SINNED AGAINST.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 506, 31 January 1906, Page 7

SINNED AGAINST.

SHORT STOBY

he's good-looking enough, and I talented enough, but such a flirt; I wish someone would surprise and carry of that guarded heart of his, and then Lr&i at his discomfiture. It would pay hrrp off nicely, for his trifling.' * Soppose you try the experiment, Annie. Yoa are practised enough in the art of captiyation, if report is right I I wonder at your censure of flirts.' 1 What reports ? Yoa cannot think ma a fliri?' | Oh, I only referred, in jest, to semething I heard to the effect that yoa had jilted Frank Marvyn, and that it was too bad for yoa to flirt so f' 'I suppose, because Frank Marvyn chose to force his presence upon me, till I got tired of the sight of him, and encouraged Phil Da'ande in sheer self-defence, it is something dreadful 1' 'Bat could you not have given him to nnderstaod that his case was hopeless at the first?' 'To be sore. I might have tamed to the gentleman and said, 'My dear Mr Mazyyn, I have a very kind disposition, and, as lam a very charming person, and yoa may deeply fall in love with me, I wish to warn you to avoid my fascinating society, fox I con.idex myself too much your superior to return your regard I'' "It is not necessary to say anything, Annie,' laughed her cousin. 'Your manner should have repelled him.* 'As if he could understand I Ugh I his Oh-do-have-pity-upon-me fiee is before me now I' 'And this Pha Dalande. I suppose he is in a state of suspense by this time?' *oh, no. We understand each other, perfectly He has too much sense to oare for such a butterfly as I am. I suppose my intimacy with him strengthens the idea that I am a ccquette; but what of that? When people are talking about me, they are not indulging their amiability over anyone else.' ' And how about George Bvlvester ?' How yia do tease me, cox I One might •a well be shut up in a cloister till marriageable age, and then brought out into market, and sold to the highest bidder, aa to live in these enlightened times and feel obliged to aeeept the first one who offers. If we bave not the privilege of choosing, we certainly ought to have the privilege of knowing those we accept. I w»3 not to blame there, for I really wanted to like the man: but he showed suoh a jealous, exacting nature that I was convinced he could n3ver make me nappy. His intellect; and person are superior, and I have no doubt he would mate nicely with some gentle, yielding creature. But I could not endure to see him look and act as if my every word and glance belonged to him—even before he had asked the right to monopolise me. -I'm ■ore I'm no coquette,' ' Perhaps Thome can find as many excuses for hia conduct.' 'Ob, no. He has the right to choose, yoa know; and, after he has paid attention to one for a while, off he goes after another, and I'm sore it is not because they refuse him.' 'Take care, Annie 1 There is a larking admiration in those words, spite of your condemnation. lam afraid, if yoa act on my suggestion, that yoa wiß lose your heart, instead of gaining bis.' ' Never fear, coz. Indeed, now I think jj?J» shall, if only to show that I am not so conquered." And with this resolution, away went Annie. Let as here take a peep at the subject of this discussion. Seated in a comfortable arm-chair, with Ins dressing-gown falling over a graceful form, and his hair thrown carelessly back from a white expansive forehead, he seems, certainly, not a very bad specimen of manhood.

