LADIES' COLUMN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5961, 28 August 1897, Page 3

LADIES' COLUMN.

I 4 EXCHANGE NO ROBBERY. > (Woman at Home.) \ " Going down to Scarsdale to-night ? " ' cried Colonel Hardy to his son, who had ; suddenly presented himself to that veteran ; in his snug flat No. 33a, Netherleigh Mansions, S.W. " Yes ! Cooper tells mo there's some--1 thing wrong with the colt ! any message ?" L "Oh! my love to Sarah " (Sarah was Mrs ■ Cooper, the Colonel's daughter), " and, 1 Cyril, make the most of your time ; don't throw away a good chance ! " "' What may the chance be, sir ?" he * returned. : "Come! no nonsense! you know that • little girl Olive Sfc George, and her money ' might be yours for the asking." Cyril laughed harshly. j . "You think so ? Well, whether you are - right or wrong, lam not going to ask." j 1 "And why not?" 1 "Don't you see I have no right to ask a ' delicate, well-dowered girl, much my '. junior, to marry a battered adventurer like myself? I have no home to offer her." , "Don't be pig-headed? Couldn't you , make a first-rate home with her money in England ? " ■ " And be a mere pensioner on my wife's bounty ? No, thank, you." " Pooh ! that's false pride ! you've been : working like a nigger to keep body and soul • together ever since your infernal temper ■ made the Navy too hot to hold you, and : now jou kick aside a first-rate opportunity ! Why, the girl's money ought to have been yours ! That whimsical old cat, Mrs Boscawen, used to be fond of you, and was once very fond of me, and after making a dozen different dispositions of her property she dies intestate, and that little waif comes in for everything as next-of-kin!" Cyril Hardy had been the ne'er-do-weel of the family, and had found it desirable to leave the Navy after a furious quarrel with his commanding officer. He then started a cattle farm in Canada, and now, after an absence of six or seven years, he had come back to England to sell some horses of his own breeding, a bold venture, which had been fairly successful. He was now bound for the country seat of his brother-in-law — a hunting man, who had been of great assistance to him in his enterprise. Cyril was heartily welcomed, though he arrived very late, and next morning before breakfast host and guest found their way to the stables. The colt had overreached himself and hurt a tendon of the off foreleg. " It will not be a long affair," said Cyril, as they returned to the house, "If you will be troubled with me, I should like to stay and see him all right before 1 leave." " Stay by ail means ! You are generally in a hurry to bt off as soon as you come ; but I must leave you on your own resources. lam obliged to go into Oldborough to-day, and so is the wife. You 1 had better go and lunch at the Beeches." "Of course I shall pay my respects to Miss St George and Mrs Foley." "St George and the Dragon as Gascoigne calls them," returned Cooper, laughing. " Ha ! Gasgoigne is a wit, is he ?" "At all events he knows the side his bread is buttered on," remarked Mrs Cooper from behind the tea urn. After alittle more talk they i*o36 from the table and in another hour the host, and hostess drove away. Hardy wandered about in an aimless manner for some time. Presently he re-entered the house, took a brush from the hall table, carefully removed any dust or threads which hung about his garments, and departed with a decided step across the grounds, and took a path which led through a rustic- gate to the high road, which here descended into a hollow. At the opposite side was the entrance to a pretty little domain, the property of Miss Sfc St George, who had unexpectedly succeeded to the fortune of her aunt, a wealthy widow, about two years previously. Hardy had not gone far when he caught a glimpse of a slight, dark figure moving slowly among the trees, in the same direction as he was going himself. He quickened his steps, and soon overtook a slender girl in mourning. "Good morning, Miss St George," be exclaimed, as she turned at the sound of his approach. "Ah ! Cyril ? " pausing to hold out her hand to him. A soft, bright pair of hazel eyes were uplifted to his from under her large black straw hat, laughing yet appealing eyes ; they illumined a rather pale face, not beautiful, barely pretty, but interesting and most expressive. "I thought you were not coming back!" A warm tinge of colour rose in hor chock as their eyes met and dwelt upon each other, until she suddenly averted hers. , " Well, no ! I intended to go straight to Liverpool, but Cooper wanted me to have i a look at one of the horses before I went, so I am here." s " And you were coming to see us ? " " Yes." 1 *' Wonderfully polite on yoiu* p.arfc, Cyril ! I fancied you had learned to despise small t civilities in the stern simplicity of your Western life." I " No ! lam quite aware of the fitness of 'hings, and ' the necessities of artificial I society ? " " You must stay to