A GIRL’S CAPRICE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 42, 17 October 1891, Page 493

A GIRL’S CAPRICE.

WILL never forgive yon, Charlie II Dalton, not if I should live to be a 11 hundred! You have no right to speak II such words to me. Even my patience has a limit, and I am tired of your fWsL jealous caprices. I will not be dicK * -..uSSfir tated to. I shall please myself as far $ jTMzj'Sf as Harold Anderson is concerned. 1 i nten d t° treat him with the courtesy due to- a gentleman from a lady.’ /A W' The sweet dear voice rang out in ini’™ i ft r Mi T dignant protest, the lovely face was ' i ‘Hlffh flushed with anger, the pansy-blue ' eyes flashed, and the small golden head was crested proudly. She was in one of her * tantrums,’ as someone had wickedly dubbed the fits of wrath in which Lillian Vane was known at times to indulge Sweet Lillian Vane ! A spoiled child, a capricious little witch, the only child of her doting parents, who were wealthy and influential. Looking upon her now—this small fury— ‘ a tempest in a teapot ’ —Charlie Dalton’s heart misgave him. Was he wise to give all the love of his great manly heart to this little tantalizing fairy, who nearly tormented his life ont with her sweet tyranny, which after all was so irresistible? But he was desperately in love, and love is a tyrannical despot which must and will have his own way, no matter what the consequences may be. But all the same, Charlie felt a strange little pang at his heart as be listened to Lillian’s declaration of independence. • She does not love me,’ was the first thought that flitted through his brain, ‘ or she would never speak like that. Surely Harold Anderson has not won my darling’s heart away from me ?’ They were standing under the shade of a huge Christmas tree which grew near the beach of a charming New Zealand township. Lillian turned her blue eyes to glance acros the water, where a white-sailed craft was dancing upon the waves. Charlie’s gaze followed hers, and he saw that the sole occupant of the boat was Harold Anderson. He was a fine-looking fellow, with a dashing air, and was very popular in society. His bold black eyes were fixed upon the two under the tree, and he turned his boat about and made straight for the beach at the point where they were standing. A little later the boat’s keel grated upon the sand, and Harold Anderson sprang out, and, securing the craft, came swiftly forward, lifting his hat to Lillian with courtly grace. She smiled into his face with a swift little glance, that made Charlie Dalton’s heart grow cold. He did not know that Lillian really meant no wrong : bnt that the spirit of coquetry and mischief spurred her on, and she was indiscreet instead of intentionally culpable. But Charlie was downright angry now, so with a cool adieu he turned and walked away. Harold’s eyes followed the retreating figure. •Our Knight of the Rueful Countenance looks troubled,’ he observed, slily, with a mocking smile which made Lillian’s heart shrink with aversion. ‘ Miss Lillian, surely it is not true, this rumour that you are engaged to marry young Dalton ? I hope not, for if it should be true your life would not be a happy one. And I— ’ He stopped short with a sigh which would have made Lillian smile, so lugubrious was it, only she felt really too troubled to smile. Why had Charlie gone away and left her alone with Harold Anderson ? It looked as though he were virtually resigning his claim to monopolise her society. Her eyes met the black orbs bent closely upon her, and she made answer a little more coldly than was necessary : • My relations to Mr Dalton cannot affect you.’ Harold’s face flushed. He darted to her side and caught her hand in his own.

• Lillian, hear me '.’ he cried, eagerly. • I can keep silent no longer. I love you—l have loved you long ! You are too fair and sweet to marry a jealous tyrant like Dalton. Be my wife, Lillian, and I swear to make you happy !’ She wrenched her band away from his grasp, and, pale with indignation, turned upon him, her blue eyes flashing wrathfully. * I have given you no cause to address me in this way, Mr Anderson,’ she cried, angrily. * You are almost a stranger to me.’

He drew nearer her side and attempted to take her hand once more. His face was pale with anger. He had been wounded in his pride and self-esteem, and that was almost more than he could bear ; for Harold Anderson, like many society men, believed himself irresistible. But Lillian turnea away, pale and angry, and a moment later had darted from the spot and was lost to sight. The sun had set and a storm was brewing. She dashed on down the beach—on, on. She was quite a stranger in

the place, having only come to this coast resort a few days previous. M hat wonder that when she turned to leave the loD g> white, sandy beach and strike into the belt of pine woods beyond—through which she must pass to return to the house where she and her parents were stopping—she should lose her way ? It was growing rapidly dark, and the hoarse muttering of the storm frightened the timid girl, and the bright lightning flashing across the inky sky in lund streaks brought terror to her heart ; and then she began to realize the truth—that she had lost her way and knew not in which direction to turn. Darker, darker grew the sky; the rain began to come down, and in a few moments poor Lillian’s thin white gown was drenched, and she could scarcely make her way a step further in her wet garments. She came to a terrified halt at last. There was no sign of a human habitation, and the v ® r y blackness of darkness engulfed the scene, save when the lance-like lightning flashed athwart the dense blackness of the sky. I tterly exhausted, and so frightened that she was almost bereft of reason, Lillian sunk down at last at the foot of a tree. ‘ Heaven help me !’ she moaned, in her terror and despair. ‘ I shall die out here all alone, and I have no idea which

way to turn to get home again ! Oh, if I had not been so cross and bad to Charlie he would not have left me alone ! Bnt he is so proud, and he fancied I preferred Harold Anderson’s society to his, so he left me although he had brought me to the beach. I suppose he thought that Mr Anderson would escort me home, but I hate him—l hate him, and 1 will never speak to him again as long as I live !’ She was sobbing bitterly now, her slight form trembling with grief and terror. All at once a thought struck her, and she began to shout aloud at the top of her voice : • Charlie ! Charlie Oh, help, help !' There was the tramp of hurrying feet, the flash of a lighted lantern, a low cry of joy, and she was clasper! in Charlies arms, where she sobbed like a child. And the ludicrous part of it all was that she had been lost within a stone'sthrow of her home. The white cottage with its glowing

lights, where her anxious parents awaited her, was just around a bend in the path, quite near the spot where Charlie had found her; and when his arms went round her and she felt the comfort of bis presence, Lillian sobbed out a contrite confession of her own foolishness, and all was made right. Mrs Charles Dalton often thinks of the lesson that she learned that night in the storm and darkness, and how she learned to prize a true heart's love.