A SERIOUS DIFFICULTY HAPPILY ENDED.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1146, 22 April 1870, Page 3

A SERIOUS DIFFICULTY HAPPILY ENDED.

(From "Drawing the Corks," by Charles Olarkpjt Concluded from last Heeaid. }~ . • '" We passed a very pleasant day, dj&ed ai the table d'hote,, and then again- went for a stroll. Ifc was a ; beautifttl evening ; the sun was slowly setting in the west, red and glorious ; the sea was calm, the Wind low and soft. All nature seemed sinking to repose as evening came on. . r "Do you know," she said, "those stupid people at the hotel thought we were going to remain ? They sent your little case to my room, and the chambermaid asked whether the room was large enough. I suppose they took us for a newly-married couple." She laughed and blushed as she related this, to which I said nothing. " And how about the steam-boat ?" she | said, loking at her watch. "Itis a quarter to seven. Will you enquire the exact time at which it leaves. I did so at the entrance to the pier, and presently returned tocher. ; " " Twenty minutes past eight," I replied, " so that we have got more than an hour. .Let us walk down to the beach. : , I love to see the sun go down on the sea, and listen to the soft murmur of the wavesj, asthough singing a lullaby to. hush all nature to 3leep." ; '- She assented, and we strolled down together. I said very little, and she" alsowas silent. Never shall I- forget "that calm summer evening and. ihe. thoughts, which had possession of my mind. I knownot what was the nature of hers, but I judged by the expression on her beautiful features, and an occasional sigh that broke from. her, that she was. sad. We walked along the beach for about: half a mile, and were returning slowly, when I heard the, sound of a hell at therpierhead. Ifc aroused me from a deep reverie ; I had been building a fairy, palace in the air; and its discordant jangling jarred on my ear. . t . "What bell is that P" I asked presently of a boatman .whom I met. , -t " Steam-boat bell, sir, for Southampton. There she goes !" ,- \ .. As he spoke I saw a steam-boat glide from the pier-head, and head for Southampton. ; "The steam-boat !— what; steam-boat? Thelast goes at twenty -minutes past eight; I did not know there was one so soon before." " That's the last boat to night, Sirtwenty minutes before eight." The man left us, and we stood staring each other in the face. I shall never forget her look of dismay, sorrow, and anger. " The last boat !" I exclaimed. " The last boat !" she murmured ; " you have betrayed me 1" Then she burst into tears. "I assure you, on my word of honour | of a man and a gentleman, I have not done so intentionally. I must have mistaken the man when I asked. Can you ever forgive me ?" I pleaded long and earnestly before I could convince her and make my peace. At last, however, anger and distrust vanished from her face, and there remained only an expression of sorrow and perplexity. "Oh dear!— what shall I do?" the poor girl cried distractedly. "My aunt will never speak to me again ; she is- the only relation I have in the world." ; Then again the tears flowed. " My dear young lady^-my dear Kate — pray do not distress yourself. I will treat you with every respect, and will call on your aunt to-morrow and explain, everything. You can stop at the hotel where your dressing-case is ; I will seek accommodation at another inn, so that there may be.no possible grounds for scandal." She grew resigned presently, convinced, I think, by my manner that it was indeed a mistake, and that I was as deeply grieved as herself. So we went back to the hotel, and I engaged the bed-room for her. In my confusion and haste, however, I forgot to say she would be alone, nor — fool that I was ! — did it occur to me that I was supposed to be her husband. I remember that the young lady in the bar of the hotel asked me for my name, to enter it in the visitors' book, but I had no idea that she entered, us in the book thus : — " No. 29— Mr. and Mrs. Rawdon Crawley, from Southampton." I took tea with Kate in the public coffee-room, and remained,, with her till past ten o'clock. Poor girl ! she seemed very miserable, and I thought the least I could do was to remain and console, her through the unfortunate affair, the result of my carelessness. At half-past ten exactly I rose and bade her good-night, intending to seek a lodging in