A CARNIVAL KISS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7637, 21 February 1903, Page 2

A CARNIVAL KISS.

(Th« Tfttl«r.)

THere are people who wUI tell you thai the jnan who lies to a woman must, ipsd facto, *'be a low blackguard. This, like most other sweeping judgments, is crude* It depends upon the lie. And this «toiJsU a case in point. . It was t in the first place, unfortunate that Scott and Baynham should- both de« cide fall in lore with the same girL This would not really Iftave mattered, of course, if only the two yeung[ men nad enemks. They couldr hare been rnde to one another in the dub biUia.p^T<ipjn a cut one another dead in the Avenida ana Chiada, and no one would have minded. But then they were chums. They liad; fcoth been 'bor-n in Lisbon within a few month* of one another, they were sent £q the eama school in England, they spent their holidays together, and they matriculated afe Merton on the same day. They rowed stroke and 'seven respectively in their college boat, shared' the same rooms in thf "Turl," and eventually took the same rather low class in their final school*. Then they came back together to Lisbon. But though a man may share mostf things with his c&um;, there are torn* things which qannot be divided in thii way. Connie Dacombej for instance, w*» not thus divisible. . ' I believe the fact surprised, them; cei> tainly ifc bothered them. It wks a dJ|sr culty to which they were not used, end they did not kuW ihow to deal with it, It they had 'been a little oltfer they wool! have known that there was no necessity fo? them to deal with it- The decision, of course, lay not with them at all, but wit]i Connie Daconrbe; and Connie "Paeomhii gave the question one whole night's luxuri" ous thought and chose 'Baynham. Next day, therefore (that "therefore" i« quite right), Baynham. proposed and w«i accepted. Scott congratulated them both, and tried to believe that he spoke the, truth when he said he was "awfully gl»aV f He waited in Lisbon to be his churn" • bfvl man, and then went for a three months' trip tq the Azores, alone. T:h*b ">« foolish ; a man, who is hard hit should sot go touring alone. When he caa\e back, from the Azores h* thought he was cured. He accepted every invitation Baynham gave hin^ to dinner, to poker, to whist ; and: the invitations were frequent. But ha never called at other times. He never dropped in fot afternoon tea as other idle men did, TJnleej he was quite sure that Baynham} van at home Baynbam'a house was to him & place taboo. And in spite of this 'he" thought h# cured. : ■ •. Now I do not know at what date exactly the Senhora, Mabel d'Estorit decided 1 that it would amuse "her to take a 'hand in the; game., 'but it must have 'been eopn, f©> fci* months after his marriage Jack. 'Jbynhaift and the little senhora had already become a theme of gossip in Liabon. The Senhor* Mabel was the. English widow of the Jata eminent politician, . Ognsalveg, d/JEstoril, who after mismanaging the finance* of his country for five years to hi* own gtea* profit died! and 1 left Habel with h«r endur* inp sorrow anij an ineome some 12,000 milrejs a year. TJUs with exchange ait 37 is the equivalent of nearly £2000 j&Bgl&h, and is a sum upon, whieh' in Lisbon os^Q ciwi live. Mabel 'did more than that} *h» managed (in- spite of the enduring sorrow) to enjoy life. But she thought »be eoul<f enjoy it a little 'better if she could Ijkv« Jack Baynham dangling at ijer heels. $o Jack Baynham dangled^ Now this wets all Very w^U from Jjer point of -view, and 1 perhaps there wa.s no great harm in it; "but it ted to iw.Q thing* in which these was harm. j"or it n»aa« Baynham's wife cry and it made •Baynha.m > s friend swear. Hqnour prevented! Scott from comforting his wife, and a c&rtatn instinctive wisdom held, him' back from •remonstrating with tbe husband. But in hi* weaker moments, when' he had; missed; four snipe in succession on the up-river mersbes^ he lopged to do, both of these foolish; things. ■ . . , On the first of the, three day* of carnival he 'was making hi? way down the. Chfad^ smiling good - humouredly, when hi* hai was knocked over fliia r ey« f and he was beating the discomfort with patience when a. coy. damsel dropped' a handful of confetti down hi* eojlar. AH this was fair ane? in the' rul«9 oi the: game, so he laughed; and 1 *etaJiased in kind. Jgut then/ he *aw eoinothinj; which was not fair and) quite outside the xvikt of the game as Scott understood- thein, §n4 his good humour fled with a curse. - Two smart dogcarts were being drives down the .CMado. The King of Portugal was driving th© first with 'his 'shqulderr drawn up to his ear* because of the showeri of beans a and confetti with, which % wa* assailed by scoopfule 'from the •npjpei?'will.dows. H«r appeared to be enjoying 'th« fun, but the aide-de-camp at hi» side looked; the picture of patient misery. But it vna the second dogcart- which annoyed r Scott. 