luncheon. Mrs Foley i will be very pleased to see you ? " " Now, Olive, that is one of the feeble ; fibs of your social system ? Mrs Foley will wish me in mid- Atlantic, or under it." L ■ "No matter ?I do not." "No, I don't think you do ; I believe you area loyal friend, so you shall- have tlie E privilege of entertaining me." They walked on through the wood, which > clothed a somewhat steep rising ground. "Do you remember how enchanted I was ■■ the first time- 1- walked through these" woods when my aunt bought the place ? and you ! gave me that dear fox-terrier ! How cross she used to be when you took my part, in 1 the old times; perhaps if you had not vexed her she might have left, everything i to you instead pf dying without a will ! . I sometimes wish she' had, Cyril!" she added i timidly, stealing a sweet, side-long glance at him. - " What ! are you going to propose giving me the half of your kingdom ?" he returned, ' with a harsh laugh. Olive coloured quickly, v as if wounded at his tone. '•' I suppose I seem childish and silly to you ?" shb exclaimed. " Well, not particularly wise ! Wait, Olive, till next year, when you have been s presented and have ' done ' a London season ; theu you wili know how to estimate such a 1 suggestion." Olive was silent, and a few yards further 3 the path they were following brought them out on a velvet-like green lawn, which * stretched in front of a picturesque, ramL bling cottage, with clematis and roses grow- " ing over it. A lady was seated in a rustic chair under a tree so interested in a newspaper that she did not look up till Olive i spoke: .- ',-.: " Here is Cyril Hardy, Mrs Foley." *• "Oh !— ah !--yes !" said that lady, dropping tho paper and taking off her glasses. > " Well, to be sure, Mr Hardy ! I thought you had gone back to the Rocky 3 Mountains." "I expected to have been en route by this time," returned Hardy, " but can't get off . just yet." " I believe you would never have come . back to say good-bye only for that horse," remarked Olive, reproachfully. i " Perhaps not," said Hardy, i " You ought to ask Captain Gascoigne to 1 look at the creature," remarked Mrs Foley. t " Though he is such an elegant creature, he J is a real judge of horses." i " His horsey knowledge need not detract i from his elegance— tbey are rather elegant i creatureß themselves ; but I don't want a 5 * vet.,' " said Hardy, with a certain breadth 3 in his accent on the • first syllable of I " creatures," closely resembling that of Mrs * General Foley herself, which drew a laughl ing glance and warning shake of the head • from Olive, who stood a little behind her l chaperon. "At any rate, he is accustomed to a fine

stud at his brother's— l mean the Earl of Stanmore,". replied Mrs Foley, with dignity. "I have just asked himto look at that horse they sent over from Netter ville's for you to try, Olive. He has gone round to the stables." "Indeed! Perhaps, Cyril, you would come with me to try it ?" , n "Very well; I'm at' your service, returned Hardy, curtly, but a kindly, smiling look stole into his sombre eyes. Here a gentleman came through one of the windows, and stepped from the verandah on to'the lawn— a slight, good looking, young man, shorter than Hardy, with fair hair and moustaches, sleepy blue eyes, and a delicate complexion. He was most correctly dressed, and held a riding-whip under his arm. " Good morning, Miss St George. An Hardy ! thought you had gone away, glad to escape the harrow limits of our diminutive island!" "Good morning," returned Hardy gruffly. "You were early afield, Miss St George, he continued, turning his back on Hardy, to gaze ih a fascinating manner into Olive's eyes. "l was here before' twelve ; I Wanted to see what sort of a mount they had sent you." " I was out a long time before that, and met Mr Hardy as I came back through the woods!" " Quite a natural place to find him now that he has turned himself into a wild man." ' Hardy laughed— not exactly a pleasant laugh. . " Well, Captain Gascoigne, and what do you think of the horse ?" asked Mrs General Foley, beaming upon him. " Don't think he's up to the mark— not well-bred enough, no fire nor " "But I don't want fire," interrupted Olive; "I am a great coward and I only want to be comfortable and happy on horseback. I have begun too late to make a good equestrian." "You shall not belie yourself, Miss St George," exclaimed Gascoigne ; " your figure will look divine in a habit. It is worth, some risk to show yourself off en amaxone." " You are right, Olive,"- growled Hardy, "you show your sens6 — you'll never be a horsewoman." Olivo flushed up, and looked annoyed. " How refreshing, this candour of an old friend!" cried Gascoigne, laughing. " The wild, woods are evidently his natural habitat, eh, Miss St Georgo ?" " Luncheon is ready," said a severely respectable man out of livery, approaching noiselessly. " I declare I am as hungry as a hawk," said Mrs Foley, rising. " Come, Mr