UNCLE SILAS’S LEGACY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 78

UNCLE SILAS’S LEGACY.

By Noble Mathieson

• Hands in pockets, Humphrey Allardyce turned into the street and walked restlessly up and down. There was a worried, anxious look about the dark, handsome face, an aimlessness about his manner, a perplexity in the brown eyes which betokened inward anxiety. “Of all the ridiculous ’’ He thrust his hands deeper in his pockets, and actually smiled. The ridiculous side of the whole thing was beginning to shine through, like the sun through a cloud. “I always thought poor old Uncle Sias a bit of a crank, but to think he would leave me his money coupled by such an absurd condition! By Jove, it’s great! It’s just like him. I suppose the old chap knew I would never marry, so he devised this idea for a joke. ” Hm! —l can’t afford to let the live thousand slip through my fingers though. It’s a big thing to a fellow making only three quid a week—a regular nest-egg. I can’t afford to lose the brass—but the condition ! Great Scott, and only one week left to find a girl who will marry me.” He almost collided with a stout, flustered woman, loaded with parcels. He commenced to apologise, but she had sailed on, reminding him of a Dutch galleon in full sail, the feathers in her hat spread out to the wind, her arms surrounding numerous brown paper bundles. He stepped into a car and started for home. He must think things out in quietude. The bustle and noise in the street were distracting. His private sitting room at his lodging-house whs quiet and peaceful. He the room restlessly. The clock on the mantelpiece ticked slowly, steadily; a dull fire burned in the grate. Then a sudden inspiration came to him. He sat down at his table, and drew out a pen and paper. He wrote quickly for a minute, then tore the paper in two and began again, and then he looked over the result; PERSONAL.—-Young man, 25, would like to meet Young Lady, with a view to matrimony. —Address Immediate, Times Office. He slipped it into an envelope, put on his hat, and walked to the newspaper office. “ Perhaps it was a foolish thing to do,” he argued, as he walked home; “but, still, what .was I to do?” And then he laughed. Tire novelty of the position rather amused him. The advertisement duly appeared. Humphrey Allardyce read it thoughtfully next morning. He felt half-ashamed of it. “I wonder will it make anything turn up?” He decided to call at the newspaper office. The time was getting short. Something had to turn up coon or he would lose the money. The next day found him at the office. He passed the door twice before he had the courage to go in. He wished himself out of the whole rotten business. Inwardly he felt embarrassed, worried. But at length he walked boldly in, and asked carelessly if there was anything for “Immediate.” The clerk began piling up the letters. Allardyce gasped. One after another they came—big envelopes, small envelopes, white, cream, blue, and green. Allardyce opened bis mouth to speak. But the letters poured down, the heap growing bigger every second. At last they stopped. Allardyce gazed at the man behind the counter, who remarked, “That is all ; but if you call hack to morrow there will pro bably be a lot more.” “ Great Scolt, I won’t—l won’t bother coming back to-morrow. Allardyce crammed the pile into his pocket. “You can burn the rest.” he said. The man behind the counter smiled. Allardyce went home. He tossed the bundle of letters on to the table, and opened them one after the other. He became lost in a maze of feminine des xiptions, and big, sprawly writing, small, dainty writing, scented paper, and paper bellowered with forget-me-nots; weights and heights; long elaborate descriptions of hair and eyes and face and figure. He mopped the perspiration from his forehead, as ho picked up another one, and ran his knife along the envelope. This’one read; Dear Sir, —I am writing in answer to

