THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 127, 7 September 1910, Page 6

THE STORYTELLER.

THE PASSIVE RESISTER. "Joan—Joan, come here. Quick!" • The hammock under the trees stirred slightly, and a magazine dropped from the pile of cushions at the head. "Joan," came the shrill, high-pitched voiced again, "do hurry." This time the hammock heaved, and a dark, curly head came over one side, while a slim ankle neatly encased in brown stockings appeared on the other. "Can't you leave me in peace for five minutes? Where are you?" A lanky girl of the flapper species appeared from behind the shrubbery and ran quickly across the lawn,., her long, black legs twinkling under her abbreviated skirt. "There's that horrid little Cockney sitting on the lawn," she panted. "You ■ know, the one with the black ;„:J g,een 'hatband, who was so rude to you the I other day." _ "Oh," said the elder girl, with an inI digniaat gasp, "the one who kissed Ms ihand to me the other evening and called me 'ducky'? Are you certain?" i "Positive; he'd got his back to me, but I recogsnised him at once. His boat's moored at our. landing-stage, and tie's smoking a cigarette on our lawn. The beast!" I "Is Jack in?" asked Joan eagerly. "If so, I'll get him to throw the little worm in." "Jack went out in the punt an hour ago," replied the flapper, "'but why trouble about him? The little rat is awfully puny and with your gandow exercises t you ought to he a match for anybody." i The elder girl swung herself out of the hammock and stood up, a perfect'specimen of womanhood. Taller than the average, and of magnificent- proportions, she looked a veritable Amazon, and one that a footpad would think twice of accosting. "I think I am, kid," she said quietly, 'and I'm going to throw him into the river. To be insulted as I was at the regatta is a thing I don't forget in a hurry, and though I suppose it would be . more lady-like to ignore the little reptile, I've sufficient of the savage in me to make me long to give him a good hidj ing. Come down and watch." I # In a twitter of excitement at the fun in store, the flapper ran by her sister's side to the lawn, where the figure, of their quarry lay extended on the grass, a cigarette Ibetween his lips, his eyes on the clear, blue vault above. j Engrossed in day-dreams, he did not hear the approaching footsteps until he was confronted by the two girls who stood over him forbiddingly. "What are you doing here?" asked Joan ind%>nantly. "Do you know you're trespassing?" "I—er—l'm——"

"This is, not the first time I've seen I you—you behaved like the little cad you i are at the regatta the other day, and now I'm going to chastise you for it. Get up," and a strong white hand" seized) his collar in no gentle grasp and heaved him to his feet. "I think you've made a mistake," appealed the little man, as he felt, himself propelled towards the water. "Oh, no, I 'haven't, and I'm going to throw you into the river," and before the man could prevent her, she had placone foot before his legs, and with a heave from behind, had sent him flying off the 'bank into the water. "That 'will teach you manners," she said coolly, and with one glance at his bolbbing head to assure herself that her tormentor could swim, she turned on her heel and walked swiftly towards the house. it was splendid," gurgled the flapper. "How ripping to be able to . throw men about like that." "D'you think so?" replied Joan thoughtfully; "I feel rather a beast. He didn't .struggle a bit when I threw . him in." "Of course he didn't," said the other admiringly. "He was afraid to, and, besides, he wouldn't have had a chance against you." "I wonder," mused Joan. "I've never pitted; my strength against a man's before, but I always thought that even the smallest had, more muscle than women, and he wasn't so little as I had imagined." "Anyway, you taught him a lesson," said the flapper, "and I don't suppose he will forget it in a hurry. Hallo, here's Jack, just in time .to be too late, as usual." "Seen Captain Frampton anywhere?" asked Jack, as he came up. "No, who is he? I've not seen him since we were at Sandhurst together, and I ran up against him to-day on the river. I had to cart .old Mother Jenkins down to'the lock, so I 'asked him to wait on the lawn till I came back. I suppose he must have got sick of " "On the lawn?" squealed the flapper excitedly. ■> "On the lawn?" repeated Joan ly"Yes, yes—on the lawn," replied Jack , irritably. "For heaven's sake don't s'tand there like a couple of scared fillips. Where is he ?" "In the river,' 'gurgled the flapper. "Oh, my hat!" . ' "Was he wearing a black and green hat-band ?" gasped Joan. "What on earth's the matter with you?" said Jack angrily. "Yes, he, was wearing a black and, green hat:band—the regimental colors of the Goorkha's-." "Then I threw him in the river," replied Joan, with a gasp. "Oh, what shall . I do?" . "Threw him —,in the river!. What the dickens are you talking about?" And then Joan shamefacedly , explained the dreadful business. "You threw Dick Frampton in the river!" burst out Jack, in doubt whether to 'be furiously angry or Intensely amused. . "Yes, yes," said Joan, in agonised tones. "And I've asked him to dine this evening—l'll run down to the hotel. I expect he's gone back to change. By Jove! Joan, you'll feel several different sorts

