CHAPTER III.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 18, 30 January 1891, Page 25

CHAPTER 111.

" The fly that sips treacle is lost in the sweets." " Tbe telegram was sent and Bertie's reply came speedily ; ' he was delighted at the prospect of meeting me again 1 ' I started, full of joyous anticipation, forgetting my brother's illness iv the pleasure of again seeing Bertie. I had with me a large trunk, a bundle of wraps, and a 6mall leather travelling-bag. Tnere were some ladies in the compartment, an 1 a hook-nose little m^n who earned a bag almost the facsimile of my own. He appeared to be in a constant fidget, opening; and shutting this bag, aod peeping in as though to assure himself that the contents had not vanished since bis last peep. "At London Bridge I looked eagerly for Bertie Maryn. The first glance »t my old lover convinced me that all the evil reports I had heard of bim were true. Two years of London life and dissipation had wrought such a change in Bertie Maryn that I barely recognised him. He was so shabbily drepsed that I felt ashamed of beiDg seen talking to him. He was evidently under the influence of liquor even now, and I fell how wise had been my father s estimate ot this worthless young fellow. " ' If you had kept true to me,' he exclaimed, angrily, 'your father would have consented to our marriage and obtained some appointment for me, and I would not have had to Beck my fortune in another country.' " I Baw now what Bertie's devotion had been worth ; it was not me he sought, but my father's influence and a good appointment 1 We did not appear to have an idea in common, and I urged bim to call a cab for me as speedily as possible. I saw that he wished to cause me to lose my train for the Nortb, so that I might be detained, perforce, some hours in his company, I felt that I was rightly served for my dr^bedience ; I turned from him scarcely answering a word to his questions and reproaches, and my eyes were dim with teais. 1 was standing near a platform seat, on which I had placed mv rugs and bg. Presently the hook-nosed little man with whom I had travelled from Brighton came up and placed his bag on the seat also. 1 fult is if I had tound a friend, and disregarding the angry and balfinebnateo Beitie, 1 at-kud him it be would kiodly call a cab for me. He complied at once, and went towards the Btand at som« short distance from the Boat,"

" Burely that little fidgety man was not Major Oakford ?" asked one of Daisy's listeners. " Oh, dear, no ; but listen. Bertie was furious— said I waa ashamed of him and rH myself of his presence ! It was quite true, and I did not deuv it. A cab came up and deposited some passengers ; Bertie hailed it for me ; a porter put my trunk on the roof, Bertie seiz-d my wraps and bag, and hurried me into it before the polite little man returned from the stand. We drove off at once ; I was highly indignant «t not being allowed to wait and tbank the stranger for his courtesy. During the drive Bartie wa* very vehement in bis protestations, and wanted me to renew the old vows of filelity, but I was wiß>ir now than of yore, and meatally ies >lved never to speak to him asain after this day. " The train for the North was just on the point of departure ; we bad scarcely a minute to spare. I took my seat. " ' I shall travel with you to the first stopping-place,' he said springing into the carriage after me, to my intense ainoyanee. Never was a girl punished better for disobedience. Peterborough was the first stoppage, thus I had more than an hour to spend in this unwelcome society, which I had brought on myself by my folly. In the carriage were a lady and child, and in the furthest corner an oldish gentleman, of military aspect, reading." " Now our Major comes on the scene," cried Jenny, gaily. " Bather late in the day, too," said Elsie. " What a prosaic meet-ing-place after all." " The gentleman in the corner glanced at as an we entered," Daisy continued, " and appeared somewhat astonished that an elegantly-attired girl should have such a disreputable-looking escort. I noticed that Bertie bad a leather bag, very much like my own, which he had deposited by the side of mine on the rack. I began to fear that he meant to travel much farther with me than he hnd said, and felt utterly dismayed. However, to my great relief, he left the train at Peterborough. Our parting was not tender ; he reproached me for my indifference, and declared if I ever married another he would sue me for breach of promise. At the last moment he asked for a small loan to take him back to town, whicn I gave, only too glad to get rid of him. I breathed more freely when the train moved onwards, and I had looked my last on Bertie Maryn. Poor fellow I I can laugh now at the remembrance, but it was an awful experience whilst it lasted." " It was not until we