A Christmas Courting.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 306, 23 December 1912, Page 3 (Supplement)

A Christmas Courting.

By G. B. BURCIN.

(ALL. RIGHTS RESERVED.)

Mr. .lame- Tciik- listened appreciatiwly to the hells on Christmas E\e. lb- had just withdrawn his red head from a Ihinbllooi- window on the line.- Feathers public-house ,n Palmyra buildings. lI.J----i'oi-n. 11 ii-ii put it out again in tie- vain i face hew itehingly pretty, in -pile of the ,111111- which UMl.l'lly lllsl'iglll.d it. Mr. Toiiks. potman a'lnl chtn-ker out .f the Three Feathers, wa- . ,-toii-ihlv •leaning the window. |„ n-alilv. softened .v ll:.- humanising iiillu.-n.- tic t hri,tu.i- -e.i-oii. hi- hen t li id lightiv turned lo S'lina Mm. maid ..f-all work' to Mr-. Mill-iil.l lielle. who k-p; Hie Sit I 1,- gem 1.l I was kept lo it. I ukiiown to -•In.a Ann. lie liii.l !.- main :il I complicated ~,-- --rilllei'tlH-1- ill Clou ol lid becoming Ml-. I'onl,- on Ihe hi, ,-i-ow. am! W.i- wry much wo, ried a), an hi- ehanees. S'limi Mill. Hie lilildgo of |he ~-taii!i-h meiit. -tarleii work .it an i-urh hour of die morning, beginning » k it !i Mr-. I'e-ale'-lea and I I. and eliding il late at nigh! after \\;;\ ing ]irepareil I hat huh '- -avoiir\ -ii|>|" '' ■' >ut'l"-r •'»' portion of wlii.-h it i- ii. edb— to say -h- -a- i o: |,ermitte.l lo - ~i-e. i! :i with tie high -• hit- of \ out:,, s i;.;a An i, who was atta -he.l t'. her t\ rant, never il igge I. lenitng 1 -.. cv. :. in h. i J:.-,:,,, mil. practically. Jul all th . w,.,k ..: the (t-tabli-h:iicnt. Mrs I. .-,!•■ -r tin: like t 'urri n: repoi '. in I hi- in.-t in -.■ hid il

i.^l* I 'Ulf T S«v»iV^s« ; \XV«*''ti«'»i;v''tf^ l '?i???i(S c sti hat Mr-. 1'..-.i!e 1, id " low nod lu-r- »i\ , •atel.el"; wilbin ihe p.,;.our and I."-;. , 'lb ml.-ied d, -pel.it,■ In sin i Anu'-u-t..mar\ r.-u.b/v our-. Mi. lon k- w m ilietor. ;,lid he,.;; Cilljb I, qlie-i- ,1 ' .111 veiling ..ii" on lb.- pl.-a ,v mgeui i.iiv.n- i 11.11.--. He lei 1,-! th- || ~( |i, :; he i.id mil had a t|..|i.|.i.\ |o. the | ;,-! -i\ iionth.-. an I I'uilhei -'- ,', d i!i.n hi,. ~ , i,-w to ■-.-, tiling down." hi -pi;,- oi the e\i ri w .ok 0.-ca-ioned iv I'm |'e-tiic -e.i-oii. leave was grante-l ionic lor t iv- holiday., and looking f 'i card 1., a firn in Hie bir. Hence. Mi. I'onks. iil'ier pmtiiig him.-elf in r.idun; ipparel. lie- . nii.i iin-tit il par! - of v hi.-ii ■o|lsi--, .1 1! IV oi ill. Olglaoll:- g i- - divlv be-:,. ~-.1 ...i ;,i,,, n-om lime to nm , v ' -'El.I \i-il. co|l o. -c i., mi-r-ive I , \'li... Ft lie. Mr. Tonk- pi-- lit.-,I |,i-----compb-im-nt." and would Mi-. Beale do him i lie "fa\ our" : . -.-.- him for ~ |.-w llillllt, ,- at -cl ell o lock. ■onimi --i'-iier in t ii j -h i; .- ol a -:na II hoy. .<>-,.\ Mr. Ton:,-, higblv ,!e!ig',Te,l with Ih-s cpi-t'dai-y etiorl. -at iiim.-e!; lowil o ~ remote corn. ;■ ol ill ■ b.ll. -oftly piaviu ■ .. i !n'.-'ma- ~ir„l .-n th. .rill i-rl ill ' 11l- Il . 1 lildsileJ ihe eir ,1. and bee,l turned w itn i very i, i. ar b-. wh'-':i Mr-. 8.-ale had h.-i ! him wii'i!- .ii-aiu-we-.ed Mr. Tonk'- !■ :i r. "Mr- B ■~! ■ had no time f..r Mr. j' vi ,-'- i,oii-e;i, c. and moor ghe- cre.l.t. I: im want., anything out of t'ao shop, let iii:n conic here and ask lor it like a man."

