SHORT STORY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2389, 14 December 1899, Page 50

SHORT STORY.

TWO IN A BOAT, NOT FORGETTING

THE MAJOR. I.

Major Langworthy, late of her Majesty's Indian Army, prided himself upon the fact that, during the course of an honourable and useful career, he had gathered together a miscellaneous collection of worldly wisdom which rendered him well-nigh impregnable to the most designing. Nevertheless, the gallant officer was once completely taken in, and all his notions of his own astuteness were shattered at one fell blow, although he has by this time fully recovered his equanimity, under the soothing influence of a little toddler, who pulls at his moustache and uses his broad back for purposes equine whenever the major- ventures into the domain sacred to his grandson.

Before the advent of this little potentate, had anyone dared to mention the name of fi certain fashionable seaside resort, the soldier's face would have in colour assumed the yellow hue of one of his own sepoys. Of course, a woman was at the bottom of the mischief.

The female conspirator in this instance was none other than his eighteen-year-old, idolised daughter Thomasine, more.famililiarly known among her intimates as«"Tom." This undutiful child, instead of concerning herself solely with ministering to the creature comforts of her old father, hod the temerity , to fall desperately in love with a young whipjiftr-snapper of her own age, who had" nothing to recommend }ihix.^ave his good looks and a family-tree, the seedpippin of which was planted during the reign of William of Normandy. The rash youth chose . a very inopportune time to gain the sanction of Tom s father to his ardent suit. A consignment of currypowder, which was the ouly remedy tlwt could even temporarily make the major forget he had a liver, had somehow been lost during transit from India, and the choleric officer was a great sufferer thereby. Major Lfngworthy peremptorily said "*No!" Furthermore, he breathed out certain dire threatenings of awful import should Charlie Carew ever again be found speaking- to the fair Thomasine.

Then, to make his enemy's rout the- more complete, Langworthy ordered a forced march from London- under scaled orders-. The girl, with her luggage and her maid, was ' unceremoniously convoyed by her father to tha seaside, ihe lame of her destination until she actually arrived being asunknown to the young lady as it is to the reader.

Tom rambled along the sands by day, and, being a good sculler, would often, in the cool evening hours, row off her superabundant energy, while the major enjoyed his cheroot upon the cliff, occasionally, between the whiffs, locating his daughter by means of a powerful field-gk'ss.

One night the old warrior rose from his wine, and, according to custom, strolled along the cliffs until he reached Ids favourite grassy knoll at the highest point. When hi 3 cigar had been smoked to a level ash, he complacently raised his glass and swept the sea in search of Thomasine. Could he believe his eyes? There sat his child, and upon her shoulders lay the curly head of Charlie Carew. Even as he watched, the girl's hand strayed amongst ihi young man's hair, and she pressed a chaste salute upon his forehead.

ISo deep was the injured parent's rage that hi 5 life might have paid the penalty had lie no.t been stung into action by Feeing the girl resume the oars and leisurely pull towards the shore. Seizing his malacca-cane in a manner than boded ill for the rash youth, Langworthy scrambled down the cliff, in order to reach the landing-stage first. He had not been stamping up and down many minutes before Thomasine brought her boat alongside the platform. With stick uplifted and fiery visage, the major stepped forward, and then stopped in sheer amazement. Ther,e sat his daughter — alone in the boat. "Where's that disgraceful young puppy Carew? " Thomasine stared at him in well-feigned amazement. "How do I know where Mr Carew is?" she retorted. " The ras-cal was in this boat with you ! -I saw him ! " he thundered. A look of pity shot into Tom's lovely eyes. " You poor dear ! " she exclaimed. " It's that nasty old sunstroke which hatf got hold of you again. I told you to carry your white umbrella this afternoon when you went to the tennis courts." Feebly the puzzled major followed his daughter to their hotel, and meekly submitted to having his head bathed with eau-de-Cologne, and being ordered off to bed .at an early hour. Through the long night hours the gallant officer cogitated upon his strange experience. Could it be true that he was suffering from a recurrence of his Indian illness. He felt well. Still, Tom was a daring young monkey, he knew from past experience ; but the youth was not amphibious, and, if he was in the boat, bow could he have &o completely disappeared? Swam off! No; that was absurd oa the face of it. Yes, it

Avould do no harm to consult a local doo- -

" Hallucinations ! " said the doctor. "My dear sir, you are the last man I should expect to see visions."

