"APRIL FOOL,"

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 27, 26 October 1907, Page 14

"APRIL FOOL,"

... "I'd os. lief the .blue .wore grey,'" 'ho quoted irritably."Tho wish would bo likelier of fulfilment out of Italy," said she. "Dear old English grey!" . "Sunshine and beauty..'pall on you; you yearn • for que'enship in. village drawingrooms." Her calm mouth was' perfectly good-tem-pered. ' put it so —of course, yes. And so, again- 1 -dear old English monotones 1 Deal English mist-wreaths! Your book delays many .tilings. Why delay the . book ?" .:■' He swung to arid fro, on tho verandah of: the bungalow, perched high between sky and val'ey'. The grey of olive-orchards 1 and tho sapphirinb of tho Mediterranean lay/far down at his feet; in blew the ice-touched air from Monte Bignone. Then-: he .wheeled 011 her — '■ : , : V"' " ! ! •"I wait for inspiration. Surely, we have a right of individual action?"..,-' V.'-''-' "So far, it-has been natural to'be together' —you as Aunt Octavia's favourite, las her .ward. It isn't England for myself I want, so ■ much as action for-you. Remember your ■gifts." ' ' ' . ■■■■ .- "Consider ; forced work. There is no stirring of.the spirit.here." ; ; " Drowned in tho of Italian teagardens." , His profile,; outlined finely against tho sky, veered-,inwards., '.-. Pile was bending over glazed earthenware, filling it with giant leaves of 'grey thistle from tho mountains. Tho perfection of out-; line;"the sobriety-of tints, swept out',his irritation, reminding him once moro of his favourite' simile—Twilight incarnate.' To some moods the serenity' appealed—a benediction and a-balm:' To-day lie -would nono of it. He wanted Morning—bracing Morning, aglow, with a thousand delights. A stinging lampoon' in a Roman paper mocking scurrilflusly at hi 5 last epic, a dancing endorsement,of-the'liliel in a merry black eye—these were teasing self-love to-day. Suddenly: the woman looked up, stretching a hand along the window-sill. ! The sun : shono on .it. .AVhat a : beautiful hand it was 1 ■ By the senses'he'was surely drawn. And her voice spoko kindly, bidding him, as she lifted steadfast eyes to his, smile at "these weathercock editors," for "to-mor-row," was her assertion," "thoir verdict will be reversed:" He,' unknown to himself, was a needle under :her magnet ; the pleasant bonhomie .of his manner, returned.' • . . "Let us bo'up to tho mountains this afternoon to forget'it. all:" "And to make ready for harness to-mor-row,. Claud."- . ' . ' ' ,"I have no to-morrow," laughed he. "It is To-day splendid, or To-day petty. Always,, always; To-day, littje Coz.' And all To-days that give; me you are glorious. . How'could a passing.'shadow cloud ..that possessed glory?" ■■•-..■/ « She was used to 111s grandiloquence. Perhaps the music of his voice, the grace of his manner, made even 'grandiloquence 'pleasing; • •''She'smiled. '/■ ' . I,: , : . .' ".Aii'd the book ?" "', ' , ', ''Sliall.''be printed-in a year." .■ ' "Yet the MS. waits only a few sonnets to make up-tho Cycle." "I: will call my Muse to my aid this very afternoon .among' the . snow-clad , pines, arid the bob'k!s finale shall bo' you—you \in essoiice."-'; . ' ' ' ' : ; ' ■"Theii -it will lack sp'arklo." He latighed her to scorn gaily, believing himself sincere.. 1, "Has the sunshino-no sparkle?\' '. .For n moment her tranquil face'gleamed. \They had been playmates, half-betrothed lovers, almost tho entire span of their years. His voice, his., gharm,-. his -htauty, still had power to thrill her. He owed .all his ; finer'aspirations to.her. 1 By her, Lady Mountlaurol meant to sot tho keystone to his arch of triumph, for hermicco had wealth as well as beauty, and ,was the apple,of \the dmporious One's eyey*-'- I ''■■■■*■■ 1 "We will start at two. I will order Pietro's mules this morning," 110 declared.. "A fig for the criticism of such spawn as Tcr•once ! My J: Italian Song-Cycle will shut uphis chatter for ever." '. Thereupon he set afoot a hunt for picnic requisites—talk flowing briskly from him, as ; ho,packed, of the reception, favourable and otherwise, that would meet his embryo' work iirthe capitals of the world. .. . ; "Tho fifth, the seventh,' the twenty-third sonnets," lie asserted, "onthrono yon as ( Queen. Tho crown of laurols yielded to me will he twined in reality by your finecrs. And;then —-\ f ' " ' ' • His; pyes; softened, his voico was quiet music./'" '

