“THE BEAR.”

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12265, 11 October 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

“THE BEAR.”

By G.-r-n: Ih •:

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Beryl beard the ccrunch of footsteps on the gravel path, then a tail figure passed the window swiftly” Before it vanished she caught a glimpse of a somewhat grave-looking young man with handsome features and a tanned complexion. Her aunt joined her, and, in another minute, Dr. Logan waa announced. Ilia ‘ antics ’ were entirely successful, and he did not leave until he had extracted a promise that they would come to tea that afternoon on board the Imperial. So it waa that, later in the day, Beryl and her aunt were being puffed towards the centre of the bay where the great battleship lay anchored. They wero received by the doctor and taken the usual round, the genial Irishman enjoying himself immensely in Beryl’s society. Then they went below, and Logan, dragging aside ascertain, revealed the delights or his carefully-prepared cabin. 1 Delightful little place!’ murTnnrod Mrs Philiimore appreeiachancing to torn her head, Jmd caught light of a t»U young

ollicer coming slowly towards them. He was gazing at a book in his hand and had not observed them. But she had recognised him immediately. ‘I wart to see some of the real machinery. Dr. Logan,’ she said. ‘ I know it’s not in your department, hut I thought perhaps you might persuade one of the engineers to kindly show me p ’ Logan looked up and saw Brandon approaching. A gleam of mischief came into his eve. 1 Oh, certainly, here's our very man. He simply loves showing lad'es round the “hip. Here" Brandon •’ he called out. Tim ‘ Bear ’ shut his hook, gave one withering glance at the doctor, then came forward, Logan introduced him to the ladies in an airy manner.

‘ AFould it he too much trouble, Jfr Brandon, to show me something really complicated ? ’ said Beryl, looking into the engineer’s face with her brightest smile. The ‘ Bear ’ was cornered. He looked round for a means of escape, then seeing none, stammered out that he would be delighted. Mrs Pbillimore declared she was too tired and would stop with the doctor, so the engineer and Beryl went off together, which was exactly what that young person wanted. ‘ Did the doctor show you the barbettes ? ’ asked the ‘ Bear ’ with an effort. ‘' li, yes, they're the everyday things ! ’ she exclaimed. ‘ What I want is something you don’t show to the ordinary person —the submerged torpedo-room, for instance.’ The ‘ Bear ’ looked at her as if wondering how she got to hear of such a thing. She saw his astonishment and smiled. ‘ If you can't show mo that, 1 don’t want to see anything! ’ she said, with an air of decision. Thinking it might save further conversation, the ‘ Bear ’ turned and took her by divers strange routes to the mystic region she had named. He thought he ought to talk to her, so, after ransacking his head, he asked whether she I went to many dances. ‘ Oh, please don’t! ’ she cried.

‘ Every man I meet seems to want to talk of dances—or third-rate novels—or tenor singers! ’ she said, emphasising the items. ‘ I don’t believe they know anything else! ’ The ‘ Bear ’ looked at her in surprise. There was a mischievous little smile lurking in her eyes, fee came to the conclusion that she was very pretty and not devoid of humor. ‘ What I like a man to talk to mo about is my own pet subject,’ she continued.

‘ Do you know, I’m rather a bad band at talking on any subject to a lady ! ’ ho said, quite apologetically for him. * So I gathered from the little conversation I unwittingly overheard at the window this morning!’ she said demurely. .Again he looked at her and their eyes met. This time the ‘ Bear ’ smiled, and Beryl thought he looked remarkably pleasant as he did so. She decided that he ivanted more practice in that line. ‘ I think you could talk on my subject! ’ she said. ‘l’ll try,’ he replied, smiling quite easily this time. ‘ What is it? ’ ‘ The Brandon Boiler! ’ she said, at a venture. lie gave a little start of surprise. • Do you know that Sir Michael Milne is coming to you with an offer to buy it outright F ’ she continued quickly. ‘ I had a note from him this morning asking for an interview. Do you really mean he wants to buy it ? ’ he added eagerly. She gave a brisk little nod. ‘ What will you sell the patent for ? ’

The ‘Bear' pushed the cap back on his head. Such a nice forehead, too, she thought. ‘ Oh, I don’t know that it’s really worth much. If he offers me two or three hundred I suppose 1 suppose I should accept. You see the Admiralty have turned it down,’ he answered, for the moment quite forgetting his superi-

ority. ‘I suppose you wouldn’t take the advice of one of the futile sex—one whom to even talk to is a waste of time P ’ she reminded him unkindly. ‘ Oh, come ! ’ said the ‘ Bear,’ brought fairly to his knees. ‘I shall be awfully obliged if you’ll forget that little conversation. What is the advice, please ? ’ ‘ Well, instead of asking two or three hundred, demand twenty thousand pounds ! ’ she said. ‘ Twenty thousand pounds! ’he gasped. ‘ Why ? ’ ‘ Incidentally, because the Brandon boiler is worth it; but chiefly because you’ll get it 1 ” she said, with a little laugh. It occurred to the ‘ Bear ’ that of the few young women he had met, this was the most extraordinary.

A fortnight later he was again in her company. This time they were pacing the garden at the hack of the Eoyal Hotel. In his hand he held an important-looking document. ‘Signed and sealed, and the mammoth cheque in my pocket! ’ he was saying. ‘I simply can't express my gratitude to you for your share in the business ! ’ 1 Oh, I know you can’t talk to a girl to save your life—and don't want to ! ’ she said, looking into his face with a smile. It may be remarked that they had rather taken to looking into each other’s faces on the slightest provocation during the last few days. There was a pause. ‘Do you know ?' he blurted out suddenly, then came to a stop. ‘Yes?'she said, quite encouragingly. ‘ Well, I’m tired of being a bear —shall we think out another role for me ? ’ And between them they managed it.