"CRAZY QUILT."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19812, 2 December 1919, Page 4

" CRAZY QUILT."

© T - 4 q FERGUS HTTMTS $

f) Author of $ f-. " Tho Mystery of a Hansom Cub " il 2? The Orev Doctor" <g |»' "Red Money,"" etc.. etc, etc. f» © ' ©

CHAPTER XXV. —Continued. ■Just as Eleanor was debating as to tlio advisability of sending for Maxwell, so Unit, bo might take charge of Pauline, the. man she expected would come to her assistance, arrived. Cannock descended like, a god from the machine and promptly dealt wtih matters in his own impulsive way. As he bad told, (Hand, he escorted the two ladies to town and secured them lodgings in Kensington. There, he left, them for a few days and went to search for Maxwell, with reproaches on his lips for what he regarded as the engineer's slackness- But it soon appeared that the young man was not to blame. He had been absent in Paris in connection with his departure- for South America, which had been postponed for two months, and had not heard much about the scandal. When he did hear, he started immediately for England qnd was on the point of travelling down to Paddocks when Cannock made his appearance with explanations. These included the advisability of the- two ladies being left alone for n few days to recover their shattered nerves, a snggesj linn which Maxwell very sensibly agreed j with, ■co Eleanor and Pauline had a. j quiet time and benefited greatly thereby. So much so that when Maxwell came to see them some time Inter along with his friend, Pauline was much more able lo tali, in a reasonable planner about the dead man. Sho and the engineer consoled each other in one. room, while. Miss Swain and Cannock ; discussed matters in another. And very | prosaic matters they were which formed Um subject of many conversations. . Einally it, was agreed that the best ! thing to he doin' was to get Pauline i and Maxwell married at once, so that | she might, have a protector. The girl, j anxious as she was to become the wife of lior lover, rather objected to this, j since Pine had been dead for so short J a time. Hut Maxwell himself overruled i this objection, pointing out that lie was i forced for the sake of his business to igo lo South America, and if not. j married would he obliged to leave Pani line behind. The mere idea of being i thus left marie the girl more ready to j accept the inevitable, so it was ar- ! ranged that she should marry the "engi--1 neer quietly, as soon as possible. While i Eleanor looked after the trousseau of | Pauline—which she supplied out of her | own slender purse—Cannock saw the j parson, and attended to all matters in ! connection with the ceremony. On the ! day when ho met Gland in his flat, lie ! had completed all matters of detail. ; and went to see Eleanor with tho idea ;of varying the conversaton. }lo had i talked about Paulino and her lover for .days: now lie wanted to talk of hini- ; self to Eleanor. A much more, iutoresti ing subject. i On arriving at, the lodgings in Ken- | sington, Cannock entered a very plea- ! sant sitting-mom to find both the Indies I at work on various articles, which had ! to do with the wedding. This was to ! take place during the next seven days, jso there was no time to he lost. Pani line looked rathe” paler than usual. for she had suffered a great deal, hut i she was as pretty as ever and the black. I frock she wove set off her fair beauty ito advantage. But Cannock had no ! eyes for her. attractive as she was. His ; gam was fixed on Eleanor, who greeted i him with a bright smile and a faint , blush. The ex-secretary wore a black j dress also, in memory of her employer. ■ whom she had greatly respected, and : with her usual linen cuffs and collar , looked more like a hospital nurse than ; ever. Also, ns Cannock thought she moro than ever resembled the statue of i Roma Dea in her grand maternal way. j Pauline looked quite a eommon-plneo | little mortal beside Eleanor, in spite iof her superior beauty. The one woman j was noble and dignified the other i merely pretty. I ” Yon two are. busy,” said Cannock I when he entered, rather annoyed to | liml that Maxwell had not come before him to take- Pauline away, j “We have to be," said the girl brisk- | ly. ■' It will take Eleanor and I all 1 our time to get things ready for my j marriage." j "You might spare El 1 moan ( Miss tfwain. to me. for a few minutes." " f shall he spared altogether when I Pauline becomes Mrs Maxwell,” said Eleanor with a. laugh- •* Eel ns be together as much as possible. When she goes away J shall miss her greatly. \Vc have been so much together." i "1 wish yon were coming : said Pauline affectionately. " i. don't," put. in Cannock bluntly. Miss Swain flushed fi bright crimson, 1 hut, did not notice (he observation—that is she did notice it, hut ignored it as dangerous. “ I should be the inconi venieiit third, my dear," she said playfullv. "Mr Maxwell will want yon all '• to himself.” “ I. am very glad to have someone ell to myself," said the girl in quite a fret- ■ ini manner, tor her nerves were not yet i strung. " 1 seem lo have been left to ’ i myself all my life/' i '•Oh, Pauline! Think what Sir Felix i did tor yon." I Yes, 1 know, lint T wish yon 1 wouldn't talk about him " —the tears came into Pauline’s eyes—" thinking about him only makes me miserable. * But what ,1 meant was that 1 hare no I relatives except Aunt Jane, and Ban--1 dull won’t let me ask her to inv wed- ! ding." I thing it is better for you to for- | got your aunt," said Cannock grimly—i or him. “ She got yon into enough trouble in connection with that gambling house of hers- Stick to Max and lei i Imr slide." I "But what will become of her?” j asked Pauline in dismay. “After all l 'he is my mother's sister." “.Half-sister really. .Mrs Vrniu is your full aunt." ' j Igh ! Pauline made a grimace, ; for she did not like the idea o"f home-' j ly old Mrs Vrain claiming relationship : with her, It is just as well that lam | going to South America." i . " Mrs Vrain is a good woman," said ’ Eleanor, noticing the foolish pride. | “ But she’s a cook." i “ Bettor than being a gamblingi house, keeper, as Madam June’is." said j Cannock with a shrug. "But I agree ! with you, Pauline, that it is best'you i should get rid of the past and of your j relatives. They are all right. 'Mrs I Vrain is returning to Ducksbury and ■ -c. is yonv aunt. Yon needn't trouble | about (hem. Look alter yourself, and lake what, joy yon cun now that your troubles are over.” “What's that about troubles?" usk- | id 31 ax well, entering the room. | Pauline jumped up. and upsetting i her work-box flew to hi:; arms- “3lr Cannock was only saying that my troubles were over," site said, kissing him, I “Of course they arc/', he answered, with a caress. “Now that yon have me to look after you there is nothing j hut sunshine before you/’ i "f am sure of that,” declared. Missi Swain with, emphasis. “ Paulino is a j vervi lucky girl in my opinion.” i “Yon make, me blush,” said 3fax- | j well, with a. laugh “But really and I Iruly I do think that. I shall make Pau- | lino happy- And I. hope yon will be) happy yourself, .Miss Swain. You have been a good friend 1c Pauline.” “ Oh. I’ll get through life somehow,’’ Miid .Eleanor smiling, but .stealing- u glance at t aunock. who was drawing palicrns on the carpet with his stick."’ ( M asm ell saw (ho glance and saw that k ■ hi.-, I'rivnU knew mHiaatvvLv, although

