SHORT STORIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 93

SHORT STORIES.

A BIACH ROMANCE. By Etxxa. ' Eose Evans was 21. Tall and slight, with blue ej'es and auburn hair, surely she was just the girl to take a man's eye, especially if that man spent most of his time on a dirty cargo- boat as Jack Burns did. Eose was staying with her aunt at Wairaki Beach, on an indefinite holiday. She revelled in the sweet country air, the walks on the smooth, white beach and rides over the hills, often as not with an attendant swain, for Eose, as is the way of maids with Lucretian tresses, was a sadt flirt/ The unaffected attentions of the honest young fanners and their friendly rivalry amused- her and added not a little to the pleasure of her -sojourn. One evening there came to call on her aunt a- stranger of sturdy build, slightlyrolling gait, and speech that smacked of the sea. This was Jack Burns, a sailorman, whose -boyhood) had been spent at ' Wairaki Beacli, and who had now -:onj^ home for a few -weeks while his boat wak V undergoing repaire. . .<. *' I Rose looked charming. The exciteraenb' of making a fresh conquest gave brightness to her eyes and a fresh colour to her cheeks-. . A little to her annoyance," Jack persisted .' in talking to her aunt., and though his glance often rested on the piquant face, he could not or would not be induced to join in the merry -conversation of Rose and the two of three neighbouring swains who had dropped in for an hour or two. . * "Mr Burns seems rather shy, auntie,'* said Rose after their guests' departure. "Shy?" laughed Miss Lester. "You naughty -minx! Do you think every man you nueet is going to succumb to your charms? Jack has seen something of the , worldi during the last 15 years, and is not* "- to be easily fooled, I fancy." "Aha !" thought Miss Rose. "This is interesting. We'll see if Mr Jack is sot worldly wise." To 'tell the truth, there_ was a freshness and originality about the sailor which had a certain amount of fascination for the town-bred girl, accustomed to the society; of pale-faoed clerks and prosperous business men. The next morning, therefore, Miss Rose betook herself to the rocks with/ 1 a book. Some distance round the sand* 1 " three old fishermen were dragging a net* and with them Rose descried someone eke ; so she applied herself studiously tt| * her book. "Good morning, Miss Evans: Did V frighten you?" as Rose looked up witfi. a- little start. "Why, I believe I've been almost asleep,"' she said, laughing. "You've been fish* ing?" "Yes, and rattling luck we've had.. • They're making me take a share of the salvage," he said, showing her the contents of a kelp bag he carried. "What beauties !" said Rose. "It seems positivly wicked not to let them keep their freedom. What a man will not do for sport!" Jack looked at her with a smile, seemed/ about to make a retort, and then raised his cap, saying: "Well, I must carry the game through now, and see them safe home to the galley. Perhaps Miss Leater would! accept two or three. I'll be glad to bring them round later on." Rose - thankedi him, and watched the well-knit figure as it turned up the road! and disappeared, leaving behind a whiff, of tobacco. That afternoon Rcee stayed! home. Jack arrived in due time with the

fish, and was invited to partake of after- j noon tea with the ladies. Rose did not talk much, and her few remarks were un- ; dually sensible. Mies lister quietly noted the fact, and, being something of a match-maker, as many good 'adies 01 uncertain age are, privately propounded a little scheme. "A good, sensible fellow— just what she needs. Her society mother wouldnt approve, I suppose, but then Rachel s head is too fulV of high-flown nonsense. go when Jack asked Miss Lester and her niece to join him in an afternoons row, the invitation was accepted, ana though a pleasant time was spent, it was evident that Jack was quite as much edified with Mia Lester's company as with that of her niece.' Soon after this Rose diecovered that the sailor was fond of music, and it did not take much persuasion to induce him. to join his rich baritone with her sweet mezzo-soprano in some 01 tne quaint old songs and duets which formed feel that she was making the conquest she had planned. And, indeed, the desire to do so seemed dying Within her. Good comrades she could be Vith this straightforward sailorman ; but his dtrong, simple nature seemed to quell lier coquettish-spirit. • "You're in a fair way to handle a boat, -Miss Rose," he said to her one day when '- she tried, not unsuccessfully, to manage both oaTs. „ -R7-11 "Think I'll get a certificate soon/ Will you let me ship with you when you re captain?" she asked laughingly. : "Oh, yes ; when I'm captain 1 11 engage you as first officer. Is it a bargain? -"Right!" said Rose. "Oh! wouldn't mother be horrified if she could see her precious daughter. Freckles and sunburn are not part of my mummy's creed at all. She'll insist on cold cream and sleeping in gloves when this hoydiemsh country cousin returns to town." "You'll be glad to go back to Dunedin, I suppose?" he asked, looking at her. - "I? Oh, I don't know. No and t yes. J love the freedom here ; but, of course, there are compensations in a town life. "Suc> as ?" he queried. • She flashed him a bright glance. Why, 'At homes/ of course. It's so delightful, tlon't you know, to discuss Mrs Fitznoodle s ■costumes, her servants, and various other encumbrances. So very refining, and improving, too, to be a member of our Girls Club, -where at a Browning afternoon that . illustrious' poet is relegated to a 'back ©eat/ while the members rave over the new jujtor or discuss spitefully, the amount of ' attention "paid them by the latest in dys-peptic-looking youths." "They are worthy compensations," he "said with a laugh. "You'll miss them "when you join your ship." That week Jack went off to Dunedin, and -returned next day, bringing with him an odd-looking little girl of 6even or eight. • "The little lass needs come of your fresh sea breezes to put a bit of colour into her cheeks, mother," he said. "She's just over from Sydney for two or three months, so if you'll have her I'll fix up about her board." Mrs Burns agreed, happy to do anything for her son's friends. Dottie was introduced to Rose. The little pale face and wistful eyes appealed to the gii'l* who soon grew to love the "-child. Then Rose discovered that Dottie could sing — anything from coon songs to operatic airs were familiar to her ; and one day as Rose played a lively air, up and down and round the room she danced, scarcely seeming to touch the floor till •jR6«e stopped, and, looking at the flushed face and shining eyes, 6aid. "Who taught you to dance like that, Dottie?" "Max," said the child. "And don't he ewear awfully if we forget.' 1 ' "Why, who is Max, and what does it matter?" askedi Rose. The wistful look came back to the child's teyes. "He teaches us. It's awful, but it's better than being at home all day, for Ihen Vera shuts me up, and she is so -wnld sometimes she ' Miss Lester and Jack entered the room at this moment. "Just see Dottie dance," said Rose, turning to the piano. "Excuse me, Miss Rose, but we can't wait. Thank you, no, Mi6s Lester. Come, Dottie !" Jack's voice sounded harsh, and his face looked strangely stern and old as he took his departure. "What is the matter. I wonder?" Rose asked her aunt ; but neither of them could understand the sudden change in Jack's cheery manner. Then came news that Jack must join his boat on Monday ; so on Saturday the ladies arranged a little picnic for up the river. Mrs Burns and Dottie, Rose, and her aunt, with Jack as skipper, set out for that little beauty spot known as .Maori Gully. Rose was in a hilarious mood. I>aughing. sinking, and rowing, she was the life of the little party. Deep down in h-er heart, she did not feel this gaiety. Why, she guessed. How siHy ?he was — what was this man to her, and what was she to him? Yet — she forced herself to be gay. jdid succeeded well. , After lunch, Rose proposed to take a photograph of the group. She would take it from a big boat which was moored at a little distance from the bank. Jack was to row her out, and then return tc m.-Jte one of the group. As he was making fast the painter, preparatory to assisting the girl with her apparatus, she, with gay independence, tried to spring into the bip boat, missed her footing, and with a little cry fell into the water. A strong "fresh" was running down with the tide, and in a moment the girl was carried quite out of reach. Like a flash Jack's coat was off, and he leaped into the water. A. few powerful strokes brought him up to the sinking girl, and, grasping her Hjcmly wfth one hand, he made for the sfcoi*. The current carried 1-hem down aome distance before he could land, which