of a fool when you meet him to-night." "Oh, don't bring him back," pleaded Joan; but with a burst of laughter her ■brother had disappeared down the drive. "You're in a nice hole, Joan, and 1 wouldn't be in your shoes this evening for something," was all the comfort she could offer the heroine, and. with agonised feelings Joan went upstairs to dress and prepare herself for the ordeal. When one has trodden on a man's toe or jibbed him in the face with an umbrella, it is easy to pass the matter off with a murmured. "I'm extremely sorry," but how to apologise to a man whom one has seized by the scruff of the neck and heaved into the river without so much as "By your leave," Joan could not for the life of her decide. However, if Captain Frampton, after the summary treatment he had received at her hands, could bring himself to face the Amazon again, she would have to go through the painful ordeal somehow, and with fast beating heart and flushed' cheeks, she nervously walked into the drawing-room. As she had feared, her victim was there talking to her brother, and now that she saw him in his well-fitting dress clothes, with his sun-burnt, clean-cut face, showing dark brown against his white collar, she wondered how she could ever have mistaken this well-bred, smartlooking man for the objectionable Cockney of unpleasant memory. True, he was short, but not absurdly so, and his well-knit, slim figure had nothing in common with that of the amorous Londoner for whom he had been mistaken. "Captain Frampton-Tmy sister Joan,' said Jack, bringing his guest forward. "I think you have already had the pleasure of meeting," with a sly smile at 'Joan's flushed face. # I "I have had that pleasure," said Dick Frampton laughingly, "and I have to thank Miss Chadiwick for a most cool and refreshing bath." . I "What must you think of me, Captain Frampton?" murmured poor Joan. ine sun was so 'bright that I could hardly see you, and I mistook you for an objectionable map who insulted me the other day." . , . . "I hope I don't bear a great facial resemblance to the gentleman in question t" ~, L . , XV, Q «oh, not in the slightest—not the

slightest," burst out Joan in confusion. "Pm really most awfully sorry,*and don't know what to say to express my regret." . . „ "Please don't say any more about it, replied Dick cheerfully. "An incident like that is most refreshing. I assure you the originality of it caused me a most delightful shock, and as I was feeling awfully warm I quite enjoyed my swim back to the hotel, though il must admit I was somewhat puzzled at my reception. I shall certainly have a huge respect for the muscular powers of the fair sex in future." For the next fortnight Frampton was constantly in Joan's company, and by the time his visit was drawing to a close he had to confess that Joan Chadwick was the onlv girl in the world for y him, and that unless he could persuade ; her to return to India with him next ■ trooping season, life . would hold but little charm :for him. '. "I shall Ibe leaving to-morrow, Miss ' Chadwick," he remarked one lazy afternoon, as he lay 'back on the cushions in ' the stern of the boat and gazed admir- ' ingly at She lovely face half hidden ' by" the wide-brimmed hat. "So soon?" said Joan, looking round ' at him. ''l thought your leave was not , up for another fortnight?" ' "Yes but I have to go to town and \ get my kit ready. I don't .suppose I r shall be (back'in England again for an- , other six years or more—worse luck, ' and he glanced anxiously at his compan- , ion fpr.some sign of regret; but if she \ felt it she certainly, hid it well. <<l shall often think of the happy time ! I've spent here, when I'm back in the East," he went on, his voice taking a j deeper tone. "I wonder if you'll think of the day r when : you first met me," interrupted

