A PAIR OF GLOVES-WHAT THEY COST.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue XXI, 13 November 1897, Page 667

A PAIR OF GLOVES-WHAT THEY COST.

(By

Mrs L. Frost Rattray.)

JUST one pair of gloves ! Come, Mr Underley, you cannot refuse me.’ Fred Underley tried to turn his eyes away from the pretty piquante face raised so eoaxingly to his, and fix them on the gay and animated scene all around them. The third race of the afternoon was about to be run, and Eva Tement had set her heart on winning a pair of gloves from Mr Underley. The horse she was backing was a well - known and favourite racer. For a moment, as Fred gazed at the eager gamblers who infest all race meetings, he resolved he would adhere to his resolution not to allow himself to be drawn into betting even a pair of gloves. He turned to the girl at his side to tell her so. But before he could speak, she laid a daintily gloved hand on his arm, for one second only, saying entreatingly, ‘Now, please, Mr Underley !’ Fred was deeply in love with this fair temptress. She was what is called a good girl. She attended two services every Sunday, and a choir practice on Wednesday evenings. Her mother always spoke of her as a dutiful, useful daughter, her brothers and sisters were loud in her praise. She was generally liked and respected. Her father, a good business man. who worked hard in the city, saw no harm in going on a public holiday to the races. He did not bet himself, as he did not consider that an honest way of making money. He was innocently fond of horses, and enjoyed a good race, having nothing- at all to fear if the wrong- horse won. Still he did not forbid his daughters to do a little traffic in gloves with anyone who was so foolish as to waste money over them. For, as is customary with young ladies, they always forgot to pay any gloves they owed, though they were merciless in demanding payment when they themselves were winners. The unwonted touch of the girl’s hand conquered Fred in an instant. A flush of pleasure rose to his cheek. ‘Two pairs, if you like, Eva,’ he said, softly. It was the girl’s turn to colour ; he had never used her Christian name before. Fred lost his wager, and had, moreover, to accept a challenge from Eva’s younger sister, he again being the loser. Later in the afternoon he was strolling round the course with a friend, who urged him to try his luck with the totalizator. ‘I * never b —,’ Fred began, then stopped abruptly. He could no longer say that he did not bet. ‘ln for a penny, in for a pound,’ he said lightly, and before the end of the day Fred Underley found he was ‘in for several pounds.’ He had a little money in the Savings Bank, and this he reluctantly withdrew to pay the money he had thrown away on the racecourse. ‘What a fool I have been,’ he said to himself. ‘All that money gone, and nothing at all to show for it. Now- I can’t tell Eva’s father that 1 have some money saved.’ For Fred had proposed to pretty Eva Tement, and had been blushingly accepted. When Mr Tement heard of the engagement, he said, ‘Well, I suppose we must lose her some time. Young

Underley is a nice, steady fellow, has good prospects, though he can’t marry just yet. Yes. I shall be quite willing to give Eva into his keeping, some day.’ So all things smiled on the happy young people until the next race-day. For Fred, having once allowed himself to run the risk of catching the dangerous gambling fever, had fallen a victim to that dread disease, and was now, alas I betting freely. He was not risking any very large sums, nothing more at first than he could afford to pay, as he had just received his month’s salary, and though he went to his lodgings one evening a poor man, with barely sufficient money in his hand to pay his week’s board, still lie owed nothing ; be had won a little on one race, and that had helped to keep him out of actual debt. A week or two passed. Fred was rather more occupied than usual, his employer’s business being left a good deal to him. as Mr Mantle was away, only a junior clerk besides Fred being in the office. Eva engrossed most of his spare time, and the young man ventured to congratulate himself on the ease with which he had got over his attack of the betting fever. Still he was sufficiently conscious of his weakness to hail thankfully Eva’s suggestion of a water picnic for the next Sat unlay, when a specially good race meeting was announced. But on the Thursday, as he was walking back to the office from his lunch, he met with an acquaintance whom he had recently made. ‘Hullo, Underley,’ was his familiar greeting, ’just come here a moment. I’ve got the most splendid thing on, and as I’ve taken a fancy to you. I don’t mind letting you have a share in it.’ Fred declined when he found the ‘splendid thing’ was a Sydney sweepstake, alleging that he had no money at hand. ‘That’s all nonsense ; won’t do at all,’ said his gambling friend ‘Look here, I’ll lend you the. money myself. Somehow I feel sure you'll win, you’ve got a lucky look about you to-day.’ Still Fred feebly protested, still the other plied him with specious arguments, finally telling him he could marry at once when all this money came to him. And so, against his better judgment, Fred gave into the. man’s lies and sophistries, put his name to an 1.0. U. for the first time, and returned to his office trying to persuade himself that he was feeling very hopeful, and not at all ill at ease. But the picnic was by no means a happy time to Fred. He was fretting over one or two small bills which bad come in, and which he had forgotten. Also, for the first time, he had not paid his landlady, as he usually did every week, telling her that as his ‘boss’ was still away, he had not the money for this or the previous Friday, but he should have it in a day or two. The good woman was quite hurt that her'very respectable ami trustworthy boarder should think it necessary to make any excuse at all. And Fred knew that had he felt as innocent as usual he would have joked, instead of apologising with a lie. Again, to clear himself, he went to the next races and lost heavily. The Sydney sweepstake did not bring him anything, and the 1.0. U. was due. Mr Mantle was still away, and Fred had a good deal of money passing through his hands. Things were looking unpleasant for Eva’s lover, when, one hot February afternoon, the worst temptation of bis life came to him. There had been two letters by the noon post for Fred, one from Mr Mantle, saying he should not be able to return for a month : the other a very unpleasant reminder that he had run through a great deal of money the last few weeks, and demanding a settlement. And whilst, at three o’clock, he sat gnawing his moustache and wondering what to do, a large sum of money was unexpectedly paid to him for Mr Mantle, which, as Fred saw in a moment, would cover all his deficiencies, ami could be easily borrowed for a month or more. And Fred ‘borrowed’ it. But when the time came to replace it, unfortunately, Mr Underley had not the means to do so. He left all his private accounts unpaid, pawned his scarf pin and his watch, but, as he had not left otl gambling. even these, with bis month's salary, did not make up the amount due. So Fred was obliged to ‘borrow’ enough to meet the deficiency of this account, and also to enable him to pay his landlady. And now. as he expressed it, he had frequently to ‘borrow’ a trifle from his employer’s money. Mr Mantle had no suspicion of what was going 011. Himself tin upright, honest man, and believing

