LOVE'S CONVICTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 60

LOVE'S CONVICTION.

By J. M. Lkgatt

The homes of Jean Meyling and Joe Radnor adjoined each other near two sandy bays, which were separated by a short stretch of rock-strewn beach on "the coast of the Hauraki Gulf. Jean was the only daughter and child of Silar and Mrs Meyling, who for upwards of a s<.ore of years had raised hundreds of sheep with not a few cattle annually on a farm which stretched in many an acre along and over the eastern hills, which here and there, undulating in gentle slopes from the coastline upwards, in places descend almost almost precipitously to the water's edge. Joe was the only child l and son of his widowed mother Mrs Radnor, who had come to the district somo twelve years previous to the time of the opening of this tale, upon the death of her husband, and when Joe was but fourteen years of age. The widow had, with rare independence and insight, invested most of the small capital left under her husband's will in an orchard with a few acres of pasture land adjoining, which was situate on one of the flats standing but a few feet above sealevel, and biting, often in the proximity of a bay, into the base of the hills. Numerous apricot, apple, peach, and plum trees grew in the orchard, while a few cattle and sheep were pastured and broods of poultry reared on the spare acres. Here Mrs Radnor, with occasional hired labour, but mainly through the untiring energy and diligence of her son, had managed to make a good living. Joe Radnor and Jean Meyling were very good friends, and something more; although exactly what that "something more" was they both should have found it difficult to define, if required to do so. Joe had thought of Jean with ever-grow-ing and kindly interest, since as a boy of but fourteen cycling to the High School at Thames, he was wont to pass her, a dainty little girl of eight riding on a shaggy, brown pony to school at Waiomo. A period of two years was all the time Mrs Radnor could afford for the secondary school education of her son. Thereafter Joe had to devote himself closely to the work of the orchard and the farm; but through neighbourlv feeling happily so manifest in New Zealand, whereby the Meylings and his mother occasionally met, he' had opportunity of maintaining his friendship with Jean. Silas Meyling was a most successful farmer, and through discreet speculation in land and otherwise was fast making more than a competency. Ho took quite a fatherly interest in Joe, giving him many helpful hints both as to the orchard and his stock. Although it never entered the farmer's head to think so, he should not for a moment have objected to the widow's son as the prospective husband of his daughter, but not so his wife, who while duly appreciative of Joe's good and sterling qualities, naturally on giving the matter thought should have looked higher socially for a partner for her only child and daughter than to the orchard and farm. And years before it had occurred to the worthy farmer himself, and even before the young people themselves had thought of such a possibility; Mrs Meyling. Avoman-like, had foreseen what the friendship of Joe and her daughter might develop into. Accordingly, with a tact and even kindliness which did her motherly heart credit, she saw to it that Joe and Jean as they grew older did not meet too often, and that when they did they were properly chaperoned. Accordinglv it was when Jean Meyling had entered her teens hut for barely three years that her mother proposed to Silas Meyling, her father, to send their daughter to boarding-school for a couple of years. Silas loved his daughter with a great affection, only possible to a man of his heart with an only child, and naturally, and in very forcible terms, gave expression to his resentment at _ the proposal. "Never" he exclaimed with vehemence and decision. "However could we bear her out of our sight, probably to break her heart among strangers" ; and before Mrs Meyling could have replied, had she cared to do so, "we'll get a governess," he added.

But Mrs Meyling did not rare to interrupt her husband in his outburst. She only knew and felt she must have her way, and so quietly responded : 'To procure' a properly qualified governess, dear, would, entail much expense— —"

"Oh, hang expense!" interjected Silas. "Besides," Mrs Meyling continued, heedless of the interruption and in her suave tone of voice, " it is such a hard matter to find jubt the kind of governess wanted for our daughter. Further," and here the voice became slightly aggressive, "look at our house " "What's wrong with it?" snapped out her husband, a little peevishly for a genial man like Silas; for instinctively he felt his cause was lost. "There is nothing wrong with it, dear,"

responded his wife in her sweetest voice, "a cosy little nook it is, just the very thing for Jean and you and me. But," and hero the voice became grave, and there was a merry yet defiant flash in Mrs MeyJing's eyes which clearly spoke of victory, as sho added, "could we ask a governess of iinushed style and education to our humble cot?"

