"LADY BILLY."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11057, 8 May 1899, Page 3

"LADY BILLY."

The name given her by her godfalhors end godmothers was Wilhelmine, but they all called her Hilly, and the prefix had been added by her brothers partly on account of her dainty ways, but chiefly because they said she usurped the rights of man by the adoption of such a name. '• Whoever heard of a girl called 'Billy'?" cried (hey scornfully, "it's only a boy's name." So they stuck before it the unmistakable sign feminine, and called her " Lady Billy." She was a well-known figure among the fisher-folk on that wild coast, and had been Lord Cranstone's right hand. But the old earl was dead, and Lady Billy's good days were over. The generous allowance was hers no longer: and though she still wont among the people, bitterly she fell the emptiness of her visits. Comforts that cost money was not hers to give now. The carl had been nothing of a society man. but lie bad loved his people, and held their nigged northern hearts. Tin' new Lord Cragstone was young, talented, and handsome; he had not made his appearance among them yet, but already the full; were prejudiced against him, and Lady Billy strove vainly In dispel their ideas. lie, pas "smart"— was a favourite in society _by these two facts they judged him, and condemned. l! was a chill October day when Lady Billy took the cliff path to Sally Jameson's cottage. The weather had broken, and the cold winds suggested the comfort of blankets and fires, Lady Billy's slender means would not go far in such a c.vise, but the poverty of the people had incited her to a deed of daring, and joyously she lapped at the cottage door. " Is the little boy belter. Sally?" '•Oh, it's you, Lady Billy! Come in. Ay, the little .bap's pullin' round; but the doctor do say the fever's spreadin', an' the earl— Bid there, what's the use to talk o' him? You've been ill yerself, miss?" "Olllj il fold." The girl had entered, and perched herself on the table. " I've been shut up for a week; but I've not forgotten you. What about the earl. Sally?" Saliy shrugged her shoulders. " Wo might all be dead an' buried for audit he'd care, miss. Ay, the good days are gone wi' the old lord!" "You lnusn'l say that. Sally; he does Care. Look here!" She waved a'mystic scrap of paper in the woman's face. "Lord Cragstone's own cheque! I can get your blankets now!" And she read aloud "Pay Miss Wilhelmine Powell the sum of—' Good gracious, whal's that ':" It was the sound of horse's hoofs clattering Up the pebbly path, and a moment later the rider flung him.-elf from the saddle and entered (lie cottage. "' Well, Mrs. Jameson, how's my little patient?'' Then, catching sight of the girl, "Oh!" he cried hastily, "you shouldn't be here! Don't yon know the child has fever?" Lady Hilly surveyed him calmly. He was a stranger, this bronze-faced man with the keen blue eyes and mellow voice, and he excited her ruriositj. Strangers were rare in CragBbine. and this one had arrived during her imprisonment. She flipped from her lofty seal. " Von are the doctor?" she queried. " I am Dr. Ashby. And you?" "Why, it's Lady Billy, sir! I forgot you didn't know our lady!" cried Sally, hastily. ''This is (he new- doctor, miss dear, wlial's just come to Cragstone—an' a power o' good he'- done among us already." •• V.thin;.; to compare with Lady Billy," returned he gravely. "Your name is a household word."

" I hope yen don't imagine you're speakinn to a "ladye of high degree,' " said she demurely. "I'm afraid I'm not to be found in the peerage," "Well. Sally, I'll see about your blankets. I'm .-•<> glad 1 summoned up courage, to Writ'-:" With a nod she was gone,, and the two Watched her from the cottage door. "Who is she?" queried the man. "And has she no fear?" _ "Lady Hilly? She's the light of our lives, fir, and there's no harm will come nigh her. She was the old earl's right hand. And a sad day it was for us all when lie died. She had but to go to him with a laic 01 sickness or sorrow, an' his hand was in his pocket, an' his gold was in her keeping. And Lady Billy, she knew how to bring comfort to'a poor home." " And now?" "Things is all changed," sighed Sally. " The young lord's too smart for Hie likes o' us. I said to Lady Hilly just today we might be dead an' buried for aught he'd care!" "lint you don't know him; lip may not be so heartless as you think." "So, I don't know him: he don't trouble us," said the woman bitterly. "Hut Lady Hilly, she do say as we're prejudiced; don't judge him unheard, says she; but "—and Sally heaved a portentous sigh—" he's what they call 'in soci.'tee,' an' he'll not bother his head about the likes o' us. We miss the old hud sadly, sir." So Lady Hilly took the side of the unknown ! Ashby was interested in the girl who preached tolerance, and pleaded the cause of the condemned. Hp could just catch the flutter of her garments along tin' cliff. There was something attractive about the vanishing figure, and. springing to his saddle, he clattered awav and had soon overtaken her. Hilly looked up as he dismounted, and, slipping the reins over his arm, prepared to walk beside her. " I want to say a few words about poor Mrs. .lame-on," he said. "There seems a terrible amount of poverty and distress in the village, and one can do so little." " You have done a great deal, I think," said Lady Hilly. "1? Oh, 1 do what I can. But you should not go to the Jamesons', Lady Hilly. Do you know the little boy has fever? And I fear it is spreading." "So Sally told me. 1 am not afraid of infection—l am germ-proof!" she laughed. " Xeier'.lule.-s, you shouldn't run such risks." persisted he. "You owe these people nothing." "Owe them nothing?" Her eyes flashed upon him. "And what of Lord Cragstone? does he owe them nothing? They are his people—they are ill trouble? Why does he not come?" "I think he is to blame," said Ashby. "you knew the late earl well; you worn his right hand man?"

