THE GENTLE ART OF BLUFFING

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1687, 29 June 1904, Page 12

THE GENTLE ART OF BLUFFING

(By Laurence Saunders.)

Kathleen Ainslie put down the book

she had been reading and sighed. z ” The French window opened on> to a sloping lawn, beyond which was a shrubbery, and through the tops of the trees came the shimmer of the late after- •' noon sun upon the. sea. It was an ideal time and place for a reverie; so she just lay back in her long chair and let her fancy wander free. ' The, book she had been reading interested her greatly. It was a new book by a new author, but it appealed to her imagination and artistic sense because it conveyed under a somewhat cynical, but withal good-natured, style a very true grasp of the deeper issues of life. “What a fascinating man the author

must be,” she thought; “I should like to .meet him, just to see if he talks as he '• Writes.” / She was so lost in reverie that the quiet opening of the door did not dis-* turb her. Nor did. the gentle footfall of the dainty woman who crossed the room aria stood beside her chair.

It was Mrs Haverfo>rd 1 . Kathleen's chief friend. She was a widow of 27, as charming- and popular as it is possible for a widow of *that tender age to be—which is saying a great deal. She betrayed her presence to the girl iri the chair by a slight movement. “My dear, you have been-dreaming, and I am intruding upon your solitude.” the elder woman said; “you must for-

give me.” e “Nonsense, you are not intruding at all,” Kathleen replied effusively: “I am so glad to see you. I have just finished “The Impulse of Amaryllis.’ Is it not beautiful? Of course you have read it?”

“Oh, yes,” Mrs Haverford replied; that is’Yates Hornby’s third book. Have you read the others? The critics say that this one is better than either.” “Yes, I have read them all, but I like this best. I should like to meet Yates Hornby. . A man who can write as he does ought to be very interesting.” “And so be is. I have known him for many years. And strangely enough, I have come to tell you that Sir Augustus Beddoes has asked me to take you over to spend a week or. two at Wesselford Hall. Yates Hornby is there, now; his father and Sir Augustus were at Oxford together, you know.” “Oh, horn simply lovely! And when do you propose to go ?” “How will next Tuesday suit you ?” 4 “Splendidly,” said Kathleen with enthusiasm. “I shall be quite ready by then.”

'“Well, we will consider that settled,” said Mrs Haverford. “Now, there is another thing I want to talk to yon about,- and I am going to give you some solemn, motherly advice. It is about Captain Treverloe. . I do not think you are treating him properly/’ “My dear Agnes, why should—” “Listen to me. Everybody knows quite well that he is over head and ears in love with you, and that you have refused him more than once. Now, I am sure that he is really fond of you and is just the man to make you happy. You must forgive my interfering, but I want to plead his cause with you. Indeed, it is for both your sakes that I am speaking, because I know you both, very well, and I feel sure that you are admirably adapted to each other/’

“But, my dear Agnes,. surely I am the best person to judge as to our suitability to each other. And Ido not love him. As you have taken up the cudgels on his behalf I will tell you that it has caused me very great pain to refuse him. The true love of a good man is a gift any girl should be proud to receive, but I cannot give my hand and withhold my heart.” “But you would grow to love him. I am sure,” said Mrs Haverford. Kathleen shook her head. “However,” Mrs Haverford continued, “perhaps I should not have interfered. It was tactless of me, I am afraid, but X really feel very sorry for the poor man.” “It was very kind of you, dear, and you must not think me ungrateful. You have always been so good toi me that I could almost do this just to please you; but you know —oh, you must understand, it is impossible.”' “Then tell me, dear, one thing. Is there —another ?”

“No, indeed,” was the emphatic reply; “you may quite dismiss that idea. There is not another!”

Now, Captain James Treverloe was also among the guests at Wesselford •Hall. Mrs Haverford had spoken quite truly when she said that he was over head and ears in love with Kathleen Ainslie, for since he had met her some three years previously his dearest hope had been that she would one day become his wife. Yet now it seemed that this was further than ever from fulfilment.' / /■"■'/ ■

The \ young author had fascinated Kathleen till the bitterness of despair hegan.to eat into the heart of Treverloe, for he saw continually that Yates Hornby’s society was preferred to his own by the one on whom all liis hopes were

centred. Hitherto the thought of a rival had not entered his mind. but now i—well, it could not be helped. Yates Hornby was a man who awoke one morning at the age of thirty-two to find himself famous. In the evening he became a “lion.” And the evening and the morning were the first day. In the morning of this the first, day of his literai*y career, his book was reviewed by the press. It did not meet with universal approval, but the notices were many and long, wherefore he felt himself famous. v

During the day itself—which lasted some weeks—the public were engaged in reading his work, and, finding it tb their liking, resolved to receive him with open arms. That had all happened two years before he met Kathleen Ainslie at Wesselford.

