CHRIS: A LOVE STORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19215, 2 January 1926, Page 5 (Supplement)

CHRIS: A LOVE STORY.

; BY JOHN lEOtfSIDE.

(COPYRIGHT J

CHAPTER JL FQRGET-IIE-NOT3. It w;i,a a world of blue and green, for tho stroam that rushed down the steep, grassy ccmbo mirrored alike the forget-me-nots that fringed its banks in prolusion, and tho cloudless summer sky above. The jewel Sowers themselves were not a purf-r or more brilliant blue than the eyes of die g lr l who waded ankle deep in the rippling water, gathering the blossoms she \> ,'tit. fn her simple green frock, nulled up through the belt to shorten it, her hronzo hair, gold flecked in tlie sunshine, flying loose in the light, warm brpeze, she looked like a nymph of the stream.

from afar, tho faint drone of an aeioplane was tne only sound or sign of civilisation, and that was scarce audible above the subdued chorus of Nature that made music in the air; the babble of the brook, the twitter of the birdz—iven tho scratching of an excited Sutherland terrier, busily burrowing in tho bank, and tits soft plop of tho clods he displaced, as they feJ 1 into the water toned in with the haiv^ony. 'Jock ! Jock! come here you bad boy," cried Chris, "Let the poor bunnies alone, you've no right to go hunting on such a heaven.y day, sir!" Jock obediently desisted and scurried to rejoin his mistress as she regained tile bank and sat down to sort her armful of blossoms, stretching out. her slender feet to dry in the sunshine. Ihe terrier flung himself beside her on the turf, panting and grinning as only a terrier can, his rough, sandy coat all'bedrabbled, jet-black velvety ears erect, paws and whimsical face smothered with mud. lie was .. able, and quite unrepentant and unashamed.

lhe drone of the unseen aeroplane was louder and another sound was heard approach ng, the chut-chut of a motor-car, cautiously driven. Chrij, glanced round, wondering what motori:.t had ventured down the steep and narrow by-road, a mere lane, which led past this little combe—one of her favourite haunts, where never before had she encountered a stranger. Ihroiigh a gaj> tu the fern-clad flintstoae will, a Dig, very 3mart-looking

motor-car came into sight and pulled up with a complaining crunch of braiea. "Oh bother!" ejaculated Chris, under her bmaf.h, turning her face away. "Lie still, Jock —be quiet—perhaps they won't see us. whoever they are.' But the man in the car had already seen the child—as tie thought her —and the dog, as pretty a picture in that setting at anyone could wish to see.

A moment later he hailed her, unceremoniously, and in quite a stentorian about.

"Hi! little girl!" Chriii took no manner of notice, bufi calmly continued her task. "Confound the kid," muttered the man, when a second shout also evoked no response. "She must have heard me, un les3 sheV deaf. Suppose I shall have to go to her—l can't risk reaming all over this cursed country."

tie !,topped the engine, jumped out of the car and began to descend the combe. "I say, girl, can you direct me to Combe Manor—Sir John Carey's place?" he shouted, as he drew nearer. Chris .realised that she would have to answer row, and rose reluctantly. I don't know if a princess would able to sustain her royal dignity if she vvre suddenly discovered barefooted, and in most unconventional circumstances, but. Chris Carey did. She never gave -a thought to her appearance, her one impulse was to reply to and get rid of this intruder, whoever lie might be, as soon as possible. So she advanced serenely, a few paces toward him, her sheaf ox forget-me-nots hugged lightly on her left arm. I'lio man stared, almost gasped with amazement.

