"Story of the Cabinet."

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13710, 26 September 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

"Story of the Cabinet."

<\U Y.Chh nm.tis ) The Tievoend Huuy Kemrorthy was pa-ntrdh diifident IK- »t unmered dreadiuHj wh-n oonvtiung with members of li.-n " ilook, lni' putunl.nh v hen he me: \l:*n Con-iaiuc W.irmu "\rt this hncrhr bi&?y \unug g-nrUwi-nnn wav certainly not alaimmg. X«, i- was. not b'ir mnply because their mutual friends hi I so otten hm'ed that be —tho rector —-j.igut d j wor-e tlian marry her- Rut he ieiior did not wudi to many: Ins buu»fkt.t-i>ri managed f.iily well, ana wide no demands npon hi» t irri«r. neuhti did -he curtail his freedom Tb«-se sup pi.-ed' advantages weighed heavih against l< loneliness and thus u w.i» thai .■>f 45 yr-is old tli3 lector u mamed .i tw hf loi

W'.uing was Ihe diuahtei of lb*- late Squire, <.btigcd punctiliously Ht-r mothei hid di«*l uars before, and at 50. di-daimng. ihapeion*-, Constance- eiueiumed bet neighh ur>» whencvei they like^ 1 to \>.-.it hrj. The rector, however, "seldom put in an appearance at the Manor, since, ha did not altogethei appro\e oi thi> defiance of lire Grundv.

" Miss Waring.' 1 he remarked one day ,iv they mo, m the village. " I have the loveliest old cabinet, and .',i yon aie 1 1 in such things I par iculatly want your opinion." ,v What is it hke," she asked eagerly the w.is an aiduent collector cf old furnitnre and curios.

"It is not large, VE.iu(r\s about a foothigh, perhaps, bur i< 13 exquisitely in laid with mother-of-pearl floweu, ~ rrd iu«es, .\nd iorget-me ho'.n, all >o h--auti-iitlh shaded -b.it they u ight tor the reil growing blost, ms " "How (.harming 1 Did joit hny 1' a->ked Constance

" Ko; it w.is given to me by my god moth-M, who leieived it on hei bulbil iv, and could never uncover the giver." " Then your cabine.' has a romance aiwell*" declared Constance.

"' T don't Kally* -.hink so. P<-«siWj it was sent by a* relative who enjoycil the little mystery. It is not much to me," he continued laughingly. "It is quite, a lady's cabinet, containing ia« 1 do*G needlework apphan«.<v ;ir»d mini merable jewel-shelveb." "tib, then it must be quite old' Such i-abinets are rate," rentalked CoiiNtonee "Viiu really must > --e>* ' it. Verhap* \on will con.e to the tenipetance garden P"rt> :«-Hionfl\i"" -suggest-c»I the j«,ctoi "'I hanks'" -he replied bi-etly. .»nd went ■si hei wav. - >

\litv*-Constance dul tint attend-the gar •l<n -party, ilu-ieby c.-niskig- murh di-.tp pitintment to lb,-' rec-'or. *l quite thought i.Ju- would come if oul\ t«i i-ee the cabinet," he mu>e>l. Suddenly an idea ooiurre-l to him—he would send ir to hei "shat vety * veiling. Half an hour lai«-t th*- r«vliV\ gtudemr W.is cairjmg. .uj untidy pan-el. set.mt<i by oiid bits of strimj, to th« ManM

