Sir Arthur's Ward.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14211, 28 May 1910, Page 1 (Supplement)

Sir Arthur's Ward.

(By Mabel H. Komns, in "M.A.P.")

Pamela. W'ylue sat on a fallen log in the niiast of the wood, tier eyes were on the ground, and she was lost iu thought. jsho had entirely forgotten tun uu\- by her side. But young M.ainwariug was very sensible ot her near proximity—and lie cuuid not. take his eyes oil Uie delicate curve of her fair cheek—the only part ol her face he could see. For sue had pulled her hat down to siiade her eyes from the sunshine which came dancing through the trees, and rested in patches on the girl as if it loved her. "Pam," said Main waring hesitatingly, "Para, dear, will you marry me? You know how I adore you —how wretched lam without you. Oh, Pam, only think what life would be always bv vour side!"

The girl started at the sound of his voice, and an expression of surprise came over her face, and then she broke intu a little laugh. "How absurd vou are Gilbert," she said. "T have told you before not to be so siily. As if I could ever marry a boy like Vou." Her tone was sufficient to damn nn v ardour, but Gilbert wa.s not easily discouraged, and he was really in love with his uncle's ward. "You always taunt me with being a boy," he flashed out. "What age would like me to be —as old as my uncle?"

"He is not old," she said quickly. "At least, not much more than forty. At any rate, he has outgrown the habit of falling in love with every fresh girl he comes across like you do." "I don't!" he cried indignantly. "I have been in love with you ever'since I have known you —if you won't be riiv wife —T. shall never marry." "Oh, Gilbert, bow can yon say such a thing? Why. last winter you were always over at Parkwood—you were never happy unless you saw Lily Darcy at least once a day, and 1 believe you have corresponded with her <>ver since." "I haven't," he replied loftily. "That was a mere flirtation —I don't think anything of Lily new—she is not nearly as pretty as you. Oh, Pam. you know it is only you T love.' Don't' he unk : ud—give me a little hone."

"My dear Gilbert," she said, "T am very fond of you, hut as to marrying you. the idea is simply ridiculous." "Then it is because you are in love with somebody else," he said crossly.

"T have thought so for a long time. I believe you are dazzled by the fas"inations of that fool Morton, who is staying at. Parkwood."

A little clour lm.l crent into Pamela's checks nt bis first, insinuation, but as be finished it lied, ami she tlu'ew her head back and laughed again. "Captain Morten." she rcnoated laimhing, then added I hoiigliH'uny. "But Gilbert, dear, you must, admit that he dances beautifully." "There, I know it!" he cried. "The man's nothing bul. a rake, and is proud of his remit at.ion for breaking hearts. Vou don't think ho means anything, do you? Why, you are not nearly rich enough for him. Morton's m> to his ears in debt, and is on the look out for an heiress." "Vmi seem to know a lot about his affairs," said Pamela, nonchalantly digging up the soft, damp moss with the end of the stick.

"Well, I made a point of finding out about him after t.ho way you went on with him at the ball last week. Uncle Arthur had heard how much you danced with him, mill was talking to me about him only yesterday."

Pamela threw un her head and turned to him. Her indifference had suddenly fled. "What did Sir Arthur say " she asked peremptorily. "Oh, he only wanted to know what sort of a. fellow he was. You see, I'ticlo Arthur feels a sort of responsibility for you as you are his ward. Mother has told mo how pleased he would be if vou married me."

Pamela started to her feetj her dreamy mood bad left licr. "Then T am afraid lie will be disappointed," she said carelessly. "Anyhow, we will stop this stupid conversation ,niul go home. It must he nearly luncheon time. How I have wasted the whole morning." regretfully. And she turned away without, another word, and proceeded alone hack to the Court, Gilhevf being far too sulky to accompany her.

