A MARRYING MAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11826, 2 December 1901, Page 3

A MARRYING MAN.

.It was early in Septeraier, and my friends, the very rich Olivrs, had invited me down to Esselton Denefor their shooting party. I The guns had come 111 He in the afternoon, and we had been living tea in the quaint old hall. At oneend was a small crowd, gathered rouinj Mrs. Oliver's table. Celia and myself! having finished, had taken ourselves tola charmingly-se-cluded little, alcove. Clia, by the way, was the only daughter,?, pretty girl of 22, and heiress to quit vast sums. I put my finger siuflenly to my lips with a warning gesture! and pointed to a little window that lookd out on a gravel path. It was open, hd the sound of voices floated in. j " Yes, Hugo Hessijford's here, and that's something to beihankful for!" one was saying. -1 reeogijsed the tones as those of .lack Peploe and he was evidently talking to a t>w arris . "He's a good shot, a good s>rfc, and jolly good company. Not a beally marrying man, you know ! ' The voice died awaj. and I turned to Celia.

"And hey say 0110 man cannot accurately judge anoth'r!" I remarked. "Surely after this stiking instance that fallacy will be explodd." "Mr. Peploe must, live an abnormally large mind," she said, with a laugh. "I wonder, though, how you got that reputation of not being j marrying man why haven't you iiiarrid?" "My dear Celia." I) began—l know them all so well that ' allowed them to call me by my Christ-ia name, and exercised the same myself you know very well what m- income —£750 per annum —just sufficiint to pay for a small set, ot chambers.' and to get into iltbi . And you talk a marrying!"

She was toying wih the edge, of a cushion. j

"Still," she suggestet. reflectively, "it. would be sufficient to jay the honeymoon expenses!" j

" What—many fa. injney !" I exclaimed '.villi a shudder. "Faicy having to say two graces for evervthig—one to heaven and another to your lifefancy having to take your tailor's bile to her!" "You mean you are; too proud?" she ' said, slowly. "Well, I'd rather sa\e myself an uncomfortable feeling—thafr all! To be comfortable is everything" •' Yes, but if you loied her—and she loved you'/" she persistid. I glanced at he. keedy; she was still playing with the fringe, 1 of the cushion. "I decline to enter iito wild dreams of fancy!" I said firmly. " Let us turn to real facts insteaddiscus an actual marrying man of our acquaintance—and. incidentally, your approadung happiness." She sat bolt upright: there was a little flush on her face. " Now. don't pretend you know nothing about it!" I went on. quickly. " Everyone else does, and I mire than anybody, for the unhappy youti ' lias confided in me. Yes, to-morrow m the next day, according to the state of his nerves, he means to propose, and ym will have the chance of becoming Lady Hilstoek, mistress of Hilstoek Manor. It's not to be sneezed at, you know!"' "What nonsense you talk, Hugo she said a trifle shortly. "I do— it's quite frequently the truth. Oh, you're lucky A young man of title, decent chap all* round. But there —as if you cared a snaj for my opinion, when you're in love vith him. Now come, confess, you love him:'" I was watching her closely. She turned her head and her eyes met mine. "What do you wair me to say?" she said with a nervous litle laugh. "Well, as you will marry him, I should prefer to hear that you do—being such an old friend." ■She rose to her fed there was a dangerous gleam in her eyes. "Yes, I do love hm!" she said emphatically, and the next moment was vanishing down the hall away from me. " We re expecting Gwen Darville in a few moments she turnec her head for a moment and called to me. " She's coming by the six train." The intelligence was unexpected and gave me rather a start, but '. did not betray any surprise. " Indeed ! Well. I'm going up to see Bonnie boy I added as I moved towards a door. Donald Sylvester was a young relation, a bright boy *of 17, whom she adored in a cousinly way. On the first day of the shooting he had been so unfortunate as to receive a charge in the calf of his leg. which necessitated his being laid up for a week I made my way up to his room, deep in my reflections. "Well. Donnie boy. how's things?" I said as I entered. " Oh, I'm nice and enmfy now." he replied. " Celia has been reading to me most ef the afternoon —she's a brick." " Quite true." J murmured. '".And the doc. says I shall be able to come downstairs on a sofa to-morrow What sort of day have you had with the birds." 1 sat on the end of th? bed and talked with him some time. Present.lv there was a tap on the door and a servant entered with a litter on a salver. It was for me. "1 opened it and found it was from a firm of solicitors- As I grasped the nature of the contents, my jaw dropped in astonishment. "Why. what's the natter, Hugo, oid chap?" cried the boy. I collected my bewildered thoughts. "Oh, nothing much, an old uncle in India has died and left me £50.000 I replied. "I thought these things only happened in farcical comedies. "threat Scott!" ejaculated the boy. "What gigantic luck!" Mv thoughts had flown to another channel. "Ah. it's too late!" I said with a sigh. "Too late! What on earth do you mean?" _ "Oh," I roused myself with a start. "Ira fo used to living on seven hundred and fifty. I'm raid I shan't be able to get out of the habit!" I put the letter in my pocket and rose from the bed. "Look here, Donnie boy. I don't, think we say anything about this just now—l'd like to investigate things a bit first—see ! ' fie nodded sagely, and, leaving him, I went to mv own room to dress. I got down rather ear'lv. and, lighting a cigarette, wandered into the conservatory. Ihe astonishing turn in the wheel had put me in the mood lor thinking. 1 had hardly been there a minute when Freddy Hilstoek came and joined me. He seemed very excited, and I guessed the cause of his discomfit in e. "Ah. so Owen Darvill h«s arrived!" 1 said. . . .. ••Confound it. yes!" he exclaimed. " You know I have been screwing up courage to propose to Celia for days, and now, before I've done it. Owen must needs come upon the scene. It's fate!" he finished gloomily. " Which do you love?" I asked"Oh. I'm awfully fond of Celia. he said woefully. " But," of course, I like Owen, and she wants to marry me. "She tried hard enough last season. 1 observed. "Yes. and she's so determined !" lie broke in. " But I wouldn't mind that if I were onlv engaged to Celia —I should be perfectly safe then. And I ought to marry her. Hes*in ford. You see, Gwen litis nothing, and " " Celia lias thousands !" 1 paused. JNow. if you married her would you be a good husband to her?" . Of course I would!" he cried eagerly. "Once engaged I would not think of Gwen ait v more. And I wouldii t let her think of "me. The point is she musn't get at me before I'm engaged. I'm such a weak chap in her hands, you know! And this is where I want your help." r)> " You're quite sure you'll be good to her I I persisted. " Yes, I'm a fool, but not a blackguard, ITessinford," he said impatiently. " Now; this is my plan—l want to propose to Celia this very evening. I feel I should never have the nerve to splutter out that I want to see her alone, so 1 have written a note asking her to meet me in the library as if bv chance at ten. Will you give it to nor from me ?" lie added, anxiously, as lie brought r. little screw of paper from his waistcoat pocket.