ho did not look up, that such a. glanco I had been given. Naturally tlio en- 1 gineer, being in love, guessed union that otherwise ho would not have, guessed, :ind immediately determined wi give. Cannock his chance. " Pauline." ho said, as she clung lovingly to Ins arm, " come, out with inc. I havo seen .something in a. shop which I think you will like." Pauline flew to get her hat and coat, and returned in 'live minutes looking extremely pretty and eager. "What is it?" die asked anxiously. ''AY-3.it svnd see." said Maxwell, using the formula, of a famous statement, ''/.decline to gratify your curiosity. AWII bo back in aJi hour, Swain, for this shop is some- distance away.'' and Maxwell, with Pauline on his firm, wont out with a smiling face. Fur a few minutes the two thus skilfully left alone preserved an unbroken silence. Roth were embarrassed, so Eleanor kept her eyes on her work and Cannock continued to gaze spell-bound on the floor. Their position with regard to their feelings was curious. From the first moment they met a liking had sprung up between the.m. and since then it had deepened into love. Yet, occupied with the affair?' of others, they hud never spoken about love, nlthough Cannock had given the: lady several hints that he was inclined' to woo in the glade?, of Arcadia. Miss Swam had always ignored those hints, either because she doubted her own 'feelings, or because f,hn thought—as so many people did—that Cannock was too impulsive to be wholly sincere. All the same, with the. shrewd instinct of a, woman, she fell, certain that there- was more sincerity in his hints than was an parent- She. hid liked Cannock when first Sir Felix had introduced them, and now nho knew in her own heart that she. loved him. And her love had much rhat was motherly in it. Fie was such ,i. charming boy. in spite of hi* thirty years, that she could not look upuu him as grown up. Nevertheless, j she believed that he bad much more common-sense than he was credited with possessing. A word from her she was very certain—would' bring him. to her feet; but she did not. say that word, since she was resolved to leave* him wholly unbiased in his choice if ho truly loved her ho could speak, and