Slid'collected flower-scissors' and , fallen loaves with methodical hands, her lips serene, her colour uriheightened; : . "Till I can 'meet your gifts fittingly," he added; leaning nearer, and catching at. hor wrist,7-"that- "with' your dear graces my achieved greatness may dovetail 1 You feel; you understand, Felicia?" ; . .Slip looked at him smiling; in her byes were, more emotions/than lie could gauge. .."The'year will test.much;'! ■'< "Do you then, make the book a.condition?" '-."Yes, ..Kilt in part..'To , bo,. a . successful writer doesn't. liigli-water:mark of my Ideal."' .. 'V. . ''What are Ideals?" protested he... ''' would the world be .withouti. them . ,'jldeals! are for tho uriappeased. You have no hunger.. The gods have showered yon with, beauty,.:brimming health,; wealth in -.a lapful, ,and .brains. more '.than;, sufficient for Woman, the'.,Comrade. Ideals' are for the struggling/Poet; the starved Thinker,, the man who will never.reach his Rainbow Ends, for the". '. ... '. ; "I Kold;to my Ideal," said she.firmly. ', ■.'■"" Yet. with full hands!'.' remonstrated he.: .■"What is fulness I. May I iiot ask my quid pro quo?" .j. v .. . 1 ' ' His fastidious fancy resented tho phrase: he walked away to tho window, looking down into tlite greyness .of 'tlie olive-orchards. For Lady -Mountlaurel and Fortune had conspired to spoil him from infanthood;. Fe-licia-s spoiling , of him was . womanish, but quite partial. Frorri the window he turned and glanced at. her grudgingly. , But as.the sunlight happened.'.to fall on her 111 a glorifying'bar, ;ho melted instantly, and criod with sincerity,. "You of all wonjpn havo a right,.to, cherish, ; your Ideal. 1 bow to* it. And . soon,- when I liave a right ;'to share ' Is it truly your whim to withhold your promise, Felicia, for this , year of probation?' : ■' "Truly," said she. But for eyes that read, , her soul's secret could-'be seen between veiling lashes—a-goal to draw, a magnet' to subdue. ■ _ . "If we climb Snn'Romola this afternoon] ——" she resumed presently. "If!" lie'interrupted; ' She smiled leniently, 1 setting licr jar of thistles now here,/now there,' till. ita disposiiion -'-pleased.. >'■■■ / "Do you remember,'' she then said, sitting down' with*; folded hands,' 1 'that- ■ Flaubert didn't believe in inspiration.', ''Pegasus".walks more; often than he gallops; :gcnius consists in showing,.him how'; to' take the pace wo require'.' " .• . v.;' ■ \ ■ "The ■ book,'/no .• doubt, would.,;havo been better'.'done y'oii," he' langlied fretfully/ "And, Flaubert's .opinion mostly you condemn—.- v . "No, 110," she said, interrupting him.' "For his phrase, 'The inanity of mankind does !so overwhelm, me that I feel like a fly with tho Himalayas on its back—well I"— she paused , to laugh—"l thank him for it. Doesn't tho"little teacup iii which we splutter now bore-,you?" ... . "] accopt it,".' lie dcclitrcd.with mngiiificcnce, "as a necessity.'! . • .- "To which .your, task 'of Italian research limits US?": , ■He nodded. ' Sho .touched her flowers with light skill for a.while, then said,"Well, well! The teacup isn't Rome or London. I wish it would pretend to bo a vase." 1 .'' . •'Pretend I" cried lie, with a warmth that seemed disproportionate. •'Pretend;", her lips reiterated acquiesc-ingly.'■'-'The Baroness do Furstenstein, for instanco,-H:lo you take lieri archaeological craze to be genuine? Or the culture of that handsome hereditary princess to bo anything hut a.whim? Or, Captain Percira's Muse to . be .worthy to hold- a candle when you are by?" . . t '/ ' . 'Tcrcira is a fool in love with his own '.foolishness, —ail amorous fool; who invests

his folly among women with a certain effectiveness that "

