SHORT STORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15610, 15 May 1914, Page 4

SHORT STORY.

THE LAST TOUCH.

BY SYJUI, CAMrnELI. I.ETHBRIPGE.

(Copyright.)

" What you want," said Helen decidedly, "is a bit of jewellery, a pendant, «or a necklace, or something just to brighten you up. You ought to have it, Molly." • "I ought to have so many; things," rejoined her elder sister sighing, " but I hare to go without them. Tell me, Nell, is my frock very plain; will Mrs. Wilford think mo dowdy ? "You could never look that," rejoined Helen.loyally. To her, Molly, with her mist of soft "red hair about her delicatelytinted face, her deep brown eyes, and sweet curved mouth, was the most beautiful creature in the world. "Only you look as though you wanted just—just a little touch, flowers or jewellery. I wish you'd let mo buy you those lilies of the valley." But Molly, drawing on her cleaned white gloves, shook her head. "Wo simply couldn't afford it," she said. "Think of my shoes, what they cost. It was awfully sweet of Mrs. Wilford to take me to the theatre, and in a box, too, but—it's been rather an expense, hasn't it?" "Worth it," rejoined Helen tensely; sho wis surveying her sister thoughtfully. "Look "here, Molly, I've got it. Miss Barton, she's heaps of jewels; you know how she comes downstairs sometimes simply blazing with them, and she's quite good-natured. I'm sure she'd lend you something. I'll ask her. I really can't let you go unless vou're better finished off.' v ; Molly protested; she did not like asking favours of one whom they knew so little; it would place Miss Barton in a very unpleasant position when sho refused, as refuse she would. But Helen, who was made up of impulse, upon which she generally acted, only laughed. " Pooh ! She can't say more than no, and that won't hurt either her or me," she said lightly. "I'm going straight off, Molly, to ask her." In the boarding-house where Molly and Helen Carlyon lived .Miss Barton was the only guest rich enough to have a private sitting-room. She was an elderly woman, odd in her manners, and as a rulo reserved towards the other inmates. She liked Helen's sweet face and pleasant, manners and was always agreeable to her, frequently pitying both Helen and Molly for having to earn their own living. "I'm not disturbing you, am I? Helen asked as she entered Miss Barton's sit-ting-room. "I've come to ask, you a favour, and I do hope you won't refuse. For—oh—how—how wonderful!"

Helen gave a little gasp, for upon the round table drawn close to the fire Miss Barton had spread out tho entire contents of her jewel-case, and was engaged in polishing a diamond necklet with a piece of chamois leather dipped in can do Cologne, the odour of which hung in the air.

" Yes, I'm giving them a regular clean up, and I thought I'd blocked the door before doing it, ' Miss Barton observed, glancing at the glittering mass before her. However, 1 don't niiiN you, my dear; I know you're discreet, )arid won't talk about what you've seen. But if Mrs. Parley knew I'd all this under Iter roof she'd have a perfect fit and pester me to put 'em in the bank. So don't tell her, my dear."

"Why do I live in a dull town like Drumcar, and at a shabby . boardinghouse like Parley's," she said; "well, my dear, we all have our whims and this is one of mine. Now then what was it you had to ask of me? " A little nervously, Helen explained that Mrs. Wilford, the lady to whom .Molly acted as secretary, had had a box lent her for a performance that night at the Royal Theatre. She kid invited Molly to accompany her, and then, finding the task more difficult than she had imagined, Helen made her request for the loan of somo piece of jeweller}-, to add the last touch to Molly's toilette. Miss Barton laid down her piece 'of chamois leather and stared at Helen, her small eyes gleaming, her pale face flushed.

'Certainly not." she said haughtily, "I never heard of a more impudent request, and I'm surprised at you, Miss Carlyon. After my kindness to you, too, and I may as well tell you that.l had thought of' offering you the post of companion to myself and taking you away from that school where yon teach music. Now, of course, that is out of the question. The idea indeed, of asking me to lend one of my pieces of jewellery, to be flaunted in a public place. ' I'm amazed, yes, I'm amazed that you could have tho audacity to ask me." ' "Well," cried Molly eagerly.' as Helen dashed in, 'did the old lady prove gracious or not. Oh "—she broke off with a little scream of admiration—" I see sho did. What a perfectly lovely pendant, and how uncommon, and oh, Helen, you've let it drop. You careless, careless child, suppose you had stepped on it."

