The Young Man from the Country.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14159, 19 March 1910, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Young Man from the Country.

(By }Jrs Philip Champion de Crcspigny.) A sob. soft and long drawn out. I broke tho stdhiess of the v.-arm evenim' j itir, and died away gently i:i the dark shade of the surrounding trees. I The stillness was but comparative, for • rove ry was at its heiidit in Va;:xhali ; Gardens., and the sound of manv voices j and of the moving crowd in the distance j penetrated m a low, continuous murmur Ito the dark, deserted allevs that j stretched down to the river. ! The sob—a little sob of oain and distress—again broke soi'tlv through the gathering dusk, and a voung man'st'-v- ---■ ing idly between the tall trees that ; a- wide grass walk, stopped j short and turned his head to listen " ;. ,!e was alone; dressed ver soberiv in clothes not ol the newest fashion, tall, and with n clean-shaven countenance and an air of frankness that inspired confiden -c at the first Ham~". At- the far end of a. f- ;l 'n- „';],-.- t.ii't iay at right amrks to that Vn wmoh ho stood lijrhts Pl „j coloured lan.ems twinkled brkdiUv. like h'tt l .- brilliant-hued stars, amom/tke bran-b-s of tho trees. ThoVardeos were "illuminated with unusual sulend.-mr fo-.-masquerade, and the attractions of the dancing had left- the outh-incr Darts of the pleasure-grounds even'more" deserted than usual. The vmiiv •-;-". "who evidently preferred solitude to" mixing Willi the gav thronix of noooie wore . and had shaved beyond the radius of the illumini + ions. There ivs« not so much as a hanging light from a tw:g to lessen the Hoom as he stared abnnt- him in a vain attomot to local- ■ the spot whence the sob had" proceeded : Again it reached his ear. and tHs time a woman's voice added a little cry of help. Tho young man v.-alked brisklv a few yards further along the alloy and turned a corner into an onen soace '•■■ the_ centre of which stood a "marble Kt:une_. It shone out so white and ."learning in the dusk, with tlie tail | dark trees beyond, that for a moment . his eves were daaaled and ho could so* nothing else, until a sliH.fc sound al- ; most at his feet (aught his attention. Half-lying on the crass and lean-'"."-against the end of a heavv st-cne --oat was a, woman. i She was young and was dressed in a white .domino, that enveloped ticfrom head to foot: a black velvet mask lay on the. grass beside her. and tho face that looked up at him 'from the sh-'dow of a silk hood was tho very embodiment of woe. It was a small face with prettv. clear-cut features, and larre 'brown eyes Histsning with tears. .She roek°-l herself irently to and fro, and now and then >iave a moan of pain. "Oh sir!" she cried" with n little catch in her voice. "I am Had yo:i have. come. T hee-nn to fear "i should h?re to he here till morning." The yovnrr nian moved a rtep or two nearer and looked .down at her with a pair of inonirinr; eyes. "Tell me what I'can do for von. I at your service," he. said rendily enough. She made an attemnt to rise, and fell hack again. j " : Tis my ankle," she moaned, closing her eves as though in pa ; n "I have sprained it. 1 think. I can bear no weight upon the foot, and I must get- home." j His glance fell where two little scarlet shoes protruded from the half 1 hidden folds of a quilted satin nctticoat. I and ho hesitated." I "Can I help you to reach your j friends ? Or shall T find them ' and ! bring them here to you ?" I She shook her head. | "You would never find them in the j crowd. No, I must go straight home ) as fast as I can, and if you would assist | me 'twould be a work of charity." . I And pulling herself on to "her feet i with evident. difficulty by the help of the stone seat, she clung desperately to the friendly hand he extended, and , looked about her. ! "Which will be the best way?" she asked helplessly. "By hackney coach or by water?." ; The hood of the domino had fallen back as she made the effort to risfe. and disclosed a gleam of ruddy-gold curls drawn on to the t">"> of her head with a knot of blue '■ : hhon. and !;he man thought to himself he had nevfr seen a- prettier face. Tt was no loiv — pinched with pain f- — she s~-erred easier in an rpriirht yeriH-v thsni she had been on t'.o . n ' tt, ...+„.,, 10^ the gpje rf- the : -.v—H":r- b:r-.vn e'vco for a mov-oot. -.'ir' r ! ■-■> I'v-'Vd. can't tV< ----.-t-:..,, v '., „■,;.! NT?;. T i K->-!-vsp I •--' • ■---.■) ■ r ~ r— — "- '-:-?:\usa I dcti't know where vou liva."