Comforted with this assurance, but still puzzled, the major set himself to solve the mystery. He purposely allowed his daughter to leave the hotel while he was still sipping his after-dinner wine, and when he reached his favourite seat, the powerful glasses once more revealed the brazen couple billing and cooing nearly a mil© from the shore. As on the previous evening, he descended the cliff when he saw the gill slowly pulling back. Only this time he was careful to keep the boat under observation. His view was unobstructcd ( .all the way down, excepting for a stretch! of road not a hundred yards long, from- Avhich a view of the sea was lu'dden by jutting rocks. Major Langworthy did this distance at an undignified trot ; but when, two minutes later, the boat again came within his ken, it only contained one occupant.

The major met Thomasine in silence, only grunting in reply to her anxious inquiries as to his health. Instead of betak- - ing himself" to the billiard room, he painfully mounted to a small platform •on the ■ roof of the hotel, on which was fixed a flagstaff. , • Planting his back against this, he levelled his glass at the sea, and seemed to, be greatly elated.

.At a .very early hour next morning the major strolled down-to the beach, and, ap— * parentiy struck by the beauty, of the- sea, decided to take a morning row.- Selecting the roomiest boat, and declining all assistance, he laboriously pulled out tor. nearly a quarter of a mile. When he reached, a. conical buoy which marked the deep, channel, he paused and scrutinised -it carefully. His scrutiny did not, however, seem 10 satisfy him, for, after a snort pause, he resumed the oars and rowed towards a, second buoy, which did double duty hy marking the other side of the fairway, and also, by means of a bell, indicated the proximity of a dangerous sunken rock. As is customary, this buoy had an opening upon one side, which revealed a small platform with lifelines attached, capable of affording support for two or three persons. Scattered upon this platform were a number of cigarette ends amidst a litter of halfburned wax vestas. Upon his return to the shore, ,the major nonchalantly paid the boatman. Then, as the latter was on the point of hurrying away with a satisfied grin, electrified tfoe man" by suddenly inquiring : "How much a time does the young gentleman pay you to take him to and from the bell-buoy?" The astonished .sailor hesitated, turnedred, aud finally, in. a hang-dog lnunaer, blurted out : , '. " A crown* sir ! " ' ' • '1 will give you a sovereign to. take him out as usual ; but allow me to bring him 1 back Ibis evening ! '' said the irate parent. Bill Onions's honesty was not proof* against such temptation, and the bargain was soon clinched. The lest of the day was spent by themajor in chuckling over the discomfort ho intended to inHicfc upon the rash youth. The contemplation of his own astuteness prevented Major Langworthy from obtaining much sleep. When his travelling-clock struck the hour of three, lie could not rest longer ; so, making some remark to the night porter about his sufferings through insomnia, he left the hotel and wandered down to the shore. There was the boat just as he had left it on the previous ingShivering slightly in the cool morning air, tho major pulled towards the Trinity House buoy, which loomed faintly out of tiie early mist. After all, he would not treat the young cub with personal violence. He would put Eim ashore, and laugh at his discomfiture. With a last stroke, the gallant major was alongside the. buoy and .scanning the frail platform on which he fully expected to see the forlorn swain. With a gasp, he realised that again his quary had escaped him. There, on the grating, lay a bundle -of clothing, surmounted by a club-tie and a flaming coloured blazer ; but no sign of the owner was there.

'"" Foolhardy young idot!" muttered the major, "to swim ashore with such a dangerous current, and hampered by part of his clothing, t&o. If he comes back for his suit he will find it wet, '" added the soldier, sweeping it into the water. All that day and during the next the major sulked with his daughter ; and the fair Thomasine, on her;part, seemed to be strangely perturbed. From his point of vantage, Langworthy saw the girl take her usual evening's amusement ; but, to her surprise, she was not met by Charlie Carew.

His triumph, however, was very shortlived. '

Scarcely had father and daughter finished their breakfast on the succeeding morning, when a waiter announced that qne of tho waterman from the beach "was waiting to see the gentleman. This simple announcement fell like a bombshell upon the twain. The face of. Thomasine became suffused with a vivid red. Ifc must be that horrible man come to betray the lovers' confidence.