"Among women such as the Baroness Julio?" she interrupted. "The penetration of the baroness is quite sufficient to gauge Pereira's gifts." "l'et she dines at his villa, when tho Countess' 'Katrilia can be prevailed on to act as duenna, as often as lie sends-an invitation — which is about three times weekly."

"I always granted you the critical faculty, nover tho malicious." '•

"Pooh!" sue said, with her calm, wido smile. "Tlio Baroness Julie is tho loveliest woman for a hundred miles round. That doosu't make'her tho sincorest. I delight 111 her chatter. And there below," sho lifted a finger with idle grace —"and there is her harbinger. Ilarlc I"

; A " shrill and amazing whistle, the yodel, glorified' and made musical in a series of larklike gymnastics— pierced the grey solitude. , ;. 'Claud 1 Markes pressed into the verandah,. Over, her work-table Felicia's mouth assumed iiew curves.

: . She was quite conscious of the glow in tho cousinly 'face,stooped earthwards. Sho bore with it/iis ;a phase, smiling. For what was this' brillliant will-o'-the-wisp, this comet-of doubtful scource . darting across their orbit, but- a passing (laSli, dazzling masculine oyes while it scintillated. "What enorgyl" commented 110, turning swiftly from our balcony. "Noon, and a climb to Monte Bignone! She sweeps us all into her net. She is-beckoning now, Felicia." Felicia rose,' joining him in the window, whence over his shoulder she looked down on the zigzag path up which a cavalcade of mules

was asconding. The bright hues of their caparisons splashed the leafy shade gaudily; gay voices rang like cymbal-clamour on the dreamy noon. The whistle came up a .third timo: '-. - "I must go,"said hp with a poor little show of unwillingness. '"And you?" ,> \ : "The baroness will scarcely miss riie.' :Sce\ she beckons! Go Claud I Man may not vex her serene highness." He went, bending to kiss his cousin's hand. ' "Ah, Felicia!"

But out in the full light of day, with brighter eyes shilling 011 him, he framed a wish, resentfully,—"lf she might be dazzling noon I Tho Englishwoman is moro bread-and-butter—nourishing necessity—side 'by side with tho high-born Southerner." Yet lie turned back .to the balcony to communicate an invitation.

Felicia was not there. The baroness called, "Feleesia l Felcesia!" with mocking-bird delight. The balcony remained: empty. . Feleesia, our lovely blue-stocking, is praying within doors for the forgiveness of critics. She will herself .cut our Roman editors to pieces in tomorrow's paper. Let lis not interrupt her cousinly dofenco. AVe are tor amusement, Monsieur Claudio; Away with

the war of pens! To-morrow it will lie scirocco. Then-will it be timo to drown yourself in bitterness and ink. Pereira,' wo have lunch for.a dozen, .is -'it. not-?

;. fClapd'came beneath the balcony again, and called, " Felicia I"

Felicia smiled * calmly, knitting coloured silks for tie. "If 110 cannot trouble to come upstairs ——I" and' kept -lier' place at the table. • " ' • v .-■ - ■