'The Senhoru d'Estoril was driving it, and a bright little figure eho made as, perched on the high box-seat, she guided hep neifvous horse and dodged the ehowers of Tnissiks which pelted her. But her -attend,*** aide-de-camp was not in the least miserable/. Baynham had a huge- basket of confetti in fropt of him and a little tin scoop in hit hand. He was returning the fire, of the crowd briskly, and yoaring with laughter whenever he Bucceed'ed in, fendißg ft g064 scoopful into somebody's face. It was all very childish, no doubt t hUt worse, than, that— it was also' very publia "Just behind the King, too!" muttered Scott, wrathfully. " Does the woman want to draw all Lisbon's attention to her capture?;' Well, that wa* very likely, for what, i» the use of making a capture if you don't •brag about him ? It isn't delicate, to br*^; in words, so one drives round the .city-' immediately after the King t which eomes, ta much the came thing. Scott met this dogoart twice wore in th« course of the afternoon, once refusing to s«« a hoißterous greeting which Bayijfoain waved to him, und once coldly returning the bow with which, the Senho?* Mab«l favoured him. Then ho went home »»* gave way to a. fit. of temper which. la«ttd till evening and did him, no powible good* About nine o'clock he remembered he hw promised to meet Bayoham at the mwke4. ball at the Donna. Amelia Theatre. Be was not much in the mood for masked bal«t nor was 'bo exactly in the naood i oa> meeting hi« friend Baynh«m. But then Baynham might ask him home to mipper, and Cowue Baypham dl4 not, he fcnew, go tf> betf early. . x " , He put on his carnival costume^and went out, carrying a crepe mask/ia his JWf A« he wa« paying hia money at the theatre booking office the swinging daw» openeo suddenly, and- a man in a Pierrot costume, masked, came but laughing uproailejtsjy. Scott had mot put on his mask yet, Mfl-WJ , newcomer recognised him Mid tJaPRed hj«« On "BSiUo^ Arthur^ be cried, Vi^st going in?" , "Yes," waid Scott. "Any fun'' going on?" ■ , _ He knew whp the masked man waf. ".]£• and Baynham had both ordered; their eof tumes from the same tstjlor, and had pwpogely ha4 them made identical. They; h«4 arranged to make a round of call* together with the wniable intention pf getting senfe fun out of the mystification ef their^ieii^* as is the custom in Lisbon at carnival lijne, But thej plan had, by reas9n of Biyilhra'* being otherwise engaged, fallea through. . "Qh, it's slo-yr" ptied Baynham, imjwtn- ' pusly. "Nothing gay on at. all. . home with me, and Connie will give usao'nje supper." ..... , , ' Scott nodded «greem««t at once, tore np the ticket of admigßion h,e ha<l just paid for s and followed his frien4 out into streett Baynham was ©v'denfly i» high glee oy^r something, and fce took Scott's arm, faying v^ith a chuckle; . . "I've ha4 suoh a lark f old maa. Yeu saw me, this aifternojon, I suppose, though, you pretended you didn't." . ..-",. Scott laughed* but it was a shaip, ratitsf unpleasant laugh. " Yes," fo said grimly, "I »w y*« " , M Oh. X know you <fcmt ftpprore. f»

Pharisee !" grumbled Baynham. " But it's all right. And she's awfully good fun, you know. We — we had supper afterXrards." \ "You did? Where?" , " Oh, ft restaurant, of course. Where lebe? But we kept our masks on. It was b nuisance, because one can't eat comfortably in a. mask. But she insisted." " You surprise me," murmured Scott with in elaborate sarcasm which was entirely tost on Jus companion, who went on : . " And then I took her to the bail. ' Now tie carnival masked ball ait the Donna Amelia theatre is a very harmless and very innocent though perhaps a somewhat foolish function. Many of the young Englishmen of Lisbon go to it every year and enjoy it, whieh> of course, proves that it is quite unexceptionable. But they do fcofc t«ke their sisters. Therefore it is not wrprising that when Scott heard t'hat his friend had taken Mabel d'Estoril to the ball Ve stopped, shook