TEN MINUTES' STORY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 89, 15 April 1913, Page 6

TEN MINUTES' STORY.

LIZA'S LILAC. (By 'WINIFRED and JOHN L CABTEK.) Two old women stood on the island opposite the bank fearfully clutching each other and making no attempt to reach the pavement in front of them. Indeed, the crossing which they' had just effected had exhausted what little adventurous spirit those quiet, countrified dames possessed. On tne opposite pavement some halfdozen clerks stood amusedly watching them. "Poor old things!" said one of thorn, in sudden pity; "I'm going to help them to cross. Sec you to-night, boys. Ta, ta!" And leaving his amused companions, he" threaded his way through the traffic to the forlorn old couple. "Can I help you, ladles?" said be. "I call that downright good of the young gentleman, I do!" said the ouo with the cherries iv her bonnet. "And thank you kindly, but it's real nice of you, young master." And with shy, friendly smiles they fastened themselves on his elbows, and exchanging a look, as if to say they didn't know how they dare, they committed themselves to his care, each holding her breath until safely across. "Now where do you want to go?" asked the youth, with a smile. It struck him oe being very odd that he should offer to show these quaint, dowdy old women their way about, especially us their queer home-made clothes and prim, scared faces attracted much attention. For a moment neither answered, and then the little one—the one with the eyes of a grey field-mouse—nodded to the one In the cherry bounet —he found out later that Cherry Bounet was always spokeswoman. And so Cherry Bonuet, with a wild look right and left, saw there was nothing to be done hut tell him. "You see, sir," said she, "we found this morulug that we had come Into a legacy—two hundred pounds—and we've come to see Lawyer Jonas about it. Our Liza wauted to come instead, but we couldn't let a young lass like her come. She might have lost her head and got talking to all sorts of people." Jack smiled. •'Would you say that I was one of the 'all,sorts of people'?" he asked. Little Mouse Eyes looked indignautly at Cherry Bounet; she was sure that his feelings were hurt. So Cherry Bonnet made baste to make amends. "Oh, anyone can see by your face that you're an honest-hearted young gentlemau, not above helping two old bodies. Now I shouldn't be surprised if you were a Methody." Jack didn't speak. The old lady Was very trustful, he thought. If she coulo, have known that he was a clerk in the vilest bucket-shop In London, and how little ho troubled about anything but having a good time, and putting off his creditors, she might have been less confiding. He was not altogether bad though, atvd it was with real sympathy that he listened to her artless revelations of former poverty and to her plans for the. future. No one could guess what this money meant to them! She told him how their niece, Liza, "as bonny ii lass as you'd ever set eyes on, with a tine upright figure and a right good colour," should have_ a new frock, and a hat with "them ostrich feathers In It." Liza wouldn't need to work so hard neither. At last t'tey reached the lawyer's office, and Jack waited outside for nearly half-an-hour. And he was thinking all the time of the spinsters - windfall. lie was pondering how he could turn this adventure— which had begun out of klnducss of heart —to his own advantage. He was very hard pressed just then— and he left that he was a fool for not caring to ask them to make him a loan. AVhen they came out he was pacing up and down, still undecided. They greeted him as if he had been an old friend. Cherry Bonnet, in eager tones, asked him to go back with them and stay to ten, and -the other, since she couldn't bring herself to speak, beamed as beamingly as. her shy grey eyes would let her. He had brought them luck, said Cherry Bonnet. The lawyer had said that it was two hundred pounds every year that they were to have! To think o - that. And Mouse Eyes, the younger and more easily moved, had to wipe away a tear of gladness which would come from her withered eyelids. And it was all for Liza, their girl! And so, it belDg his Saturday half-holi-day, Jack Douglas was easily persuaded to accompany them to the little village a few miles outside London. Long before the train reached the slation he fejt as if lie had known the crazy little cottage, with the ivy partly hiding the weather-stained, whitewashed walls, and the roses climbing up, and the lilac bush over the greenpainted gate, all his life. As they walked towards the quiet village, skirting the quaint, stragglng farms, everything was hushed except for the occasional cackle of a goose, or the exultant clucking of a motherly hen as she scratched up a worm. Then, when they had passed through the village, he saw. leaning over a gate some distance along the road, a gin with a bright face of cream and roses, and brown, curly hair that had come undone and was hanging down on the white neck. Her arms were resting on the gate, n-nd, as he came nearer, he saw how brown they were, except for one whoso sleeve was turned higher than usual, which showed a bangle of whiteness even fairer than her throat. The old ladies were- watching him with eager, expectant faces. "That's Liza!" said Cherry Bonnet, as if to say, "AA'e know you can't believe it!" And the pride and love in her voice made him wince. The table was ready for tea, and the bright firelight and the snowy cloth gave the place a comfortable sense or homeliness. Liza took the dear old ladles iv her arms and gave each a loving kiss. "I've been afraid for you," sJig' said, with a protective air. At first she had taken Jack Douglas for the lawyer, but her aunts quickly told her In how many, points that man failed to reach Jack's standard. He blushed, and 'felt thoroughly ashamed. Liza listened eagerly to their good news, and fussed round them to their hearts' content. Once, as she passed Jack a crip of tea, he dared to look right into her sweet shy eyes, and all his former Ideas"of happiness fell away from him. He felt he was on sacred ground. • "Now." said Cherry Bonnet, after the tea things had been cleared away, "I think you ought to take Mr Douglas and show him where we are going to have the new pigstye, and give him the chance of a bit Of lilac, my dear." "AVould you like to come?" said Liza, with a shy little look at him. She kept her head bent; forward, so that she could drop her eyes the quicker. Ho delighted in thinking that he could make her do It, too. "Oh. shouldn't I just. Miss Liza! I love lilac," he cried, and jumping up he opened the door for her with a gracious little bow that made her bltißh and finger her npron in a way that he-tixrasht delisb.tfu.i-

