CHECKMATED.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2372, 21 June 1892, Page 4

CHECKMATED.

( (Jmi'Amlal.)

Ills Iveath came thick and fast, and his eves we.e rvoted upon the page in front of hi.n as it by sonic c trange magic power. In the corner of the photograph, which had fallen so accidentally into Kilda’s hands, and to so small a scale as to be scarcely recognisable but to those accustomed to regard the original, was Crouch’s shop, Amongst other pedestrians who had unwittingly lent their charms to the photograph of the new gasometer at Redfold were two people looking into the jeweller's opposite. The attitude of one of them was so peculiar as to have put strange thoughts into Kilda’s mind. Without a shadow’ of doubt the two individuals outside Crouch’s shop " ere Arthur Gordon Slade and himself. Tins, however, was no more than a strange coincidence. The lact tint had brought the blood to Ins cheeks and caused his breath to come thick and fast, was tins. The man whom Kiida, w ithout the aid of a magnifying glass, had recognised as Slade, though attentively regarding the articles in the shop, was, at tire same time, endeavouring to slip one hand into his companion’s pocket! Notwithstanding the lapse of time, he recalled the words, “Did you ever in all your life see such value offered for your money ?” Thinking of the cost of this photograph, a florin at most, which might mean so much to him, Kiida was tempted to confess he never had.

Armed with tbs photo, Kiida returned to Rsdfold, and spoilt Slade's wooing in the same way as a few months before his own had been clone.

Confronted with this overwhelming testimony to his guilt, Slade confessed. Though his crime had been aggravated to a degree—money, and, strange as it may sound, M’Leod’s intercession stood him in good stead—Slade’s sentence was a light one.

Probably the hardest feature of his exposure was Cecilia’s contempt, which he will retain to his dying day. All this happened long ago. Cecilia Carmichael recently became Mrs. Hilda M’Leod.

On that happy occasion Hilda, unrevengeful and forgiving as he is, as he stood by his fair bride at the altar and remembered how near she had been to becoming Mrs. Slade, could not help whispering " Check ! again and as his eyes wandered from Cicey’s bright face to the ring which he held in his hand, he added, below his breath, " and this tune, unless I'm much mistaken, it’s • Mate’ !”

A PROPHET IN A DILEMMA,

The Rev. W. Baxter has been astonishing everybody with his fearful predictions, notably, that the world would come to an end in the year 18S9. We have arrived at the close of 1890, and still his prognostication is unfulfilled. He was reminded of this the other night at Hastings, where he delivered one of his " prophetic” lectures. The rev. gentleman simply remarked : •< All people are liable to make mistakes.” An honest admission enough, but a very lame escape out of his dilemma. It was aligether a bad quarter of an hour for him. But Mr. Baxter does not differ from other prophets who foretell events that do not come off. To wit, in politics—and the weather. " •

A FATAL SECRET,

The oyster’s sweeti/ess, as we know, is not in its looks; and much admiration har. been bestowed upon the anonymous man who " First broke the oozy oyster’s pearly coat. And risked the living morsel down his throat” It is surmised that he was compelled to do so for punishment. Other legends go still further back, and relate how the poor human being of the alluvial age puzzled his weak brain over the rough and flinty shell, which instinct told him should contain something good to eat if only it might be got at. • The soft sediments of river and seas having not yet hardened into rock, our ancestor could not open his oyster with a stone. He stamped on it, but only hurt his foot. He threw it in the air, but the fall did not break it. lie tried in turns entreaties, flatteries, threats, jokes, and sarcasm. No use. The exasperating mollusk remained stolid, deaf and dumb. • - . Suddenly, as ilia perplexed man observed his aged grandske approaching, a novel idea ncCU V red to him. Watching his opportunity, he brought his oyster down sharply upon the aged man's bald pate. The shell cracked —so did the unfortunate cranium with which it bad come in contact. The discoverer. of Ihe oyster swallowed the delicious morsel. It was like a beautiful dream ; but the poor savage’s mind was ill at ease. He had not many hard-headed relatives, and if he must use up one for each oyster he ate, the banquet would not only be very costly, but tantalisingly insufficient. He imparted his secret to a friend. That night, as he slept, the friend came and cracked an oyster —on his skull.

THE GIRL POST-OFFICE CLERK,

" Please give rne sixpenn’orth of stamps, fair maid,” The city man did cry ; ~ . •• I’ve letters to send by the evening mail, >• Whose departure draweth nigh,”

The maiden did gaze with a haughty stare Upon that city man ; And she curled her little tip-tilted nose ■ As only a maiden can.

Then she turned to a friend and fellow-clerk, And whispered in her ear; And the two did giggle and laugh aloud. The city man felt queer.

•' I cannot stand waiting in here all night," Impatient was his tone. She did not look up or her laughter cease, The city man did groan.

He sat himself down in a corner there, A. masher entered in ; The maiden looked up with a radiant smile, To meet the masher's grin.

They chatted away at a rattling pace, The city man he swore ; " Oh, give me my stamps, and away I'll go,” He stamped upon the floor.

He waited and watched the flirtation grow, And heard them name the day; He raved, and he cursed, and he tore his hair In most excited way.

The iong years sped at the usual pace, The lady clerk was wed ; The stamps that he wanted he’d still not bought, He wished that he was dead.

And broken with age and bent with years, He sat and waited still ; His letters remained unposted, and ! ■’. U or - ..ae his will.

"Have you any objection to ' ■■• v ith-.-r piece of that pie, ma'am ?” rt Only not. But why do you , . .-a ya u. pocket ?” Tramp : •• I've been -specially commissioned, ma’am, to collect all the curiosities I came across for the great exhibition of confectionery next year.” • • “