" You had better leave me alone to see this person," said the major. Assuming his most severe air, Major Langworthy curtly asked the fellow to Etate his business.

William Onions twirled his cap, smiled a vacuous grin, tried to look knowing, and said he called about that little affair th© other morning. " For the service you rendered me then, you were amply paid, and the matter is now; finished. I .'

A cunning gleam shot into the man's eyes as- he impertinently retorted : " Come, I knows something, and' nobody else knows anything about it. I'm a poor man, and there's them -what -would give ?; power of money to know what we knows!" Almost incoherent with rage, the major stuttered:. . • ;

"Get out of this, you blackmailing rascal ! "

V Oh, I'm a blackmailing rascal, am I ? " said he. "Well" — in measured tones — "I ain't no murderer ! "

"What — what do you mean?" " This is what I means ! " the man said, producing from under his guernsey a copy of the local paper, and pointing to a prominent notice.

" Much excitement has been caused," iead the paragraph, " over the unaccountable disappearance of the Honourable Chas. Carew, fourth son of the Earl of Cardigan, ■who has not been seen since he left the Grand Hotel on the evening of Friday last. Grave apprehensions are entertained, owing to the fact that sundry garments which that gentleman^ was known to be wearing have been discovered floating in the sea off the ' Shingles.' The police are very reticent upon the subject, but are believed to possess a clue which points to foul play." With rigid features, the major sat as if turned to stone.

" Here," said he, mechanically extracting a bank note from his w%Jlet, " take this ! It is all some hideous mistake ! I did not even see the youth. I will see you later on."'

Left to himself, the wretched man buried his throbbing brow in his hands and gave wav to the bitterest reflections. It was well known that he was at enmity with the deceased, and had been heard more than once" to threaten him with personal violence. Then the next link in the chain would prove his bargain with the boatman. The night-porcer could testify as to the untimely hour he had left the house on that fateful morning, and the shallow excuse invented as a pretext. And his child ! His poor little Tom ! The love-pledge which his wife had given him at tho cost of her own life ! Never again would the girl be able to hold up her head.

Even as he thus cogitated, Thomasine entered the room, her hat hanging upon her arm.

With a groan the major rose from his chair, disclosing his pallid cheeks and shaking frame. •' Oh, you poor dear ! cried the girl. " You are ill, and I have been neglecting you." "Tom — my little Tom," ho cried, "your poor old father is in trouble. Come and kiss him, as you used to do when you were a little mite, and say that you love him — will always love him, in spite of all!"

In a second the lithe form was across the room, and the close-cropped grey soldierly head reposed upon the girl's frail bosom.

" You know I love you, daddy darling, and always will ; but — oh, you dear old papa ! — I came to ask you not to be so cruel to Charlie. I have just "

As if stung by a scorpion, the major^ drew liimself free from her embrace.

"It. can never be!" he almost wailed.

Stung into resentment, Thomasine swept from the room, leaving her father a prey to the wildest emotions. At length his perambulations led him to the well-worn despatch box, which stood in the. corner. Unlocking this, he took from within a heavily-plated revolver.

"The only way out of it!" he muttered.

Stop, though ! He must perform one dut\ r that he dreaded worse .than a thousand deaths !

Unsteadily he sought his daughter's room, and, with gaze averted, plunged into his awful recital. Pausing for nothing, he told his story, finishing up by saying : "If I could but recall the past, how readily would I "join your hands ! "

An hysterical laugh greeted his ears. "He is not dead ! " cried Thomasine. "He is waiting on the bell-buoy. And you will join our hands and say, ' Bless you ! '' You never break your word ! " Then it flashed upon the wretched man that she was mad. The sudden shock had unhinged her reason. Vainly he tried to calm her ; but his endeavours were useless. Charlie was waiting for them ; they must go tc him. Atlength, reluctantly, he allowed her to lead him to the beach.

