LOVE IN A MIST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9303, 1 August 1908, Page 2

LOVE IN A MIST.

(By MADGE SMITH.)

[An, Rights Reserved.]

The two-fifty train puffed into the station at Ashes Hollow, with its load of hopes and disappointments, good luck and bad, for the dispirited groups waiting on the platform in the rain. It rained a good deal at Ashes Hollow, a fact forgotten during the dry seasons in which, the sleepy, Jittleknown village had become a popular resort. A new station and a builders boom accounted for th 6 rush if visitors, and for a short epell the accommodation of the place was hard taxed. Red brick lodging-houses spra ig u.io being on every point of vantage, and a fe'.v original residents turned their homes to good account in the euir.mer months. . ..,,, The visitors were a boon to the little household at World's End, he feieygabled house where the road sw«pt out of sight, and the hills seemed to shut you in. When Captain Cadw-ilhder died his pension died with him, and it was only by turning the house into lodgings that the widow and her daughters managed to keep the door open. Then came the hydro— to a (moms of indignant wails from the iodgmg-iwu.se keepers. It was a palace; its lotty front could be 1 seen through Surrounding woods over all the country-eide. Its myriad plate-glass windows proclaimed, that here was room for more visitors than Ashes Hollow was ever likely to harbour. Everything up-to-date. It iras eaid the French cook was a miracle. The pages who lounged on the marble steps fitted their liveries as if they had been poured into them: And the lankee porter, elegant in French grey and silver braid, had a positive genius for engineering the luggage of undecided families on to the hydro luggage-cart, and their persons into the sumptuous brougham at the gate. Visitors for some reason weje falling off at Ashes Hollow. Perhaps they were getting tired of it. It was said that even the mighty hydro was doing poorly. The privato houses languished miserably, advertised wildly, and then capitulated, and from the windows ot half the red brick sentry-boxes that dotted the valley, the pitiful white flags, with their legend, "lo Let, looked out at the pitiless ram. It was raining this Saturday as hard as ever when Jennie Cadwallader harnessed her rough mountain pony and set out in the vain hope of bringing grist-to the mill from the London train. "It's sheer waste of time, Jennie, Mrs Cadwallader said, dolorous and ho-peless, as she watched her depart, standing under th 6 dripping clematis on the porch, which could look so attractive in nice weather, and so disagreeably moist in wet. " Wobody would come all this way in the rain in an open cart, and you'll have all the cushions wet through if you don't cover them up." " Cheer up," said Jennie, herself feeling none too cheerful. She tucked a waterproof round the precious cushions, which they had bought with many qualms to set off the cheap little cart that was to attract fresh visitors to World's End. Jennie was proud of her pony, whose education she had been largely responsible for, and she hoped to make a nice addition to their income with him when the season be&an in earnest.

Certainly this summer the visitors were very tardy in. coming. One big family had been frightened away after a week's steady rain, and a second started with measles the day before they should have come. And the rest of the casual week-enders were lured away from Mrs Cadwallader's wholesome home-made bread, fresh butter and lavender-scented sheets, by the bil-liard-table and modern appointments of the hydro. So it was with very faint hopes that Jennie, shook off the rain from the man's oilskin hat that covered her bright curls, and waited on the platform, with one eye on the fidgetty Joey, and the other on two or three depressed travellers, who' wejee looking in disgust at the mist-shrouded hills, and wondering what in the name of patience had brought them there.. The giant in silver braid from the Hydro had collared two trunks, a portiaan-

teau and a hatbox, before Jennie could screw up courage to insinuate to the two cross-looking ladies who owned them that they would find every home comfort at World's End.

