"ONCE MINE."

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1516, 22 January 1886, Page 4

"ONCE MINE."

How pretty the old church is growing under our skilful fingers! I think so as I look down from the organ loft, my elbow renting on the heivy wooden rail. I have managed to slip away for a moment's breathing space —they cannot see me up here, the dusk is gathering so fast amont; the qu»int old rafters. Ihe church is a perfect nest of green, witn little bright touches of scuriet berries here and there, or a snowy powdering o' white chrysanthemums to heighten the eff ct. Our decorations will be the admiration of all Kerton to-morrow, I feel sure; and with n little of s ttisfaciion I turn from it to 1 )ok at the decorators. I'hey arj scattered ab-iut the aisles, some finishing their wok, others si'fciug idly or standing to rest like myself. The fairhaired girl in the black velvet jacket and grebe hat is my cousin Marjory. Franklyn Kyre is standing beside her, whispering something which makes her look with a smile at the old walls.. They are to be married ia the spring. That slurp looking man is a brother officer of Franklyn Eyre's, come down with him to spend Christmas-week at Kerton. I know what be is gazing about in search of now, but he won't find me just yet. Tue child in the scarlet cloak is my cousin SiSyl She has h'lled th-j old stone font with asters —purple, and white, and pink—and is now putting a border of soft emeraid-green moss round the edge. Standing near her, occupied with some device of his own, is another cousin of mine—and of hers too—Vandeleur Arnold. He is an orphan like myself, spending his college vacation at Kerton. I live here altogether now. Very soon only Sibyl and the " cuckoos," as Van and I call ourselves, will be left in the old *arm nest.

Thinking this, I also bethink myself that the organ loft is very cold, but, as i prepare «o go down, Vandeleur co.uea up. He has n, »de a pretty scroll of holly-leaves, with the "Laus Deo" in scarlet berries. 1 had bee, wishing for something for the organ loft, and »ere it i 9. I receive it graciously; but while I am putting it up, Vaudeleur, staudiug near me, lifts one ot my brown curls to his lips and kisses it Such a thing has happened before, but this time I shake my head angrily, and lo<>k at him with very cross brawn eyes. His handsome face is darkening ominously, when Major Montray comes through the gallery door. " Is this where you have been hiding P" he says. •' I have louked for you everywhere. That is rather a flashy affair —don't you thiuk sd?'—staring critically through hia glass at the scroll and its motto.

I iio not think so, but I am mean enough io look as if i did. One twist ot Vandeleur's wrist sendajt down into the aiaie. My red cheeks g.ow criui*.:., H«j„i iiwmray litis his e^ebrowB —my cousin stalks out oi the gallery and down the stairs! What a Billy, ill-tempered boy he is,

I remember the walk home from the church on that Christmas eve so weil, every incident of it. It was asi ill frosty evening, the cool sunlight yet lingering on the tops of the trees, a lace-work of ice on every little pool, a robin singing here and there among the bare boughs. It was freezing pretty hard, but my Seaiskin jacket kept me warm, and we walkedfast.

When we left the church, Major M .ntray was beside me; but, when Vaudeleurcame up on the other side, and obstinately persisted in remaining there, he felt behind and walked with aibyl. 1 went along very quietly, my bauds in my muff, afraiu to look at Vaudeleur, and very impatient of his company. Something delayed the others a few moments—l forget what—and, once out of ear-shot of them, Vaideleur took care to keep so. " Pauline," he said, when the Kectory lights began to glitter through the trees, "Jwhat did you mean by your behaviour to day P" " Mean P" I echoed. I had no other answer ready. " ies i do you think I am a fool to stand bj quietly and see you go on so?'' " 1 think you behave like a baby," I said. " I am sure you made a fine donkey of yourself in the organ loft just how." " I am a Oonkey for being so awfully fond of you. How can you be so cruel to me, Pauline ?"

"What did I doP" I asked, burying my nose in my muff.

" You flirted most outrageously with Mon« tiay all day."

M lake care, Vaudeleur f you have no right to speak to me so," I said, augriiy. «' Have I not ? Oh, Pollie"-with a sudden change of eye and voice-" you can't be going to throw me over like this ?" " Vandeleur, they will hear you—do stop." " Pauline, do you mean to break my heart ? Remember your promises to me—remember the day you said you loved me better than a cousin "

" Hush, Vandoleur! You are only a boy. Don't talk noosense."

" I am nineteen," said my coußin, his dark angry eyes flashing back at me—" too old to be made a fool of by you, Paul.ne, whatever jou may think. Why did you let me lore vou d it was all to end like this ?"

" How could I prevent you ?" I aeked, lamely.

•• It you don't know there is no use in my telling you," he replied, scornfully, "You thought it good fun till iloutray ca-jie, I sup. pose."

" Major ilontray is not a cross ill-tempered baby," I said. " Sou are a year jouaaer than I am, Vandeleur j the very idea of my being i ngagtd to you is absurd. I am very foud ot you as a cousin and all that, but to m.irry you " As I spoke we were coming out ol the woods towards tie Rectory lawn, and Vandeleur, flinging my muff away, look hold of both my hands.

" Oh, Pauline, you don't mean what you say! Can't you be true to me, darling f I love you fo much. Y»u think me a boy, but I am uot such a boy, as not to love you better than Moutraj ever will." " Vandeleur, they are Coming quite closedo let me go I" " lou throw me over ?'

" Let go my hands this moment, sir!" He stooped and kissed them, then flung them away from him passionately, and da-hed into the wood. I picked up my muff and smoothed it, and stood lo kmg after him, my heart beating rather last with a new little ihnli of triumph. It was so nothing to be loved like this even by a boy younger than oneself,

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