CAMELLA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2944, 28 May 1891, Page 4

CAMELLA.

OR, AN IGNORANT WRANGLER

By Mrs L. Fkost Rattray (Author of " Bnstondell.")

" Now, about your tennis-party,' said Maude, " soon after they had' settled themselves in " Mrs Ramley Dressing room whom to you have asked 1 " Fretty nearly everyone in the district, I think," said Camella, " In these small places, it docs not answer to be too particular in a general party. " Wo visit every one in Skelton, and the neighbourhood," said Mrs Ramley, and her tone plainly said, " What is good enough for us, is surely good enough tor you." The time dragged wearily enough to the arrival of Hetty with her prisoner, as she called Stanley, in tow. She unusally boisterous, and declared that Stanley had kissed her on the way. "And if he did," said Maude, " what harm is there in cousin kissing ?" " I did no such thing, Maude," averred Stanley. " Hetty dared me to do it, and I said she must remember Camella now." " Poor hen-pecked husband," said Hetty. " Now, Camella, inay he kiss me V' " Stanley is perfectly at liberty to do what he pleases," said Camella coldly, "only, Iletty, you must excuse my saying that I think the whole subject is one that you have no business to discuss." " That means you will not allow you husband to kiss anyone but you." " Well" said Camella, "I am quite sure he would not like to see one of my grown up male cousins kissing me, evert if I allowed such a liberty, and I cannot see why the converse should not hold good." " Where's Camella ?" opportunely sang out Lawrence, "we are all waiting for her." In the evening there was music, and Camella sang. Mr Ramley was sitting near the piano, evidently enjoying her performance, though ho managed to make her very uncomfortable by saying, " I can't think why all these people," indicating his family by a wave of his hand, "should run you down so. If, as they say, you can't cook, at any rate, you can sing. I never heard anything I liked better than your voice. Try again, my dear." And Camella sang, putting ber whole heart into the music, to keep herself from dwelling on her uncle's words. When she stopped, Stanley said, " I see the English mail is in, Ella, did you hear from your uncle 1 !" " Yes," said Camella, briefly. Her disappointment showed itself in her tone, and Stanley forebore to ask further questions. But Mr Ramley said, " Was he the uncle who was to leave you all his money V " He will leave me nothing now, lie objects to my marrying at all." " Then you let him know that you thought we were not good enough for you ?" said Hetty's mocking voice. She was angry with her father for his out spoken praise of Camilla's music, chiefly because she had hither-to, she fancied, quitp contented him by her own performances. " Really Hetty," said Stanley, to everyone's surprise, " you are always making some uncalled for rude speech to Camella. What is the matter ? You did not use to bo so discourteous. You must know, quite well that Ella wrote to her uncle before she had met any of my relations." Camella hastily turned to the piano and began a lively stirring air, hoping to silence the discussion. But Hetty read in it a paean of victory, and left the room in bitter mortification, and high dudgeon, she felt she had gone too far. " Ella," said Stanley that night, after they parted from their two guosts, " Klin, darling, if you find those Ramleys too much for you, t<:ll me, and I will break with them." " Stanley," she cried, hiding her face on his shoulder, "I can stand anything when vou speak to me like that." "I. have not behaved well, lately, Ella, but my eyes were opened. I can see now what an ass T have been, ever, to allow a word to bo uttered in my presence against the dearest, little wife man ever had.'" "How did your eyes become opened ?" she asked, softly. But Stanley never told her. " Kate," said Camella, coming up to her at tne cricket-match, the next day, as she stood a little apart with

.Mr Galium. "I have just been introduced to the gentleman who is staying with Mrs Callem. Jlf seems very nice, I wondor if we should ask liini to our tennis next week T " Oh, do Mrs Taflferson," said Nativile, " l'apa met him somewhere 011 Thursday, and says he seems so lonely. He has asked hira to dinner on Sunday 1 Oli look, Kate, it is his innings, I must catch hiiu afterwards." Jiut Stanley proudly came towards his beautiful wife, well satislied with having made the hifjhost score—as yet —of the married men, and more satisfied still with the admiration his clever and charming Camella excited wherever she went. "Ask Mr Smith? Certainly, if you wish it. Where is Mr Cushum ? I will «et him introduce mc at once. Shall I bring him to talk to you V Ten minutes later, he returned with Mr Smith, and performed the ceremony of introduction between that gentleman and Miss Powys ! Kate bowed stiffly. Was not this the very irony of fate? To be obliged to meet her former fianc6 as a perfeet stranger! To make a banal remark about the weather ! To absolutely refrain from responding to the look he gave her! Ah, poor Kate ! It was hard ! To be continued.