"LOVE IN IDLENESS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11239, 7 December 1899, Page 3

"LOVE IN IDLENESS."

" Awfully hard lines on you, certainly," said Lieutenant and Commander Grubbe-Stubbs, B.N. "Yes," answered Lieutenant Maxwell, grumpily; "it seems to mo that I may as well coil up my ropes and go on half pay for all the chance there is of getting promotion; now, if they had only given me a, show in this blessed special service squadron.' " Sorry," said Stubhs. "Yes. You can afford to be sorry, yon beggar! Here you are with more money than you know what to do with; you might very well have stood out and given other poor devils a chance." "My dear chap! I wouldn't miss it for a thousand. Deuced nuisance, tool There's mv new place building at Aber Fach left with no one to look after it; my fellow wires this morning that- he's laid on his beam ends by a bicycle smash. lay, Maxwell! Would yon go down and hunt the beggars up a bit?" " I?" "Yes. Why not? Look here! You can get awfully decent lodgings close to, and there s salmon fishing, and, perhaps, they may have the otter dogs through. I wouldn ta* anyone, I can tell you. But we've known each other so long-by Jove! It would take on awful load off my mind. It's rather like burying oneself to go into the country in June— " Stubbe paused and looked rather anxiously at his friend. This special service affair had certainly come at an awkward lime, just as Ilia new house was half up, the grounds being laid out. and a hundred things going on wlueli wanted personal supervision. But ho woiiu not miss (his chauco for all he was worth. Things really looked as if war might be possible It was the opportunity of a lifetime. Maxwell was gradually won over, and, whilst Slubbs went off to Portsmouth, travelled away into tho unknown part of the country in which Aher l'ach was situated. St'ibbs hud armed him with powers ot attorney. Inters of introduction, and papers ol instruction*, , b "'Don't worry yourself, old chap, just look round as lazily as you like and enjoy your--Befho first week passed off fairly well. Hn found himself in perhaps the most beautiful country in South Britain (not, to offend on "brither Scots"). There was something to look after, and foremen and others to ■». But. this week over, ho awoke ami f mud himself buried in heathendom. All the people to whom ho had introductions wen' in own or somewhere eles.. He. was in a "™»« village in truth. Farmhouse lodgings C ned to consist of feather beds, fornix samplers, brown Windsor soap, and doubtful cookery Every ono was away. His only possibte all the tra.lo-,,n0,.1e worn, SnZ^rtel^S-poorliUMlaea ffi !)^,US a | l -^ayhoro,"tho ? l.t he.and'kX.rivingJjo-nt-^t, ,;, u l 0 J. M , lie nrrivocl in inn e. ■> ..auntored in. Be suddenly broke off V<urn.yl. t?tnMo'£rC stared at him U ttSto«n £i o ; ey C ; fS ( ,i,l she come in her, for? Jos of nroptj Then he saw that she appropriated a little thoroughbred to the l, r ,' Shap.lv' mwhii hands, not too liful Iwir. >»ft *y«: »"■! the proum c , Vonne irrofflllimv BP( lietlVC. " Perhape some pmr clcrsrymnn « daughti r. " Perhaps some poor elwfrymnn s daugllti r. I I n't'think after nil that lean pr*«hy leave that building with no one to overlook he men " Then ho rhuok ed to himself at ,1,0 turn of his lhou,bK and must have done so audibly, for his companion turned the verv Vast, bit and shot a momentary glance at him. short service was over all ton soon The short service was over all too soon. Ho would have hurried_ out, but the little erov man buttonholed him. "Mr. Maxwell, I