THE ADVENT OF THE ENGLISHMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 11542, 29 November 1900, Page 3

THE ADVENT OF THE ENGLISHMAN.

When first this identical Englishman stayed Canada, he was the guest of the organist of the Episcopal Church. The organist naturally led the way to the choir; the choir made him welcome to the Society of Busy Bees—from the Bees it was but a step to the tennis lawns, and the canoeing club followed as a matter of course. In short, Eardley Fawsett became a social darling.

JEarldley deserved his popularity. He was >nly 24,. with a breezy manner, honest blue )yes, sufficient inches over middle height to make him "a real well-built boy" (to quote Mrs. Harper), and a very charming baritone voice.

When Eardley Fawsett sang the old Scotch song, " Willie's Gone to Melville Castle," one starry night on the river, there was something in the last verso that appealed to every fair paddler in the little group of drifting canoes:

Their cries, their tears brought Willie back; He kissed them ane and a', Said, " Lassies, bide till I come hame, And syne I'll wed ye a'!" Lena Parbury, in the bow of his canoe, looked at Eardley at the end word of the second line. Eardley shook his head, Irene Brown, in the next canoe, met the e"yes of the handsome Englishman at Willie's most comprehensive promise. Prudence Alton, who was holding her little craft against his on tho other side, felt a hand close for a second over hers on the middle thwart. They were the three prettiest girls in Mapleville. ' But after a lingering summer the young Englishman went away from the little town. Ho was rich and adventurous. Lena Parbury took to paddling on the river all by herself. Irene Brown followed the young Englishman in spirit and correspondence as far as California. And pretty Prudence Alton confided to her aunt and Mrs. Harper that sho had been " almost" engaged to Eardley Fawsett.

Mrs. Harper was the wife of the organist who had invited the too attractive young Englishman to Mapleville. Not that Eardley intended to bo, or considered himself, too attractive. Ho was most impressionable, that was all; and the laughing lips of Irene Brown, the demure eyes of Prudence Alton, and the sweet seriousness of Lena Parbury were each and every one an equally delightful recollection.

On a certain clear, frosty winter day the three prettiest girls in Mapleville came cris-crink-ling through the snow, from different directions, to spend the afternoon with Mrs. Harper. And on this particular afternoon their hostess had a most interesting little piece of news. She saved it, however, for a dainty to be served at the tea-table. When tho slices of cold turkey had given place to tho delicious home-canned peaches, Mrs. Harper leaned back in her chair and asked the important question: " Say, Mrs. Parbury, I guess yo'll be surprised some day to hear that they say that young Piirdley Fawsett has gone home to England?" "My! Is that so?" was Mrs. Parbury's 000 l rejoinder, but her daughter started;; Prudence Alton coloured, and a crisp cookie dropped out of Irene Brown's fingers. "Mr. Harper heard it from a friend," continued Mrs. Harper, improving on the rumour as she went along. " They say there was an attraction in tho Old Country. ' "Say, Mrs. Harper!" exclaimed Irono Brown, " I happen to be acquainted with the facts from Eardley Fawsett himself!" A little buzz of excitement went round the tablo. "He is not engaged to anybody in the Old Country, and never has been! Say: we'd more fun than you can shako a stick at when he told me that!" concluded the girl. "If you're sure young Fawsett has gone home. I guess I could tell you why!" observed Prudence Alton's aunt. . Mrs. Harper could not resist saying sho was sure. " It was because Prue wouldn't have him !" was the thunderbolt that Prue's aunt shot through the blue. Prudence blushed. With Eardloy on the high seas, bound for England, what harm in a little exaggeration? It gave her prestige. But Mrs. Parbury was equal to tho occasion. "For the land's sake!" sho exclaimed, "if that young man didn't speak to pa about our Lena!" It was Lena's turn to start; but she did not contradict her mother's amazing statement. Mrs. Harper thoroughly enjoyed tho prospect of the coming fray. The third prettiest girl, Irene Brown, took a piece of jelly-cake as she coolly observed : "Say, Mrs. Harper! I guess they're all trying to roast me ! I was engaged to that young Eardloy Fawsett for a considerable time!" v Deep silence followed this (under the circumstances) pardonable speech. Mrs. Parbury and Lena withered" the bright-eyed Irene Brown with haughty glances; Prudence Alton and her indignant aunt scowled on the Parburys and Irene Brown tossed her bead at tho whole table. " So the poor boy's heart was broken in three places!" observed Mrs. Harper. At that minute there was the sound of loud sleigh bells rapidly approaching the house. They could hear the quick thud, thud, of galloping horses on the snowy road. "A runaway!" exclaimed Mrs. Harper, hurrying to the door, followed by all her guests. Down tho high road, with feathery snow leaping from under the runners like a white cloud, a light little cutter bore down upon them, drawn by a couple of horses at wild speed. There were two people in the cutter. A man, leaning back and tugging vainly at the reins, and a girl who was. holding to the side of the seat with one hand, and clutching hei fur cap with the other. The cutter swayed from side to side. A cry of excited recognition broke from the lips of Prudence, Lena, and Irene. They could see nothing but the set, flushed face, with its line of flashing white teeth, of the man tugging at the reins—it was tho social darling, Eardley Fawsett ! With a tremendous pull he got his team in hand as they neared the house. But tho cutter swerved into a bank of snow, tilted to one side, and the man, the girl, and the buffalo robes were all thrown out togother. Fawsett was badly shaken, for he fell against the stump of a tree that faced the Harpers' front door; but his companion, who had neither screamed nor trembled, calmly gathered the robes together, ran to the horses' heads, led them, in tho most matter-of-fact way. into the Harpers' stable, and then followed the parly of ladies who were eagerly taking Eardley into the house. Perfectly dazed for tho minute, Eardley leaned back in the chair which Mrs. Harper pushed forward. Mrs. Parbury and the Alton aunt supported his head. Irene Brown ran to get a fan. The recent storm of anger was forgotten. Tho Englishman had returned! They gazed at him, spellbound. "I meant to give you all a surprise, said Eardley, in his soft voice. Too bad—to arrivo in this absurd fashion." Lena Parbury, Irene Brown, and Prudence Alton, clustering round the chair, murmured their sympathy and fanned him more vigorously still. They all ignored the girl in the fur cap, who was standing on the threshold. Eardloy opened his eyos at last-wonderful eyes!— and they know that his first grateful glance would fall on his real beloved. "Belle'" Everybody started. the name was unknown. He was looking beyond them all. With a little indifferent smile, the girl on the threshold camo forward. " Excuse me, but is fannin sootable for a wintei day?" she asked with a tilt of her small, assertive, Now York face. Eardley stood up and drew her to his side. The three prettiest girls in Mapleville dropped their "Allow me to introduce my bride!" said Eardley, with his radiant smile. Tableau! ____________

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