"Now, wouldn't that be a good thing, .Tane!"-Bald Cherry Bonnet "Shouldn't we feel safe aboufdur girl If she married a chap like him! Think of all this money and how a villain might get'our little Liza and break her heart! You know we've heard of it being done afore." And the old ladies dolefully shook their heads at the idea of Liza's little heart being caught and broken by a fortune-hunting scoundrel. "They be getting on famous," commented Cherry Bonnet, nodding her head with delight. "Now she's giving him a bit o' lilac." And the two old maids smiled and felt glad. "Perhaps—who knows?" said the little ! grey-eyed one. She spoke so seldom that her j more loquacious sister had come to regard her words as pearls of wisdom, and, in this case, she was convinced they were happily prophetic. That nigiit Jack wont back with a sprig of Liza's lilac in his coat, and he sat up thinking in his dingy lodgings until late. Love ■ had been waiting for him, leaning over that green-painted gate away in the country lane. The moment he saw her his heart had thrilled. But could he ever dare to ask that sweet maid to join her life with his! He was a, ne'er-do-well. Would he not be showing his love best if he left her in peace! At last he settled that he would keep away while he diil his best to reform his life anil make a position. Jack kept his resolve for just a week, and then ho could keep away no longer. It was Saturday again and so he went over in the afternoon on his cycle. He found Liza lookiug out from under the lilac tree, and the happy blush which greeted him made him despise himself less. j It seemed almost as if she had been waiting ! for him all the week. Of course, the old ladies wore delighted. "Now sit down and have a cup o' tea. Aye! but it's a rare good sight to see your bonny face again," cried Cherry Bonnet. Hoiy happy he was! Lfea was fearfully happy. Yes. fearful that It would not last. Rut with the fatalism of her sex she let herself enjoy the moment. just when the sun was setting he screwed up his courage to say that he would like to see the garden —he was interested in that nest of throstles in the hedge. And so Cherry Bonnet bade Liza take him. Liza jumped up willingly enough. Already Jack had the door open and had taken his cap from the towel roller where it hung. As he was closing the door behind them, his eyes mot hers, and instead of looking down, Liza found she couldn't. His eyes seemed so pathetic, almost appealing—and just a trifle masterful, too. She turned and picked v!p a broom that hall blown down—just to show that she was entirely herself—and then they walked towords the hedge; and she picked daisies ar« she went. At last he touched her bare, brown arm, and all at once her strength left her. She stood jnst where she was, with her head turned away, her fingers picking at one of Uie daisies. lie turned furtively to the cottage window, and something moved away from behind the curtain. "Liza, dear," he said. "I meant to keep away, but I couldn't. I've been a poor sort, Liza, but the moment I saw you I knew what a fool I'd been." Liza didn't move, neither did she believe a word. She knew it was his modesty. "Liza, I'm going to work, and work hard to get a position, and I shall come again then, if you'll let mc. What do you say. Liza?" Liza said nothing, being perfectly content. Slowly she looked np and round, and then when she met bis eyes she had to hide her face on his shoulder. And so Jack said no more nbout being a ne'er-do-weol, but resolved to keep himself On the pedcstul on which she had placed him. And that night he took back a second sprig of Liza's lilac, and —Liza's heart as well. THE EXD.