Fred to lie the same, he went on blindly trusting him, never dreaming that such a good young fellow was systematically robbing him. Merry Eva had noticed a change in her lover, lie was subject to fits of depression, or of unnatural gaiety. Sometimes his manner to her was most caressing and affectionate, at others he seemed to shrink from her touch, and was very irritable. Poor Fred, he was indeed becoming conscious of the fact that the way of transgressors is hard. Taking up the ‘Star’ one evening. Mr Tement uttered an exclamation of astonishment, and forgetting Eva's presence, told his wife that Mr Mantle and Mr Underley were ill with influenza. and that the former’s brother, on going through the books, had discovered some very serious defalcations. Believing young Underley’s illness only a ruse to escape from the consequences of his sin by flying the country, Mr Henry Mantle had at once communicated with the police, the result being that it was discovered the young man was really ill, and the doctor would not allow him to see anyone. ‘Papa !’ gasped Eva, ‘it can't be true,’ and the unfortunate girl fell in a dead faint in her mother’s arms. Mr Tement sought an immediate interview with Mr Henry Mantle. He found him a stern, hard man, inclined to take the severest view of ‘young Underley’s unprincipled conduct.’ He explained that his brother and he had long meditated a partnership, but were uncertain whether to retain Mr Henry Mantle's office in Wellington, or for both brothers to work together in Auckland. The latter had been decided upon, and Mr Henry had come up to find his brother in bed, and Fred struggling against the prostrating malady. But the sight of Mr Henry, and the announcement he made that the books must be immediately and thoroughly overhauled, completely overcame the unhappy clerk, and he had to be removed to his lodgings in a cab. ‘And, sir.’ said Mr Henry to the shocked listener : ‘That young man

is a thief and a scoundrel. He has stolen our money and squandered it on the degrading and infamous sin of betting and gambling. Yes, sir, and I mean to ex|K>se him as a warning to every other young scamp of that sort. I told a reporter all I eould this afternoon,’ he added vindictively. Mr Tement eould not speak nt first. It was so inexpressibly sad. This reckless throwing away of his life's chances for a passing amusement was to the sober, practical man, quite unaccountable. How had it begun ? Surely Fred's downward course had been unusually rapid. He expressed something of this to his companion, who said, sternly, ‘Yes, luek was against him. But for the rather suddenly concluded partnership arrangement, and the young fellow’s illness, he might, have fixed things up. and even got out of his mess by outside borrowing. Or he might even have thrown himself on my brother’s mercy. But it’s too late for mercy now !’ Mr Tement pleaded long and earnestly for the young man who was to have been his son-in-law. but Mr Henry was obdurate. ‘At all events you will let the poor fellow get well before you take any steps, and yon will have to consult your brother,’ were, the visitor’s concluding words as he left the room. Eva listened to all her father had to tell with a white, set face. ‘I know how it all began,’ she. moaned, as he concluded. ‘lt was my doing. T led him into betting, and it lias all ended like this ! I did not think there could be any harm in betting just, a pair of gloves, and oh ! my love, my love, I have ruined your life !’ she concluded in a passion of remorse and sorrow. ‘What shall 1 do ? Oh. what can I do to’atone ? I ought to be punished, not he. T’apa, papa, my heart is breaking.’ The girl’s agony was terrible. She. who had fancied herself such a model for other girls ! She, who had prided herself on the uprightness of conduct which had marked herself, and was a noticeable trait in her lover’s character, she to have helped to

humble both to the dust ! For her betrothed’s disgrace was her disgrace. Oh, it was intolerable ! Through the long night the miserable girl prayed and cried, and suffered as such proud yet sympathetic natures only can suffer. As soon as her father had left the house in the morning, Eva crept quietly out, her face covered by a thick veil, and sought Mr Mantle’s house. Fortunately, he was better, and able to see her, Air Henry being down at the office. Long and earnestly she pleaded on her lover’s behalf, telling his employer that the chief blame should rest on her. Mr Mantle did not spare the girl. He pointed out to her ‘that since none of us liveth to himself,’ every action of ours has some bearing, some result, on those around us. Very seldom does the consequence of a thoughtless speech, a selfish deed, come home to us as quickly as in this case, but that reflection should not make us any the less guarded in words or in actions, lest we cause a weak brother or sister to offend. Eva listened with fast falling tears. She had never thought of these things before, and she sat appalled at the terrible influence for good or evil she, a careless, merry girl, possessed. ‘Well,’ said Mr Mantle, at length, ‘for your sake 1 will forgive him. More than that, I will keep him in my office, and help him to save enough money to pay me back all that he has robbed me of.’ And Mr Mantle was as good as his word. His kindness proved the best tonic and restorer Fred eould have had, and after his return to the office, he strove with all his power to repay the debt of gratitude he owed his generous employer. Eva and he are still engaged, but are far dearer to each other since their sorrow.