were nearing Doncaster, when I bad occasion to reach my bag down, that I noticed that Bertie had left his bag behind with me. How tiresome I That bag might give rise to some questions or remarks, and lead to the discovery of my folly. I b&lieve tbe military man in the corner had been watching me ; there was an amused smile on his faca as he noted my perplexed expression. I seriously meditated throwing that horrid bag out of the window when that prying, grey-haired creature was not looking at me. Finally I made up my mind to leave it in the carriage when I got out, I was so resolved not to hold any communication with Bertie Maryn in future. At Doacaster the lady and child left the carriage and a common* looking man entered and took the seat opposite ti me. He sUred at me most persistently, aod I was glad to bend my head down over the book I was trying to read. Presently the creature spoke. • Those bags both yours, Miss?' he asked, familiarly. I looked at him in great indignation ; what right had that common fellow to address me. j Of course I treated his question with silent contempt. " ' I'll take the liberty of satisfying myself on the point,' he continued. ' Excuse m°, Miss, but you are not bound to criminate yourself—' " He reached both bags from the rack. " ' What do you mean by such conduct to this lady ? ' asked the military man, taking pity on my distressed looks. • You are alarming her very much.' " ' It's all right, sir,' he said, ' I'm in the exercise of my duty. I'm in order ; it's quite correct, and we have caught the pretty bird nicely. Her mate's in custody at Kind's Crjss ; he left the train at Peterborough to throw us off the scent ; but the sharpest detective on the hae nabbed him as be stepped out of the up express at the Cross. He's SHfe enough. They telegraohed to Doncaster and to York at once, and I had a little trouble in spotting the young woman ; she's got up so much liKe a tip-top swell, you see.' " ' Why did you look for me ?' I asked, trembling. " ' They sent a bit of description, you see ; but tbe two hand* bags were the main point,' he replied. " ' Only one of those bsgs is mine,' I gaaped, ' the other is Bertie Maryn's.' " ' Oh, is that the name your mate goes by ?' he Baid, making a note. ' Well, I must say that you did it cleverly, Miss, but you ran it just a shade too fine this time. The pursuing cab was at King's Cross only three minutes after this train left.' " I was dreadfully alarmed, as you may imagine, and I involuntarily appealed to my military travelling companion. " ' Of what do you accuse this lady V he demanded sternly. " The tram was slacking up at York station, and the man called to some one on the platfort : " ' All right, Jem, the bird's trapped.' "Then laying his hand on my shoulder, he said : ' I arrest yon on a charge of stealing a hand-ba? con'aining nearly £4,000 worth of diamonds and unset gems, the property of Simon Jacobs, diamond merchant of London and Paris.' " • But, indeed, it is a mistake. I am th« daughter of Sir Moorhead Fleming, of Cauta9icie,' I cried, in an agony of teiror ; I know nothing < f your diamonds.' " ' But here they are, Miss, in your possession,' he replied, stolidly. ' Facts speak for thembelves.' •' ' That is Bertia Maryn's bag 1' I cried. " ' No ; it is Simon Jacobs' bag, es you may see by the name engraved on the silver plate of the lock. Mr. Jacobs travelled with this young woman from Brighton this morning,' he said, aldressing the geotlemau in the corner, ' and he took her for a regular swell by her make-up. He noticed that she was watching him in the railway carriage. At London she was joined by a confederate, aod Mr,

Jacobs, surprised at seeing the young person with such a skady looking specimen, drew near, and thoughtlessly placed his bag on a seat near them. The girl then asked him very politely to call a cab for Mti, as if she wished to shake off her companion, and Mr. Jacobs went TO once to oblige, never thinking about bis bag. As soon as be left they seiwd the bag, hurried into a cab for King's Cross, aud rushed into the first train starting, which happened to be this one sir.' "'lf this young lady is Miss Fleming of Cautaside I am certain there is a mistake. Her father is a well-known man " said the jrentleman. "'Oh, they take any name that sounds well," said the man. * Here's the property in her possession. Now, I must trouble you to come along with me, Miss. Here, Jem, come along and lend a hand ; the young woman means to put us to some trouble.' " I believe I made something of a ecane, and I clung to my fellow-traveller and entreated him to save me, but the men pulled me away and lifted me to the platform." " How dreadful I" said Jennie, " I'm sure 1 should have fainted. ' "Iwaßtoo much alarmed to think of doing so," said Mrs. Oakford ; " I wished the earth would open and swallow