A SHORT STORY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7545, 19 May 1903, Page 3

A SHORT STORY.

THE FORTUNE TELLER,

Nina Hardy was all' but dressed! for dinner. Sho had sent' licr maid1 from the room and there remained only ona thing to do to complete her toilet. She took a dainty key from, a golden chain on her wrist-, and with it unlocked the jewel-case that- stood on her dressin<rtab'e. ° From its silken depths she drew a diamond necklace of great beauty, which sho fastened around her shapely white throat. Tliis necklace in its case usually rested inside a safe at the bankers'. Nina only wore it on occasions of great- importance, for sho thought it was too costly to be often shown. It had been her mother's and had descended to her when, at an early •iffo, sho found herself an orphan and immensely rich. Tho occasion on which' this night made it necessary that the lovely chain of gemy should be taken from its hiding-place was indeed an important one in Nina's life. Sho was to dino with Sir James and Lady I Clifford for the first time as the betrothed wife of their son Mervyn. Having settled the ornomenb to her satisfaction, before a tall pier-glasa, Nina s.it down before a, cheerful lire and placed her daintily shod feet on the low stool that. ran the whole length of the hearth. Could an -artist have painted her as she sat there ho would have made a bigger reputation than even the authors of the two portraits of 'The Beautiful Miss Hardy' that had already distinguished the walls of, successive Academies. Upon tho snow of her bosom tho splendid diamonds glowedl and1 glittered in the dancing firelight. Her thoughts, as sho gizedl into the fiercely burning coals, were rapidly travelling over tho events of the three years since she had entered the great world of' Society, dwelling here and there on some one of them that had been more than usually interesting. She thought of the main' men who had declared themselves to be' madly in love, with her, and sho laughed a little as she ■remembered how quickly they had all forgotten the passion, they had avowed to bo undying. Most of all she thought of Howard Freeman. Ho was tho only one of all the unmarried men she knew who had not at some time of other made love to hei'. He hnd been her unfailing friend, and! she had learnt lo look to him for help and advice in many of the affair!? of her life, Perhaps if he had asked she would have becomo has wife. But ho had said no word and now she was to many Mervyn Clifford, who was certainly very fond of her, Besides, this match pleased "her guardians, her uncle and aunt, who certainly would have been far from pleaded had she accepted the penniless lawyer, Howard Freeman. Then, too, Mervyn had asked her and Howard had not, and she was happy. Of coursosho was happy—very happy. Here Nina sighed deeply and, uucluspir_g her hands from behind her head, ros& from the chair and walked! across t.he boudoir to a side table on which rested a noto addressed to her in a firm, m-:;iiv hand. "I wonder what ho can mean," she said, as she. drew the paper from, the already open.cd envelope. "Let me read it again." As her eyes travelled over tho sheet, .'die pursed her lips into a jwetty pout, half of amuscnvent, half of annoyance. "Remember that, if you should want mo to-night for any reason I shall be at the club." Silly boy. Why should I want him? Really, I fiave begun to grow a little weary of Howard since my engagementwith Mervyn was announced. Oil course it i.s right, that I should. But what- is tin's mysterious thing ho lias been hinting at? Telling me that one can never lie sure of anything—or man—and that ho is just as much nvy friend as ever. I hope hfe is, for somehow I shouldn't like Howard t-o go out of my life even if I am to be married But I would like to know what he means." Sighing again, she touched the bell and her maid appeared. s "Is tho carriage ready, Preston?" she asked. "Yes, miss. Her ladyship lias just gone downstairs and requested tint you should bo told." "Very wel1, Preston, fetch my cloak, please.' With the handsome cloak covering her shoulders Nina descended, and, in company with her aunt-, entered the carriage, anil was driven rapidly off to the /Cliffora mansion. Mervyn of course was Ninu"s 7:>nrti:er atthe table, and was kindness and courlesv ( itself, but onco or twice- when in talk'ng she looked up into his face, she saw in his eyes a cold., calculating look that set her heart baiting with fear. | _ She found herself wondering how long it would take Howard to reach her from the club should sho send for him. He>iolutely she thrust these unpleasant thoughts from lie:*" and set herself to tho saying of witty things that would draw out the cleverness of the man she was about to marry. Mervyn was a noted talker, and very soon all those within their immediate circle at the table, had ceased their chattering that tli'oy might, listen to the brilliant conversation of the engaged pair. Yet, under the laughter and brightness Nina found herself growing more and more miserable. As course followed course sho remembered many half-understood tales of Mervyn's past and recollected, with horror that! she knew p-actically nothing of him save that ho had proposed, and that, obeying her aunt's desire, she had accepted him In her mind she turned over a hundred ways of escaping from her pledge, but none seemed feasible. In <o short a time as is spent between the. hors d'oeuvres and tho sweets sho had learnt to Matte the smiling, polished man at her side, and hailed withi delight the look in her hostess' eye wliich announced thai; the ladies were to leave the table. Upstairs she wa» made much of by Lady Clifford who declared that, sho would be perfectly happy with Mervyn. Then, because fihe was. so to-speak", a member of the family, Lady Clifford told her of a disappointment that, promised to seriously affect tho after-dinner entertainment. "A clairvoyant person, who calls hersGlf Zoo was to have been hero after dinner," sho said, but a message lias just reached me saying that she 'has been taken seriously ill andi cannot come. It is very awkard that she should have chosen to indulge herself on the very night I wanted her. I thought these kind of persons were never ill. However, I have sent out for j a, substitute, but I am afraid it is too I late.' Nina saw a chanco of escaping Mervyn for :ui hour at least. "Bear Lady Clifford," sho said eagerly. '"I can do a. little clairvoyance myself, lot me be tho substitute." "Mv de-u1, I couldn't think " | "Oli IDo 1 Do! Ih will bo such fun. Show mo tih'e rooml, sho would have used and don't tel! anyone—not even Mervyn.'' 'Tory well, then," answered the anxious ho.stfs.s, evidently glad to bei so easily out "I" her difficulty. "Only you must 'leave nil you are tired." Komi >T 111:1. found herself ensconced in a tiny boudoir, wrapusd from head to foot, in a bonded, black crown, and with the im|)irii!cn:.;j of her craft before her on a small tables. Sho was .clad to be away from tho-Pinil-int? cvowd, and hoped that nona would visit her for a long time. Most of all she re-

