THE ROPE BRIDGE.

Evening Star, Issue 13002, 22 December 1906, Page 14

THE ROPE BRIDGE.

By A- Maclube Wabnock. From the moment she entered the Royal Hotel at Portrush in the wake' of her grandmother I knew there ’ would be no peace lor us. My pupil, Jim Hollord, and 1 were in the reception room, I reading the papers, Jim, as usual, doing nothing. In a second Jim had bounded over half a dozen chairs, two couches, arid an ottoman, not to speak of upsetting an elderly gentleman of portly aspect and choleric temper. “Hilloa, Aunt Arabella 1 Halloa, Judy! Where did you hop from? Never was as glad to see anyone in my life. Here I’m stuck, cramming up for that beastly LittloGo, working like .a black; have lost two pounds in one week. This is my tutor, Mr Perceval—my great-aunt, Lady Knutsford, my cousin, Miss Carden. You’d better be civil to Mr Perceval, Judy, else he'll give you some hair-raising impots.” . Miss Carden looked at mo. from under tho brim of a shady hat with a pair of inscrutable Irish eyes. She struck me as being stylish rather than pretty, but as she stood talking to Jim I could not keep my eyes off her face. Wherein lav the charm? l' studied her furtively while I made polite replies to Lady Knutsford. It was the wonderful piquancy, the vivid play of feature, the ever-changing expression of her eyes that’ wrought the spell. I could not help hearing scraps of their talk. “ How awfully jolly that we should all moet here. . . What fun.

Nonsense, we’ll easily get over him. . . Do you know, I like his eyes, Jim . . . so dark and piercing. . . . Don’t stare so, you silly boy. . . . There, I never meant those roses for you. . . . He looks a gentleman. . . . After all, we’re nineteen. He can’t treat us like children. . . . I hate fossils. . . . So you won the five hundred yards swimming race. How splendid, Jim!” “And dear Jim was such a delicate baby. He had to bo fed entirely on Mcllin’s. You won't work him too hard, will you, Mr Porosval ?” entreated Lady Knutsford.

Next morning, as I was'returning from a swim in the Blue Pool, I encountered Miss Carden on the terrace. Site was garbed in dark-blue serge, carried some golf sticks, and looked business-like.

