ROAN BARBARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12899, 9 February 1906, Page 2

ROAN BARBARY.

(Continued.)

Cicely's first appearance "in. society" was : more difficult than she had imagined that it could be.

-Ho w she ever did it she never quite knew. All th&t she remembered was a blur of lights, the insistence of assailing voices, the hard steps that were so polished and unyielding, and then she found Herself on the ball-room floor with' Pauline. Mosgrave holding her hand. " You are so late," Miss Musgrave was saying to iter, solicitously. "I hope nothing happened—no accident!" Cicely assured her, diffidendv, that her drive from- Waverley had been* wholly uneventful.

''And your dear father," asked Mrs Musgrave, bustling up. " Where is he?" He wasn't well;" answered Cicely, "and he was obliged to stay at home: and he regretted very much—" We should have* ielt very indignant 'and, very much hurt if one 'had come," said; Pauline, " and it was kind of von." ; Cicely wss trying to find a way r.f saving something when she was startled by Treloar's voice, and turning, found him clcse beside her. "Miss Paysant." he said, "may I have the next dance?"

Instantly forgetting Pauline Musgrave, she clasped her acceptance an she slid her hand into his arm.

" Oh," she sighed, before they had taken step, . I had no idea that society was so •awful! . I;hope that you won't a"i::d i>tt-' ing .the part of a straw, but I 1< el ii;at I am. just clinging to you." "Nonsense!" said Treloar. "But vhv; didn't you come sooner?" . "Everything went a n. .oughf.not to have come at all: but I wanted—wanted to see you; and now that I am here you are sure you're glad that I came, and that you aren't ashamed of me?" . *

"Pve been standing guard at the foot pf the stairs' for nearly an hour waiting for.you to appear," he replied. "I wis awfully disappointed, and then I was furious, and then I was getting disappointed again, when you came floating down so Serenely." "Oh!" she cried, delightedly, "did it look like that? If you only knew! I was a perfect quake of fright, and I just floundered down. But you haven't answered nay question. Are you satisfied?" "Satisfied?" he asked, in a mystified • maimer.

"Do I look as I should?" sue demanded.

Yon look awfully well," he answered, caxeiessly... " But why shouldn't vcu»" She did.' not realise that all heV doubts ana fears had_ not been known to him, and rather mild praise was a disappointment to her. She could not understand that what had been such a great event -,,?5 was et T much a matter of course with him, aad the fact that she would look well eo thoroughly to be expected that i? djdnot require particular comment. How well you dance!" he said, as they paused." •

"Do; you think so? lam so glad. I never knew; much.about it, only it- seen:;=d 'u , A , little confidence had rtturned, and she looked up at him, laughiii". . s . ® rsr . time that we have danced together, and it's an event—an era." * could do better at it," he fed '' V " lm a&aid I'm awfully . Sf wd Cicely, critically, t-hat jt ,WQ)S oora in you. 1 * - education hasn't done much for <l.miserable failure." ' I expected it," she said, calmly. "WJiyf' lie asked. "she. replied, " the only girl I ever, knew who had.seen very much told me that., -the man one ,really loved rarely well-that he was generoltl and important for that." Thank you." he said. _ "But- I wain-present-some of those true 'dancine-cn-en' to yc«u."

, "Must,.you,?'.". she.said, doubtfully. >l I tion t know how I shall manage. It's a species -to which. I'm not accustomed, and ftn afraid I should not understand it, or it me,".

■•Pauline Musgrava stood before :;ei vita » ymißg maa • a ;'cr paces mv.,v. ' !" __" Miss Paysant." she said, •• ,?.i r lleneage Hides-wishes very much, to know yt«s." !•. .»*•' yp«ug-maa .bojredisiifay. *' ' (' "Thank you -very much." said Treloar,; ta^'n S his place at Pauline's side,: ' I-roay have another turn later?" '' Oh,, yes," . Cicely replied, quickly and -largely. ...... It was all .wrotg, -slie knew, but xhe could not help feeling hurt by what seemed Treloar's extreme readiness to get away. As she well understood, there was nothing else for lnm to do—Pauline Musgrave could not be left alone: but she felt that- he should have given some sign that mighb indicate his reluctance to leave her. . Slie was disappointed, and the enjoyment that had begun for lier in the music and dancing was changed to a vague feeling of disquietude.

