‘LITTLE BOO”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19429, 10 October 1925, Page 22 (Supplement)

‘LITTLE BOO”

CHAPTER 5. TRAGEDY. “Hop io, and I’ll take you for a ride,” said Leslie —the Scotts’ cousin —to the twins and Little 800, whom he happened to meet near the Devonport wharf. He had just learned to drive his father’s new “swell” motor <ar. and was glad of the opportunity to exhibit this accomplishment to nis relatives. With alacrity the trio accepted the invitation. John sat oy the ‘chauffeur.’ whilst Joan and 800 scrambled into the back portion of the roomy ear. ■ “Been doing any dancing late.y, the boy nonchalantly asked Little, 800 ozer his shoulder, hoping his Tomins hsd noticed the dexterous way in which he had taken the corner. Little 800 pouted her lips: “Auntie won’t let me,” she said petulantly. “All the same, 800 dances,” John enlightened his cousin; and his twin added eagerly—“ Down on the brtch, in her bathing costume—and sometimes :lots of people stand rcund watching.’ ! “They like the Catherine wheels 'stunt the best,” John continued. “If I Aunt Bobbetts knew—she’d have sixty- [ seven fits!”

“Why?” asked their eonsm, grin-; ning at' the latter remark. “ ’Cause nuntie is afraid I’ll go on | the stage when I grow big,” 800 re-‘ plied. She tossed her head defiantly “And so I will—whatever she says.” “Hear, hear,” applauded Leslie, and tooted the horn so loudly and so long that la decrepit dame, crossing the street, ran like a frightened rabbit. . “Watch tt.o race this miserable Ford!” With a whirr and a bang the j Hudson passed tho car that had called ; forth the scornful remark, and quick- ) lv climbed tho steep hill to the top. I An expanse of sapphire-blue sea,j scintillating under the sun’s rays,? spread as far a® the eye could see. < 4 Gee-whizz? ” shouted John. i “Not n bad view.” remarked cousin i Leslie with a condescending air—as if ' ho were responsible for it. ! Little Boe’s eyes glowed: “Oh. Tl could dance —an’ dance!” She felt ! marvel lonsly exhilarated bv tho rush- I ing through the air, and her (artistic ! spirit responded to nature’s beauties i to the point of ecstasy. She stood up j on the seat of the car. and kicked at j Joan with her dainty foot. “Move up. | I move up. T must dunce!” i Her cousin turned his head, and i watched her. laughing. “Look out. [Les. where you’re going?” John b n l- ; ilowed. for the car was heading in the • ; direction of tho gutter. Leslie, flus-i fored. applied tho brakes and brought ! •tho ear to *n sudden standstill. Bump ■ • —bump—and Little 800 fell out on I ton of her head. The three in the car sat as if petri- ■ tied fo’- a few moments, their gaze i upon tho crumpled figure lying so still; in the setrent. Then Joan screamed, closing her eyes tightly. The boys, faces livid (and limbs shaking, sprang out of tho ear. How she moaned when they touched ; her? ! “Ho for a doctor—quick!” gasped Leslie. John turned to obey, and brushed against a tall man, htatless. who grasped him by tho arm. saying—“l’ll telephone—bring her in to my house —

jacross there.” • He bent over the child: “Help me Jto lift her —very gently—that’s it.” 1 She moaned again, and John turned ! cold and sick. In fascinated fear he ; rivetted his gaze upon tho little, waxen : face, streaked with the dust -of the i read. j Jean crept after them, sobbing in an | I undertone —“Little Boo—Oh, dear' [ Little Boo—Oh!” i Fifteen minutes later, Aunt Roberta, 1 I making jain in the kitchen, was ! ! startled to see a shrinking, white-! ; faced John appear suddenly in tho ; doorwtay. He had no hat on his head, I his freckles seemed bigger and blaek- : er than ever before, and his eves were ; wild. i “Aunt it’s—he gulped, “It’s I —Little Boo—she’s—.” | All things grew indistinct to Aunt I Roberta’s sight. Her body swayed I i backwards and forwards, and 'sho I clung with both hands to the table for ■ support. ! Little 800 she’s she rei peated, woodenly. | “No, no, not that!” John I exclaimed piteously. He explained in

| agitated gasps—“ Leslie asked us to go | for a drive in uncle’s new car—Buo— Ifell out. A mfen took her into his house—Les and I came for you—Joan • is with 800. ’ ’ ! Aunt Roberta, still dazed by shock, 1 mechanically removed tho apt-on from her person. “Get my hat,” she said, to the trembling boy, and then corrected tho order with ta sharp—“ No.” ran out of the kitchen door, down the passage—to the wating car, John , panting after her. i “How did it happen?” she question- ' od. as tho ear sped hlnng tho streets. John stole a glance at his aunt’s' stony countenance, and remained sil- ■ 'mt. He could not bear to speak bliame | i of Little 800, when even at that mo-I , ment sho might be dead. Dreadful ;thought? ! But his cousin did not share this | : feeling, and replied:—“Little Boo; • stood up. on the seat—where you are now sitting— and begtan to dance. I i turned my head to see—the ear swerved—l brought it to a standstill—and Little 800 pitched out. head first.” I “Dance!” exclaimed the aunt, shiarp “Yes. Sho you had forbidden her to dance— and she must.” There was an expression of pain in Aunt Roberta’s face. “Poor little soul,” she said softly. “I had no idea it meant so much to her!”