This was no child, but a girl, the loveliest girl he had ever seen. No rustic either. There was breeding in every lino of her slender, graceful, young figure, in the poise o£ the proud little head, the innoceut. dignified composure of the flowerlike face. And what eyes! Blue and serene an the sky above. He snatched off his cap. "j J—beg your pardon," he stammered in genuine embarrassment —and George Lorimer was a person not easily embarrassed. "I saw you sitting there, and thought you were just a village girl, don't you kiiow. I am afraid I have lost my way—trying to take a short- cut tiirougi these winding lanes " "Jock! to heel, sir!" interposed Chris ra an acimcnitory undortouo to the teriior, who was approaching the stranger in a manner that always meant niiscliiGt j slowly, stealthily, his ears flat to his head. His grin had vanished, and his upper lip wan curled up in an ominous snarl. lie obeyed his mistress instantly, though reluctantly, and retreated to her side, still keeping his bright eyes nxed on tho in.truder. "I don't think you had better come nearer," said Chris, "my dog does not like stratigers." "So I f.ee, though ho would soon come round. I am used to dogs, he repiiad, with a smile. . A queer idea flashed through the gins mind as she regarded him. ("Grandmother, what big teeth you havo": "All the better to eat you up with my dear.") , Why, he was just like the wolf m lied Riding Hood: A big red wolf, handsome in a way, with well-cut features, and tawny hair with a "kink in it, which aven brilLantine couldn't smooth out. But wiiat curious sinister red-brown eyes and whiui-pointed teeth. ies, he was just like i wolf! "If you con id direct me to Combe Manor —Sir John Carey's place,"' he repeated. • ■ K.eep down the lane till you reach the mam road., then turn to the left, and you will see the gates—white gates, on _ the right. It is about a mile and a-haif from here," she directed briefly. She greatly wondered who he might be, but thought it neither necessary nor desirable to inform him that .she was Sir John Carey's daughter. "Thank.3 awfully. I thought I couldn't be very far out. I)lit one never knows in these remote places. I am awfully sorry to have disturbed you—or —or rather it s awfully good of you —I say, what a ripping place this is '* He brolie off, and an ugly expression gleamed in his red-brown eyes as Chris, with a courteous inclination of tier small be n 'l signified her intention of terminating the- interview by moving away up the conn e, with Jock pacing beside her, very much on guard. ! '>-t she did not go far, nor did he. Something was about to happen was happening which, though they did not know it, was of infinite moment to them both. That aeroplane was near now; the air was' filled with the roar of lis engines. They both became conscious of it in one instant, c.nd George Lonmer's practised ear r.s instantly detected an ominous note. They looked up involuntarily. "Engine trouble, by Jove, shou.ed

Lj rimer. "He's going to crash! Here—l say, young lady—come back! He'll fall just

yonder!" . But if Chris heard the warning she never heeded it. Swift as Atalanta she sped through the stream and up the opposite bank of the combe to the fairly level plateau above. Lorimer followed, hot-foot: but he was no runror. The lithe, ;ighily-clad girl iar en taped him. Hi gained the level at the moment when the plane crashed to earth, not a hundred ynrr's from that slender figure in green. Again, from a throat parched with fear —n.' t for himself but for her—he shouted huskily t.o to stop, but still she held on. Now she had reached the wreckage, and. us ha quickened his own pace, the tiling he had foreseen came to pass. A tongue of llame shot up, increased as if by magic to a mighty blaze, a screen of lire which hid the girl and the dog from his sight.

CHAPTER EL THE H.irPT W.YRRIOH."

Chris was only just in time. As she reached the wrecked plane she saw a dark figure lying almost clear of it. The airman had evidently been able to loosen his saiety belt, though whether at the last moment lie had jumped or been thrown clear neither he nor she ever know. But though she had uever before witnessed such an accident, she had read and heard enough to know the imminent danger of fire, and, breathless though me was, without an instant's pause, she pounced on the prostrate figure, and ra KS G( -i it, by mam force, over smooth turf to a few yards' distance.

Again she was on!;- just in time. When Lorimer rushed up he found her crouched beside the airman, panting and spent, while Jock, who had "doggedly" helped in the rescue by fixing his teeth in the leathern tunic and hauling with all his might, was whining anxiously, and licking as much of the man's face as was visible beneath his visored helmet.

