The Happy Ending

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 147, 19 December 1927, Page 20

The Happy Ending

(Copyright.)

The lights of the Makura were steadily making themselves apparent as the ateamar rounded Point Jerningharn, Wellington; and, to any save the the watcher on Seatoun Heights', the swift-ly-approaching steamer would have been the last thing required to complete as pretty a scene as is possible to be wit-. nessed in the Dominion. Overhead a bright moon was shining, and the small scurrying clouds quickly fleeing southward made it appear as though white seagulls were circling restlessly about. "Across the harbour the lights of Eastbourne sparkled and scintillated, and seemingly fairyland was close at hand, while the kindly eye of "Blinking Billy," the keeper of the harbour, wink. Ed incessantly.

But none of these appealed to Gwen Devine, whose eyes, full of tears, were concentrated on the steamer as slowly but surely it passed her vantage-point and faded from sight.

On board the Makura, leaning over the stern, with gloomy look and longdrawn countenance, stood Bruce Macalister, his face clearly expressing the sentiments of his heart.

Five years previously, feeling keenly his position as. the younger son in a household in which the elder could do no wrong, where, because of his feelings generally for the outcast and the neglected, Bruce was subjected to biting criticism at tho hands of all the rest of the, family, who boasted a linoage extending back to tho Wars of the Roses, he.left for Wellington, New Zealand; believing that there, in a country of "new ideas and freedom, he would be able to live life in its truest form.

In this he had not been disappointed; but unfortunately, while living and enjoying life to the full, he had no^ been able to amass sufficient capital to prevent aa event which had rendered necessary his leaving the Dominion, with a vow never to return to the laud which had given him the greatest happiness, but which also had dealt him an irrevocable blow.

He had first met Gwen Devine at a dance, and instinctively singled her out as being entirely different from the ordinary girl. Of medium height, with dark brown hair (cut in the latest fashion), brown eyes which appealed, yet flashed with a spice of devilment, she was the embodiment of all ho considered desirable in the person whom one day he hoped to niarry. And how the idyll had progressed! Well did he remember that memorable night in the moonlight at Oriental Bay, where, with arms entwined and heart beating tumultuously, he.placed his life in her hands, and she had uttored tho one word which made the world seem an El Dorado; and yet to think now that she could be so unfaithful—unfaithful with no excuse! Ho would not have believed it had he not seen, or even if she had given some explanation; but no, despite his appeal, she remained irresolute, and handed him the ring with tho whispered words: "I cannot go on with it; I cannot.explain." In vain, with desperate pleading, ho asked just for one word; and with saddened heart he resolved to turn his back on it all and to strike out afresh in Australia; and hence we find him on board the Makura, Sydney-bound. But in the meantime, what, of Gwen Devine, and what are her feelings? With face streaked with the salt°of tears she cried his name aloud and called upon God to witness that she loved him, and to give him in his trouble just that message through the years. Could she have told him that al. though he had seen her in the arms of Ronald Blake it was not her seeking?; that a vow of silence encompassed her— a silence which, if broken, would result in the -imprisonment of her father? Cou.'d „c tell him that her father whom they both loved—a fine man, true and upright—was still a fugitive from justice, although innocent of the crime for which he was sought? Could she tell him that-by accident Bonald Blake had discovered the secret and demanded SSOOO for his silence, or in lieu thereof herself m marriage? No! better for her and Bruce to suffer than that her beloved father should pay the price for a Bin not committed; and so she had let him go.

Eonald had demanded an early marriage—his father wealthy, dying early> had left him plenty of money. His mother had married again; and with a house empty of companionship he had said what was there to wait for, and the marriage was fixed for Easter Tuesday Away back in the house in Kilbirnio Leonard Devine, with head in hands waited anxiously for the return of Gwen. His face, too, was wet with tears, as upon his knees he asked God to yet intervene and render the sacrifice unnecessary. In spite of all, his faitfi 1 lingered.

The door opened quietly, and Gwen entered. Crossing the room silently on tip-toe, she knelt down beside the sobbing figuro and said, pathetically "Let ua pray together, daddy; maybe He will hear."