With a start, Helen looked at the pendant that all unconsciously she had brought away with her from' Miss Barton's. Already, it was suspended by its thin gold chain about Molly's satin-white throat, the diamonds, all the more brilliant through contrast with the black enamel they surrounded, the coronet of sapphires surmounting it, shone upon Molly's neck. "There, that does look lovely," Miss •Carlyon exclaimed with satisfaction, "now I must fly, or I shall keep Mrs. Wilfred waiting, and she won't like that. Goodbye, darling, and thanks ever so much for (retting me this pendant. ■ It was exactly what I wanted and Miss Barton was an old dear to lend it."

In silence Helen returned her sister's kiss. She had not had the heart to tell Molly of the mistake that she had made, of how Miss Barton, had refused her request. When Molly returned from the theatre, then, Helen reflected, she would go to Miss Barton with the pendant, and confess what she had done. It Was not likely that the old lady would miss- her .property until then. Helen knew that 'once sho started cleaning her jewels she spent hours over each separate piece of jewellery. /

Meanwhile, Molly, unconscious of how her pendant had been procured, was enjoying herself greatly. Mrs. Wilford, the elderly rich woman whose daily secretary she was, had admired the peiidant, and been told that it was only borrowed glory.

"It's exquisite and absolutely uncommon," said Mrs. Wilford, " there's nothing in the. whole theatre to comparo with it and all- feminine Drumcar seems to have put on its-best to-night. Why, the boxes and the stalls are quite ablaze."

Mrs. Wilford was sweeping the house with her opera-glasses, whilst Molly gazed happily about her,'enjoying the 'nqvelty of the scene, until she became aware that a man in the- box opposite theirs was scaring at her fixedly. Ho was young, and as she could see, very handsome, but the persistence of his gaze so annoyed her —he took up his glasses and kept them directed upon her—that she was glad when the lights went down, and the curtain went up. The play enthralled her, but at the end of the first act Molly looked across at the opposito box, and was relieved to see it empty. She was turning to Mrs. Wilford with an eager remark, when there, was a tap at tho door of the box, it opened and in came a man whom Molly instantly recognised. It was the occupant of the opposito dox. v "I recognised you at once, Mrs. Wilford, but I'm afraid you won't do the same by me," he said. "Have you forgotten our meeting at Monte Carlo two years ago? " "Of course I haven't. It's Sir Brian. Elvcnton," Mrs. Wilford exclaimed eagerly, " how nice to meet you again; are you staying in Drumear?" "Just outside, at Satthwaite, with my mother. I heard this waß a good piece and I dropped in onohance/' answered ■.Sir Brian; "it's quite -amusing.".'

/ "Oh, 1 I think it's/excellent," rejoined Mrs. Wilford, ""let'''nie introduce you to Miss Carlyon." /'-■■■•'.•'■■; '■•''/. ':'•«'. "■ Sir Brian -bowed, and then he ■ looked earnestly at Molly, but his/eyes rested not on her lovely face, but on the flashing pendant at her throat. " You'll think me very rude," he said with a sudden, charming smile, "but— thatpieco of jewellery of yours fascinates me, Miss Carlyon. 'it's quite unique I should say." \- .• „ ;,. " " It isn't mine, it was only lent to me," said Molly, "but it is lovely." Sir Brian looked as though ho longed to ask who was the lender of it, but instead he began discussing the play, and Molly found him a very pleasant companion. He remained with them until the end, and then escorted them to their carriage. As Molly bent forward to shake hands with him, her cloak fell back, and Sir Brian gave a sudden exclamation. "Miss Carlyon, where is your pen-j dant? " ' * !

With a slight shriek, Molly put her hand to her neck. The chain no longer encircled it. The borrowed bit of splendour was gone! " I must go back, I must look for it," she cried wildly; "oh, please,'let"me get out, it must be in the theatre."

"Look here, Miss Carlyon, you can't ,do any good, but I'll go back arid find it, it's probably in the box," said Sir Brian gently; " give me your addreßS and I'll bring' it to you. Don't be unhappy about it, I know that I shall find it. Poor Molly would much have preferred going back herself, but Mrs, Wilford accepted Sir Brian's offer with many thanks, and they drove away, She tried to comfort* Molly, who was, however, almost beyond listening to words of consolation.' She was able to think only of the horrible moment when she should .have to tell Miss Barton of her loss.

