SHORT STORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15594, 28 April 1914, Page 4

SHORT STORY.

THE DIVIDING LINE. Callie's heart was thumping. Her blue eyes were round with excitement. As she tiptoed daintily among the trees, her skirt upheld by her two hands, the boldness of her venture seemed more and more appalling. Yet it did not occur to her to turn back. Her chin thrust slightly forward, her white teeth pearling between her parted lips, her noso emphatic of a pretty stubbornness, she theaded her way along the vestige of a path through the beeches toward the boundary wall. The great bell in the village church, a mile away, tolled the curfew. Its soft booming was like fairy music. "Early by half an hour," said Callie to herself. "Oh, I shall anticipate my Lord Stokesley A faint ripple of laughter escaped her lips; but she checked it, and her eyes flashed. " And let him beware what he says against his cousin!" she muttered. "To draw me here for such a purpose! To bid me secrecy! Pouf!" • But despite this show of fearlessness, her heart was none the less uneasy. Stokesley's grave mystery, his earnest insistence on the interview, his hint of unpleasant truths to be told, had filled her with fluttering anxiety. And she had agreed to come, as he had asked of her, to the grey boundary wall that lay between her father's estate and his. Surely there was a voice—nay, two voices—Stokesley's carefully modulated utterance, and the frank, open tone of— another. Callie's heart almost stopped. Instinctively she crouched close to the wall and laid her hot cheek against the lichened stones. "So you are wondering why I brought you hither—eh, cousin V' Thus Stokesley. "It was to cure you of a foolish passion, lad; to show you why the minx you covet can never be yours at all. "When, yesterday, you'told me of your love for her, did you note that I stayed silent ? 'Twas because I lacked the heart to shatter your illusion. Yet I know it is best for you, lad; and you shall see. She will meet me here this night, as she lids so many times before. From among the trees, you shall witness-" . Monstrous! Callie gasped for air. My Lord Stokesley's plot was suddenly plain to her. "Thou, perchance," Stokesley went on smoothly, "you will choose to ride this same night for Portsmouth, and sail tomorrow for the American colonies.on the ship Good Cheer. I will help you*, lad." Callie ground her white teeth together. She would show herself; she would denounce this villain lord. But she crouched again as she heard the firmer, manlier voice burst out:

"You are lying, Stokeslcy! Your words are the words of an evil toward. By Heaven—"

There was a round of scuffling. Then, before Callie could realise what had happened, Stokeslcy admonished; "Softly, cousin, softly!" He was breathing hard. "I will not quarrel with you. It is hard for you. God knows, and I forgive that blow of your hand. Gently, now—gently She is but one girl among thousands."

"She is the only one in all the world," the other exclaimed. " Your lies—"

"If you think them lies"—Stokesley's voice grew hard"then prove me." , The other had called them lies, it was true, but why did be listen to them at all ? Could he not see that Lord Stokesley himself desired her—was plotting to be : rid of a rival's presence ? Then, in fairness, she remembered that she herself had | been deceived, that Stokesley had lured I her to this place. He was a great man of j the court; Carey, his coifcin, was unversed I in trickery. But what was she to do ? Slip silently I away and leave Lord Stokeslev to the discomfiture of vain waiting? That were the prudent course. .She half arose, to tiptoe from the wall. Then she was startled to realise what might happen if she did not appear. Carey, overwrought by waiting, and knowing that my lord had lied, would surely draw sword "You had best take your position now," she heard Stokesley' say. The sweet lass will soon be here." '

"I am no spy," replied Carey, in a strangled voice. "I know that you lie!" "What do you propose, then,-to do?" asked my lord smoothly. " To leave this place at once—keeping mv faith in her. ' said Carey firmly. "Your words cannot sully pure whiteness."

Two tears sprang into C'allie's blue eyes. Oh, the blessed lad! But she caught her breath at Stokesley's answering sneer: "And will you still keep your faith, if she come secretly with me'this night to Stokesley Hall ? " A cry, the swish of a sword leaving its scabbard, and then Carey's ringing command: "On guard!"

She heard the click of crossing swords, and Stokesley, parrying, as she guessed, spoke jerkily:

"Too bad, cousin! Careful! I might have killed you then. This will not do! Ah, you mean death ? Then, if you will have it—"

" Gentlemen!"

Callie stood looking across at them, her head and .her white shoulders above the wall. Carey leaped back, with a cry of sudden, fierce despair. His sword dropped clattering to the ground. Stokesley quickly recovered himself. Still holding his sword, he advanced with graceful step to the wall. "Ah, sweet," he said, "it is only a bit of play. My cousin is about to go." She eyed him sternly. "Let it fall!" she commanded, with an imperious nod Smiling, he opened his hand, and his sword fell to his feet. " I came this once to meet you, as ycu know, my lord," she began, "because von said you had certain matters to lay before nu."

"Bravo, girl!" he exclaimed, laughing. " Your instinct for quick defence would do you credit at court. But we need not be secret with Carey. He is only my cousin. Are you still here, lad ? Be off with you, now He waved his hand gaily; but Carey stood, sombre, with arms folded. "Since he will not go," said Stokesley, with a smiling grimace, "I will climb the wall, my Gallic, to be with you-" He laid his hand on the wall. '"Do not blame me till you have heard me," he whispered. " You must hear mo. lam desperate, desperate for love of vou. I would' destroy the world to win your smile. That boy could never give you what I will give you. You cannot resist —you cannot!"

Voice, eyes, were compelling. Oh, why did not Carey speak ? Why did he stand there so glum ?

Stokeeiey placed his other hand on the wall.

"Stop!" she commanded. Her fear of him was returning. "This wall is the dividing line—the line that bars the world from me. No man shall cross' it but by my will!"

" I know that has ever been your whim," smiled my lord. "Toward you it shall ever be my whim," she quickly answered. Suddenly her 'courage ebbed. She turned toward Carey and stretched forth her arms piteously. "Oh,!" she cried. Like a flash the lad leaped forward. He seized Lord Stokesley by the shoulders and flung him back- " Then, light as air, he vaulted the wall. He was at her side. His arms were about her. "Nothing shall stand between me and the girl 1 love," he said. Deliriously faint, she let her head rest against his shoulder. "Carey!" she whispered. His lips found hers; and after a moment he said, in a voice broken with happiness and wonder: "To think that he would have had me ride this ni&ht for Portsmouth'." " °-

Callie looked deep into his eyes. " You shall ride this night'," she said, " for London— my father.'' ' My Lord Stokesley, staggering back striving to keep his footing, had tripped on a projecting root and gone to the ground. Now he slowly got to his feet brushing the dead leaves from his laces' His glance travelled uncertainly to the wall. He his shoulders at what he Bannister Merwin.