I She walked through the woods into the grounds. Two gardeners were mowing the lawns in iront ol' the house, and the whirr of th-e machine made a cheerful, soothing sound. Sir Arthur Wynn was examining the purple creeper which covered one side of the Court.

He turned round as Pamela approached—h« had evidently seen her coming some way off. "The" Wistaria is beautiful this year," lie said. "I think it is the king of creepers." "1 didn't know yon cared now for any flowers/' said Pamela slowly. "1 thought you had outgrown tlieni." lie .smiled faintly. '1 am not verv old," he said. "But 1 think even i'f I reached Methuselah's age that I should take some interest in the <',iruen."

She leant against a column ur, which French honeysuckle was climbing and she bridge a piece off mechanically, and twisted it round and round 'in her lingers.

"Last year." she said without looking at him." h >s t year you were different. l on used to come with me to the woods to hud the first vioh-t—-.-on used to bias an:;i„us about the daffodils as I was --you wanted to see every day how they were g-tiie.g ,n. \\,w. you ni.-ier eom-o with me at ad."

He d:d not answer for a moment, but stood looking towards the distant hills. "It is because I am so busv," lie said at last.

"Gli." she said imnatientlv, "von always say that ! Why should veil have more to do this year than last? V/hon 1 first left school vou— von were always dei'ghit'd to do what 1 asked." "My denr <:irl." he said, "you have Gilbert to go about will, now " "I don't Want Gilbert." she interrupted ouirkly. "Ik—he bores me." and she soread out her hands in an expressive v.iiy.

Sir Arthur glanced ouicklv at her. and hecan as if to say somethimr, and then stepped himself. -I'oor Gilbert:" he muni'tv-d i?i a low voice. "Sir Arthur." said the girl innm'sivel". •'come down to the stream with me this afternoon and «et some trout —il is so long since we fished, together?"

She nut her hand lijrlitlv on his arm, and lifted her lovely, o-ige'r face to his. The man's 1;,..,, ,r iv , v suddenly pale, nnd lir- Kl-.-i.-d h ; ,r\- as if to avoid !ier.

"No, no!""h" said ei VM -~lv. "1 .-anil nt spare the- time. If you want to go and iish. you must xake. Gilbert," and then he walked hurriedly away and left her alone.

'T want to talk to you. Pamela. Do you mind coming into'the study?" and Sir Arthur held oyt'n the door for the g:rl to pass through. It was the following morning, and Pamela sat down at the desk opposite her guardian. "I feel rather as 1 used to at school." she said, "when the head mistress called me into her room. I are not going to scold me." "No," he answered with his slov smile, "I do not want to scold you, hut I am going to talk to you very seriously."

Her elbows were on the table, and she was resting her -winsome face in her hands. lie took up a pen and began mechanically tracing patterns on the blotting paper before Inin. He tried not to look at her.

"What is it all about'?" she asked. "I nm dying to know." He paused a moment-as if he felt it difficult to proceed. "Gilbert was talking to me last night." he began, hut sSho interrupted him ai. once. "Gilbert?" she said o-uir-klv. "Oh, don't let us talk about Gilbert, His conversation is foolish enough anyhow, hut to hear it second h:vvl——" "1 am afraid T must talk about him," s-vd Sir Arthur with sone imnationce. His was not a "h'asnut task "anvhow, hut sluMvss making it far more difficult. He wanted to j.pifc it over as ouicklv as possible. '-He fold me that he had asked you to riarrv him vesWdav. and—that vou Ivad refused him." Sl.e di-"w a deep breath. and the pretty colour h""t her -he-eks. He was finite a war" of this fact, though he won!-) , In t look at her. ' "And I snynose hr asked you to ph-ad for him?" she said in an unnatural!'.- miiet voice. "lie did." "Are you going tr> "

r or a moment h:s eyes met hers, and he started up .drawing his hand across his grey-streake;l hair. "I want to point out tn vou the ■.advantages of such a marriauo," ] lt , sa i, ; l hurriedly. "it is my duty—as your guardian— to do

"Well." she said'in a mocking tone, "I am wait in'?.''

