LOIS ERCOTT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3321, 31 December 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

LOIS ERCOTT.

BY KATHARINE S. MACQUOID. (Author of ‘ Patty,’ ‘Appltdore Farm,’ &c., &e.). All Re.er':ed i _ __ CIIAI'TKK XXI. KICUAKI) BTEKN V TEMPTATIOS,' “* "When Stern saw Lois next morning, he was struck by the change in her appearance; instead of her dusty and disordered travelling dross she wore a fresh looking costume that admirably suited her and also bore the stamp of having been made in Paris. Lois smiled at his admiring glances. «Do you like my now frock V Mrs Andrews was kind enough to go shopping with mo early this morning,’ she said, ‘ when she learned that I had not brought my luggage- with mo. Oh, how lovely Paiis is, it’s like Fairyland.” •It seems to have been a successful shopping.’ • I’m glad you think so. But now, lease, we must have a serious talk. How am Ito get good instruction ? I want to begin at once '? I’lease let us settle everything.’ She gave him the frank direct glance he had learned to dread, because it told him how strongly her will was set on staying in Paris.

He hesitated how to answer, trying to put oil the bad moment as long ns poseib 1 c —it was such intense pleasure to be with her, and to gaze on her lovely face.

1 1 cannot say at once how that can bo arranged," ho said, ” one thing is certain, it is not possible for you to walk alone in Paris.’’

Lois smiled and slightly shrugged her shoulders; she told herself he was a fussy old bachelor. But she said, ‘Ah, well, that will arrange itself. Now here’s another question. Do you know anyone in England to whom you could write and enclose a letter from me, to be posted over there ? I want to write to my friend Sophy Bushnell, to ask her to tell my father I am safe and well, but I don t mean anyone but you to know where X am.' This seemed to give Stern the opportunity ho wanted. He had made up his mind to speak out. > Instead of writing, will it not bo much better to go home to your father ? I will go with yon, to make all safe. He will be very anxious if Mrs Johnson writes and says you have loft her and she does not know where you are, will he not ?" Lois shook her head, but she was too angry to answer at once. ‘ It is the best thing you can do, it will make everything right—’ She interrupted him, vehemently. 1 You ■would not say that if you understood my father. If Mrs Johnson has written to him, and I'm sure she has, ha is by this time furious against me ; if I were to do such a foolish thing as to go back, he would not speak to me, life with him would ha hateful: reallyyou do not know him.’ Her eyes were full of indignant remonstrance, and there was a wounded tone in her voice. , ‘ You must excuse me” he said, ‘ but I cannot agree with you. Your father might bo very angry, and perhaps he has a right to be so, but the sight of you would end his anger, he certainly could not stand out long against you.’ Lois stared at him in blank astonishment. “You alaol You do not know what harm you are doing,’ she said, sadly, < I did not believe much in human nature, but I entirely believed in you; now you are trying to destroy my. faith.’ Then in a changed tone she said, passionately; ‘ Oh, how can you .be so cruel ? You whom I thought so good, so kind, so true 1 How can you try to destroy my one ideal ■friend?" Stern’s heart beat so fast with, the tumult of his hopes that he could hardly breathe. The agitation she saw in his face calmed her ; she remembered that if she meant to conquer his opposition, she must not lose her own self control. He waa sitting beside her; when he tried to speak, she gently put her hand before his mouth. • Please let me finish,’ she said, ‘ I want to explain that my coming here, my determination to stay here, to fit myself for the stage are both- chiefly your doing.' Is is just that when I have striven to follow your advice, then you should try to destroy .the hopes you have helped, to build ? She smiled up at him with such beseeching sweetness that he suddenly rose and walked to the.farther .end of. the room. M " . ’’ Lois thought that -ho was trying to harden himself against her wish to stay in Paris. She rose and followed him, not hurriedly, but with a slow dignified^movement.,. -. ‘ Let us argue it out, please' listen to me,'dear friend, she said, ‘You can, .of course, perhaps you will, write to my father, .and he will come to -fetch mo home ;-T)utT trust you fully, ,1 know that even if you take this stcp,'from'a mistaken sense of duty, you will do it openly, you will not deceive me •as ■ I believe Mrs Johnson meant to do. I tell you plainly what would happen. You would never see me again. Yes, X have pictured!! all out, for although I fully counted on your help, just •-possible that you might not bo in Paris when I reached it. I settled what -X should do. I, havemoney, and I have courage, .1 shall stay, in Paris, and I shall get some sort of teaching, not such good teaching, or snob comfortable lodgings as. I should under. your wing—oh no, but-I shall stay. You are willing ! should stay; are; you not, my best friend ? ’ She took his unwilling bond between both hers and kept it tightly ■clasped, ‘ I think of yon as my guardian in any case; my more? than father.- If I’d lhad a father like you, thluk what a happy .life mine would have been. - Come,? it is ,settled, is it not, you will not go against me, my dear, dear friend ? '' He roughly pulled his hand from her ■clasp.