She laughed lightly in spite of her pain, and drew tiio hood of the domino over her hair again. "How silly or mc!" she exclaimed. "I live by the river, hist this side of Battersea Fields. And" now I think of it, 'twill he hest to go by boat; we are ! close to the water and can get a wherry | at the steps. You won't leave me in this plight " she added anxiously. "I shall never reach home by myself." He looked down at the'littfe face beside him with a smile. ; "}ou may surely count on mv services, such as they are," he replied eagerly. "I will not leave you till vou ar ? °, n . vour °"' n doorstep."* " "J'is more than kind," she said prettily, "and I a stranger. I lost the friends I came, with in the crowd and wandered off foolishlv by myself. Then I twisted my ankle on "a bit of ground and fell, and there was nothing or it hut to wait till someone came to the rescue." "I am glad I should have happened to pass this way." hj- said aal'lantlv' in answer to her explanation. ""Don't be atraid to lean on mo. and we will walk as slowly as you please." She smiled her" gratitude, and turning in the -direction of the river moved along paimully by his side, leaning her weight on his arm. By slow degrees they crossed a couple of alleys, leaving the sounds of the music and gaiety still further behind them; it was evidently a great effort, and when they at length reached the landing-stage she was apparently in a half-fainting condition, and required all tiie assistance he offered and was so willing to give. The fresh air of the river, however, appeared to revive her, and by the time ho had hailed a wherry from a group ! of boats waiting for hire a few yards j i from the stage she was able to direct I the boatman to her house. ! He placed her in the stern under j the light awning spread to keen off | the night-dews, and took a seat'at her i side, and the boatman pushed off into ; the shining stream. ; j Jt was a night to dream of. I The day had been hot and sultrv. and i the sun had sat in a cloudless sky. A | rose-coloured glow still hung over the j horizon, and the buildings and- shipping I on the river were half lost in a purple ! ni!F.t. .A few lights twinkled dimlv and i uncertainly from the banks and' from | j the boats in by the shore. There was j no breath of wind, and the lap-lap of ' the water against the bows plaved a j soothing accompaniment to the liar- j niony of the scene. I The man plied his oars lazily; he i was old and deaf, and the boat, with a large clumsy lantern hum; out over the bows, made but slow headway un ! the river. The young woman and her com.-, panion. sitting together beneath the shadow of the awning, seemed to be conscious of the soft influence of tiie moment, and for a time silence fell between them. Then the woman sighed slowly, and glanced at the other sideways. "Why do you sigh?" he said quiclclv. with ingenious distress in his face. "I am afraid you are still in pain." I "The pain is much less than it was. 'Tis nothing to make a pother about ! now," she said, moving nearer to him with a little confiding movement. . •'Then what are the sighs' for " he asked, looking into the brown eyes so near to his own. She sighed again and hesitated. "I was only thinking that if everybody were as kind as you are the world would be a happier place." "Surely the world cannot have been so cruel as to treat you badly " he said with a tender emphasis "on the pronoun. The large brown eyes shone moist in the half light, and she turned her face away. "The cruel world does not stop to j pick and choose its victim"!.'' she saifl j bitterly after a pause. '"To me, at all : . events, 'tis a very cruel world indeed. j an: 1 . 