He haw one habit, though, which, to Bay the least, is rather careless; that of think' ingaloud. Listen! 'What a simpleton I was, though, to offer my precious self to hex! I might have known, if Cupid and vanity had not blinded me, what hex answer would have been* * I suppose that by this time I have got the reputation of being a flirt; but what is one to do? 11l not marry those I don't like; and if those I do like won't marry me, I'm not to blame. •Absurd idea! that I had trifled with Emily Azne's affections I They give her eredit for mora heart and me less taste than she or I possess. 1 If they oould have seen, when I made a fool of myself by proposing, how she laughed at my ' boyish fancy,' as she called it, 'in thinking myself in love with a woman quite four years older than myself —time in which to form four, mora as serious attachments as this,' and heard her assurance, when I became indignant at this intimation of fickleness, * that did I really care as much for her as I thought, hex vanity would prevent her accepting; for she could not bear the idea of people's saving of her,' How old Mrs Thome looks, compared with her husband!' ■And then, to crown all, to see the ridiculous haste with which I left, I think they would *»«>»■*«* their pity, 'However, I'll not tell them. It's better to be known as a lady-killer than a rejected suitor. I don't think so; but that others do is evident, they do moralise to the contrary. ■Heigh-ho! I must do something to keep off the blues. I have it I 111 go and ask that little witch, Annie dark, to have a drive with me. And it wouldn't be a bad idea to go in for a little flirtation there. It would keep my mind from Emily, and there'll he no love lost, for Annie is a eoquette, if ever there was one.' That same afternoon, 'cos' entered Annie's room, exclaiming—- ' Here is an opportunity fx you! Bead this,' holding up a note. ' Sura enough 1' cried Annie, with misohief sparkling in her eyes. 'I wonder what brought this about? I believe the fates are working.' 'Nodoubt of it,' was the reply. ' Coz' assisted in making the appearance of pretty Annie as attractive as possible. ' and soon the gay pair were on their way for a ride. Their road lay thwngh a delightfullyshaded retreat, and, as they talked of its quiet beaties, their thoughts unconsciously took a deeper tone, and once the young man sighed, upon which he looked up quickly, to see if his mischief -loving companion had observed and was ready to rally him upon it. ♦ As he looked, they were passing a mora open space. A ray of sunlight came shimmering through the trees, and danced fitfully among Annie's golden-brown curls, and bis questioning glance turned into one of admiration. Bhft raised her eyes, and as she saw his expression, blushed, while she said — • That was, of course, a pitying sign for the weakness of those who indulge in sentiment, judging from your words a few # minutes since.' ' Please ma\e allowance for many things I say.' ' Of course I shall,' was the meaning rejoinder. 'Everybody knows that Hal Thome says and does unaccountable things.' He understood her. • I am aware of it, and that > everybody' is pzejudioed.'

1 Bat they agree that they are done in a graceful manner.'

' I suppose you think my vanity is quite ! healed by that timely flattery ?* 'To be sure I Like a skilful physician, I understood your case, and applied a medioine, whioh I hope you have taken, like a dutiful boy.' * Certainly. And in return, I Bhall insist on your not protesting against «timely flattery,' as you eet me the example.' ' Oa ' I'll agree not to protest against it: but bear in mind that that is not receiving it, and, if not received, what good will it do to offer it ?'

' I shall have the satisfaction of wishing to do a benevolent act, of coarse.' * Tbere! Yoa are not so averse to flattery, after all, or you would not intimate that it was agreeable to me. Confess now. Ah, I can read it in your eyes '■' raißing her cwn beantifal ones with a roguish glance to his face.

* Never trust ths eye, It oau be schooled to disguise thought as well aa words can.' ■ Can it ? How came yoa to learn this, pray?'

Bj praotioe, of coarse. Admire my frank nose in admitting it.' 1 Oh, yea. I am ready to admire good qualities in any one.' • Thank you. We ought to be very good friends, haying so many sentiments in common, even if we have not the sentimental.'

'Or the sensible. But wa are at home.' Tbey parted with the mutual wish expressed to meet again. * I wonder,' thought Thorne, as he drove away, «why Annie blushed so ? Was the spirit of coquetry working under that seemingly oareless exterior? That blush, and that glance into my eyes, would lead one to think so. What glorious eyeß she has, though!' 'Well,'thought Annie in the msantime, ' a favourable beginning, really '■ I wonder if be has decided uponaoonquest of poor me in addition to the rest, that he showed so evident a desire for a more intimate acquaintance. He has oommenoed sighing rather early, though, I think. However, he will be mated, or I'm not Annie Clark I A splendid flirtation " And he was mated, as will be seen. As Annie said, they had a 'splendid flirtation'; and for once, people did not Objtot.

The gentleman said: ' They were a well-matched pair'—wondered whioh would win in the ' Game of Hearts ' they were evidently playing, and observed philosophically that 'lt was a good thing that Annie Clark was appropriated by Thorne, as there were less danger of their being bewitched by her fasoinations.'

And the ladies deoided that Miss Annie was welcome to him.

They did not oare to listen to his tender speeohes. They were sure that this flirtation of flirts would not end pleasantly to either party.

