THROUGH FORCE OF CIRCUMSTANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2524, 30 July 1902, Page 74

THROUGH FORCE OF CIRCUMSTANCE.

(For the Witness.)

Bt J. V. Solomon.

Jit's awfully embarrassing," mused Lieutenant Harold Springton, of the sth Drajgoon Guards, dangling his legs before the ifire in the deserted library. "However, there's one thing certain — I can't Jmarry they both. The mater's bent pn having Maggie Talbourne for a daughter-an-law. Well, of course, Maggie's a dear (girl, and I like her very much, but she's bo awfully matter of fact, takes everything par granted, and never thinks for a moment »f disputing a word I say. Now look at (Ethel Travers ; there's a girl for you — why, 'she can ride anything, and at repartee — j«Tove! I nearly died when she gave old lAmersley a sample last night. And, hang at all, isn't her 'brother Walter my best ffriend. Jinks ! I wish I could get up a tnatch between Walter and Maggie. Perhaps Maggie's at home now. I think I'll run over to Talbourne Manor and see how the ground lies."

The manor is a fine, old place, its square tower standing proudly above the stately /trees planted by former generations of TalI had been very friendly with the family for many years, and soou found my ,way up to the old-fashioned drawing room jtrhere Maggie usually filled in the time .■when she was not out visiting the sick or bestowing a kindness on some poor creature.

"Why-. Hal," she exclaimed, looking at me as if I were a burglar, "whatever brought you here?" ' "A balloon," I replied, perhaps a little sarcastically.

"You are a funny boy,'' she said, good hurnouredly. '

Now there you are — that's Maggie all over, never thinks of quarrelling.

"What do you think, Mag?" 1 remarked, carelessly, stirring the cup of tea she had $riven me : "the mater is under the delusion Jfchat we two are in love. Ha ! ha ! What a .joke ! Aren't old ladies absurdly ridiculous?" ' "Sometimes," she replied, trying very ihard to smile. "If it had been you and (Ethel Travers I should have been more inclined to believe it," she added, gazing into the fire.

"Tut, tut, that's just where it is with you girls ; a fellow can't Why, here's Walter riding up the path at a terrible rate. jWhat's up now, I wonder. You had better «tay here while I go and find out what ihe's after. lam not going for a ride to-day 'sat any rate. Hallo, ther \',' I called out from the front door. '""You seem to be in a desperate hurry, old man?' "Yes," he replied, breathlessly, jumping from his horse. "There's trouble again with those confounded niggers in Afghanistan. Stead this despatch I've just received from head-quarters. "

"Trouble in Afghanistan." it ran. "Get ready to leave on the 15th.

"Gad, this is sudden, Walter. I thought we had done with those devils."

"Let's go upstairs and tell Miss TalL&urne — in fact, it will be good-bye," he said.

"I wish I were a man," said Maggie, •drawing herself up to her full five-foot -five. *Td go too ; but do be careful and don't get hurt," she added earnestly, shaking us both by the hand. Two days later we arrived in London and left next day for the "front.' • « • • r

A few weeks after the outbreak of hostilities Mrs Hilltree gave a delightful "At home" at her fine residence in Canteibury, and during the afternoon Maggie Talbourne Rurprised the company by announcing her intention of proceeding to the "front" as a hospital nurse.

"You join the Hospital Staff !" laughed •Ethel Travers, with almost a sneer. "I should say a sewing guild would be more in your line. I suppose you've got Lieutenant Springton and Walter in your mind's eye. Trust those two to look after themselves.'

