INTERRUPTED PROBATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXI, Issue 8961, 9 December 1905, Page 5 (Supplement)

INTERRUPTED PROBATION.

(By Helen 11. Gi veils.)

"My deaT boy," said Miss Desmond, "I know your're in love. lam sure that Con6t«mce and you liave not- quarrelled. .Now, what, is the cause of.your gloom You're not in debt'' she added as an afterthought. The man she addressed straightened his tall figure and ceased his pensive contemplation of the ceiling. '"Aunt Kate," lis replied, '"your discrimination does you credit. I love, am loved—l hope—and do not owe even my tailor. Yet," he sighed, "like the rest of mankind, I pine for the unattainable thing "

'And that is ' 'A model."

"What do you mean?" "My picture of 'Salome' is at a stai dstill. * The figure and accessories are ce apleted. The type of face, or Tat-her tiie expression I require, is not- to be found." Miss Desmond looked thoughtfully into the fire and Raymond Harland looked at Miss Desmond. His artistic taste was always gratified by a- sense of the harmcny between this Old* World Lady and her Old World room. She liad been considered a. beauty in her day, and had not- yet givjn up all pretensions to the title. Although Raymond called her ''aunt," they -were really not Telated. She and Robert H:irland had been great friends —some sudi lovers—in the old days. At- any rate, th-jy had remained staunch allies until his dea!h, and his son had always been a welcome guest at- the old-fashioned house at Choisea. Finally Miss Desmond turned again to the young man. "Ring the bell, pleas. 1 ," she said.

Raymond complied, wondering a little. She was usually more responsive. With a slight sense of injirry, he returned to Iris station bv the fire, paying no attention to John's entrance and exit.

A moment afterward he heard a- slight, sliding step, and the murmur of a singularly sweet, low-pitched voice. There wis a slight purring slur of the final syllable infinitely attractive. As he glanced around he was unable to repress a start of surprise at the strange beauty of the girl to whom Miss Desmond was giving some low-voiced directions. Thoughts of criiison and gold sunsets, of tropical forests, of tangled, scarlet-spotted vines, passed through his mind. A mass of tawny hair, bro'.vn in the shadows, was folded smoothly about her head ; but he could' imagine it loosened and framing the creamy ov J. of her face. She did not- look at him and his cyea fallowed her until the closing door and M:-iS Desmond's voice recalled liini. She w i.s watching him. curiously. "Wh.it do yi>u think of her?" she asked, smiling. He drew a deep breath. 'A lotus flower just bursting into bloom—a symphony in yellow. Where did you get her?" "In a way she was thrust upon na You remember Manners?"

"Could I ever forget her or ber gingerbread elephants !" exclaimed Baymond wiib deep feeling. "I Temember she spoiled you. Well, she had a sister who turned out unfortunately—went to the States and married .1 good-for-nothing -Creole named L;<meTc.mr . He abused heT shamefully, and site finally left him and, assisted by Manners, returned to England. Shortly afterwards 1 •daughter was born and the mother died. Manners, unlike most of ber class, wvg very reticent, and, in fact, I knew nothii' £ of the girl's existence until just before ti;3 poor woman's death. Then I disco vet.' 1 that she had been educating her for % governess, and had spent nearly all of ].■■ r savings upon her." 'Quite a romantic story," common!i I Raymond, as she paused. "What is to be done with her?"

"I promised Manners to befriend her until she could secure a place as a nursery governess, a position she is as well qualified to fill as " Miss Desmond looked around vaguely as though seeking a comparison.

"But, Aunt Kate, aTen't- you too ;-3vero? She's a beautiful creature."

"Hardly a recommendation for a r.Tsery governess," was the dry reply. "k> far, I have been unable to discover tiiab * she is fitted for anything useful," she continued. "Her capacity for absolute quiet is TemaTkable. She will sit in Ihe sun for hours and if I give her a i.-sk in the sewing Toom, throw it aside and goes to sleep 0111 the rug in front of :he fire."

