Chapter 111.

Otago Witness, Issue 2130, 20 December 1894, Page 8

Chapter 111.

Ilawliston learns a new sensation.

The doctor was quite right. A«. the close of a week the services of Mrs Doran, the

kitchenslogingoverherpotsandpans. In spite of his books the time hung heavy with poor Hawkston on his sick bed, and it was with joy that he received the doctor one day when he assisted him to gat up and exchange his bed for a bard colonial sofa. " There, ray Bon," said the genial doctor, "that Is better, ie it not ? and now I'll just put this sling r< utid your Heck and foot, and if necessary here ate a pair of crutches, but don't use them if you can help it." For some time he was delighted with the change — to sit and look out of the open window at the trees and flowers, the grass paddocks and waving crops flooded in bright summer sunlight after the long weary hours lying on his back wa« in itself joy enough, but then once more came the craving for human sympathy and speech, and hearing her step outside bis door he cried :

" Jess I Jess ! "

"Ye 3, Mr Hiwkston, what is it?" she replied, opening the door just wide enough to admit her head.

" Ob, come in, Jess ; I want to talk to you." 11 Indeed, then, I can't, Mr Hawkston. I've got to get the dinner ready— besides, I'm not fit to be seen."

"You seem to live In that kitchen," he peevishly answered ; " have you never any leisure ? "

" Oh ! yes," she smiled back ; " 1 have all washed up and tidy by 2 o'clock, and then I sit down with my work." "Oh I bring your work then and sit with me," he eagerly exclaimed. " You will have some pity on my loneliness, won't you ? " At 2 o'clock that day, blushing and smiling, Jess entered the room. Hawkston started with astonishment. He had never paid her much attention before, but now in a freHh print dress of a light blue tint with white linen collar and cuffs, quantities of beautiful brown hair neatly coiled on her head, with here and there a curling tend til on her temples and neck, with blushing cheeks and an arch smile, he thought her positively beautiful.

'•Oh 1 thank you, Jess. I hope jou have brought your work, and wa can have a long talk— l am positively pining to ase my tongue. Yoar father and brother are away all day, and get to bed bo eatly that I never get a decent talk with them." •' My father 1 " Baid Jess, and her eyebrows went up in surprise. " Oh, I see 1

listened to her without interruption, then drawing her once more to him, he said :

" Say Peroy, Jess, not Mr Hawkston. Jess, you are a little silly. Uneducated you call yourself. Why, let me tell you one-half the grand ladies you talk of have not half the education you have received. As for my friends and relatioas, why they have not seen you yet. When they do they will all fall in love with you, and I prophesy that before long you will hold your own in any socety — nay, more, you will yourself be a leader of sooiety." This time Jess made no further effort to escape from him, but lay still in his arms. " You do love me, Jess ?— you have not yet said so."

Her reply was to pass her arms round his neck and nestle oloser in hie arms. " Eh, Jess ? You have not said yet that you love me," he said again, determined to make her ppeak. " Ob, Mr Hawkston, you know I do I " -

" Oh, indeed. And if you do why do you still say •Mr Hawkston ' ? Say • Yes, Percy, I do love you.' " "Yes, Percy, I do love— love you— only yon," she whispered, tightening her arms round his neck.

" Now, my darling, that is all settled, and we must talk of our plans for the future. I must go with Forsyth to-morrow " — and BeeIng her faoe fall he added, aahe kissed her— *• but not for long, my sweet ; only for a fortnight or three weeks to Dunedin to make arrangements, and then I'll return, and we phall never, never be parted again. But about Mr M'Lean? Will you tell him at once ? "

" Oh, poor father 1 " she cried, starting up. " How wicked of me I— l quite forgot him 1 Poor father, and poor Will too 1 They will be so disappointed 1 What shall Ido ? " and she wrung her hands. " Why Bhould they be so disappointed ? " asked Hawk6ton, looking steadfastly at her. " Is it that Mr M'Lean wanted you to marry Will ? "

"1 am afraid so," she replied, looking down and rolling up the corner of her apron as she spoke. "He wanted to see Will and I settled on the farm before he died, he said."

" Oh, indeed," returned Hawkston, looking rather stern. "Are you, then, even now engaged to Master Will ? " "Oh l no; they have neither of them spoken to me ; but I know that is what they Want."

"Well, then, now, 'want must be their master.' Tell me Jess, would you have married Will ? "

" I don't know. I think bo. I did not know what love meant, and they have been co good to me. I think I would have done anything to please them." " And now," said Hawkston, " If I waa not to return I suppose you would console yonrself with Will," aa a jealous pang went through his heart. "On 1 how can you talk like that ? Now, now that I know what it is to love, nothing — nothing would induce me to marry anyone but you, and if you did not return I should die." " There, there, my darling," he oried, " say no mor« about it. I was a brute to say that, but the thought of what might have happened If Providence had not caused my broken leg made me jealous. Now I think you had better «ay nothing to the M'Leant until I return, when we will tell them together." The whole afternoon wan spent by the lovers under the trees, until the lengthened shadows told Jess that time was flying.

"What Is the time, Peroy?" she asked. "It is getting late." •• It is half -past 5, my darling." " I must run— l have forgotten everything 1 The fire will be out 1 Father will be in at 6 for tea, and there is no kettle ready." And after one long kiss she ran home, leaving Hawkston to follow at leisure, all his dark and gloomy thoughts gone, and his heart throbbing with the joyous Bong, " She loves me 1 She loves me 1 "