The fire had not. touched thein, but the heat was intense as a furnace, already scorching the girl's thin frock. Come on. We must get further away," Lorimer said, briefly and breathlessly, and suiting the action to the words, bodily picked up the airman—a slender, boyish figure—and retreated. "Further round there—to windward—tho fire may spread," gasped Chris, scrambling up, stumbling after him, and indicating the direction from which they had come.

He obeyed, wondering still more at her courage, her resource, her common-sense. He himself would never have thought.—so quickly, at any rate —of the danger from the southerly breeze, but in a very few minutes her warning was justified, as the fire licked across the dry turf, caught a gorse patch hard by the very spot where he had intended to lay the airman, and swept on, to be checked and die out presently, in a boggy patch half a mile away.

Lo rimer laid down his burden, gently enough, and looked at the girl, a new and strange expression on his face, that, for th« moment, softened and refined it.

"By heaven, you're a marvel! That was the pluckiest thing I've ever seen—even at the front. If he's still living you've saved his life."

lie spoke almost in a whisper, as if awestricken, as indeed he was. Never be fore had he experienced such a tumult of emotion a3 assailed him at this moment. Chris did not heed him. Already she was kneeling beside the man she had rescued, and fumbling with shaking fingers at his helmet.

Lorimer stooped to help. "Allow me—l know the way of it. He's not dead, anyhow. Good Lord! If it isn't Dicky Raymond !" Chris looked at the tanned, delicatefeatured, boyish face. As he lay, his helmet half-off, his head supported on Lorimer's knee, he reminded her of Watts' picture of "The .Happy Warrior," a little copy of which hung in her bedroom at the Manor house—one of her few and treasured personal possessions. "Captain Raymond, V.C.," she murmured. "Why, he's the famous 'ace' isn't he? How young he looks!" It's Raymond right enough, and his luok has held again in one more crash—thanks to you," said Lorimer curtly. "Now what's to be done? I suppose I'd better carry him to the car. Where's the nearest hospital or doctor?" "There's no hospital for miles, and Dr. Dennison—nur village doctor —will be out on his rounds, and won't be back until about, six o'clock," said Chris. "And I'm sure we oughtn't to try to carry him without a stretcher, the way is too steep and rough. I'm afraid his leg is broken, and if there are other broken bones or internal injuries it might be fatal." She has recovered her composure, and spoke with a decision and authority far beyond her yeisrs, rousing fresh wonderment in Lorimer.

"I reallv think, Mr. " "Lorimer—George Lorimer," he said. "Mr. Lorimer, that you had better go to the Manor House. That is my home —"

He started, and a slight, dull flush rose to his face, but he did not attempt to interrupt her, and she-continued: "As you know my father, Sir John Carey, of course you know he is a semiinvalid. We have a stretcher and splints and lots of hospital appliances in the House. Bowen, our old factotum, will come with you, and my aunt, Miss Carey, will make all arrangements. I—and Jock —will stay and take care of Captain Raymond till you return, I'm sure that will be best. Ho won't hurt for another half hour or so—it won't take you much more with the car. Give me your motor coat to put under his' head—thanks—and you might fetch me some water in your cap. "I've a flask of brandy here," said Lorimer, extracting it from a breast pocket and handing it to her, ere he folded the cdat and placed it, gently enough, under Raymond's head. "Do you think we'd better try and give him some ?" She shook her curiy head. "No, if there's any concussion of the brain it might be dangerous; but I'll keep it here in case he should come round while you're away; and I'll give him some if I think it necessary. I know something about first-aid, you see, Mr. Lorimer,'' she added, looking up with a swift, frank smile. " I'm a fully-trained V.A.D., went on service at a War Hospital, a3 soon as they'd have me—so it's all right, really." That smile, the first he had yet seen on her charming face, completed George Lorimer's subjugation. Never before in his thirty-eight years had he been so coolly ordered about, but he never dreamt of questioning her commands. In fact, he obeyed them with alacrity, going off firs, to fetch the water. He handed her the dripping cap, filled to the brim. It. was watertight, aid made an excellent emergency vessel. Then, with a queer and unaccustomed shamefacedness, he drew a little bundle from his jacket pocket, stooped, and laid it beside her. "Found 'em oil the bank—thought you might need them. Well, I'll be off and back as soon possible. Sure vouTl be all right, Miss uirey ? lie said confusedly. "Quite sure—and thank you very much," returned Chris cordially, and also quite unembarrassed, though the objects he hsid found and brought were her own sh'tes and stockings; strong, country-made shoes and vet had acquired beauty from the lines of her slender feet: substantial home-knitted silk stockings, made by her own clever fingers. George Lorimer had kissed them, aL four, hastily, furtively, ere ho stowed them in his pocket, inwardly cursing himself the while for a sentimental idiot. Chris heard him start the engine and take the car down the steep road at a pace that she fervently hoped might not bring him to grief. She knew the danger of that typical Devon lane, a mere track, sloping to the centre, which became a stony watercourse in wet weather. Only a reckless motorist would have dared to run a car down even if he knew the road. It was very lucky, however, that this Mr. Lorimer had ventured to do so to-day. " Don't forget the splints," she called after him, and he looked back and waved assent;.

