TRAPPED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 209, 5 April 1913, Page 9

TRAPPED.

"You must marry him." "I shall not." "Robena I" 'T don't care, Uncle George. It's too bad that you should try to dispose of me in this fashion . I don't know this Mr. What's-his-name. I have never seen him since I was a mere child. I don't love him, and I'll not marry him. I'll die first!" ''Robena, you are "

But pretty, fair-haired Robena Gray had fled, leaving her grey-haired old Uncle George to stamp and bluster in solitude. With all the grace and agility of healthy youth she ran along the gravelled path, past the neat flower-beds, out through the gate, and along the road for a hundred yards or more; then, feeling that she was safe from pursuit, she slackened her pace and walked along soberly, thoughful, yet still defiant.

What a sweet creature she was, and how charmingly saucy she looked with her dainty little chin held rebelliously high, her sun-kissed cheeks flushed with healthful exercise, and her loosely-coiled hair gleaming in the sun like a crown of burnished gold! Her attire was plain, yet extremely neat and decidedlv becoming Her beauty needed no costly setting. She was perfect just as she stood, in her simple dress-'-a child of nature.

"I'll never marry him!" she declared, as she walked slowly along the grass at the side of the road. "I wouldn't marry him if he were a king!" The utterance of this decided statement seemed to ease her mind, for the determined expression of her face relaxed somewhat, and then the smile that seemed to be ever lurking at the corners of her pretty mouth, expanded the trembling lips, and she gave a little cry of delight as she spied a great bed of blue wood-violets that had reared their pretty heads above the short grass in a Conner of the old rail fence.

"Oh, you beauties!" she exclaimed. "It's really too bad to disturb you, but I must. Uncle George loves you just as much—or nearly as much—a's I do. I must pick you for him. How pleased he'll be!"

_ Already she had forgotten the recent dispute. Her love for her uncle was not to be banished by a circumstance so trivial. She was upon her knees, busily picking the sweet spring flowers, when she again heard her uncle's voice: "Robena!"

She was on her feet in an instant

"I declare he is coming after me! How obstinate he is! I must run for it." i

She slipped through a gap in the fence in ii twinkling, and ran across a broad, green meadow, still pursued by the sound of her uncle's voice. On the' other side of the meadow was a thick wood, that sloped gradually down to the river's edge. Robena plunged through the tangled bushes; then, as she reached a point where the bank sloped almost perpendicularly, she lost her foothold and crashed down for a dozen feet or more over the dry leaves and brush. So sudden was her descent that a young man, who was seated on a mossy hillock at the very edge of the bank, and was gazing placidly upon the blue waters of the river, had not even time to ascertain the cause of the commotion behind him and toppled him over into the stream.

Robena clutched wildly at the root of a tree and saved herself from a like fate. She was on her feet in a moment, and at once turned to see what had become of the young man. He had just emerged from the water, and stood for a moment with streams (lowing from his clothing. Not unnaturally, he looked angry? ■'Arc—are yon wet?" ventured Robena,

"Am i wet?" growled the young man, glancing ruefully at what a moment before had been a new spring suit, "Perhaps you imagine that a man can grovel at the bottom of the river and come up dry.

"I'm really awfully sorry," said Robena. trying very hard to suppress a strong desire to giggle at the young man's woeful countenance.

"You ought to be," he said, "Tuffly, but with a humorous twinkle in his handsome, dark eyes; •'•'only you don't look it. What was it struck me!"

"To borrow a line from the poet, it was 1, sir, rolling rapidlv.'" responded Robena.

"It was--eh? f thought it was an nvalanelin. What are you laughing at? That joke of yours was perpetrated long before you were born. I' assure you. Ft was weak, even in its earliest days, but now "'

"I'm not laughing at the joke; I'm laughing at--yon!" Robena managed to say. between her bursts of merriment. "Thank.-. I daresay my predicament is. to a certain extent, comic to others, but if- rather a damper to mv spirits, to s:n- the least of it."

"I- beg your pardon!" said Robena, (lushing a little: "but you do look so funny. Ha! ha! ho!"

I'nlieiia's merry laughter was infectious, and soon the deeper notes of the stranger's voice were blended with hers, and the woods rang with their laughter.

•■Perhaps." he said, '■now that you have had your laugh out. you will be good enough to lake me home with you and induce vour brother to lend me a suit of clothes till T dry mine." "f have no brother." •'Then I'll stand before the lire i.ili I'm dry. T can't walk back to the hotel in this plight. Tt's at least four miles from here to Derringham. ""Yes," said Robena, hesitatingly. 'Til take you home, and Uncle f.'eorge will be able to fix you up all right. But he's awfully angry with me. and I'm almost afraid to go back. I ran away from him. vou see."

"You are an extraordinary young woman. I suppose he was going to chas ti-c \ou."

••Chastise me! I'd like to see him trv it."