jojeed to be free from Mervyn's company Her mind was still busy reviewing posl sible means of escape from a marriage the very thought of which had now grown hrte ful.to lien; but she could hit on none than her pride and honour would allow. The details of her betrothal had been published in.half tlib papers of the three kingdoms, and she discovered, to her grief, that a girl in her position is by- no means so free an agent as ono -n a more humble station. She must abide by her promise, bo the couBecniences what they might. She had early dismissed" tho thought of appealing to Mervyn, for yho remembered with horror thpti look in his eyes wich had first started this terrible revulsion in her feelings. Soon her fellow-guests came, in, one by one, to consult the oracle. Deftly she played her part, and found to her delight that no one supposed sho was other than /oe. She determined to exert her utmost skill to maintain the deceit, for discovery would mean a speedy curtailment of her precious liberty, and that she would preserve at a,U cost*. Then, to her horror, there entered the very man siio had tried to escape. Lady Clifford must Dave broken her promisee and disclosed her hiding-place, and now -Mervyn would want to talk with her, and perhaps—kiss her. She shuddered. To havsurpriss he stopped in the middle of tho room and commenced speakinw rapid ly in a low tone. °- "'Don't raise your head," lie. said, "treat mo just as you would one of those idiots who ha.vo been boring you for the last hn!f hour. You should havo lowered tho blind. It is possible that we may be seen by the servants in the other rooms. That is why I told you not to look up. Nina was surprised, but said nothing, she would do anything if onty ho woufd como no closer. Tho next words, however, were swil more of a surprise, but at the. samo time a revelation. 'See here, Zeo," continued Mervyn, "you should have kept, that appointment, this afternoon. I have something to sny which I will have to say h,sre, and that, I may tell you, i 3 very inconvenient. Pretend to bo using that crystal thing oh the table.'1 Mervyn took a. chair and seated himself about a foot from the table. As he did so Nina stretched her hand to the shade of tho electric reading lamp that was tho only illuminant in the room, and turned it so that- she was completely shielded from his eyas by the bright glare. "If that's one of your professional tricks" ho said acidly, "I wish you could do without, it for once. No? Very well, thsn, it makes very little difference. "Now listen. That young fool of a girl has, as I cxpscted, about three thousand pounds' worth of stones on her. If you havo made all arrangements I told you to they can easily bo collared. My part of tho plan is- right if yours is. Ono of the horses of the old Dowagei:*; carriage went lame just, as it reached this door. Your old friend Vesey and an air-gun were responsible for that. Nina's aunt will drive tho old Dowager home, and I am to follow with Nina in a hansom. Take care that yen aro on that bans m. You know what to do then, and for Heaven's sake take caro that I am out of it. "When we get. to that dark corner your horse is to grow restive. I will alight and look at tho beast's feet. You will como down, and, on pretence of quieting the girl, get. close enough to put tho chloroform gag ovi-r her face. Then jump on tho box and drive off. I will pretend to bo knocked down and stunned. You will leave the girl in the cab wliero you like, and I will bo the devoted rescuer" as soon as you aro fairly away. Do you understand;?" Nina, had been struck dumb as the quiet voice- steadily unfolded this fiendish plot.. Then s'lio had wished to scream for help, and then, seeing that in tins perhaps ivy tho oscapa slie longed for, she kept very still that she might lose no word of proof of tho man's ■ villainy. Seeing tlr.it slso must make an answer to his Question, sho nodded. Mervyn went on, oblivious of the decolation lie was preparing for his carefully thought-out scheme. '"Now comes a change in my plans."' he .said, his voice even .growing harder and more cruel. "You aro to take the jewels and keep them as your share. I skill not follow you to tilie Continent as I intended. Th~eo thousand pounds between two is not much. I owe five thousand myself. I have found that tlie police aro entirely on tho wrong track over tho tak aft'.'.ir we were in, and they aro likely to stey there. Beside.'-, lam at'i«r higher gums. My engagement is not. merely part of tho plan, as I loci you to believe. Tho girl is rich. and I shall marry her." All Nina's courage could not keep down a gasp. "Keep quiet, or you will givo us both away, :> growled the man. "As 1 said, I'm i;oing to many her, and you cannot prevent mo. You thought yourself very clever but you were duped. Tho marriage was a mock ceremony. Sib still—or by " Nina, could stand the cruel strain no longer. Starting to her fet she snatched the shade from tho lamp, and the hood from her face. With a cry of amazement Mervyn gazed for an instant at her pale features, and then made a dash' as- though he would crush her to the ground. Before ho had struck, however, lie recovered his wits, and tried to take her affectionately in his arms. "Am I not a good actor, my dear?"' lie said, 'forcing a -.vmilo to hiy bloodless lip«. Sho made no answer, but stared at him coldly. His fiico changed again. "If you tell tliis tale no one will believe you," he said quietly, "and if you refuse ,to many 1110 I c;in produce a dozen witnesses who will fasten, any charge I like upon you. You shall marry me!" So saying lie seized her and tried to kiss her lips. She was dumb with liorror as the full depths of his villainy dawned upon her. Sho dared riot scream lest lie should cany out his dreadful tlireat. She felt her strength gradually failing. Though she strained backward his faco wars very close. If his lips once touched hers she believed that resistance would be over, she would become his wife despite every-' tilling. Nearer—nearer . Suddenly there was a sharp click. The door quietly opened and Harry stepped into tho room. Mervyn released her and -hs sank into a chair, h\cv eyes glowing witli joy at Urns sight of the man sho trusted. Harry shut the door and Mervyn stepped towards him. "By what right are you here?" ho asked. Ignoring him, Harry went straight to the point. ~ "What is this man to you, Nina?" he said with cool, level voice. "Nothing! Less than nothing!" panted Nina., the effect of her struggle still upon he-. "Then you will not ba 'hurt wlien I tell you tl»at> he is a thorough blackguard ?" Mervyn mado a step in his direction, but Harry did not flinch. "Stand stiil!" ho cried. Violence can do nothing. This evening Zoe Montraux, your accomplice, c^m:o to mo and confessed tho whole of her association with' you. You cheated her as you did everyone "else, and she took the only means of revenge sho knew. I hr.ye sufficient evidence to convict you of half a dozen crimes, but- I will hold my hand on ono condition.' "This lady "is still, in the eyes of the world, your betrothed! wife, nnd any proceedings against you would reflect on her. Therefore, to spwo her the fhaino of association even, in >o remote a way with your blnckcmard life, and1 for no other reason, I will givo you this c-lianre. You will leave l-insjland for South Africa- to-nio-row. In six months' time you will be reported dead. If ever you aro seen in this country again tho police slitil know whaii I know. Xow go !"