1 wish, to-morrow would never ■ come. All! How I wish it!" she cried j passionately, rle.sping her hands and g-::::ng earneet'y across the gleaming , •'Yihy? Arc you in trouble.-'' ; e°-\ r> made no answer. en.; he repeat- : Oil the ouestion more urirentlv. ! "Are yen in trouble? tell me. j V.'lvn l;i>:;ws but T oopld help vou. You i have but to say the word——" She turned towards him again and j threw out her hands helplessly? ! "If yon call it. trouble —" she he- , gan bitterly, and then stooped. i "How can I tell you what to call it ; if you will not tell "me what it is!" • She brushed n tear from her eye , witii a handkerchief and unfastened the i domino at her threat as thousih it would j ! choke her. It fell hack en her should- , | ors, and he caught a fleam of little | I diamonds in the lace at her neck. j j "Yes. I aw- in trouble." she said \ I more calmly, looking st-aight in front ' • of lie-, "but 1 don't think that anvone i ! can help mo." ' j ! "Thai is i>i.noss ; W 3 to sa~ tdl you i • tell me about it. I know so little, you ; j see. 1 do not even know ver.r name.'" ! ! Ho bent eagerly towards her with '• j a-sympathy it was difficult to resist. i ! There v.-pq a pause. Then she murI ppired softly, still locking straight in • i front oi he-: i ] "Angela.'; ! ! "Air-ola." he repeated, lingering on j the syllables; " 'tis •> -.iretty name, and | means an rngel. Tell mo what your j | trouble is—An.-icla." ' ■ She still hesitated. The oars dinned | in and out of the water half a doiten ! times before she spoke. j "'Tis s> peaceful—and—and safe ' I here—like this, tlvt 1 wish, it mhdit ) r o I (in for ever, and that to-morrow mirfit ' n;>ver come." she said piteey.-lv at last . in a v.i:-:-.- that soun-.ljd '■■crilou.s'.v nee." ; to tears. i '"Why do you wish t"'r.t to-morrow i would never "come?" He took the 'little land that- buna: lietkrsly at her' i side -rcitly between his own. ! "Me:-:.----:-—because—Oh !'•' she cried i desperately, sprinaing jo suddenly to , her feet that the deaf old boatman i looked r.n in snr-n-fse. "'Tis wenstrous. • 'tis unbelievable!" The half-h'rht rei fleeted in the water lit up hev face and i showed her eyes snarkling with anger. ■ "T^-mop-ow—-oh. sir! To-mnrrow I am i to he married without my "'•nsent to a man—a monster in the Fleet prison, or"—her voice died away and she sank •'back on the seat again—"or I shall be imprisoned there myself, for debts that were none of my own making." : The words ended in a sib. and slia covered her face with the hand that remi ined Free. Her companion looked at her in some pernk'xit.v. ! "But I don't understand. How can you he forced to marry against vour , will '■'• ' i "'Tis no wonder yon cannot under-| stand," Angela replied, drying her . eyes and gently withdrawing' her hand ' from his grasp. 'Yep see, 'tis the , only way. I live with an urn-le who is . also my guardian, and had the care of I my money. I think the reonev has nil ' been squandered, for there seems'to be ' no more of it. The house is < mine, and j debts have been incurred iii K re-- name ' and without my kn-vwledgp. ; Tis his • doina. and indeed 1 knew nothing of it t:ll lately. Now T am told there is no mon~v to nay with—'Hs a matter cf a hundred J ara to he {-,_ prisoned for debt." S'-i t-'d lior . ; t«ry rather hrcath- ; l"sel- o n j „ s though the telling were an i .-fT-rt, - . -• "Bri how. does ' necessitate I your. -—.,•:•;-,-,, o.- +lw ~,.,„ „£..-# aD . ] „ n ..„., t ., v r>nl :,, „ (ir ,, 10 ,.-x T] - • j " 'T-'-, +be —lv y-v nut of the tangle, tl.-rfc I (,li-,-ltl p,„x ,„.;,_ „ ]rl ~, rMf+ fhn (lcU oit tn his R i— i-h--. T'----rrow I have to ! ~Wr,e wh : •■'. t -.ill ri-_-T,ni-ry.a man T | n->v™ • —i. :■" ™o ti orison—and j ---nd T • •- L '■ ■—-• --■• "f. aiT-oi\e . ■■!?* ~--i ' -" - —.- " -•-, miserj Ml , j '" '" -.-'•*-; -.- -*•-'-,., passed Lover the j-.cv.ag uian's face' for one mo-

