THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 112, 2 May 1908, Page 3

THE STORYTELLER.

AX THE CALL OF LOVE "What about tile danger': lXie» the operation imperil the lite of the patient!" asked Castle, gaming keenly at flu friend. Though lie could have answered the question ollhaud, Dr. Uriuoud hesitated, blhould he say yeo or no! Once before Cattle had lo>i a woman's love through an aet of quixotic* gatiairtry, and wondered whetuer it >\)uid not be best to tell a lie uuw. amt •o prevent biin conunitiing a st-tuii. iuoliehly nove -eed. "Hkert >- the danger of the ana«»~ j thetie, of course. B«it from a isurgitat foint of view it Uinnot be regarded as a striou™ operation,' eaid the duilur; travhfuliy. I

"And the rasea are similar—the case;•f tiladyu and the woman vou treated. »t the hospital?'' "They arc ideutical." "The o]K'iatK'ii on the wonting eyes. *ii» ipiiU' a sliew'so!" "Yes." Uistle Ml low in his chair, gating *£iross at the diAant iiilU with an US~ teeing svare, bin chin sunk upon his breast.

"Why ar« you asting all these questions I" impiiieu the dtutor, looking •traight into his companion's terribly scared face. "There can be but one rwison," tame the reply, in a deep tender voiee. see what all this will mean for triad)"*!'' "A cuctessful operation would mean tliat she would regain something to the loss of which she Ims become reconciled." Then, reaching out to him, lie twiftly demanded, "Aid what might tt mean (or you!" "Heaven knows!" ejaculated Castle, and the hand on tibe tiable twitched in; response tu ib> owner's agitation. "Might it not übitter into dull, greji dust the golden future on which v° u have dweit daily for months past! asked the brilliant young surgeon, m j hard, pitiless 'tones. "Why not - tiling a-s they are, Vic.! not lettj well alone!" ••Because there is a probability, on , vour own uoul of making it siiilbetter." -\r.y not Hie knowledge which would, come to (iladjs after a suicessful opera-. tion make it for miser)" rather than, j j "But am tso very ugly, Puil—eo very ugly ?" ttsked Oarftle, springing to his j leet and tUuding before hi- irand, a. pmUuc of Bplendid-proportiuuid man . | hood. ,11^! A love rare a-rnong men existed jbwetn ihese two, and a nod was tli-' , only answer IJr. Ormond could tru^i., it j! ■ k'it U) Castle tahk into his ehair. "It seem* hard that a fdllon should h!»»e slltllKu .-O MlUti. .»« p*w should have cared so little. h r complained. i -It was weU to know bow little slio cared." "Ye«, but the price—the price! Look j . At roe!" ) jkk he spoke be tlirust ICs favc for- j wanl into the sunlight, so tluit his seurs j showed up with brutal frankness. Hie dodtor could sav nothing. lke>", i dropped into silence again, the <listigur- i <d man resuming his contemplation ot tbe far, blue hill*. "At tinM? I've imagined, when looking ( i* the glass, thut 1 am nut »u ugly as 1 kid feared. Itut the giamc of the tirsi stranger 1 met iwou idea, convinced me that n>y opiflion wa? 1 the outcome ui familiarty" Iwr presently »id more in the manner of one \ tlriffL-mg aloud than speaking to h*> *

, .. . At last Orrnond rose and weut to tin ol Co®tleVAaii. Leaning over, be ptacetf a hsuid on eauli of his sboulden. M though to give emphasis to hi# word#. "Vie. old man, vou remember the lonely little girl she was when first you. made her acquaintance!" he said. "Xow, I put it to you fairly—isn't she a hundred tirneu happier to-day through your kindness!" he asked. "I think she u happier," agreed Uis-i