"So should T. The spectacle would afford me infinite pleasure, and at, the same time do you a world of good. However, if you take me home with you I'll try to forgive you." "And if Uncle George is still' angry, you'll speak a good word for me, won't you »"

"My dear lady. 1 have aheady risked life and limb by standing between you and a watery grave, -o you need not be afraid 1 ihail dirndl before the stern wrath of your uncle. Rut I must know something of your case if I am to defend you. What mischief have you been up to?" "Well," said Robent. blushing furiously, "I think I'll tell you, as you have promised' to side with me. ' He—he wants me lo marry a man 1 never saw —that is, I have never seen him since we were children. He is the son of Uncle George's old friend. In fact, he is named after l.'ncle George. His name is George Meßride, Robena was walking ahead, picking her way through the thick bushes, and he was following as best he could. She did not, therefore, see the peculiar expression of surprise and delight that suddenly overspread the stranger's features. "It was decided long ago that when we grew up we should marry," continued Robena, "and now the time has come." ''A very pretty arrangement. And do you object?"

"Of course I do. I hate him." "That's bad. Why do you hate him?

"Oli, I don't know that I hate him exactly, for I really know nothing about him. But, of course, he is horrid."

"Quite likely. You can depend on my support. I'll talk to your uncle quietly, and I venture to say that you need not marry this obnoxious young man unless you wish to."

"Thank you, Mr. " '•Richards. Von can call me Mr. Richards."

"And my name is Robena Gray. But here is the house, and my uncle is at the door. Really, Mr. Richards, I can hear your teeth chatter. You are positively frightened." "Frightened; I'm not frightened. I am cold. Your teeth would chatter, too, if you hid been dumped in the river." "You are quite sure you are not afraid of Uni.le George?"

"Quite sure. I'll go ahead and square things :ip for you." Undo George looked very stern, but Mr. Milliards, undismayed, went up to him, ami they had a short conversation, which Robena, who stood at a distance, could not overhear. It ended in the two nun shaking hands very cordially. Then they both entered the house.

Presently Uncle George appeared at the door.

"Come in, Robena," he said, mildly, and Robena obeyed. "Mr. Richards has gone upstairs to change his clothes. You had better see about getting something nice for supper; but, remember—no flirting. We'll say nothing more about your proposed marriage for the present."

Robena kissed him and hurried off to give directions for supper. The meal was a very pleasant one to her and to Mr. Richards. Uncle George, if he heard any of the whispered words or c:::ig'ht any of the meaning glances that were interchanged between the two, gave no sign. After supper, Mr. Richards bade Uncle George good-night, and, before leaving, succeeded in getting a few words with Robena.

"I must see you again," he whispered. "May I come?" '"Yes," she answered; "but it must be to see Uncle George." "Oh, of course! Good-night, Robena!" •'GJood-night."

She watched his tall form as he walked out upon the road under the stars, and her heart went with him. He called again the next day and the next. Then Uncle George put a stop to it. "I have told Mr. Richards to keep away from here." he said to Robena. "You are the promised wife of George Mcßride, arid as such cannot receive Mr. Richards' attentions."

But the lovers found a way, as lovers always will. They met in the quiet woods and took long walks through the green fields and along the river side. ■■■ ::u's conscience smote her. • meet you again, George," she said—die had learned to call him by his first name. "It is wicked, and I am ashamed of myself." "But you love me, Robena?" "Yes." ''Then I will see your uncle to-mor-row. I will tell him that I want you for my wife." Robena shook her golden head sadly. "He will never consent," she said. "We shall see." True to his word, as Mr. Richards called the following day, and had a private conversation. The interview was a stormy one. Robena could hear their voices raised in anger, and presently Mr. Richards came out of the room with :i clouded brow. "Meet me to-night, Robena, at the old place. It is for the last time. Will you come?" hi' hurriedly said, in a low tone. She whispered "Yes," and he was gone. Uncle (leorge soon made his appearance. "Richards had the impudence to tell me he wants to marry you!" he said, gruffly. "Of course, I refused him. Your future husband will be here tomorrow, and I expect you to receive him cordially." Robena made no answer, but inwardly she vowed she would never yield to her uncle's wishes. At night she stole out of the house and ran rapidly down the road to the usual trysting-place, where her lover was impatiently awaiting her. "Your uncle would not yield," he said, "so we shall have to do without his consent. Yon must marry me, darling. I have the marriage license, and we will be married at Derringham to-morrow morning. You must slip out and meet me here at ten o'clock. I" will have a carriage ready, and we will drive over to Derringham together." "I will marry you; but—T wish Uncle fieorge would consent."

True to fier tryst, Robena was at tlio meeting-place next morning, at the time appointed, tn meet her lover, and together they drove over to Derringhani. Everything was in readiness at the church, and the marriage service was gone through. After the register had been signed in the vestry and witnessed by the. elerk and pew-opener, they passed out together, to lind, to Robenn's astonishment. I'ncle George awaiting them, in smiles. After grasping the groom heartily b.v the hand, he hugged Robena.

"What, does this mean, uncle?-" -he gasped. "Tt means." said t'ncle licorge. his f } i t -o beaming with smiles, "that, like a dutiful child, you have married the man T selected for you. fie is Ceorge Richard MeBride The wi-h of mv heart is gratified." Robena looked up into the face of her haml-omc husband. "You have been trapped, my darling," he said: -but you'll never regret it." A'id -h.< never did.