Raymond laughed. "That promises gentleness and tranquillity," he said, "i wo desirable, qualities in a woman." '"Don't believe it. In spite of her quietude she lias a frightful temper. W;ien she first came, the housekeeper's son, a. respectable young tradesman in the city, was greatly pleased with her, and I began, to see a way outof my difficulties, although I am bound to say he Toceived no encouragement. One day, so my maid told me, he went so far as to attempt to kiss his charmer. She flew at him like a tigress, and, I give you my word-, actually scratched."

Raymond flushed. "I don't blame Iter," he said, with more heat than the occasion seemed to warrant. "The fellow's audacity "

Miss Desmond smiled ironically. "Her good looks probably prevent you from realising that lie was a very excellent person in her own walk of life."

"But if she wa6 educated for a govern ?"

"I have already intimated that she has neglected her opportunities, my dear boy," Tejoined Miss Desmond 1 a little impatiently. "Let us discuss her merits as a model for Salome. She is bizarre enough, certainly." "Tliat creamy fairness is adorable " "Constance is dark," murmured Mi»> Desmond.

"But," Raymond went on, without appearing to hear the interruption, "Salome should be a swarthy maiden. The expression is good—still " He broke oft for a- moment, pacing the room with an excited air. "By Jove! Strange I did not see it at first. She's exactly what X want for a picture I have been thinking over for a long time. In fact I .have a number of studies for it. Of late the other has rather crowded it out."

Miss Desmond looked at him inquiringly- °

'You remember, I described my concep-t-ion of it to you once. It embodies something of the idea of the reincarnation " "Yes ?"

The principal figure has never taken so substantial a form in my mind as during the past few minutes. The sight of that S'ri— He paused, looking down musingly. 'Would she consent to sit?" lie asked after a time.

"The real question, my dear boy is would I consent to allow her?" ' Mr Harland moved over to a seat at her side. "Dear Aunt Kate," he Baid persuasively, taking m his one of her pretty hands, "you would consent bo anv thing I asked " y

"In reason," she interrupted "Well, isn't this reasonable? The Dieture ma-y make me famous. And besides yourself - Wh r dQ You admire her bo mucli artistic point of view," he in"You are not old—and " h^sinp ooll6^"he 6aid > Miss Desmond looked at him critically it seems not to occur to you that the aal ' n ° matter >" she broke off, rising ft- ? a Z h - ave y° ur old etudiS the 6ittin 5 3 when ,„? eSir t? i-amereaux exhibited no snrprae and made no objection to the propoaei disposition of her liberty. It removed the , spectre of the nursery from her X fo? I for'content. 6t ' * Sufficient

Fascinated and absorbed by his work, Raymond soon felt an intense interest in the personality of the strange creature • «*Li -2 m he was so intimately aseotie first, her quiet had appeared to him more positive than: negative; and as the work progressed he made frequent efforts to break down herreserve and! draw out same express*)* ofdmduaJity At times he would be-etKt-led at the terseness and point of Jier lowft?l^+ rep ' Z*' others- she utterly refrl?W^ > + v SpOI I 1 t0 iis overtures,-■ regarding him through her narrowed lids with an PovSve at onCe and I w$L a - m<^ el sh ? was perfection, catcbinir [ as to pose and expression with surprising readiness, and sitting for