A few months before, in England, an event had taken place which few thought had any bearing on the breaking of two lives, yea, more. In a prison cell, captured after a long series of clever forgeries, sat Charles Devine the arrogant, insolent, dissolute brother of Leonard Devine. Guilty of several crimes, he had at last been caught Seriously wounded in an affray with the police, by. which he had attempted to prevent arrest, his mind quickly wandered back through tho years. He remembered _ with a sting of shame his dying mother's charge to Leonard to guard his younger brother even unto death itself; and so, whon things looked black against Charles and arrest was imminent, it was Leonard, tho noble who pretended to forge a cheque, and in disgrace left England quietly with his motherless daughter and.ultiinatelv settled »n New Zealand fpf?^ ♦befS. re £ i 3 ond Charles had confessed to the doctor attending him his crimes, and in.particular referred to the £ una J* »Weh his brother was lab owing. The.doctor, in due course, reported, the matter to the authorities. The affair caused a mild sensation in the newspapers at the time, but, failing to ascertain the whereabouts of Leonard Devme, the matter had been dropped

SpW^ tho raiI ' M»ealfatopdecided to turn m, but passing by the smoking saloon, was arrested by hearinc a voice eaying: «y C s, and if he is not dead, no doubt this poor devilo Dovino is living in tho shadows, fearful of an arrest which no longer threatens him It is always the innocent who suffer in this world." _ Curious to- know the theme under discussion, Macalister quietly entered the Baloon and ascertained that the speaker was the new ship's surgeon, Dr. Downey, who was recounting some' of hia experiences gained in Mb capacity aa visiting surgeon to the great Blackmore Prison.

Witha few smothered yawns and a final drink the company dispersed, leaving only Macalistor and the doctor in the saloon.

"Doctor," said Macalister, "I am very interested in a family named Devine, and I caught the name as I entered the saloon. Would you remind relating the ■whole affair to me?"

"Sit down," said the doctor, and he told tho story of the Devine brothers once again. After the doctor had concluded, Macalister rose, and, gripping him by the hand, said: "Doctor Downey, yon may not realise just what I may «W9 to this recounting of what to yon

By H. Mt. PATRICK

was but an incident, but what to me may prove the difference between heaveu and hell. With all my heart I thank you."

With eager stops Macalister went to his cabin, and, after pondering the matter in his mind, reached the proper conclusion and realised that to save her father's. name Gv.-on had given in to Blake, who had in some manner discovered Devine's secret. Drawing a form to him, he quickly wrote tho following radiogram:—

"Dovine, Puna street, Wellington. Defer wedding all costs; guilty partyconfessed. Returning immediately — Macalister."

Ringing for the steward, he had it promptly dispatched, and with a. serene countenance and with pleasant thoughts of what the future held for him Macalistor quietly -undressed and hopped into his berth.

In a ward in the Public Hospital, Sydney, a young man was vninly* trying to understand why he was there, but still more anxiously who he was. Admitted

to the hospital with nothing to identify him, Macalister had received at the hands of Fate a distinct blow.

After reaching Sydney he informed the purser of his intention to return by the boat. The purser suggested that tho best course would be to slip down to the Union Company's office and see whether there was accommodation, in the meantime leaving, his luggage at a luggage agoncy.

This Macalister did, and, clad in a new suit, he set off, but- on reaching the office he found it closed. A notice on the door stated that it would re-open S p.m. to 10 p.m. for booking passengers. After partaking of a meal at the City Club Restaurant, Bruce decided to have a reft in tho Central Park, and this proved his undoing. Going over an unfrequented part, two ne'er-do-wells attacked him and robbed him of everything, even to his new suit, for which one robber substituted the old clothes he was wearing. Coming to his senses, Macalister could remember nothing, but was told that he was discovered unconscious in the park and brought to the hospital. Quickly regaining his health. Macalister left the hospital with tho doctor's words ringing in his- ears: "Cheer up, lad! I've known many such cases as yours, and in time, sometimes without warning, memory awakens." In the eourso of a few days, Macalister secured' work in the office of Messrs. Ridgway Brothers, Hardware Merchants, and unconsciously took up work to which he had been accustomed in New Zealand. . '

—Away in Wellington, Gwen and her father awaited anxiously the return of the Makura; and Gwen, with eager eyes, perused the paper on the evening preceding the arrival of tho steamer and ascertained that it was due at 8 a.m.