His apologies at night were detailed. Y . Their exploration of a ruined chapel, perched on the skylino.of a lonely hill; his value as guide and antiquary therein; the baronoss's interest and. caprico; the' amiability of! the Hereditary '.princess-J-all .thesei with the l-fa-tuity of attendant satellites, filled the dinner hour vividly. ' "So the inch were all fools and the women angpls!" remarked, Lady Mountlaurol, impationt of a, verbosity that delayed, bridge. 'Cliiitl-arranged, the card table ivith genial laughter. ' "Did I convey that impression?" "My-■experiences this afternoon," smiled Felicia, "were vice versa." .•:< ' "Men, angels; women fools!" pronounced liur ladyship'morosely: '"And the angel stuck to;the young woman; the fool to tho old one. Result —your venerable aunt in a rage of boredom; Felicia in . the seventh heaven of content:" "Am I etfer there?" said the niece, ly"And who——?" began Claud.' "Your baroness hasn't all tho men in her net yet, young man. She may sing like a very siren ore my Ulysses has an ear for her song. Lord Tregassick • likes a softer note. ■Como! The game, if you wish to spare my temper Claud caught his cousin in the garden before broakfast under a festoon of Banksia roses noxt day, and said, "Angels as men are surely unbearable, Felicia ?" She replied, "I'have a mind to test how unbearable." ' . !. He kicked, up the gravel path for; a moment, and then asked how much she had minded his defalcation of yesterday. ."Not.at all," she assured him simply, "seeing it-hat 'the, baroness was so much moro a source. of: inspiration than myself." , ■ . . 'He worked furthor damage 011 the path, while slio added, "You remember I was always against winding up the' Cycle in a monotone. The.Baroness Julio is the Rainbow. I am asking'; to tea to-morrow." "You are an fingel," lie declared, holding the white fingers that were fastening a single Banksia in his coat. ■ She disengaged lier hands. Y "I fancy I might'wear wings with more reason than Lord'Tregassick.", t "Yet it\w'as you, last night; " ho.bogan. "Aunt Octavia, I declare to youij She merely intimated a contrast, Blanfcho Forsyth e' being so dreadfully stupid.' I 'Her brother —Y -i "Angels," .interposed he, impetuously, "don't frequent Monte Carlo." "Onco. in a while perhaps, ; Claud, to discover how wicked. His chronic tastes are tlioso of Cincinnatus.. Ho will die farming. He is like his English oaks for solidity, afid will take polish with the years. But don't let"tis talk, of oaks.. Exotics seem more in tune 'with 1 this tropical morning. Will your exotic come to-morrow, do you think ?"

"The'baroness? I am suro of it, if you ask lier as you. ask mo." ■ , • v She took a turn along the terrace, pausing to break a spray from tho. giant heliotrope clothing tlie verandah. ■ _ v "I do.it," she then said, with the, sunlightfull on her -dewy freshness,-: "because, I, never rulo my. lifo by hearsay. -Rumour declares her a gambler...and..an adventuress; but as Rumour always . clacks spitefully round a pretty' unattached .woman, I choose to re-serve!-judgment. ■ • You like mo to do so, Claud?" .....

Her appeal was irresistible. "You have the sweetest charity in the world," he said. . Lady Mountlaurel accordingly found a pressing invitation at the other sido of the bay on"the morrow; and the Baroness Julie set tho |ir of the quiet Villa Margherita to the measure of a tarantella the next afternoon. ... Claud decided that nover had two such women- smiled across tho teacups, and urged Felicia's opinion-'b'eforo their visitor had well bowled out of the drive. "You like herj" . replied his cousin. "I have always believed jn your taste." Her voico disappointed him. :"It:is tho difference of standpoint," lio cried, r '<■' ■ .'" •'■"lt is they'.-diffcreiico of 1 , standpoint .110 doubt," she nodded, tolerant. . But Lady' Mountlaurel returned from ; tho bay ftf 'the'Clormans furious. "Wealth and independence will be your rock of' (Instruction."' she told her -nicco, 'tempestiioiisly. ' ; "The ' Countess von Hartjnann. with whom I had tea, was horrified that I should have allowed the Baroness do Furstenstcih under my roof. I pleaded your .strong will and independent position. 'All, these youi.ig Englishwomen I' sho.cried, shuddering. But tho tales arc true, Felicia. The Count know the second husband. And I'forbid you to entertain the woman again." But. to Claud himself sho_ said nothing, being afi; astute and diploniaiic old woman. . "The 'infatuation' will puss," she pronounced.V."lt is a phase. ■ Let him alone." . for the space, of weeks the Imperious Ono.set her tortoisc : shell glasses elsowhero thaii upon a bewitching siren and the relative dancing to her pijiq. But the phase" irritated. Felicia'took it so calmly. . "Sho feels nothing," cried her ladyship, "She will end, for nlhher.wealth, in being a ,str6iig-mindcd spinster — horrible! And what will IYnn Merrion mean to.mo then', the ; place I have bought for-Claud and Claud's children as a convenient hostelry when I tiro of the. Continont?"

