THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 84, 18 July 1910, Page 6

THE STORYTELLER.

MR. BLAIR'S REVENGE. "I liiive asked Wvnn to come nut this evening to talk, over a little business. Dora. If he should arrive before I get here, you must see to him until I come. 15c kind and polite to him. my dear. He is n really well-meaning and unassuming fellow, and tile most useful book-keener 1 have ever had. He has seemed a little out of sorts lately, and 1 am sure would be most grateful for any little attention from you."

This Richard Blair, the rich tea-mer-chant, had said to his daughter in the morning, on leaving his pretty villa at Richmond for the city, with an amount of pompous condescension which clearly manifested his sentiments with regard to book-keepers and their kind.

j Dora was an obedient daughter, as her j reception of her father's guest that evenI ing plainly showed; but certainly the I worthy tea merchant would have found : abundant cause to retract his opinion J as to the same guest's modest and un- , assuming character if he had been a witness of his demeanor on that oeea for no sooner had the door closed upun the servant who ushered m into the presence of her young mistress than—totally nnabashed and unblushingly—he took the young girl in his arms, only releasing her after leaving upon her ripe red lips at least half a dozen warm kisses. Dora, not appearing in the least surprised or disconcerted by this greeting, bore unflinchingly the situation for fully two minutes before she blushingly drew back and endeavored to bring into something like order her soft brown hair, which, with the dainty ruffles at her throat, had become somewhat disarranged by the welcome she had so obediently given her father's guest. "It is a long time since I have seen you, Harry," she remarked, with a bewildering glance from beneath the thicklashes shading the large grey eyes. "I should think so, indeed—quite an age!" remarked the book-keeper dismally. "I managed to get away half an hour before the time your father told me he should be home, hoping to see you alone; but he will be sure to turn up before he's expected—it's" just my luck." "Harry, do you know why my father lias sent for you to-night?" "I haven't an idea, excepting that it's something about the branch of the business in Hongkong." ."I can enlighten you a little, then, though I hardly think you will be as pleased as my father seems to expect. One of thf men in the house out there has just died; he had rather a responsible position.l believe, and father wants to send you out to take his place. "As if anything could induce me to leave England and you, Dora!" cried the young man. "Why, the separation would probably be for years." "I am afraid you must go, Harry," was the girl's rather sorrowful response. "You know my father; your refusal to obey his wishes would 'probably make something very like an enemy of him, and render matters between us even more hopeless than they are at present." "Dora, I must speak to your father," cried the young man excitedly. "When he finds that his daughter's happiness is involved he can't be heartless enough to refuse our united prayers. He seems to feel rather kindly towards me. Anything would be better than this uncertainty!"

"No, my dear Harry. Believe me. it would only lie exchanging uncertainly for positive resignation of all out hopes. 1 know my father well, and it is useless to hide 'from myself and you that he loves money far better than his child. He has declared over and over again that he will never give his consent to my marriage with a man poorer than himself; and I know he will never retract his •word.*

"And t Vou advise me to go off to China, with the probability of never seeing you again. Dora? Nothing can be worse than that, surely!" "Oh, Harry, I must have time to think! I heard of it only this morning," cried Dora, on the verge of tears. "There comes father now, and I have so much still to tell you. I must see you again. Could von manage to come on Thursday at this time for half an hour? My father is going to a dinner in the city on that evening." "Certainly I can," responded Ham, just as the door opened to admit tho master of the establishment.

"Oh. Wynn, you arrived first! Prompt as ever—a most useful quality in a young man. I hope my daughter has made vou comfortable —eh, .Dora?" "I tried to do. so, father," responded the youiiff lady demurely. "I. suppose my vompnny can be dispensed villi

1. now?" \ "Yes, my dear, you may go. Uy the ■ way, you jnay as well send us a bottle i of wine, please." I ! "Well, Wynn," began the merchant, ' when : the two men were left alone, as ! he paced up and • down the room, evii dently satisfied with himself and all the i world,. "I have to tell you that there is 'excellent news from America;'we have ! closed the contract with that firm in ; New York of which you have heard me I speak, and the transaction will bring us in something like twenty thousand pounds. Not at all a bad job—eh. Wynn?" ' "Yaw are usually fortunate, sir,' answered Wynn, a little bitterly. "I have' something else to say which will interest you more nearly, my boy. We have just heard of the death of Jones, our secretary at Hongkong, and I am called upon to send someone to fill his place. It's rather a good position, and we need someone we can trust. I've been rather pleased with the way you've done your work lately, and T've been thinking—ahem!—in short, I've ; made up my mind to give you the ' place." ; "Put, sir " began Wynn, m desper- ! ation. ; "Oh, no thanks! I know you appreciate it and all that, and I am sure we shall be' satisfied with you. Could you be ready to go over next month?" "I will think it over, sir. I suppose it is not necessary to give you my answer for a day or two?"

"No, certainly not," replied the merchant, a little surprised at Wynil's way of receiving such a piece of good fortune.

Then followed an announcement which, for an instant, caused the book-keeper to turn hot and cold with lightning rapidity.