In .i dunning cUMmrn room <a< G»utljnre W.uing. the rais'ivs* of the M.moi." \\ Hi a plea-wi t>ri»iic j.J»e- ginned '.i! her , ".utrinuuhng*. The raivtdoak mrim .•nphixiwl lull of prions old ihitw. tic ' rhspjicnunie i ha.it*>. the atuit'iit ohmnm 1 >ilv«:r ami rioh p.<iutuur> w*'tv 'll ox.ntly ! in keeping uiih ilte wniitMOiid walK .ind t <tak lieunu'd i«Uing of lh>» tooni. [ *]~h<J fec'Ol'b ' «'a*tHH« w ' 1 ; on a sni ill g.\w kg :.*hle. J " It's. brwly," '■lie niiSrrtiur«*d t > li-'i - -1 can't. s*c it p>rf«Mly by th*. i Ituhr "■—ii»v» town iv.io uiftly Iwiiii a\:»x candle—" itiit 'lie hi-: or iv . ugh'—lns c.ihinot u> .i tn.-a.-un'. Now ' for the lusinV■!" j She- opened tin* thioji mi.l 'pull. d out I : he draw. j 1 'How delightful'" tdw fvi'l.uuted nv t.n. 1 lifting up a. tiny p»u <»t ■.fiosf.rv in a ' i haW mlvi >"»m\ then i dmiiiin'iw }i'Xi\We nf .»nlnjii«» -liftf*. i Imdhni .nd i < ouionblr i irvt-ii t|j!«t*ii t«'i <n»l>to« J,lfr> \ - t% " Slu* pr* oV.'.ed in take out Muvf»M\ e ' dtmeifc. Inn tin 1 last f.ni* jvfn->pd c fiioM. .tinl m 'Jjinj; ;« op« if «du* juk«.'J h<> tahitict t» tlif limn ' Oil'" ""he nieil hi an .ig.my nJ ip ni-rh«HMi»n ft u ' s nrok'H «h»i ohnll I f .1,,'" Sue w i" i.\.ijoy<d f'i ttn.i tint the •Miiinet «jv nmlaniagtrl, .mil ih.i" . il.e bill hul lout-timed i!n rtSiMiiniv tir^woi Now w h i- ohiH I hmi" ~d w Up-ill nit, u <>«« Ah' Vi the bu'k «i th.' di.nwi hy . h t «! \- tdie unlol.ud «. *■! c «i"«-"> 1 » 1<»" 1 odoui «t i>ol pmuri, titd w to Mirpn-o«i t. o.v tint hf tiiiiiintiii i iti«n « t 1 ihim«il\ pnrv'e.i in-ieii ui wnifii I hn >•) ultit «-lie i<*j'i \|y Dfir Uii< -Kir main 1 . in\«\ lov»»l jii'ii hiu hirkod th* l M»uia^<* Jel! juti "ii. Mint* }«n« >»'K r«th ami [ U..1. [Hl"( ' Mi piixpn'- u«- huh hugh «-i ; tht'r* f«.r« I hi-.', n w» .»--k j on '•» b«,omi- my n IS' 1 i 1 «i-n<l illln I'lhtiic! i* th* Hi"* p'«' ! .. t'< 1 hiv,« J.n.i to "JT. r • |»r»'«v I lie ho tit i't i In cnt'l tn*-* ..n ilu- lu! <» I it vll <|nit>; 'fi'«'» pliiv In 'in 1 c «\»*■> liiui.h J-* 1 !»>« ' m\ moth.ro img whi-h I humbly h.ipe (~ jil.ii «• upon jmu r ii \ u it- tun in\ .illi'it "ii »*!