She taxed Felicia-with indifference, and was gratified to find she flamed. ; . "Hayo you 110 paticnco?" cried tho girl; ''Men will lie men. ' I am waiting. A cdiiiet may pass and dazzlo iii a day, Aunt Octavia. Can't yon smile and shut your eyes while tho comet blinds?"

So they went back to England, leaving Claud in" Rome; and among Siirroy hills Felicia decided to transfer her interests from literature to horticulture. 1 . A glorious summer quickened her enthusiasm for landscape gardening. . She was surprised to find-time hurry'her 011 velvet feet to tho winter, and then she realised iliat six months had gone by since she had heard from the absent one. ~ "Is it a phase or worse?" sho communed with herself. Later she wrote to Blancho Forsythe, wintering in Home; and by return of post canio tho reply—a dull letter,, as was,natural to tho ivritcr, expressing sympathy with dear Lady Mount-laurel in tho unfortunate connection which had split Claud's circle into factions. ' • - "They are seen ..constantly together,'.' wroto the honourable lady.' "But I hear, the book is good except in its dedication." A wire (to a London publisher brought tho volume into hands, and upon a dainty fly-leaf she read, "To Madamo the Baroness de- Furstcnstein 1 : a token of homage." • But her comment to Lady Mountlaurel was merely, "The phase is a long one." . "You.are content to wait?" said the Imperious One, grimly., : VFor the appointed time—till my pride .is threadbare." So to her ladyship's chagrin Felicia added philanthropy and tho housing of the poor to her horticultural hobby tho following winter, and the fieldpath between Lprd Tregassick's homo and Mount Laurel was trodden daily by the inspirer of these projects. In fretting for her favourite —Claud • tho gifted, the irresistible Claud —Lady Mountlaurel lost interest in her surroundings, arid became less perspicacious - than was her wont. She startled Felicia one day by saying bitingly, "How Jong do you mean to go 011 refusing'husbands for tho sake- of one who seems in 110 liurry. to be a husband?"Felicia raised calm eVes from her tapestry, blushing faintly. . ;.v . . .. Thero'was a moment's silence." ' ' \ Deferred hopes made the .Imperious One irritable,, and she burst out, "Isn't two years enough to snap .tho tether, of your patience ? s Or have you sent for him in-.vain?" Felicia threaded a needlo painstakingly, and said, "I liavo been weighing tho' question since" —she blushed again, but vividly—

"since last night. It is! seventeen monthsago last Tuesday that ho settled in Rome. 1 am remembering the date to-day." Her ladyship said, smiling grimly, '.'And 110 will come—late, and a'prodigal; and if he lifts so much as a little : fingor,'we shall,all be llouridering down on our knees weeping over the husks, and crying over the follies, 'Natural! Of course, natural!' Women are monumental fools!" - ,

"Within limits," said Felicia. Claud meanwhile was analysing the husks, realising by slow degrees that there was only one woman in the /world : for him.

To the arms of Twilight he would fly, shunning garish • Qay and her _ noontide bubbles for the. delights of an attained benediction. ■ ■ . :