The carriage dropped her at Mrs. Parley's, and Molly went slowly up the stops to let herself in. As she entered the hall, she was awarb of an extraordinary medley of noises* coming from the groom, someone screaming and sobbing as though in hysterics. As Molly hurried forward to find out tho reason of the clamour, the door was flung open, and Helen almost hurled herself into her sister's arms. Molly was awarp of several people in the background, surrounding Miss Barton, who was screaming- >

"Oh, oh, you've come at last," Helen gasped. " Miss Barton says I've stolen her pendant. Give it back to her, Molly. There she is, she's been sobbing and crying like that ever since she missed it. Sho says she'll send for the police, that she'?, have mo arrested. Oh, do give it back to her."

Molly grew deadly white. Sho looked at Miss Barton, who had ceased to scream, and who had risen from the sofa, her eyes fixed upon tho girls. "Give me back my pendant," commanded Miss Barton hoarsely, " givo it me, or I'll do what I said, I'll have your sister arrested for theft."

Molly's clasp tightened about the trembling Helen. "I—l can't," she forced her pale lips to say, " I—l've lost it."

Miss Barton gave a scornful laugh. "A likely story." she said, "the police shall be summoned at once, and when they conic—" » ■ * "'it will not bo Miss Carlyon' whom they will arrest for the theft of the pendant."

At the sound of those words, calmly uttered, all turned towards the doorway, where stood Sir Brian Elventon, in his hand the lost pendant, his gaze fixed upon Miss Barton, who had turned a ghastly yellowish white. She tried to speak, but her dry lips uttered no word. Sir Brian looked about the room. " I should be glad of a few words in private with these ladies," ho said quietly, indicating Molly and her Bister, and Miss Barton, and such was the power in his quietly authoritative manner that all the interested spectators of the scene disappeared. "Now," said Sir Brian, sternly turning to tho trembling Miss Barton, '"let me tell you that as soon as I saw this pendant I recognised it. It was what was stolen from my sister, Lady Linne, five years ago, stolen by a temporary lady's maid— maid who had come to her with .1 glowing character that afterwards sho discovered to have been forged. My sister lost over three thousand pounds' worth of jewels, but the thief was never discovered until now/ If I chose, Janet Harley. I could have you arrested, and—" But at those words, Janet Harley, otherwise Miss Barton, gave a. wild cry of horror, and flung. herself upon her knees at Sir Brian's feet.

"Oh. have mercy, have mercy on me, I'm old, and all my life I've just worshipped jewels, and" it's been my undoing." she wailed. "Sir Brian. I "never sold them, I kept them, it Was enough for mo to know that I had them, to look at them, to know that they wero mine. Don't send me to prison, have mercy on me. forgive me."

The wretched creaturo broke into tears, and Helen and Molly, unable to bear the sight, entreated Sir Brian to spare her.

"I've no wish to be hard." he said seriously, "but she must give up her illgotten spoils, together with the names of those to whom the different things belong. If she tries to make off before tomorrow, when I shall bring my sister to identify her property, she will be easily traced.

" I sha'n't run away," sobbed Miss Barton, "I see the game's up. I've your promise, Sir Brian, that 1 sha'n't go to prison." "I've no wish, and.l know that Lady Linno has none, for vengeance," answered Sir Brian. He drew back, and Miss Barton scrambled up and • hurried frcm the room. Helen followed her; her generous heart was touched by the wretched old woman's Humiliation. " "If only I could thank you," faltered Molly, raising her lovely eyes to Sir Brian's. 'J You saved us from a dreadful predicament."

"I don't want any thanks." Sir Brian answered her; ho took her hand and held it; "after all, all's well that ends well and—'

He broke off suddenly, with a little amused laugh, Molly looked at him wonderingly. • "I was just wondering," he explained, whether it was the end after all. I half believe, it's the beginning." And his words proved -true. That evenings adventuro was the first step in a courtship that ended brilliantly when Mollv Carlyon, as lovely a bride as could io desired, became the wife of Brian LTventon.

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