The Storyteller. A MAN IN A MILLION

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 291, 21 May 1898, Page 5 (Supplement)

The Storyteller. A MAN IN A MILLION

CIIAI'TER IV, (CONTINUED,) Weeks went by, and though Clements visited Hilda almost every day, and, as far as dress went, looked younger every day, ho certainly made no impression on the girl. Well, for that matter, Hilda had no heart to give, and even if she had had, she would hardly have beatored it upon her father's partner.

The most ridiculous part of Clement's wooing was his assumption of the dre9S, gayness, arid even frivolities of youth. He forgot, intentionally, that he was fifty five, or if he remembered it at all it was only to compare himself with far older men, to his own advantage, of course. He forgot, or he would not remember, that he was greyhaired, stiff jointed, hollow eyed, and—whisper it—a trifle podgy. Clements commenced wooing now on a differeuts system.

For one thing, he became quite " horsey " all of a sudden. He had a fresh steed from the Sultan's stables every day —the Sultan is very kind to Europeans—and used to take Hilda on deligbful long rides round the island. Ho took also to bragging mildly about the benefits of wealth, and gave her presents which would have dazzled the eyes of a Turk. He even hinted mysteriously about his own intentions to marry soon—upon his forty ninth birthday, he said !—and poor Hilda at once thought of the widow Webber.

So, on the whole, Clements' wooing did not prosper. Meanwhile, all unexpectedly, back one morning came Hilda Prince in the " Niagara." Both Flora and Hilda were in a great state of excitement, and Mrs. Yacoob and little Tinka seemed to go daft when they found that the great three-masted ship that had dropped anchor in the bay contained no less a personage than Douglas Irvine himself.

Things went on for a time now very much the same as they had done before Irvine had gone away. Van Doomp's bills had been met by McGregor, with Clements' kind assistance, and so far he could breathe more freely.

But McGregor was not a happy man. The words that Irvine had used that evening at the bungalow, about selling his daughter in the slave-market, kept rankling in his mind : he had felt their force at the time, and had felt their truth •ince.

" She will grow to love Clements after marriage," that is what he had to tell himself fifty times a dav -

Irvine, however, did not come quite so often to McGregor's house now, nor were the dear old rambles in the forest nor the boat-cruises on the sea resumed. So Clements continued to be Hilda's escort as before. "We have a new branch starting at Seychelles," McGregor told poor Irvine one day, " and if you care to better yourself and leave Van Doomp Clements is willing to make you our junior partner. What say you V " Heigho !" sighed Irvine. " I know right well what it all means. Yes, I think I shall be better away. But if Van Doomp himself starts a house at Seychelles, I shall take his offer rather than yours, or rather, I should say, than Clements."

Though Irvine did no more rowing with Hilda and Flora, he went frequently by himself in McGregor's badane; and Yacoob, whose duties were not onerous on shore, often accompanied him. One day they sailed away to a distant islsnd. It was in the monsoon season, and the sea was somewhat rough, the sky frequently overcast by rain squalls. They were to have been back by four o'clock, and Irvine was coming to dine at McGregor's ; but as the afternoon wore away, no signs of the returning boat could be seen from the house-top, where Flora and Hilda were uneasily scanning the hazy horizon. At last the sun gave a saturnine gleam across the sea, and so sank behind the waves. Übe girls' uneasiness changed now to positive fear. They were in tears. The one could not comfort the other, and both dreaded even to tell what was uppermost in their minds. No one could eat any dinner that day, and the girl 3 were silent, but kept listening to every unusual sound, as one does who expects evil tidings. Towards ten o'clock, Mrs Yacoob came in. Her face showed her fears. " Ob, Master McGregor," she cried, " ray good-for-nullin' bamboo hab returned, but no Missa Irvine !" o*lt was true, the boat had returned, but Yacoob was alone. He had a strange and sorrowful tale to tell. chapter V. The negro's story was soon told and it is as well to state here at one that from this evening to the bitter end he never once deviated it, or gave anv other version thereof. What he told McGregor then, he repeated before Clements and Van Doomp with several other witnesses on the beach next day, and before the door of the little hut in which the badane was kept.

