CAMELLA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2896, 5 February 1891, Page 4

CAMELLA.

ok, AX L(JNUUANT \\ ilAXirl.Ki i'.\ Mu-i I/. I'iKisi i;vil'li.w (A.illiMi-..f " 1 , .. i-?..-t: I'll. '' CIIAITKII IV. (<-:.vn>;ii-:!>).

And vet again tli it evening, when Stanley took her hand in tin: da'kiiess by th" side of the large ventilator, answering li«--r merry ■• (Joodnight, and don't full over-i.im-d." '(.'.iiiifll i w;H troii'.-iovis of :i thrill of pI':aMUV lit Ills i-:inic,-i'.liws " No, indeed, for then I might i\\:\(>v ■■"(■ von again, and I enuid not li"iir tliiit iniw." Hastily mic. withdrew her hand, for Kate Powys. wus approaching, calling her name. And, i hun to that young ladys surprise, Oamelhi manifested ii great desire to know nil iihoiil her engagement. Had Kate known ■■ him" long .' What was his name '! And Miss iPowys, blushing, ynt only i.oo happy to talk about the ono beloved object of her thoughts and hopes, pourod out her pretty little love-story, whilst Camella sat on the edge of her berth, too much inlurusteclto think of undressing.

" .So he had to go out with your married sister and her husband to m.iko a home for you in \\ anganui.'' queried the listener. "How long ago is that V "Two years, nearly. My brotherii: law lias done very well, and my ,ister says that even if Robert had j not boon ready to marry nn\ she should have sent (or me : she knr.w I was not too happy with Aunt Kllmi in London. ' 'M>oesMr 'I'.rout meet you in Auckland'.'" " Oh, yes, answered Kate her ''yes •••hining, "He wishes us to be married there, and go for our honeymoon up to Kotorua. " How very happy you look, exclaimed Cameiia with a shade of envy in her tone. '• And then you will live close to Mrs Nonsent?" •' Yes," blushingly answered Kate. " P.ut to tell the truth, 1 don't like talkiugor think ing much about that. .Have you never noticed that what •we want exceedingly never comes, or if it comes at all, it is always very disappointing ? But if we fancy anything is not going to be nice, it often turns out delightful." " Yes," began (Jamella, doubtfully, •■butif vour theory is correct we must always deny olirs^ycsthe pleasures of anticipation for fear we exceed the reality or, according to you,spoil it altogether." " Well,'' laughed Kate, " p.jriiaps .vmie people would prefer always to live in a delightful anticipation, and let the, actual future take care of itself."

'• Tiiko a child for instance, ; .said the Nownham girl, ''now dn you mean to tell me that it does not got an immense pleasure the day before a .vjliool-treat— But Kate flung her arm round the. Wrangler, and putting her hand ovor her mouth, said n:errily,"lnever eould argue, Ella, only I. do wish you were as happy as \ am." (Jainella returned the caress saying, I'm a great bore, It's you soft, little clinging women the men love." " Indeed ! I'm going to ask Mr Talfersou if /come anywhere near /iii ideal of female perfection," retorted Kate. Camella looked gra\e. '' .Its not a matter for joking." she said thoughtfully. " Really, when one thinks that, iiil one's future life is placed by marriage so much under the control of a man of whom, as a rule, one knows so little, a great deal more ciro ought to exercised in the selection of a husband." Rut Kate only laughed heartily. "If you ever fall in love." she said, "you won't stop to consider .selection and all that." " Have you known Mr Bront long'! Oh. yes, you said you were children together, ,l \\'e played together, went to school together ihc had a tutor, iUid I took ■•<),)" h'V.o:;-. with him), but ai'ier we >wro -po, :, up, we h'-l. . : :;liL of each oth'T for a ~,: ..; -.-.-11 it - - ] do not know much of in-, lit',' for that lone." concluded Is at- v. lib .; ~!ight sigh. • lj. may ha\e altered in two •■: ;;•■; I think you are running a ri.-,\. Kati'. and Cane-lla turned her larijo gray eyes with a humorous, but .-dight'ty quizzical expression ill them, on her friend. " lulcss i/mi. mean to s'.eul his heart away from me, I have no fears for his constancy," replied Kate ''Ah, well, after all it is such a lottery, this marriage question, I think .1 won't go in for it." And Ciiiiiella slowly disrobed herself whilst Kate resolved to hurl those words at her on some future occasions, when Cupid's dart had struck her in a vital spot. CHATTER V.—Twn Proposals. TuT.nii was n slight coolness on hoard the good steamer, "Romolu." 'Phis was not caused by the •woather, which was all that could be desired, but was chiefly perceptible when either Mr Kenridge or .Mr Taiiorson perceived that Miss I'ittorsley seomod specially happy apart from him. If the gallant Stanley noted a smile, or heard a rippling laugh when Henry and Camella paced the poop together. liii would retire to the further end, and gaze at them with a severe. Morn expression on his usually eeiiuil i'lieo. If, on the other hand. ii,t> fair lady was leaning over the lah'rail, watching, with rapt look in Jicr beautiful eyes, tlio glories <>!' i,!ie siowiy dying aim. whilst; Air '['.il/oi'sou seemed perfectly content ),, behold their rejection 111 her jVPo — Ilonry Kenridge wo'iM leioiislv kick the unoffending lotlo terrier belonging N a persona! Iriond of the first otlicer. and consequently, enjoying n, brief liberty -now and then on deck. "Confound the fellow," would ,„,,. from between Henry's lips, ,;nd the expression did not refer to the (log which would hop off on three nursing his injured