your advertisement in this morning’s Times. If you Avould care to see me, you may do so any afternoon at our home, Hillside Cottage, W . Sincerely yours, Ella Mob ton. Ele read the note tAvice, and then, noting the address, he AA'ent to the telegraph ortice and Avired : Coming to-morroAV, afternoon train.— Hu.’.utirey Allaiidyce. He experienced a curious sensation as he handed the telegram to the clerk—a queer feeling that, somehoAV or other, he had put his foot in it. ’The advertisement had been an impulse of the moment. He dreAV out the plain envelope again and unfolded the single sheet of thick notepaper and read it again. It Avas such a plain, simple little note —somehoAV or other he could imagine the girl aa-lio Avrote it. Ho liked the name, too; his mother’s name had been Ella. It seemed a link betAveen them. His imagination ran riot. He was bordering on sentimentality when he Avas brought to earth by the stopping of the car at the gate. Allardyce Avas nearly an hour too early for the train. He paced up and down the platform; he passed a Avord or two with the porters; he bought a paper, but he didn’t read it. Then he Avatched the people coming and going; he even read the advertisements posted up here and there. Then he bethought himself that he ought to have bought some chocolate?— chocolates are such a necessary thing. He left the station and Avent to purchase some. He Avas very particular about the box he chose, even to the colour of the ribbon. Then he Avent back to the station. The last bell was ringing; he made a frantic rush for a carriage, and got on just in time. The train moved slowly out, and then he remembered he had no ticket. Tie smiled a sickly smile as he took a seat in a second class carriage, and wondered Avhat he Avould do next or what would happen next. He felt ‘prepared for anything. His eye travelled round the compartment. A sleepy Avoman in the corner nodded and dozed over a great piece of knitting. Two middle-aged business men heatedly discussed politics, bringing doAvn their fists with unnecessary vehemence to emphasise their remarks. A tired-faced Avoman, shabbily dressed, tried to soothe a fractious baby; tAvo schoolgirls giggled and tittered together, and opposite a young lady bent over a magazine. He studied her closely, in that ridiculous way Ave often study strangers in a raiKvay carriage. She Avas young and pretty and daintily dressed. She Avas fair, Avith eyes as blue as the ocean, and hair that rippled over her forehead under the little felt hat. She must have felt his eyes upon her. for she looked up and their eyes met. Her lashes drooped, and she turned to open the AvindoAV. He stepped forward to assist her. She thanked him SAveetly; then they commenced to talk. It Avas all so natural, wasn’t it? He found himself groAving more interested every minute. She Avas a fascinating girl; there was a freshness, a girlish enthusiasm, a frank snnniness of disposition A’ T hich some hoAV rang true. It was infectious, too; she made him feel almost like a boy again. They chatted away—talked of everything and anything that cropped up. They seemed like old friends. Then the guard came through. The lady presented her ticket. Allardyce pulled out a handful of silver. “ I hadn’t time to get a ticket,” he explained. He fancied the girl on the opposite side smiled, and he suddenly felt hot all over. Perhaps she had seen him wandering about long before the starting time. He felt rather foeflish. “ Yes, W ,” he said to the guard. “Return.” And to the girl: “I AA r as in time, but I had forgotten a little bit of business doAvn toAvn, so that Avas Avhy I Avas late.” He spoke carelessly “ Your destination and mine are the same,” she said, changing the conversation. “Oh! You live there, perhaps?” “ Yes.” “I am just coming up on a little bit of business. I——” He flushed again as he' thought of his missive. Why did it make him so wretchedly uncomfortable? “I am going back to night.” he finished tamely. “I see,” she said. She spoke quietly in rather a preoccupied way. Suddenly there Avas a deafening crash, like the dull roar of a great gun. The sleepy Avoman in the corner suddenly became gaUmnised into life; the Avoman Avith the baby screamed. The carriage seemed to be pulsating, vibrating; then it gaA’e a mighty lurch and heaved foi’Avard on its side. There Avere screams from the women and the Avildest confusion. Humphrey Allardyce rose from 1 Avhere he had fallen, feeling more dazed than hurt. He glanced about him. A few yards UAvay lay his companion. He Avas at her side in an instant. The face Avas Avhite, the hands Avere locked together. His blood ran cold. Was she dead? He went in search of Avator. The woman in the corner Avas bemoaning the loss of some luggage which she declared “the Government Avould have to recompense her for.” Allardyce couldn’t help saying that she should be glad she had escaped unhurt. She stared at him in anger that could And no expression in Avords. The guard Avas running hither and thither finding out Avhat damage had been done. “A collision,” he said shortly in answer to Allardyce’s inquiry, “tAvo trucks and the tAvo carriages derailed.” Humphrey hastened back with the Avater. He had obtained a little in a tin cup. Ho held it to the Avhite lips from which every bit of colour had gone. He Avet his handkerchief and laid it on the high smooth forehead. He chafed the hands that lay limp and cold by her side. He watched her eagerly. She stirred slightly j then she opened her eyes, His heart gave q. bound. “What happened?” she asked Aveakly* And then she smiled faintly* “Oh, yes,