Mr Hicks, at her elbow, coughed nervously. He was a trim, correct youth, and his puza'ed expression clearly shoyved •that ie -.wa? painfully struggling to find .something to say. ' " How awfully long a ball is!" said Cicelv.

"I—l y'- pard'. n," st:imuiered Hicks. " yi:« have just come."

"I know." she said, "but it sea:i»s .-.i me as i? I !::> 1 tieen heie age>. and don't supp!.-e it v,"i:l u- ovei fi.i ever m much time."

"These eo-jv.tvy affair.* are a;>: tc bs b.te," he an.sv. crej.. " Yon have a place rear here?"

'Yes," she niisweied briefly.

" Delightful country," he went «-n. " One might be tempted to put rtf coming buck to town until the last possible moment." "We certainlv out it nff a gtmd while." sa : d Cicely. "We don': crr> at all."

"Yen stop here." he gasped, "all the •"All the winter." sh? rep!ie:l. "and a!! the summer, and all the time" " Bnt." lie demanded, aaiay.i'uly. " wliat do you do?" "''Do?" repeated Cicely—'"a thousand • -liv -the .first -pbee. T vide."

"Ai':" iie U-isch-hneil, visiWv re'lvveJ 'a fir a'lv cnv.".r r.p'iii s«metii!ivr v.-;t cp!npre!ien>:ii>k'. ;:nd falling v' r h entlm>: asm upon the weiccme topic. You rhlf?"

" I've been brought up with horsea," answered Cicely. " They have been my life, more or less."

" Em—yes." he murmured. " Always have ridden myself. Ever hunted any? I've got a bay mare that I bought the other dav^"

And here Cicely's evening really began. Hicks was soon pouring out all his innocent soul, completely fascinated by tlie guileless attention with which she listened to Iris narration of exploits of which society had long before grown rather tired. ( "Do you know," he confided at last, •'the minute I saw you come down the stairs I wanted to know you. I saidwell, never mind what I said—you might not like it,"

" I am sure that I should," replied Cicely, sweetly.

" I said, if that's a girl that's coming out this year. I want to be presented at once, and get in before the rush. So I went out and got Miss Musgrave to trot me up at once. There are lots of the others who want to know yon. and—here come some of them now."* (Jlancing up. Cicely saw that Pauline Musgrave was approaching with several of the men who had hitherto been lounging about the doorway. " What shall I do with such an army ?" she said to Hicks.

" Oh. you'll know how to manage them," he answered.

How long she danced or how Into it was. Cicely did not know. Sho had danced and danced with one after another 'until ylie had quite lost sense of minutes and hours, and even those with whom «bo talked or waltzed or " sat out" were promiscuously vogue and pozzlingly intere'ar.geabfe. It was > a dream, a. delirium, but. as often in such a state, there, is a sense of haunting care. She felt rather than reflected that Treloar had almost avoided her, and when at last he did speak to her his voice sounded strange, and he himself seemed shadowy and distant. "I am glad you are having such a good time," he said, a little coldly. I " Why haven't-you spoken to me?" she said, with passionate lowuess.

"When has there been a chance?" he asked. " You have been surrounded—hemmed in."

•>" That is what men always say," she re torted.

"Do you think I didn't want to dance with you?" he demanded. "Do you think I like it? But let me take you in to supper."