1.,-m-;. in..! h:* rr>A- ~?]•.,]■■'■-•>"' ''' •|i" .;uv 'ime. Tli. v..y.i-i- \\a- •;:.:■■■. i:._; !■» .m r; : .l. and i-.ti on- till yol :isk-'d t' • m!■ !i■ st" n lh:i f :-i»I«■ r>•!I• 1 iliriiii! 01 .; prof.-.-.-r-diip. iiiui mm!; hi.r tal-uN in -I" 1 o!,.v:i!i-:!.v <.t" f 11>i11f■--* i.- life, leaving , h'-r unelo to his studies and 1 »Jl«'lin•■;--. .Mrs bre;ii.he:l m-.re tVrciv. After .'ill. <<hf thought, i , 's on!v tli" iioriu 11 s'a , '. , or iili'iii'-. mi Ikm'pl :-hi;>. I' , it. I wish Mr Strong biiw hid I n in e:\rnr.-!. It w:is and lh:i'. lem.m Ind • ■l-iini.'d ("'imcl!-i's pnenisi- to w.U.-h fjie I'li'isphonnis fniiii a .snug point of viini. i^ ,, in the stern with him. Ho had iitit.i In-i- proiiiise ti. r\t:;n'i. from her, and he \v:is not ;i.t ;ill -.r,'-e about oi'tiiining it. Her manner was. so far as he could judge, so en tirely alike to him. !■> I I'Siry. mid to Stanley, that lm fancied if his fli-ince f>i success were no better, at least it was no v. orst. , , than theirs.

• ; i wish 1 could reproduce tint rippling splash on (he piano," said (Jamella. as she leaned over the side, and watched the phosphorescent waves tumbling over each other with little "whists" of protest and bubbling laughter, us the mighty monster relentlnssly ploughed her way through them, tossing them into foam, and upsetting their gravity completely. "You are very fond of music, remarked Mr iStrongbow, wondering if tl-vrr: was any song in which he could d'riare his feelings. A happy inspiration came to him. '• l.)o you know what the wild waves ire .saying to you to-night'.' ho suddanly demanded of the fjueenly figure at his xidr. •'Mo,' she said, reluctantly withdrawing her fascinated eyes from the mysterious water below her, and fixing them courteously oh his face for an instant. "You are not going to quote any poetry?' she added, abruptly, for Mr Sfrongbow had once or twice before inlliuted some frightful doggrel of his own composition upon her sensitive, welltuned ears.

" No. no," he said hastily, for her expression was not encouraging : '•it's not poetry, it's stern reality." Miss Pittersley did not like his tone, and said, flippantly. " Was that why you brought me to the vessel's stein'.'"

