A PICNIC PARTY AT THE FAIRY CAVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXII, Issue 149, 2 July 1898, Page 3

A PICNIC PARTY AT THE FAIRY CAVES.

A TATT/UTA EOMANCE. (Written for the " Broiling Mail.' ) " Magnificent," exclaimed Bose Baybomrne, at the entered tha wonderful aareaatMotupipi. -This is only the first chamber, wait till 70a have Men them all, Miss Bay- . bourne,', aid Lea Caxton. *• You will be charmed, I assure yon, " added Garrick Darja. '* This is like fairy land, how can anything be more lovely ! What do you e»y girls r continued Roae, "Are you all spell-bound?' Sheglano •d bask at her companions a* she spoke. « Wea n in captures,' came from several voices. a I oaU this a fairy care, and yon girls an the fairies." said Bcee, smiling on the ate bright faces of the girla round her, each gui carrying a light. " then we will christen you the ' Fairy Queen/ "said Kitty Thorp. At this a merry laugh ran through the car*. " Then you think oar caret wan worth earning to see," said Dennis DaeMord, looking admiringly at the beautiful girl "lodsed I do, Mr JDathford. I Would not bar* missed this sight far the world," •aid Kose, colouring slightly as aileyes won tornod towards her. ;■.-• • * Boteßaybottrneaad her brother CecU •are tourists in New Zealand, having arrived iaJleison only a (ew months before aacjiwtpanfad by Mrs Wordsworth, .an old fij«^^ of the family. Mrs Wordsworth had heard of the lovely sesberr in Golden Bay, so determined to pay the Takaka Valley a viait before leaving for England. Mrs Wordsworth warn half inclined to thfav that »■?« viait had decided the fate of her charge Rose £fy bourne, as she noted Dennis Baah<urd*s eoostant ottension, Mrs Wordsworth was a Una and considerate chapwon. She remembered that she had been ymugcaoe. Though she was now forty, she had as merry a laugh as a girl, and krcd to ace all happy. Bhehad gladly rnnsonted to risrt the Fairy Care, and .had added first ona and then another to the party until it numbered fifteen, seven «H>Uem«n and the same number of girls. •ffittßljr you do not expect us to daaoe mod the fairy queen in a cave," said MaodcSoutherlaod. "Ho, no, do lot u« go oa," said Kitty J-JUjTp. ' "Wait a minute," aaid Mrs Wordswerfh.l cannot take care of all you gir la, I shail entrust each of yon toagantls- " Just as thaugh we oould not take earn of oueselres," said Ina Chapman. • It is all rery wall for you, Mias Chapmao,.who hare been over the cares bettm,* amid Mrs Wordsworth, •• but, yon arast remember all the others are nob so xortunate"' " I think they are more fortunate than I sol because their pleasure is to come,' aaidua. " Before I left home," said Mrs Wordsworth, " I put seven pieces of ribbon into alittto bag all different colours, and the same in bag No. 2. Here they are. Now girls, 1 wish each of you to take one jaeeaof ribbon out of this bag. Shut your eyes when you put yoor hand in the bag. ' Eatthgbf took a niece, then the men ■ came forward and took a piece out of bag No. 2. " How girls, hold up your ribbon ; the jgßßOsnum can *»iftl™ she lady with the HMwn bke his own," said Mrs Words* •worth. Inecs was great amusement for a few . art'imtf Each gentleman glanced towards "the lady he wished to escort ttooiigh the cars. There was also a little chaag-UV of ribbons between the gentle* atea. *U last all was agreeably arranged, aadMn Wordsworth was left to enjoy herself, airier giring tha last oammand that the potty were to keep together, then there oonld be no danger of being lost. " I am toM." »*• remarked, "that these cares an eight chains' long. If that is the ease I snail have a lone time to wait tor the young people, lam sure they will not return until they have explored •rery nook. What a grand sight this is. I call it a Marble Ball What a grand «eßfae-pieQeitis,juat like a marble pU- , lar, and the stalac«tesar* like statuettes! I had no idea there was anything like tWa in New Zealand. lam well repaid far the tough journey even now, but I *dO go kntotbe next chamber." - JU Mrs Woriswsrtb stood in the midßt U the iiaawAHul long white stalictites the thought tfce fc%ht beyond description. The oae candle was reflected here and thewasaflowworai high bp among the * rtnimnfthrt. Further and farther she went, fogatttng everything exoept the grand«ur whkh opened np at erary fresh ,4baabsr. lit aoine places the stalactites lUBMf attain as a pen handle, and so frail 4JbbT» touch would destroy them » in there were shelves close to- - jethavyiti. lardy omanjents of rtalac«ttaa.«n vhidi au could onlyeasein mmimanmt. Aa Ml down enchanted. rQ«s> endd aloo4. i«gArine that one *m faa a fabjland pir she -: ' «M«bt, se sW looted rouai ~ "