"I can't," she replied; "Fa coiner in with Mr Hicks."

j "Hicks?" he said, laughing easily. "I think I shall have to. begin to look out I for Hicks. It's all Hicks this ■evening. I don't seem to come in anywhere^' "How can you." she 'demanded, recklessly. "when you are all the time with Pauline Musgrave. You have been with her all the evening. I have seen it—and Im sorry that I ever came." " What nonsense!" he replied. "I wont," she went on, "be spokea to in that exasperatingly consoling manner.! Xo, I'm not sotiy that I came; lam glad. I understand now—" "What do you understand?" " Why you went .way and came bfrc." " Y-. u are* unjust. *1 have kept away from you to-night because I wanted you to have ,-» good time, because I saw that you were a howling belle, aad I wanted you lo enjoy it." " Really?" she said, dancing at liim an•pealingly.

" Keally," he answered, gaily. "And it isn't because you wanted to keep Pauline Musgrave from suspect inn anything?" "Look here,' - ' ho asked, "do yoa think this :s fair?"

"I don't know—l don't know," she hurried on. "I am jealous of.everybody and of everything—of everybody . with whom you are, and of everything that keeps you away from me."

Tears had almost come into her eyes, and she turned quickly upon Hicks, who had just come up. " Yes, Mr Hicks," slie said, " you are to take me to supper: and. Mr Treloar," she added, laughing back at the latter, with a poorly assumed formality. "if you really want a dance later, I think I can give you one."

It; was well vn .towards the end of the Jiall, when, the music .was or seemed faster, when the air was' Jbot and heavy, when the decorations were beginning to lade sad wxwop, aad thfj floor waa covered with ■aareds :aa, l "tatteca imm th© torn dresses of the dancers, that Cicely. ti«d % with throbbing heart and dialed eye*, leering s he ball-room ftr a UHHOjem. cnte'ed the dim conservatory, villi the devoted Hicks. In one-corner, ihtimstely contiguous and confidentially oblivious, sat Treloar and Pauline Musgrave. Cicelv hesitated, then went boldly on, but aeihter of the others looked up. Hicks, when .Cicely and he had passed, laughed significantly. " Tliere can't be tn,uch doub; about that," lie said.

" \\"hat ?" Cicely qsked*, with as great an air .of unconsciousness aa sbe could comma nil. while her heart -bejt .yith sickening Heaviness.

" Why, Treloar and the daughter of tb«> house!" Hicks answered. " It's pretty tle;>r how it is coming out." . " You think.** nhe asked, hating herself f.v- Cv~3~ ">i . "-j;,? {>•> ;,w thing?" '"Sure of it." he teplied. "Bat Treloar's a difficult bird to bring down, who 'from beauty tlits t«> beauty. cnrMant under constant, change." and thai vor' thins. Hi aiit away in the .raj Ihey'ie pretty miir to get hint till. l - auuini:). l'aaline would be only too glad to marry him. and the ' pa-ri-er.ts * would iivo their sent effusively. Shouldn't he ; j>; jmo ?f it were all settled now." "And you think they a;v e:;gi2ed?" «!o manned Cicely, chokily a* Hick.- piocl in !>.is artiest recital.

" Can't tell. They weren't a week a£". but I believe they may be n>»w. Pauline has be:n nnusually cheerful «s laic. Wc have a'l suspected." Hicks prattled t>n. lie has been wandering off for a whi'e after some — r ir r.vir.;-!:. for she is c!e»riy one 1y nu'c'i out of the world, of whonn no one eve- heard. He's been missing for week*. s»iul he wen't say anythine about what been doins. We hprt- Ijeeo cbafJui|t hi;r du'i'liuiiy. but he sii:*nt. I he must be rather «.{ i:> tr kiii'vn <-i:arnier."

Oil!" sxciaiuiEil Cicoijr,

" What r wsd Hick*. " Xotlibg—l didn't, wy Mrttuu." tc plied Cicely. *

"Thought yea cofctumed Hick*. - Anyway, whoever the Arud&c mav he. she had beater look out. for he rltnriv bis fnrc<»;; C n her already. and hs« l**«i flirting wish I'anltnc Mtwgmve in » that ttotild malic the <c,B<e wajji to tear out her etc*."

Cicely sat down abruptly en r« e 0 f chairs, plated .unnra the thick p3«si* ,Vj-n wi»h Stmi'" mM Hs<i*. nbci&s hunndf be?tde her.