Mr. Tojiks. on rec, ipl of this uneom piomi.-ilig reply, did not ..wear "by the ash,-- ~f hi, i.nh.-r-" ~,- any . I her ela.-i----eal i.ilh, but giiiim-d -hcopi-hly, gave En- boy an extra penny lor hi,- damaged •ai. and l.oldlv .-,-,„-,-,■,|'i!ie road. If Mr-. Be.lb- expected hilll lo COllle enilg.Ug into th.- -hop ,-!,,- would he disappointed. Bu-iiie-- ~; high import .-in h as his demanded the pomp of private entrance b.\ Hi.- don- round the corner, llaoi.lv a.--uring iiiiu.-elf thai a hand-onie ear nation w i. i•■ il he had picked up in the ba i Ei-" aft. ri , adorned hi- buttonhole. aiel raki.-hH cocking hi- ha, over his light car. Mr. Tonk- sallied forth. o'lina Aim opened the door for him. a radianl and transformed S'lina Ann. clad in .1 m-nt black dr.--. a coqueitish while a;.ion. and a natty cap. Bui apart from Co- -mil cb-lliiine-- of h.-r pr.-ll \ lea I'lle-. Mr Tollk-V eles were irresistibly draw ii lo ;i -prig of ini-l 1,-toe in her cap. Before -"lina Ann realised his temerity, or, iii,l 0.1. Mi Tonks realised it himself. he had darted ijesporalolv at her and ki-ed her. S'lina Ann drew back, blushing deeply. So did Mr. Ton 1 -. -\\ hat wa- th v for?" she asked, with pr.-tu indigmilii.il. a- -he coyly plaited Ihe , ornei oi her api mi. ■l-o,- m.ii. Th. compliments of the -easoii." ' pb-ad. d Mr. Tonks. "I - 1 didn't mean I . do it. S'lina Ann. I i• ■. 111 \ didn't know 1 was going to do it. I 1 wa- overcome by mv feelings." "I) d■! doi-n't ih.it make it all thw nvo'" -■ , mtm-reil S'lina Ann.

;,^ r «re , ;3Tlir* l, «4"l!»tf , tT«"s¥4 , '««^*« :r WNffW Mr. Ton!.-, in more or Ie- , 1 i:.-_■ 11 ig.-. nig. d I hat an unprcnodit it .1 ! . 'in court." Bc-id-s. ihe merry chiming] ; ~; the bed- had ,-,,nfii-e,| him; he had i not .-• ■•■n S'ljn i Ann I ,r two days. I !..,,.! ' | And " queried s'lina Ann. in.n I'l.iiii In- own iniquitous proceedings. 1.-, inquiring ihe reason for s'lina Ann's i ; l—tive appearance. I s'lina Ann explained that the three I ! lodge,.. |,a,I gone imo the country for I i hii-lma-. sin- also, having less 'work j in . oii-eqiienie. bad boon moved by the I f.-li\c season, and had determined'to do ; herself justice for a couple of hours be- ; fore il became necessary to cook some-I thing hoi for Mr- Ueab-'s -upper, i '■ I'd like lo give her -omethink hot ; ' : fo, hel-ell. Never did see o„.|, „ f ,„-. | morink a- ;he did 'En." Mr Tonk- gloom- j ' , ily declare.!. " she's more like an alii | j gator i han anythink else; and eat- like j 1 | ..ie-. too." In- added, with bitter sarcasm. *" shouldn't be -'pri-cd it she eats you I I ' " \\ ell. wouldn't you like to do the ' I same?" -an.-ilv demanded the trans . , formed s'lina Ann. "Yoii'ic sweet enough." gallantly re joined M, Tonk-. " You didn't exneet m.body :" he a-k.-.1. suddenly tilled with . , : neiwoiis forebodings lest hi- mission i should 1..- lor.■dooim-d to failure, all his elaborate a iriini.'einents fall to ihe , ground. " 1 1 ra; her did." S'lina Ann admitted. ; Mr Tonk- externally exhibited signs of i . internal angui;;h. and turned a- if to " But didn't you want to see Mrs | 1 Beale about something?" [