Ho looked his questioners straight in the face as lie spoke. It was eye to eye and soul to soul. They had spent the day shooting, he said, in a far-off island and were detained longer than they expected to be. They sighted the town about two hours after sunset. It was then very dark, and presently it became darker, for a thick squall came on, and they had to lower the sail and trust to oars to keep her head to the wind. It was just then that the accident happened. They heard a shout, and almost at the same moment a huge black dhow bore down on them, and both were thrown into the water, although the well ballasted badane with her false keel, which was down at the time, righted almost immediately again. Yacoob was a powerful swimmer, and he easily managed to reach the boat and scramble on board. " But he said, "po Master Irvine nebber come to the surface, and I not see him no more." Both oars wero lost and the rudder was unshipped, so it was with the greatest exertion that Yacoob had succeeded at last in reaching the shore. This was all that Yacoob had to say, and McGregor was about to open the door of the hut to look at the badane, when a richly-dressed gentleman Arab steeped in. His English was exceptionally good, and his manner quiet, and even sad.

" I have a word to say, master," he said to McGregor. " I believe this man lies, and that your son met with foul play. I was out fishing last night," he continued. " I saw the badane, and both this slave and the English gentleman in it. I saw no dhow. There was a squall true, and during it I heard shouts and cries for help. When I next saw the badane there was but one man in her. That man was Yacoob."

" Pull out the badane," said McGregor, quickly.

There was not the slightest sign that she had been run down or run into, but there was blood on the seats, and a cloth, also stained, was found in one of (he lockers. "Yacoob," said McGregor, stonily now, "how came that there?" " I dun no nuffin, sab, I shuah ; it not there last night." Things were looking black for Yacoob.

"Turn his pockets out," suggested the Arab. This was done, and in his jacket was found Irvine cigar-case. The Arab nodded to McGregor. 'Then two of the Sultan's soldiers walked up and at once made- Yacoob prisoner, and marched him off. His last words, and they wore accompanied by a look that McGregor never forgot, were these—

"I go now to prison, sah. Dat is goin' to def, Nobody eber leave the Sultan's prison alive. Bet befo Hebben, dis day, sah, I sware I'ze innocent.'

The tears were rolling down his black cheeks as he was marched away. "Dot vhas one innocent man. Mister McGregor," said Van Doomp looking sorrowfully after the prisoner.

" I think so, said McGregor. " Clements, what is your opinion ?" " That it is all a mystery," answered Clements.

The house of McGregor and Clemeuts had influence enough, however, to obtain an interview with the Sultan, and that potenate promised faithfully that ,l by-and-by " Yacoob should have a fair and impartial trial. Meanwhile the prisoner was locked up in a dark and foetid dungeon, where, until his being brought out for trial, or execution without trial, he ivould have an allowance of cassava-root rice, and half putrid water, just enough to sustain life after a fashion.

No more could bedone. McGregor and Clements went home to comfort the girls as best they could. They told the Arab's story ; they told everything, in fact, wisely believing that it was better the truth should come from them than second hand from some one else.

All ioy seemed quite gone frcm the hearts of everyone in McGregor's house now. Both Flora and Hilda mourned for Douglas Irvine as o.ie mourns for the dead. Mrs Yacoob was cheerless enough, and even 'Tinka was frequently found weepfor "de biggee handsome gen'lam " that always spoke so kindly to her.

" I must not let you girls mope so much," said McGregor one morning many months after the events above described. "To sorrow to a certain extent is right enough, but to sorrow too much is sinful. Flora I am getting a pony for you, so that you can join Hilda in her daily rides. Mind, I say daily, and Clements will look after you both." So riding in the forest was resumed, and both girls benefited much thereby. Clements was still doing his best to curry favour with Hilda, and, indeed she thought him very kind, and often accused herself of being ungrateful to him. He had as yet, however, made no attempt to press his suit. But the time came before very long. " I really don't want to press you about those bills partner," said Clements one day to McGregor, as they sat together in their dark office. " But business is business, even if you were my brother."

