THE HONOURABLES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2504, 19 March 1902, Page 74

THE HONOURABLES.

By Gilbert D\yli:.

The South American Imei Danus. ov.lwaid bound, was slowly pa.— aig the do< khcad at Southampton. Amidst the ciowd of pi— engers on the promenade dcik stood a voting and pretty girl, her eye-> straining towards a lady who was waving her final adieux from the jetty. A«, with a tiral round of cheering, the vessel cleai d the brad and moved slowly into the open, the giil brushed a tear from her eye, and tinned ve'olutply away. Doing so, her gaze mot that of another young girl

"Beastly feeling, i-n't it? Chokj mi the throat aid tint .soit of ihing!" s<id the hitter, smiling in a frank, good-natined way.

" You see. this i-= the first time I've left England." said Dorothy AEeyrii-k apo'.ogetically "But one soo'i g. is over it. I suppose!" she added with an attempt at a smile

"Oh, ye.-, thank f»ooclne-«- !" exclaimed the gnl cheerfully. " Aie you by yourself ?"' Miss Meyriek noddfd a trifle despondcntlv.

"Then you'd better tome down to lumh with in". I've done the«e tup- so often, I know the ropes well. My inme i.-> Lesley Drew !v! v implied the young p i^on bn-kly Mi-s Meyiick went do, mi to lunch with her new companion, feeling distinctly grateful. Afteiwaul- the two gills went up on deck together.

"• We're going to have a tin- run over to Cherbourg!" announced sli^ Diew. ca-tmg an expeiienced eye aiutind "How far are you going?" "All the way— Buenos Ayie-," ie«pondtd Mi*s Meyiiik. 'uthir quielly "Then \t'< hardly worth know ng mf— I'm onh" going to Lisbon tin- trip But I know Buem.s Ayres well. You =cc. I'm one of the Diew, Binyon, and Co lot. We have ohie-es in the Argentine, Lisbon, and London, and at each there is a married brother. I spend my time between them — as one get« tiled of me. f move on to another It's Dick's turn at Lisb m just now : he wiole to say he wanted nK — wasn't it polite of him':" she added with a, laugh. " Bui I know neaily everybody in Buenos Ayres !'* she rattled on. "lVihaps I know the friends you are going to?" Miss Meyiick glanced at the ling on her finger. "I am" 1 going out to be manied!" r-he said with a faint blush. "To aMr Kewney."

Mi-s Drew gave a little exclamation. "What, George Kewney, the civil engineer!" she ciied. She stared cuiiou-ly at the girl for a moment, then with a laugh turned round impulsively and indicated an elderly gentleman a few yards from them. '•There's Mr Torrome— l'll intioduce youto him. He knows Mr Kcwiipv intimately. ' Without waiting for an assent, the brisk young person moved foiward and brought l\lr Toiromc back with her. He to a shrewd-looking old man, wearing gold spectacles, from behind which a pair of kindly eyes beamed. "What do you think, Mr Tonome.'' ciied Miss Diesv. "Tins, lady is going out to marry Mr Kewney!" '•I'm delighted to make your nequuntance!" he cikcl warmly as he shook hands-. "Ive known (ieorge "for years-, my dear young lady, and I can assure you he is an exceptionally woithy puson So much so, that he almost desei\Cs 10 be happily marlied'" „. . "1 think he more than de-eives to. «jiu Mi— Drew, unking her arm within Dorothy Mcyink'-. "And I am veiy pleased to h.ivi m.-t hib iuune wife You aie a hoii.bl" ol 1 f.Mi.c, M- Tonome' ' The old gintleman ga/.ed at he) with a thoughtful smile. "I'm simp'.N disgusting!" he ob-cned as he turned away. Later on, he came acro-s Mi-< Diew a^ain— lhih lime .-he was alone. Stopping dead in frorit of hei, he -uiveyed her ciiticiillv.