v ‘ It is not right, it cannot bo,' he buret out, angry at her persistence, and keenly _ disappointed by the blow her words had dealt to his hopes. .‘Try, and see it from another point of view. What would you say- about any other girl who ran;"away -from her homo, and placed herself in Pans so that she might] gratify her own will by becoming an'actress? Take the case of your? friend, Miss BushneU, what would you think of her if she did such a thing?’ . . Lois seated herself■■ near him and looked at him with a quizzical smile.- ‘ You should ask for some thing possible; your question is not even reasonable. Sophy Bushnell would be quite'wicked if she wished to leave . her home. She has a; mother and a grandfather, who love her dearly. They would do anything to please-her; they think everything she does and says quite perfect. But there is something more than this ; Sophy is delightful ..as full .of good points as I am of bad ones, but, she has no gift, nothing ih her labours; and strives,to be 1 heard. Oh! Mr Stern.’ Her eyes were full of reproach,-and she-saw that he listened intently. iHavo you 1 forgottenthat you first taught me I had this gift in me ? You said then that if I ever needed help, I might seek yours.’ : He did not answer ; he began to walk tip and down the room, os if be wanted to get away from her. >, Lois fplt puzzled, she could not understand this sudden change in her friend’s ideas. Then as she sat, vexed at this obstacle to the bright future which had filled her thoughts as she sat at breakfast with Mrs Andrews, she thought she saw the truth—Richard Stem was good, but he was not practical. In Brinsby wood -and at Brussels he had pictured her future .career, but row, when it presented itself :

hi a real form, he shrank from the burden she had laid on him.

1 Mr Stem,’ she said, sadly, ‘ you have been very kind, and I’m afraid I have been sadly tiresome and encroaching; but I won’t give you any more trouble, I should like to stay with Mrs Andrews it you think she will let me. Hike her, and her house, and her ways; if you will kindly tell me the terras you have arranged with her, I will try to do without any -more-holp.f rom anyone.in the. future.’ Stern looked at her; he saw that she was deeply wounded. Ho told himself nothing could be worse than that she should lose trust in him at this time. ‘ You arc mistaken,’ he said, abruptly. ‘ I can hardly explain to yon how impossible it isforagirl to live here without some protection. She should have parents, ora brother, or a husband to care for her, so long as she is young and attractive. Lois laughed. ‘ That is just what I feel, but surely you can protect me as well as any father could. And ’ Ho interrupted her—‘ Arc you sure you wish that ? ’ She was startled by the glow in Lis -eyes. For an instant the suspicion came to Lois thkt this quiet, undemonstrative man loved her. She paused before she wont on. If he did love her, and wanted to marry her, the sooner ho gave up the idea the better for both of them. 1 You shall be my father or my brother,’ she said, quietly, ‘ which ever you choose. I shall never have the protection of a husband ; I should hate it. I never yet saw a man I could marry; and if I did meet with him, I could never bind myself to be faithful all my life to one person; certainly I could never break my faith when I had pledged it. Now, my dear, true friend, it is settled, is it not ? Let us shake hands on our bargain. I promise you to do my best at learning and you will find me a good instructor. Oh, yes, I mean to do credit to your kindness, and I believe you will one day glory in my success.’ She raised her band, and once more repeated Portia’s speech with a grace and dignity that made him feel the wide advance she had made, since he ■ listened to her in Brinsby Wood. He stood silent; then he took her hand and kissed it. ‘I yield,’ he said. ‘I own that it is against my judgment, but I seem to have no choice. Still, I must ask for one promise, Lois.’ Warm colour spread over her face; he had never called her Lois before, *Oh 1 thank yon, thank you so very very much. I will promise anything you please.’ He came close to her and looked earnestly in her eyes'. “I trust you entirely, and you must promise to trust mo whatever happens, or whatever you may hoar, or fancy.’ l ls that all ? As if I could doubt you.’ 1 Yon trust me now,’ he began; then he added, ‘ I think you had better let me arrange with Mrs Andrews and with your professor, when I have found her; I suppose she must be an actress ? We will settle accounts later . I fancy I shall make better arrangements for you than you could for yourself. Do you agree ?' ‘ I should think so indeed, and I thank you you very much. If there is one think I hate it is, business. Mrs Johnson did it all for me in Brussels. ‘ Well, then I will say an revoir, and send you round a note with the result of my enquiries, Out in the street, freed from the spell of those wonderful eyes, Biohard Stern indignantly asked himself what this power was which in the girl's presence changed him into a vacillating fool ? Ho He know what was right, ho had had courage enough to tell Lois what she ought to do; and yet here he was her bounden slave, on his way to carry out her determined will. He could not tell why he had not been brave enough to resist, and he instinctively knew that whatever she might propose to him, he should find himself compelled to do. One ray of hope, came to cheer the gloom of his self-reproach. Lois was so generous, so noble,•■she would not take all and give nothing in return for his devotion. He was glad now that her words about a husband had checked the confession that had burned on bis lips. It would be unfair, he thought, to take such an advantage of her present position,. She could hardly have accepted heif frpm a rejected lover. Some weeks hence ehs might think differently, she might even learn to love him if.he could touch her heart, ... • [fo be continued.} -