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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 6, Issue 330, 1 November 1862, Page 5

CHAPTEB HI.

Resgston soon became rather popular than not, notwithstanding the mystery which surrounded him. Any allusion to this he always checked. With the memory of Bit-well's fate fresh in their minds, and under the unpleasant light which gleamed in Kingston's cj r eswhen he was annoyed, there were few who would have liked to press the point. But the gossips made ample amends for their enforced silence in his presence by the circulation of the wildest speculations behind his back.

It was even suggested that he had sold himself to the Evil One, and that, like the guests at juvenile parties, he would be fetched when his time was up. But his rooms were pleasant ones to drop in at ; and it is a matter of doubt whether if his Satanic Majesty had been present as a guest, he would have scared the inhabitants of Shall owell from a champagne supper. There was a little play afterwards, which occasionally made the evening rather expensive, but then the loss was a chance and the supper a certainty.

Between the hours of eleven at night and three in the morning, any one who had the entree to Kingston's rooms would generally find "something going on," unless there was any bachelor party brilliant enough to lure the' lion from his den.

The balls, evening parties, and other festivities for which Shallowell is so justly celebrated, he utterly eschewed, and thereby gave deadly offence to the majority of the fair sex in that fashionable watering (and wining) place. It was bad enough that he did not go himself, but it was far worse that he should keep away Gustavus and Adolphus, who, before his arrival, had been exemplary in their attendance.

Why is Frederick Deux-temps putting on his hat so quietly in the hall of Mrs. Fitz-cram.

It is only lialf-past one. The rush of " The Spirit of the Ball" pours into his ears as he noiselessly turns the handle of the street door, but it has no power to recall him. Yet one short month ago he swore to Lucy Lightfoot that there was nothing in the world equal to that " first after-supper galope." He made no exception then even in favour of lansquenet and champagne punch. When winter passed away and the season of picnics arrived, Kingston could never be entrapped into making one of a miscellaneous assembly. A drag over to Westsea, and a cruise in Colonel Morley's yacht, suited him very well, but the peculiar advantage of dining or dancing on the grass he never could be brought to see. But all through the summer season he devoted himself especially to the Shallowell cricket-club. He got them into such order, that they won every match that season, and " the black bowler " became an object of superstitious terror to every eleven in the neighbourhood. The most disagree-

able thing in Kingston's bowling was, that he always walked up to the crease, and no one could ever tell till the ball waa delivered whether it would be a slow twister, or swift enough to cut the middle stump in half.

Thus with yachting and cricket, and the occasional races in the neighbourhood, the time passed away until November came again, and the allotted twelvemonth drew towards its close,