Ravmond was still insensible, breathing heavily and irregularly. His head felt hot, the temples throbbing, and she bathed it and his face, and laid her folded handkerchief as a wet bandage on his forehead. His left leg seemed twisted —she had noticed how it dangled when Lorimer lifted him. and so knew it was broken. Gently and deftly she straightened it out —all she could do till the splints came; then drew off his big gloves, and found his hands were deathly cold, and remained so. though she rubbed them vigorously. He must be kept warm—but how ? Her anxious eyes fell on the motor-coat, a thin summer one of proofed serge, but better than nothing. She slipped on her shoes and stockings, settled herself on the ground, lifted his head on to her knees, and managed to reach across and spread the coat over him. Then, with Jock snuggled against her, she resigned herself to wait; watching through the pungent smoke that veiled them, dimming the sunlight, the fiicker-

ing fire that wa3 now dying down across the heath. The aeroplane had burnt itself out and now lay a twisted mass of wires and wreckage that writhed like tortured things as they settled down. If there had been no one near, Dick Raymond's charred corpse would have been lying amid that smouldering debris. Her blue eyes darkened at the thought, as they were wont to do in moments of emotion, and her heart sent up a silent thanksgiving to God. She bent forward again and looked silently at Raymond. He was breathing more easily and naturally now, and his face showed a less death.lv pallor. There was an almost maternal tenderness in her gaze. That was quite characteristic. For all her radiant youth, Christabel Carey had all the maternal instinct that animates every true woman. Every little child, every young mother in the tillage knew and felt that, as the stricken " boys" whom she had tended and cheered in the hospital had done. As she watched, brooding over him, he shivered, stirred a little, winced, and opened his eyes; staring at her at first, with the blank gaze of semi-consciousness, then with puzzled astonishment and admiration.

" Would von mind telling me it I'm still in the land of the living?" he demanded quaintly. "Or have f by chance bumped into pixie-land, if there is such a plane ? " You came down just here—the plane's wrecked and burnt, and I'm afraid you're badly hurt,—but I'm so thankful you're not killedshe answered, her fair face expressing her immeasurable relief —" Oh, do be careful," as she assisted him to raise himself to a sitting posture. " I think your leg is broken." He nodded, and his eyes narrowed involuntarily at the pain that shot through him, but he sat up valiantly, supporting himself on his bauds, and laughed up at her anxious face. " If that's ali the damage it>'il soon mend, though it might have been the other leg, for a change! It's the second time for that."

Ho nodded accusingly at the helpless limb. "Trie second time—oh dear!" exclaimed Chris, in consternation. " Was it in a crash—like this ? " No— teeter, the very first week I was home. Awfully humiliating wasn't it? My hat! it was a bit of a spill this time The bus is dune in—and it seems to me I ought to have been. How in the world did [ get out of that mess?" he continued, surveying the smoking wreckage. Her cheeks flamed. She was glad he didn't happen to be looking at. her at that moment. Somehow she didn't want

him, of all persons, to know that it was she who had saved his life.

