THE BAN DHU

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1935, Page 13

THE BAN DHU

(By

Desmond Lough)

CHAPTER 23. “What do you mean?” cried Johanna breathlessly. “What do you mean? Mr. Lionel saved you? I thought you meant —never mind, but tell me.’ She caught Kathleen by the shoulder and Shook her. The girl shrank back, surprised at Johanna’s passion; it almost frightened her. “Didn’t I tell you? Mr. Lionel saved me when that beast Barley tried to make love to me—l suppose it was.” _ “I didn’t see anyone but Li—Mr. O’Hara, when I came here. He and you only, I was over by the bushes.” - “Spying on him, were you?” cried Kathleen, her eyes blazing. “What could you spy on him for?” “I was not, you silly child.’ Johanna was growing angry in her turn. “I beg your pardon, Kathleen, she said, suddenly humble. “I can understand your mistake.” She felt she must learn the truth at all costs, even if it meant an apology. “I knew he was coming to fish and I followed him with my rod to fish too. I only saw you and him. You were—you were close together. “And you were jealous of me,- were you, Miss Jonna?” There was a queer break in Kathleen’s voice, and her tone was shrill and dry. “No, no, child,” Johanna stammered. Then ’ one woman’s eyes looked into another’s. . .. „ , “You are quite right, Kathleen, she said quietly. “I was jealous. I love him; I love him more than anything in the world. We got engaged to be married only a day or two ago. Then I saw ■him with you; your head was on his shoulder; I think; I know his arm was round you—and I thought—Oh, can t you understand, Kathleen? Then I went home in a page’ and I broke off our engagement, and I wouldn't, explain anything. Can’t you help me? Tell me what really happened.” Kathleen had got her name of the Fairy Child, partly because of her elfin beauty, partly because of her connection with the Wise Woman of Knockarra, perhaps, most of all, because of her uncannv calm and aloofness of manner when deeply stirred. Strong, healthy, handsome Johanna looked her inferior at that moment. The little figure had gone very still, and her face was paler than its wont. "Tell you what happened,” she echoed in her high, thin voice. "Then you don’t

trust him yet. No, then, I’ll not tell you a word, not one little word of it. I’ve told you too much already, so I have. Perhaps there was no Mr. Barley at all. Perhaps I was telling you lies all the time, and perhaps— ’ No, even in her anger against the girl who doubted her hero, she could not bring herself to say a word thM might reflect on him. And Johanna and he had been engaged! Then her own dreams had been false after all. She did not and could not analyse why this was a shock to her. Love between herself and Lionel had been so very far and so very unconscious, that she had never realised it, nor given a name even in her inmost thoughts. . ’ In a flash she was gone, swervmg m and out between the trees like a Startled woodcock, leaving Johanna still torn with doubt, but with a gleam of hope in her darkness. Kathleen sped fast through the wood, so fast that even she was breathless Cfe she-reached its end. As she ran, her thoughts raced even faster. She could not understand herself. Too many incidents and conflicting emotions had piled themselves into her quiet life within a few hours. She had been a centre of importance for the first time. P® r " haps it was well for her that her mind was in a whirl.' . Suddenly a great wave Of pity tor Johanna swept over her. Johanna, the lady of the big house, so kmd to them all for many a year, had asked, had begged her even, to help her, and this was the way she had answered her. In a moment she was flying back the way she had come. . . “Miss Jonna! Miss Jortna! Where are J Johanna had not moved from where Kathleen .had left her. She turned dully. The sight of her stabbed Kathleen’s heart with physical pam. “Miss Jonna, dear! I’m sorry. I was a wicked girl not to tell you everything just now, and you so kind to us all, always.” , , . , And there, sitting on the bank hand in hand, Johanna heard what made her heart sing again, for. all. the dread of a repulse from Lionel, No, no, he would not repulse her! jThey would be more to one another than ever before., “Go and find him, Miss Jonna.