I " I did think of settling down." Mr j I Tonks sadly explained, " and, seeing as | you haven't any friends or relations. I'd I ;ome over to sound the "Old Tn' about ] | it. But -ince you're expectin' some other I chap. I begs to withdraw."' j " But 1 wasn't expecting anyone else, , ! .J.—f,— Mr Tonks." ' j " You wasn't ? lYhen T thought you | | was expectin' somebody else it nearly! I flattened mc out. For two pins Fd hay» j I made a hole iii the water all among the j I little ducks in the Regency Park." pasj -innately allirmed Mr Tonk's. ■■Who's that in the passage?"' de- ' manded the "(lid 'En's" -trident \ oicc , " l ..me in. can't you." j "I can. df course I I can: but I— I'd inu.-h rath.-r not." candidly admitted ; Mr Tonks. whose courage began to ooze .ml at his finger-tips. " W-w-was that why you came?" ' S'lina Ann drew a little nearer to him. : Somehow, no one ever knew why. the : lamp in the passage chose this partiou- '', l:ir moment to go out. By the time' i S'lina Ann had relighted it. -he was I wearing the earmiCon and the sprig of I mistletoe reposed in Mr Tonks' buttonI hole. " N'ou. Tonks. am I to come and drag you in?" demanded the "(lid J'n." 11. Mr Tonks. hat in hand. and. il must |be confessed, propelled from behind by • ! S'lhiii Ann. entered the little parlour de- : eoratcl wilh mourning cards of all the He.lie- unto the third and fourth generalion. Beside- the ringing of church bells. I her.- was a buzzing in his ears as if he . had suddenly gone down into deep . watei- and could no! come up again. I; And vet. a- -he sal by the comfortable j lire nursing an evil looking old black ■ j.-at. Cere was nothing in Mrs Beale's appearance to inspire terror except the ii c.bl glimmer of a particularly small and 1 i li.-hlike eye which took in all the do ; tails of Mr Tonks" costume al a glance. ■ : The sprig of mistletoe appeared to annoy 1 her more than the other additions to bis 1; rather flamboyant wardrobe, and, leanj ing over, she made a -much at it. ! With the alertness of a tiained • - ehuekcr out." Mr Tonks -prang back I and pro-one,i the preeioii- -prig.

t*--«» u *is*-w*"«»"rt* w *,»i-'IW , »Tr««"«« , IW*U'J Yah!" said Mrs Beale. disappointedly and wen! on nursing her cat. at tin same time keeping one eye upon tin .-hop. The appearance of a small child, whos head was level with the shop counter a -ho imperiously demanded to be serve, with - two-penn'orth of bacon cut with : 'aininy knife." enabled Mr Tonks to re gain his composure. Seeing that Mr Beale did not ask him to lake a seat Iv- invited himself to do so. and tool one. Finding it scarcely adapted lo hi somewhat solid proportions, he hastil, took another. •■That'- right." sneered Mrs. Beak watching him out of the corners of ho chilly eve-. "W'nv don't you sit on t.i table?"' Mr. Tonks cast a longing glance at. th -olid table. Although he would hay felt safer there, his knowledge of .-oeiy etiquette saved him from accepting thi iron;.- invitation. lb- blusdiod .: vivi beet root. and. nervously twiddling hi thumb*, wailed for Mrs. Beale to begin. I Mrs. Beale. enjoying his confusion, r, .-i-mhicd a rather elderly cat about 1 spring upon a particularly opulen I mouse. "IVvoii want to borrow money': 1 .-he blurted' out. with siartling sud.l'er ii.,--. "You know mr terms. Hood s< i euri'y .\\\<\ twenty per cent, per month. I "No." Mr. Tonks admitted, "I can -,i\ a- Eiec one to borrow■ money, than y.,u kindly. Mr-. Beale." 'Then what have you come Tor. T i .-mash up. all my furniture? You'll ha\ jto tike part of tiie money in furni'ur jor cl-e make it forty per .-en:." sh I said, hopefully. "Don't -billy-shall; I How much? And what security can yo [offer?"

