HIDE AND SEEK.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5737, 4 November 1905, Page 13

HIDE AND SEEK.

THE STORY OF A LOST RING. The house party was engaged in a game of hide-and-seek. His Grace tho Duke of Wrox ford, although no longer a young man, liked nothing so much us a good romp, and his friends and guests entered into his humour, though it is probable that if their host had been a mere commoner many of them ■would have “seen themselves hanged first.”

As a rule hide-and-soek was a. great success: the Castle lent itself to the game splendidly, and flirtations were quite possible in such a pastime, loday, however, a cloud had settled on tho party, and no one supported tho Duke's suggestion with much enthuiasm. except Lady Annette Erskme and Captain Saunderson, who it was obvious were “much taken with other. An extemcly awkwad event had happened, especially for Colonel Grenville, who introduced a young fellow called Mihvard to the Duke. Irene Grenville admitted as much to herself as she sauntered listlessly into the library and made a pretence of hiding herself in one of tho alcoves. The Duke had been telling them the night before of certain interesting jewels which belonged to him, and before lunch ho had brought them into the Baron’s Hall to show to her fat-icr, hose hobby was antique and rare jea cilery. On tho occasion only Colonel Grenville, Irene and Horace Mihvard wore present. Lady Annette and Captain Saunderson were strolling in the grounds, and the rest of the party were amusing themselves in various ways. After* they had duly admired the jewels, the Duke pointed to a magnificent diamond ring in a very old setting. “That,” ho said, “is the valuable of all and the most interesting, I think. There is a portrait in the east drawing-room of tho Duchess of Wrexford wearing this very ring. She lived in tho sixteenth century, but there is a record of the ring which shows that it was in existence at an earlier date than that.” “By jovc,” said Horace, taking it up—“it is a splendid piece of work! And what a magnificent diamond, eh?” Irene could see him now as h© had stood loaning against the table and half turning to her, sure of her interest and sympathy in his admiration. There was a grotesque looking china dragon standing near them, and a momen c before he had been pulling faces at it behind tho Duke’s back—a little vulgar, Irene had thought, but undeniably amusing. Tbe Duke turned to the Colonel.

“Would you like to see the portrait?” he asked, pleased to see them so interested, and with a glance including tho other two in his invitation. “Thanks, I should very much,” said the Colonel, and they all moved to tho d-.or. Rut as they were going out Mihvard had stopped. “You are never going to leave all there rings and things about like that, your Graoe?” ho asked. “H’m,” said tho Duke dubiously, running his finger through his beard, “I never thought of that,” “Well,” said Horace, “if you like, I’ll stay hero and have a look at the portrait another time.” The Duke’s face cleared. “Yes. yes, that will bo the best — much obliged. Mihvard.” “Not at all,” said Horace, and they left alone. They aero gone about a quarter of an hour, and then Irene went to her room, and she had the rest of tho story at second-hand. It appears that the Duke and Colonel Grenville returned to tho Baron’s Hall and found Horace Mihvard searching frantically under chairs and rugs. Tho jewels were still in the tray of tho despatch box, but in a strange jumble—rings pendants, and bracelets heaped up together. Horace raised a scarecl face as they camo towards him. “Oh, I say,” he exclaimed, “I’ve had an awlful time since you went away! After you had gone I bent over tho tray to look at the jewels again, and my watchchain must have caught a corner of the tray and upset the things, and now I can’t find that diamond ring anywhere. I’ve moved the tale and lifted up this rug”—pointing to tho Persian carpet—“and I’ve hunted under all the chairs round here—” “Oh, well,” interrupted the Duke cheerfully, “it can’t bo far off! If it had rolled .out in the other direction it would be lying in the middle of the hall, so if the three of us look for it we are sure to find it.”