With head sunk* upon-his* breast., and '•without'any attempt at defence, Mervyn Clifford! slunk through tlto door which' Harry held open for him. Ho closed ifc on the worsted criminal, and! turned to tho girl, who was now fobbing with her beautiful head lowered on her arms upon tho table. Twico ho stretched his hand to touch her hair and twico drew it back trembling Ijjcc v leaf. He was poor and unknown, though his life was full of promise for success in his profession. Since his acquaintance with -Nina, Hardy ho had always held her hjappinasy above his own ; many a time had he restrained himself on the instant of declaring his love. He had long ago decided tliat a title, was her natural right, and if sho could win both it and love he told himself ho would be satisfied. Then he clenched! his fist., as though forcing himtelf to forego some long-for out forbidden joy. "Nina "he ,aid at last, "I am sorry. I did it all for the best." Sobs wero his answer, and his eyes filled m sympathy, l-li© sight of her "rief overcame his resolve. Tenderly he stroked her head. '•Nina, little Nina,1' he said, "I love You—l love you. Tell me what I can do for you?" i Slowly she raised to him a face wot with tears.. But. in her eye s tho love-liirlit had driven tho tears away. "I cried for joy," sho whispered, for I ' lovo you too." i His arms were ■found! her. Their lips met in a passionate kiss—the symbol of their life that was to be.