• r-1> j ». U.i ii. ({. i.uhi'i Hi i' bin »• y««» hi\c nu i.i\i !»i iiu" kniiih k« |i tin tihiit., 1 iuuld ncvir \.ct 'i* 1..0k ii) "U .i .i^uti "\ 1.11 l l 11.1.0 L . *\ot.»il\, ill NRV ' ! i.- i< t>i ttoinbh'l )»( lh- I". i.»« I *. luii.i bu* h«r f> v tt4.ii" i t- tn uui Mi.ile lit- ill lii <>! i MuMili Mho I iVt ' ili.l U b-i.»\ol How i;k- 'he tr-tt r -ii th. I-hi .\ •:< i iitiiiuh>ii> ii rli« 1 i.i*{h Mi i|l. I'll' nlil 1 ."-huxu 1 lilm n« I b' - hi (f, it. t l! <i UK j.ri'-ftii ill- r>> < nl !••' i' ! .v n. ii-1 ~ i p m \ *h"llih»».r <tM . '.I", i in 1141 ifti-«til sjnikbiij; I.IIJ, t'..1.1" 111. f M Imi'M > Ml'll ' l 1 11 xlil th in . .1.1 . i Mi. 1.,.. \li i MIL ■ ! < Ii .-> tt. >l "i -" i' li- , 1 .V ill Ij.i* k"t| jl.il> 111 -.' |-l.< ilir. l«. I h.'.nr. Why fir uM i. u hm 1 kri..iv tii.i: } K.v.- him* «i!h all i»v h.-ari'*' 'i h> n >!n> ib'sii.tSfiu'-i lli" t«lii>«'iiij; • I)«':ti il-iity,-- Thank v..n i-i Ui.- . übiliri i.-<'it'.:iiniliK 1 hj- i.--!l-r .■iii.i )in^. ■• I •»• ii.l \i.ii -in* t>>■..-< .tii.i wi.h »; y.-wc in-.-tri's .it-ii.-. f.js I w'iti b. y.-nr «iff |!ui 1 hi- uiig r« 11.uui'- in i--' p...".' iii«.!l W.ll \..lH'i-«'|J. fVlitoVi' ;'.. 1 Svlll.i;!!. ivilb .Mll'-fl-'* :»s!«Vt;titt. I n\Si AS'« 1". WAIiJNi: 'l'i.!>.ii-zit"!i! : "" *" i!i rJ hoiu- >i lh«- ;!,•• it-v Jb-liiy ivt-mv..! ■:i,\ |C ...i h--' , r....m 11s "lit'" p-tj-.h-vty. NV fi.i; " -.'■ th. I»«.1IMI„' '" ! M ; s W "it'tln,*'-. b-!f«T iVr!:iilMy hi- '.-lii !h<- ...bit. ! - »•«« br" ! .- i .H--|..' th.- JWpSil'.Vi: ;..-,'!..»•,.■ ,*Si.i 'li-' ....'■'i.- n:*» tli- M-iii:;>! r.,v it>.»a <h- i-i ~j ;t..i .-tb.'i.*"t S-. fiiivh «•'- pi..-i. i ! » ; he lupm lif.iiiitig «>» * »<r N r. lirs'-k- r ...tlii h- uii.i.!,.!4|..l :'S»- .-ÜbiH,..!, i > .« "Mi; ivi.i. b b- b-i.-l »' -.«••!• "•«-«.-. H'-r .'«< '■•"•■ ; ~: rii.-ilt'-JW'- «b..h U-< i.«-i «i'-V«T »i|..»-S*" j'*;, ')-(*':.'r >-..i..-iu.-S"i lb*. -.vt» tbo lir'Hll i«: -■« hn-I*. nft't !i*-* ; I '« v mhiv-H u'.nbi b.,v- ;S iiu.-.! .b^r^y*- ( iijk :n Jf lu, b.3itr|t - »-..-t|i.J..- „!■,,, i ir ~.„!„'! :h-- Mm... ' Mv i*.:•;».-.- ;- sih'in *" b.-j.-n* bt.-;.k- ---..,,• ' ,f S ,!;.•:! <i m-ii-J :■' -*"- n.Miiiiy ] j! i»l <', "Jbr'H ."- ,V'»- " ; " Vf ,.-j^ i: . „.!,■ ,«•■•* **«-=- iit*"*«:* ! "• < b,o>* }}'.'>>r!ii»»- ! '**w isn'-jr.'.'-.