Tho young man looked annoyed, and well lie might. For it was not at all likely that a young l;vly who could bo guilty of such an atrocious plav upon words at such a moment, would be. inclined to listen favourably to his suit. Mut ho had taken the lirst plunge, he would wade in deeper, and loam his fate. That there were breakers ahead, ho could tell by the rather haughty pose of the young girl's head. "Those wild wave?, he continued, bravely. " each arc repeating loudly: ' Cainclla, I love, I love you.'

He paused, and Miss l.'ilter.slny said, hastily. " They are s-vying it, very coldly, then, and more like a lesson learned by note than a spontaneous idea,. Teii them," she continued, caritully refraining from glancing at lici" companion, " that though I like looking at them and listening to them when [ do not understand what they say, yet on the present occasion, I find them monotoiiou: and wearisome. I am chilly, aiid shall retire to my cabin. Gond l'i-hr, Mr Stiwigbow."

He did not answer, and fearing she had been a little severe, she held out her hand, repeating in a less formal tone, "'Good night,"and adding cheerfully, " Y'ou can stay here and tnilc nonsense to the mermaid-;, you know, but in fiitup , , please spare me.'' With a little laugh she left him, end Mr Strongbow leaned over the stern in- an attitude strongly suggestive of a sudden attack of mnl-di'-hur. In reality he was blaming his stupidity, as he called it. in selecting such a capricious channel is the changeful sea in which to ..-ouvey his declaration of attachment to the fail , t.'imella. The Ja-'ly hi-rseif had been uncurtain whether to lake Mr Srrongbow's remark;; in earnest or ::oi. JI, w-\.i her lir.<t oli'er—if she were iusl ilicd in I'alliii:. , , it- .i-u oiler •

and it had touulieil no leopousivecurd in her heart. She ..oiild not, think I hut her suitor was very much in iw-.'c v>'i;!i !i>:(', am! sJir ai'g((i:d tiiai he was, consequently, not altogether disconsolate at her refusal. She did not at all know how to meet him the next day, whether to pretend that she was unconscious of his remarks made the previous evening, or whether to avoid him altogether. She decided to be guided by circumstances, and these favoured her.

About day-break Kate woke iier, with tie" , unpleasant news that it

was very rough. i: It's blowing a hurricane," said that young lady a little later, " Oh ! (.'■unelln. are you not frightened ?■"

,Isufc INFi ss PitCnrsloy avowed her iiilent.ioii of up to breakfast as usual, anil laughed goodluitnourudly nt poor .ivate, wlio wns fiiiu to lie; still, and enduru her misery as best she might-. l!ut few of tho lady passengers put in an appearance at that meal, and one ov two gentlemen wnrn missing. Amongst the iiiiinlicr was ]\[r Strongbow, and whether lie \va* sufrrriug (he pungs lit' an unreijiiiteil atleetion. or merely phy-ieaUy incapiiblo of get--1 iiilt up, (..'iiinellii. ili.i ii'it !::io\v, and did not Jiko to -i-.• ■ i ■-lfi-_-. Mr Jv'-'uri'.lge !,'•'■ ip..d hvron duck, In viun til ,, :. ,, !'' : "' , . l .' >i! i Is:, nmiiii--1.1 ii: r >!,< vwivi-s. ■;.!'. ;.!:■.■ ...ojn wenl in. U>w. .uul \'iii>{ ,i v: -;i; oi e.indulnin-f: ;;'iil >\ in[/.U:.v Ui ,;>.)■ .-:;i! i."i , :• ilv cliaporoiii-'. v .-ii;i.t find -iu- shiod ,'n tin lodl of (lie i'omjialliiiii-hilder. lii-oi-(iifing, uliiihcf .-.ln> would try nnd ;iii(lColonel'il;iii.c, r stou. ami persuade iiiia to take lu'run dt-ek. or vciiuuv up by herself, rough as it still was. ;i Miss rirtersley/' said a voice above. h'T, "will you not come fora l,vi ;nii of fresh air, you roust have