"I don't want to borrow nothing, Mrs. i Beale. I've come here on a solemn matter- I may say. a very solemn matter.'" j "You haven't been stealing marked money from Feat here' till?'' tsusp-iciously j demanded Mrs. Beale. "I never said I'd done anything of the j sort." retorted the confused and exas-j perated Mr. Tonks. "I've come here on i a much more important matter than emptying till*. Mrs. Beale." i "Don't you dare touch mine!" snapped i the old lady. "I've got my eye on you, I Mr. Tonks. Now, S'lina Ann. w.hat are i yon hanging about for in votir best ■ clothes:" "If you please. Mrs. Beale.'' Mr.; Tonks'ri blushes bad left him now. and, } though ho wriggled uncomfortably, his voice was fairly steady. "And if I don't please?" "With all respoc'—all due respec' to you. Mrs. Beak--it being Christmas Eve. I've come to break it to you—-"' "We've come to break it to you," amended S'lina Ann, stealing up behind Mr. Tonks and looking over his r.houlder. "What have you come to break to mc?" "We've come to break it to you," they chorused- "We're — keeping —com pany!" Mrs. Beale surveyed them with cold scorn, then -lie turned to Mr. Tonka*. "1 always knew you were the sort of young man who'd keep anything you could get hold of whether it was your own or anybody clew's. < lo away with you! And j' "If you plea-e. Mrs. Beale." said I S'lina Ann. anxiously, "you're quite I wrong. dame-- I mean Mr. Tonks—is 11 very good young man indeed. If anything, when he chucks people out he — be doesn't chuck nearly bard enough." "I suppose heli be trying hi.* hand on mc next,' -aid the old woman, grimly. "Don't let mc have any more of this nonsense. Take off these things and get on with your work. S'lina Ann." | S'lina Ann's pretty eyes filled with ! tears. She had worked and slaved for J this ungrateful old woman, had petted 1 ami comforted her when racked with I rheumati-m. put her to bed and tucked j he,- up every night although so tired that »he could r-oarool.v drag herself to her 'own little garret; and now, when her life's happiness was at stake, when the bh'S-ed Christmas bells rang out their • message of peace and goodwill to all on I earth. Mrs. Beale would not listen to i h.-r. and treated the patient James with j insult. I "Cci ou(. both of yon!" said the old ! woman, angrily. Then it was that Mr. Tonks made the dramatic effort of his life. "You seem to forget. Mrs. Beale. you're talking to . my lia,---o." "Your what':" shrieked tiie old woman. "My wedded wife, as is to be." said Tonks. firmly. "We've come to you in all huing kindness, mum; and if you J won't eoii-ent to our being married— we'r Iv a-king your consent out of politeness, like we'll do without it. I Come. now. It's Christmas. Shake , hands, and -and let"- all be happy ever ! aft.-r." he said, with a dim rememi br.iiii-e of having once road these afTect- | ing words in a novel. Mis. lie.lie. in a fury, began to say horrible Ciing- i.. th.-m thing- which ! th ■ tender hearted S'lina Ann -topped | her ear.