ment. Then he 'turned a pair of sympathetic eyes to Angela, and said quickly: . "I am not sure yet that I quite understand. Tell me'more, and perhaps you may find that I am able to helo j you after all. And please don't- cry," j he added, drawing her hand away from her face and imprisoning it agciii in his own. "How will your marriase—ar.d such a monstrous nisrriage— relieve vou of the debt?" Angela hesitated. "Dun't you see?" she said with a little impatience, looking awav from him across the river at the- hVht* of a belated a-nd. heavily laden ferrv-bcat. "Vu e ' ,e alrea<5 T in the Fleet" a lew debts more or less can do him no harm. and as my husband lie becomes responsible for anything I luav OW(? - T j ;9 debts will be mine no lomir-r 'Tis commonly done, and thev will choose someone likely to remain" in there for the rest of his life. -But that is peer comrort to me: 'tis a hateful fate elt /, IG JL ws, JV s, 'e finished vehemently. lis perfectly monstrous and not to be borne!" her companion replied indignantly, "and ail for the sake'of a hundred pounds—a paltrv hunt'red' If you had that there would be no need to cnoose either evil." "That is true: but the moon is as easy to reach as the monev, so-f-r r,s I am concerned." she answered bitier--1/ ' l. '% src nr e the st?ns close to wW i Ii i h ? rOEe v '" sth a drew tiie domino round h.r- r .-'-i 1,.i T3 but a few yards to walk m - -,.-"; i' -f you will assist me to the dooi- it'will be very kind." In silence, and still clinHng to f!-« mans arm, Angela hobbled 'V.lonr-"" very narrow alley v,-ith a f^te—-V-' tunately dry—rucnina down"the midr'l» ana overhanging eaves thai shut out the dim hght from above thev reached a door in tl l9 wall, over which a fi iifla --,, „ puttered and flickered? she paused, and supportm-r against the door-frame' drevMier hainl from her companion's arm " r ''^°r*-., ssr - ;: \'; e snid - n«d bv the light of the candle he could see t'e s r "d .little droop or her mouth "it oul--'re-mains for me to thank you; amThow -am I to find words—— ?''. _ "You need giro me no tlian , --= " '.= j interrupted hastily; "but y-r.-T- '.l', ,'rl ask me to leave you like th"i's.'"" T'-^e' I "'' —he bent ear.-iesth.- toward' j laid a hand on her arm —"I t""'»V j a way out of the trouble. You I listen to me for one moment." J She hesitated. I "How can there be a wsv tv-i'-" =l, e asked, look'ng at him dcub-jV'h-' "T will tell vou if vou - I would like to" do anything I could to . lieln you. bc-iir-ve me." She drew .-. key from her peckr-t and supped it into the lock. "I believe in your kindness and r.-isb. to serve me."' she said slowly. "b---r "--:<; impossible to stand ta'king" "]]eve."'ard my foot is afire with acliin'fr. la-p'=o wretehrd tliere is no straw I worb-'r'---catch at, but 'tis h.nd to se?'"'l:ow anvone can help me." { She opened the door nr.d h=,'i the way ■ into-a narrow v.r.rsr-'e. i panion's assisfcn:-" she mounted"':! -Vr'.ri flight of steep'stairs and entered a re:."P at the top. It was ouite dar?-:.' r.r.rT after groning her way to the fi'nt and tinder lay on the- iyi-iu-:l-. : c"e. she struck a light and lit hah' ;■. s\< eer cnndles in different parts <-,f +i ]r . ~-..~ The womaan thr-w off her •":: "n-.. and seating herself in p r-hnir >-.