CAMELLA

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2943, 26 May 1891, Page 4

CAMELLA

OR, AN IGNORANT WRANGLER. By Mrs L. Frost Rattray (Author of " Bristondell.") " Mr Taffeiison is very fond of her," continued Kate, who did not not know what to say. " I fancy he is beginining to see through the glamour a little. Poor fellow ! It will be a terrible awakening for him," " 1 can't think what you mean," cried Kate, feeling very uncomfortable. It seemed like treachery to still, and listen to these remarks about her host, and yet she did not know how to answer them. "You will know soon. Are you making a long stay ?" " I cannot say ; it depends." " Of course, depends on how you and Camella got on. But you must not try to attract any of her admirers, that would be a breach of good faith." " I cannot understand you at all, Miss Ramley," said Kate. " Here is Stanley," Hetty observed, peeping through the window. " Plow old and worried he is getting to look. What a pity isn't it 1 Ue used to be such a handsome, jolly fellow before lie got married." " I think he is looking very well,'' said Kate.

" That is because you did not know him before ho went to England. Now, he and I were, well—" said lletty, wishing she could call up a blush—" almost engaged you know, and of course, I naturally notice any change in him." Kate could not tolerate any more of Miss Ramley's remarks, and, making some slight excuse about getting tea, as the new girl was not very quick, left the room. Stanley came in immediately afterwards, and Hetty said merrily, " Do you think I ought to go and got tea ready ? All Camella's visitors seem to have to work.'' "I don't suppose they do anything they don't like," said Stanley, not availing himself «f tlie thair, his i on sin indicated, close t;> her own. " Let us go and get some watercress for tea-, Stanley," was Hetty's next suggestion. " Yours is always S O much nicer than what grows in the creek by our place." " 1 can't see why it should be," said Stanley, not offering to move. " But I say it is, do come." Stanley hesitated, looked at Cauiella and asked, "Do you want any water-cress T' " 1. do not think there is any, dear," she said, wondering what put such a strange idea into his mind, as Hetty's request had been couched in too low a tone to reach her ears, through the gently murmured platitudes, which Mrs Ramley thought the corroct conversation for Camella. "I suppose you won't let him go with mo ?" said Hetty in the worst possible taste, but with a defiant ring in her voice. " Why, arc you such very bad company ?" asked Camella, trying to pass it all off as a joke. " I liavo never been considered so until now," retorted Hetty. «' Tea is quite ready," announced Kate. During the meal, Hetty, who always kept herself an rourant with tho affairs of the small township, said that the gentleman who was lodging at. Mr Callem had been noticed hanging about Ruamoa, and she wondered if really he was not an old friend of Camella's. Mrs Tafferson's colour rose as she protested that the man was a complete ranger to her. Stanley was induced to look at her curiously, by a light touch on his arm from Hotty's fingers—she always contrived to sit next to him. His earnest stare drew Camella's attention to him. and she flushed deeply with a suddo" feeling that he did not believe her.

'Mr Tall fit. meanwhile, was quietly observing K • to's face, and her dismayed start when Hetty spoke, did not'psenpfi his observation. » Hum, tny young Indy," he mur-

mured to himself, "so he was tho cause of your walk the other night. Yon will want watching." Mrs Ramley seated herself in the verandah presently, saying to Camella. " If you want to go with the young people, pray don't consider mo I am quite used to being left out in the cold.'' After which speech it was impossible for Camella to do anything but also .sit down in a chair, and watch the "young people" stroll-

ing about the garden. Watch too that her husband and his cousin gradually separated themselves from tho other two, and presently disappeared in tho shrubbery. Apparently, ,\] rs liamley noticed nothing, for she began to question Mr .lafl'crson about her life at home, expressing her disapproval chiefly by remarks about the good old days when woman knew their proper position, and were quite content to let the men take a prominent place in the world, whilst they exhibited their refinement and modesty by remaining at home, and doing such duties as naturally fell to them. When at length, the visitors departed, Stanley accompanied them to the gate at the end of tho drive, and his quick eye detected, a man stealing away from it as they came up. " Hetty was driving and her eyes were as good as his. " I told you, Stanley," she whispered, " you know Camella would not come down the drive with us."

And Stanley, feeling greatly annoyed, yet did not remember that she had not been asked-to come.

But he did not give Hetty the satisfaction of seeing how her mis-chief-making affected him.