■ ; : ". ... »** ««h height enelVVoTour. ' "I i*a{net'*wpeeted you ibis—this -morning." •* - \V„ " I—l" am anxious to explain—f -stammered the rector. , ~ _/, t ! >■» < " Ye«." she interrupted quickly with 4a lorely blw«h; " but ycii mu*L.reail£ hat* breakfast first'." _ *" *"V - Glad 01 the-'respite, U*e. wc»o>tf'§*ssl opposite bis" charming 1 Tw#te*«.<* Ho glanced at the w with ivs hindsome equipment a«d ,appi using v.ands—and be res* a hvmgrjf ,"ma»-> "You will take some trout—fc\ wsiu-caught-thrs morning." she remarked prosaicallv. ' v <- * '<■ -Thanks: it happens to be mj-: I*vomi e dish," he replied, >- * , In >pue ol the i act. that be Mas. oh viouslv ill .<.' ei«>e, tha rector s>o.,<cnjeyed (lie tiout and the other good ihbigfs -Jtfhloih were pressed upon him" thai ho .eouldsV-jt icfrnin" fiom comparing i\\* v e<eellej|Uf served m ,il with tit* effort of hj.s. housf-ke-pir. ' Only ye* troay hi" breakfast b.i«on w.iv underdone and hw dinner joint. n> kf«i to'a iiniei. "*lh a his eyes, re-sreli upon in- d.iuuy li«.*>te<:» in h 1, wl»-ttt.tt\orrj iug gtn-.ii. and" .1 new thovchc ei.'.eced-h*s iv\r ' • - 1 it VVa-. 1 possible that at.tr-ah be, jjairt too high a pi ice for his so colled fr*e dom -Should—should ho marry, . Corf isunoo* .-.-..,, \ .!>•.,?• He was still wrestling wiih fihii ide.£ when O'lKtance proposed tx walk in.tht gaiden ( - .. I ' * And -here iho lector Kpoke . \ , " Miss Waring; you received th» carij-. net and a letter*" .». 1-^ " Yos," she answered poftly. ■ ,-. "That letter was not written tb* .titfti! "Then who wrote 1.!" slid &w*d; in a s'.rained voice r* . s, " That I do not know nntd 'I haV* e/tvh it." - > - • Constance's face became as white As.h4r gown * ' * » "Did yon not know'lo was therft*". t " Ko" , * -■ * «' ,t "Mor about the the ring.?".* ehe asked again, in faltering Jones. <■ .\ f. "I think 1' see the explanation!"• she answered gently. "Did you not*-tell .Jne that your godmother'never 'discovered »h»« siiider of this cabinet!' « <• - *•; "Tlnn i<» «<o" • » ■ ». . t "Do you not eoo that this KUer jl* old? Yean ago' *onre man-called fatettry loved y«ur godmoibcr H£ sent ,b«r- th# cabinet and wrote 'the leHer, which bit tortuuately became ta->t >at the fcac-k of the drawer, like- thing*' well, you know; consequently, she never discovered * the nng." * . s«. " You are righ'.," said the rector c>a<Uy. ' Alas » what a. tragedy !" My godnfotlu'r nev(«r manned, and after her -death I found a faded photograph, -and on u was written 'My beloved friend, Henry*- KlringMfi,' Had she found (lie letter. Which vou accidentally <fiecovered last night, what a ditference it wonld have made in two livm! -She wae'mjf oib*hj6»V irlend k and when I was born insisted that my name should l»e Ilenrj*. Shft h&d' Mt the greater par. of hei fortune to 'found the Elrmgton tho iv*st V>| ir 1 , wi h the cahme:, cunc to me." - • The rectoi looked-at? OonS!ance~-tv>*rs ncne. tieo-hiing <:» her !a«lSes ' »* *'•«■ 'But jon must not try, Const awm. Thov> t«o—my . godmother and hvt 'lojrer -—are :og«.thet now and smle ,hyy know all rbing-i. And we" iuvo touint happiness .through them. - ' '- « "' '

o>n«r,iHce Imdutd at hio» vrondtfringlj 1 :* "Am I to understand ihat—thai'vtin

"Had yon never discowrvd >\he J l&r.*Y, Constanc«. J might, like, fin olhff JtieiSy Umg ago. have failed in c-onrhgc. {'"" Attd now*. d*ar, I aedi you'to-b* iny, irife. H *' " Aro yrtii "<i«it* t»nr»» yo«--rou'. ,«.M>*ithat you da not ask mo-from pity *oi my mistake--a mistake 1 should h«V* Asa»veml bef-r» long'" • t " i know. That is whv ] ronJlf soujjthfc a full fxplannnon. liw, now *J k knoW that.l \o\t- you. and-hope tlAt. tliVs fex pl.-ui.umi> «ill- u-iil ntak« no diOet*n'co in your regard." •: ■ > . 7 Sh'.« hvld out her- hands in silerW;' Iba stule had returned-to her lips ahd. ih* ught to Iter eyes. Thus through a tra- .«?& ? f . T «» 3g». thfotigh V-wfiMW t,f >v<urd.u,