- -: ," open window unf:ist?Ti-=d the lrr--> ---•-? at her neck, and laid it op h--:- 1-yT together with the Tittle caught his eyes in the bent. It yeas a miniature set- in tinv brilliants with a true-lovers' knot in blue enamel r-- 1 t"« ton. The man rpmainnd ?tan.■':•-•'-. for a r.'oment neither Tie watched the car.dle-liyht -/■•■-: in t'-.-i ruddy-<.-old waves cf her i'eir. end markel r').. .1«];.---)te linos nf 1- ; er preTi-; against tlm d-iri;pp-~-s bry;.r..l. "T was bold cm.-u"h opts : de " hj" -"id at 'art nykyard l - w : t"' « i : t" • ' mv mind." "An-°!a '-plained -ile-t. ? tn-i-" into the darkness that kmvj •• "er t" -■ river. The trail took ;• furei a •vess ihe romp and returned to her ?-:..>. "T kn::w there is no "tv ovf." reit.--ated sadlv. he,- h-s-cl "Yes.-there i?," lie said SrvVy. ir--.v-ini close to her elixir and looting dewat her frankly. "There is n -eev en' 7 v-v. '-m--t tpl.-., it 'T.'= 1„-,f p -,-.-:-.•„• of a hundred icpnrlc. \„. U, s' nke- —"-" hepd." he v.--.-r ~-;. j p-r'---inr: bolder as she s-id le.ri'- : . , " "T'=: a p-o-.i.=t'-ons and a wy-'-e- 1 -'■■■^r r )to_thi-k cf you—you. Av:--.-.!-"—;::> \ wretfb i-i the F - le.=t pris in.—tie:!'"•>- ':"o | to n m.-n v.-b.o may be no better t':en a ! cri-u"p-il." \ Sh-> r.tiH Irept her ?nen -,-r-, hi> r . end I wil' t::k- no' refvsal." he s',':,l '; n : ! ;b':!'-r tone. and fakir.' a l-e---"-s 1V.~f1.-r -ov.rs.- from b : s p~c\---.t h..' IV t H oni.-i-l-.'- on rT, r *«1,! 0 . " '.nv. w ,' -'■ . m'.ye." he r , t:-^- , -T. ■•■■ -- 1 - • --.--.- .' •- j r r, :r , +-, ]..._ r r .,i ...;j.-, „ 1.-i-.-i- . ~...,_ ! ,!_„,,.-„„ ~„,. 1,,.,,. ; - r „ li: l,- :. lf . ) v i.„ "..-,..;. !,...:--,.-.]+ beside her and tool; he- !• .;:e in 1; -. j iit ;-''l want ™ rh-vnks." h r 5rn : ..?"d : ...-.;.""An«»la'." perhaps."\ve\nrv mee- ni-ain. -nd t i-y-o--.-.-,-.- p—d i-i 'd ■ m terrors "or y-p now." , H« rrsj. a"d ;n so dninr -aov-d little broo-h J ; , I,>, fi,i,,.,,-s "Give it +o n:o." b? enid; " -f.-.-ill ir--** and raisin-' it to bis h>- i... ,-re-s----ed +l 'e yoa.i an: l was ..-- ' i.„e.._ e _],,, COUld sf-..-,,.iv-. ; - o v.-e-d '" --.-.-v-- ; Ap.rein rnr« fro-p h e v - s f.-.-,! for a momn„+ l : st»r:::i'-. T'-r-.p -h-. s 7 -""* Hero she n',;H P^i r ..-r.'P --.f-■~", :,-,f„,,t! T . Tl-.« hev S „ ye-* -,-t,-..1 -: .--1-T si'e„f. n „r] r l u , ,r- 0 „ : ,,-l 1,,,- ~-.,,- ..l„ n T the ->ass:«-e to a deor which steed abr ' at tb« end. "fnmp out. Xed." <=] it? wh:?pere(l: "b-'s gone." Tliere was n nioyep.onf. inside and a man's be-d -i-etrnded round the cor""- of the d.-o^. "Clean of? the --.-en::?ts?" he , ask-1 c-ntiouslv. "''"epish-d Tike a d-cepy pyd a p-ood dream too. T can tell ;-"n " r , s t-be lai-tr'')'nn- r.nsyecr as ?''o 'c l f'e v.-av bae'- - : . ttm li/dit. 1 . "Th—.'- p lo'- <--? brain-- : " -h"Vnrettv - x e 3 , men si ; d. felloyey.' - room. j "How did von do it this time-" ! ".V s. ir^JT , n -l -:- ; kl,-. ml + 1 :" V}?:..*-. mai-riaerr.'' she r"ire l --~' .. : -,.!..w!r. "yd ' all sf-rn of th<. lim-. bad , "T.ord! Wh.-.t a I-.t of thefFlcet marri:)? o has done. Bab=' T':ere's I no end to : t." be said cheerf-e 1 !;-. I '"You'll have to I-..-. -pee a neve , -- n thnr— set •"" brilliants, ton. X..-V* : <sl. w spi'-l. neddiu't her head pt liirn. j ■•' Twill he n matter cf ten peynds, but '+ : s W" 1 ! worth the pio-i-ev. T* virions what pp nir af a mini-'tp'-e of • n-V. .—PT,rT~ r ii, o - one." she said t'l'-pcbtfully. he rn-isi'irr ],.t: eyebrows. "A, 5--rt - 1 ", -et'-b 1 herrint." «be - „„ the nurse. j rl ..., t- -il.e inlilo with'P'little- sl"nTj"». j and the sentence remained unflnisheS I Thev consisted of two sets of loade<s dice and a pawr.-ticket.