Husks as an offering did'not worry as they had worried as a, diet. ....... _ , Aunt Octavia, that Rock of Promise,'filled his foreground, representing , kernels and sound fruit unendingly. • Besidos, there was his book. • A paragraph .hastened his agoing, bringing homo and Felicia to his mind's eye in a flash; It chronicled the loss by. fire of the greater portion of that venerable mansion, Penn Merrion, rented for the,season by Lord Tregassick from its owner, Lady Mountlaurel; and having deplored the, destruction of the 'priceless picture collection, congratulated his lordship—for a week-end at Mount Laurelon his fortunate and happy escape. ' '- Pen Merrion and Mount Laurel! Thoy were the adjacent playgrounds of his blithe youth. ' Conjuring up a series of scenes whorein''two I 'played their happy part in a birds'-nesting madcap love-making play, he came at once, to England. Tregassick was •an interloper in those scenes. So the firstiof-April, found him at.the.door of Mount Laurel; hisbrain thronged by whimsical anticipations wherein dull angels should be relegated to their proper sphere, .and he, : mere • mortal—an Endymion* to dazzlo and uplift—preferred to that angel's place. . .. , Tho kiss of Cynthia for Endymion naturj.ally was' his clearest vision. . • This gay morning of . the month would find Her on the terrace fronting the .spring gardens, whore', tlioi daffodils came .in thousands. I: The terracd fSced soiith-wes't,'and ivas today sun-flooded. \ ...... ■ ■ With ,a' gesture / or', .ai."sign lie' waved old servants aside, and reached Felicia's parlour. Under a branch of wisteria- she Svas leaning, her eyes on. the garden, beneath.. entered from the door behind her and : put'his hands over her eyes. "A .wanderer returned! Name him! .For it is your voice that, must first welcome him 1 to home and happiness again;" Her. remembered, touch—cool,- soft us night's footsteps—removed :his' fingers. from her lids. . Y;. '.'Y',. ' "Ah,-vow 1" she said, and turned on.him. "Claud!''' YHer voice was like the early frost, nipping his-perennial.,,youth... , ,Y. "Felicia!" Y.Y }C-- ;■ ■■ Y- , Her,lashes -quivered;. Y :-'Y. ; ' "So England holds you 1 at last!" , ' . "At last! Oh, long eternity I" : "Long! The long eternity is'only a. matter of . nineteen lhonths. For me, it slid." .. The'coldness froze: . , .'''.. . , ; This',' for'the'kiss'of Cynthia to her poor Endymion. . , He seized her hands,- tumult,.lll his brain, "Your voice kills, Felicia .'dear, star of my troubled sea, goal in a crooked race —Felicia! smile for my heart's comfort! Smile and be kind!" " .. Ho held her hand feverishly, v 'Y "Felicia, forgive I"'.'l am a fool —a sinner. Forgive! For your dear eyes are my only lodestars ;' and. the comet's garish—— "You see clear at last,", she. said quietly. "But tho world has not stood still while you

were blind." "It is the-book," ho. cried desperately. "It is the dedication that you can't forgive. Women are made so. ?For a brief folly, they mete out inexorable coldness. It is the dedication: a which—a command almost from one to whom,, then, I owed'.much,- the ear - of Romo, that part of Rome ——" She laid a. cold hand on his that beat the air, and .smiled. . . ,/ Tho smile had the chill, of a glacier-touch in it- ; y-'. i[- V;; " "Oh, ho; not the dedication, v Vou• owed more to'hor than me.\ The .dedication didn't ihurt; mc." ' ' "I'Vlicia!" ho cried 'on the pause that followed. She tapped lior fingers'idly on the balcony, looking across the daffodils with reminiscent eyes. - . • . "No, not the dmlication.'' I. linve 110 wish for public recognition.' But private allegiance! That such as she could' inspire—that such as she, could bewitch —;so long! : I gsivo you a year..That year was a test; -*You forgot even my condition, ignoring probation in a craze. .1 waited—till pride and- another voice spoke, and in tho urging of'tho t\yo

"You kill me, Felicia!" ho cried desperately. "It isn't- real—this coldness, this alienation gripping ni.v heart-strings. It is your.way of punishing me, that in my misery you may find compensation for your delayed hopes. ' 'Policial This woman's point of view! Your jest—your jest of April Fool is done. Sav, beloved, that it-is April Fool—a whim to fret- my patience--There was a step behind. He urged, "A jest of April Fool it is, no moro, Felicia." . "It is my husband," said I'elicia. Langton, wo are of points of. view my cousin and I. Coiiie, let us go out before lunch, and consider another—our favourite view from the Dutch garden. We—Aunt nm l. I—are Very .proud of our tulip-show this SP Tl"oy— sho, lie, and Lord Tregassick— crossed the lawns, and stood ori n blazing point that dominated Surrey s lulls. Fair and bland was. the rolling landscape swimming beneath Claud's eye. He and Felicia, hand:in hand, a myriad times ere this, had watched its budding glories in another wol'M. _ .—Philippn Trent, 111 "Blackwood's."