" I think we must give some sort of a party," said Camella, a few days after Mrs Uamley's call. ''It's too hot for dancing, don't yon think ?' queried Mr Tallot. " Is it ever too hot for that delightful exercise 1" asked Kate. "Ah, Miss Powys, you are very young yet," said Stanley. " Another cup of "tea, Ella, please. This time do not think of your party but of me, and put some sugar in." "When that horrid Hetty does not come near them," mused Kate, •' they are as nice as possible. I wonder if Camella notices what a difference she makes. She is so loyal to her husband though ; she would never confess she did not like his relations. I will hate Hetty for her." " Miss Powys is wondering what new gowns she has, and whether a dance or a tennis party will show them off best," said Stanley. " A tennis party," cried Camella ; " that is just what we will have." "Whom arc you obliged to ask?' "Nearly everyone, I think, Stanley. Kate and I will make out a list, and then write the invita tions."

" Don't write them, Ella. It will I make folks think it is a grand a flair if you do. Just drive round this afternoon with Miss Powys and ask them." " Will you drive us? Then you can hold the horse while we are making our calls. We cannot stay long at any place if we are to get through our list this afternoon." " Thank you very much, Ella. I'm really very sorry, but I've got an important engagement. Just remembered it. Get Tallot to drive you to-day ; he's good at that sort of thing." "I do not like imposing on your good nature," began Camella, but he cut her apologies short. " Not at all, I shall be delighted. When shall you make a start?" " I suppose we had better go rather early, and call at first on the more distant ones. Will half-past two bo too early for you ?" " Oh, no. I will see that the buggy—beg pardon, Miss Pewys does not like that word —vehicle is round at that hour." " I think ' vehiele' is even worse," said Kate.

" Well, what am £to call itl I regret that MrsTaflerson's equipage does not'at present deserve the title of carriage, and it isn't a cart nor yet a wheelbarrow." "It is not a gig," said Kate, meditatively; "and it is not a phaeton, it's a " — " Buggy," finished Mr Tallot, triumphantly, and ran off laughing. " I suppose this will do for iny return call on Mrs Raniley," said Kate, as late in the afternoon they turned towards the township, " Yes, I suppose it will," answered Camella. She wished now that they had gone to Mrs Raraley'a earlier, when they could have pleaded their numerous other visits as a good reason for not staying for the evening meal. Now, what could they do 1 She was so occupied with these thoughts that she did not observe they were at the post office and Mr Tallot was dismounting to enquire for letters. Kate's sudden accession of colour as she perceived Mrs Callem's lodger standing at the door, also escaped her attention. She quickly recovered her usual thoughtfulness, however, and took the reins from Kate, saying that her gloves were of a dark shade, and would not spoil so easily as those of Miss Powys. Mr Tallot came out, and noted both Kate's troubled expression and the alert watchfulness of Mr Smith, but lie made no remark thereon, simply putting all the papers and letters into Camella's out-stretched hand. " The English mail is in then," she cried, as she saw the foreign stamps. " Oh, is there a letter from my uncle ?" " You could hardly hear from him by this mail, could you ?" asked Kate, who was well aware that her friend had married without waiting for bis consent. " Here is one, anyway," exclaimed Camella. " Please excuse my opening it; lam so anxious to hear what he pays.''

She gave a little cry of disappointment as she perused the few words it contained, telling her that she had bitterly disappointed him ; that he was altering his will at once, and that it would now contain nothing at all for her. He enclosed her a cheque to pay for her trousseau, and washed his hands of his most ungrateful niece. Cnmeila was terribly grieved by this letter. She hnd expected a rrood scolding and a tremendous amount of grumbling at her preferring a life in New Zealand to one in England. But that he should refuse to hold any further intercourse with her vexed her very much. ITo had been very kind to her in his way, and she was really fond of the old man. Both her companions sympathised with her, but in different ways. Kate was sorry she had lost the Professor's love, but Tallot was sorry for Stanley's sake that she had lost her uncle's money. He know how extremely welcome, even a small allowance as pin money for Mrs Tafferson, would havo been, and he felt sure that Stanley would have felt relieved to know, in the present rather uncertain state of his affairs, that his wife was provided for. Kate was scolding herself for the fact that the more sight of Mr Bront had been a pleasure to her. She was ashamed of herself for still loving him, but sho could not help it. She fancied she did not care for him, but now she knew that the old strong affection which had grown with her growth, could not be so suddenly rooted out of her true woman's heart. For it is curious how a woman will cling— through good report and evil report, through honour and dishonour, through personal chastisement that they would fight anyone elso for inflicting on them —to the one she loves. Even to death itself a woman's love will endure. Do we not all know the story of the poor, half-killed, wholly disfigured wife, the victim of a drunken husband, who, when a kind lady remarked on her good man's brutal treatment to her, turned sharply on her, saying, " None shall blame him; bless him, he's that playful at times he forgets what he's a-doing." And so it was not at all wonderful that Kate's heart still clung to her faithless lover. Sho did not wish to speak to him again. But if she could sometimes see him, herself unseen, that would comfort her heart-ache a little —at least, so she fondly thought. (To be continuedJ