"Perhaps you will bo interested in* a pi«ce of family news which has given me the greatest satisfaction, Wynn. My daughter is to be married." "Impossible! I mean, sir I had heard nothing of it," stammered poor Wynn. "Eh?" exclaimed the merchant, staring at his companion in astonishment. "Xo, I suppose not. The fact of the matter is, Miss Blair doesn't know of it herself yet; but she will be as pleased as 1 am. The letter only came to-day from an old friend of mine who has made millionsmillions, my boy—in sugar, and writes proposing a marriage between his son and my daughter. The young man has seen my daughter somewhere, it seems, and was quite smitten with the sly little puss. He is coming to us on a visit next week. Now, haven't I cause for rejoicing to-day, Wynn?" "Pray accept my congratulations, sir," replied the book-keeper lugubriously. "By the way, Wynn," the merchant went on, after a moment's pause devoted to golden anticipation, "it has struck me that you have been rather down in the mouth lately. Are you out of health?"

"Oh, no, sir, thank you—not at all!" responded the young man hurriedly, rather disconcerted 1 by this unusual solicitude in his behalf.

The delight •with which the merchant had .that day heard of the success of business schemes likely to make an important addition to the banking account of the firm, and especially anticipations of the brilliant marriage to be made by his daughter, had filled his heart with a sort of condescending benevolence andj goodwill to all the world, which descended even to the affairs of so unimportant a as his book-keeper. "Have you had any bad news ?" "No, sir." you are in debt. Don't be afraid to tell me the truth, Wynn. 1 feel quite a fatherly interest in you, I assure you, and I might do something to help you, I shouldn't at all mind [ advancing a hundred pounds or so." "I thank you most gratefully, Mr. Blair, but I have no debts." "Then there is nothing else for it, my boy; you certainly are in love!" ' Wynn started, 'blushing to the veryi roots of his hair, but could find no words I to reply, while the merchant stared at him for a moment, and then laughed uproariously, rubbing his hands with glee as he exclaimed—

"There, I have it at last! Come, out with it, young man; what's the trouble ? ' Won't she have you?" I "Yes, sir," stammered Wynn, in agony; "but she is rich and lam poor. Her father would never consent." i

"Pooh, pooh! Is that all? You surely ought to be able to manage that somehow. Is it indiscreet to ask who the young lady is? Do I know the family?" "I am afraid —it wouldn't do—to mention her name," said poor Wynn, looking wildly about for some means of escape. "Well, do I know her father?" "Yes, sir." The merchant reflected for a moment, then brought his fist down upon the table with a vehemence which made the wine-glasses rattle. "I have it now!"

Wynn turned fairly cold. "You needn't say 'Yes' or 'No.' or commit yourself in any way; but I think I have got your secret. It's old Brooks' daughter. I've seen you twice with the young woman lately. OM Brooks 'got the better, of men in a business transaction the other day, and I'd like to be even with him. Anyway, whoever the girl is, I'm disposed to help you." "How, sir?" gasped Wynn. "Why, if the old fellow won't give his consent—whv shouldn't you do without it? What do you think of eloping with her?" "What, sir?" cried Wynn, hardly believing his ears. "Yotr really advise me to do that?" «Yes—why not? AVbat's more, 111 give you the price of the license for a wedding present, and lend you my carriage any night you like to be off, besides throwing in my blessing into the bargain! I know a clergyman a few miles from here who would do the job willingly, especially if I give you a note for him. I did him a favor once."

"And you will positively give us your blessinw'and assistance, no matter who the young lady may be?" exclaimed the book-keeper, almost involuntarily. "Positively," replied his employer, firm in the conviction that here was a delightful opportunity of becoming reveng-| el on a man -\vh<v had assailed him in Ms weakest pohv. Vs pocket, "I will help you without, :i-*'- ■■••«■ any questions. We must teach :'.;'! old sinner that his daughter* affections are not an article of Xobody need be ashamed oF you for a son-in-law, Wynn, my boy." '•Thank yon, sir," responded the young man, faintly. "Just consult the young woman, and, if it's all right in that quarter, let me know the day, and the carriage and the price of the license skill not be wantin"- I shall not go back on my promise." Wynn did not fail to keep his appointment at Richmond on the followiniv Thursday evening; finding Dora at home and alone, as lie had hoped; and the next morning, when Mr. Blair entered his counting-house, he found his book-keeper waiting anxiously to speak with him. '•Well. Wynn, is anything the matter.' asked the merchant,' a little surprised at seeing the young man at so unusual an hour° "Has anything new turned up about the American affair?" "No, sir," Wynn stammered, blushing like the.veriest schoolgirl. "I am not here to speak of business. I must beg vour pardon for trespassing upon your time at this hour; but you were so very kind a few days ago as to promise " '•Well, out with it, man!" "That you would assist me "

"Aha—the yourng woman! I remember now!" exclaimed Mr. Blair, laughing heartily. "/So you have seen her? What does she think of my plan?"