" A Mr. Lorimer was here—he seemed to know you. He's gone to the village for help—they ought to bo back soon," she explained. " Lorimer ? Not George—big man with red hair ?

" I don't know him. he had only just come up—he might have fallen from the skies." j

" No, that was my stunt," he said, laughing up at her again. " Good old George, if it is he —and what stupendous luck for me. Hallo, what a jolly little chap! ' This was addressed to Jock, who, ever since the patient sat up, had been wriggling ingratiatingly, and, having failed to attract any attention, was now fawning on Raymond and licking his hand. No sign here of the animosity ho had evinced against Lorimer! " He's my Jock —and he helped to pull yon out," she said proudly. " Did he reallv 1 Good old Jock."

In the act of fondling the dog he shivered and drooped, his face paling, his eyes narrowing again. In truth he was in agonising pain, which he had been endeavouring to stavo off by laughter and chatter. ""

She was down beside hi;m again in a moment, supporting him with her arm. " Captain Raymond, you must not sit up, anri must not try to talk," she said with all the severity of a nurse. " Can you pass me that coat. Thanks—there." With her free hand she rolled Lorimer's coat up again into a pillow, and lowered his head on to it. " Now please be still."

She poured a little of Lonmer's brandy into the cup of the flask, filled it up with water and held it to his lips. He drank and lay still, with his eyes closed, docilely enough for a minute or two.

" I say, I'm giving you a tremendous lot of trouble," he murmured. " You'll give everyone a lot more trouble if you don't lie still," she warned him. " Hark—yes, here's the car at last! "

" Bother the car! " he said audaciously, flashing his brave, boyish smile up at her again. " I haven't begun to try and thank you yet—and—and—now don't be

cross, dear pixie lady. You're not going to vanish are you ? I shall see you again. You seem to know my name—won't yon tell me yours?" " I'm Christabel Carey, and—and —oh, yes, we shall see each other." " Christabel—it's just right," he repeated softly, 3earce realising that he spoke aloud.

" The lovely lady Christabel Jesn Maria shield her well." He had read the lines somewhere, he could not remember where, and they seemed so exactly to suit her, like the name itself. That was all ho remembered definitely for a time; the rest was a semi-conscious impression of voices and movement, and the agonising pain that overwhelmed all other sensations. Chris stood aside with Jock, watching anxiously as Lorimer and old Bowen lifted and carried the helpless man under her aunt's direction—for Miss Sybil Carey accompanied the rescue party and assumed command, by virtue of much experience acquired in years of nursing at home and during the long agony of the war. It seemed an endless time while tho men carried the stretcher d.own and up the steep combe, and placed it and its burden in the back of the car, with Aunt Svbil and Bowen in charge. And then there was that terrible hill to negotiate. " That's ail right, I think," said Lorimer when they were safely bestowed. " Will vou come in front with me, Miss Carev ? '

"No thanks—l'll walk," Chris an. swered.

" Nonsense, get in at once," said her aunt, noting for the first time how pale and drawn the girl's face looked, and Chris made no further demur. Never liefore had she felt so limp, never in her life had she suffered as during this last half-hour, when everv jolt of the stretcher, and the thought of the pain it must cause, sent a pang through her own heart. ■Took jumped in after her, and she took him on 'her knee, a firm hand on his collar. She had not been too pre-cccupied to notice that his dislike of Lorimer appeared to increase rather than diminish on further acquaintance. Her sheaf of forget-me-nots lay forgotten on the bank where she had dropped them—it seemed a life-time ago—but the posy still hung in her belt, bruised, wilted, dying! These blossoms also feU out daring t?ie homeward drive, and later George Lo-.-i----mer found them in the car. lifted and looked at them, and then—again cursing himself for a fool —stowed the withered flowers carefully in his pocket-book. Poor forget-mo-nots! (To be continued daily.)