CHAPTER XXIX. MORANT MEETS MISS HYDE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2242, 20 November 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XXIX. MORANT MEETS MISS HYDE.

When Phil went over to Dyke next day he was most warmly greeted by Mrs Fossdyke. 4 Sincere congratulations,' bhe murmured. 4t You can't think how happy you have made me ; that you two should come together has been the wish of my heart this yoav paat.'

'Ah ! I suppose Bwrie has told you all,' said Phil emphatically. •All, ' replied Mrs Possdyko, " and I know what a wretch I was to teiso her about her past, but it was not altogether my fault, although, at my age, I've no business to attempt to shift the blame to other people's shoulders.' ' Nobody ever doubted who the real culprit was, Mrs Fossdyke ; but where is Bessie ?' 1 She will be down in a few minutes, but I asked just to have you to myself for a little. I've known you ho long, Phil, and you've always been such a favourite of mine that I wanted to make my congratulations in earnest. Sbe will make you a good wife, even though there be a stain in her pedigree.' 1 lam very glad to hear you say that, Mrs Fo«sdyko, for, oven assuming her stepfather is the guilty monster which ho is alleged to bo, and which every fresh discovery seems to rnako more doubtful, it would be too cruel to visit his crimes on the head of this girl who nevei even saw him.' • I quito agree with you. I love her very dearly, and though of course, I can't repress a littlo shiver when I reflect upon he connection with that— that man,' filtered Mrs FossJyke, • si ill, Philip, I hope you don't think I could be unjust to Bessie." ' You wore so not very long back,' thought Philip, but he g<ive not utterence to the reflection and merely bent his handsome head. • And now,' continued Mrs Fossdyke, ' I want to see the other one, this Mr Mornnt who is engaged to Bessie's unknown sister.' • Certainly ; I was going to ask permission to bring him out here, as I want him to know Bessie ; but if I have leave to introduce him to you also, I shall be only too delighted.' 'Yes ! I want to know him. Is he nice? is he good looking ?' 1 Good-looking ? Well we men never can quite tell what your sex call so, or I'd say decidedly not ; but is he a gentleman, and a real good fellow, Mrs Fossdyke. He's been an idler so far, but he's got a wife to work for now, and, please God ! I'll make a man of him here. I'm bound to say that., so for, he faces his work like a bulldog.' ' With that incentive to work and you as his tutor, Phil, I tbiuk he'll do,' slid Mrs Fossdyke, laughing softly. " But bring him out to see me, aud I'll judge of his appearance for myself.' • Certainly !' And as ho apofce Miss Hyde entered the room, and greeted her fi'tncee with a bright smile, tojwhich he responded by warmly embracing her. ' Bessie, I've just obtained Mrs Fosbdyke's permission ; nay, I may say more, her commind to bring out youv future brother-in-law for you personal inspection." • You know I am as anxious to hear about mv sistr-r and make his acquaiutance as Mrs Fossdyke.' 4 Yes, and I'H ensure your heariNg abont your sister,' returned Philip, husrhing; 'no intimate friend of Herbert's will miss that at present, I fancy. ' Ho will find me an interested listener, at all event*. When will you bring him ?' ' To-morrow, if that will suit you, Mrs Fossdyke. Lord, what friends you and ho will be, B^ie ! A woman who will bo a sympathetic recipient of a lover's outpourings about the object wins his devotion. He will at once pronounce her a very paragon. ' ' And pray, Philip, who is the confidant of your outpourings,' ' said Miss Hyde, laughing. • I presume from what you say such a confidant is a necessity ?' 'Oh, yes, my dear,' rejoined Philip gaily, ' there are times when 1 feel it a necessity to dilate on your attractions, and then I'll own at first it came hard. Herbert had no idea of fair play. He expects me to li&ten for hours to prose poems about your sister, but I regret to state ho manifests as yet but a cursory interest in hearing about you. Of courno I also hud to find somebody to rave to ; but I hadn't far to eeek. I know an old friend who says, Bessie, if he could only take off twenty years you would have had to decide whether he or I was the best man, and he'll always listen while I chant your praises.' 4 Ah ! that dear old Dr. Ingleby,' said the girl as she slipped her arm through her lorer'w. ' I hardly dare think yet. Phil, that wo are going to bo married, but if ever we are he will have had as much to say to it as the clergyman.' • ' Ever we are, child ? What nonspnse you are talking. You know, dear Mrs Fo.