Qh, Mr Perceval, I want to ask you such a favor, but 1 really am dreadfully afraid of you. I bear you are a Senior Wrangler, and a fellow ol Cambridge, and that you’re frightfully learned.” A* mine of wisdom.” “And dreadfully severe.” “ A perfect Cerberus.” “And horribly upright, and truthful, and all that kind of thing.” _ , . . „ “ George Washington isn’t in it. , “Well, do be nice, and let Jim come and play golf with me just this once. He’ll never pass bis L»ittle*G6 anyhow, and it really doesn’t matter, Mr Perceval. Sir Hugh only minds about the athletics; and all our family is quite brainless,” she added, looking at nio with blue eyes that laughed under the golden thatch of her hair. “Miss Carden,” I said, fixing my eyes stomlv on her, “ I brought my pupil to Port rush in hopes that we would find peace and quiet and no distractions; but 1 paused significantly. . , “ But now we’ve come and dissipated tno fond illusion. Never mind, illusions are foolish tilings.” Of course I g&vo in, and of course 1 it was the thin edge of the wedge. I had never bargained for girl cousins when i undertook the herculean task of coaching “What do vou think of Ju? Isn’t she a stunner?” asked Jim that afternoon, as wo sat in our sanctum on the top flat whicn I had hired as a study. “ Never mind your cousin now. bupposo you construe this passage.” “You were jollv anxious to talk about her vesterdav,” retorted the young blackguard. “You kept plaguing mo about her the whole afternoon. You see, in all probability she’s mv future wife, and so “Your what?” I thundered. “My future wife, to be sure. Our people are most anxious for the match ” ; and Jim looked at me with dignified seriousness. I returned his gaze. Ho was a handsome young animal —tall, debonnair, athletic. Moreover, he was a gilded youth, heir to a baronetcy and twenty-five thousand a year. There was a certain physical charm about him that compensated for his lack ot “Come on, let’s fire away at this stuff; here goes,” and Jim began to translate. “ Has—has Miss Carden given you any encouragement?” “Hilloa! What’s that got to do with tbo ‘pious iEncas’? I was just beginning to get interested in the old chap, and now vou put a fellow off the track. I thought wo weren’t to talk about my cousin. “Construe,” I said severely. And Jim construed. ~, . , . . For several days T bad the ]oy of -wal chine- mv pupil escort his cousin to the links, while‘l was left to make myself agreeable to great-aunt Arabella, whoso one theme of conversation was the extraordinary suitability of an alliance between her Granddaughter and my incorrigible pupil. “ Aren’t thev made for each other? the old ladv would ejaculate, as she adjusted her lorgnette the better to view their retreating backs. As for bliss Carden, for some reason or another she bad begun to treat mo with a frigid indifference, which I returned with interest. At, last I found it necessary to remonstrate with Jim. which I did one fine afternoon when T had succeeded in hiring him into “ the study.” “It’s no use, old man. ho said, with comic despair. I know I’m going to fai in the beastly thing, but as long as Jus hero I don’t see how X can help it. know she’s really very fond of me, he added, in a tone ot assurance that made me long to throttle, him, or (on second thoughts) put him in the comer. Then Jim began to blunder through his Euclid, while I sal meditating on a problem of a different nature—namely, whether Miss Cardan was bent on making what the world would call a brilliant match, or whether she really loved this harum-scarum broth of a boy. , , Suddenly there was a knock at the door. “Come in',” I called,expecting the boots; and Jim, relieved at any possible interruption, stretched himself vigorously. The door opened just a little, and p piquant face under a mass of rumpled hair neeped ill. “May an ignorant girl be permitted to enter this sacred haunt of fho Muses? sakl a timid voice. “If it’s to lure anyone from tlio path ot dutv, she may not,” I answered, severely, forcing mv features into stony rigidity. She glided in, and stood with her back to the door, like a naughty child. She was dressed in white, with a bunch of wild roses in her belt, and she looked like a wild rose herself. _ , T “Don’t look so cross, Mr Perceval. Is this the chamber of horrors where poor Jim suffers at. your hands? ’ ti “It is; but lam the victim; not Jim. “What dreadful stuff is the poor bov doing?” She peep-d over his shoulder and whispered something in his ear. Jim gave vert to a prolonged whistle. “Well, you are a tvinp, Ju !” sa ; d he gazing at her with undisguised admiration “ Do you know what’s she done, Mr Perceval 7 She's taken the hi oil iumo into the Blue Pool. I dared her to do it." “Miss Carden, you’re not. serious,” I said, genuinely horrifi"d. “What do you mean.” I added, turning to Jim, “by daring your cousin to risk her life in any such wav?” I stopped, afraid to betray myself further; hut I longed to pitch Jim out of the T^rirdow. “ Oh, we often dare each other to dc thimrs; that’s nothing,” said Judith. “TVs th : s insane modern craze lentil let icism that crushes all the frasrranc' out of women,” I growled, pacing savagclv about the room. “T detest your bound-c young persons. T beg your pardon,” I added abruptly. “I fear I' must secure cb —” “Oh. pray don’t apologis”.” said Judith demurely, “I have no doubt Fm a terribly bouncing young person, but I don’f pace about like a caged lion, and roar at people who have done me no harm whatever.”

T paused in my stride, and looked at the dainty, slender, upright figure, the charming flushed face, the prettily rumpled hair