another hotel. Here, however, I reckoned without my host ; I tried every hotel in the town, and, to my utter dismay, could not succeed in getting a room ; it was July, the height of the season, and every one was engaged. Then I returned to the hotel where I had left Kate, and enquired if they had a room to let. " No, Sir— quite full, Sir. Your friend will have some trouble in getting accommodation to-night." " I did not understand him at first, he seemed to think that I waa seeking a room for a friend ; but. his next words undeceived me. " Mrs. Crawley has retired to rest, Sir. There is a porter up all night ; if your friend would like to remain in the smoking room, Sir, he can. Gentlemen are often 6blii>ed to pu (Tup with a sofa^ in the season. - ' : v ( v-.^rsf Mrs. Crawley gone to bed ! Evidently^ then, Elate was put down as my 1 Wife t j. knew not what to say; not wishing to look ridiculous, I thought to turn the matter off. "Oh— ah—yes. Well, I'll sit -up for my friend in the smoking-room ; he is about the town somewhere, and if he does* not succeed in finding a lodging, will doubtless join me here." To the smoking-room I went, and passed the whole long night in smoking cigar* and drinking whiskey and water with the, night-porter. About five he left me to ; clean the boots of the visitors, and I went , to sleep on the sofa. I was aroused" by the waiter. " Fell asleep, Sir, I suppose," he said. : "Soda-water and brandy, Sir; seven glasses of whiskey-punch you had last night, Sir, and fire cigars. Mrs." Crawley is not moving yet, Sir. Half-past nine, Sir. Will you go up stairs to your room?" .. . " No thank you," I replied hurriedly. * " I'll just have a wash somewhere, go . for a stroll, and return to breakfast in ! an." hour or so." '• Very good, Sir. This way, Sir," said ' the man, as he conducted me to a lavatory. " Breakfast, Sir, in an hour, Sir. Dave say Mrs. Crawley will be up by then, Sir." # I gave him half-a-crown, and after > making my toilet as well as I could, '"'■ walked, out. v ■"" " Here's a pretty kettle of fish !" I said to myself. "I. wonder what Kate will say when she hears she is Mrs. Crawley? , I only wish she really was." „ -, ' *" At ten o'clock the Southampton boat, came in. I waited on the pier . to see theij passengers land. ■ I had never been iiifcr<J- r duced to Kate's aunt, but Laving seen

together in the streets of Soufchamp- _ ton, I knew, her by sight, Kate proposed -- to- introduce me on one occasion, but I asked her to postpone it to another day. A -I, recognised the old lady among the : passen^ersianding from the Southampton boat } (she was evidently nervous, excited; , and in great trouble. She had come in ;-" search of her niece ! . ' : Here Va3 a dilemma ! Perhap3 she had .heard Kate speak of me by name ; indeed, .Ithialc I remember her telling me that she tad informed her aunt of having made j^- Bay acquaintance, as a supposed friend of 3V£r.-!Robert Randals. Doubtless, too, the young f lady had been seen by some one to '.'. embark on board the Ryde boat on the day before, and it had come to her ears, ... or perhaps the old lady might herself have .seen us.; . ■ Anyhow, here she was, evidently in : pursuit. of vis., I kept out of her sight, and allowed her to pass me. Then the . full extent pf the mischief dawned upon jne--the awkward and embarrassing nature of the situation. If Kate's aunt • knew my name, .and. that her niece was .;• last seen, in my, company in a Ryde boat, ]' she would at once hasten to the hotel and .. enquire forme. We were entered in the books as Mr. and -Mrs. Crawley; that one • .f^ct; it. would be difficult, almost impossible, to, explain away. Kate's character I would be irretrievably forfeited ; the old Jady, would -never believe it was all an ..aecidea!*— that neither of us had any intention of sloping. ' ■-■ :I walked slowly on behind the old lady. £,<I feared she would go first to the hotel ?/where we;had put up, but, to my great relief, she stopped a porter and seemed to ; be asking her way, and then turned off in . another direction ; she wa3 going to some . other hotel first, I thought. / I need scarcely say I hurried on at full speed, and found Kate seated at breakfasHn the ladies' coffee-room. She looked - very beautiful. I thought there was a half-bashful, half-annoyed expression in her;face, and yet I thought she seemed a little amused at the singularity of the situation. ..f'-Come, Sir— make haste ; here is a cup ■of coffee. There is a boat in about an .'