" Well," replied McGregor, "of course I know business is business, so I had better make over to you my large store of gum copal and * " til) ivory ] "No, because you will do better. with that when you get an oppor lunity of shipping it, doubly better And it is safe enough, the white ants will hardly cat the gum, nor the elephant's tusks either. But I want Hilda. Come, now, on the day we are married I burn all the bills, and you will be a free man once more again. Can't you get your influence to bear just a little on the matter."

"Have you hinted about marriage to her."

" No, that would be in vain yet. But you do as I propose, then, if you will permit, I will take Miss Irvine and Hilda for a voyage to Seychelles. Mrs Yacoob can come, too, as maid. I want to establish the branch there, which poor Irvine should have had. The voyage will do the girls a world of good, and there is no saying Arhat may happen." A night or two after this McGregor took his daughter into a private room. What conversation passed between them may never be known, but that night, do as she would, Mammy Yacoob could not get her darling to go to sleep. Her fits of crying were many and frequent, though she would not tell Mrs Yacoob the nature of her grief. Next day at breakfast, McGregor himself looked ten years older, and no wonder, for he had paced the floor-all the live-long night. But the little paddle steamer " Mahe " left Zanzibar a week after this for the distant islands of Seychelles, and Clements and his party were the only passengers. The lovely weather the sparkling sea, blue and pearly sky, the glorious sunrises and sunsets all combined, would have made the voyage seem idyllic, under happy auspices. As it was it was just something less than weariness.

One bright starry night, when Flora was below in the cabin, Clements seated himself near Hilda and gently took her hand.

He had determined at last to plead his own cause, and it must be confessed he did so most eloquently. His tone was deep, true, and impassioned. He threw himself more on the girl's sympathy than anything else. He did not even ask for her love, but be pleaded for her pity. He knew, he said she had loved another, and that other was worthy of all the love and respect a woman's heart could yield. But then that other was gone long ago. He would be seen or heard of no more till the sea gave up its dead. And he—Clements —was a lonely man ; his very wealth was a burden to him because he had no one to share it with him. Would she not share it ? He was tired of Zanzibar, and so was his partner. But he had riches enough for all. They should sell out and go to England, nay, to Scotland itself, the land of poetry and romance, that she had so often read about and dreamt about. Then quiet, and peace, and joy would be assured to them all, especially to the old man her father whom sorrow was bending fast towards the ground and towards the grave. "Oh !" she cried through her tears ; " indeed, indeed, dear Mr Clements, I am not ungrateful, but don't press me to-night." " I will not press you I o answer to-night, my precious," he answered. " I will not ask you to answer for one month, or for five months. Meanwhile, let me be near you sometimes, and do not scorn my little attentions."

" Oh, thank you, dear Mr Clements ! you are indeed kind. Nay, more, you are noble. I will pray for you, I " The sentence ended in a flood of tears. Clements soothed her as well as he could, and like a wise man made haste to change the subject. He was content and happy now. The thin end of the wedge was in, and he never doubted that he was capable of driving it home. Strange to say, there was from this very evening a change in Clements' demeanour. He seemed much more at ease. He was henceforward himself at his best, making no more attempts at youthful flippancy, but making himself most agreeable and unselfish. He was even mirthful at times, and the mirth now appeared to come straight away from the heart ; it was genuine.

The islands of Seychelles at last! They are very beautiful, mountainous, and in many cases, greonwooded to the water's edge. The young lady made many pleasant friends here.

The " Wasp," man-o'-war, lay at anchor off Port Victoria, and Clements accepted an invitation to a party given on board. True neither Hilda nor Flora said much, but for the first time since that sad night of grief they began to feel a little quiet happiness. Picnics on shore and long rambles among the hills followed, and on the whole their three weeks' stay passed very quickly by. Poor Hilda made more than one conquest among the officers of the " Wasp " and when the steamer went paddling away seawards again not only was the quarter-deck of the war-ship crowded with officers,

but oho rigging with cheering men. Then the music of the band came trembling over the waves, as it played that sweet sad old soiig, so dear to every sailor's heart, " Good bye, sweetheart, good-bye." Hilda wept though, because this bad been Irvine's favourite. (To he continued).