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Star (Christchurch), Issue 10926, 15 November 1913, Page 3

not unknown to Maitland; she Lad an only child, ..a little daughter named Dorothy; bore an excellent reputation, but was very poor. From the hard, practical, business point of view there w.ia no doubt in his mind which was likely 1 to prove the more . profitable, tenant. Likewise, the banker iiad a sensitive disposition with a keen sense of humour, and the thought that he, a confirmed old bachelor as he was beginning to reckon himself, snould let his vacant cottage for such a p-.irpose and that so near to himself, too, seomed rather ridiculous. He even 6milccl to himself and happily not grimly, as lie thought under such contingency of the playful raillery ho should have to bear at tho hands of the wits among his friends. It was really this thought more than the- uncertainty of his rent or any deteriorar tion his property might suffer from kindergarten work, which daunted his mind over immediate decision.

Maitland rose and walked along tho verandah. He fain would have consulted with his housekeeper, for whose judgment he had secret regard; but past experience had taught him that consultation with housekeepers about anything beyond tho more immediate domain of their own responsibilities was detrimental to the maintenance of personal authority. So ho had to fight out the battlo of determining between tho claims of the two applicants for himself, and resolved with something like a sad heart to set the widow's application aside as impracticable; but he deferred writing as to his decision until tho following clay. The final result was that the subject persistently reverting to his mind during his wakeful moments of the night and being unable to dismiss it in tho morning,"" he wrote to Mrs Stonnont letting tho house to her on the usual terms and with full permission to use it for the special educational work she had in view. Having done so,' he felt distinctly relieved: and taking his breakfast, returned to his office nt the bank with a lighter step than usual. In her humble little home near the sea beach, Mrs Stormont received and read the banker's note with tears of gratitude in her'eyes; and clasped little Dorothy, to her breast. . A few days thereafter they were installed in their new home; and duly appeared in the local paper an advertisement as to the opening of tho kindergarten school. This meeting the eye of the other applicant for tho cottage, he at first looked grave; but in a moment and with something like- a tear in his- eye, the old gentleman ejaculated: "God bless him!" Straightway he rushed round to the bank, to banter Maitland most mercilessly as to the kindergarten, while he wrung the banker's hand with a grip of steel. Having cherished some slight resentment over the polite refusal to his leasing the cottage, he was all the more moved tnrough reaction in feeling when he discovered who had been preferred to himself. " Such are the deeds all too seldom enacted in our work-a-day life," he murmured to himself on leaving the bank, -"winch, sweeten existence, and give us hope for humanity!" Thereafter, the old gentleman who felt rerv much like congratulating himself over the loss of the tenancy ot the cottage, made his way to the club, where in the smoking room he found three boon companions, men of leisure like himself. Straightway, having told his story, in his enthusiasm he had litle difficulty in constituting the little company into a committee of consultation as w) finding pupils for Mrs Stormont's school. The result was when 'the, kindergarten opened its doors, that lady was more than encouraged by the attendance. Somehow she associated the successful opening frith Jaines Haitiand's smile, as on his way to lunch ho bowed to her standing on the lawn in the midst of her pupils, in front of the house. So it befell, that the banker on going to and coming from his midday meal, over more occasionally was wont to look over the garden fence at Mrs Stormont's cottage; while the children, anticipated his coming and going with pleasure.

. The rent of-..the leased house waspaid, once a quarter, when Mrs Stormont, accompanied by Dorothy, would call at Maitland's residence to be gravely ushered into the banker's presence by the housekeeper. Very formal these quarterly meetings were at first, the ice of staid formality, however, being in time broken by Dorothy's unconventional ways. ' That little lady, to the profound embarrassment of both her seniors, insisted on seating herself upon Maitland's knee. The laughing apologies of her mother saved the situation, while the waning light of the evening hid both her own and the banker's blushes. Nest ront day, Dorothy being well prompted by her mother was mora restrained; but what astonished Mrs Stormont was to see Maitland take | the child and place her on his knee. It was this action which revealed to her more than aught else, where her affections were turning. Ever since meeting him, she had felt drawn to Maitland. • Acquaintance had deepened hor respect for the man, whose kindness of heart in granting her preference over the letting of the house she occupied, she had learned of all unknown to himself. But on returning home on that particular evening, she knew with certainty that she loved him. Yet with • fixed determination did she resolve that through no action of her own should" ho be apprised of this. Still, when she soothed off Dorothy to sleep that evening, she wept tears half of pleasure, half of pain; for true love is for ever sweet in itself, apart from the fear of its not being reciprocated. It was joy in itself, for this woman to love the man; the pain lay in the uncertainty as to the state of his feelings towards her. Very timid was Maitland's approach to her heart. At first he tried the old way of love almost unconsciously; he found his interest in the kindergarten school grow wondrouely. One day the children arrived at school to find a fine swing erected on the grounds for their use and pleasure; and Mrs Stormont explained'with a slight tremor in her voice that it was the gift of a most kind gentleman and friend of the school. On another occasion, the children with their teacher were regaled with a drive along the winding road, which for miles follows the line of the sea beach before crossing the eastern hills. This outing, it was duly announced, was likowiso provided by the same generous donor and friend. But what revealed the state of Maitland's heart host to himself was an incident that happened at the annual distribution of prizes, in which little Dorothy played a promineut part. The Mayor 'of the townshil> was present to award the prizes to the children, whose parents were also in attendance with Maitland and other friends. The cere mony had proceeded quietly and with out undue incident, each child on receipt of a prize going to father or mother or both parents to display the samo; tho Mayor was talkmgin genial; homely and encouraging fashion to the young peonlc; and the toys and books for distribution had been all about given away, when Mrs Stormont slipped quietly "from the room to have afternoon tea prepared for her guests at tho close- of the function. Dorothy_ was the last to receive a prize, and iookeu round for her mother. Failing to sto her in tho room, her eyes lighted on Maitland in whose direction she took a step, then hesitating, turned to leave tho room. But she was not quick enough for the banker, who gently laying held on her band led her to his chair, and when Mrs Stormont re-en-tered, Dorothy was sitting on Maitland's kneo. The rest of the story is easily told. In time Mrs Stormont and James Mait-, Irmd wore married. Tho old gentleman, who was disappointed of the occupancy of fhi 1 cot.i;ige, on hearing tho news urophesied that it should provo one of' tho happiest of marriages, and eo far, his prophecy has proved true.