.hour's time for Southampton. Oh, dear ! what would my aunt say, if she knew • this ?;' What would Bob Randals say ?" -r^There" was no one in the room but ourselves. I could not help it, bu^the men-tion.-of that 1 bete noir, Bob Randals, shot :it -oufcj of me like a bullet from a gun. •Well,- -It won't repeat the expletive. I felt ashamed of myself directly, and 1 suppose I looked stupid, for she burst out laughing. "''.-1 : . ■.-•■■■ .•i^f? There; there — don't look so miserably contrite; 5 I forgive you ; it might have been iworse. I: dare say I can explain matters • satisfactorily to my aunt when we get; back to Southampton." " When we get back to Southampton ! Do you know she is here, in Ryde? I liave just seen, her land from the boat." "Oh; good Heavens!" she cried; " what shall Ido P What a terrible misfortune '!" " Yes, indeed," I replied, gravely, " and that is not the worst of it." . .■•- "Not the worst of it ! " she exclaimed distractedly, clasping her hands. " What do you mean P " ..-!-" Does your aunt know my name ? " " Yes ; I spoke of you as a friend of Bob Randals, whom I had met in Calcutta^ What of that ?'', " Do you know I was obliged to stop in this hotel all night — sit up in the smokingroom ? " ,^'Pid they not reserve you a bedchamber P " ■.-, "No," I said, with the courage of desperation ; they thought I had one." ~?jHowP" •" Why, they have entered us in the books as Mr. and Mrs. Crawley, and the waiter last night brought me a candle, and told me you had retired to bed." " Oh, my good gracious ! What a dreadful thing ! Aunt will come here and and enquire for you, for I suppose she knows I left in your company. Then she will discover all, and I shall never be able to persuade her that it is a mistake. What shall I do ?— what shall I do P " r She i wrung her hands, and I feared was about to cry. A brilliant thought struck me— one of those flashes of genius which comes once or twice in a lifetime. "Kate," I said, earnestly, "I think I see a way out of this trouble." ■ "Doj you ? Oh, pray tell inc." " I like you very much." " YeS, yes ; and I like you, too ; but I don't see how that can help us." V?' Yes it can, Kate. Dear Kate, they have entered us in the books as Mr. and Mrs. Crawley." • "Well?" "Let us make it a reality. Let us go and get married !" II Married P" "Yes;. why not?" " What would Bob Randals say P" The expletive sentence was on the tip of my tongue again, but I cheeked myself in time.. " • She 1 suffered me to discuss the point wjthher. t " But we can't get married without a licence, and all sorts of things." ' '*Yes, we can." " How P" she asked, opening her eyes. office— an affair of ten minutes— perfectly legal." "What, no bridesmaids, nor dresses, nor orange-blossoms ?" she said, ruefully. "Oh, dear ! I don't like the thought of it at all." ; "Well, make up your mind quickly. What do you: say P You see lam willing to sacrifice myself on the altar of friendship.". \' ff Sacrifice, indeed, you impudent fellow ! Thaye a great mind to say no." ".But you won't. Come, say yes, dear Kate." I knelt at her feet, took her hand, and respectfully kissed it. She seemed irresolute. *' Come, Kate— yes or no P" "Well—yes. But what would Bob Randals say ? There, now get up, and don't make yourself ridiculous." '•'And'jjo.it was settled. '.'JSelbb.ld us next at the door of the registrar's^oflice, where the ceremony of marriage'is so easily performed, and a knot tied as binding and indisputable as that by ,K. bishop, assisted by half a dozen clergymen, , The registrar sat in an inner room, into which, at my request, we were at once shown. "The registrar, I believe?" I said, "bowing. ■^Yes;"' ..; ■.[■.'£ I Have come to seek your aid, Sir, in a matter whose nature I dare say you can • guejgs.". : .v- .. .... .-'.•• ! !>yes, yes," he replied, smiling, ;\- jmd looking gopd-temperedly on my boauiSful Kate, as she stood by the door, shy [ and : timid, trembling, yet, t thought, pleased withal, . " You two young people wish' to be bound together in the bonds of holy matrimony P " i tf Yes," X answered firmly. ■i" And youj young lady^P " :v;;-^t«;faltere4;:oilt.a very feeble "Yes, . -Sir, please.'' ; ■jiShe looked: go. charming in her blushes arid confusion, that I could have caught -:J»erJM my arm^'aud kissed her.

