colonel Saville—my brother was in his regiment—has always been very nice to me. When he is* not at other people's houses where I am visiting, I generally have to find my own chair, or if I want anything 1. ha'vq to ask for it. But he is so kind; he seems to anticipate every wish, just as th'oush I was a young girl. Colonel Saville is my ideal of an Army officer. He is tall and very erect. His hair is quite dark, although he is forty, but his moustache is somewhat grizzled. No one could be kinder or more thoughtful than lie is.

■lt is a month since I have written the foregoing. It is hard to have to say it. but I have even lost my Colonel now. He is always talking to Katie when he comes here now. I suppose he is not to be blamed, she is so pretty and so attractive, whilst I—well, I find some grey hairs nearly, every morning now. And I suppose I cannot blame Katie—though she might have left me the one man who did not fail to make me understand that I am an unattractive old maid. She is a great hero worshipper, and Cilcnel Saville is a V.C. It seems the .fashion nowadays for young girls to fall in love with men twice their age. There are a lot of men in the twenties who are in love with Katie. Some of them are titled, and most are well-to-do. I know she has 'had a number of offers of marriage, but she has declined them all. I think she will accept the Colonel.

2vot but what I have had several offers in days gone by, but they never came from anyone I cared for enough to marry.

Katie and the Colonel have just gone into the shrubbery. I wish I had not seen them go; it makes me feel so old, so out of everything. But I suppose 1 am getting old, going on for thirty-nine. They have been in the shrubbery a long time, and the Colonel has just come out and walked away. He looks very pleased with himself. There is Katie coming now, how she is smiling! Has she accepted him, I wonder. She is coming to talk to me. Later on I will write down our conversation.

It is as I thought. Katie came to me and said:

"Isn't Colonel Saville charmin<* Auntie?"

"Yes,"l replied. "He is the nicest man I know."

"I think tJhe same," she said. "Do you like him better than Lord Welstead or Mr. Ashcroft?" I asked. They were supposed to be her favorites. "Pooh!" she exclaimed. "They are not to be compared with him. They are very nice, of course, but they are not to be mentioned in the same breath with a man like Colonel Saville. You like him, don't you t auntie?" "Very much indeed, my dear," I replied. She gazed at me, and a blush spread over her face.

s "Has he asked you to marry him?"l asked. "Not yet, Auntie. I thought he was ( going to this morning." j !■ "What shall you say if he does" I em- ; quired. 1 ' She blushed deeper than ever. I "I think—l think I shall 'Yes,'," she •• answered in hesitating tones, and then j added hurriedly, "Oh! I don't know j what to think. Would you like me to j marry him, Auntie?" [ "I am sure he would make you a i splendid husband, my dear,'! I replied, j "Colonel Saville is a man amongst men."

"But don't you think toe is rather old for me?" she asked.

"That is a matter for you to decide, Katie," I said.

"He is coming again to-morrow," she murmured, gazing out of the window with dreamy eyes. "I think he will ask me then, and—and I'm not sure what I want, Auntie." She threw herself into an easy chair and olasped her arms about her knees, her pretty face wrinkled with thought. "You must make up your mind whether you want to marry him or not, Katie,' I said anxiously. "Whatever you do, don't accept him and then regret it. Think how it would pain him, Katie. If you're not sure, ask him to wait."

"Yes," she said thoughtfully. "I thinkthat is what I will do. O'h! If I were only certain, if I only knew " she paused, and her bright eyes clouded for a moment.

"I'm going to my room to have a think. Auntie," she said, and then she left me.