“I will indeed.” The girls kissed one another. Then

with brave hope Johanna set out to find Lionel. She little knew where he was at that moment. Kathleen went down the hill into the shadows. Perhaps light waited for her beyond the darkness. She still felt that dull ache in her heart. Love had been so far from her all her life that, even if it was waking, she did not recognise it. The bud of a new found plant does not tell the botan.st how it will develop. Of one thing only, she was certain: that Miss Jonna loved Lionel, and that she had tried to help their reuniting and was glad. In the meantime, Johanna was hastening homewards. For her the rosy horizon was dappled with clouds of fear. How would Lionel receive her flag of surrender, she wondered? "My darling, it has all come right, I knew it would!” “I don’t think there is any necessity to discuss what has already been settled, Miss Prestwieh.” Those two alternatives rang through her head aS if the words were being actually' spoken. There was ample text for either in what had already passed between them. But she was willing, even eager, to take her chance. Independent though she was she now almost gloried in the thought of surrender. It was late afternoon when she reached home. . "Lionel! Ll!” she called, "are you in? The place was silent. She should have expected that, of course, even though it disappointed her. He would be in for dinner. She looked at her watch. An hour and a half to go. Ninety minutes; that would not be long in passing, and sbe could sit and think how she should greet him. Every woman •is an actress, even if unconsciously so. She had pictured two attitudes for him: she thought of half a dozen for herself. And how very wide of the real target did her arrows fly! Then it occurred to her, too, to visit Mrs. Munroe. Sundry bumpings and knockings within told her of strenuous work in progress. “Ah, Johanna, ’twas nice of you to come and see me!” Mrs. Munroe took off her paper cap and patted her hair into something like order. Wiping her hot face she motioned her visitor to one of the few vacant chairs.'

"Phew! It will do me good tn rest, a bit. I’m not as young, as I was and Alec was a terrible man for keeping things up; just look at all them now!” Her hand indicated the yet unsorted litter. L . . '

“Maybe it's yourself will have io be doing a bit of tidying soon, miss, ’ she went on with a sly smile. “But if yeu love your man that won’t worry you. And the children! What a mess they’ll make, the darlings! I never had one to tidy up after, • more’s the pity. Not but I’m satisfied with my man. Men are only big babies after all, miss, and Alec is a husband and child •to me. Some that don’t know him say he’s hard, but he’s not hard at heart, miss, never believe them that say. it.” “I'm sure he’s not, Mr 1 . Munroe, and dad thinks a lot of him.” • - <

“I know that, miss, and why shouldn’t he? There was never a wrong turn in Alec, not since the day I met him.”

“Can I help you to clean up?” “Oh, no, miss. I like doing it, and it keeps my mind from worrying, and I do worry, miss, I can tell you. He had no right to travel so soon after the wound that blackguard gave him. He’s not as well as he wants to be for a long journey like that, but Alec .would mind no one once he was set on a thing. Dont let Mr. O’Hara, get too mUch of his head when you marry him. He came up to ask for Alec this afternoon. Very kind of him it was, there’s not everyone would do that.”. Mrs. Munroe sighed and began to pack away some things. A ring and an imperious knock sounded at the front door. ;i “What would that be new?” exclaimed Mrs. Munroe. “We don’t often hear the likes of that here.” ' - i

They had not long to wait. There wM a tap at the door, and a maid entered. “There’s a telegram, ma’am. I suppose ’tis for Mr. Munroe as that's. the name on it, and Jack from the post office wants to know if there’s any answer.” “I may as well open it.: Alec has no secrets from me. Perhaps it is to say he’s got home. He’s a thoughtful man. is Alec, and he knows I’d be worrying. I’m always afraid of telegrams, though.” She glanced at the contents, arid then, with a scream, threw herself on the bed. Johanna picked i; up and read it. It was bad news indeed. “Man thought Munroe from name and address found collapsed train. Dangerously ill. In—Hospital, Dublin.” “He wouldn’t heed "me, he Wouldn’t heed me nor the doctor',’’ wailed the stricken wife. Voices soundedin ' the hall and the next moment Mr. Prestwich hurried in. (To be continued).