me." " I think Mrs. Oakford did just the wisest thing under the circumstances," said Elsie ; " naturally the Major came to the rescue of beauty in distress." " I am glad you credit him with Bt much courtesy, Elsie ; he did. I was taken to a waiting-room, the Major walking by my side and much impressed by my evident distress. The men had to await a telegram from London in reply to theirs announcing my capture. In the meantime I took heart of grace and sobbed out the whole story of my wrong-doing and disobadience to the Major, and he saw that I was speaking the truth. " 'It is a mistake that will soon be cleared up, Miss Fleming, 1 he said, cheerily ; ' your companion was certainly rather suspicious of appearance, and partly intoxicated. You have been a foolish girl but you will soon be set at liberty.' ' " ' But my father. Oh, my father will never forget my disobedience I And at such a time, too, when my brother is dying.' " ' I will go and explain all to him," ha answered, ' meanwhile keep up your courage. In a few hours you will be at home and laughing over your adventure.' " Oh, no VIV I cried , « they are certain to imprison me for Laving that bag in my possession. Perhaps they will hang me, or send me into penal servitude. What am Itodo V " Nonsense ; be sensible. It is all a mistake. Your friend, 1 he said, with a smile, ' put in the ibag, thinking it was part of your luggage Make yourself comfortable, and try to go to sleep until I return ; I will see those men do not disturb you." " ' Oh how good and kind you are to take such trouble for a perfect stranger,' I exclaimed. I looked upon him as quite a parteraal kind of personage. " ' I will fetch your father to you,' he said, « then I will return to London by the first train, see this man Jacobs, and clear up matters there. " I need scarcely tell you what a very uncomfortable, nay, downright miserable three hours I spent before my father and Major Oakford arrived, and never did any poor girl feel so utterly wretched, humiliated and repentant as I did in the dear Pater's presence. ' However, I sued so humbly and tearfully for pardon, that", after 6torming funousiy for sever <»l minutes, he cooled down and began to pity my evident terror. He told me my brother was better, and that 1 was just the greatest goose and Bimpleton he had ever met. That was quite true, and I felt much more insignificant than ever. " Then he.Utacked the men and the ir employer, and ratel them soundly for daring to arrest his daughter and frightening her half to death. Dear old Pater ! if i here had not teen some safety-valve for his wrath I believe he would have exploded. Meantime the Major had gone to town, and in due time a telegram was received from him, saying that J.cobs had eventually accepted his explanation, and had' •very reluctantly consented to forego a prosecution, although he was more than half convinced lhat it had been a plan to iob him of his jewels. He was still very irate, and only consente l not to prosecute on condition that we gave ten pounds to one of the London hospitals as an earnest of our regret for the trouble and anxiety we had cost him. " ' Well, send him the money and b 2 hanged to him,' said the Pater, ' I shall bestow it t n the Asylum for Idiots— and, as for you Daisy, you may be very thankful that Ido cot p lC k you off to lake up your lesidence there.' " Well, to make a long story short, I was detained at York Station all night, and I btlieve Bertie Maryn was :n custody in Londou. It had ieally beei a mistake on the part of the half-tipsy youth ; he thought the bag was part of my effects. " Of course the Pater and I were duly grateful to Major Oakford for the interest he had taken and the trouble he had incurred, and the Pater would have him come home with up. Soon we became great friends ; he had my entire conh'denct, knew of mi folly aad my repentance, and I felt I could trust him thoroughly. In a month we were engaged ; in three months we were married ; and here I am now the happiest girl iv the kingdom. " And Bertie Maryn, what of him ? " asked the widow. " Poor Bertie is roughing it io Sew Zealand, but I fear he will never 6ucceed ; he is his own enemy.' •' ' All's well that ends well, 1 child," said Lady Ferguson ; " and I declare yuu have kept me awake all this time. Sje, the boat with out Way men is returoiug ; it is time to think of dinner." " Wake up, girls," eras a cheery vuics from the boat ; " we are bringing in stores of fresh fish, and see— there are clouds arising and a npple is playing on the waters. In a few hours the Sea Fern will be uriving before the wind. Have you missed us much ? " " Oh, not at ail," cru-d Elsie, growing annimated, and not adhering to the hard and last line of veracity ; "at lejst not since Mrs Oikfordhas been entertaining us with the recital of Daisy's MisA.DVENTURK. '