They all looked carefully for the ring. Poor Horace grew more desperate every minute, and Colonel Greville, who was inclinded to be stout and did not enjoy creeping about on all-fours, began to get testy and rather red in the face. But. it was to no purpose. By tacit consent none of them suggested ringing for a servant to assist them in their search. They all felt that it would bo better to keep the thing quiet. Unfortunately, the Duke’s niece, Mrs Desmond, a lively young women, came into the hall unobserved, and stood for somo minutes watching the extraordinary antics of her uncle and his guests. Then she bunst out laughing. “Why, Colonel,” she cried, “whatever are you doing?” Colonel Greville struggled laboriously to his feet, and his temper rose to boiling point. Of all things in the whrld ho hated to be caught at a disadvantage by a pretty woman, and for the fiftieth time he muttered maledictions on the head of the unfortunate Horace.

Mrs Desmond joined gracefully in the search, casting sympathetic glances at Milward which seemed to console him a little. But when the gong boomed out the warning that lunch was due in ten minutes the ring was still missing. . Colonel Greville walked upstairs and knocked wrathfully at his daughter’s door.

“Once for all, Irene,” ho said when she - had let him in, “I will have no nonsense between you and that fellow Alilward! I only wish I had not been fool enough to introduce him here! I’m hanged if I’ll ever answer for anyone again! What was that rubbish you told me last night about his wanting to marry you when ho had .enough money? Never heard of such a thing —in my time a man would have been kicked out of the house if he had made such a proposal as that!” “But, father,” said Irene, completely bewildered, “you agreed that we should keep our engagement to ourselves until Horace got on in the service—you know you did!”

“Engagement,” blustered the colonel —“there shall he no such thing!” And then he told his daughter all that had happened, growing more and more incoherent as he remembered his undignified attitude and the awkwardness of the whole situation.

Irene sighed now as she looked out of the library window' and thought of her obstinate old father. She saw jplonty of trouble before hcr A but she

was quite determined to stick to Horace. The worst of it was that lie seemed to avoid her. and she had not been able to get a word with him alone. It had not boon very pleasant at lunch. Mrs Desmond, of course, had told the story of the lost ring and of their fruitless search with much volubility, and whilst some had expressed their concern and sympathy, others had remained silent on the subject, as though they considered it a rather delicate matter. Horace had looked very proud and almost stern, with an expression on his face that Irene had never seen there before, and which roused all her love, so that she was ready to light his battle for him in the face of the whole world. The Duke had been genial and choerftil as usual, and had made a point of speaking to Horace in Ids kindliest manner, addressing him as “Milward” and asking his opinion on a variety of subjects. The Colonel, however, had been as surly as politeness would admit, and Irene’s face burned as she remembered how he had avoided speaking to Horace during the meal. And now they were playing hide-and-seek, and Irene had pretended to be in the best of spirits, for she was not going to let anyone think sho entertained a doubt that the ring would be found before long. At the same time it was very mysterious. It was not as though the Baron’s Hall was crowded with furniture—there was no hole or corner where anything could bo hidden, and iho only things in it were two or three Persian rugs, some carved tables and chairs, a variety of quaint china jars and dragons, and some interesting weapons. Horace said himself that ho had never loft the room, so it was no question of a servant’s dishonesty.