Hardy, as we shall not have you with us long, you shall take me, though it is Captain Gascoigne's right." " Sorry to interfere with any one's right," said Hardy. . " My dear fellow, don't stand on the order of our going, but go," said Gascoigne, goodhumouredly, offering his arm to Olive. Hardy submitted to fate, and led off the generaless. " I am sure 1 am quite glad you happened to come in to-day," she said, in rather a low tone. " You are such an old friend, ''and I may say favourite with my sweet young relative, that I should like your opinion of Captain Gascoigne. I confess I like him. He is well connected, and fairly well off — quite well enough off to make one sure of his disinterestedness, which after all, one cannot be in the case of a needy man, can we, now ? " This speech took them across the draw-ing-room, the hall, and to the dining-room door. " My opinion is of small value, Mrs Foley, especially in Miss St. George's estimation. I fancy she'll judge for herself. I have never heard anything against Gascoigne, certainly." " Well, now, that is most satisfactory ! Come, dear, don't loiter, " louder to Olive ; " and please shut the door. I cannot stand a draught. " The good things before them occupied the guests, andsuspended conversation for some minutes, Hardy, while affecting to give his whole attention to his food, forcing himself to do justice to Gascoigne. "Will you try the mare this afternoon, j Miss St George ?" asked Gascoigne. I am I riding Sultan, who is, you know, steady las a rock, and good for au escort. Theu I you can form an idea if she suits you or not." " Thank you," returned Olive with a slight degree of hesitation ; " you are very good. You will come, too, Cyril, will you not ?" " I don't think I shall, as you have an escort, and a competent one. I shall go back. I expect letters by the second post, which may need immediate reply." " Then, Olive, my dear, you must not trouble Mr Hardy," cried Mrs Foley. "Oh no, certainly not ! I think, Captain Gascoigne, I will go and put on my habifc. Shall I say good-bye, Cyril ? " " Yes, I shall be off before you come down." " Good-bye, then," she said, with a smile, and left the room. When she returned, Cyril was gone, and Gascoigne thought she must be rather pleaded than otherwise, she looked so remarkably well, having an unusual amount of colour. # * * * # It was nearly a month before Olive saw Cyril again. Being a man of prompt action, Gascoigne brought matters to a crisis one warm afternoon, when he saw Olive sitting alone in a sheltered corner of the grounds, with a book open on her knee. Gascoigne was very fond of the girl he wanted to marry, but somehow he felt a less ardent love in her presence than when he thought of her at a distance. Nevertheless ho managed to put the question well and warmly. Olive was less overcome than he expected. " I would rather not marry anyone at present, Captain Gascoigne, though ifc is very good of you to care so much for me ; but, indeed, I would rather not. I am very happy, and there are a great many things I want to do, and to arrange " Gascoigne urged his suit eloquently, feeling a good deal mortified by her unaffected reluctance, and at length was fain to be satisfied with a promise that her "no " was not to be considered irrevocable, and nothing for the present was to be said to Mrs Foley. " I really like you very much," were Olive's concluding words, " but I want a longer spell of freedom." " Ah, my dear Miss St. George, that means yon do not caro a rap for me !" he returned, smiling pleasantly, and rising to accompany her to the house, by no means disheartened. Half-way across the lawn a servant met them, bearing a telegram for Olive. " How strange ." she exclaimed. " This ; is a summons from Mr James, the family solicitor, who wishes to see me in London immediately on most important business. What can it be ?and Mrs Foley has gone into Oldborough. I fear she will be late." " Can I take a message to her anywhere ?" asked Gascoigne. " She has gone to tea with your Colonel's wife." V ■•*■ Oldborough was a cavalry station. " I'll catch her thore then. Let me look at the telegram." - - " Thank you very, very much; you are very 'good." ' ■'. * " Good to myself in serving you ! '•' he exclaimed. In five minutes more he had mounted and was off. Mrs General Foley was not altogether displeased by this sudden summons— she dearly loved London. Olive, too, was pleased to find a visit to town necessary ; probably they might meet Cyril Hardy there. They started early next day, and reached their destination in time for afternoon tea. While refreshing themselves. Mr James' card was brought to Miss. St George. He was immediately admitted, a grave and distinctly professional-looking man. •* Well, Mr James," exclaimed Olive, when greetings had been exchanged, and he had declined a cup of tea, " you have frightened ua out of our wits by your telegram. Has any terrible catastrophe happened?" " I regret to say, my dear young lady. that I have very bad news to communicate," he returned, portentously, and proceeded to relate at some length that on