hours with, scwo-ij ixov.-uu-Rt. ar.l without f.itiga«. \litw il>Msrnor*l. f ''- . omp?.l'"«i to ft 1 * tiiirnl.ly intVrrupt- u - s"tio«». wodiox Ifc'isiri'f into th.» (f>r-l -;«-♦* ♦kcUting • mon.t to. ta it, r.ll•' who- vv.iuUt mimoUtu th<- worUi :it tin- .thrint- «E tin- irwatwWw Moloch. <if Ins artftui."th<W fil.vonil.l,- rii'l-inn.-lt.ir..-i-s. Cltr w «,rkv<i to siK-ii «hi»t. in 1 iwt«h shortri* time- than hj« had ;iri-Ki• -I p.vfi. 'ta ptctuw was wwly f"r rt-moval to In; f-.n-------dim st.tKii". whi-ri* hj« inti-ri'l'il to hrn-.h up hi» gkpti.h »f tho ♦li-'iwl v. i-o-"'' «pi"t h«<{ piwswl into- the pulpifatiiii of th»> (Itrl pct-rinif hm-U froin th.- *lun. tvrt-si«» - » of a. tri'piciil forKst. Ihiritnf th" I'ollowiiitf »,•!•!«, with f-vi-risli wofk, ii- Ii nl not. »nrt- s.->*a pi-fsirrc. und its wu.s r<* to five ii. li«»f. uttt.niix Mis« U- Mmmiil: v»:m tr. t.on . don. foe a. f.-w wrlis on so tifpo w:is s.-nt, to fin- stanliiv ncl-'t oiavuj «f ii, muwK w h" i-xplanii-it tha.f. In-c mUtri-'W would hvtft ia t.ho d..y. Raymond was i-onnri.ms of an. unvvmi ,-<1 ftM'luiif of hnoya.nry ami rxalMtion w ,it-n, hi> h»'».rd hri* |'nfht'sli«)mif st.i-p. ff.- vv.ii! «tarwl whi-t.hi'i' tho oufhf. of tlv-- n»lvtini»hi'(l pii-tun- would stir h-r to find wateln-d her a.n.vioiijily a.< sh,- stn<ii.-.l it. -? h.> looUrd at h.-r h.- cfn-lis''-l rti-' r - , #oiiii» indi'Hni|.l'h« way sta* h.id Slic was thinni-r. ami tho soft oval of h>'r fa.-n hmi Kharpi-m-'l. tfivintf ta'P a n-w *%■ pfKiwion—mor» womanly -l-w of th.-- hniu t.i fill ;i.ii imal. . lonlti'il at. h'-r qw*tßmin«ly a.» «!<•• taii-ni.-i|. towiiinl him. , i "Yna- If" ilo-.viv to-- tho stonl, sh.- sai't slowly. ';>« if lindniif _ .»• ♦!_:tU>-nlty m pr'ssion. "It's not -richt. "P.m. whv. rtc-piri-i-'" ho rrn-.l .-:k'"-!'IJ. '•'fhat. .-shou'ld hi' tho aim of all wn.» love tliiMf iirt 1 .." Sh,> did: not. im-.-t hiN .-yrs. >, should: h,.' hniil'-n n-. -i not. for th.- vvnp:. Sonii'tliiniX i" h.-r .."tpn-wion. tn.t.1.1.-d l;m. viiiftli'ly- K'- ' Vih h,ni « t .|f --.vith lit'.-. Kor th,- hM tii"'.ta "" how sli'* h.id tiil.'l bm n.i" 4 in.l thoughtt of hit.-. 'l'h- (1-litfhf. ho t"'l f v\ her pvi-s.-ni-f op.-n.-il his cy.-s -to «MS H.- nmld not. or would not answ.-i- Ita ( -„ld: ilt'lirafi' fan- of I 'onsta.n,-,; n*--him. .md h.< Ml pulso ti. taki' I'.-r m h-s air-i- , frrcsistihl.-, «nd he rx-pn-n-r rd a tM-im, »,f irritation, infamst th-- maid ~o * the hri-. v.-t -oi. i. I'M-- *7;'?; r 3 ;; \ti«s t)i-snioml'.> ~i-i-iv i! ■ him a- '-<• -•« ;,£ rr-taf. Efr f-lt th- iitinosph-ri' ot tn„ <r.vn world, rnniiiionr'l.ii ''. Mf"*' "By till' way." sh- saul. h.ivinj s>t.ho m-t-id home. »wl si-ttl.-.i tarwlf 6>rt<iblv.. ".h it t.ri:o tivvt t'onrf-inr.' and tar m.'ith.-i- return tin' .-i,-ht.h r .. "'l'hat is till' rirsi'iit pi an. J I '' ' ' "And fch>- WfiWiniT i« to ho the nest m 'tho yountf man ,o!oi-t-<!. as liv ciwinif 1* * . !,e sht> wus appn-ri-ntlv >-•! ■ -nm*. "Wrll. I am jfla I • K ' r - : " n nmirlr ovi-r. my bov. thr*.havi-' prnvrd you both. >u. h t.ut-hi.. in. this di-liiihtfulfy pr-h.s Rjivm«n»l , ' ! ' • t CK'»mor«r« ryt-s upon hi.n " h "'" B )Vbourse Vila ai'i\ fVsii''"'." sa.id tli." »l«i lady, kindly i-nouuh. -Vl'" lio linislu-d anothi-r urn.-. I " n - ' ; spt Mr Harlaiul down at th- pi •> .K-u.l.rs.j.n.i tii.-n. tii- <:,rr;.,,c- n,..y r-tnr,. f vfirl ti.nl .-nt.-I'i'd tlio lir.ti.- a.!-iyvC and drawn th- curta-ns. >h- «.i.l shor,. y. From hi-hi ml th.-in, "f don't want, tn- ■ -'-r ri-iift' I tvnuM father w;jliv. * s you wish,;; said Mi-is [Vsmopd. -rorn.'.' Etiiymor.d." , . , K- linu-rrd: a mom-nt a.itrr sh,- had I th*.-. i-ooni. "lih-siri-1-. h- rall.-d.softly. Xlirri« was a. iiiov>-m-iit lu-hind tl- <u.-