Up betimes next morning, she and her father repaired to. the wharf and scanned anxiously and expectantly each face as the owner came down the g£ngway, but alas, all to no .purpose. Bruce waa not there.

Inquiries at the office of the Union Company elicited the information that Macalister was not on board, and the purser who could have given them some little light on the subject, had been taken ill at Sydney before sailing, and hence the acting purser knew nothing of the matter.

And now but a few days remained before Bonald Blake would claim the completion of the agreement or the Devines would be faced with exposure, which, alas, could not be allowed. The radiogram from Macalister was useless without further evidence.

For forty-eight hours Gwen concentrated on the problem, and finally decided that some calamity had befallen Bruce, and that it was up to her to take matters into her hands.

"Daddy," said she at breakfast, "I believe that all will come well if we wait; I propose that wo leave here quietly to-morrow night, and make for Palmerston North. Let Blake find us if he can. I must fight for my happiness and something in me says I'm right."

•After much persuasion Devine agreed; and, instructing his solicitor to keep his eye on the place, and pledging him to secrecy, Gwf and her father set out, and, reaching Palmerston North, booked at a quiet boardinghouse under an assumed name.

In vain did Blake endeavour to find their whereabouts; tho Devines had vanished as quietly as the stars in the sky of the early morning. But time goes on apace, and apparently pur hero and heroine are as far apart as the poles; but again Pate, which hitherto had proved so unkind, now reversed her actions. Coming suddenly out. of the office one morning into the stacking yftd, Macalister failed to hear a warning shout, and was struck to the ground by a falling iron girder. On sitting up, he found that the

Happy thai man, and happy he alone. He n>ho can call to-day his own; He r»ho, secure tuilhin, can say, To-morrorv do thy rvor'sl, for 1 have lived 10-day. —Dryden.

miracle had happened, and that the accident had restored his memory. Quickly acquainting Mb employer with the position, he was allowed to relinquish duty, and accorded the best wishes of the manager for his future. Realising that by now it would be little use cabling, Macalister decided to return to New Zealand to see what had happened, secretly fondling the hope that all was well.

Booking on the Uliinaroa, he noticed that it waa duo in Wellington on the 23rd December.

In the meantime at Palmerston North Gwen. had resolved that a visit to the old homo was essential, and decided to go there and return thu same evening Heavily veiled, she left the car at the Kilbirnie terminus and quickly walked along the familiar way to her old home.

Two other important actors in the drama now put in an appearance. Blake, with a suspicion that perhaps Gwen would be at (he old homo for Christmas, was keeping a close watch on it, and consequently, was greatly dolighted t« tee her enter the house.

Qui?*?jj-getting what she required,

b wen stood for a moment gazing up at the photograph of her well-beloved, and was horrified to hear Blake say, ''Yes very nice, but still absent: fortunately' however, I'm here." "But not any more here than I am," broke in a quiet voice in contemptuous tones. "If you are hero in sixty seconds' time, the police will know o± your blackmailing methods. In my pocket aro proofs of the innocence of Leonard Devine, and your presence is neither necessary nor desirable. Were it not for this lady, I would give you your rich deserts—go!" Blake slunk away; and, -with a heartbreaking sob, Gwen rushed to the arms held so invitingly open and so wonderfully near. With a great cry of gladness, she raised lips to his and "each drank to their undying happiness.

It is Christmas night, and again from the top of Seatoun Heights a steamer is seen wending its way seawards, but ow this occasion there is not a lonely watcher on the Heights and a dreamer on the boat. Together two pairs of eyes gaze at the irridescent lights oi 1 Kastbourno, and vevily it has become an enchanted land for them, for there is to be built the homo that ia to be tho culmination of their hopes and tho beginning of many years of happiness. And so indeed it was a very happy Christmas; and can you wonder that when, with infinite tenderness ia every action, with love in every thought Bruee drew Gwen to him and lifted her bonny face up to his, that "Blinking Bdily" turned round quickly many times, while the good old moon hid its f*§9 beneath a passing elond,