"She lias consented, sir," faltered the book-keeper, keeping his face carefully hidden behind the lid of a desk in which, to all appearance, he was searching busily. "On the day after to-morrow evening, if convenient to you " "The sooner the better! My boy, 1 am quite ready to keep my word." As he spoke the'merchant turned to his desk and filled up a cheque, which he handed to his companion. "There is the wedding-present of which I spoke. You must get a special license. My carriage will also be at your service at whatever time and place you choose to appoint. By the way, what does the young lady think of the China project? I hope your marriage will not affect your decision with regard to it." ''She is most anxious to do whatever is most pleasing to you, iir." "Ah, I see she is a sensible woman! I should like to call in the course of the evening, after the ceremony is over, and offer my congratulations, if you and Mrs. Wynn intend to remain in London?"

"Thank you, sir. I was going to ask something' of the kind. We expect' to be at the Grosvenor Hotel."

Should you like a week's holiday?"

"Not at present, thank you," answered Wynn, feeling guiltily that he was extremely likely to be given a much more prolonged holiday than he desired.

He was shown into the pleasant little" sitting-room reserved for the pair whom the astute clerk had already settled in his own mind to be bride and groom. Mr. Blair had not long to wait, though in his present state of good humor he could very easily have borne a longer delay than the half-hour which he passed in self-satisled musing over the good luck which lately seemed to 'have attended his every movement. He had received a letter from the young man whom he hoped to call his son-in-law, appointing a day for his visit to Richmond, and the prospect of the marriage waS| above all a source of self-congratulation with him.

Then, too, this evening's event afforded him indescribable amusement as he pictured to himself the wrath and consternation of the man who, he had firmly convinced himself, had injured him deeply, when he discovered that his only daughter had bestowed herself upon an impecunious book-keeper. All alone to himself Mr. Blair chuckled with malicious enjoyment over the most delightful of jokes, and rejoiced in his own share in bringing his enemy to confusion. , "I wonder how soon father is to be told of the happy event," he soliloquised. "Who? Perhaps it will be a family party to-night.''

Later the merchant had taken out his pocket-book and was deep in an abstruse calculation as to certain weighty transactions which would be undertaken when a little of the wealth of the prospective son-in-law had filtered into the firm, when there was a sound of voices and footsteps in the hall,, pausing at the door, and Mr. Blair knew that the bridal party had arrived. Thrusting the book into his pocket and seizing the bouquet, he rose and stood in readiness, when the door was thrown open by the waiter, and, sure enough, Wynn entered, having on his arm a lady closely veiled. The merchant advanced, bowing low, with outstretched

hand, .which was rather hesitatingly taken by the book-keeper, who muttered only a few half-incoherent words of thanks in reply to the congratulations offered him.

"And your wife? Am I not to have the pleasure of making her acquaintance?" he said, feeling, somehow, vaguely uneasy. ' 'ien the veil was slowly raised, to reveal the face of the merchant's own daughter, pale, frightened, beseeching. "Dora!" he said in bewilderment, "what are you doing here?" Dead silence followed; then the fairest of the merchants castles,in Spain fell with a crash.

"Can it be possible that you are this man's wife?"

"Yes, dear father, it is quite true," said the girl's pleading voice. "Won't you try to forgive me? It can't make very much difference to you. You can't miss me, you know, for you never needed me, and I needed so sorely someone to love me!"

'Die book-keeper was holding his wife's hand firmly .ill the time, and only drew her a little closer to him as he added: "We are far from deserving it, Mr. Blair; but I hope you don't forget that you promised us your 'blessing." The merchant was about to speak, but I suddenly checked himself, and, turning abruptly, walked to the window, To his own surprise, even in the midst of his almost uncontrollable anger, something in his daughter's pathetic words caused him a pang of genuine self-re-1 preaching, us he suddenly realised what a lonely, neglected life his child had led, while he, in the pursuit of wealth, had never known or cared for any needs she might have which money could not supply. Was it strange that she should ' have sought abroad what she could never hope to And in her home? Then, too, the deed was irrevooaule; no amount of opposition could render the'marriage illegal; and, after all, Dora might have clone worse, for what Wynn lacked in fortune he partly supplied in business capacity. While these thoughts were rapidly passing through his mind, something else struck Mr. Blair uncomforti ably. If he were to cast off these young | people in anger, might they not in return I make known to all their friends his own ridiculous part in this affair? Might it not even come to the ears of the detested Brooks? This decided him.

"This is a great disapopintment to me, as you must know, Dora," he said at last, turning to his companions, who were awaiting his words in. almost breathless suspense. "However, the deed is done, and I suppose the most sensible thing is to make- the best of what I must consider rather a bad job. I promised you my blessing, Wynn, and you shall have it, on two. conditions. The first is that you—and I suppose your wife—shall go to China, as I proposed." "We are quite willing, sir," the bookkeeper said, eagerly. "And the second condition ?"

"That you never, cither of you, disclose to any human being who was the promoter and instigator of your elopement." "I promise, father," said Dora. "And so do I, sir," said the young husband immediately afterwards.