- rather than listen to. When -he j had tired herself out and lay back in I her -.chair, her face grey witti passion, j Mr. Tonks turned to S'Lina Ann. I "(b) ami get your 'at. S'lina Ann. and : 111 take you home to mother's. -tit. Wi-u-I bley Street, two street- off. Thinking it might come to thi-. I told mother all | about it. and we had the banns put up ! three weeks ago. We'll b? married tomorrow /' s'lina Ann went up to the old wo--1 man. put tender arms round her neck. I "Eve i-ervel you faithful and loved you well." .he said, softly. "I shall love You I always; hut I love James more. (tod forgiie you for all the wicked thing-; you ye -aid and for turning mc out of your heart." sh,. went away tor her hat and jacket. kiised Mr*, lieaie again, lingered for a moment to care- the evil-looking old black cat. then, taking .Mr. Tonk's arm. walked, sadly away into the night, i The old woman did not stir until th"v I were out of sight. "She doesn't knowC she said, brokenly. "She doesn't know. And 1 -I've turned her out of my heart.' ! in. S'lina Ann. half-laughing, half-crying, when they reached 'Wembley Street lound herself in Mrs. Tonks'-" motherly arms. " \ on didn't expect to see mc." -ho said at length, extricating herself from that voluminous embrace. | "I'h. but I did. though." declared Mrs. Tonks. busily engaged in removing her visitor's hat aud jacket. •• James" -aid if he had a row with the old lady hf didn't think you'd come, and I said you',! just -t I about as much as 'most ties!, and blood could stand, mv dearie." S'lina Ann looked al Tonks. who stoo, swelling out his manly chest before th, . lire, love for S'lina Ann and pride of con j quest visibly depicted on his broad ex ! pan-o of countenance. i "(live her up!" he said,, in answer t, | his mother's expressive look. " Why , mother. I'd as soon think of givin" yoi up." I They then settled down to discuss th .details of the morrow's weddinc, Mr? -T.mks explaining that all the arrange . ; incuts had beoti made by the " owdaci [oils'' Tonks, on the chance of its "com p ing off." Tonks's -mall sister, in addi c lion to James, the only pledge of alTeo tion left behind him by the departe, P Tonks. -enior. wa-s to be the bridesmai. g -in her eyes a much more import-an function than that of the ofliciatin, cl clergyman. When they had calmed dow a a little, they all had -upper. S'lina Anr "as pretty as a picture."" Tonks irradiat 5 ing manly tenderness in every direction ''i whilst the pleasant music of' the neigr k houring bells made glad their heart '" | within them. > But when Tonks had departed f inform his employer that he was rinall c. "settled." S'lina Ann sat down by th ■r | lire. and. gazing into it- glowing cavern: .o I began to think of all the years she ha I-pent with Mrs. Beale. Mrs. Beale wa fi her earliest recollection. Someone ha • p .brought her. a small child, to Mrs. Real, ,| and air-. Beale bad lixed octopus-lik j a tentacles on her. and never let her g d again except under the pressure of th js j School Board Inspector. Fife had bee one round of drudgery from morning t | night, of waiting upon exacting lodger j of attending to a feeble, querulous ol °, woman, who never gave her thanks, bu '~ took her loving ministrations, her gent 'care, as a matter of course. As sh '"'sat there, thinking of Mrs. Beale a ~ alone, without anyone to put up th -butter- al closing time or attend to th wants of customers, S'lina Ann's teal k begun to fall thick and fast. She wa -ure that the old woman really loved he ojand her tender heart sorrowed at tb ■c misery she must, now be experiencing. '-. I When Mr. Tonks returned with ie ■ Christmas turkey presented to him h y. the landlord of the Three Feather iv ] S'lina Ann drew him aside. " I must <: I back just to put the shutters up. She

