"THE MOODS OF LOVE ARE LIKE THE WIND."

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1920, Page 1 (Supplement)

"THE MOODS OF LOVE ARE LIKE THE WIND."

SECOND PRIZE.

("Portia," Pukengahu, Ngaere.) ".John, I think you should have been the Sultan of Turkey!" She had to tilt lier head to look into John's face. Just now it was worth looking at, for it was a study in surly stubbornness. Constance felt extremely annoyed. At the end of a long day's outing, during which she considered she had been perfectly sweet to John, he had found fault with her. "But you do smile at all the other fellows, you know you do. When you were talking to that Dale, yon 'looked so sweet that I don't wonder he wanted to eat you." "Est me? How do you know he did?" ''l could see. He glued his eyes to your face, until I> nearly knocked him down. Puppy!" Her eyes travelled quickly over the face of her lover, noting with loving sympathy the tired lines and quivering nerves. Still she knew she must not give in to his pettish moods, so she answered mockingly: ''Really I have been in good company to-day. You are a sweet-tempered companion. I should and do consider myself beloved of the gods in that I have been privileged to be with you all day." She turned away. Men were tiresome creatures. "I'll leave you now. Perhaps when next we meet yon will be in your senses again. Because I love you, must I pass by my old friends as if they were lepers ? Must I never again speak to any man but you? If so, dear, let us go to Turkey or Mormon-land, or wherever it is, that women see no men but their husbands! I should be Qut of the fashion here; let us be married at once, and set said for this Delectable Land." Have you noticed how the mere voicing of a trouble makes that trouble worse? As Constance gave expression to her annoyance, she felt she was the most ill-used girl in the world. As for John—well, poor John! His face whitened and set in haggard lines. "You cruel, heartless little flirt," lie muttered. "You set yourself to bewitch men, one and all; once their love is won, 1 they pall on you, and are less than the 1 dust to you. You are absolutely selfish i and conscienceless." j The girl looked at him in bewilderment, saw his tense face, so thin and dark, his mouth set and hard, and her ' anger cooled. I She reached up to him. She com- ' fort him, poor boy; he was so upset. | "You need not treat me as yoii do the ' other poor fools. I can never trust you i again." ' ] Constance was white with anger. No ] more cooling down for her; she had; reached the limit of her patience. Turn- j ing her back on him, she walked steadily j away. j A month later they had almost forgot- i ten the cause of their quarrel, but not j the quarrel itself. Each was firmly con- ' vinced the other had offended past for- ; giveness. Each knew the other was un- ; .worthy of love, unstable, untrue, in fact! Un every thing a lover should bt. The |

tactics of a flirt revolted him. She loathed bad-tempered, surly, jealous men. I need not tell you, each longed for the other. On the night of the R.S. Ball, the great hall was crowded. Everywhere were couples, the bright, dresses of the girls | showing up against the men's dark suits. "Like the animals in Noah's Ark," | John thought sourly, as she stood in the | doorway, glowering over the heads of his happier fellows. The dim lights lent an air of romance to the scene, and as the orchestra played a dreamy waltz, John felt an overwhelming desire to lie down and die. • Nature, however, had other plans. Just as his soul seemed about to float away on a stream of melody, Constance came into view. Hack to earth came his soul. His heart leapt up bravely, and he swore softly. With that puppy again, is she? I'll not put up with them any longer." He watched them intently, andliis eyes grew tender.. 'The little soft thing,"'he murmured, "only an armful, too—yet how I have missed her. What round, white arms—oh—" Poor John! But fortune favored him, as we are told she always favors those who greatly desire. The' music stopped, and Constance and her partner passed close to him. Her eyes met John's, and a quiver ran through him. She flushed and bit her trembling lips, angry to have shown any feeling, but helpless under the sudden rush of emotion which overtook her. "I hate the horrid creature," she half spoke, and squaring her shoulders, marched away beside the "Puppy," who in spite of John's dislike was a very good fellow. John strode into the group about her, and -spoke abruptly "I was detained until now, Constance, but you will give me a dance?" "Why, certainly, just look, will yon!" The revulsion of feeling left him trembling. He had expected a haughty dismissal, and had come prepared to tight for his love, and she gave him her programme, and, with a sweet smile, turned ' to her friends. What did it mean? His turn came After, it seemed to him, years of waiting and longing, she was in his arms again. But how quiet she was. "Dear, are you tired?" he whispered. Shock number two. Like a small fury, she turned on him, and if a twentieth century girl can hiss, she did. "You great booby, do you think I am dancing with yon because 1 want to? Don't you know it was to save a scene that I gave you my programme? Didn't I know you were ready to make a fuss ? Oh! I hate you and I would sooner dance with a monkey. Fancy coming to me like that? Do you like'flirts now? Aren't you afraid this one might bite you?" Defiantly she flung back her head, and looked up at him, a quite good expression of disdain in her face. His eyes, bright with love, held hers, and her heart missed a beat, then raced on madly. Without a word from him, she sensed how his love for her'had grown. Her fierce resentment died down, and she revelled in his love. His face so near to hers, his arm about her, filled her with gladness. "Little, darling," he whispered, "I have you now, and I'll never let you eo again."' ' 5 This reminded her of their quarrel, and she grew cold and stately again. John felt the change which came over her, and it acted on him like wine. "Little rebel," he thought, "I'll win her yet." His guardian angel was very busy. The huge side doors of the hall were open, and as he made a way amongst the dancers, John noticed the open space. To each of us comes a conquering hour, an hour when we feel we are kings and must be obeyed; when our desires are the forces that move the world. Such an hour was this for John. He. took a firmer hold of the slight figure, and as they came to the opening, he swerved towards it, and lifting her from her feet, swung her out on to the ground. The swift movement took her breath, and she swayed limply in his arms. With an inarticulate murmur, he picked her up and carried her to a secluded spot he knew well. Sitting down, he gathered her close. Oh, glorious to be a king of cave men! Her face was pressed to"his shoulder, but he could feel her heart beating swiftly, and burying his face in . her neck, he whispered all his pent up ! love and longing. I She stirred and turned her face to his. Her eyes were like stars, her lips soft as j dew. Her lover gazed at, her in silence. ! His feelings were too deep for words, All | he could do was to look and look. He ' did not deserve such a treasure, but she was his, and he would never let her go ; again. No jealous fancy of his should '; again part them. Perhaps the guardian i angel told Constance this, for she lay I quietly in his arms, watching his face I so dear and dark. Then, with a sigh, she i put up the round white arms, clasped I them round his neck, and said, "Von are a Turk and a bully, John, but 1 love yon, ! I love you so," John distinctly heard the gates of Paradise shut., and knew hi) was safe in that happy land. Where else eould he be? He bent his lips to hers, and the storm-tossed hearts were anchored at | last in the haven of perfect love. Their separation had taught them that love neither lightly comes nor lightly goes and as they pledged their love anew, thev ! felt the pain of its sweetness, and knew that love in all his majesty had gripped | them firmiy and would never suffer them ; to escape from his elutchea, J