«sdyke, that out of respect to your poor husband's memory npither of us would wish it at present, but after a due interval I know we shall have your best wishes aud permission,' •My very best wishes and hearty congratulations,' replied the widow ; 4 now run away the pair of you, I know you must have a lot to say to each other, unless things have changed a deal from the days when I was young.' 4 Certainly,' replied Phil, 4 1 havo got to teach Bessie woman's duties as a wife. 'Oh, Phil, Phil,' said Mra Fossdyke, laughing. * I know you both better. Only make her love you, and she'll want no teaching on that point ; but till you blip the ring on her finger it's woman's prerogative that her word should be law, and Bessie, my dear, don't be false to your sex and forego the privilege.' 4 Como along, Bessie, come for a stroll ; and as you are strong, be merciful. I bow meekly to Mrs Fossdvke's decision, but don't command more chariots than a mere maltster can afford 3 r ou.' 4 Don't chaff your wife that is to be, Phil,' said Bessie, with a low, rippling laugh. ' You know very well till sho came to Dyke cabs and omnibusses constituted her ideas of chariots. No, dearest, I can promise two things — to love you truly and develop no lavish ideas ou the subject of expenditure.' 4 A wise woman iii her generation is Mrs Fossdyke,' replied Phil, ' and if you'll only do the first I quite agree with her. I need trouble about nothing else.' A slight pressure of his arm acknowledged the speech, and then Bessie said ' Mind, Mr Morant brings out Nydia's photograph to-morrow. I am 80 anxious and carious to see it.' 'Ofcourso,' replied Philip, 'but hero we are again at tho gate. Still, Bessie, say in ir good-bye to you now is now what it was.' 'I trust not,' sho rejoined, softly. 4 You will undcretaud how different it seems to me whou I say ' Kiss me, Phil,' and, mind, I must see you to-morrow.' There was no mutiny on Philip Soames's part against his lady love's first behest, und as ho swung into Baurnborough at a four-mile-an-hour gaic, there was perhaps no happier young fellow in tho United Kingdom. Dashing into his own sanctum, ho found Herbert Morant staring solemnly at tho glowing coals. Lifting his head, that gentleman glanced at him for a moment, aud then exclaimed — 4 No, dou't please ; I can't stand it. There's wedding bells in every line of your face. All very well for you, who see marriage within measureable distance, but for one to whom it seems a mere possibility of the future. Ah !' 6ighed Herbert in confusion. 4 Don't be a fool, and don't stare into j the fire till oppressed with tho doldiums,' rejoined Soauies, sharply. 4 Your marriage bells aro within very reasonable reach, if you only stick to tho collar as you have done since you came here.' 4 You really think I shall tnako a brewer ?' asked Herbert,

'Thero'a no doubt whatever about it, and marry Nydia, and s< ttle down at Biumborough, and become a vestry man, a town councillor, and half-a-dozen other thing* of which you at presout comprehend nothing. In the meantime I'm pledged to-morrow to take you out to Dyke to iutroduce you to Mra Fossdyke and Nydin's half-sister.' • You are awfully kind, Phil, but won't it— won't it be just a littlo awkward ?' Not at all, that is all smoothed away. Both ladies are dying to see you. BeWe wauts to hear all about her unknown sihter, and if you give her about a tenth of the confidence you bestow upon mo there won't be much left for her to learn.' 1 Don't talk bosh, Phil, I've never said much to you about her.' ' Good Lord !' exclaimed Soames, 'am I like this ? Are we fonder when wo babble of our love My dear Herbert, you di»cour-e of littlo elsp.' • Come, look hero, old fellow,' exclaimed Herbert, suddenly, rising and lighting a cigar. 'I may chip in about Nid when I get tho cbaucc, but you are usually haranguing to nuoh an extent about tho angelic qualities of Miss Hyde I never got a fair opportunity to toll you about Nid.' 4 Well, my boy,' rejoined Phil, laughinsr, ' you'ra not going to get it now. That cigar should about settle your appotito for dinner. I'm off, to dress.' 4 Good heavens, it's not dressing time, is it ?' said Morant, turning abruptly to the clock on the mantelpiece. 'By Jove, you are right,' and as he spoke he hurled his fresh -lit cigar into the fireplace. ' Off we go, old man, white tie and soap and water time.' That be unduly discoursed about Miss Foxborough was a fact that Mr Morant could not possibly be convinced of. To uso a horribly common-place simile he was in tho position of a man who snores ; unconscious of misdemeanour ho is not to bo porsuaded that he has ever been guilty of it. But he looked forward immeneely to being introduced to Bessie, although unaware that he gave rein to it, ho did know that to talk about Nid to anyone afforded him considerable pleasure, and, of course, from Phil's accouut was quito certain that Besbie was prepared to give oar to all he might say about her newlyfound sister. Herbert Morant was duly paraded at Dyke next day, and cordially received by both ladies. 