never be able to manage them for herself," she said tearfully, hiding her pretty face on Mr. Tonks's shoulder. | " Of course you shall, my dear,"' said - • Mrs. Tonks, admiringly. " But Tonks ishail go with you to help. He can keep 1 out of the old lady's sight if she ain't j calmed down yet. You see her off to i bed, and I'll run round in the morning and light her fire, though I have to put '■ a stitch or two in my black silk for the! i wedding." j But Mr. Tonks. although admiring | ■S'lina Ann's goodness of heart, was not ; going to have her spirited away from J him and locked up in what he called "the i | deepest dungeon beneath the moat." j | "Oh. there isn't a moat, only a coalI cellar." said S'lina Ann. her hand con- ' I tidingly tucked within Tonks's arm. her j i cheeks aglow with happiness. " \V— • i where are we going to live after —after— j i to-morrow ?" I I " I did think of Bucking'm Palace or ' iMarlhro' House." Mr. Tonks said j thoughtfully: "but I'm told the Royal i Fam'ly finds it inconvenient to turn out I !just now. We'll stay a bit with mother,] land then look for a home of our own. I j1" he lowered his voice to an awestruck • whisper—•" I've got the ring, S'lina Ann. You don't know the load I've had on my mind ail this time." I S'lina Ann had acquired a few fictional j heroes in the course of her somewhat i 'limited reading, but instantly made up her mind that the whole lot of them ; melted down into one could not hold a candle to the in-comparable Tonks. Whilst 'he had been busy looking at her out :of the window over the way he had thought of everything. "It's like Cinder- ' ella." she whispered, giving his arm a I'ittle bashful squeeze as they came to j the door of the shop. "l(iu were always a princess, though I couldn't see your face sometimes for ■ I the blacks on it." tenderly returned Mr. Tonks. "I'll wait here while—what's i that?" | A smothered rry for help, a kind ot .gurgling groan came from the shop. | Mr. Tonks dashes! in at a bound. Two 1 men were there. One was squeezing Mrs. Beale's throat unpleasantly tight, whilst ; another ransacked the wooden drawer ; | which did duty for a till. . j The combat was brief, but exciting. I With one blow of his mighty fist, Mr. [ I Tonks knocked the man at the counter ! into a heap of empty biscuit tins, the | i lids of which out him severely, and then ' choked Mrs. Beale's assailant until he . relaxed his grip. "What shall I do with 'em?" he called over his shoulder to '.S'lina Ann. '•('all the perlice?" In the midst of her own happiness, , the soft-hearted S'lina Ann oouid not , | hear to be harsh. "She's not really hurt," I she said, as she rearranged the old lady's I leap. "I I wouldn't like even a burglar to be in prison on our—our weddingI day." i "That settles it." Mr. Tonks flung his i captive into the street. "Be of! with - you." Then he extricated the other man 1 from the sharp edges of the biscuit • tins. The other man swore horribly in a dazed sort of way. With a scornful kick on the seat of - his patched trousers. Mr. Tonks sent him after his comrade. Then he turned to ' ] Mrs. Beale. "I can dea, with them,"' 1- he -aid. thoughtfully. "That's what I'm ' for, but Fin bothered if I know what to do with you. I -'pose it's no use asking 'you to the wedding to-morrow? ' • j Mrs. Beale's nerves were shaken, or 1 shp would not have given in so completely. "If a mother can't go to her i own daughter's wedding I'd like to know : whose wedding she can go to?" ': "Well. I'm- " Mr. Tonks stopped , short. I "You're not yet. but you will be some day if you don't take care of my I daughter," said Mrs. Beale, recovering ' | her nerve. "Put up the shutters and i ' leave S'lina Ann here to look after mc. j i We'll drive lo the church, and if you . behave yourself you can come back here f■ to stay. There's plenty of room." I Then she began to cry, and begged , s'lina Ann to forgive her for the bur- ' ! dens she had put upon her. I didn't , j want you to know who I was and hanp | round waiting for mc to die, so you'ii ' ' get all my money." was the only ex planation she ever vouchsafed of her ex ~ traordinary conduct. "Your name ain't . i Pringle. but Beale. and I've got the cer- •', titicate to prove it." i S'lina Ann put Mrs. Beale to bed whilst Mr. Tonks fastened the shutters. Whet her mother was made comfortable fot . i the night, she stole down again and re I joined Mr. Tonks. "What are you think c ing of?" she asked, again creeping intc • | his capacious embrace. f "Ah." said Mr. Tonks. "those old ding I dongers." ami he listened appreciativelj •- Ito the bells. "They know a lot, thej r ! do. but there's one thing they don't 1 ! know." 0 j "Yes. James?" ' "And that is what a wonderful gir .. ] you are, S'lina Ann. i "Mother says to tell you the nam< over the shop's to be altered to 'Tonk: ! and Co..' .lames, dear." . | "I withdraws what I said about he; ' being a cormorink and a nalligator, anc 1 any other fancy animal." Mr. Tonks sail feelingly. "Now." I'll just go round t, ,j the stables, and order your carriage fo to-morrow." ip "(to —go! Go—go! Go—go!'"' ran; s i out the bells. P ! j (The End.) i- _ a- | ■