Margaret and Roy.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXII, Issue 3070, 19 January 1894, Page 6

Margaret and Roy.

A RAILmAT STORY. ,

Roy Dunbar stood upon tbe relfet hearthrug before the flow^r-ftUed grate, an open letter in hit htnd, and upon bis face a look of perplexity, not unmiogled with annoyance. A fine-looking fellow, with an honest) manly face, lit wjtb soft blue eyes ; and the cfirfes t>f the well-cnt lips were firm and true. Through .the open window came the scent of * newmown hay, and tlie Kreath of rose* and honeysuckle. A round table io the centre of the robin was laid for two,*" and o?er at the window his mother— a mre, stately old lady, with whom he lired alone— was regarding him with mild surprise. 'What is it, Boy?' she asked, gently. ' I know, when you look like that, that something annoys and troubles you. What is it, son V' 'Enough! Mother, I don't believe that I am lacking in courtesy or the Ttquirements, of a gentleman ; but it ♦* a little annoying to have an unknown female thrown upon your protection in this way. Listen, please ! This letter is from my friend Bonner, of Newburgh.' He spread out the crumpled sheet which he had been holding in his hand, and read aloud : '; 1 My Deab Roy,— l am in a quandary, and come to you to help me out. The case, in brief, is this: My sister, Miss Marguerite Bonner, is desirous v of* attending the great World's Faif. My business is at present so pressing that it is quite impossible for me to accompany her. Once arrired in Chicago, she will be met by friends — relatives who are anxiously awaiting her arrival. , Now, ss I happen to know that you are intending to start for Chicago next Tuesday, I ask of you, as a .special favour, to look after my sitter to her journey^ end. Will it be any trouble to yop, Koy ? She v a timid little fehinjj, and shriuk* from the thought uf travelling alone. If you oonsent to bo thus burdened, drop me a line, and Marguerite will be on the train a* it passes your town, where you can joinher^ * Oblige me— that's a dear fellow ; for once^orget that you are. a confirmed and crusty old bachelor. ' Yours, as ever, Boy Dunbar folded the letter, and returned it to his pocket. ' Itj is awfully provoking,' he exclaimed, * and the lady a stranger to me, too. Frank Bonner ought not * Roy I lam ashamed of you !' .' Mother, I know I'm a brute ; but I intended to make the trip with my friend Olavering ; and now, to have to look after a lady and be on my good behaviour all tlie time ! And the first vacation I have been able io enjoy for a whole year. Ah, wellj!< lam an unlucky fellow, and may as well accept the situation with, patience^ ' His mother smiled. She was thinking in the depths of her heart tkaj it was high time fot Roy to begin thinking 1 about a wj|«is: He f waJ9 nearly thirty, md in excellent circumstances. There was no earthly reason why he should not marry. \ ♦I cannot live for ever,' the old lady said to herself, 'and I should like to see Roy. happy with a good, true woman« for his wife,' - ;-, Breakfast over, Roy Dunbar jfro^ ceeded to reply to his friend's letter, accepting the trust reposed in him with as good grace as possible. At least, the telegram did not commit itself ; but was as laconic as such things usually are. : ■ * ? i ■ The days went "by with remarkable celerity, and tide day appointed for the trip to Chicago came at last. Roy; Dunbar boarded the train' when, it paused for the usual infinitesimal time at his own station. He entered a drawing-room bar; and i had not moved six paces down the aisle, when a voice calling his name, made him halt in surprise. A lady ! \; 1 Why, Mr Dunbar !' extending a gloved hand, ( bow glad I am toj&eet jrpu ! I knew you the momenl'rSaw? |rou ! The journey is so hmg ty& tiresome I snail be delighteu with your company, lam sure.' - ■ 1 Have you iorgoiten me ?' for his eyes .-wore a bewildered look, which He could not altogether remesa on short, notice. ( I am Miss Bonner — Miss Marguerite Bonnear.' * ■ Miss Marguerite . Bonner ? His, charge — the young lady- confided tp his care by a loving brother. He felt ; as though, someone had suddenly drenched him with a shower bath. She 'the timid__little thing,' who shrank from travelling alone— and all ih& test, of it t ..^jronjan jj som? fi%-eight or sixty yearsj if she was a day, and looking ey«ry hour 61 J^er age. Notwithstandinpftne thick costing of pearl-powder which acceni^ted rattier than concealed the^ietwork of wrinkles which oyerspreaid her )^Epn face ; and the little dabs of too perceptible rotf^ upon either cheek. .Her hair was - palpably 4yed, and frizzled within an inch of its life ; there was no mistake, either, in the dazzling white* teeth, which bbre too plainly for possible mistake the handiwork of the dentist. And withal, she ya* so exceedingly girlish and sprightly that she attracted the attention of the observer at once to the fact that she was one of tlie real old maids of whom one reads occasionally, but who, we are glad to see, are no^f becoming, as a race, as extinct as iUe fyotijfif z.-.-\ | | : Roy feit an imea^ seMtion overtake (iim ; hu^ there wae.n*> help for it The lady doubtless expected him jr^wjjat couj|| hfi jsuccumb ?, So he accepted the seat near her, and'