think?" " Yes" " Mi. my man told me you was here. I'm John Colby, from Laneaer. I've a placo close liv yon must come and look us un. Alow me! Mrs. Colby, Miss Colby-Mr. Maxwell." ~ , ■ He bowed, noticing at once that the daughter was anxious for Ilia acquaintance. Tlio ladv's mnid had disappeared. . Ho accepted an invitation to lunch, hoping (o see the woman who had caught his fancy. Riches were in evidence: the house was an old country seat, whose former owners had ■rone; armorial hearings and all, the wine was above reproach, and the daughter—if slightly forward— not vulgar. But of the woman ho had hoped to see. there was no sign. He was pressed to take a trap back to his lodgings, but refused. Ho waR invited to como and stay a few days, but, mindful of Stllbbs, excused himself, not knowing if he would caro to bo dragged sideways into their acquaintance. "You have such a lovely country that I renllv prefer to walk," ho said. i "Yes— rather lonely, don't you think? said the daughter somewhat pointedly. " Oh. I don't know! You see I'm rathor busy with my friend's affairs." "Lonelv?" No, nob now. Ho was going to find this woman and it would bo lonely no more. Ho made his farewells with what grace he might and walked away alone down tho beautiful country road, the hills towering up on both sides, green with their summer coat of fern. He growled to himself that he had missed the " companion"— had thus far elevated her social status. " But 111 nnd her, begad!" ho said, with set determination. He had better fortuno than bo deserved. Half-way home he mot her, plump at a curve in the road. She had, as attendant, a magnificent dog. There was no time to decide what to do or whether it would be safe to make advances. That, depended upon wboth'er she was lady s maid or companion, and this sudden meeting seemed to raise her still another step, so that he did not dare. He ventured to raise his bat. And received the veriest ghost of a return —and an amused smile. Ho had half a mind to stop and speak, but dared not, and walked | on. "By Jove! I must find out who she is! Wonder if I might have spoken? I fancy lady's-maids don't allow liberties. Who the deuce is sho? She looks awfully thoroughbred." ! Next day the Colby women called, made him show them over the new house, admired everything, and— was no doubt about it—the daughter made a dead set at him. She was not bad-looking, was well educated, and had a pretty voice. Had his mind not been preoccupied be might havo answered her attack—to pass the time. Somewhat to his wonder— disgust—be found that they knew all about his aunt Jane, and that he was her heir. It was bad policy of Mamma Colby to let it out—as her daughter's wicked look told her—but she was too old to learn finesse. Riches had come to . her too late. She had sense enough never j to refer to her social status when Colby married her, but was too old to conceal, altogether, the fact that she was (let us be lenient!) slightly uneducated. They pressed him so hard to return to lunch that he submitted. On the way he noticed, on a rising ground some distance from the road, a pretty little house which he hod not seen before. "That? Oh! Some woman lives there. I —a—really forget her name." Miss Colby was scarcely clever enough foi such flights; ' ho saw she was lying. Like a flash came tho thought, "I wonder if it be she!" "A pretty place," he said. "She is a near neighbour of yours. I suppose you havo not—or she has not—called yet.' "Oh—really I don't know, Mr. Maxwell. I don't think she is in residence." But here the mamma once more spoilt the I game.

