Short Story.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 161, 4 February 1902, Page 4

Short Story.

#he Encumbrance.

By GlLßrifeT DAtLB.

The fine autumn afternoon was drawnj 1 ingtoa close, and the first grey shades of the approaching evening 'had settled on the little seaside town of Beddlesea. Along the'lonely front, walking with a , slight limp, yet holding himself perfectly erect paced the'major, lie was a man well advanced in years, with a thin, refined looking face,'his hair white and close-cropped. His Were oldfashioned in style, yet had evidently been kept ’with scrupulous care : ; the tightbuttoned frtfck coat fitted his trim, sparse figure perfectly, and was spotless. A coastghardsmah, pasting, 'touched his cap respectfully. Everyone in EoiL dleseaknew the Major and his history. It was fifteen years ago When Godfrey Everard, having been invalided out of service on account of a leg wound received in some hill fighting in India, had cothe amongst them, bringing with*bim his little daughter, an only child. A major’s retired pay is riot large, attic! with no private money to help him, an existence in a small Out-of-the-way place like Reddlesea was the only thing possibleHe had rented Lyndale Cottage, a pretty little place on the outskirts of the town, and there, with her 'father as her sole companion, Christine Everard’passed the | years 'that had brought her to womanI hood. : At the end oil the front the .major had 1 paused, and was gafeing seawards. There was a look of despondency on his face. “ So the boy is back again—arrived . suddenly from London. 1 wonder what he has come for?” he murmured, reflectively. He stood for some moments i thinking, an anxious, troubled expression : in his eyes. Presently he roused himself L with an effort. “ Oh, I’m a jealous old fool to Worry,” he growled. Then, glancing at his watch, he turned ; and struck out briskly in a homeward direction. It Was 5 o’clock when he ; reached the ootf ago, and, as he opened ; the door, Iris old servant came out into the hall and met him. She gave a mys- ’ terious jerk of her finger towards the parlour. > “ She’s here, feir,” she whispered. Having tea With Miss Christine—a book and heaps of flowers this time I* she added, a grin spreading over her - homely features. The major’s rftOnth twitched slightly. . Martha Was privileged. “Very kind—very kind, indeed, of her 1” he said solemnly. Ho opened the door of the parlour , boldly and entered the room. A middleaged lady With a good-tempered, smiling face and a Wonderful bonnet roSe and' greeted him effusively. ‘ “ My dear major,” she Cried, grasping £ him by the hand. “ I just dropped in for a minute to ask it you and Christine e would come op to lunch to morrow. She insisted that I should stop to tea and wait for you." . Mrs Benigher was a Widow. She had; been left with a cheerful house and a comfortable income, and for the last ten years she had known the rriajor and Christina and been unremitting in her attentions to the lonely pair. That she frankly admired the major was no secret,' but he, with the recollections of the quiet, delicate woman who had been his ! wife, shrank from the advances of this thoroughly Well-meaning but somewhat ■ boisterous lady. She Chatted incessantly, whilst the major listened with a charming air oj old-fashioned courlsey. At length, when the smiling Martha had removed the tea things, Mrs Bonisher Stood up and announced her intention of going. The major saw her to the door, 1 and returning to the room, sank down in 3 his chair. With a sigh of relief, “ If only she would not talk s‘o milch and give me things i” ho said pathetically, , Christine CarUe AVer to him and dropped on one knee beside him. “ The fact is, father, dear," she said naively, “ we’re too fond of our own society 1” He looked down on the fair young face for a moment, then bent forward and kissed hsr lightly on the forehead. “ Yes, I want nobody but you, my dear," he said softly. f “ You shall always haVe me," She said with a smile, then rising she got her work and seated herself at fihe table near him. His gaze for a moment wandered round the neat little room with its hundred evidences of a gentle well-ordered life He glanced at the delicate outline of the girl’s sweet face, bent under the lamplight. " We’vC got on splendidly together, havn’t we, Chrishe said suddenly. “ We couldn’t do without one another now ?’* There WUs a pause before the girl an- ? swered. Her head bent a little nearer to her work. “ No, dear, of cbnrse sot,” she answered , in rather a low voice. Then she raised 1 her head and smiled brightly at him. ' “ You are all I have, and yon have only ' i me!” she added with the slightest tremble in her voice, 1 youl” hd repeated With a soft sigh- He picked tip bis paper and ' began to read it» Now and again his eye Wonld drift Over the edge to hie quiet figure working so industriously; At a 1 quarter to ? he rose. On two evenings * a week be sped! an bout at the Vicarage ' id connection with some church accounts. Christine went with him to the hall and helped him On With his Coat. 1 “ I shall bo back by B—we mtist have our game then,” he said as he his&d her. * Every evening the two played a game of 1 chess. j He limped away on his jonrney to the Vicarage: The work-, there was soon got through, and an hour later he was again * entering the garden of bis cottage. The 1 night air had struck him as somewhat cold, and, seeing the window of the parlour open, he crossed the lawn with J thoiutehtion of &huttiog .it from' the ontaidij?!? Ai ‘ he ] hia'hfind on thl *