at laet, with considerable difficulty, he was able to do. Rose lay pale and motionless with closed eyes. Seizing her hand and bending over her, he murmured passionately, "My darling! my darling! Come back to me." Though dazed and only half-conscious, Rose opened her eyes at his words, and with an effort tried to raise herself. Just at that moment Dottie came running round the bend followed by the two ladies. To the chorus of questions and exclamations, Jack answered brassnely enough. "Better get ready to go home," he said, "and as soon as Miss Rose feels fit, a walk down the river-bank will keep her from getting cold. I'll steer along, and send a man -with a trap and rugs to meet you." There was little sleep for Rose that night, with those passionate words ringing in her ears. She knew now. She loved this man with all the strength of her hitherto unawakened nature. Tomorrow he would come and learn her newly-discovered secret. But the next day came, and no Jack appeared. After clrarch that evening Rose and her aunt sat by the fire. "Strange that Jack has not come to sav 'good-bye.' What is the reason of it 1 wonder?" and Miss Lester looked at her niece. "Rosie, what does that mean? she said, touching the girl's flushed cheek. "Oh, auntie, I don't know. Why should he not come? I didn't know before—how it hurts. It is my punishment, I suppose." She was trying now and quietly and very sympathetically did < Miss Lester listen to her story. ! Suddenly a step sounded on the veran- , dah, and 'before Rose could compose herself the object of their conversation entered the room. . "I'm off at sin the morning, he said, , "and I've just looked in to say 'good- . bye ' " Ke seemed agitated, and presently beld out hie hand. Surely— surely he Was not going like this? Rose looked > up -with an effort, and, flushing and paluig , by turns, said rather incoherently. Mr Burns, you— l have to thank you— for vesterday-you " She held out her hand ; but, without looking at her, Jack turned and abruptly left the room. , The next morning Rose received the following note : — Dear Miss Rose,— l a confession to make— and this because I loved you from the first evening I saw you. len year ago— mad fool that I was— l met md married a Sydney girl, years older than myself. In a very short time I discovered that she was not what 1 thought her, and in lees than a year I came home to find that she had gone, taking with her our baby girl. Later on I saw her on the stage of the X Theatre, and on my attempting to speak to her, she said she wished never to set eyes on my face again. My one wish then was to recover my little girl whom you now know as Dottie. Three weeks ago a trusty friend wrote to me saving that Vera Vincey, of Potter's Operatic Company, had been ( removed to Dartley Mental Hospital, , where she now lies dying. Dottie was | a "juvenile" in the same company, and I had little difficulty in persuading her to leave a life she hated. You know it all now. and forgive me, but i thought last night that perhaps you cared a little. I can trust myself to write no more. Rose evinced no dcsiro to return to her city home. Mr and Mr.* Evans left on * trip to the Old Country, and, to her aunt's delight, Rose settled permanently in the cosy cottage at Wairaki Beach. One year later a visitor came up the i path-stalwart, bronzed, and boarded, { and carrying on his shoulder a brightfaced laughing child. ] "Chummy, chummy! she called to Rose. "He's back, and he's mv really own daddy now." One look in his face told Rose" all. He had come back to her. b he slipped her hand into his, and— well, they were married within a fortnight, and now every month a, genial-faced captain receives a boisterous and loving welcome to hie home in a pretty villa in a. well-known Wellington suburb.