She was not disappointed in him, for he even exceeded the picture she had already drawn in her imagination. From the first his brilliant conversational powers and fascinating personality had made her an easy pr6y, while the sterling qualities of Captain Treverloe were eclipsed in her estimation by the more superficial attainments of the writer. He found her a charming companion, and her undisguised appreciation of his work fed his vanity not a little. Day by, day their intimacy was ripening, and that a clmiax was imminent became increasingly apparent to two interested spectators, though the effect produced in the mind of each was vastly different.

These two were Captain Treverloe and Mrs Haverford. The state of mind of the former may easily he imagined, but

in the case of the widow many considerations had weight.

In the first place,she herself had by no means escaped the fascinations of the gifted young author and, until the appearance upon the scene of Kathleen Ainelie, had seriously considered the advisability of accepting him when the proposal—which had long seemed inevit-able-should come. Now she felt that he was not so secure, indeed he seemed slipping away from her day by day. To do her justice, however, she was also moved by the sincerest pity for the rejected Captain, whom she felt instinctively (and perhaps otherwise) to be the better husband for Kathleen. So that when she determined to play a hold game in attempting to carry off the prize before the eyes of her rival she was actuated by not entirely selfish motives. Hornby himself was in a dilemma. Mrs Haverford had been an old flame of his, and her marriage had been noi slight blow to him- Now that she was free once more he had given her to understand that his affection was unchanged, and she had expected that this visit would give him the opportunity of offering his hand and heart. But for Ins acquaintance with Kathleen Ainslie this is what he would undoubtedly have done, but now he knew not what to do. It is a sad fact, but none the less true, that a man will often mistake the voice of vanity for the prompting of a true passion. And Hornby listened to the voice of vanity and determined to propose to Kathleen Ainslie. There was to be a dance at Wesselford Lodge, which Hornby decided should furnish the opportunity for his proposal. Mi’s Haverford strongly suspected that this would he so, and determined to play her hand carefully and frustrate his intention.

When the. eventful night arrived she contrived to sit next to Hornby at dinner. Never before had she dressed with such care, never before had she laid her-

self out so to fascinate, by glance, by conversation, by playing on every most responsive chord in her neighbour’s nature. She was bewildering him, and she knew it; her success gave her fresh courage and renewed power.' With great cunning she led Hornby about, introducing him here and there till he found to his horror that his programme was nearly full. She had made him ask her for the supper dances, and he had only three or four numbers disengaged, so he tore himself away and succeeded in getting two with Kathleen.

His name was on Mrs Haverford’s programme no fewer than five times, so that lady began to feel more easy in her mind. But she was playing for a heavy stake—the happiness of three people at least—so she did not for an instant let her vigilance relax or her efforts wane.

By the time she was taken in to supper by Hornby she felt that she held him in the hollow of her hand. She knew that he would not propose to Kathleen that night. The dance was a great success, Kathleen had thoroughly enjoyed it. for she had had no lack of partners, the only thing that caused her any uneasiness at all being Hornby’s assiduous attention to Mrs Haverford. But he apologised so gracefully for having come so late to ask for his dances that the little cloud cast a scarcely perceptible shadow over the joys of t-lie evening. Mrs Haverford had felt all the keen enthusiasm of a struggle bravelv fought—and won. It was the first game of the rubber, and fortune and skill alike had favoured her. But the second game had to be played that night, and to be played

in a way that was much less to her liking.

Kathleen had gone to her room, wearied but at peace. She was sitting in a low easy chair going over in her mind the events of the pleasant evening that had just passed, when the door opened and Mrs Haverford came in, flushed with the joy of victory. “So you are not in bed yet! Are you not tired ?” she said.

“Oh, no! I’ve had a simply splendid time. And you! Oh, Agnes, you were lovely! How do you manage it ?” “Manage what?” ‘Why, to look so lovely/’ her companion answered. “There was no one in the room to compare with you. You should have heard some of the things the men said.”

“Well, perhaps there was—a reason,” Mrs Haverford said, slowly. “A reason! What do you mean?”

“That is what I came in to tell you. I have a little piece of news about myself and —someone, and I wanted to toll you first/’

“Oh, Agnes! You don’t mean to say so! But who is it?”’

“Can you not guess?” Kathleen turned pale, the awful possibility flashed across her. “Not—not—Mr Hornby ?*’ Mrs Haverford noticed the catch in her voice, but carefully averted her glance. After a few moments’ pause she smiled and looked up. “Well, you see, we were very old friends—'but I want you to promise not to say a word to anyone just yet. Will you ?” Kathleen had by this time obtained a fair amount of control over herself. Still pale and somewhat trembling, she rose, and, coming over to Mrs Haverford, kissed her.

