HOW ANNABEL WAS CONQUERED

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4978, 30 May 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

HOW ANNABEL WAS CONQUERED

Annabel Crane had spent just one week at the home of her recently married sister .when she announced herself thoroughly disillusioned, and rid forever of romantic girlish dreams. “'Never.” she announced emphatically, "will X permit myself to fall in ]lv*o. no matter how knightiy the man who pleads for my hand. I can see just what it all comes to. Why. Flora, you and Ralph aro’ just like auy ordinary married couple!’’ . ■ "Well, why shouldn’t we be? How did you expect to find us?” "Happier than any other two people in the world! You were before you were married. X never saw such an ecstatic pair." “Well, aren't we still happy? ’ i Tho girl sighed in despair, “If that’s what you call felicity you are welcome to it. For my part, I’ve done with dreams. Somehow I counted dn you and Ralph, to prove the beautiful exception and thereby save my rosy ideals from complete destruction. But see I have hoped in vain. Henceforth for me mankind is blotted from life’s list of attractions.” •

Tho sister laughed in sheer amusement to see a face of such blossom witchery so overcast. "Foolish age of 19!” she cried. "How much it demands, how soon it despairs!” Then she sighed a little. "People soon learn to give up their youthful notions of love and life.” she mused aloud. "This age is too practical to permit of romancing. Somehow we women learn to be contented.”

"But you’re not contented.” was the bitter retort. "X can see it. For my part I prefer single' blessedness to wedded humdrumness.” The sister laughed again. "Ton’ll change your mind. dear. Girls always do.” . "Not I,” declared- Annabel.

Time proved that she incaut .it. Ralph’s particular friend, Craig Holman, wus calling often at th© house, blit the girl remained stubbornly indifferent to Jus attentions.

Craig was as thoroughly attractive a young man as any woman would wish to meet.

“Just the type for Annabel,” the sister said. “It’s a probleni to me that she cannot like him.” Both she and her husband were heartily sorry for - the young fellow, who was making a brave fight for the affections of Annabel. If ho was disheartened no ujd not show it, but repeated the attack 'n spite of unmerciful rebuffs. There remained only two more days before tlfe girl’s visit would end. “Aren’t, you ashamed!" reproached her sister. “He wants to see you alone and you still refuse, Annabel, what _ evil spirit has taken possession of you s’ >(> “Have you forgotten‘bur talk. Flora? “But you surely couldn’t, have meant it! You are too sensible a girl for that.” “That’s just it. I’m sensible and 1 purpose to remain sensible.’’ That very afternoon she sat crocheting by the French window in the sitting room when her sister called suddenly: “Here he comes. Annabel. Now do please him, just this once." "Tell him,” commanded the girl, as the door bell rang, “that T am not at home."

But her sister had other plans. She did not usher young Holman into the parlour this time. , , “Come this 'way," she said sweetly. "Annabel is -at her crocheting again, but you won’t object to that 1 am sure.” Then, pushing-aside the portieres: ’ “Mr Holman has called to see you. Annabel, and ”

She paused in consternation. No Annabel sat by the window. Instead the very air seemed to quiver with the suggestion of precipitate flight. Something else quivered, _ too—the rocker where she had .been sitting. And then oh, tell-tale evidence. There lay her ball of rose-coloured worsted, wrigg. gling and rolling on the floor apparently unwinding itself by a peculiarly automatic process of its own!

Holman’s crestfallen countenance betrayed swift amusement as he- caught sight of the restless pink hall and tho tremulous rosy thread that extendedfrom it through tho window. ‘ i! T ,n '- His glance met that of Annabel’s sister. Ho read challenge in it.

“This will guide mo,” he said with a flashing smile, as stooping he picked up the agitated ball of yarn. He held it securely, conscious that some one was pulling at the other end. Still 'smiling he stopped from the window out upon the verandah and thence across the lawn. Annabel glanced up indignantly as he entered the grape arbor. “How dare you follow me,” she demanded. Her face was rosier than the fluffy pink thing she was crocheting. Holman held the worsted, ,out i; toward her. "I couldn’t help sauk "you were drawing me.” j ’ . He forced her, eyes to meet ’his. Then, in a moment, the , anger left her face. Holman sat down by her. "Annabel! —l’m going to say it. You shall listen! I love you—love yon—love you.” Again his eyea drew hers. Soiiiehow in that instant, the humdrum experience of Ralph and Flora, receded into the vaguest distance.

A grape arbor is. after all. a very enchanting place, especially in mellow autumn time. Annabel was peculiarly conscious of this enchantment now. Craig’s glowing face was?.very .near her own. His eyes were so compelling.. And his enfoldiiig arms—but that was afterwards! . Annabel was radiantly happy.- Their experience was going to be the beautiful exception.