4 No, Philip,' said Mrs Fossdyke, in an undertone, as Bessie carried the newcomer off into the window to talk to; there can be no mistake about it, your friend is not a good looking man. No woman will ever think so.' 4 1 never thought so myself,' rejoined Soames ; 4 but what has that to say to it ? He is a real good fellow, and I don't think personal attractions, after all, have so very much weight iv love affairs. There are so many of us, both sides would never get married if we entirely depended on that. I know in old days iiow I have fought for a danes with the belle of the ball, won it at last and never pleaded for another. I suppose women are something like us ; prone to be smitten in the first place by an attractive | exterior, bnt an an>»el who ran only valso | and simper speedily disenchants most men who have anything iv them, and a plainer young lady, who can not only dance, but talk a bit, gives her handsome rivals the go-by in the long run.' 4 You've won a wife, Philip, who can do both,' replied Mrs Fossdyke, quietly, 4 1 know it.' he said, smiling ; 4 but I am exceptionally gifted amongst the sons of men.' 4 1 most sincerely trust and believe you are. Nothing can bring my poor, dear husband to me, and for Bessie's sake and yours, I wish the whole of this investigation could be swamped. I feel no desire for vengeance, and I should like the whole tragedy to be forgotten by the public' 'Spoken like your own true-hearted aelf,' rejoined Soamea, and then ho thought how marvellously her great grief Ind transformed Mrs Fossdyke. The rather petulant talkative woman he had originally known was transformed into a patient, cousiderate lady, taking a kindly interest in all those surrounding her. 'I am afraid, dear Mrs Fossdyke, the authorities, in the interests of justice, will not quite allow that. That the police are quite at fault this minute I firmly believe. You kuow, and always shall, as much as I can learn. What they may think exactly I can't say. but so far I fancy they really are utterly nonplussed.' ' And it would be best they were left so, for many reasons,' replied Mra Fossdyke, ' but this is beyond cither your control or mine ; but Philip, should there be anything to know you will let me hear it, will you not?' 'I promise faithfully. Do you think I might venture to interrupt that couple in the window ?' •Certainly,' rejoined the widow smiling. 4 You've allowed him to do a very fair amount of raving about Miss Foxborough ; you are quite entitled to do a bit of raving on your own account now.' (To be ronttmtt'd J

"Siu," said a master of Bvliol, in his parting address to a distinguished alumin, "your fellow students think highly of you ; the tutors and professors think highly of you ; I think highly of you. Bat no ono thinks more highly of you than you do yourself.'' One-Eighth of the first gang of recidivists are females ! Their average number of offences is fifteen ! Hah, a very nice little addition to the ladies' society in tbo colony ! There's a great demand for eligible fomales in New Caledonia ! Not really ? Oh yes— convicts are allowed, after a certain term, if they have behaved well, to select a wife from the now arrivals and set up a domestic establishment on a sort of half free system— something like the "assigned servants" in Tasmania ! They aro to bo the future colonists of the French possessions in the Pacific ! Does it work well ? Yes, they say so, but time alone can tell ! — Puff. Kindness v. Ckuelty.— "lt is not generally known," said Mr Hill, of the National Humane Society, " that the greatest trotting horse in the world came near being ruined by cruel treatment. When George Stone, of Cincinnati, found that a Kentucky mare which he had purchased was a very apeeJy animal, he hired a man to train her. This man was cruel to the mare, and he made but little headway in developing her speed. She became obstinate and ugly, and not only refused to work right in the sulky, but was vicious in her stable. Luckily this blundering, cruel trainer was discharged, and William Blair was employed in his stead. Like the true horseman that he is, Blair is utterly unable to treat a horse crnelly. He at once reversed the tactics of his predecessor, and began to treat the mare with kindness. She quickly responded with better behaviour, and in a short time became affectionate and obedient whereas her former master was afraid to go into the stall unless she was securely tied. Blair taught her to pick apples out of his coat pocket. As soon as the man and beast had established these pleasant relations, good results began to appear. The mare's speed developed rapidly, and she was soon able to make the famous record of 2min. lO.^ecs. A year or so more of cruel treatment and Maud S. would have been ruined.— i Chicago Herald.