she would consider matters; if he did diott love her, bo could go away vuiel she would get through the rest of her life ns best she might. Still, she hoped thuti ho would speak, and stolen a, glance at him. A.< it happened Cannook at that moment was stealing a glance at her and their eyes met. "A penny for yon r thoughts.'' said Cannock. Raying the first thing that came into his head. "'J'll sell them as bankrupt stock/' retorted Eleanor. " What, a shame, when they arc so valuable!" " How do you know that they aru valuable ?" . "You were thinking about mo." "How conceited you are!" said Miss Swain with an uneasy laugh. ""Well," .said Cannock, after somo consideration, "you must have the instinct of a woman to see why I am conceited." Sho shook her head and fenced. " I auv not clever enough. Why are you conceited?" " lipcausn I believe that I have won the love of the dearest woman in the. Tvholw wide world," "Really." She affected surprise and dropped her work. "Come and tell me all about if. I have the mothering instinct which leads young men te) confide in. me. you know." " Hang thoml" said Cannock, with sudden jealousy. • "You include yourself in that, condemnation, Mr"Cannock, for you are about to confide in me." ""Whydo you call me Mr Cannock?" " It is your name, isn't it?" "Yes, and so is Victor." "And so is Crazy," said Eleanor, with smiling malice. '' But about this woman you speak of? Is sho tall?" "Yes. Tall and stately." " Rather stiff, J should think." said Eleanor, looking up at the ceiling. " Not. a bit. She's as graceful as a, fawn." "You can't call a fawn stately. ]s (die fair or dark?" " Neither." "Oh, pepper and salt then?" '"She is an autumn maid." " Rruwn as a berry. .1 sec. She'h a gipsy." " I hope so." ""Why?" Eleanor was really surprised at this remark. '' Because I am one, and when we are married I wish her to ramble all over the world with me." " In a caravan'''' " Would she mind a caravan?" "1. can't say. You see, you have not told me her name." " I'll tell it to you when you answer my question." " About the. caravan. No, 1 don't think she'd mind that, if she realty and truly loves the owner of the caravan." "Does slier"' Cannock ruse ami crossed the room looking down at Eleanor from his tall height. " flow do I know,'' asked Eleanor, blushing. " Every woman knows her owt. mind." Cannock perched himself on the arm of the chair and laid his arm behind it—and her. "Rut is nn- mind her mind?" " "Whose mind;-''' "That of the one woman in the world for you. Oh!" Mi--s Swain tried to rise, whereupon the arm behind her prevented the rising. "You know we are talking dreadful nonsense."' " "Wo have talked sense for so long that it is time we changed the subject. Eleanor." His arm tightened round her, and she blushed more than ever. " Oh, what will the other woman say?" "Oh. what tosh!" cried Cannock in his boyish fashion. " You jolly well know that there isn't any other woman but you." "Mo?'' she feigned surprise, while her heart beat loudly. "Oh. 1 am too old and staid for you. You're such a ' boy." [ "Of course- And being so 1 require some one old and staid to look after , me-"' " I have no money?" " T have heaps." " T liave no position.'' " Take one as mv wife." He threw ' his other arm round her and bent his head with a. nervous laugh. "You . must know that I love, yon no enr]." "Bat we have? only been acquainted for a few weeks." i " Time is nothing- Look at R-omeo ; and Juliet."' Cannock turned her face up to bis oMn. " You do-love me, don"! ;• yOU?" " I'm- nob—sure." '?. "Oh, and I thought vou were truth . f«l." | "If you thought so you would make . sure.'' ) Cannock kissed her up-turned mouth, i then lifting dicr from the chair, sat down himself and settled her on hi; ' knee. "Now let's talk," he said wit!' i another kiss, which made Eleanor blusli ; furionsly. •• You really are a mo<t dreadful j boy." li " JJut a nkc boy."