f:l, ''vVa.ir. ten, nmmt.'S." he "I 1 ®!"' 1 " 1 I,n

pl.inntfly: "t "«w« »«- S« m - .... When he Jlw HHrsn.oml sa.-m.. Ino comment. ,t sin- had noticed his do. .. . y,. f . S | u . i< 11 jitK«t : ,t him <«<>£ "'f 1 finer (It-h'i'' *'' he controlled hiwseit sum .irnflv in keep «p- » t,nr, "l- liiMi .1' «»•!►* th»* Btu» miihr. vnt*. rlt.' ' driver's with him "»»??"• * • mide n» wITor to do so. huWitur h>m 1 bv tho curl,. Cl' l ' fc..t »«i ,:- f.o moot some people. but h- had r.o I'^ ten6w»t» "6 kcopitK i» ; •>"' l .'/ Miss i-ai-natf* t" t" ru ' r Wt before ra-llin* » ••»!». Ppmwn* "" man double fn- if he drov- r.«o:d v. •; threw himself buck on th- m fu.rul, of emotion, rmwt.i.in'e-honor —< vt vtvtlf K'« W IN r *"•. 6te (-ouUi think- of noChm.- b«f- f*-»trrr. »• hef tropieul h,- tl nt y . of h-v W*#b* tn.wnv hiiir. ft.- felt with a. s-w-r-'t >"«:••; t.ition. that sho to vim I htm. Wb.it > '>-> ~,,ulii her emotion, at len.rnmj ot ).m .>pprtuuthinif mean" When the ea-l> stopped ho jorae..- out. and. towimr to tm clnver. ru, up the stairs, i'«iwi.ras ot liyioc in tn present ami looking neith.-r t.rv.ard r,,r lMi«'kwar<{. ... A# the doi r he .<a.vv the- «t«"l';' »• • 1 empty —the curtain draavn l.et;..'e . ■' cove. Ete eaJle-d : "D-wrce : lh-; Ce v. n< > reply With a, .-hill Mm* »' he crossed tlif room, and pu led t! - d. i perv violeiltlv asiile. I'he aleovi- v.a. vacant. Cte turned, still urasp.nj te- .;,t. tain, his eye n,eehan,e:,.t!y s.-amiT • tun* 'th- canvas Itnntf in- shred... r-i.t from top to bottom ami from 1r ; ' s j' an<t the fragments of a. taruatu. It. >e ' get <>( fhimasetis steel stall lav at tin »•*>» of thi- eueel. _____