She did not utter (another word until the bungalow, built of dark brown ricks, was reached. It was in lonely position, standing back fromjho road. The ground behind—rough amTunclearled of natural vegetation—sloped up- ; ward until it ended in a high cliff, below which the sea moved carelessly, j The owner, who had witnessed the acI cident from the verandah, met Aunt ■Roberta at the door. I "lou are Miss Scott?’ 1 he enquired in lan uncommonly deep voice. “My name is Boy Maddock. The doctor should bo hero any minute. I am sorry to- say your little niece is still unconscious. My housekeeper and I have done what we could for her.” “Do you think—is—she Aunt .Roberta faltered, trembling. j Tip gave her *a look of sympathy, saying—“You would like to see the child at once, I am sure.” Even in her distress of mind Aunt Roberta was struck by the man’s strange appearance. With hair white he looked old. yet there were no lines ;iu the thin, leather long face, and his ‘form was youthfully slender and ■ straight. The eyes were dark, uncom- : monly brilliant, and contained an ex- | pression as if a soul stricken by some I dreadful tragedy was mirrored in them, i She agitatedly followed Mr. Madi dock into a large bedroom, evidently I his own. Tn a glance she judged him Jto be a bachelor, for the furnishings •were sparse fond answered the requirei meats of masculine gender only. Subsequently she found that, throughout : the house it appeared as if any disI play of feminine taste had been ban- ' ned. • On the bed Little 800 llay—strangely, pitiably still. At the sight, a moan • burst from Aunt Roberta’s lips. She ; sank on her knees, and, scarcely fbreathing, stared into the pallid face, ■ lids drawn Ucross the bright eyes. There was a pain as keen as a knife ' thrust in her breast. She longed to i caress the child —to touch, but she dare ! not.

She had forbidden Little 800 to dance—perhaps now thoso tripping feet would be quiet for ever. "Oh. God, oh, God.’ 7 she prayed silently, distraught, "let her live—and she may dance, I promise! Only let her live! Oh. God, let her live. I promise! I promise! ” Thus Aunt Roberta, in her terrible angu.'sji of mind at the fear of losing Lidlo 800, bargained with the deity. When the doctor arrived, ail were ■ banished from the room but the i. middle-laged housekeeper, she being ' the person most dependable in the ! ( circumstances. ; Aunt Roberta waited for the doctor’s verdict —a figure of stone —on ; the lounge in the comfortable smoking- • room, her young relatives beside her. I When at length the door opened and I Mr. Maddock (appeared, she sprang up, j hands held out. He smiled reassuringI ly. "I am glad to bring the good | news that your niece is conscious. The j doctor says you may see her.” • The doctor’s greeting was cheerful i as Aunt Koberua stole into the bedi room: "Miss Beulah will be all right { —don’t worry, nothing seriously the I matter. Keep her in bed for a day or two —and let her have her own way, •don’t cross her in anything for awhile j—in fact, spoil her tremendously.” ■ ‘‘l’m U tunny old thing—l can’t, re- ■ member how 1 got here,” was what ! Little 800 said, blinking up in a dazed 1 way at her aunt, who took the flutterI ing hands in her loving clasp. “Don’t i try, dear, ” she murmured tenderly. : But 800 wrinkled up her brow, try- | ing to think, and then began to cry j in a weak, helpless way that was very | pitiful. I "You won’t let me dance, you won’t ; let me dance,” she sobbed burying her | face in the pillow. j Aunt Roberta smoothed the tawny i locks: "Don’t cry, Beulah, pet. I wtas wrong. If you want to dance, well—you must. I suppose. I shall not interfere 800 turned her tear-drenched face to her aunt, and whispered fervently—"Oh, thank you, auntie, you (are so

kind! ” Then Mr. Maddock acted in a queer fashion that puzzled and bewildered Aunt Roberta. He beckoned her away from the bed, and said in a low, tense whisper:—“You must not let her dance! You will ruo it bitterly if you allow that pretty child to take to the stage. It leads 1q hell!” It was evident he laboured under ’ some strong emotion. His eyes were wild and glaring. It was tail so eerie that Aunt Roberta’s spine crept. Involuntarily sho moved back a couple of paces. “I know, Mr. Maddock. — but—l cannot help myself now—l—l—you see—” she stammered, “hiave given my promise. It is fate, perhaps —but Beulah must dance if shewishes. ” * Ho started to say something further, appearing deeply distressed, when suddenly his uncanny excitement died. His head sank forward on his chest: “What is to be —must be,” ho muttered, and hurriedly left the room. (To bo Ccutinned).