essayed a conversation, but I must confess #iat Roy Dunbar scarcely knew npon what subject he was conversing. ..•;•. ..... .. * - And all that time he wjui* watching Clavering— Guy Clavering—thehandsome young lawyer, universally Jiked —and a prime favourite among the ladies wherever he went. Clavering had evidently found an acquaintance * ■ and one worth finding, too, if looks are anything by which to iudge. For lady, wjt||a| j^^jjleet face, and great brown eyes which held a timid expression, anil a mass of bronze brown hair, worn in a coil at the back of lier head and falling in wavy 'bangs' upon a snowy brow. She was dressed in a neat grey travelling dress— hat, ribves, vest, all of same delicate hue. She looked as fair and modest as a violet, and ihe seemed very much interested in something that Olavering was saying. Dunbar bit his lip in vexation. He felt out of conceit with himself —with the whole world. Why must he be fated to a long visit with the spinster < at his side, with her girlish affectaf^ tion ; her dress far too youthful for her years ; and that endless flow of small— very small talk. He groaned. He felt an insane desire to reach Chicago ; the sooner the better. \ fhe trip was <mly ten hours hi duration. The train steamed on, and at his side the lady's tongue rattledt on and on, like the traditional brook, * lor ever. 1 Roy consulted a time-table. If nothing delayed them they would reach Chicago in three hours. 1 Thank heaven ! r he muttered. But something rf»rf occur. A freight train had been wrecked, and their train must wait untfl the track ahead was cleared of the debris. Poor fiby, ± feeling that there Was no escape, gave himself up to the inevitable. ' ' I suppose you are wondering, Mr Dunbar/ the lady beside Mm was saying, « how I woogm^ed you so quickly wheto you entered the mak 9 I was not thinking of such a thinffas meeting j»(W-^of course ftsj SuFthe nioment you etrtewd the car I teiew you? We met s«>etal y«ars ago at an entertainment in NeV York; of oourte, you have forgotten ?* • Roy murmured some polite equivocation, but a s©nse of contempt for the palpable misstatement overcame him. For why : should she Hot nave expected him since her brother had flaiJedher in RoyV charge. He remembered then, for the first #me, that Fnrnk Bonner Was th^pdsiessor of a half -sister many years his senior, and frank was nearly forty. ? How slowly wpre-P away until the necessajy dolay was over, and then Ope% more the train went steaming swiftly on Mike great White City. Roy gathered courage. fife 4 would soon be there, and his penance ended. v All this time, Cfaveriiig had been so absorbed itt his bewiteWng companion that he had never^ oil^e approached s°y^ yhsß, JRo^ Ml t so chagrined oVer his i^itioii, th|t| he wisely concluded to keep pAt of Ofefering's way. And ther*»at Clavering — confound Clavering;?^ looking as happy as a kin]^, with mat fair face uplifted: while she smiled as though amused at something that Clavering was saying, - .; ! - .. Chicago at last j jgts|ng an exclamation of relief, -Dunbar arose. ( Your friend* «w to *eetly6j; I understand, Miss jßonner ?' he lobserved, ' AMow^me,! 1 -.■*& -,*$ %>> And he;wi*ed upon h«r olaboiate travelling hag with suspiciou* haste. She looked surprised. , mi 1 No, there wili be no one to meet me/she returned. <I am quite able to take care of myself, Mr Dunbor. Besides, I have my Mebe to look after — Miss Marguerite Bonner, same name as my own. t fonrid he# all ready to start for Chicago when I arrived at my brothers house on a visit. I live in New York, you tnow. She was going alone, too, depending upon the possible escort of some young man jarom a nißtobbouring town —a stranger -te-fcer*— but a Mend of her '"brother. I deolared at once that she should go wiibf/ me t the 4lald needs a vacutioD, and shall have it. So we started. In the car we were separated ; but she had a pleasant travelling companion in Mr Gbrrering, and -oh, let me introduos you !* Roy Dunbar never knew how he got through that introduction and die scenes which followed. An explanation made all the party laugh heftrtihy ' and after that uiere was no more i JE^e weelrt ;ol pleasant companionship that followed had tWr own effe^ ttpbn Roy DdJibar. The t|«talt ia briefly summed up in the Uibty wedding-carda which lie upon the desk before me : '. . „ .v.^j ■♦;■■=■•■• * ' MABOTTEBaTI BOITKEB AND ROY ; / DUHBAR, ( September 26th. 1893.'

Tto tort tt*&to»a^*«*tf*M»4 Son* Baodrptt ExtncL Ttetite eminent powerful #<Hun^L, N»v>, 1881)4 Hi jilpiftin ,at Ih*^nottdnrwill equml in ito ujtfcta Bucafartiiktnct i^^tGhrei&wakL reports:^l%pti£em.Toiuili Bucaljrpti Extract employed. Nonrellin#.W it diaodoratton.Cmed n 14<Ur>i=-fA<tH- j W" "Rough oh 54m"— Clears oat nU, mice caches, fli««, Miti, l^d-bugs, in«>cts,'»kuiil» iipArroir^ gophert. At obemirtl an 4 dfugguti* .