(Directly she was gone I hurried to

1 my own sanctum and locked the door, for I wa» afraid someone would see the tears in my eyes. It was so foolish of me, but I could not stop them. At all costs Katie must never know. If she thought I cared for Colonel Saville it would upset her dreadfully. There, my secret is out. I do care for him; I think I always have done. How people would laugh if they knew. I can hear them sniggering and saying: "There's that silly old Miss Drummond, Katie's aunt, you know, crying her eyes out because Colonel Saville doesn't want to marry her. As though a man like Saville would ever think twice of an old man like that." But whatever they may wry. lie has thought a great deal about me, heaps more than the younger men who think t'hey know what's what and forget their manner in their knowledge. Would one of them think of getting me a chair or trouble if I had a cushion at mv back? Would they stir to fetch me an ice or a cup of tea? Oh, dear, no, they leave the sen-ants to look alter plain o!d maids. 1 Well, it's no use, I must turn dry eyes to the world. But, ohi! I never knew 'how much I cared for him till now. What Katie told me has made me feel so old, so lonely, so out of . everything. "Oh! Katie, wlu" r. chance vouve I got! How I envy y-n! Don't play with him, my dear, don't, think you love him and then let him fnd out that you don't. I think it would brcr'.c his great, noble heart." BART lI.—MISS KATIE'S POINT OF VIEW. I think I'm miserable. It is so unpleasant when you can't make up your mind. Colonel Saville is coming to-day to ask me to marry him. I thought he would have asked me yesterday. I'm so fond of him. He's so brave, so handsome, so manly; the sort of man you know would never do a shady thing. But I'm not sure whether i care *>r him as fully as I feel that I can care. After lie* had gone yesterday I went and told Aunt Barbara, and she saw at once that I wasn't certain. Poor Aunt Barbara! It must be awful to be an old maid. And yet I can't think why she is an old maid. She must be nearly forty now, but she's got a trim figure still, and I think her- face is positively sweet. She is so ' sympathetic, too. ; I was afraid she was going to cry on Colonel Saville's account for fear I should say "No" when he asks me to marry kiwiBut that is just like Auntie: she is always thinking of other people. What shall I say? He is coming at two, and it ia twelve already. Only two hours in which to make my mind up. I've sent down to say I don't want any lunch. Fancy pondering over a proposal of marriage while you are eating c*ld meat and pickles. What a very pleasant idea! I think he is the sort of man I should grow to care more for every time I met him. But is that the sort of feeling you are supposed to have when you get married? ' I don't think so. I wonder if lie would be very upset if I refused him. He looks the sort of man who could face anything with a smile on his face. I can just imagine him on the battlefield. But these sort of men generally feel grief more than the people who show it so much. * Oh, dear, how the time is flying, and I haven't made up my mind yet. It would be rather fine to be Mrs. Colonel Saville; Heston Towers is a most lovely house. I think I'll go into the garden and wait there; I can think better in the open air. ] PART lII—THE LOOKER-ON'S POINT OF VIEW. Oo'.onel Saville came striding through the grounds of Miss Barbara Drummond's residence. He looked very smart in a well-cut, grey frock-coat suit, and the light of youth burnt in his eyes, despite the fact that he was forty. 1 Suddenly he caught sight of Katie Drummond's dainty figure in the rose walk, and lie headed straight for her. A vivid blush dyed her face andi neck crimson, as the Colonel held out his hand with a light-hearted, boyish laugh. "I said I'd come," he exclaimed, "and here I am, But I feel dreadfully ner-

vous." "Wliy should you feel nervous, Col-! onel?" Katie asked in demure tones, her fingers plucking at her skirt. | "I think any man would feel nervous in ray position," he replied, smoothing his hat with the back of his glove. 1 Silence fell on the couple. Katie felt nervous now, too nervous to 'look at him. I "You quite understood me yesterday,' didn't you, Miss Katie?" he asked. "I think so," she replied softly. She began to shiver slightly. It was coming now. What should she say? Just for a second she flashed a glance at him. How splendid he looked, how eager. Should she say yes? "Do you think I stand any chance, Miss Katie?" he asked in anxious tones. "I—don't—know," she murmured staring at the ground. "Don't know?" he repeated rather disconsolately. "I thought you would'have found out by now. That's why I waited a day." "Oh! It's such a serious thing to decide." "Of course it is, but surely it can onlyj be one way or the other. There can be no half measures in " He paused a second, and his voice grew soft as hej pronounced the word "love." ' Katie shivered again. This was what' she had been afraid of, what iher aunt foresaw. It must be either yea, or nay. He would brook no middle course. "Tell me exactly what she said, Miss Katie," he said. "She?" "Yes, What did she say?" "Whom do you mean?" "Your aunt, of course," he exclaimed, in puzzled tones.