"Vervnicsl" and this time she kissed him of her own accord, to prove how truly sho snoke. "But this position is very undignified." "I dare say. You should ho on n pedestal ;is a goddess with me at your feet worshipping. Hut this is the more modern way of showing adoration." .Eleanor, trying to get away. "Don't' hold me. Mr Maxwell and Paulino .may return at any moment."' " Not for an hour. Even if they did a 'fellow feeling would 'make theni -wondrous kind." Don't try to escape, you Greek nymph, now that I have got you safelv." "Em nut Greek." '• You are. You look like a goddess of sorts. Ages ago wn met when vou descended from high Olympus and let . me make love to you. 1 was a. shopherd in Arcadia, and then we arranged this meeting." . Miss Swain slipped off his knees nnd crossed the room. ''You do talk such a lot of nonsense," she said gnily, for she felt very, very happy. Cannock followed her to the window. "You'll put. up with me?" "I'll try to. \)ut I'm sure you'll be ii. dreadful nuisance. \ shall keep u cane in the cupboard.' 1 '' Xo! Feed mo with sugar and then 1 shall he most obedient. Sugar is! sweet, so is honey, so is lore-" : \ "Oh, dear, dear! You never will j grow up, Mr Cannock." " Mr Cannock." "Well then. Orar.y." | "Don't. I'm hick'of that silk nick- j name. Victor." "No. CVazy. I like the nick-name. It. suits you with your impulsive ways I arid heedless habits." i "'Oh, my dear scold," Cannock took! her in his arms and shook her. " Don't ! go on talking of my weaknesses. I | have moro common-sense than vou i think." " j "1 am sure you have," she replied,! resting her head on his shoulder, "or' yon wouldn't ask mn to marry vou. : Oh!" "ftnddenlv she began to cry. "Dearest! what is" the matter:-" asked the lover in alarm"Yon are so kind. >nd I feel so safe !in your arms," sobbed. Eleanor. " All' I my life 1 have had to look after myj self, with no one to care for me. And now you don't ku<nv what vour love j means." ' ' i ,"Tl means everything that is topping and ripping," said Cannock in his ! schoolboy way, drying her eyes with | his handkerchief. "Don't crv any more. 1 shall look after vou and voii will look after me." "I'll be a wife and a, mother in one," said Miss Swain, recovering her spirits. "There's economy for you." '' You can he what you like so long as you are Mrs Cannock." " Mrs Crazy-quilt." And that was the name by which Cannock introduced his future wife to Max and Paulino when they discreetly entered thirty minutes later! The engineer laughed and Pauline clapped her hands. " I knew it would be all right," she. cried, flying to kiss Eleanor. " And when you are married you'll come out to South America and see me and Randall-*' " Xo." said Max. " Crazv must settle clown in the ancestral halls and become a. sober member of society." " T lilco him hotter as Crazy-quilt." ; said Eleanor fondly. "I'm so'tired of ; beinir grown up and earnine hit bread by lookinc serious that T want to be merry and free for a time." "Well," said Max, "as Mrs Cannock " "Mrs Crazy-quilt." insisted Eleanor, and Cannock endorsed her speech. " Until we settle in England we'll he Mr and Mrs Crazy-quilt," he said. And that was the name by which their friends called them when thev were -married. Pome day they will he Mr and Mrs Cannock,' sprious and sober minded. But that day is still far off. (The end.)