CAMELLA;

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2935, 7 May 1891, Page 4

CAMELLA;

OR, AN IGNORANT WRANGLER.

By Mrs L. Frost Rattray (Author of " Bristondell.")

" Kate Powys is coming to stay with us, Stanley," said Camella as Hetty's door banged. " Indeed ! I thought she could not be spared." " Her sister says she had better come up whilst the weather is so lovely." " Well, we must give her a party, and tako her about a little. How is she getting on ? Has she ever met the fellow that jilted her?" " She does not mention him this time. I think she told me in her last letter that she had heard nothing of him." " Good job too. She ought to forget the scoundrel." Then Camella explained a little of the story of the expected guest to Mr Tallot, who was much interested in the narrative. New Year's Day came at last, and Camella arrayed herself in her wedding-dress, and ontered the din-ing-room, where ths two gentlemen in their best garments were waiting patiently for her appearance. " flow do you like mo. Stanley?'' she questioned. " I have seen you in that get-up before," he answered. "It looks very well."

" Sureiy you will bo merciful, Mrs I'aflbr.'joii, and allow nio two or three minutes to contemplate you

before wo start f asked Tallot, standing up and regarding the tall graceful figure before him with most evidenced approbation. " Don't flatter her," said Stanley. " She is too well satisfied with her own appearance to mind in the least any remarks of ours." " Stanley?" said Camella reproachfully. She was sure that a little while ago, ho would have said all sorts of pretty things about her costume but now she rightly attributed his apparent indifference to influence. Mrs Tafferson was, undoubtedly, tho belle of the fete, and Stanley could not help being proud of the -ensation made by his beautiful, dis-tinguished-looking wife.

But it wa3 when standing playing the violin that Cauiella appeared to the greatest advantage, and a subduced murmur of applause ran through the assembled guests, dying away into intense and appreciatory silence, as tho violin answered to

her magie touch. All listened as if spell-bound; and Camella realized that she had given up something by her marriage with Stanley Tafferson; realized it as she would never have done, but for Hetty's interference with her quiet happiness.

Then she and Mr Tallot sang, and gained if possible, heartier applause by their vocal efforts than by their instrumental. Hetty listened, mad with jealousy. It would not be easy to crush that queenly girl, with her beautiful face, her exquisite voice, and her attractive)manners. She sought for Stanley, and at length discovered him, sitting where he could command a good view of his talented wife, his face wearing an expression of proud content. She was his, this magnificent woman, and she had said that she would rather have his company than that of any other person in the world. But into his paradise of satisfaction stole a serpent, wearing the disguise of a woman. "What a splendid actress Camella s ! At home, one would think she was a pattern of domesticity, and here she is a thorough society woman. It is easy to see that this is the life she loves. I cannot think how she has put up with the humdrum Skclton world so long. I expect, Stanley, you will wake up some 6ne morning to find she has run away with one of her musical friends to join tho best opera com pany thou in Auckland."

" What nonsense you talk, Hetty! Ella is perfectly satisfied with our quiet home at Ruamoa."

" I really bolievc she tried hard to be. But only watch her now, with all those men around her, each trying to flatter her most. Look at her colour, see how delighted she is. Bah, Stanley, you did very wrong to try to fasten a girl like that up in a stnall farm." And, Camella, smiling, and gratified at the genuine appreciation shown by the large audience for h6r music, yet missed one voice. She looked for the loving smile of congratulation and sympathy dearer to her than ail these honeyed words and extravagant—as she called them—compliments, and saw Stanley, with a slight frown on his brow, talking to Hetty, and, as far as she could judge, taking no interest in her triumph at all. " Hetty, Hetty," she thought bitterly, " always Hetty. There is more in it than I know of." " One more song, Mrs Tafferson, just one, and then we are going to dance."

Camella could not refuse Lady White's requests, and sang. She chose a sad pathetic little ballad in which the deserted wife implores her husband to return to her, and she sang it from her heart, with a depth and intensity of feeling that enthralled the guests.

There was a silence after she had finished, that was more complimentary than the enthusiastic applause that followed as Stanley rose to go to her. His soul was stirred to its depths, and he wanted to tell his

darling that he had never left her, and that she was all in all to him. But his hostess was the fact that

stpped iu this time and begged him to'do some arranging for her. When he entered the ball-room at length, Camella was waltzing with some stranger, and he stood and watched her. How he hated round dances

for married ladies ! What right had any other man to put his arm around his wife's waist in that familiar fashion? It would only be derniitted in a ball-room 1 True, ho had often done it himself, but he had never looked at it before to-night from a husband's point of view.

"Are you not dancing, Mr Tafferson ? Surely you know almost every one here ?" " Yes, thank you, Lady White, I am taking a rest." " I must really congratulate you on your wife's magnificent music. And she looks so lovely to-night, you will have to look out, Mr Tafferson." The hostess giggled, and patted his arm with her fau, and then introduced him to some young ladies from Auckland who were staying with her. Stanley could not do less than give each of them a dance; then he looked round for Camella, meaning to secure at least three of those objectionable waltzes. He could could not find her at first, then discovered her sitting on the terrace, the centre of a merry, laughing group. He was undoubtedly in a bad humour, and did not speak very sweetly. " I want to see your card." " Where is it V Camella asked, "oh, Mr Cushem has it." This answer did not appease her lord, who almost snatched it from the out-stretched hand of one of the

sons. But it was quite full. When Hetty saw that Mrs Tafferson was likely to have as many partners as she could wish, she suggested to one or two of her particular friends to ask for a dance, and iill the programme up before Stanley came into the room. This was considered an excellent joke, and Camella found

she had partners for every dance before t he first waltz was over. Of course, she had no idea that this was not a mere chance. She had fully expected Stanley would ask her to save him two at least, and she was piqued that he thought so little of her dancing capabilities as either not to care to dance with her himself, or else to imagine that no one else would, and that he could obtain a dance with her any time during the evening, when it suited his convenience to ask for it. Stanley throw the card into young Cushem's hand, and walked away, meeting Hetty on her part-

ner's arm at the open window. " Our waltz next, Stanley," she said brightly, "don't forget." Mr Tallotsauntered up to Camella "This is our dance, Mrs TafFerson, I believe," and she followed Stanley. After one or two turns, Camella said she was tired, and Mr Tallot took her into the long conservatory At the further end, seats had been placed, and here they sat down, looking at the exquisite tropical plants, and listening to the splash, splash of the minature cascade, arranged in one corner, and almost hidden in a wealth of rare ferns. Camella leaned back wearily. All the bright glow and sparkle had left hep face, and she looked very white.

An d her companion thought lie knew pretty well what was troubling her. He elapsed his hands tightly together, murmuring l "That false Ilctty !" {To lc continued.J