Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

PAULINE.

A poor, pale little girl was standing by the half-closed gate that had just opened to the impetuous will of Harry Roscoe. Trembling in spite of herself, as the foot-notes came back to her—yet withal, there was a composure in her face, an almost set expression which told that there was a deep gnawing pain at her heart. " He does not love mo as he should, or he would not have taken no for an answer," she murmured, leaning her throbbing brow upon the paling, unmindful that he had that very evening summoned all the courage he could to bear him out in his declaration of love. It was all over now. No more long walks by the river, or chats at the gate for Pauline. Oh, the inconstancy of women ! " I have driven him away with scorn," she sobbed—" made the proud knee bond before me, and now he hates me for it, and has gone, never to return !" '• And this is the end of the romance that had occurred during these vacation clays?" ejaculated Harry, as he paused in his precipitate course clown the road to his hotel; "And I must go back to the city, refused, snubbed by a village school-miss ? I can't understand it; we were gettiiig along so finely ; I thought she really cared something for me ; but it is all over nosv, as I have found to my bitter cost. Well, I must seek someone who will reciprocate my affections, I suppose. Perhaps it is not too late yet to give that someone a home and a fortune." Arrived at the hotel, a messenger approached and delivered a note. It was a little pink affair, with a faint scent of lavender about it. He opened it without recognising the handwritng, and read the contents :— " Harky,—Come back. I have wronged you deeply, and deceived myself woefully. I do love you. Forgive me for treating you rudely —your love is more than everything else in the world, and if I have it not, the future will be as blank, the present moments of anxious suspense. " Pauline." " Pshaw ? a woman's pique is a dangerous affair, surely. Here she is anxious to be friendly again. Who can say what new freak will possess her mind wh' j n next I make her an offer of marriage 1 No, I will let a few months pass. Perhaps by that time she will have changed her intentions towards me. The next clay an early train bore Harry Roscoe away from the green hills and fertile valleys of Crawfordsville, where he had spent so many happy hours. With a sigh he saw them shoot past one by one; each grove and crowned eminence had its particular remembrances for him, which made him feel that he was leaving behind him a great deal to long for. Two months afterwards we find Harry deep in the complications of a business life. During this time he had often read and re-read the contents of that little note, and as often wondered to himself if she was really the arrant coquette he took her for. He had paid attentions to other women in the interval, but somehow the sad, diffident beauty of the Crawfordsville belle had more power over his heart than all. If she had felt that same feeling for him, then it woukK.be natural that she should treat 'him differently now. He would write to her that very day. No, he would go to her. That night ? No! On tiie morrow. With this resolve, Harry closed his ledger, took down his hat and coat, and proceeded across the park towards home. " By Jove ! but this is pleasure indeed ! Harry, old boy, how are you ? Haven't seen a shadow of you since your departure for the country last summer. Gob back, I see, right side up, with care. Tanned, too, like a Moor." " Why, it's Fred Montague !" ejaculated Harry, as soon as the exuberance of his friend's greeting was over. " Where have you kept yourself all this time ?" " Oh, anywhere—Brighton, where you know the cream of society is found. By-the-by, do you attend Madam Rose's soiree to-night ? It is to be the event of the season, I hear ; a most recherche affair." " Anything new ?" asked Harry. " Yes, I think so." " Of much interest 1" « No ! —yes ! —that is, some distinguished amateur is going to_ display her vocal powers. As it is to be at Madam Rose's, I think I shall attend." " I will be there," said Harry. " To-morrow I leave tho city for a short time. A momentary cloud came over his face as he said these last words, which his friend tried to divine, but could not. " Well, Harry, I wish you a pleasant trip and a safe return. There is my 'bus ; good-bye !" " Good-bye, old fellow." Whatever Fred Montague thought of Harry's strange expression, he did not suffer it to slumber long in his memory. That evening we see him at the house of Madam Rose, which is just now about half full of people. The doors and windows are wide open, for the night is very warm. Rare plants in flower, in every niche and corner, with the odour of magnolia and orange blossoms in the ladies' hair, fill the air with a fragrance which is peculiarly gratifying to the sense of smell. Fred sought

out the dignified Madam, and begged to be introduced to the;;nma gonna of the evening. "Miss Murtaugh would be delighted with your acquaintance," she said, " but unfortunately she has not come yet." " Then I can await her arrival," he answered, a trifle put out. He had not long to wait. Soon a lady of medium height appeared, clad in a rich pearl satin dress, which sot off a figure symmetrically roouldo'l as the Venus of Milo, with exquisitely shaped arms bare to the shoulder, a fine head, jet black hair, and eyes blue as the celestial sky above on a summer's day. Everybody gazed with astonishment that grew to admiration as the fair jyrinia donna entered. But it was not her beauty that drew those glances. It was the sad, stately manner and almost hauteur of her features which enchained them ; and more than one person asked where the fair creature had been imprisoned so long. She and Fred, after the introduction was over, got on finely together. When he left her side for awhile, it was only to bring up Harry, whom he espied at the lower end of the room. "Come, old fellow," he said, taking his arm, " you are just in time ; the fair one has captivated us all, and you must come and bow down likewise before the shrine." Harry stepped briskly forward, then stopped abruptly. "I cannot Fred ! who is the woman in white?" " That is Miss Murtaugh." «< Pau—the heat—the room—the —really, Fred, I shall have to go out. I did not dream it was so warm when I came in." . And Harry left the room and the house. Luckily no one mistrusted his secret but Fred, and he sensibly kept it to himself. That Harry had received a revelation he had no manner of doubt. One could not gaze upon that face without finding an image that would be treasured in memory for years. Poor Harry ! Pauline, the schoolmistress he had loved. But how about the dignified young lady whom he saw would become the belle of the metropolis. With her face came rushing back all its old-time fire ; those meetings, and then the parting at the gate, and the letter; yes, the letter ; strange that he did not lay more stress upon that. Her very words. But, somehow, he had always thought it meaningless. That very night he addressed her in care of Madam Rose. In a day or two came the answer. She was an heiress now. It was his wealth that had piqued her. Now suitors -were at every side, and he, she loved Harry Koscoe better than suitors, fame or wealthy " Heaven bless you, Pauline, for being true!" he said, taking her hand in his, and looking down into her upturned eyes. "If you had thrown me over none could tell what would have become of me; your face has haunted me night and day, and— well it might have ended in a madhouse, at last." One day, when the leaves were falling, they were married, and today exemplify the truth of love.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18880324.2.51.4

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2450, 24 March 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,408

PAULINE. Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2450, 24 March 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

PAULINE. Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2450, 24 March 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert