THE NEW CHUM AT THE EXHIBITION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 16, 19 January 1914, Page 9

THE NEW CHUM AT THE EXHIBITION.

(By CONRAD.)

I . wae laaily glancing through the pages of Friday evening'e "Star," and wondering whether my Jandledy could by any chance bit upon the exact number of niinutee an egg ought to be boiled, when an energetic rapping at the front door disturbed the serenity of my breakfast table and caused Rangitoto toawwl dismally. (Rangitoto is my dog; 'he ie an; animal of rare species, 'belonging, I believe, to the famous French breed, La ■Mongrel c.) Next moment the door wae opened, »nd in walked the New Chum, rosy and smiling. "I cay!" ehe exclaimed, stooping to pat Rangi. "What .ie it?" -I asked hurriedly. "Has the Government resigned, or " "The Government ft Of course not; why should it? No; I've nothing to do to-day, and 1 'want you to take mc to the Exhibition. Oh, you need not look eolemn. What'e the uee of a. cousin in Auckland if he don't talce you about?" "All right: 111 be delighted. Have some coffee; it's just made." The New Chum coneumed' coffee and buttered toast while 'I spruced myeelf up, and we took a train from the Three Liamps. "I want to go to the poet office and get some stamps and to do some shopping; we can get to the Exhibition in time for the first band performance; it begins at 3." My cousin had evidently got the bit between 'her teeth, and was bearing mc away, a helpless orphan in a 6fcrange land, on a wild escapade which eeemed likely to involve the spending of a lot of cash. This metaphor is somewhat ■mixed, ibut not half so mixed as I was in my mind at the time, for I really began to wonder if I had brought out sufficient of tibe "ready" to carry va through the day in efcyle. We first visited the post office, and the New.Chumi who wished to ibuy stamps, eailed in on the starboard' tack with a heavy list to port, and brought up against the counter 'heading "Shipping." She wse directed elsewhere, and steered for the telegraph'ibureau. "Goodneee gracious!" she exclaimed; "I never saw 6uch a place as this an all my life! A poet of&re, where they do everything 'but sell stamps!" I had procured a 2/ book of the articles in question, and h-anded it to her, whereupon she called mc a da-rling, and proceeded to etick them'—mostly upside down—on her eorrespond'«nce. The shopping we decided to leave, so I chartered a motor, and we puffed off. "Ah, thie is really pretty!" she exclaimed, as we entered; "and euch a nice approach, not built on a 'bit of waete land like the White City, which takes you hours to get to, and like as not you get into the wrong train, or True, and there are great horrid factory chimneys sticking up all Tound 1 the buHdinge." "I'm glad you like it," I replied, quite relieved, for the Nerw Chum can occasionally be extremely earcaetic on things in general, and I was pleased that she approved of our Exhibition so far. We visited, the Art Gallery, and ehe immediately wrapped herself up in the pictartir,- figuratively 6peafeihg. One in particular attracted her attention to such an extent that 'I grew quite nervous. No official eeemed to ibe about; the room "ivae empty, except for ourselves; -was it possible she had a claspknife concealed upon her person and intended to .slash the canvas from ite ■frame? I touched her gently on the ehouOder. "Have you done looking at that, 'because there are others " "No; I've not dono, and never shall be done. Jt's a glorious Wt of work. Lock at that eea. Can't you emell it, and .feel the wind catching your face? Lunch? Bother lunch. That's juet like a man—must ibe fed. Go and get a leg of mutton, or a mutton bird, and a glass of Dominion ale, .md, 'leave mc iheTe Among the pictures." . " But, my dear Marie, there is the ■water chute, and on a hot day like this I thought it might be cool and refreshing." "Ah, to be enre. Well, wait a minute, then we'll go and have a splash." Emerging into the sunlight again, we wended our way to Wonderland, and climbed the slippery slope that starts you off on a perilous journey into the unfathomable deep. The New Chum discovered her hat was awry, and declared ehe had lost her hatpin protectors, without which she dare not stir. " Easily remedied," I eaid. " Take your hat off. 11l carry it." And the Hatless Brigade gained a new convert by my suggestion. Away we slithered, and the New Chum created a diversion by diving fcer arm into the water to discover if it were salt or fresh, and finding it the latter, scornfully upbraided the Exhibition Committee for not utilising the sea, which could supply any amount of water, and much cleaner and fresher, too. I refrained from arguing the point. Women cannot be made to understand such matters. Tea and sandwiches refreshed us, then we took our seats to listen to the band. Both of us are fond of music—l do not refer to ragtimes and such-Oike weird, if up-to-date, concatenations of sound, and the hour we spent, entertained royally .by the Royal Artillery, was one of unmixed pleasure. The New. .Chum is not demonstrative. -When she feels deepest she-is-quiet;, arid" she silent ac a little mouse until the end, when she gave a long sigh and a smile. "If I'm half good, and ever get to Heaven, I. hope there'll 'be . music like that," she said. I ventured to squeeze, her long slim fingers. What's the use of a cousin in Auckland if you can't show you're fond of "her? Then .we made a tour of the exhibits, and, happening suddenly to miss the New Chum, I found her in the Machinery [Department, interviewing an attendant who was evidently labouring under ■the impression that she was willing and able to purchase a £1,000 motor car on the spot. " No, madam," he was saying as I came up, "the uphdlstery of the car we leave entirely to you, but I can submit styles " The New Chum evidently scented my approach from afar, and smiled sweetly. "I will leave it at present," she eaid; " and let you know later." Evening fell, and one by one glimmering lights outlined each Tnrilding; th« .fairy fountain began to play.

"We'll stop and. see the .fireworks; it's Saturday, so they have them, to-night," said the New Chum. , . , . : ; I had no special desire to see; the fireworks, 'but yielded to her request, and Fm glad I did. Guy TVwkee himself could net have been more gratified if hie contemplated combustion of the House of Parliament had come off—and goodness knows, some of the members want a little fire put into them —than I was, when it was all over, and the New Chum's arm 'lay under mine, which it had never done before. Outside the turnstiles and out on the moonlit rOad, she 1 paused and. looked round. " It's very lovely. I should like to take it up in my arnas and carry it right away!" - ' ■ :-■: "What, dear?" I asked. I was diving into my pockets to ccc if I had changed the last half-sovereign or not. "Why, Auckland. It's the most beautiful and romantic city I've ever seen." I think she is right, and although I am a rolling stone, which has as yet gathered no moss, and liave travelled in many lands, I willingly endorse the Xew Chum's opinion. Bother my landlady, why does she always put the matches where I can never find them?