the day beforo he had had ' occasion to inspect some deeds relating to a mortgage held by the .ate Mrs Boscaweu, which was about to be paid oif, and folded in one of them he found a will-a very short and simple will— on an ordinary printed form, filled up in the deceased lady's own handwriting, by which her whole property, with the exception of a few trifling legacies to servants, etc., was bequeathed to Cyril Hardy, second son of Colonel John Hardy, of Netherleigh Mansions. S.W. It was duly attested, and dated about three years before, oimple as it was, it sufficed to send Olive St George back to her original penmless condition, and give her wealth to Cyril Hardy. Mrs Foley declared at once that the whole thing was a base imposition. She could not. and would not believe it, ancl she poured forth torrents of indignant eloquence on this head. Olive was very pale and silent, nor did she speak till some sympathetic expressions from Mr James drew forth a reply. •' • ' " Yes, of course it .is a blow," she said quietly. "But I would rather Mr Hardy had the fortune than any one else, only I have spent a good deal of his money, aud I can never pay it ! It is a little hard to go back to poverty, too." She stopped abruptly. "As to the funds you have used, I am sure no man with any sense of justice would dream of demanding- restitution ! I do not know this Mr Hardy, but once I can find him, I will " began the lawyer, when Olive interrupted him. " Then he does not know -" "No; we cannot find him, I went myself to Colonel Hardy's abode. The Colonel was on the Continent, and the servants know nothing about him, nor can his sister, Mrs Cooper, give me his address." "He will be starting for Canada immediately ! Do—do advertise, Mr James!" cried Olive, imploringly; and the lawyer promised to do so. A long, desultory talk ensued respecting the steps to be taken and the most advis" able plans for the future ; but the only conclusion arrived at was, that until Cyril Hardy was found nothing could be done. It was the third morning after the thunderbolt had fallen, and Olive had retired to her own room to escape the lamentations of Mrs Foley, which had become slightly monotonous. She was busy writing to one of her very few young friends, when that lady entered, somewhat breathlessly. "My dear child ! He has come ! He is in the dining-room, and so grumpy, words can't describe it! Go down to him, and don't rub him up the wrong way, whatever ; you do!" " What ! Cyril ?" cried Olive, starting up. "Oh ! lam so glad. Does ho want to see hie ?" " Yes ; he'd hardly listen to me ; but I did put in a good word for you !" Olive, however, was already half-way downstairs . Hardy was walking to and fro when she went in, and coming to her, he took both her hands, looking keenly into her eyes, his brows slightly contracted with the itensity of his gaze. "And so I am to rob you of your inheritance, Olive !" he said slowly. "Don't you feel disposed te put a knife into me." " No, indeed, Cyril," she returned, smiling and withdrawing her hands. " I am sorry to lose it all, but I would rather it went to you than to anyone else." Hardy took another turn, while she stood resting her arm on the top of a chair. " I am not going to be a cruel creditor, Olive, and you shall not have reason to break your heart for want of a fair share of filthy lucre. There's Gascoigne. I have been enquiring about him, aud I believe he is a good fellow enough. I believe he is fond of you, indeed I am sure of it, and he is the sort likely to please a girl's fancy. Mrs Foley seems to think you understand each other. Well, you shall not go dowerless to him I" "Dower or no dower, I do not want to marry him ! He is nice, but — • It he be not nice for nic, "What care I how nice he be?" She stopped, and her soft hazel eyes filled with tears. " I don't want to be handed over to the first person who is disposed to take care of me ! I daresay you mean well but " Her voice broke. " Why, Olive, I was mistaken . Tell me what you wish, and, by Heaven ! I only want to take care of you myself. I know I am perhaps too rugged a fellow for a delicate little darling like you, Olive." His arms were round her, and his lips clung to hers, while her tender yielding to his kisses was a far fuller confession than any words, however eloquent. "Don't you know I loved you when you were a mere child ? Olive, I have thought of you as something too sweet for me, and when I came back in May our first interview trued the old sm ouldering affection into a real fire. You will take me, unlucky and uncouth as I am." "I owe you all the happiness of my life," she murmured. "Then, my darling, you shall have your own again, though not unencumbered, for you must take nic with it ; but you shall find, sweet one, that exchange is no robbery. "