All of which comments, though they do remind us slightly of the fox and the grapes, most be set down to poor human nature.

Bat Annie did not know how hard it was to enjoy this constant interchange of thought and feeling, and still be heart-free. All unconsciously to herself, she would blush and sigh in Thome's presence, and if she caught herself wishing he was what he appeared—sincere and noble—she would condemn herself ' for desiring to entrap a true heart.'

• Bather mortifying, though,* she would say, 'to think how poorly I suooeed. Here bave I, with the most commendable selfdenial, given up all other admirers for this most worthy object, and am no nearer accomplishing it than at first, for aught I see. Yet, how could I know, whether I succeeded or not ? Of course, look and manner are under perfect control; and how can I tell that tender words and manner ace not assumed for effect? I have a good will to give op the idea, after all, and drop him.'

She was saved the necessity of dropping him, however, by his saying to her, one evening shortly after—- • I oame to bid you good-bye. I start in the early train to-morrow for the north. I have offered to take the management of a friend's affairs, and shall be gone some months; and I could not go without seeing you once more.'

A sudden flush dyed her cheeks, then fled, leaving them very pale ; but he did not see this, as her face was from the light. Her visitor was quite oalm, though low, as she asked—'ls not this a sudden resolution? I shall miss von very muoh. But'—assuming a light tone—' as it can't be avoided, there' no use in being sad about it, is there ? We shall see each other again, some day; meanwhile, you will find some more congenial spirit, and I'll coax Mr Dalande to be my attendant beau till you oome baok; then we can review our little flirtation, can't we ? Indeed, it's not so bad, after all, as we are both fond of ohange,' looking up with a witching smile. His lips were compressed for a moment, and a stem expression rested there; then, in a like gay tone, he said — 'To be sure—that is, if your ohanging fancy shall not have selected someone else ere that tune.' 'Do you think it possible for me to prefer another ? You are modest.' 'Am I ? I was not aware that I possessed that desirable virtue. But I must away. Good-bye, Annie.' ' Good-bye.'

He held her hand a moment, looked searohingly.in her taoe, and then was gone. She did not observe the look, for all her powers were employed in self-oontrol—in trying to seem what she was not; for, the sharp pain—a pain that nearly stopped the beating of her heart, at his first wordsforced an unhappy truth upon her consciousness ; and, as the door closed upon him { she abandoned herself to bitter thought. ' It was well for my pride,' said Thorne, to himself, as he walked away, ' that her manner warned me not to commit myself It has ended just as I feared. I did hope to prove that there was a little womanly feeling under that light exterior ; but they are all equally heartless, and I—l am astonished at my own ohangeableness I That I did love the other sincerely, my feelings assured me; yet now Annie has entire possession of my senses I Oh, Annie : why have you no heart ?' The coldness of the air aroused him to the fact tbat he was gloveless, and, remembering that he left them at Mrs Clark's, he retraced his steps, •I shall see her onoe more,'he murmured ; ' but oan 1 trust myself ? I must. I cannot deny myself this.' He re-entered the house with the freedom of old acquaintanceship, and, as he went into the parlour, heard a low, passionate voioe, saying—- ' And it has come to this I But he does not know it I I am sure he could suepect nothing. Oh, Hal! Hal; I love you, spite of all ■ What shall I do' What shall I do?' And he saw Annie with her head bent upon her hands —sears trickling through her fingers. 1 Come to me, darling, and let me comfort you,' replied a tender voice, and Hal Thome, bending towards her, drew her bowed foim within his arms, Ehe bursi from him, and stood up with flashing eyes. ' How dare you,' she oried, 'ooma here and steal my secret from me ? You learn my weakness, and dare to pity me " ■ Hear me, Annie,' he said, gently de-

taming her, as she would have left him, 1 1 have loved you long; bat your manner taught me to guard my feelings, I oame here this evening, resolved to risk all, and ask a return. I had not muoh hope, and your manner dulled me. I went away resolved never to see you again—and I am thankful for the accident whioh called me back. I had a wrong impression of you. as you doubtless bad of me; but, if you will trust your happiness in my keeping, I will strive to undo that impression. Will you Annie ? and am I forgiven ?* ' Yes.'