He paced < n.-e ur> and down the room before he oa.me back to the table. '•Gilbert." be sai-d at last, "is well off. He has money of his own besides being —mv heir "

"And supposing you married?" she said in a hard voice. "It would he rather bard on me, don't vou think, if 1 married Gilbert. expecting to come int.) your property, and then was disappointed. ] am so very fond of the Court, you see."

"Vou needn't be. afraid." he answered slowly, "I shall never marry." He threw himself into his chair aioaJn, and steeled himself to look at her. But her eyes were downcast now, and he could only wonder at the length of her lashes.

"Hut you might," she persisted "Vou are only forty, which is very young for a man. It is quite likely yon mac meet a-<_drl some day ami fell' in love w'th her " Rhe glanced upwards for a moment, and caught siybt of his face, which w<s quite grey, ;tnd was working strangely. "T shall never marry," he repeated in a vi>if" she scarcely reeqgmsed. "Wi-11. is that ail you have to say," she al'tc- a pause,, during which the clock rn the mantelpiece ticked no : s!\v. "Ts that the nrtly reason you want me to merry Gilbert because' he will come in fo<- your monev?"

"He—be is devoted to you," he answered.

PamcH shrugc-ed her pretty shoulders. "He was devoted to Miss Darcy a few months ago," she said, "and will'ba devoWl to someone mn're different a few months hence. T don't think you need worry about him," and she got up from her chair.

"Stop a. moment!" he said quickly. "I want to ask you something. Perhaps—perhao.s you won't marry Gilbert lvH>a"se—because you care for somebody else?"

A beautiful colour flooded her face, and his heart died within him.

"J don't think that has anything to do with the matter," she said. "Tf there were not another man in the-'world I would not marry Gilbert." "Perhaps not." he replied, "hut. yon see, in the position of your guardian, I ant hound to see that you bestow your affections on someone of whom I- approve—someone who will make you happy. For two years, at any rate, you cannot marry without myi consent."

She laughed a little mirthVsslv. There is no need for any hurry,." she said. "Supposing such a thing were to happen that T should fall in love with a man who did not care for me?" She sat down ana in. and raised her face once more to his.

"T don't think such a thing is possible." he said, letting his eyes rest for a moment on the lovely changing face. "Pamela." he said anxiously, "you don't care for that fellow Morton who is coming to-night. ' 7 o you? .He is not worthy of you rc-dly—l could never giv" mv consent." She laughed scornfully as she turned away. "You thhik T sh""H hj" happier with -•> sillv bnv 1 i 1--e Gilbert " sb e said-. "W e ll. Sir Arthur, I nm afraid T shall nleaso myself in such a, if T liiyo vnnr cedent or not." and w'tho"+ 7~«J.-'ncT r f-, n ; ln n fj a ; n< s ] le tu-ued n IK I Toft the —om.

. 4 nd he °"t on ''-■"+'■> denied hn n ds and a grey face. - "I have offended hey

inow," ho muttered. "She loves that I Morton fellow, and —Heaven forgive mi>, 1 have. done more harm than good!''

It was a very warm niuht—so warm that tins youngest members of the party were strolling about in the grounds. There hud been several quests to dinner at the Court, and it had been a cheery evening altogether.

Pamela, had sat next to Captain Morton, and some demon had entered her. She talked and laughed and tiirled with the man to such -an extent that Gilbert glowered at. her from tiie other .side ol too taule, aiul .Sir Arthur frowned. 'lnougu Lhe latter appeared to give an attentive ear to Lily Oarcy's platitudes on h.s right, he really -lid not hear a word. All the time he was wondering "Can this ho the man fha loves—the man she imagines does not care tor her : j Oh, impossible, impossible: .