Silas Meyling turned from his wife without a word, and the smiled. Wonderful arc the ways of lady diplomatists. Mrs Meyling had succeeded in conveying to her husband the impression that it would be for the advantage of their daughter to leave home for two vears to be educated at a boarding-school, without disclosing her weightiest reason for her proposal. But still more wonderful are the wavs of that providence, which, as a great* poet tells, "shapes" the "ends" of mortals spite of human interference. Certainly it should have proved rather disconcerting to Mrs Meyling to have learned that her very plan of sending awav Jean was largely the means through its fulfilment of furthering the very object which she sought therebv to prevent'; for it vtas only when Jean Meyling had left for a young ladies' college far in the south that it dawned upon Joo Radnor that he loved her with the love of his life. Jean returned for her vacation at the end of a year's absence—glad to be home again and to every appearance still the old Jean. She greeted Joe as if they had been parted but for a day, and that young gentleman was quick to perceive that, however much he might love her, she seemed quite unconscious of the state of his feelings and regarded him merely as an old friend. It was only when she had gone for another year and returned home for good that he perceived a marked change in her general attitude to him. Joe had then to confess to himself that Jean was no longer the same girl. She stood aloof from him, and upon occasion distinctly discouraged his advances. Mrs Meyling was quick to observe this, too; but it was characteristic of this lady that she relaxed her vigilance in keeping the young people apart from each other not one whit. Mrs Radnor, too, was quick to observe the change in Jean. With a mother's intuition, she clearly perceived where her son's love was given, and rather resented the girl's coldness. Still, she was wise, and took little notice of the same, either through reference to Jean herself or to Joe. _ He, on his part, was content to bide his time. With the unerring instinct of the man who loves trulv and strong, he felt" that Jean should yet be his, although he was very conscious of a barrier between' them 'he could not Understand. His own love he never doubted, but Jean's love for him he was not so sure of; only he hoped to win that in time, as, in face of his own great love, he believed he was worthy of it. But what of Jean's own feelings toward Joe? Did she love him in the least? Had the young lady asked this question of herself she should have found difficulty in responding, simply because she had arrived at that age and social experience when the head is apt to go before the heart in defining worth from mere social status. So, naturally, she felt that Joe was hardly of her standing as to education and accomplishment; while deep down in her heart, although thus almost unconsciously, she really loved him. Her leve had but to be tested, to prove its reality; and sure enough the testing came in a wonderful way. One hot summer's morning Jean and her mother had gone bathing on the beach of one of the sandy bays adjoining their home. The night "before had been gusty with frequent rain showers, and a strong ebb tide was flowing at the time. How it exactly occurred neither could afterwards explain, but they were scarcely in the water before they found themselves in difficulty and beyond their depth. By great effort, Jean, who was the more expert swimmer, reached the shore, to find on looking round her mother being steadily carried out to sea.

With, as it seemed, her last gasps of breath, Jean found herself shouting to young Radnor for help, although Joe at the time was nowhere within her vision. But in the orchard, plucking apricots, he heard, although ever so faintly, her call, and waiting for its repetition, still more faintly given, rushed off. Guided as if by unerring instinct, he sought the sandy beach. Taking in the situation at a glance, he did not even rush to Jean, mutely and in agony wringing her hands by the water's edge; but pointing to her home on the neighbouring hill and to a boat far up upon the beach, he in quite a gentle voice called to her, "Fetch help !" Then, as if to intercept her message, putting his hands to his mouth he made the hills ring with his loud appeal. Immediately thereafter he aws in the water, and not a moment too soon; for, glancing ahead between two.of his great swimming strokes, he saw Mrs Meyling sink. Thereupon, deeply inflating his chest, by a few lightning overhead strokes he reached where she seemed to disapjiear, and dived down deep and outward. He could swim well under water; but, seeing no sign of the missing lady, again rose to the surface to discern her helpless body lie for a moment on the crest of a wave, and but a few yards in front of him. In an instant he had hold of her just as for the second time she was sinking. A look sufficed to show she was thoi'oughly exhausted, and in a semi-unconscious state. Quickly he decided his action. To attempt to regain the beach meant death for both : the tide was too strong But bearing io their right, some five hundred yards off, as it seemed, and standing but half that distance out to sea from where they were at the time, was a rocky point with just a tiny border of sand at its base, which marked the northern horn of the bay. Even as he regarded the point it occurred to Joe that the sandy border should be much broader by the time they reached it, should they ever, for the tide was ebbing very strong. Could he catch that point was the one question for Joe? Five hundred yards to swim for

him under normal conditions was as nothing, but weigh tod as he was in his work of rescue and with only half the distance to spare against the ebb tide, he ie.t instinctively he was essaying a tremendous task. Fortunately, however, he had little time to thin!;, 'and wisely he would not allow himself to doubt. lie determined to see it through. So, jsuppcrtmg his charge, lie set himself to lose each one of the two hundred and fifty yards to the ebb.-tidc. while he gained not less than two landwards. The story 01 that struggle Joe never cared afterwards to discuss. For a time iie conquered the racing waters, but again ana again found it necessary to call upon his shrinking reserve of strength to ™ nai » the terrible fight. When but w V l l \ ?'■ yards cf the shore he co » !d just hold his own; yet he refused to give m, and that stern refusal bore him over the period which meant for his charge and himself the difference between life and but tney sufficed; for when the tired limbs and even the overstrained muscles could no longer answer the call of the Will, and the first sob broke through the compressed lips and spite of the clenched teeth, there mercifully fell upon his ear a shout He knew then that the boat had been launched and was near at hand Devoutly thanking God, he turned his head to observe the rescuing party within but a few oars' length, and remembered no more until he came to himself on the beach, supported by the arm of Silas Mevling with Jean crying over him like to break her heart.

_ Is she safe?" was his first question. Being assured Mrs Meyling was well why are you crying?" he asked Jean. That young lady replied with a look which meant more than" words. Her love had found her out, and she confessed it through her eyes.

Joe saw and understood. Her heart's true revealing had come to Jean, when, on the boat's return, she saw her mother assisted, and thereafter Joe lifted bv the men who had gone in the boat to" save them on to the beach. Mrs Meyling, it was found, was in a much less exhausted condition than her gallant rescuer. Under treatment she so far recovered as to be able, with assistance, to walk home. _ Joe suffered not so much from his immersion as from sheer exhaustion, consequent on over-exertion. The application if restoratives brought the colour to his pale face; but the minutes ere he opened his eyes were as hours to Jean. Yet were they invaluable to her, for they taught in a way she could never forget whore her love really lay.