I remember, there was a dreadful noise. Is anybody hurt?” ‘‘l think not,” he said gently. ‘‘But I do not know. Everyone seems to have had a severe shaking. Do you feel better now?” he asked bending over the pale face. ‘‘Oh, yes, I am all right.” He was still holding her hand. The colour overspread her cheeks. ‘‘lt was so good of you to look after me,” she murmured. “Good?” he repeated. “But I have done nothing.” Their eyes met. Hers so shy, so soft, so gentle; his clear, bright, sparkling with a joyous brilliant light. “We're two miles from W It was the voice of the guard. ‘‘There is a fourwheeler here that is going there, and will take any passengers. The repairs will delay us an hour or two. The conveyance is outside waiting.” Humphrey lifted his companion to her feet. She had had a big fright, and she was still trembling as he put her arm in his and gently helped her from the damaged carriage. The cool fresh air revived her. It was a pleasant drive. But Allardyce wasquiet. He looked almost anxious. The girl beside him watched him. She was the cloud on his face, and she forbore speaking. He was thinking of what had brought him here. It seemed strange that he had now not the slightest desire lo go and see Miss Ella Morton. Perhaps he did not realise himself how much the girl beside him had to do with this change of feelings. He felt like a man on a wild-goose chase when he sees something which is infinitely more desirable than the goose. But he must keep his word. He had wired that he was coming, and he must go and see her. “We are nearly there,” said his companion. “Look,’ she said, pointing to an old-fashioned country house almost hidden by trees and foliage. “That is where I live; and you must come right up and see mamma, and have a cup of tea. Mamma will be so glad to see you when she hears how you have looked after me.” He felt glad of the respite. “Thank you,” he said. “I will be glad to come.” He smiled, and went on: “We haven’t introduced ourselves yet. Seems to me we’ve known each other for years, and yet we don’t even know each other’s names. My name is Allardyce —Humphrey Allardyce” he bowed—“your humble servant, Miss ” Her face was crimson. “Ella Morton,” she finished. “What 1” His voice betrayed his surprise. “Is there anything so very remarkable about the name?” she asked, her eyes twinkling. “You are the lady I was coming to see.” He looked into her sparkling eyes. “Yes,” she said. Her eyes fell beneath his earnest gaze. “I will tell you all about it,” the colour again mantling her brow. “I saw your advertisement. I was feeling in rather a mischievous mood, and I thought I would answer it for fun. Of course I had only done it for a joke, and "when I got your telegram I felt a bit frightened. I imagined you in all sorts of ways, and I didn’t know what to do, so I made up my mind to go to town and come up on the same train. I know most of the people that travel up and down here, and so I wouldn’t have much trouble in finding you. I was so frightened you might be so impossible ’ she paused. “A most impossible monster,” he said laaighing. “Am I?” “Of course not,” she said. “You have been very good to me. I cannot thank you enough.” They had reached the garden gate. He opened it, and they walked up together. At the foot of the white stone steps, over which sweet peas and creepers trailed in wild profusion, they paused. They looked down on the green fields and the open country. He slipped his arm around her, and she did not draw away. “How beautiful it all is,” he said thoughtfully. Then his eyes rested on the fair face, bathed in the beautiful rays of the setting sun, beside him. “And you are the most beautiful of all, Ella, darling.” He bent and kissed her. The colour came into her face, and she turned away that he might not see it. “How soon can you be ready to marry me, Ella?” His voice was low and earnest. She started. Then he told her why it must be so soon. It would mean five thousand to start housekeeping with. “Ella, will you manage it, dear? If you cannot, it does not matter about the money; but I will not wait for yon very long anyway. I love you too well, and I want you, darling.” “We must ask mamma,” she said, as she led the way inside, into oldfashioned comfortable sitting room, where a sweet-faced woman rose to greet them. Humphrey Allardyce glanced at the gentle, motherly face, noticed the sweet womanly dignity, and listened to her frank loving welcome, and—he was satisfied. And Mr and Mrs Allardyce got Uncle ■Silas’s legacy. 1