" Very well. It will bo my pleasing duty to accomodafce you." He was a very nice fatherly old gentleman, this registrar, with a merry twinkle ,in his eye, which convinced me that he enjoyed a little romanceAfter a few preliminary questions, he proceeded to business. I stood by the desk, while Kate had taken a seat as far as possible from us, as though, like a victim condemned to death, she dreaded the block on which she was to suffer. " Now, Sir — your name, please." "jßawdon Crawley," " Occupation ?" " G-entlenian." " Residence ?" " Chipping Norton, Oxon ; Southampampton; and at present this town of Ryde." " Very good. Now the lady's name ?" He was bending over the desk, writing, and did not see my face. I felt my heart stand still. I gazed appealingly at Kate. Tho modest little minx would not lift her eyes from the ground. " The lady's name, Sir, please ?" This time he paused, and looked up. He "could not but see my agitation and confusion. "The lady's name, Sir?" ho asked again, rather impatiently. " I must fill up the form." "Kate— Kate— Kate " I faltered. " Well, Sir, Kate what ?" " I don't hwio !" I blurted out. It was the truth. I had never thought to ascertain her name. Once I had asked her, and she was thinking. of something else, and did not reply. The registrar put down his pen, and stared me in the face. Well might the worthy man look astonished. I was speechless for a moment or so. I felt so utterly dumb-founded and ashamed, that if my life depended upon it I could not have explained. A low merry laugh brought me round ; it was Kate. Dear girl ! she could not help laughing at the absurdity of our predicament* Then she rose, and advancing with quiet self-possession, proceeded to explain to the registrar. As she went on, his face, at first stern — for he certainly thought we were making a fool of him — relaxed, and soon again he was all good-humour and smiles. " Oh, I see. Well, to be sure, I have married a few couples, bufc never yet came across a bridegroom that did not know the bride's name. It's as good as a # This little difficulty over, the knot was tightly tied, and Kate Coventry — for such was her name — became Kate Crawley. "Now, Mrs. Crawley," I said, gaily, '• permit me to offer you my arm." " Mrs. Crawley ! Oh, dear ! — oh, dear ! how strange it sounds ! What would Bob Randals say ? " This time I felt no inclination to use my forbidden expletive. Kate was now my, wife, and no power on earth could undo the noose Mr. Registrar Pawkins had tied. " Mr. Pawkins, if you will join us afc the hotel, we shall be very happy to have your company at luncheon, and we will drink the health of the bride ; we can suppose it is a wedding-breakfast, you know. You shall represent the guests, we shall make speeches, and all that sort of thing, you know ; and then, according to immemorial custom, Kate here, as we are about to drive off, shall indulge in a little weeping." " Indeed, she will do nothing of the kind," the dear girl said, clinging to my arm, and looking fondly in my face. " I am_ very, very happy I " and here she whispered in my ear, " I love you." "More than Bob Randals ? " I asked. " Ever so much," was the soft reply. I need scarcely say that I took the earliest opportunity of imprinting my first kiss on her willing lips. Mr. Registrar Pawkins accepted my invitation, and went to lunch with us. I don't know what the people thought, or what they did, if any came in his absence, as Kate said, to be married, christened, or buried; or whafc the waiters thought of the speechifying, the champagne, etc. I do know that it was the jolliest luncheonparty I ever attended in lny life. *' * # # * # Behold us now, my wife and I, landing on Southampton pier. A Peninsular and Oriental Company's mail-boat entered the harbour simultaneously with us. " Rawdon, dear," said Kate, clasping my arm suddenly, " suppose Bob Randals has come by that steam-boat !" " Well, lam very sorry for him. It j serves him right ; he should have shown more alacrity in claiming his promised wife." That same afternoon we were walking down the High Street arm-in-arm ; suddenly Kate stopped, started, and gave a little exclamation. " What is the matter ?" I asked. " Oh. dear ! here comes Bob Randals ! What shall I do ?— what shall I say ?" It certainly was rather awkward. I saw approaching a swarthy young fellow, wearing an East Indian solar hat, or topee. There was a lady on his arm. He saw Kate, and seemed almost as much embarrassed as herself. However, they were now face to face, and could not avoid speaking. Kate, trembling and blushing, held out; her hand. " Oh, Bob ! how are you ? I am so glad to see you." " How are you, Kate ? De-lighted to . see you." " Confound the fellow !" I thought ; " he doesn't look like it." - " By-the-way, introduce me to your friend." Kate glanced at me, surprised, and half inclined to cry. She thought I was his intimate friend. " Oh, Bob ! don't you know him ?" " No, Kate.'' " Please don't be angry, Bob," she said, deprecatingly, as I came forward, looking, I fear, very foolish — " indeed, I couldn't help it." " Couldn't help what ?" " Why, I am married ! and this is my husband." " Married ! by Jovo ! and so am I, and this is my wife." He led the lady forward, and introduced her. " Kate, allow me to congratulate you, old girl. We two should never have agreed ; we shall do admirably as friends." We all dined together, and I related the whole adventure after dinner. I am happy to say, that there is no man for whom I entertain so sincere a regard, and which I know is reciprocated, as I do for him whom I can now truly oall "My friend, Bob Randals."