"Nevertheless I intend going next week," replied Maggie, firmly, with just a suspicion of scorn on her fine face. "I am sick of this humdrum life, and I took my certificates at Guy's two years ago," she added, proudly. "Mind the soldiers don't have to nurse you," concluded Ethel, with a smile. "I wish I could write and ask Walter to keep an eye on you." Maggie naturally felt somewhat hurt at Ethel Travers's words, but she was so busy during the next few days that she hadn't much time for thought. At length she Btarted on her journey, and lifter encountering many difficulties on the way arrived at her destination, quite prepared to undertake the onerous duties that such a campaign would necessarily entail. The hospital was rather an impromptu affair ; looked as if its destruction would be scarcely likely to ruin the insurance companies, but being conveniently situated, with a small stream running close by, it Berved its purpose very well. Everything seemed very strange to Maggie at first, but she soon got accustomed to the life, and by her charming ways soon made herself a, favourite amongst both nurses and patients. We had been hiding behind a huge rock ior the sast hour and ;i-half, getting in an occasional shot and protecting ourselves fs much as possible from stray bullets that would persist in whizzing about us. Presently Walter put up h:s glasses and peered cautiously over the top.

"I'd like to meet the whole tribe of those murderous beggars on the Common at Aldershot," he muttered impatiently "Sjy, Hal, just take a peep at that bloodthirsty gentleman filling his gun o\«r there."'

I took the glasses and looked in the #ifecfci«B: h* ifedicjileiL The Afghan hud

evidently finished loading, as suddenly I felt a sharp sting in the side, and, dropping the glasses, I fell back unconscious Then it seemed as if I were ba^k in Canterbury. Walter and I were out liding together, when I turned saddeily to him and said :

"I say, old man, I'm in a bit of a fix, but I think you can help me out of it. You see, it's this way : the mater has set her heart on my marrying Maggie- Talbourne. Well, to tell you the truth, I don't care for her enough to go <is far ;<s that, aDd you'll excuse me, won't you, old chap, but I know you retain rstl.fr a weakness for the dear girl."

"That's all very well," he intcr'ipleil ; "but I'm afraid the love's all on one sjoc ; I wish to goodness it wasn't." "Now, look here, Walter,'" I broke in, "I happen to know that she cares a good deal for you, and if you would only pluck up courage "enough to ask, I'm positive she'd accept you."

"You don't mean it," he exclaimed eagerly. - "Fact, I assure you. Come, we'll go over to the manor together. I'll invent some excuse, and get out of the Avay for a while to give you an opportunity."

"It's a bargain," he said, and we rode ■over to Talbourne Manor. Fortunately, Maggie was alone in the drawing room, so the way was clear. "What^ lovely roses these are in the garden, I said, perhaps a little awkwardly. "I must go down and pick some for your mother. I won't be a minute." The door had no sooner closed behind me than I was overtaken by a feeling of remorse which made me bitterly regret the step I had taken. It was only then that I realised what Maggie was to me. I crept cautiously to the door and listened. There was a silence for a time, and then I heard Walter say : "Miss Talbourne, there is something I wish to tell you if you will hear me." No answer. "I have waited years for this moment, and would have spoken before had I not been under the impression that you were informally engaged to Harold Springton. Tell me, is it so?"

"Xo, it is not," she faltered

Beads of perspiration stood out on my forehead, and I would have interrupted, but I was rooted to the spot. Presently Walter continued :

"Miss Talbourne — Maggie," he said, in a voice so low that I had to strain my ears to hear, "1 am an honest man, and I love you. I have loved you for years, dear. Will you be my wife?"

Oh, God! I could svaiul it no longer. With a mighty effort I burst open the door and — opened my eyes.

"Now, do keep fit ill," a voice that .seemed strangely familiar was saying. I was lying in the hospital, and a nurse was standing over me with a large sponge in her hand.

Great Scott, was I mad? No, it was really Maggie, though I hardly recognised her in her new rig-out.

"Did you accept him? " I asked eagerly. "Go to sleep, there's a good fellow. You'll soon be all right,' she ar.fcwered kindly, smiling at me with a strange light in her beautiful eyes.

"But, Maggie, it's me that wants you, not Walter," I protested. '"You'll have me, dear, won't you? We'll both go home together.'"

The tears came to her eyes as she bent close to me and murmured, "If you'll be a good boy and go to sleep. There, that's right."