“Of course, if you wish it,” she said. “And I hope you will be very, very happy.” ' ' ‘Thank you, dear,” said Mis Haver-

ford. “And now, good-night. You are tired and must get some sleep.” As she closed the door behind her a half impulse came to her to return and undo the deception that she felt had been all too cruel. “But,” she said to herself, “if it is not true now it will he very soon 1 Poor girl. I almost, wish I had not done it l”

Yates Hornby paced his room in a turmoil of indecision. He had let the opportunity pasSj he felt that Fate (he did not recognise it a-s Mrs Haverford) had been against him. Even now be felt almost inclined to torn back to his old love, but a certain feeling that he had led Kathleen Ainslie to expect him to propose kept him to his determination. He had no such feeling with regard to Mrs Haverford, for he looked upon her as more independent, as being so much older and more a woman of the world. So he decided to take the next opportunity that offered itself to make up for the one lie had let slip. The next morning Mrs Haverford was up early—that is, early for the morning after a dance. Kathleen appeared shortly afterwards’ clad in her riding-habit. She looked pale and ill, for she had not slept. Mrs Haverford refrained from commenting upon her appearance, but asked her where she was going. “I am .just off for a gallop across the downs towards Vennater. Collins will come with me; I sent a message tills

morning.” After partaking of the scantiest breakfast. she rode off. followed by Collins, one of the grooms. It was not unusual for her to ride thus, so it caused no remark among the other guests, few of whom, indeed, had yet appeared. Half an hour later Captain Treverloe came down, whom Mrs Haverford At once captured and drew aside. “Captain Treverloe,” she said, “forgive me if I am taking a liberty, but I should like to offer you a piece of advice. Take one of the horses and ride over the down towards Vennater. You will find someone there* who needs your presence. Do yon understand me?” “Yes, perfectly,” he replied. “A thousand thanks.”

Without waiting for more, or even taking any breakfast, he rushed off to his own room to change into his riding things, after giving an order to have a horse saddled. For he had seen Kathleen from his window as she rode off followed by the groom, therefore he understood.

In ten minutes he had started in pursuit, and in another half hour had run his quarry to earth. He overtook the horsewoman and her attendant near the fox-cover called Vennater. Telling the groom he might go home, he -rode on towards Miss Ainslie.

“Forgive me,” he said, “for following you, but I am off to Aldershot to-mor-row and wanted to see you again before I left.” ' “Indeed it is very kind of you,” she said, reining up; “but I—feel rather out of sorts this morning.” “Then let me take charge of jmu for an hour or two. Get off your horse; I will take him to that farmhouse, and you must sit down here and wait for me.”

His tone was so quiet and decided that it did not occur to her to demur. He dismounted and helped her to do the same. Then, having seen her settled upon a tree trunk among the bracken, he mounted again and rode off, leading her horse. The distance to the farm was not more than a couple of hundred yards. so he was soon back. “Let us walk through to the other side of the cover,” he said; “we shall be able to sit down, and I want to talk to you.”

She rose and followed him through the wood in silence. Presently she spoke. “Why did you follow me?” “A good angel sent me,” he said. “Do you not know why I came?”

“How should I know ?” They had come to the further side of the cover.

“Sit down here/’ he said, pointing to a grassy mound. They sat side by side some minutes without speaking. Treverloe was the first to break the silence. “Kathleen,” he said, “do not think me a selfish brute for asking you just now. but I must know if you have quite decided —will you never have me?” , Her only answer was to burst into tears. He put his arm round her and drew her to himself. She submitted, nay, even laid her head upon his shoulder while her frame' shook with sobs. “Don’t, Kathleen, or, please, don’t cry! Tell me if I can do anything to help you. I will do anything on eai th except give you up.” -nr “Oh Jim,” she sobbed, “how silly I am! Yes, I have quite decided,” and her smile broke upon him through her tears with such a glory of triumphant love that all the world was a blaze of sunshine for him at that moment. “Take me Jim, if you can ever forgive such a silly girl.”

They said many more things to- each other before they started for home threequarters of an hour later. The first person they met on nearing the house was Yates Hornby. The expression on the faces of the lovers told its own tale.

w He knew Lis' opportunity had gone for ever. .. But the pressure, of Treverloe’s strong hand as he thanked, Mrs Haverford more v than repaid that scheming lady for the ; anxiety she had passed through con- ,*• cerning her machinations. And when ‘ Kathleen told her about it she felt that •V her lie had mueeu oeen passed over by the Recording Angel. » * *

And her prophecy turned out to be quite true. . Yates Hornby in a very few days returned to his old love, and when the lengagement was announced, Kathleen "smiled the deep smile of one who knows. But she never learnt of the base treachery of Mrs Haverford. If she did; she would love her, if possible, a thousand times more.