The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 20, 15 May 1902, Page 23

The Storyteller

A HASTY JUDGMENT.

Nancy drew from a morocco case a slender gold chain glittering with pearls, and hold lit up with .uij air of djssa.tisf.ict ion ihis is Uncle Kdward s present to our stall, she said 'It \ s a gieat deal moie than I expected Mom ihe cranky creature No doukl he g\i,\ c it because he knew we should ha\e s-ome chliiculty in finding a ]»uichaser. Who on earth bsiys ieweller\ at a baza.ir •> I would iather ha\'c had hard cash ' " I-Tush-sJi ' warned iMis Wilson for theie was danger of the individual thus obliquely censured being within earshot, and on no account must* he be oilended. Years ago Edward Wilson had gone to AnU't ica \ ou>ng and pooi he had retmrned middle-aged and rich, on which latter account alone. his widowed sister utuiwd him with open aims That she and her children would o\entiually reap Mie hardest of his toil and' thtift she did not for a moment doubt, aiguing that theie was no one else with an\ claim ujion him Whilst be toiled she had igjioied the aei \ fact ol his existence , Imit she fondh hoped th.it her later polu\ would obi it ci at c her I>ast . and also ap])i ,ir t o him m the light of absolute tlisint ci esi edm ss lie wants me I<> tall on those O'Bnens, she reiuaiked — and Beinard, her good - looking goodhumored son suddenh ben' Ins In ad over the c.it si 1 etc lung scooping paws to the w.um bl.i/e He met them at church the othei d,i\, ,i\n\, it seems, lecog-nised a foi im-i ,ucmamtance 111 the old man An\thmg to ple.iso him,, of course They might gi\e me something for the bhziiar, too ' 'Oh, joii can't talse up jxojilelike that • ' declaied \.mc\ ci ossl\ 'What do \(in know about them, except that 1 hi\\ .ue hopelessly shabby ° Tncle Edwaid's early acquaintances were not \u y choice, if all ac c 01, in -. ai etl ue 1 'd.tiei c sn' the gul h tl s bi'i-n deliboi at el\ llunn m his wa\ , foi 1 , asons sullic lenl ly ()1^ 1O us Ileigh-ho for the chat i(>\ t hat things no ill ' ■ said H"rnai d Come. \,i m \ \on shoulid i»c glad of the o|)])oi 1 unit \ ol donmJ a double kindness— pleasing Inde ,\m\ bi 1 akmg, if e\,r so slightlx 1 In- monotony of 'Mi-s OHi i,. n s In. I should ha\e made hei ai-qna i > 1 1 am c long ago if I had In . 11 a gu 1 Then t hank goodin"-s \ ( »u ai c not ' ' ' That is „\, .t i\ M ]„,, j ),_, x( , 1 |( doing e\ ci sin, 1 I kn. v hei ' li a\ \i I ei> 01 hou did \ 011 c i.nv t o know Ik 1 ' ' asl ,-d Nanc \ ,|iai ply and sus[ uc 10 i.sIa ' In m\ own s\< c. t w,,\, thioi.gh the medium of a tn ,v hei ous bike ' She and hi 1 father cure to m\ assistance when it pla\ed me lalse You can take mywoid that shabln or not, she is a thoiough little l.nlv ' 'If so wh\ don't \ 011 int 1 odiii c her to lie 1 ' ' ' If \ 011 must lia\e the I nil h mv piettv \',u.(\. it is because mhi t,u) be so mtinsilv disagnoalle 10 people \ .»,. dim I like aiu! I |, ai"d she might t Imik 11 a faiinh la iluig ' h<> 1 epln-d whit h i<l 01 t 1 ang tlow n the curt .i 131 so 1 o spea ' By ' t Ikis • () Hi-iens Mi -, \\ ,|. „n meant a fiagile old man ai.d Ins prett v (\.\ ught (i who h\ ed 011 the borders of ' \llladonl in a most secluded and unpi ci ent iou.s st \le 'lhal Ihoy had known better d.ws was a|>parent to the most sTipei hcial obsei■ver. r l hey wei-e certamh not m Mrs Wilson's set but at ]ueseni her eneigies wei n de\oted to the proni'ol ion of a bazaar, and she was so anxious to secure the Iriumph of her own stall that she was disposed