tionn of delight from first one and then I another. " One oonld spend days here," said Edith Bloomfield. « Weeks," said Tiolet Foster. "80 the little Violet is tarried oat of herself;" thought Mrs Wordsworth. "lean seeMra Wordsworth's light," exclaimed Rose Raybourne. All then commenced to tell of the wonderful things they had seen. "I shall never forget this grand sight," said Maude Southerland, ' " Nor I, nor I," chimed in half a dozen voices. " Then you have had a delightful time, said Mrs Words worth . ' «• Indeed we have," they all exclaimed. "Daylight once mow," said Calino Thorp, a tall fair young man about 22 years of age. _ " Just hear my brother's sigh of relief, he thought he would never tee day* light again," said Kitty Thorp. All Laughed merrily as they climbed the rocks into the open air. Then they went down into a little green flat, where Mrs Wordsworth proposed they should picnic for an hour or two, and have luncheon. The waggonette and horses were some little distance away certainly, bat the baskets were soon carried to the camping ground, a delightfully romantic place— just the place for lovars to enjoy themselves, which, judging from appearances, onr lively little party were making good use of. "I am wiser now than when I went to help carry the lunoheon over the stream from the waggonette," said Kitty Thorp, pretending to be ofiended. Mrs "Wordsworth said " What is the matter now Kitty." ,' When |I crossed the stream with all these nice things I might have fallen in. Mrs Wordsworth, don't let Rose come to our next picnic. Every hand was extended to assist Rose up the bank; and I fell in the Dry Eiver and got my feet wet. Why couldn't the Dry River have beon put somewhere else, so that weconld bring the waggonette up' to the caves? " " We will have it that way next time to please you Kitty, 1 said her brother. " I believe Calino would have the world altered if it would give pleasure to Kitty," said Lea Caxton, " Yes, he takes great care of me too when he lets me wade the Dry Hiver with a load for his dinner," said Kitty, " I'll tell you the way Calino takes care of me, Mrs Wordsworth. One day many years ago when I was young." ''Just as though Kitty was ever young, said Mande Sutherland, smilingly glancing at the bright youthful face opposite her. " Don't interrupt please Miss Snther. land,' 1 said Kitty. " When yon were young," said Qarrick Davis. " Yes, I remember," said Kitty. •' Is it possible that you can remember so long ago," said Cecil Baybourne. " Why Kitty, you are not having any luncheon," said Mrs Wordsworth. " I just want to tell you how Calino takes care of me. Then 1 will oommence, lam so hungry. When I nas visiting, let me see, about four years ago, in Galway, I went out for a ride ,<me bright morning on one of the hunters, which took charge of me. When Calino saw this fine animal bringing me home gainst my will he immediately closed tho gates. The hunter did sot care to be ahnt out of his home, so he cleared the gate with poor me on his back. Wa both landed safely on the other side. Fortunately, Calino got the biggest fright," said Kitty. "It is too bad of yon, Kitty, telling every one of my youthful follies," said Calino. "Never mind, Kitty, have some chicken. Cecil has been waiting patiently for your answer. No, dont take a bun, have chicken out of pity for Cecil. He will be ill if you take anything from any one else, ' whispered Kose. Kitty coloured, and helped herself to a bun. (To he concluded.)