off Baynham's arm, and laid in a low tone of anger : " " Charlie',- vou'd no right to do it. It's _— well, it's oeastly unfair, to say the very least." "Oh, rot!" exclaimed Baynham. "The place is perfectly respectable." But he ■aid it as though he were not quite sure, and he went on hurriedly, with the air of clinching his argument by a conclusive example. " Why, old Mrs Hutchinson was there and •he's Mrs Grund'y's twin sister. She was in a box ; saw her myself. She wag masked and dominoed, of course, but no domino that was ever built could hide Mrs Hutchinion's figure. There was a little girl in a red domino in the box with her. Don't know who she was." " Did the senhorat and you stay in a box?" Mked Scott quietly. "No," admitted Baynham, "ire didn't. !We went in for the fun of the fair, and danced. And — guess what she dared mo io do?" But Scott was not in the humour for guessing, so Baynham told him what the Eenhorai Mabel had dared him to do. "You didn't do it?" " I did," said Baynhtam defiantly, "and the Fates'graot that old Mother Hutchinson was looking the other way. She'd tell ieverybody." "Upon my word, you deserve nothing better than she should,? 1 was Scott's indignant comment. Baynham laughed «arelessly. "If she does," hfl said as he opened the door of bis house, "Til swear it was you. We're •bout the same height, and one Pierrot is very much like another when the same tailor builds them." n Scott gave, him a steady look "Charlie, said he gravely, " you're an old friend, but I believe you're going to turn out a blackguard; And I'm devilish sorry for your «ife." Connie Bagraliaflft rose from a low cane chair as they entered and seemed to take a, long breath before s*he turned' round slowly to receive them. Her husband inquired jocularly whether she 'had been asleep, but Scott, who had an, instinct almost feminine in these things, knew that she had been very wide, awake. She ha-d been sitting in that armchair, he thought, waiting for her husband's return, thinking, suffering imd perhaps planning. She looked like a. woman who knew that she had a scene to go through, and Scott thought that she tooked also as though she had fully made np 'her mind as to the part she intended to play in that scene. He began to. wish that he had not accepted Baynham's invitation to supper. • . , Then he glanced at Baynham. Baynfcam had poured himself out a whisky, and •was holding the glass to a soda "cyphon. "But he did not press the tap ; he was staring open-mouthed at a thing which lay on the sofa. And Scott, following the direction of his stare, saw that the thing was » red domino. Agaiiro he wished most devoutly that he had stayed at home. Then he heard Connie speaking, and her voice thrilled clear and wrathful,_though the tone was hardly louder tjian a low smirmur. . • . "I hope you enjoyed your drive this afternoon, €hwrlie." ■ ' Baynham started, withdrew his gaze from the red domino by a palpable effort, and't the.n answered with a nervous laugh, "It was all right. Rather a vulgar show, you know." > . . . He pressed the syphon tap with a jerk, which filled the- glass and spilled a gooti deal <>f the soda water on the table-cloth. "And, the ball?" his wife pursued steadily. ■ \ '• • • . "Eh? Oh, yes! I did just drop in there for a minute." Mrs Baynham watched him while he gulped his whisky, waited till he had put the. glass/ down, and then said, stiU in the earne quiet tone, "So did I. MrsJHutcbInson took me. I- was in a,red domino, but I suppose you didn't see me." And' then, without" waiting, to hear whether he had Been her or not, she turned to Scott, amd asked /him whether h,e wouldn't take some refreshment before he went. Well, that was as clear a dismissal as words- could give, and Scott had been longing to go. The husband backed it up with a nervous, "Yes, have a whisky, old man, before you turn out." For he also fealised that there were things to. be said ■which a third, person ought not to hear. But Scott did not take the hint. He flung himself into a chair, and began to •hake with ifoolish laughter. Baynham looked at him with a faint surprise, and fifrs Baynham with, visible indignation. He went on laughing inanely, and seemed to bull himself together with a great effort to Jay.' " Oh, all right, I'm going in a> minuto you know ; but I must tell you something first, Mrs Baynham. Such a lark!" Baynham turned to, him angrily, and i muttered an expostulation under his