"How did you know I spoke to her?" slie enquired wonderingly. He stared at her. "But that is what I asked you to do," he said. "You asked me to speak to my aunt?" exclaimed Katie, pausing between eae'li, word. "Of course. I wanted you to prepare the way for me," lie explained. "Why, were yon afraid she would not give Iher consent? I know you mentioned her, but her consent is not necessary in such a 111:1 Her." The Colonel's silk hat fell from his hands and he staved in blank astonishI ment at his companion, i- "Notnecessary!" he repeated.. "Why, my dear girl, whatever do you mean? Can a man marry the woman he loves without lied consent." ' Katie trembled from head to foot, for t'lie moment she, thought she was going to faint. A light had suddenly dawned 011 her. "I did think you would have managed; , it for me, Miss Katie," he said reproach- ( 1 fully. "Do you mean to tell me that] she has 110 idea that I want to marry j her ?" "Xo," replied Katie slowly, "she Las Hot the least idea." | I The Colonel drew himself up, and £L look of grim determination came overj ( his face. He looked as he must have done when lie was winning the Victoria Cross, for, to this simple-hearted soldier, gaining the V.C. was child's play compared to asking a woman to marry him. I "Then I must go and usk lier myself," he said firmly. Katie did not reply. She stared miserably at the gravel path, watc'hing a spider commence a tour ol inspection of the Colonel's hat. "Here goes!" said the Colonel. "See you later, Miss Katie." ! Off he strode, quite oblivious- 01 the; fact that his hat was not on his head. Miss Barbara saw him from the draw-. nig 1 -room window. | "Oh! she has refused him," she claimed, as she saw the grim expres•ion 011 his face. | "Poor fellow," she wiiispered to her-' self. "How dreadfuEy upset he looks." j 1A few moments later he was shown into the room. | "Good afternoon, Miss Drummond," he said, bowing gallantly over her hand 1 with an old-fashioned courtesy. "You have seen Katie?" she asked. "Yes." 1 "Oh! I am so sorry, Colonel," she exclaimed impulsively. "I can see what ybu have come to tell ifte." "You can see what I have come to tell you?" he gasped. "Yes, Katie has said 'No.'" ! The Colonel gasped and stared wonderingly at Miss Barbara. He saw the tears in her eyes, and it made him step closer to her. What 'had brought the tears? He wanted the right to comfort her. / "She is only young yet," Miss Barbara said. "Give her time, Colonel. Perhape she will come to care for you. I could wish for no better husband for mv niece than, you." "Than me?" cried the Colonel. "Me marry Katie?" - "Yes, that is what you want, isn'tit?" "NO!" the Colonel's voice was almost, a shout. Then it suddenly grew soft asi he added, "It is you I want, Miss Bar-] Mara. I'm only a plain old soldier, out' I'd try to make you a good husband if you'd have me." "But I thought it was Katie you want-; ed," whispered Miss Barbara tremulously, the tears pouring unchecked now. "She thought so, too."' \ "Now I understand," muttered the ; Qolonel. "What an ass I have' made of) myself! But, my dear lady, I am old' snougli to be her father. I want to be lier uncle, not her husband. May I?" I Miss Barbara smiled radiantly through j lier tears. Sheer happiness held her, dumb. She could not believe her ears tor the moment. She could not under-1 stand that this great joy could have | ;ome to her, a lonely old maid, whom; lobody seemed to want. | But the Colonel read her answer in her >yes, and he took her trembling form in | lis arms and kissed 'her on the lips. He felt exceedingly nervous when he ;xplained matters to Katie, but she reieved him by saying that he would nake "a perfect duck of an uncle." iVhich he has (tone. ~~ IBEST FOR CROUP. A child may go to bed at nicrht in his wual health except, perhaps, for a cold, >nly to awaken a few hours later, with 1 well developed attack of croup, andj the remainder of the night is spent by ;he anxious parents in trying to relieve lis sufferings, which is usually more or ess experimental. A bottle of Chamjerlain's Cough Remedy in the house will save anxiety, expen«f and. perhaps, the life of the child. When this medi:ine is given at the <irst indication of sroup the attack may be avoided and jften after the croupy cough has appeared it will prevent the attack. Sold ~,y all chemists and storekeepers.

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