tit* . -You know «he is,'' was the emphati . rejoinder. "And as your wile she would . be happier JtilL" ' "Perbnps." "There's no 'perhaps' about it. >ou r tiadneee and tenderness would then enier her life more fully and mtmmt.'h. j mo it's a foregone conclusion. ««?' i aak thL certain happiness! i "There i= a chamc 01 "inning •' greater uhance of l->,ing allsnapped rtie doctor, "lilady* " menttl and imaginative. She may I" treasuring a mental piAure of you ri\ - US^Ji^ekgodfor teauty. A girl, of her temperament, Mind as she k>, mo )d naturaUy give a free rein to hen ttaif. II jou destroy this illusion, it * lot« in the ruin." . ... "Yoor BBi*ni»e» are wide of the faitaShe M a victim to ceaseless day-dreainv 1 know " Mid Castle, "but si".' » a dea l p little wftAi her question seldom toudt. _ nrraonal appearances; her curioaityacens centred instead in probing tbe> «i the people with whom, •he cOmeo in contaet.' Dr. Orniond found hia attacks efleck lively countered at every point; be Lonld make no headway agam.t the. Kher. He stepped to the edge uf th ® verandah, and CastU joined him. just beyond them were great tulip be*, » perfect riot of gorgeous eolor oittanl, billow on. biUow o« and white blossom rolling a»a> Sto difltance over green grounds, acfroM which moved ttond-shadows of a. dniter hue- A 01 pearl-fleckcl blue arched down to tie far hiUs, along vhoM or est ran the somlbrc green of hk arm outwards. "Allthat w an relieved blank to Uer, Phf U , ott . 1, who love her, let it remain so! VVTiab would she think of me il she kDew. Oh, I can't do it! If I win the prize I mart be worthy. She nnwfc have ner chant*,'' he coneUuled, in a voice tense> with emotjon. "And if she turns from you' H a cruel question. The blood left Cttatle'a facv, and his grip on tlie> iron upritfbt of the verandah tightened, *Tl»n I hope »he will meet «omeon» wbo will be as—as jwod to her as 1 wviAl have been,' lie said softly. "Vie, old boy," said the doctor, ing lastle's hind, !>ut looking away, over the valley, "there are not many men like you—not very many."

' The next morning Dr Ormond returned to town, and Victor Castle t-alk»l , <■■ Mr*. Bewll. "Gtadyg and U1 have i Uri go'"'.'"' the «aui, greeting him with •> be entered the gate. «Mv bonnet* is chiefly wiu* . . replied. Tre tad Dr. Ormond, th* : gnat eyesight spewalwt, staymg » rt M me, «* you mow. I «pofce to him OUdr», explaining her ca»c a- mmiit ■ ly M I could, and he is of opinion thnr | her *igl>t can he r «t«)r'j'l-" '•Oh. Wtor' cried Mr-. I,«■%<■.!. " 1 J| it cmiM!" ,i-i "He hid # similar at S«. I'a'il • • Hospital quite recently. The -tpl" i " , been lost through injury to the head. j Thev operated " , "Opented"." repented the woman, re-j coiling at the thought of knife. j "It is not at all a dangerous upera-1 tion.'' Castle assured her. "The know-1 ledge ha# come to me some time after j long enquiry, and I have lost no tim« ; in pawing it on to you. It i-Hiam--! of «ror»e, fcr you to divide whether 1 , you will act upon it." ! "I trust you fully in everv+hui;: r< -; garding lier welfare/' dulareil Mr-. I!''- j Tf ]l 'Xou will advise me!" Certainly. 1 ehould put the matter calmly and plainly l>efore (ilady; and let A""*e" ~ , , , '•[ know and appreciate Iter love ft beauty. -o perhaps you ran tnr desire for her to see before we are

married!" '. "Mv hoy—«ny boy! 4 hf ex^ia»iTM > <!. t for his n nrch conveyed a world of l meaning. "Vmi're not afraid of that, are yon?" "1 urn—afraid, he confessed. «alku. in the window. "Hut she rniiitr,y P her chame whateyer the pri<e ami . Whoever pay*. If she fc ,wr s-imi to. . see —thint"* as-they are it had better. i ~, now than wlwn it is too tate. \et, ■■ il'l l«M- her-if T l<w l»rr "fWt talk like tfnt. YHor. n „t fmr to her. Her love for yon .* - drrper tlv.n ' lll Pn t von need not feat. "WVll. don't H h«r kn-.w ain ■ •hont mr " t n»f'«»t W« at* I liin«elf together. I «■«»• »' t*rn«nn and ' ,rT a *„ j in tlfo ear. flood n*'™'"?Mr- Pevell's heart ached for <•' ■ she wnteh-d Mm t,MI I •If people in Heaven l-"'" v !,nv "!"J; nf 11,.' e earth. your mother mu-t M a prnml woman, laddie.' -he -aid herself.