Just as sho had readied this pointin her sad reflections she heard the door ci en at the end of the library, and pre- & ntly Milward passed her hiding-place, holding a letter in his hand. Hero was hoi chance of telling him how much she believed and trusted in him. She came forward eagerly. “Horace!” she said, holding out her hands. Milward stepped hack. “Look here,” ho said bitterly, “isn’t life a strange tiling? Here’s a letter from a lawyer telling me that my uncle George, whom I told you about, has died and left mo his estate. As if I wanted it-—row.” “Wh.t not?” asked Irene, tho tears that had risen at ids rebuff dimming her eyes. “Why not? I thought you said chat when yon—that you ” Horace came nearer and looked at her very tenderly. “I said a lot yesterday, Irene, that won’t hold water to-day, I could never ask you to marry mo whilst there is - tho slightest shadow on my honour. Yes, dear,” ho went on as Irene made an impetuous movement, “I know you believe in me, and I thank you for it with all my heart, but it. doesn’t alter tlio fact that other people don’t.” “But the ring must be found,” said Irene piteously. “Think, Horace—just think again of how it all happened!" Milward shook his head, smiling sadly. and they sat down together in tho alcove. Meanwhile, in other parts of the castle, the Duke, gallantly assisted by Mrs Desmond, had organised a more than usually energetic game, and, in spite of a somewhat languid start, every one had entered into the fun, and the cloud that had hung over the party at lunch seemed to bo dispelled. The question of the moment was, Where has the Duke hidden himself? For, owing to his intimate knowledge of the ins and outs of the castle, its owner generally succeeded in baffling all the searchers and reaching “home” before he could bo caught. They were standing in tho billiardroom looking aimlessly round, after having examined every Mrs Desmond thought she saw a movement of the tapestry hanging in tho quaint little gallery that ran on one side of the room. Raising her voice, she turned to the others, saying’: “Well, it’s no use looking here any longer. I think we had better have another good hunt in tho bedrooms,” and so raanouvred them out.. Once in the corridor she gathered them round her. “He’s up tljere in the gallery,” she cried. “We’ve got him tins time! There’s no other way out except through the door.” They all moved triumphantly towards the little door, and Lord Weston, throwing it open, ran up tho stairs. “It’s ail up, Duke! You’re caught at last!” he exclaimed. But they had not reckoned on the resource and agility of their best. Springing over tho railing of the gallery, he hung a moment by his hands and then dropped on to the floor of the billiard-room. He was .out of the room before they had scrambled down tho narrow staircase and was running down tho corridor as hard as ho could. But there were several young people in pursuit, and the Duke was a middle-aged man, so that, although he had a good start, his pursuers were close on him by tho time ho reached tho Baron’s Hall. The old butler stood aside as his master rushed past him. The chase was nearly over now; Lord Weston made a grab, but his Grace dodged him, swerving to one side. At the same moment his foot slipped on tlio polished floor and he came down heavily against tho china dragon that had witnessed the morning’s hunt. Duke and dragon rolled over together; hut, whilst the Duke picked himself u" with a hearty laugh, the dragon, alas, lay a melancholy several pieces. Many were tho expressions of sympathy; but, as tho Duke declared himself to be unhurt, attention was directed to tho pieces of china that had once formed such an attractive monster. “What a pity!” said Mi's Desmond. “I was always so fond of the poor old thing, though he did terrify me out of my wits when I was a child! I Used to imagine that he had swallowed lots of little girls, and that ho kept his mouth open in tho hope of catching some more.”

‘There’s nothing inside, him now, any way,” said the Duke turning over the china witli his foot. “Yes, there is,” cried Lord Weston — “I heard it rattle!” And, taking up the headless body he shook it, and out tumbled—the diamond ring! There was silence for a moment as they all gazed at the diamond, which lay blinking at them as .though it enjoyed the joke. Then Lord Weston picked it up. “Well,” he said, handing it to its owner, “this beats all!” “Where’s Alilward?” asked the Duke. “He’ll be glad to know its found.” “I’ll go and find him, Duke,” said a voice, and every one turned to watch Colonel Greville hurrying from the hall. No one offered to go with him; they all knew that the old • man was bitterly reproaching himself for his hasty judgment —his altered manner towards Alilward at lunch could have had only one meaning.

The Colonel, after searching for some time hit upon the library, and found Irene and Horace just as they had admitted despairingly to one another that the ring seemed to have vanished past all hope of recovery. They looked up a little defiantly, as though they ex-

pccted. an outburst from the Colonel. Ii stead. ho turned to Horace and held out his hand. “Milward,” he said, “you will ho glad to hear that, owing to an accident, the diamond ring has been found, and,'’ ho added, like the gallant old soldier that h? really was, “1 expressed an. opinion o.i the 'matter to my daughter which I feci calls for an apology now, and—c. er—l regret extremely that—cr—” Mihrard, in answer to an appealing glance from Irene, seized the Colonel’s hand and shook it heartily. o'That’s all right, sir,” he said, “I quite understand! And now tell us where that ring managed to hide itself ?” > The Colonel told him how the dragon had revealed the secret. “Of course,” exclaimed Horace, “the thing must have jumped down the monster’s throat when I upset the tray. No wonder I couldn’t find it.” And then ho turned to the girl at. his side. “Irene!” he said, and this time he held out his hands to her. Irene placed here in them, and {Tie Colonel escaped.