NUTSHELL NOVELETTE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1977, 4 March 1893, Page 1 (Supplement)

NUTSHELL NOVELETTE.

tHE UNDER-SECRETARY'S WIFE. REGINALD PENRUTHYN, M.P., knJ was an am bitioii3 young man ; that "fl to say, he was afflicted in an unusual degree with that incomprehensible desire to chine i th narrow world of party politics, /which, to some natures, is as the breath of *ife itself. Like many older and more "experienced hands at the gam?, he was fain jto call this weakness of his by the name of It sounds ever so much grander and better than the real name. ; Four years before the date of the events jaboutto be narrated Mr. Reginald Pen■ruthyn had won a seat from his politicnlopponentsata bye-election, which hud alii acted 'more than ordinary attention in political ■circles, and he was, consequently, •accorded a momentary importance out of all proportion to his mental attainments and endowments as a politician. He was quick to see the advantage which this gave him among<l his new associate?, and lie quietly determined to raako the most of it. The chance came sooner than he expected. An attempt to impose a small Customs duty on flannel petticoats and chimney-pot hats exported to the West Coast of Africa by an obscure •missionary society raised such an outcry in the country against the Government that a dissolution became inevitable. Slatteis were precipitated by the Irish Secretary refusing to grant the petition of Loyal Ulster that " Tio Battle of the Boyne" be made the National Anthem of Ireland, and that the expenses incidental to its thorough propagation lie paid for out of the proceeds of a collection at the Sunday morning Mass in the Roman Catholic districts.

An appeal was made to the country, which ■.resulted in the triumphant return to power of the party to which Mr. Penruthyn was .attached, and the retention by that gentleman of the seat which he had so pluckily 'pnatched from the enemy. With that unerring patriotism which has ever dUtinquished the true placeman, Mr. renitithyn now felt that his counuy deserved fiom him gome fuller and greater service than wa* implied by the unostentatious duties of the average M. P., and he determined that no effort should be spared on his part to see that the country secured the service in question. With thi* lofty aim iv view he set to work.

Mr. Reginald Penruthyn wa« young, rich, and good-looking, well educated, of admirable address,. but without a solitary influential connection either on his own side or that of his wife. These personal accomplish - ments can hmdly be said to have been sufficient in themselves to ensure the advancement upon which their posse-t-or had set his heart. But there mr< .mother laud a far more deadly j>h-ift, in Mi-. l\-n-Iruthyn's quiver, and that was his wife.

Mrs. Penruthyn was a woman in ten [thousand. Added to a fine phy-ique, a 'handsome face, and a voice of raw veilon? beauty, she was gift°d with a singularly gracious manii'-i, «.nid that indefinable knack of capturing the whole citadel of masculine admiration at one rus-h, which is extremely rare even among heaiiiiiul women. •' She was a blonde of the purest type, with ianeck, bust, and limbs that Hebe herself could nob have disparaged, lie! h-ur 1- i-kcd like dense masses of gold, pliol with liio, her lips were of that deep red cu'uur and ■luscious fulness which i-s ho de-!riicli\e of •high moral sentiment in the bie<ufc of the masculine observer. But it u.i> her e\es and voice which gave her the greatist inti'ience over that frail crealuie called— Hiiely in exquisite derision — the stronger t-ew Mrs. l'enruthyn's eyes were the m 0.4 eloquent pleadets that ever lured the hunuu heart along the primrtj.— j paths of desire. They were inlMisely bine in colour ; not the innocent, covl bine ot a spring sky in England, Ij-iI i.x'hcr (ho dangerous, flushing, pen' trabiug blue of thw finest tempered .-lecl. What tho-\. e\e^ could not express in the way of .tbie-bo ii<-d passion wu< not woith an\o;i'..\-> w'lv.Ui to learn. And tlv.n her voice! J (. t r >uc<i-.d every tone in the g.iraiifc of feeling with ineffable music. It would li wo p:u!7:iU\ spoiled the smooth harmony of a p'ueiy angelic chorus, and would have teemed out of place in I lie passionless, petition* of a nunnery; but as a rlistiiiclly human voice it was an unqualified succe.-a. Only a deaf man could have sat ijuieb undnr it j mu-ic. This lady ohare'l her linsb uid's ambition*, and had she lived iii the timi 1 - of tbo M^rrie .Monarch woul> l ha\e en^uii-d (heir immediate icali.-atinn. Jiut these b» d'iV-ient 'times. The pietalent fashion io to parade our virtues and conceal our \ i>:e«, witii the' result that the foimer imariably !;;st long, and wear well. Like the good< m a s-hop ■window, they aie meant for -ho. \ a>ul not fo: consumption. ' Mrs. Penruthyn w.i?, theiefoie. competed to bring her charm.-i to market in a less. . ostentatious manner than the ambitious spouses of two centuries »go. And this U how she set about it. "My love," remaiked her dapper husband at the breakfast table one morning as he raised his head from a clo.-e psru^il of th - newspaper, " I certainly think the le.usfc our chief can do under the circumstances is to offer me one of the Under-SecreUu-yohip:?. I don'b very much cate which ie is, bub 1 am certainly entitled to one." ' "Why- an Under-Secrelaryship, dear?" ,murmured the lady, in delicate compliment to her partner's ability. " Those things -usually go to inferior men, do they not ? The younger sons of long-pursed peers, and that kind of person." " Not necessarily, dearest, even in these democratic days, when titles are so much sought after, " was the response. "Someitiines the Prime Minister, by a lucky accident, gets hold of a good man for the post." I "And you hope, Reginald, to be one of the accidents this time," said his wife, as she turned one of her ravishing smiles upon him. "Quite so," he laughed. "You have a wonderful knack of reading my thoughts at a glance, Eunice." " One of love's many privileges, husband mine," was the bright leply. * And therein Mrs. Reginald Penruthyn spoke the truth. She was undeniably fond of her husband, with whom she lived on the happiest possible terms. She had the reputation of being a good as well as an affectionate wife, and the reputation was as well deserved as it is, perhaps, iv the gteat majority of ca^es