I " Was that Mrs. Hnnt-Prico you was speakin' about? Yes; she's at home. Why, we met her somewheres the other day." There was a strong sneer in her tone. Max--1 well had not quite caught tho name; it had sounded familiar; but be could not press a ' ' subject which was for eome reason evidently unpleasant. "I'll bet it's she, though!" he thought, i I " And yet, if it had been, tho old woman , I would recollect her being in church." Ho was fool enough to scour the country roads on the chance of meeting her. But 1 j he was not lucky enough to run against her I again. He had not dared to mako any pointed inquiries. And so, in impatienc9, ho waited for Sunday. ' I Several times he had visited tho church in ': the hope that he might find it unlocked, and I get a glimpse at her prayer-book. ! At last came the day. Ho was early. Indeed, tho clerk had not arrived. He spent the time reading the rough epitaphs. Tho ' I tolling bell woko him from tho perusal of ; the virtues of Jennet Thomas, and ho sped . > within. Tho book was gone! : i Should he wait about and follow her into j a seat? Or take tho same sotit as last Sun- ! day? After much trouble of mind he chose 1 , tho latter—and waited. I At the lost moment the Colbys drove up. i No ono had entered his seat. Tho croupy ! harmonium began. Was she not coming? I Yes! Very late; tho eccentric parson , was hurrying through the Psalms at his best ', paco as she rustled quietly in and knelt at his side, whilst he ndmired the little curls which nestled about her nook. i Before the conclusion of the service, he had made up his mind to force his acquaintance upon her. Fnte was—this time—unkind to . him. As the little congregation rose to go and filed ont into the aisle, old Colby tripped on tho mattirrg nnd sprawled hcsrily against . I him. Both hats went flying, and when he ' picked up his own and regninod his equanimity, the woman he was so foolish about was gone. Ho would have followed her—with indecent haete—but was surrounded by the Colby contingent. And though ho cursed them he could not get out of an invitation to lunch. "That was Mrs. Hunt-Price," eaid the 1 dauglrter, viciously. "Indeed!" Now he knew tho name, well enough, an who did not after tho late divorce cn-e. "I knew sho was a thoroughbred," thought he. " Fred, my boy," he communed with himself that evening over his !ast pipe, "what arc you going to do about it? Hang it I 1 All the nice women seem to have something against them. I'll bet that beast Hunt- ' Prico is to blame 1 I'll have to make it up 1 to her!" The next day he got his chance. He had wandered down tho road to Ihink it all over, ' when wheels approached. Round the turn ahead of him rame a. pony cart. The trirky little beast shied and swerv-od for tho ditch. Ho sprang forward, and was just in lime to avert a catastrophe. Then bo looked up, and to his joy it was she. "Oh, thank you, awfully!" said a sweet, deep voice. "Not at all. Very glad," and he raised his hat. "We have met before," sho said, with a gracious siuile. " Mrs. Hunt-Price, I think." " Kr—ye-os." I" Poor darling!" ho thought. "Her hesitation is natural enough. How I should like to punch Unit blackguard's head.") "My name's Maxwell. I'm down here looking out for a now house that's building." Tho introduction made, he stuck to his guns, and, as sho seemed inclined to bo gracious, man?god to secure an invitation to lunch. "Why not. como now?" she said. "Are you too busy?" A week Inter ho determined to speak. These matters ripen quickly in Arcadian solitudes. She was staying down hero, he found, with an invalid sister, whom ho had not yot seen. It was under tho shade of the trees across tho lnwn that ho at last managed, clumsily enough, to blurt out wlial ha bad to say. "And," he concluded, "of course I know I'm not a bit worthy of you, but—" She laid her hand on his arm and looked fixedly at him. "Have you heard nothing, then, about a notorious Mrs. Hunt-Price?" " I don't care u hang!" he answered. " Oh! Mrs. Price, don't say ' no. , I'd bo awfully good to you. and try to make it up to you." " Who told you I was Mrs. Hunt-Price?" She spoke- so low he scarcely caught her words as she hung her head. "Miss Colby." " Ah. that is the worst—don't you think— of having to do with that sort of person? 1 am Mrs. Price's sister. Sho is here, certainly, but you have not seen her; she is too ill nl present." "Then?" A still softer whisper, hut it ran through him like a trumpet: "Yes." "Well, Maxwell, you are a deuced good fellow! By George, you aro! Were you bored to death!" " liored? My dear chap, I never bad such a good timo in my life!" "The deueo you didn't! How?" "Look here! Do you know that face?" "Seem to. Awfully fine woman. Oh! Now I seo where the good time came in. Well, my dear fellow, I wish you all sorts of happiness. Come and have a drink on it!" "Why did you let me believe you \fer°. the Mrs. Hunt-Price?" ho asked, when they were at hist alone. "Oh!—l—a—thought I wouldlike to seo how much you cared about me." —Alan Oscak.