to extend temporary patron. u>t_' to <ui.\ possible contnlmloi inio the OBi ion's case there now rn'ricd tho stronger moti\r\s of humoi ing Edward anil 01 tiiLiuii\i iiliiih .in,\ designs Nellie O'JJrien might ha.\o on him. Tjhet elm o«l leu da.\ s la(.u Mrs Wiksou called on them She mfonnerl Miss OBi ion that all Ihe bazaar gills and f.uicj wOl k would be on \ ie\\ at her house on .1 certain da\ , and she gracioush in\itod the girl to come .mil inspect them 1 can t help it it \ cvi .ire annoyed, my dear,' she said, on confessing this crime to Nancy ' Mr O'Brien ga\e me a donation, and it would h;i\e been \ei\ mean of me not to mvito his daughter as well as the other ladies ' 'You nrc; placing right into tho O'Briens' hands, mother, that s all You know \ery well w liy the\ want to get a footing here ' Uladn t you hetlier chain up Uncle Kdward ? ' suggested Bernard It might l)o more prudent to sec'uie him m some way whilst Wish O'Brien is on the premises ' To which \,uie,\, who w ,Ts a t l'eastl thoroaigh m her prejudices, answered I shall not bo at all s-urpi ised if some oi our \aluablos do disappear ' On the appointed day Mis Wilson s fi lends and acc|,uaini aiic es gathered to inspect the futuie contents of her stall, which were displa\od to (me olfect in. hei diawmg100m — o\erflowing tables, ch.uisancl cabinets, and e\en dang lung ft om t ho fii tains Tea was Mixed 'the. small talk and the keitlis humnied 111 tune ' But after the hostess" hurried hand-shake and pel funct or\ Pleased to see jon ' U o ,Mlo, Ml o had paid much attention to Miss,o linen Nancy lgjnoied hei , the rest of the comjvauv did not extend their oourtes\ beyond a casn.il iem.uk She was left stranded, whilst a tide of conversation. unintelligible and therefore unintei ostmg to ,\i\ outsider {lowed through the \aiious groups True I mle Edwai'd g\i \e> her a kin«U\ nod, supplemented hy a snui,. tint was positi\el\ beaut if'i 1 111 its ti ndei ness luit he was ne\er at ease m „ |„sh ion., 'hie ci ow d .iii*l o» 1 this occasion he was niither handicapped b\ an inability to distinguish 'IVtw.eii pokei-w'ol k and cr\ stoleuiu ''! hank - to Mi s \\ ilson s adroilness he was soon safe behind a b.n 1 icade of bedspi cads and c ushions Ii om th is let 11 at he beheld his iej,hew ciifi 1 the 100111 and make hi-, w,i\ to Miss () Ri ien s solit .11 \ <01 iiei . w1! h .1 ha |.p\ expeitancy 111 his daik e\ es Ihal le\ialed much Uncle F,d wal d s brow 11 hands closed fast upon ea.th, other his half-e\ 111c.1l, h.ilf-hunuorous expression subsided into a sad steinness '\fter the dep.ll t ure of the guests Mrs Wilson 1 enionst rated wn h Bernaid foi liaxing as she s.ud sni'glid out Miss <) Hi h n lor spet i.\l atlent ion Well 1 eall\ mot her I did not mle nd the sp ( Matins to 1 Imik me nOl c th in 01 lima iil\ polite It ma\ lie t ha! I licit iik i\ iln \ r lit ew "i v <'\ ''it \ into iat her in oininent lebel' M iss () Hi i< v s, emed t o he m r|,,i:irant me and I t houghi t hat a iMspla \ ol 11 I'a1 'a 1 less i oinposi 11 eon my put W ould 1 e.issm c the ot hei s and llldi'i c t hi'lii I o addi ess hei ' II s not nmg to |„X,. about Bernai d I am xci \ sei mush amio\ ed \Ulll Mill ' I am sei ioiis|\ dist 1,- S i-.l 11 t hat is so, mot her but I don 1 see wh\ you should be." ]( is nei! her right 1101 pi op< 1 I o coiniM-omise a gul so \eiy fa 1 > outsocial inferior In- meaning less attentions which she is sme to miisundei ,s(a nd, ami which expose her to \ eiy unkind criticism '