born hull' .-tii'.'d do.vn here all d.iV." l'.,mel!:i had Mr mitiily t'im-s b-i'ore i!ie whole of hi- body \va> vinible. as. wranped up in a great coat, became down the companion ladder. •• I'liaiik von. 1 shall like it, exceedingly if I not be in your way.'' she answered. •'llowean vou suggest such .-in ullerlv impossible In: askeil, reproii.eiifiilly. "Why, were you • r ,!„..■ up !,'v Vou are " I v, ::s iiojiing , to ciieh my liwI'ul proi.-(-:.ir." she returned, lightly, "and vicliiuise him.'' ■• Steadv no'.v." eiie.'l Mr Taller,;ou. as thi'V made iheir way up the strips. -'You must take my arm. and hold on very tight, and I will look alter our footing. , ' Ilreathless but laughing, they r.-ached the talfrail. uud watched in -ileitcu the foaming, dancing , waves us they seemed to hurl themselves against the mighty steamer, then, balllud in that attack, renew tho attempt only to bo foiled once more. Some times, indeed, one wavo of n-reator ncrobatic power than his felFows. succeeded in landing with a tremendous splash on tho lower deck, sending its volume of spray over the poop, and sprinkling (.'uniclla's hat and hair, and her glowing face. ■• UiiV grand it is," she said at length, '• and how small T feol !' : The demh of meaning in her remark was no! understood by .Stanlev Tall'ur.soii, who answered lightly. " You do not look small, you look like that goddess of the sea, whatever is her name 'i —that, we used to learn about, years ago at school.' , " What an impression she must have made upon you ! There is the captain ; surely ho won't send mo below." ;1 .1 will hide you from him, if you will stund a little nearer to mo." But Camella did not comply with this suggestion ; indeed she seemed to prefer risking tho captain's command to seek shelter in the saloon. But the skipper had other things to attend to just then, and presently went; bank to tho bridge, and the two were again comparatively alone. A sudden lurch ihraw Camella almost into Stanley's arms, and ho seemed in no hurry to loso the advantage the elements had thus given him.

" I think 1 must go dowu-stairs/' said Camella, raising her voice, so as to be heard over tho tumult, for the storm was now increasing , in violence. '• 1 will take caro of you. can you trust me—Camella?" The last word was tenderly, caressingly uttered. Tho girl did not answer. A sudden wave of intense, unexpected happiness swept over her, rendering speech impossible. Tho thrill caused by Stanley's encircling arm, with its masterful touch, made her recognise, against her will, that all her speeches against love had been vapid utterances. She knew, now, what had caused the struggle, daily becoming stronger ngainst the future she had thought to be the best or only right one, for her. And vet she did not surrender all at once : she made a last fight for freedom. " I must really go down now," she said. Stanley's heart failed for an instant, the tones were so cold, rendered so indeed, by the deep feeling that the girl was struggling to repress. '■ L shall not let you go till you ha , , o answered my question, he yaid. forgetting, in his anxiety to learn his fate, that he had asked her nothing. '■' What question '!" she murmured. He could not hear what she said, but he took advantage of another rough blast of wind, to tighten his hold upon her. Thorn was silence between them for a minute, during which Uamella fancied that he must !u:ar her heart beat above the noise ul' wind and waves, creaking timber and groaning engines. " (Jainella. do not keep me in ;mspcn.-i!. I. cannot bear this tor lure : will you be my wife?" She had to raise her head to his to allow of her faint " Yes ,! being audible, and, utterly regardless of possible spectators, Stanley seized the opportunity to seal her confession with a lover's kiss. He was very anxious to repeat the pleasant performance, but Camella was quite sure the captain was looking their way. " It's too dark for him to see, if he is. :, said Stanley. " L'ouie, darling, put your arms round mj' neck, and say I love you" Rut Hiss Pittersly was still too shy and in too groat a st.ito of perplexed happiness lo obey, nnd succeeded at length in getting Stanley to help her down to (lie saloon, whence she speedily vauishod, and Mr Tafferson went again on deck, to stand in tho spot where he had won his bride, and to fancy he held her again, as in that brief moment of happiness, in his arms.

(To hu fimilmed.)