" Xo!'" she exclaimed, yprisgis# to her icct. " I am not tired."

"You want to dance r he a*k&L in a*, tonwbmcnf.

No! she #a«d. holly. "I am »«*, goiajj to dance. ram going home." She lamed away impatiently, and siartrd atase fa kave the conservatory. "Mis* Paysait." Hicfcx. ut> tefly bewildered, "yoa can't mean it,"" Then he continued. trotting- after her. "Yw« »««Iy are not go ins; a rone." \i*' Take m«." *aid Cicely. pa»»sog. "to .*? Musgrave. I rant t© sav gvood* night. * -

Mrs Mujgrarc was rolnble in her rfcgres* at 'i'* early departure ff bw Cicely was abrupt, and quidtlr dragged Hirk« !r» the foot of the flair*. " G«kl night." jthc jwid. taming. "Ah—good night. Mi** Pay*Mit." he murmured. in storing asi^tiuhmetti.. t'ioelr looked for ae in*lAM at tic! round'Crdl Little gYUrtle&ian More focr, o©d laughed. "Good night," she repealed. hoJdiag tat her hand. " You have been very nk* ~aad kind, and I thank you very much," "I as*ure you. Miss Pajrwal." be «, plied, "that the evening hs* bcaa delightful—ucu»uaUy delightful." * But Cicely had disappeared, maniag up the stair# two steps at a time. She burst upon tie astonished maid* with bewildenng soddenncs*. and had heweJf dressed with *he uttermost despatch. la a moment she vm out of the from, leaving the abigail* chattering at her precipitation. At the door »bo vu obliged to wait while she sent a groom for her car riage. It was the first ttHfacal thai *hc had stopped to think, and ev«a dboo «h« did not stop voluntarily, but what rd3ed»oaj was possible was fv«ro?d upon her by thi* momentary inaction. She leased again»l one of the columns of the porta cocherc. looking at the wide dark, lawn and black .trees, and for the fitat lime t&w* fil!«i her eve*. She wasted to get away. She felt that once out of that bmue sic could breathe more easily—thick more ctearty. Still the carriage did not cocne. How long she bad waited »ho did noil know, but she wa» ..suns that it most l»v* htea a long time. She bad almost mad® op her mind that, rather thin eadut* *och .delay #be would g\» in wearch of it beri»elf. when she heard the #ouod of wheel* ia what \be kcew wa* lb« diiwtioa of lb* Almost at the *«ne monwm #be was cou!>ciotts that som* one had oome-oai ;«f the house and wa* »Undiog behind her.

[' * Wljat are yco doing? Wberr arc yoa i going; ,i»kc4 T:eKir. " I tun bm llinnliag for *»u fcvesywbcj*."

" " I am swing borne," *be amsanciieil, Seu«!y. and fluming <wi him ainrpiJr. " Wb.il do you be dcm'asdrd

" Whu in the rosier J"* " Pna's auk nw' lJoa't j>f*c*k l<» mer •*'-1? ".•tctauned. asad. a<t be feeld tsol bi§ «i*ud tn s.ikc ber.*, ** Dta's locdi tnef" "Cicely," b« tried, "I doa'i voder-vt-<nd." " I do. then." she *3id. ia at bard, dry t<we, " I understand now." The carriage bad driven cp. sad Jobn *?nne wa* holding opea tbo dGor. "Cicely." he wid ajjain. likug a *t*p l'i«f wraid. " 1 b.iic ym" t Hste too !*' »be **id, p:w<.ionatdy. "and I oarer wi!l jrota She sprang into Ui<» carriage wiiii an *■ - W to ne. aad sdiat the door wilb ,t bio;. Jolm*J<j»c mourScd t!»e (root wi?si UktiMial agility, and tbe borwet «(4i Sod a#« jt a smart pace; TroJaar m»<kl pesplexcdly gatuag auoog »b» drive dmrti which the he-ivy Vehicle limbered r«nid!v.

■tTo be continued.)