breath, {Scott waved him off, crying gleefully, "wfihut up, ,Charlie. I will tell your wife, Jbecause I know she won't let it go further. You mustn't, you know. !Mrs Baynham, because if Litboru got hold of it — well, you ■ know how Lisbon talks. It's about Mabel d'Estoril." Baynham sat back in his chair with * grant '■ that sounded like a groan. Hjs wife- came and stood is front of £cott, who went on blithely : " Charlie wat with her this - afternoon, ypa know, driving about and bombarding the populace with confetti. More fool he to waste his money on that mob. But that's not what I was going to tell you. I j Diet Mabel afterwards, and she sadd she'd | « never spent irach a slow af ternoon^ jn her life. Charlie was most disappointing, not half the fun he used to be, she told me. She thought he must be getting— well, J'U use her own word^Hsha thought he must be ' getting -* uxorious.' Rude of Mabel, wa«n*t it. I told, her it was rude, but she •aid it . was a veiled compliment to you, Mirs Baynhaan. I suppose it is, you know, really, if one looks at it properly. What I'you think, Charlie?" "Nothing," said Charlie. "Go on." JAnd Mrs Gharliev stamped her foot. ' " Well, anyway," pursued Scott, "as she fcadn?t been able to get any fun out of the married man, I suggested she should give % bachelor a chance. She — he, he ! — she , Jajd ijhe'd try me !— So we went and had dinner together at— but, no, I don't think I'd better tell you where we went — it was % fesWrnraht. Then we went to the ma.skdd ball at the Donna Amelia-. Disgraceful wasn't it.? I don't think I'd dared to tell you that, you know, Mrs Baynham, if you cadn't said you'd been there yourself. So of course it's all right, isn't it?" He paused for an answer, and this time tfc was the wife who bade him " Go on." "Well, we went to a box and watched the people down below for some time. But It was pretty slow, and at last Mabel said Hihe' wanted to dance. Now, I'll admit I , hesitated a trifle -about that, but I couldn't .very well refuse when she 'asked- me to take her •down. So'we went and danced a couple of waltaes. Then we spotted old Mother Hutohinson glaring at us. We didn't see jron, Mr* Baynham, but I suppose you must ,jb«;Ve been the red doinino vrith her. Mabel »aid she'd like to shock the old lady, and •0 she dared metoldss her! To kiss her!

there! in the middle of the theatre! What do you think of that, Mrs Baynham? Give me a drink, Charlie !" But Baynham leaned forward, and asked in a husky, unnatural whisper : "You didn't doit?" " I did !" roared Scott boisterously. "Of course I did I Wouldn't you have done the same? Gimme a drink!" Then, under cover of his exaggerated mirth, he watched Mrs Baynham to see what she would do. She walked swiftly to the door and opened it. Then she turned and said in a voice which vibrated with indignation : , " You had no right to tell me of your disgraceful behaviour, Mr Scott. It was scandalous! And, Charlie, I don't think Mr Scott had better have any more whisky." " ■ ' ' Then sba went out and closed the door behind her with a snap that sadd many things. The two men sat facing one another for a moment in silence. Then Scott rose and laughed shortly. His face was rather white and he was shaking like a man in a fever. "Arthur, old man," began Baynham, but the other interrupted him with a fierce movement. "Don't dare to thank me;" he threatened in a low, stern voice, "or I believe I shall strike you ! That's the story you've got to tell; stick to it if y.ou. have to perjure yourself twice a day. I shan't beable to back you up because I fancy I won t be asked to this house again. But by heaven, Charlie, if you ever give her an excuse for believing what she saw with her own eyes I shall do iny best to horsewhip you ! Goodnight." ' ■ ■ >« That is the lie which Scott told to Connie Bavnham. His version of the story is now Lisbon property, and Lisbon in consequence thinks Scott rather a wild young man. There is one woman, of course, who knows that the lie was a lie, but Mabel d'Estoril keeps her own counsel. She is, I think, a little bit frightened at what she did. When Mrs Baynham meets Scott in the street she cuts him dead. • This is hard lines on him, but he bears =his punishment.bravely, for, curiously enough, he has a feeling that she, too, knows all the time how the real facts stand. She has .given no sign either to him or to her husband that she does know. Bub perhaps Scott is right.