"WeTr" he asked " A spla-h of colour h.id crept to Ihc r'iiV- check", but she met his ga/e fiankly. " "He- an honoinal.le man. and I'm glad ho didn't forget it!" she a tiifie de iiantly "And having seen hei m, kes n a'l the better foi me She'.s .i den. men g'll. and I would ha\e hated him to have .v ted otl.eiw ise '" She ua\e him a little nod, thin slipped past and v.'in-he-d thiougli the companion door. Old Mi Tonome glnnetd aftei hei and Mgbi d •"II 1 were a sentimental idiot. T should i.i'l In i a bia\e. s« oe t gnl' But. then, I'm not!" he added in a giowl.

The Danus j^i>t into Cheibomg about 3 o'dock. wink Uie p.tssengeis weie at dinnei When Doiuthy Meuick came up «,» deck ag.un, the woik of' getting on boaid the luggage from the Fierii.li lug wa^ al-mo-ta I-mo-t complete. She watched the linal pio cccdings fur a few moment*, then, tinning. Mas confronted by a good-looking, tall young man, who was standing with outMietriud hand. She g.iM- .> M.ut a1:a 1 : '■lie letognihed him 'This ll 11l 1 - link -gigantic- link!" he exclaimed "It is certainly a little MiipiMng '" she said a\ ltli a doubtful glance at him. What is Ihe explanation. ' Lord Alexander Delpean laughed. -Quite simple. I".i1 ".i- in Pan-, .iml decided to join my mothci — -he'- at Cintra, just now. It stiuck me that to meet the Danus at Cheibouig and mn down u> her to Lisbon would be preferable to the Sud E\pie-«— hate toe much train, frontier bother, and all that so>t of thing'" Miss Meyiick lethcd to her cabin that evening in a «omewhiit unsettlec* .state of mind. The next morning "when she appeaiea on deck sTie was almost immediately met by Lord Alex, Tvho looked vuy turn and fich. **W« don't breakfast till 11 — =o you

The othei side has got the sun. come

iilong !"

They strolled round to the other side, and found a sunny seat. Lord Alex lighted 21 cigarette and puffed at it reflectively.