' under the sailor hat, the eyes, in which—was it possible?—there shone a suspicion ,ol tears. No, she certainly was not a bouncing young person, and involuntarily the severity of my countenance relaxed. “ There, Jim, I’ve accomplished a much more difficult feat high dive; I’ve made Mr Perceval smile,” cried Judith, triumphantly; “ and you’ve no idea what an improvement it makes. And now I shall explain my real errand. I’ve come to lure you away—that is. both of you, I mean, only I suppose Mr Perceval will be too superior to yield. Granny wants your stalwart arm os far as the White Hocks, Jim.” “ But aren’t you coming, too ?” asked Jim, pulling a long face. “ Of course I am coming, too.” “And you?” queried Jim, turning to me. “ Oh, I? Of course lam coming, too.” I said, seizing my hat, and longing to fling it into the air like a schoolboy lather than a sedate university man of twenty-eight. “Hooray!” cried Jim. pitching Kuclid into a corner. “ Fancy His Tutorial Highness condescending to accompany us! Say, old man,” he whispered, as wo descended tho stairt, “you will take on Great-aunt Arabella; it means fifteen stone, but you re in training now, eh?” I suppressed my disgust; but for once tho fates did not smilo on James. Aunt Arabella wanted to have a “good talk’ with her nephew, and despatched me on in front with Miss Carden. I could not resist a backward glance at Jim as we set out. In my eye lurked a sneaking triumph; in his unutterable wo?. Oh, the joy of that walk over the sunlit strand ! I drew deep breaths of delight as wo fairly scampered along. When wo reached the chalk cliffs we sat down on a rock, and the waves danced in at our feet. Jim and Aunt Arabella were laboring along in tho distance. . , “Mr Perceval.” said Miss Carden suddenly, taking off her hat and letting the broezo play with her hair, “ yon won’t mind my asking you an impertinent question, but are you entirely dependent on your brains for a living?” “ Entirely.” I answered with a smile; “ but pray don't pity me. There’s nothing like work for driving away the blue devils. Besides, I’vo lately been appointed to a professorship.” . „ “ I am not pitying von; far from it, said Judith, looking out over the swinging Atlantic to the Scotch hills. “ And yet,” I remarked grimly, thor* might bo circumstances where, with all my brains, I would stand a poor chance pared with a man of Jim’s prospects. “ But it’s so much better to be a man and able to work than to bo —" “ A charming woman for whom any man would be willing to wprk?” And I looked earnestly at the dainty curve of her cheek and chin, and tho long, dark lashes that veiled her sweet eyes. “A frivolous, bouncing young -person thinking only of her own amusement.” “ It matters not as long as sho doesn t amuse herself at tho expense of another s peace of mind,” I said in a low voice. “ She would never do that,” answered Judith quickly; “ not consciously, at least.” “ Not consciously perhaps, but ” _ Jim and Aunt Arabella were drawing nearer. Judith and I were gazing info the limpid, laughing waves, apparently absorbed in the wonders of the d”cp. “But what?” breathed Judith. “She might do it unconsciously.” “And if sho did?” murmured Judith fo a jellvfish. “If she did? What then? ’ “She—sho might mend it again, whispered Judith to an anemone. Then Judith looked up and found my eves glowing into hers. “Oh, theres a crab,” she cried suddenly, “and I sm so afraid of them !” She jumped up quickly. Wo looked round, and there stood Jim. with Great-aunt Arabella puffing on his arm.

Yes. there was no doubt of it; she was a heartless flirt. Ah, rye!!! -what matter? T would softer afterwards, and .-he would be Ladv Holford. . , . ‘ 1 j say,” remarked Jim that nignfc in the study, “you and Ju seemed to be jollv interested in something or other at the White Rocks. Were you talking about me?” “No; we were discussing the kindred subject of jelly-fish.” “ Because,” continued the sublime egotist “Aunt Arabella gayc me such a jawing all the way about my duty to my family, and making myself worthy of Ju, and all that kind of rot; as if a fellow was any the better husband for having passed his Little-Go! Hang the whole concern! I shan’t think of marrying for years to come. Ju was as cross as two sticks all the wav back. She would hardly open her mouth except to growl. I suppose she was in a wax because,l didn't walk with her both ways ;asif it was my fault! Only women are so beastly unreasonable.”. “And vou are such a goat!” I inwardly exclaimed, as I contemplated his magnificent proportions. Next morning I was making for the Blue "Pool in pursuit of Jim, when Aunt Arabella intercepted mo in the hall. She seemed agitated. “Oh, Mr Perceval, I am so worried about Judith. The reckless girl would start off on her bicycle to Cirnck-a-Bcdo this morning. It seems she and Jim quarrelled yesterday, and, I suppose to tease her. he dared her to cross the rope bridge ; and it seems the wind Is rising, and it's a terrible risk, they say; but you know what Judy Is. She "would die ratber than give in, and ”

“ What time did she start?” I asked, hur. riedlv.

“About two Lours ago. It was much calmer then.” “And you think she really meant to cross the bridge all "because that brainless idiot—oh, really, Lady Knutsford, I can’t help it. But don't be alarmed; I shall follow at once.”

