Page 1 Advertisements Column 3

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 5488, 6 December 1884, Page 1

WON BY A HEAD : OR A GALLOPING COUETSHIP. CHATER I. I'm in love. There's no denying tho fact. I've been in love for three weeks. I thought the feeling would wear away, but feelings ain't like broadcloth. SHE— there's only one SHE in the world— is an angel, aud her name is Lucy Chaldicott, Three weeks ago I met her first in the hunting-field, and when I saw how well she her horse, and how graceful she looked in her tight-fitting habit, I Baid, " That girl is a fit bride for a prince." What a pity it is that there aro not enough princes in the world for all the nice girls who are fit for them ; but what a lucky thing it is for some of us poor follows, with nothing royal about us, whoso " Crown and Sceptre " is two doors round the corner, and whose throne is a chair at a vestry meeting. I have already told you I'm in love, you will not therefore be surprised to hear that lam miserable. Cupid ought always to be represented with a pocket-handkerchief to his eyes. The object of my adoration is separated from me by many miles. She has gone to stay with the Macgregors at Paulborough. The Macgregors have often asked me to go over there for a day or two, and I've never been. Why shouldn't I go now ? I will. CHAPTER 11, I have arrived. 1 fancy when people say " come whenever you like " they mean don't come at all. If ever a woman ecowled at a man's portmanteau, Mrs Macgregor scowls at mine as it stands in the passage. Her little eyes seem to be trying to pierce the leathern case to discover for how many days lhave brought change of linen. Let her scowl 1 What care Iso long as ehe smiles upon me. She does smile upon me 1 She presses my hand ! Shall Igo I down on my knees at once, here in the hall, and declare my passion ? Reflection shows me such an act would be premature, considering that hitherto our conversation has been of the most commonplace nature, and principally connected with the weather; If the British climate were not so changeable I fancy the greater portion of the inhabitants would be dumb. Through the whole evening I am on a mental see-saw: Does she care for me ? She smiles at me— she does, Does she care for me ? She smiles at somebody else — she doesn't. To-morrow shall decide. I will watch my opportunity. I will propose, I will urge her to share my humble lot. Macgregor disturbs my blissful dreams by putting a chamber candlestick in my hand, and saying, "Good-night." This is a hint. I retire to my room. To sleep ? Never. I am beneath the same roof with her I love, I am filled with the tenderest emotions — perhaps it's the extreme tenderness of them that makes me yawn. I can't be sleepy— people in love sit up all night, and look at the moon. I draw the curtains aside, but there's no moon to look at. I wonder if Maogregor turned it off when he put the gas out. I'm not sleepy, but I can recall her dear face so much better with closed eyes. lam wide awake— no one in my position could — could — fall asleep. . . . What time is that striking ? One, two, three — the night's half gone. Where's my candle ? Burnt to the socket, as I live. What draught there must be in this room. Perhaps I'd better go to bed after all, but I'm sure I can't Bleep. CHAPTER 11,

I suppose I did sleep. Anyhow, I'm late for breakfast. Several of the little Macgregors make their appearance, and cling to me. I am a favorite of theirs, and they won't leave me alone; They rumple my clean collar, they destroy the set of my new coat, and they torment me generally. Mrs Macgregor tells me not to let them worry me. Good gracious ! how I wish I could prevent it. Miss Chaldicott is going into the library. Now the time has come. In a few minutes I will follow her, and thenJohnny stops me as I am leaving the room. Will I come and play at coach and horses ? N%, I won't. Douglas olings to me. Will I come and see his rabbit ? No, I won't. Dora lays violent hands on my coat-tails. Will I come and swing her in the garden ? No, I won't. I'm getting savage, so I compromise the matter by telling them I'll have a game with them all in a half-an-hour's time, and they go off Bhouting. Now for it. The library door is straight before me. On the other side of the door is Lucy. ' I wonder why I feel as if all my clothes were too tight for me. I enter the Library. She smiles and puts down her book. She waits for me to say something, and I can't think of anything to say. She takes up her book, and goes on reading. This will never do. I tell her it's a fine day. She tells me it is, with the exception of the rain. I put it to her presently that a bachelor is a very miserable being. She replies, •• bo it appears "—and goes on with her book. This is unsatisfactory. I want to say something about hearts, and to make an allusion to Cupid. How shall I manage it ? : I have it. " Miss Chaldicott, don't you think if two hearts " At this juncture Dora bursts into the library, and wants to know if it isn't the half-hour yet, Bother the child. I tell her to go away. She won't go. She comes and throws herself impetuously into Lucy's arms. Happy Dora ! Johnny comes in next He insists the half-hour has expired. I must buy him off. I give him sixpence to go away. I give Dora another sixpence to go with him, and see them take their departure with unfeigned delight. Knowing the minutes are precious, no sooner is the door closed than I return to the subject of hearts. A second time I suppose the two hearts beating sympatheically. " Miss Ohaldicott," I say, " I have sought this opportunity to speak with you on a matter which lies next my heart." She blushes. Shall I go down on my knees ? I will— l won't. For a moment I wish I could be a second Herod, as far as the juvenile Macgregors are concerned. Douglas came in and says, " gib me tickpens." I am cross, I confess it, I tell him I've got no more " tickpenses," and wouldn't give him any if I had. lie bursts into a howl. Johnny and Dora rush in, father and mother Macgregor hasten to their bawling infant, nurses appear from remote regions, and everybody looks at me severly, as having caused the uproar by my cruelty. My chance is gone, my Ute-d-tete is at an end j my happiness is destroyed j my heart j is broken. Life without Lucy is a burthen. lam dejected, miserable, wretched. Where, oh where I likewise how, oh how 1 can I find a relief to my sufferings ? I'll go into the garden and have a cigar. CHAPTER IV. The cigar consoles me. I come to the belief that things are not so bad after all, and that in the course of the afternoon I will make another attempt. I Btroll back to the houße about lunch time, Ihere is a carriage at the door: Servants are bringing out boxes. Presently Lucy comes out, oloaked and hatted, What does this mean ? She says she has been looking for me to say "goodbye"— didn't I know they were going? And she's so sorry, and wonders