"But, my dear Reggie," she resumed, "why not make the accident into a cer.tainty? The man who thnpes his destiny has much better chances than lie who merely waits for ib. Surely, for one standing in your relation to the party, there are means whereby this office can be secured without the irritation of delay." Reginald Penruthyn looked hard at his wife, puzzled at first by her manner moie than her words. Then I lie puzzled look passed away, and as he rose from the breakfast table there was a curiouo smile on both faces.

* Sir Marmaduke Trent, was a great power in the incoming Ministry. lie wu; a man well dowered with the filthy lucre of (his 'woild, bub richer still in abusive, epigram,'matie speeches, Avhich lie had never sutupled ito level at .the heads of his political opponjents, both in and out of season. He made ib a point never to sacrifice smartness in debate ito the vulgar exigencies of truth and fair play, and was, consequently, regarded as a .brilliant statesman with a magnificent 'future before him. He had two prominent iweaknesses : an intense love of mobapplause, and an exceptional appreciation of & pretty woman. In the skilful hands of the latter he was as clay in the hands of the potter. He bad a wife of hte own, it is true; and agniftble enough in hei way. But it seemed

marital mission to have done nothing mor< than promote her lord's desire for the com munion of other and more attractive dames

To this gallant squire and pre-eminenb place hunter, Mrs. Reginald Penruthyn submitted her husband's claim? upon the favourable consideration of bhe leader of the party he had served so v/ell at a critical moment in its a flairs.

"My very dear mad tun, " was the amorous baronet's reply, when the case had been charmingly stated, "I bsg you to leave the matter entirely in my hands. The husband of such a lady mu&t necessarily be an acquisition to any Government. In seeking my poor aid in this matter you have done me, I assure you, a far greater honour than any lliit my chief can pos.-ibly confer upon me. Ah !if I dared hope "' "There are few limits to bhe gratitude of a proud woman, Sir Marmaduke, " interrupted this modern Delilah, in her most, bewitching manner, as siie permit ted him to laiso her hand to his lips tremulous with suppressed excitement. Two days later a special messenger delivered ab the town residence of Air. Reginald .Pcnrubhyn, M.P., a letter addressed to that gentleman's wife, and marked ■'Private." Ib rim as follows: — "Jly dear Madam,— l shall have a communication of the utmost importance to make to you this evening. May I be*; 1 thab you will do me the honout to name a convenient hour when I can see you alo~s6 for the fulfilment of our mutual promises. " With every expression of my sincerest regards, — Believe me, faithfully yours, " Mahmaduk c Trent." Mrs. Penruthyn's fingers trembled a little as she indited a favourable reply to this significant epistle, and despatched ib by bhe waiting messenger. At eleven o'clock that night she sub alone in her boudoir awaiting, with as much outward calmness as she could command, the arrival of bhe deeply-smitten statesman. At length be was announced by the discreet French maid, and Mrs. Peurubhyn rose to greet him with flushed face and tremulous, downcast eyes. " My darling," exclaimed bhe old man in husky bones, " this is the proudest and happiest moment of my life ! How good, how sweet of you ! liut-, first of all, let me hand you this lotter. Ib contains your husband's appointment to the ino->t important and popular of the Under-Secretary-ships." " Oh," exclaimed his hostess, as she stood neiir him in full evening dress, with the soft lamplight, setting off the charms of superb face and figure, " how can I ever express my gral il tide to you for this great gift ?" " Eunice ! :> whispered bhe old reprobate, with quickened breath, "leb your woman's heart dictate the only possible answer. Give me ." " One moment," exclaimed Mrs. Penrnthyti, with uplifted hand ; "my husband himj-e'f sh.'ll thank you." And, drawing ssirle a heavy curtain, she led forward bhe proud and smiling Under-Secretary. SOOIET Y.