"Very well!" I said thoughtfully. "I'll do it, if you'll promise that you'll actually carry it through, and make her happy !" lie promised, so I pocketed the note and ve went in to dinner. But the incident cost me a good deal of self-reflection. r ,, It she didn't love him, things might be different," I argued to myself with a sigh? JHit as I know she does—well, there is nothing else to be done." ' t),rV er . dlnn ' ;r tliere was some music,' then the party split up. On the stairs l. met Celia, and produced the note; lt was the first opportunity I had

lnark -' a " d inwarc,| digest!" I :ij' ater f hurriedly, "It may seem tho.ml, ' , !t comes from an honest, though somewhat nervous, heart ! In 4l!i< my *"• «• i,nj fi,,d j '° ur wemder 100 '; itwith a , little exclamation of wonder. As I passed on I heard her call iv name; but I pretended not to hear, and like a'her" 7 way relentlessly. I felt rather iiKe a nero. rlrl.t, St .r Ved , " P with Doni,ie >>ov until the fol Stl T U U H . 'en 1 began to pace the library ' n » kul o of the scene in the ..J strobed to the open window, and, step--1 "'g out on to the balcony, looked far into the summer night. As I did so I heard the door open softly, and, turning, I saw Celia >-he crossed to me and stood by me at the window . I saw there was a smile trembling on her lips. ° " You've been very quick?" I said wondering!}. Is it all over You look happy enough, so I suppose I am to congratulate She paused, and I saw she was suppressing a. desire to laugh, " I read the note, but came to the conclusion it would suit someone else better. It wasn t addressed, so I sent it on to her " 'Jove, you did ? To whom ?" "Owen Darvill ! You see, I happened before dinner to enter the conservatory from the terrace, and I couldn't help overhearing " I caught at her arm excitedly, and pointed oyer the balcony rail in the direction of the library.

'lou don't mean to say vou sent her there with that note- that they are together ? Why, she will be engaged to him by now." "I hope so !" she said with a little smiling nod. But I thought you said you loved him?" There was a long pause. "You made me say it," she said slowlv, at length, 'then she looked up intc my face. " 1 came to congratulate you on your access to fortune." I looked across at the boy's bed. A low but distinct snore came from it. Then I turned to Celia, and the magnificent thin" suddenly dawned on me. 0 011 wouldn't have to sav grace twice," she whispered. "Oh, my dear!" I cried. "You really think " She hung her head blushingly. I ve thought so for a long time," she said softly. "But you were such a- proud old thing ! And if it hadn't been for the accident of my overhearing to-night, and the fact that Bonnie boy put his spoke in the wheel " "Bless the dear invalid !" I cried slipping my arm round her waist. " I suppose he is really asleep ?" she whispered nervously. There was a. sudden gasping noise from the bed: suddenly Donnie raised a purple face. ■" Don't mind me, young people !" he cried chokingly, and the next moment he had sunk back and drawn the quilt over his lie,id.

"The instinct of the child was right, and Jack Peploe is wroug !" I observed sapient lv. ''I am a marrying man."