inside the room canghc his ears. H* recognised it at once as that of Lionel Carruthers.'the son of an ‘old friend in the’town, and as fine a ybbng fellow as could be mot. A nameless dread seemed to ‘clutch ab his heart, and alihosb unconsciously bis ears strained fdr the words. “ It’s a wonderful chance for into, Ohristime,” he was saying eagerly.' “ They have appointed me manager of all their Canadian business with a honsh in Montreal. 1 came down at once to tell father, then to ask you dear ” The Major put otib a hand to steady himself. Yhe thing which he had dreaded for years had come at last. I know it is asking a lot of you to leave everything and come with me,’’' went on the voice. “ Bill I kinw you love me—you have told me so 'yourself?" There Was a pause, then the 'old man Heard heir voice——it was low ahd trembling. “ Yes, I love ydu, Lionel—b(it I can’t COtae.'" TheMijor dreW in a deep breath. '‘'Oh, don’t ask me any more 1" continued the girl—there were tears in hep Voice now and the Major felt his eyes smart. “It is breaking my heart to sai “ ho," but I cannot go : 1 Remember 4 aib all that father has—think how gobi he has been to nse, how we have spent eVery minute'together—4 can't leave him here alone—go abroad, desert him altogether,” she said witha a sob.

"'the Major leant agaihst the window tflll; the ne'xt words passed him in & confused murmur. When ho foused himself he heard young Lionel's voice again. “ You are right, df arest,” he was saying hoarsely. “ Still, it is very hard ! t am going now. To-morrow I shaA come and say ‘ good bye * to your father and yourself.” Slowly, With a dazed expression, the Major turned and limpol across the grass, through the gate and but on to the road again. He made his way round to the tiny front and paced h< length, his head in a wh'rl. “At las 1 , it has Come— l am the encumbrance,” he said with a groan. For almost an hoar he strode up and down, wrestling with the thoughts in hift brain. Suddenly he stopped and jerked bis shoulders back. . “ She shan’t do it—hang me if shC shall !” he exclaimed fiercely. With an air of resolution he turned-, and crossing the front, walked along the main street. Finally he paused beforC the door of a comfortable looking house at the farther end of the town. For a moment he stood hesitating, with his hand on the brightly-polished Then, pressing his lips firmly together, he pulled it, “Is Mrs Benisher in,” he inquired df the servant who opened the door. “Yes, sir; will you coma in, please?” For a second the major paused, then) as if nerving him«elf with An effort, ha stepped briskly over the threshold, and the door dosed behind him.

1 The next morning he was down a little I later than usual. Chiistine mitt bin! with a smile. He noticed she was somewhat pale. “ Late nights at the Vicarage 'don’t ’ agree with you,” she said as she kissed ” They Wore both father siiciib dating ( breakfast. Afterwards ijhmtine basiel herself with house duties for borne time-, whilst the Major strolled in the gardtri in front of the hoUsC. Presently shd * came out to biin. “Isn’t it » lovely morning-, fathet, * dear ?” she crkd j “Christine, dear, he began with Ah attempt to impart some gaity into his ’ tone. “ I have great news for yob. 1 Listen I” There was a sound of the garden ghth opening. Christine pressed his arm warnihgly-. He turned and saw young j Lionel Carruthers entering the garden. “ Ab, Lionel,” he cried, as he grasped the yonng man’s hand warmly, “ you art just in time to hear the news I was about 1 to tell Christine. His mouth twitched nervously. | “ Yoii see, my dear, I’ve hoed thinking lately that it is not good for a young girl like you to have only my society* so——” 7 He paused. “ Well, last night I asked Mrs Benisher to marry me, and she con* * seated !” he finished in a rush. The two stood gazing at him in amaze* r ment. “ Father I” exclaimed Christine be-' wildered. He patted her arm affectionately. " You see, my dear, anything might happen .to take yon away from me, and you would not like to think I was left alone. Some day yon may even be married,” he said, smiling bravely at the pair. The girl gave s start, aitd A swift wave of colour swept over her cheek. She cangkt him by the sleeve and looked searchingly into his face. “ BecauSe I understood, dear i” he said, and there was a slight tremble in his voice* “Because I knew you wouldn't have gone otherwise.” There was a sound of quick footsteps, and Martha fashed oat of the bouse. She was visibly excited) and Carried in her hand a magnificent bouquet of roses. " Mrs Benisher’s servant has just brought these for yod, sir t” she gasped, “ And aho teld me something • eh, you don’t mean to say, sir, she has got you at last j” The Major 1 smiled* “ Yee, Martha, I ha¥e stlrfetidered,” he said, serenely. Christine was watching him with the tears glistening iri her eyes. He drew 1 her gently to him and kissed her, then grasped Lionel by the aria* “Be good to her,” he said, softly. He caught up the rosea, and, with a bright smile at them, tamed and limped slowly acmes to the house.—M.A.P.