"Yes. I loved him dearly." said klio simply. " Hi' was my best friend. Bui. still. I oughtn't 1" speak against his successor. I do try in plead his pause will) the people, but liiey are very bitter against him. Be- [ cause he is young! talented, and brilliant they have judged and condemned him." "Sally Jameson tells me lie's 100 fine for them. I suppose he's one of your society fops, who hasn't a soul above the height of his collar and the polish on his boots." "Xo, no, I must defend him." She laughed. " Whatever his soul, at least his heart is not hardened. I—l've tried it," said Lady Hilly, "and this is the result." She held the cheque before the young man's startled eyes. "What!" he cried. " Crags! one sent that to you? But he doesn't know you?" _ " No. I suppose it was very impertinent' —her pretty face crimsoned-" but I could not bea. it any longer. The poverty is terrible and f feared this sickness. They had been too long neglected. Surely— I thought, he cannot know their troubles, or he would help them. . " For his own sake lie would try and win their hearts! You were not here then,' she added. " I was working single-handed with their misery and their hatred against himit distressed me so to see it, and so I wrote. He sent me this." ~ "It was very, very good of you, said he earnestly, "and Oragstone owes you more than he ran pay!" . "Oh, no! It seemed so terrible that they should condemn him unknown, and now I can prevent that. But, oh!" said she, it is not only Ids money they need. I wish tie would come himself and live among them; he could not help but love them. They are rough, but they are so true, these northern folk." , L „ ~ "You, at least, have their hearts, said Ashby: "1 don't wondei they adore you, Lady Billy." She smiled sadly. , „ "I fear that I am a worthless idol, she said; "but I love them." "And you will lake care of yourself? on will avoid the worst houses if the sickness should spend?" He nevei forgot the expression m her eyes as they met his own. ■„ " I shall go where I can help the most, she said. "11l the thickest bf the fight if necessary. But you needn't fear for me; 1 am safe." . . . And nothing ho could say would shake her resolution. They met frequently after that, for -he disease spread like a scourge through the village. But the girl didn't seem to know the meaning of fear; and surely some miraculous power protected them both, for they worked side by side through that dread time, and came through weeks of battling with the grim destroyer untouched, unharmed. And still Lord Oragstone never came. Cheques had been sent to Lady Billy care, but the young man never suggested coming to his people, and the girl's heart sank. Inc. distress was alleviated, but Hie prejudice ffilt.

£?M?2te L Sbe driven to right taCJSJS? lßSeyeß; her efforts

-L w lnon:« d "\ti' the T ? 'vr 1 1! ' c ? ned with the long struggle deposed because things seemed iHo better n^tZed k tf nEbyth6ripplinS notint h„°? ne,s La(, y Billy," he Bid, Ihi l S m t P jT n - " At 'A you «ili "To, t u d gBtOM has oomo home." idJl ?i i W She lo °M np asternished, a glad light in her eyes. les :.., v has , wake to a sense of his respons,b,hUe S at last, and come to look after hind o .' 1 "v" gla , ( ! ! " sho crieil . cll > 6 in s ° r 3, 73l WiU be well. 'He has waited lons, but it is not too late." to JL b'^T 1101, But it is of myself I want wspeak. i am giving up my work here." ,1™ ■"' "S B °; nB awi> y ? " The girl spoke ™, nl )- l \ ° r (,rC!,ms were vain, then: her "Rue, ™'t t .magmings were only a mirage. Whore do you go?" she asked. Ho looked at the downbent face, at (he parted romulous l, ps , and thou: "It doesn't matoi where I go if you will come with me!" ho said passionately. " Billy, what need to tell you how I Jove you!"

™„ i y V.J, lovcd vou from the first. Do you know, Billy, I was often sad) , IK , to take you ill my arms and thank you for your sweet defence of the absent carl." You were! Why?" "Because," .. B ? id he, watching her changing face, "though you didn't know it, seel heart, you were pleading my cause; hearts!" * l )la « for me in my people's Cra^t°onc m '" !,n '" Bi " y gaSPCt1 ' " y " U " re £ ° rf

Lord Billy, corroded he. William Ashby is my name, so I sha'n't deprive you of your title. -Elva Lorenee, in Home Chat.