The guests has gone, and Pamela slipped out of the window into the grounds to esca'x? from Gilbert, who had gone into the hall to see the last of Mss Diirc.v. The girl ivas feeling fn ed and i:iihat>py— it was the inevitable reaction after her. high spirits during the evening. S., r Arthur had macie her amrry m the •m.nriig, and she ha 1 ■cvenged her.sef by curving cm a fiirtni on with a lieu, she cured ..nHn'n." ft r. S!ie had not thomrbt of the c.nse--ucn-es (-., him. and had been rather frmhrcimd at the warmth of his -,-:, ,- '"'• * ■■"■ds the end of the »!■,!.■•,» He i-'lked about riding round to see her tlie. ue-xt morning, too. She roust go our—she ni'-st hide—she never wanted +'i se<>. him a train. Could not the foolish man see she was onlv amusing herself with him?

She wandered round the lawns m c.n aimless way. A late moon was climbing the heavens, and throwing long shadows from the trees. Put "Pamela suddenly realised that it was growing late, and she would be shut out. She retraced her steps:;, and went back to the house.

The lower rooms were in darkness—sill except the study where a lanri was burning. Pamela gh>need in as she was passing, hut as she could not see anyhody. she thought at first the room was ompfv. However, on looking more attentively, she saw that Sir Arthur was silting at his desk with his head huried in his hands. The g:rl_.-:iu<dit her hreath. She saw the. long French window was ajar, and impulsively she pushed it open and went in. "Sir Arthur!" she murmured timidly.

He raised his head with a jerk—his face was haggard and drawn. Was he di-eanr'i'T. or had his thoughts conjured vp this fair vision that stood half in and half out of the moonlight?

"You?" ho muttered under his breath. "Ts it you?" "Sir Arthur, are you ill?" she said, and there was a world of anxiety in her voice. "Tllr" he said, rather unsteadily. "No I am not ill. I —l thought you had gone to bed."

She came forward, and stood by the table as she had done that morning, "then." she said, "you are in trouble. Ah. do let me help vou. Can I do nothing to help you?"

lie shook his head and turned his eyes away from her fair face. "No one can help me," he said. "But," she said, "you never know. Tell mo what is worrying you." She sat down and leant over the desk towards him.

He gave a curt laugh. "It is only that I am a fool," he said. He started up and paced the room restlessly to and fro, and then came back. "Listen, Paniela." he said, "I—l have fallen in lovo with a. flower"—his voice halted, and he found some difficulty in going on. "It is the most beautiful flower yen ever saw —it is only just out —it is little more than a. bud, and I —l am

merely a faded loaf—T have been through many seasons —I seem to have been on ivy stem such a lout: —lone: time. Don't you think I must be mad to fnll in love at my time of life?" "But what of the flower?" she asked in a low voice. "Perhaps that flower is like me, and prefers the love of a le-if that has lived to the immature affections of—a bud." "Pamela." he said harshly, "what are you savin?? Von d"u't know what, your words mean, for Heaven help me —it is you T love—T have loved .von so long, hut T never meant to tell you. Only to-night—to-night I aT n not myself — T am r""ked wi+h ioalousv, and vou Pnd me in a weak moment. But for fh-> + . slmvld never have know —you should never havo known." "Would youthen have doomed me to misery all my life?" she asked in a lo>v tone. Her face was radiant as she' raised it to big. "Oh, Arthur, how blind, blind you have been ! 1 began to think at last that 1 should be obliged to propose to you !'' Ho started. "Pamela!" he said hoarsely. ".Are you mocking me? Do you know that I am more than twenty years older than you?" "What has age to do with love " she said, "and —I love you—T love you."

He gazed at her incredulously. He had fought against his feelings so long —was it possible that the sstrnggle had been all or nothing? But there was that in her eyes as they glanced at him shyly over the table that was unmistakable. He wasted no more time in questions. Tn another moment he held her closely j„ hj s nrnis. "All, my dear —mv dear!" he murmured tenderly'.