11. The operation had been performel, and Dr. Ormoml said there liail been, every indii-ation that the desired results Itid Is i-n attained, though a i!' 1 - tinite venliet iflukl'iiot b e pronounee l> till tlu i l<iiuiagi.s were removed and the' girt'.s sight actually tested. "lliat was to take place at half-pa-1-teii. t-iL-lle liad run up to see tlhulyfor a few minutes, and when h# spokel of going again nlie displayed considerable disappointment. I "You might wait, Vic.,'' she pleaded. "You must know 1 waul to—see you." "Y'ou feel that y-oii will be able to see!' he asked, bending down till his lijs touched Ir'l hail". "it?. And I do want to, for your sake." "Fur my sake?" "1 sha'nH be a burden then, shall—' "You know you would never be tliati to me—Wind or »seeiji^ 7 " h* interrupted' sternly. -Dont be cross," she begged, "line cant help i,eeijug a burden. 1 want vou to be one of the first 1 see. 1) i wait—pleaie.' l 1 cant,' he said. lui!t turning from , her, but still holding her hand. "How ' wnild 1 stand it if the operation hail' I I' failedr''

tailed! \ou'iv very strange thisi nuining. \ ic. .Soiuctliiiig i, troubling 1 you. What it!"

'ihouyh li-e muat answer, ] )0 could n</j tell the truth.

".\otliing that need worry you." lieparried. "When we know the result ot your operation I shall ,0011 be mysell. again. 1 don't think you realise all ib mean»i to me.'""

'there was a swift movement, and tlitl girl lound Castle's arms around her iu a. tight embrace. ;

" You do love me, don't you. Glad!" lie biv-t out For Heaven s sake, tell me l —tell me!" i can't help loving you,' she answ..'je<l simply. I "iouli send to me immediutelv \uu ! kni-w !" ' ' i "I -!".uld so have liked you with me. [ rhe -aid. wi.-tiully, holding an entreai liig lace up to huu. liiere swept bavk u]>on him the memory of an incident of whidi he dure not not rifck a repetition, lie couid still see the look crt aversion with which another girl he had lm'ed had greeted liirn on their Urst meeting after his spill. 1 l*e glance stung him like a horsewhip. Il t . had olfered her her fn-edoiu and -lie had accepted it. .Such a look in the eyes ol llUdys Kevell would hav" cut still deeper into his soul : and in hi-s, anxiety to evade the possibility ot this crowning [Mill lie had resolved to id turn home and await the course ot, events.

"Selfish as I appear. dear/' lie «aid, "I'm snip you will forgive ine when you know all."

.tor a second or two he held her clo-e his l ips 011 lieiv. then lie. ivso.utel;. turned and left her.

Outside he found Mrs. Uevcll and gave her a photo. "If all goes well. 1 want you to sdiOvv. this to Glady n before you let her scud tor mc* hr eiphiined. hurriedly. She glanced down at it and saw that it was a faithful likeness of Castle as he >Un-d. Jthe l>owcd he-r hoad. for words? seemed ♦somehow inade<jual-c. andthe next moment he wa» gone, the door deling fcOftJy l>ehind him. lie. walked rtijvKlly and got out his «tr, {HiinHng ils uoso toward-i lievellfr* residence, then paced restlessly to and fro beside it* The golden glory of the spring day was loct u]»on him. Fixed indelible, on his mental vision wis a darkened chamber—a pale-complexioned girl, bandaged across the eyes, and two grave, surgeuiia 111 attendance. He went into the house, but the sound o! a dock slowly ticking auav, the tiwoiicfc irritated him, and he eaine. out again. He pulled out his i wcnty-eight minuter past ten. At hall-past the Iwndages would be remov ed. and tlwn—<ihl what then?

He started the engine, then walked, round the tar critically. Everything, was in apple-pie order. Agian he consulted hio watch. Twen-ty-nine minutes to eleven, lie fumbled awkwardly in putting it Uuk. Cladys nifght be. at that very moment, exam-i ining the photo he had left for her. He Urtvdied hi* hand impatiently across hi? eyes and looked up the road, llnw much longer would thi> JaM? The KevelJs' plaer was altout a. mile away. Would anyone ever come round that bend, or would he have to> \v.i'r\ in vain:

He hail tiirni'il <>»<<• mole to lii« '-.m wlirii tin' vinlcnt ul :i liicvoh" bell -trm'k rudely into liis SI. 1 rtinjr up, he saw Lil pedalling t 1 wanls him a- tliough a life depended 0:v the >peeil. "She can &te—she can sec!'' the giri shouted, long before six- Teached CastK To ali, exceptin;; him, this was Hie. nwht important point. He wanted to' hear more, and Waited with highly-' strung nerves for a message. The impetuous youngster threw herself off her machine. , '■Glad wants you at once, Vic!' 1 she cried. 1

tVtle'/s throat swelled chokingly, anil the words drummed triumphantly, in Ms ears, but lie w*.i6 still doubtful. "Has shie seen my photo.!-' lie asked. "Yea. And wn't she ■' I t"link she's crying for you,'' was the brea.Un let* and slightly contemptuous answer. Suddenly Castle snatched the elnld up in lik arme. -Look at lue, kiddyr lie exclaimed, "Am 1 wry. very uglv!' •1 don't know," ingenuourly replied: she. '1 «'as afraid ulien 1 saw voir fin-t. l»ut 1 lite you better thau auyj body now." tastle kissed her and seated her m thr car, tossed the bicycle in behind, then sprang in himself. Three minutes later C'-i-tle enle-rel tin- hauntitiglv familiar darkened room. He I Bitted an instant, unable to pene trat<: the gloom. •Vie—Vic!" said an unsteady, voi«- ; ■ Iliad!" he cried. "\ou can An well as ever," she answered. ■•And you—know of my—distiguve-' ! "-I've known all tin- time. Mother (old me at thr beginning. l'-ut « never spoke of it. so why should 1. l)r;i« (lie blind ami let ine see . v<m \. 11,. drew tile blind aside a inlle. tlwn' lock t» her, keeping bi- face. I ■.verted lie found it .iiui"-t imr'ssiWei SI,- rrti.-h.-l up and t.mi-1 hi, lie. I. l<M.kin» straight nit" 1»- «->f •<* sl " <t.««l with ln-r back to the window. • Thov're ju-t what I expected, \m . stiid. after regardm? him uuciitl. or a while. "What:" he a-kcl. "You eye*--bright hlu<they're firand! . - •'And the -ears?" he impmcd. bitlu

Iy -\Vh«i I look at tlK'iu, I '<> agination, a bridge over ■• r.iihi a. . - relied, sm'akii" " V '•en ft." standing rifrHt tho r°a.l.V Uv-fn—'-ir' full "t .-I"""'"; il,.,w n V •' " M " h I,o * ,l " v " 1 " 1 '

. ,1 .1 lit .tut'l-i-ll"*- . . ■\ ~r.'lll no-in" ..u tl.i- 1 ." ■- <«'•' v " -w 'II thi'top 01 in« down t« the l.rid<re. _ 'I he ,1,. l.ill at a «ernhe -i-wl. 11.. li'HJ h-ntinj! hoarsely »" tll(> "f' ,' . I,i- -o iWT" 11 tlwJ-. "'•"•n , .t '*. I" the ~m,m-lan"e- , « 1 sheer impossibility- „ franti." effort- t" "I"]' ' . i i£c':;asr« , "r;.:si«s I i , -liiiT' t'>«arrl- them. I ' .ill" ,^ r witl.in tliirtv yard- "I I lir'.'w. The few onlookers aie ! • VHr'ntlv inevrtable W}?I". ' „r«it «.r "ivc- si violent F rk - . . ' ' '.lfuniwl wWi two «hee.U in the air, <Tn<-be« through the lon*ely-lmil. It wn* a heroie deed." - nr a fortunate aerident."' enniment 1 vv,:,.* on "-he ' •'! W j»« there. You \vrr>« • ,t-,» Von - cir. I-| <r 'von "ive the steerin»--.vli.-el a delunined "twi't in «>e direotim. of th.< f\,ir from her forehead, and lifting 1,,. _i,nile -o tint h.- eonld look int.

"Y"--;,,.,.. «.'re the kid-iie-- -h< „ r ,..'a,' -lo'viv and lieUi:_'litfullv. " A „'l V" 11 'T,""'.'f''it. No "irl -" lv a.,,..ml ofi l;Te tor |W I' - " ''r.'-.le -ho.k ' ,W (. Vi.-. uhati-vei w>. HAlk." -he ninvinlired. '"I >""■ dear; so I do know.