Suddenly the setting sun burst its way through a cloud-bank, turning the water into a huge bath of blood! Silhouetted against the light rose the high buoy, and sitting upon the narrow platform was the well-known figure of Charlie Carew, blazer and all. -

," Charlie, Charlie ! " excitedly cried the jubilant maiden. " Here's the dear old dad come to give us his blessing." It is possible that Major Langworthy did not hear much of the explanation the Hon. Charles- vouchsafed anent the manner in which, instead of making for the shore, he had swum with the current to a passing yacht ; or the subsequent difficulties which prevented him from communioating with Thomasine until that morning. Blood danced before the major's eyes, and happening, upon landing, to come face to face with the treacherous Bill Onions, he administered to that gentleman such a public caning, the like of which he never had had before.

The sequel to tbft story is indicated at its commencement.

— Bombay is the leading pearl mart of the world. — The odour of musk, which wag mixed with the mortar when the mosque of St. Sophia in Constantinople was built, is still perceptible. — The consumption of tobacco is decreasing in France, being at the present time about 21b per head of the population annually; whereas in Holland it is 71b, in the United

States 51b, in Belgium and Germany 31b, in Austria-Hungary 2£lb, and in Canada about ' 2ilb. The consumption in Sweden and Russia is about the same as in France, while in Great Britain it is not quite lJrlb. — You will be able to dine on the top of Vesuvius at the Paris Exhibition of 1900 and have a look at Dante's Inferno inside the crater. The projector of the miniature Vesuvius — which he purposes to exhibit — proanises to supply real lava and real, flames, and the general characteristics of the mountain 3xactly as it looks. There will likewise be a funicular railway at Vesuvius; restaurants, cafes, and peepshows on the way up ; and inside the volcano will be living pictures, with representations of scenes from Dante' j

and being a new idea, is sura to arouse a great deal of attention and interest m the onlookers. Brides' and bridesmaids' bouquets, floral crooks, ladies' and gentlemen's buttonholes, all provide a wide field for your efforts, while another novelty in decoration is an " arrangement of cut flowers on a wicker or bamboo table or stand for room decoration."

My dear Readers. — So many kind inquiries about " Grandmother " have from time to time reached me, that I give you the following extracts from a letter received from her last week : — " Dear Emmeline, — I feel that I must drop you a line — it is nearly 12 months since I .wrote last — to thank the members of the Cosy Corner Club who sent such kind messages to me. As I grow older, I get very remiss in my correspondence ; but I have enjoyed to the full the papers on different subjects contributed to the C. C. Club, and although prevented by distance from joining in the discussions, I take it for granted, Emmeline, that you have accepted me as a member. Like ' Dot's ' youngsters, I, too, ' long for the arrival of the Witness ' — and let me remark in passing that ' Civis ' has had to ' take a back seat ' ! No wonder he was afraid to give you women the franchise. There is no doubt, Emmeline, that you and Dot, each with your large circle of correspondents, have claimed your fair share of most interesting room. " I never think of destroying a Witness : sending them all over the island to my friends ; some go to the West Indies, even. . . , "The cookery book you sent me (Mrs Miller's) has been greatly in demand. I went to Suva for three months for my health's sake, and took my book to show

present themselves in most alluring fashion. Some of us, doubtless, will stay at home tn extend our hospitality to friends, and a very delightful thing it is to entertain the right kind of people ; but alas ! everyone who has a house understands that there are drawbacks appertaining to the exercise of the virtue of hospitality. Who does not know the enthusiastic pleasure-seeker who swoops down on one unexpectedly at the most inconvenient hour of the day or night — so charmed to see you all again, so willing to be put up anywhere for a week or two (generally an indefinite period.) A few days', or even hours', notice would make all the difference in one's "feelings of pleasuie or the reverse, ,but these impulsive holiday-makers think differently, and delight in surprising their friends in this somewhat inconsiderate manner, forgetting that in all probability plans have been made in which it is iHposs/ole to include them, and which on that account will have to be foregone." People who appear in this unexpected way always remark .in airy fashion that anything will do for them, which is assuredly not the case. What selfrespecting feminine head of a household can offer a guest the somewhat sketchy repast that would have been amply sufficient for her own lunch? — and it would be but dull work for a visitor to spend the whole afternoon at a meeting for organising some Christmas charities, so that must be reluctantly given up; and all this. might have been obviated had a few days' ' notice been given oL the visitor's proposed advent, and time given to make plans for her pleasure and entertainment. But no, she is brimming over with the holiday spirit to the exclusion of all else, and is com-