' Now 1 s'hcmM like to hear what you have to say for yourself,' chimed 111 Uncle EJdward. Hei nard looked from one to the other with a touch of defiance. I am sorry if I should bo the cause of the scandalmongers of the neighhoi hood using Miss O'Brien's name as a peg on which to hang their gossip,' he said , • but I am not sorry for this opportunity of declaring that r hope one da y to make her my w ife ' Mrs Wilson gasped ; Nancy sneered , tro,m Uncle toward proceeded a sound whereby a la,ugh entered partnership with a groan. ''What are you going to marryon ? he asked 'Your expectations?' Wellies, my expectations; or,, to be exact, my faith that Providence will preserve my health and strength so that J can continue to work as 1 am do i nig, ajid harder if need he, for the girl I love. Of course I understand what you are hunting at. Uncle Kdward, but yo,u must pardon my saying that you are too tough to die within a reasonable period , and even if you were not, it does not follow thatl you would Ican-o your money to me Why should you? 1 am c^uite capable of making my own way m life 1 assure yo,u ; and I can say without \aiuty that Nellie likes me for myself ' 'So far as J am concerned, there will be nothing else that you can bo liked for.' said Edward, dryly. I ne\er had the most remote intention of lu<u ing my money to you.' 'We shall not be worse friends for that, Jhope,' said Bernard, cheeriml.\ It certainly does not make me other than L am . and such as 1 am she has chosen me ' Mrs. Wilson was sobbing hysterically, declaring jthat the foolish boy uas ru liiiaift all his prospects for tho sake of a little nonentity— when Nane,\, who had been covering the more delicate of the bazaar trophies with tissue-paper, her attention scornfully abstracted from her brother's lo\e afkvirs, gave a sharp cry and turned round, her face quite pale with excitement. [ knew something unpleasant would happen ' ' she exclaimed. I here has been a thief amongst us. I nele Ehwarcl's beautiful pearl chain is gone ' ' ' Nonsense, child ' ' cried Mrs. W ilson. agjiasf Indeed it is jiot nonsense* mother. Case and chain were m this box', find it is emj)t,\ now,' sairl Nancy' holding up a cardboartd box with hands that tiembled in harmony with her \olce 1 You had better ask the maids if they know oaivthing about it ' adMsed Mis Wlikon But Nancy tossed up hei chin, retorting, with significant emphasis ° 1 1 )x>be\o our servants to be quito above suspicion, mother ' 1 And are not. 0111 guests asked Bernard, considerably nettled. ' 1 am not familiar with the antecedents of exeiy person who was here to-day. and I can quite understand that tnat \aluublo chain would be a source of temptation tor— a poor girl m want of- a 1 rousseau ' Boinaid w.is as pale as his sister 'Take caie Nancy 1 When jou Insult Miss OJincn you insult me' he said 'That is M)in- business, 1 she answeied angnh 'j\l mo is to inform the police of what has occuned and to asjk them 1,, take whatever steps the\ think necessary ' Uncle Edward had stood fjhiietlv and silent \\ tht/ough tho storm of words, looking from one person to another as ,f he scarcely comprehended what the cnminol'inn was about Now he spoke, addressing, Hei nard fal I belie\e that before "on ni--» much older jnn will 'rid that Miss O l.i ion has posses, ipn „f ihat identical chain ' 'Theie' ' cried Nati'-v trier rhanlly. ' Uncle Edward sides \vrth

' t don't qiuite know what you mean by '■' sides," :4ancv,' he feaid ; ' but I can tell you I y w'lom and when and why the -:nai.m was removed. The gjuilty one s ; < arty to abide by the consequences. 1 tool: it ten minutes ago ;J anoj if \ou are anxiotis as to its whereabouts, it is in my pocket, case and all. Accidentally 1 overheard my young, niece exjucss her pioft'rence for hard cash amd her doubt about findiiig a purchaser ; so I thought I would help her out of the difficiulty. If she hadn't been in such a hurry to acause the absent, she would have discovered my oheqjue in the box in place of the trinket. Your stall will not lose by the transaction.' ' I consider that you have played me a very mean trick,' said Nancy, hotly. ' I might have given you the cheqjue openly, I admit ; but I had some vague idea of sparing your feelings. And I thought that on finding the cheqjue you woiuld grasp the situation without a verbal explanation, and be rather pleased about it. I intend to give the chain to Miss O'Brien, if I may do what I like witth what is my own, twice purchased.' ' Really, Edward, you can be most offensive,' said Mrs. Wi/lson, violently fanning herself. ' Then I will try to be pleasant. By way of beginning, let me congratulate you on your son's immediate prospect of becoming engajged to my heiress.' ' What ?' she half screamed. < 1 That, — what I have said. All my worldly goods will one day be Miss O'Brien's ; and part of them on her inarriagie, lin payment of an old debt. If there is any good in me, if I havo persevered and • prospered, tho thanks, humanly speaking are due to James O'Brien. That is why I asked jou to be kind to him. When I was a lad I was turned out of my stepfather's house on a false accusation ;, and, friendless, penniiless, under a cloud as I was, James O'Brien sheltered me, believed in me, made a man of me. When 1 decided to leave England ho paid my passage to New York and gave me my start m life. Though we lost sight of each other, I never forgot what I owed him. 1 returned with one object and aim — to find him and prove my gratitude. I learned that in old age he had fallen on evil t<mcs • tihat life meant pinching and struggling for him and his. Thank God it is in my power to say that he shall never know another anxious hojur , that as ho was a father to me in my necessity, so I shall be a son to him m his. It is my turn to help, — that is all.' It is not quite all. He did not say that on meeting Nellie O'Brien he had for the first time in his life known what it was to love awoman. He did not say what sweet hopes had died, what bright dreams had been broken by Bernard's success. He extended his hand to his unconscious rival, without a trace of bitterness. ' Good luck to you, Bernard ' If you are not happy with her you deserve to be wretched. But I think you are of the right stuff, ' he said, 'It is better so,' he told himself afterward. ' I nm toa old, too world-worn for her And lie is manly and plucky and steadfast Yes, it is better so ' — ' Aye Marui *