I dashed up 4 he stairs four at a time, flung myself into my lightest clothes, and was soon pounding along on my bike against a terrilie head wind. All sorts of horrors rose in my mind. I pictured that girlish figure swaying on the bridge, perhaps dashed to pieces hundreds of feet below. Anguish lent me strength. I cursed Jim as I sped along, scorching like a man possessed. How the miles flew under the wheels! At last I leached Ballintoy. Another half-mile and I was obliged to dismount. The rest of the journey must be made on foot. Propped against the ditch was a lady’s bicycle, doubtless Miss Carden’s. I left mine beside it, and made my way as rapidly as I could along the edge o! the cliffs. Caution was imperative in that raging hurricane. As I neared the bridge I descried the figure of Judith seated on the island rock. She wan looking towards Kathlin. She had evidently accomplished the erasing all right. Was she afraid to return in the gale'' I cautiously began my journey to the island. How the bridge swung wildly from side to side as I clung desperately to the single rope which served as a hand-rail, while me sea roared greedily beneath and dashed in mountains of spray against the jagged sides of the precipice! At last I reached the rock. 1 was obliged to clamber on hands and knees to Jud'tn’s perch. . She started violently when she saw me. “ Excuse my being on all fours. Miss Carden,” I shouted, for the noise of the wind at that moment made it necessary to yell. " But it’s quite t.me you were off this rock, there's going to bo a terrific tempest ol rain. Look at those black clouds over Rathlin. There’s no shelter here.” She looked at me defiantly'. “ 1 hope you didn’t think 1 was afraid.” “ Oh, not at all,” I said, scrambling into a more comfortable position. “ I’ve often wanted to cross the bridge in a gale, just for the fun of the thing. Don’t imagine I would ever impute to you such a feminine emotion as fear.” “ It—it’s rather strange ” she began. “Miss Carden,” I said looking searchingly into her eyes, “ were you not afraid ?’ Her checks flataed, but she could not meet my gaze. I moved nearer, and took ner sweet hand in mine- It trembled slightly. B—-Jo you despise me?” she murmured. “Despise you, Judith!” I cried hoarsely. But at that instant a heavy drop of rain alighted on the tip of my nose. Delav was dangerors“Coino, Miss Carden, attach this noose round vonr waist, please,” and as I spoke I pulled a piece of rope out of my .Docket.

“ I am going to attach this other end mant my waist.” She drew back. “But if I missed my footing I should endanger your life Mr Perceval.” “ Nonsense, you won’t miss your footing.” “ I shan’t go,” she said, defiantly- “ Yon shall,” I answerea sternly. She looked up at me, her eyes chining with a peculiar light. “ Will yon promise mo anc thing?” she entreated.

“ Anything to the half of. my kingdom,” 1 answered, smiling. “ Will you promise to cut the rope if yot find mo falling?”

“No, I won’t.” “Yon are a tyrant, Mr Perceval." “Think of your friends. Miss Carden. Don’t give way to nervonsnes. Think of—of Jim.”

“Of Jim? Why? He doesn’t care more than the others.” .

“But surely ” I began. “ There! 1 must confess. Oh! Mr Perceval, what will von think of ns? We—wo only pretended that we were engaged, Jim and 1, be—because we thought that yon—you would give Jim more free time. And yesterday Jim and I quarrelled because I said it—it was dishonorable, and that yon must be told. And you have been so good! And I’ve been a wretch to you, and—’ She stopped in distress. “ But your people?” I said in an ecstasy of hope and fear. “I shall not many to please my people,” answered Judith, with head in am. “1 shall marry to please myself.” And as she said the last word she pu! her foot on tie rope bridge. It was all right at first. He wind had fallen a little, and the Bridge kept fairly steady. It was when we were nearly at tho middle that a terrific gust sent us swinging dizzily to and fro between heaven and earth. When it subsided we were both still clinging for dear life, but Judith had lost her hat, and all her beautiful hair was tumbling in waves about her shoulders, and tho wind was blowing countless golden strands straight into my eyes. “Pm so sorry,” gasped Judith, “I—Pm afraid I have blinded you.” "Hopelessly,” I called, “hut I Eke ft.” I was beginning to feel reckless; reckless of all save the fact that she and I were alone there in the jaws of death, and that I loved her. I freed one of my hands—it was a risky thing to do—and clasped her to mv heart.

“Judith,” I murmured. “Judith, I k>va you. I’m only a poor man with nothing but my brains, but will yon many me?” Jndith all but lost her balance. “Hadn't we better get across fiist f’ she gasped; “ be—because if we don’t, I—l couldn’t possibly many you, could 1?” “But if we do get across?” I urged. Judith turned her sweet face up to mine —which was also a risky thing to do. “ I suppose I most say ‘ Yes ’ because if I didn’t you*—yon might keep me here for ever.”

And then two people kissed each other in the middle of damck-a-Redo bridge, and surely such a eight was never seen before or since. Jndith says it still gives her tho creeps to think of it, which is scarcely complimentary to me. After that wo got across somehow, amid the pelting rain, and, being dried and fed at Balimtoy, wo ignominioosly proceeded home on a jaunting car, Jndith wearing tho rug over her head. Aunt Arabella was so pleased fo see her recreant grand-daughter that she foigave her the trifling misdemeanor of getting engaged to me. As lor that prodigal Jim (who is really a good fellow, after all), he 'was quite charmed at the turn events had taken- But it must have had a sobering effect on him, nevertheless, for he actually passed his Little-Go.