''So you" re leally ge>lng out!' he exelaime 1 at length. "Wonderful constancy ! You, only a girl ir your teens when he left — .nd not a sight of each other for three 5-3.11 s! Jove, it's ternffic on both your pints'" "1 don't see it'" she answered quietly. "Couid any giil be so un-peakably mean a- to di-appomt a man who has worked and waited so long for her?" "OK nc — .ertainly not. A- you say. it wou'd be unspeakable!" he said hunirdly. He looked up and caught her eye. "Still, we did have" some jolly times at the littls kf n-e in Kensington, didn't we? Your aunt w ill mi-- you."' Miss Meyrick was looking out to sea. "Duty must come befoie everything! ' she snd ie'entles«ly. "And I hardly consider myself indispensable to the jollity of ths little hou«e at Kensington "Theie I don't agree with you!" began Lord Alex eagerly. He came to a sudden stop and utteied an exclamation as he c night sight of Mr Tc.it juie and Miss Duw. "Hullo. Toirome — who'd have thought of .-ti iking \ou here'" he uiecl. seizing tli3 old gentleman'^ hand. They were fellow membeis of a tiavelIp;s' e "ub, and Lord Abx: hid often met him when on his peiiodic.il visits to England. An introduction to Mis.- Drew followed, then the two girls went off, and the men weie left alone. "Funny thing your knowing Miss MeyiVk?" said Mr Torrome, glancing at his hud-hip keenly. "Know her!"' he exclaimed. "Fact is, Tonome. I he.ud she was on beard, and ananged to join the boat. I wanted to se° the last of hei — illy idea, but cou'dn't help it. you know!" he added in a lower key. "Yon don't mean to say you love her!" ci.cd the little man excitedly L«oicl Alex gave a gloom { nod. "For two \eaif — but have had to keep it (jiiite to myself ! You see, she's as straight as a "die, and, having given her word to thi« Kewney mm, she's canying ii through. I admire hei for it, but I'd b? belter pleased if I knew she loved him!" Mr Toirome's eye.s blinked rapidly. '" You think she doesn't — that she loves you? ' " Shouldn't like to go a« far as that !" sail Lord Alex dubiously. The old gentleman suddenly caught hold of his arm, and drawing him down to him, whit-perccl some words in his car. The effect on his lord.ship was magical. H-s face lighted up in amazement. "Really?" he cried. Mi Torrome nodd d d< eidedlv. " Jove, then, I'll take your advice and find out !" And after dinner, that evening, he carried out his intention. He had brought Miss Meyrick to a secluded part of the deck and they had sal down. "Look here," he bioke out suddenly. "I hope you »\on't feel offended with me, but I just want you to answer one question. You need never speak to me again if you choose, but I shall feel happier if I know this one thing ! ' "What is it?" the a«ked, a trifle nervously. " Supposing you had nevei become engaged to George Kewney, never met him, do you think you could have caicd for me? ' he asked with almost tiembling eagcrno-' "Theie's- no harm in just telling me — I'm not a bothering man, you know !"' She rose from her seat and stood in front of him She was rather pale. "No, you'ie not a bothering man — so I will tell ;\oa!" -he said, gi/ing at him reflectively. She paused " Ti thing" had b.-c-n difl'iient. T think 1 could'" s],- added 111 a -uift halt frightened whi.-pu A moment afterv>ards -he had vanished. The next morning they weie n-aiing Vigo, and old Mr Toirome was- immensely bu.sy. He had two separate- mtei views with MisV Drew and Doiothy Meycick, the result of which was to leave them in a state of Muttering bswildcrment. Afterward* he brought them together, and with a few hasty words of explanation left them to go ■in search of Lord Alex. A little later he it appeared with the l.UU'i , and they found the two gnls sitting with linked arms and looking immensely happy. Mr Tonome, with a gieain in his eje. turned to MiDrew. " TinT.'s a school of poipoi-es playing about the- bow You leallv ought not to mis-; the sight '" Lesley Uiew laughed, and, 1 i-im:. -t lulled off with t'i" <>'d gentleman Loid Alex -at d<\ui bc-nh- Mi-s Meymk. F»i a f>w moments 11 it':ei -poke, then she looked up at him. "You know what Mi Tonome ha« br-en telling me?" -he began timidly. "Th.it (Jeoige and Miss Drew fell in love with one another in Buenos Ayres and ' "Yes, I know it all," h-j bioke in with a nod. "He wa.s honourable enough to tell hei about you at once. She agreed that he must keep his word, and was honourable enough t', leave for In me and get out of temptation- way, and you youiseJf -'poll my word. I've nc\ er nni acio-- su< h a p<ui.y of honouiables m my lite belniel' She ga\c .1 little low l.uigh. "Mi Tonome sajn he- hate* to sec a se/i'-e of duty rallied to the absuid, so h--is < abhug tu"('eorge from Vigo to day telling him how he has lighted matteis." ? And aftei wards-?' 1 queried Lord Alex. ' Mi-b Di.pw will go on and pay another vi«it to her brother in Buenos Ayr.s. We settled that just now," she said with a ldugh. "As for myself, I suppose I mus.t [ land and return by next boat to the little hou«e .it Kensington," she aded demurely. "I shouldn't, really,' 1 he cried. '"I should go on to Cintra and visit my mother ; she'll be tiemendou-ly glad to spe you Only an hour fiom Lisbon, and we could go on together " ' Xou see," he continued. '" there's no getting away fiom the fact that it's jour

wrecked your happiness. And the quickest and surefct meano of convincing him would be to become engaged to me immediately. I think it's the only honourable thing, you know."

He looked at lu j r anxiously. There was a moment's pause, then she raised her head and her eyes met his. She was smiling. "We must be honourable !" said she.