Joan, with a laugh. "S. shall think of it a igreat deal, replied' Jack .gravely. "It was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me, for I met you then, and since that day, Joan, I've thought of no one else. You're everything in the world to- me, dear, ami if you care for me I am going to ask you to give up all this"—he waved his hand to indicate the glories of the peaceful British scenery—"and come back with me to India. Will you he my wife, Joan?" „ „ "I'm so sorry, Capta'n Fr-muton, said Joan quietly, "as the hW ebbed from I her face. "I never thought for a moment that you—oh, I'm afraid it's hopeless!" : ''Then vou don't love me, Joan?" asked Dick, a little choke in his voice, his face going white Under its tan. "No—l don't. I'm so sorry. I like vou immensely—more than any other man I've ever"met, but I don't loveso it's no use, is it?" with.a little hopeless gesture. ".I .suppose, not," said Dick gloomily, gazing across the river with unseeing eyes.' "I suppose not, but I had hoped. Is there any reason, Joan? If you like me better than any other man, you might alter—you might grow to love me in "time. la there any reason?" . j "Yes. I expect you'll think it veryi ridiculous, but as vou insist on knowing' I will tell you. Well, the man I marry! must be my superior in physical strength —and you remember that —afternoon." "Oh, so that is it," said Dick, with a hard laugh. "Well, we can't wipe that otit, so I suppose no more need be said."! "I'm so sorry, Captain Frampton,'' pleaded the girl. "Please don't be cross with me, but I could never really look up to a mar wl>ohi I knew to be my physical inferior." Tn silence they rowed back to the boathouse, "ilf vou don't mind, I'll hurry up to the house, as I have some letters to write before dinner," said Joan, as Dick helper] her out of the skiff, and, without waiting for a reply, ske went off up the shrubbery walk, leaving him to tie up the boat, and collect the hampers. "What a brute I am," she thought, as she recalled the scene that had just taken place. "I believe I really love him

—or at least I could quite easily if it I had not been for that unfortunate episode. But how could I marry a man I know I can pick up like a child ? It's' ; too ridiculous, but it ought not really to count, for Jack says he's a fine soldier and has done well on the Frontier. Oh, I hate myself." " 'Sense me, lady, but I'd like a word with you," said a gruff voice at her elhow, and turning quickly with a little giasp of dismay, she found herself facing a particularly forbidding and brawny specimen of the tramp fraternity. "What do you want?" she asked, with a rather poor attempt at nonchalance. "To be plain, lady, I want your watch, purse, and them pretty bangles. Quick now, 'and 'em over, as my moter's 'Small profits, quick returns,'" and the man stepped threateningly towards her. For a moment Joan felt inclined to fly, but as she saw that her chance of escape was small, she decided to trust to her much vaunted strength, and her knowledge of jiu-jitsu that had proved so successful in Captain Frampton's case. The tramp, seeing that she made no attempt to remove her jewellery, seized her roughly by the wrist and drew her towards him, and as he did so Joan realised how puny her strength really was when pitted against & man's. In vain she struggled in the grasp of her tormentor, but with consummate ease he avoided all her pitiful little wrestling tricks, and with one hand had started to remove the bracelets from her wrists when a -white figure came running swiftly up <-he path. "Hold him, Joan, till I come!" shouted Dick, and the tramp, seeing that the game was up, turned to meet the newcomer. "Hallo, me little bantam-cock, wot d'yer want?" he sneered, looking down at Dick from his six feet of muscle and brawn. "That!" said Dick, and springing in quick as lightning he brought his fists left and right on either aids of the tramp's head. "Well, I'm bloAved, hut you can hit!" he snarled. "Now look out!" and he dashed in, swinging his great arms like Hails. Joan screamed with apprehension, expecting' every moment to see Dick felled to the ground, stunned and bleeding.; but hopping lightly away he allowed the vicious blows to whiz past his head or expend themselves aimlessly in the air a few inches from his face. Then, seizing the opportunity when the big man had overreached himself, he dashed in and

ielivered three stinging punches with I lightning rapidity, bringing off a terrific upper-cut as the tramp reeled back. A hard jolt in the region of the heart had the tramp gasping for (breath, and then, catching him round the body Dick threw him heavily to the ground, where he lay piteously whining for mercy. "Take that to the police station,"'said Dick coolly as the gardener and a footman came up. "I'll come down and charge him later with attempted highway robbery," and then, turning to Joan, he offered her hi 3 arm. "Shall we go and change for dinner, Miss Chadwick?" "Oh, Dick, you were splendid! How did you do it? You didn't tell me you could box or wrestle." "You didn't ask,' replied Dick, taking her-hand in his. "ilf you had I would have told you that I was winner of the Army Light Weights this year." "And I thought you were my physical inferior. What must vou think of my ridiculous boasting? Will you ever forgive me?" "On one condition. It's a big condition, and will cost you a lot. Do you agree?" Apparently Joan did agree, for in, the list of passengers on the P. and 0. Karachit next month were the names of Captain and Mrs. Frampton, bound for Bombay; but Mrs. Frampton has never quite understood how she managed to j throw her husband into the river. Pob- [ sibly she doea not understand the meani ing of "Passive Resister."