It was a curious habit of the place, this desperate appropriating of visitors on the very platform — and a duty of which retiring Jennie had never quite got the hang. It was certainly the only way of fighting the ever-present highwayman from the Hydro. There was always the chance too, that some visitor who had heard of Jasmine Nook, or Rose Retreat, would be quite as willing to get into your little wooden cart, and be trotted off to oosy corners at World's End. There was only one more passenger; a big, broad-shouldered young man, who had evidently carried all his luggage in the bag in his hand, had no dealings with the guard's van, brushed the silver-braid giant aside J and strolled into the pouring High Street, as if he were used to the place. Jennie stood by her pony's head, disappointed, while the cross ladies ■ were slammed into the Hydro brougham and departed. She turned at the sound of a voice, to find the other passenger standing at her elbow. "It is Miss Cadwallader, isn't itP I felt sure it was — but perhaps after all these years, you don't remember me?" The smiling face under the slouched hat was certainly not altogether strange to Jennie. "Why," she cried, "it's never Mr Edward 1 How you have grown, to be sure, sir!" Naturally, an increase of stature was to be looked for from a schoolboy of sixteeu, after ten yeare. Jennie had also shot up, since the days when lively Master Edward, with his father and mother, and little brothers end sisters, were the first visitors at World's End. Jennie's round face was very rosy ivith surprise and pleasure. "Fancy you coming back!" she said, "and are you making a long stay, sir?" ' " Five or sis weeks, very likely. You'll drive me up, won't you?" I've not forgotten that hill. They're all coining to-morrow, the mater and all of them." Five weeks ! Jennie could hear her heart thumping wildly for the joy of it. It meant that everything would be all right for long enough. No more pinching, and scraping — no more bread-and-dripping dinners ; no more horrid talk of taking the first good offer for her beloved Joey. And then, thought Jennie, ,it was nice, yes it was very nice to have Mr Edward staying t-her© again, though, of course, she knew very well that things were different now, from the time when he had enrolled the little lodging-house girl in his army of playmates, and taught her to play cricket. Now that\ she was close on twenty she knew her place ; and had they not read in the paper only the other day how Mr Edward was become a very promising officer, and just home on furlough. And Mrs Cadwallader had said that it was likely enough ho would be' making a grand marriage before long. No, a few years made a lot of difference, Jennie reflected, though surely ho had just the same friendly, boyish laugh. "You're not full up, I suppose?" he was asking.

" Oh, dear no," Jennie laughed; "we're quite empty. People don't seem to care to be so quiet as we are up on th© hills. You may find it dull yourself, now, sir. For mother says gentlemen don't care for anything hut gaiety and amusements." "Not I, by Jove 1" Master Edward cried. " We're in for a jolly time, all together, like we used to have when we were youngsters. I've got to take it a bit easy, you see, on account of this knee."

Jennie had noticed that Trent a bit stiff on one leg, and was overcome with pity. She longed to ask how he came by it, and conjured up heroic visions— the reality being nothing more tragic than a fall at polo. "Look out!" A big hooded motor was dashing round the corner, sending the mud scattering over their shoulders. Jennie pulled hurriedly into the roadside, where the rough grass and the unfenced moorside joined the unfinished macadam. "The 'beggar's cutting it pretty close," said Mr Edward. '5 Can you manage the pony? What's up nowP" The motor had stopped, olose upon them, very much to Joey's annoyance, at the bidding of an imperious lady, in a vivid scarlet cloak and . hood,, whose face was masked in scarlet-framed "How perfectly lovely," the lady was proclaiming in a very clear and y highpitched voice. *' Teddy, . yon naughty, sly boy. looking the other way, and pretending not to see me!". Toddy had, indeed, seemed strangely preoccupied, and his "face looked very hot. The lady had pushed up the scarlet mask; and showed a pair c* very

bright, black eyes, dark, arched brow** and red, hard-looking cheeks. " What are you dome in that q«wi little cart? You are the oddest hQTt I declare." „ Mr: Edward got out of the cart, wita a flu/shed face, to be at closer quarters. There were, two, or three other travelj lers in the motor,- all very gay, ana dressed in the height of fashion, dost cloaks, peaky blinders, goggles, and " I must introduce you all directly/* the scarlet lady wont on. "Teddf Ashworth, tbe duckiest boy. I've tola anout the high, old times we had a* Simla." ••■■■-'.--. Jennie wondered at the loud-, excited tone of this sprightly lady. True, flfa« had been very little of fine folks, ana ; their ways, but her Brother's precept* of behaviour suggested that this m» the way a real lady did not behave. ; " Now you roust come right bacK I with ve — row. I'll take no denial.. I We're staying at the Hydro here ; ft capital place, and Buch a jolly party* We'll have a hand at bridge to-night, . like old tim«« Whore's your luggage? Tell that boy in the cart to 'have » Bent on to the Hydro." - "I ,-ant d 6 that/ Mr Edward said awkwardly. " Pact is, I'm just going up to Gee about some rooms-rfor any people." he added, reluctantly. cf Oh. what a good boy we're get* ting," shrilled the lady. "G«t mt there's lots of room. I've oceans o! news, simply oceans I" Her voice wa« unabated, though he was standing closa beside with bis foot on the step. Jennie, dwerted by the roadside, realised that what she dreaded ha« come to pass. She had wet her visitor ! With a weak protest that .»• couldn't — no, really he couldn't—Mr Edward slipped into the vacant.plae» at th 9 scarlet oharmer's side The Up isatiate Hydro, had won again,. . . " Oh, wait a bit/ cried the «n* fearraseed Mr Edward. "I want <• explain to Mies Cadwallader." There was. a further peal of iaog»» "Oh, Eo l. you ely Teddy 1 We all thought you had a boy there under that oilskin." ■ .... _, And truly, Jennie's slight figure awj roay cheeks suggested, at the tow glance, a pretty country boy. ■■ _ The party -became hilarious, and tk* chauffeur, waxing Impatient, set . tb» snorting monster in motion. Joey OD» jected to motors. H© phied a littl* and backed the cart into the road. Xh« motor just missed the m*-.W.« caught the door which Mr Jj/dward had left swinging, and slammed it violent^ "No harm don©," said the lady »» scarlet; "and now, Teddy, I want t» know all about everything. _ "They were nearly half a mile. off, when somebody remarked that the girt seemed to be having a row with *M pony, and a pair of field-glaases waf brought into play. ; "„-* "By Jove, he has kicked the cart to bits ! Girl's all right-she is standing up now— but she'll not *»!*** pony to-night, I'll- betl Th&m he goes, straight for the moors. The pony could be seen plainly, malting for the hill where the mist I»J brooding, and behind him a little, dart figure struggled over the rough ground. " Oh, what an infernal shame," cried a grieved voice. "I say, <&>*'* w *»* for me." , , . * And " Teddy " jumped and made a bee-line for the vanishing pony, witfc the shrill laugh of his companions making his ears tingle as if they had bee» boxed. Jennie's eyes smarted so that, ehm scarcely saw the frightened Joey disappearing in the mountain mist with the reins trailing at his heels. Intolerable grief , disappointment and chagrin, overwhelmed her. Here was disaster indeed. Tho nice, newly-painted cart was kicked to splinters— both trace* had broken, luckily for the pony; and there was Joey, knocked about, she felt sure, and badly frightened, off for the open moor. She might not catch him for days; there were miles and miles of unfeneed moor where, the viid ponies herded, and he would certainly lame himself if he went far with th« reins trailing. m •. . A deep sense of personal slight edded to her load of trouble. Her cheek* burned, recalling the rude laughter, o.f that naughty, vulgar woman. "II that is tho lady he's engaged to marry," thought simple Jennie, "and surely he would allow no one else to speak to him like that, he has made a great mistake, fihd is not a lady." The mist was very dense now, but she struggled on, trusting to find it somewhat clearer on the top. She was not mistaken, for the mist was- rolling! into th© valley, and above it through the driving rain, she saw the dreary uplands outlined, slope verging into slope, immensely desolate in their shroud of white mist — but no Joey. . The tears came at last, and rolled unheeded down, her wet, rain-washed cheeks. "I hate her, oh, I hate her," sho sobbed, and " fell to calling " Joey," in a dreary, sob-chocked little voice., A call responded, dim and indistinct out of the mist below. A friends ly note — "Coo — cc, coo^ — cc, coo — co." It was the call that Mr Edward had taught her those summer holidays when they played together. But Jennie's indignation was too hot in her, she would not "coo— cc" in answer, though she knew he was but a stone's throw from her. '** She stood irresolute, with her fist* clenched and eyes full of tears, and he walked /out of the fog not ten yards off. " I'm so eorry, Jennie! Poor little Jennie IJIl JI H© was a kind, big boy again, helping people who got hurt and taking care of little ones. ■ : " It — it doesn't matter," panted Jennie. "I can find him myself; you' lT only get. lost if you stop here." " Look," cried Mr Edward, eagerly. He picked up at his feet the point oi a broken shaft, which hacf evidently stayed in the tug after the cart gave way, and for some. way they tracked Joey's flight by hoof-printa in. the bog. "Look, look!" cried Jennie, with a wonderful reisirn of spirits. She had Teached a little knoll, and across a dip. of rough ground beheld the truant tethered by the hanging rein to a goree stump. Tney raced breathless for the prize, good humour restored. " Now, where are we — and what about getting home? 1 ' " I can soon find my way," said Jennie, " but you're a lone way from the Hydro and your friends," ahe added. ""I'm not going to the. Hydro. I'm coming with you. They're not mj friends. I hate the eight of 'em." "But — but — the -one' who called yoa Teddy?"

" She's only one of a fast lot I got in with at Simla, and I was glad enough to get away again, 1 can tell you. But I never realised what a brute a woman can be till I heard her laugh at you." So they made the best of their way home to World's End, to an anxious mother and a very warm welcome, Mrs Cadwallader was delighted beyond measure to let her rooms to the larga family party for five weeks. But ther« was a etill greater surprise in store fol her before the visitors went awayj though, to be sure, Mr Edward haa made such good use of hie time thai Jennie had hand work to look surprised when she was called upon to answew * certain question stammered out on& never-to-be-forgotten 6umm©r evening.