MR SMITH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue XXVII, 25 December 1897, Page 855

MR SMITH.

Merry Christinas! Merry Christinas! How many—many joyous voice* shouted out this happy greeting' on that Christmas morning; how many —many childish voices rang with joyous merriment? What exclamations of delight from Mamie or Joe or Nellie or Bob. as one or the other for the first time laid eyes on the gifts ot Santa Claus! How many —many little bare feet crept along cold halls to some certain mantelpiece. where stockings of various sizes ami colours were hung, and then went swiftly back to their bedrooms, the tiny hands filled with dolls or Noah’s arks? And how many—many mothers listened with faces brightening to the joyous pit-pat of dainty feet, or to the laboured breath of some darling child who had struggled upstairs with the good things left for them by that mysterious, joy - bringing, invisible Santa Claus, who by some occult process seemed to. divine the peculiar wishes of each and every one? Ami how many —many — baby voices declared that: ’Tanty Tlaus is funny, ain’t he, mamma, to fink yust what Ise like best?’ And how many—many little eyes looked heavy, albeit they were bright, an intimation that their owner had struggled to keep awake the night before to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus, or at the very least hear the noise he made in descending the chimney? Of all the days in the year Christmas brings the most happiness, and it seems wrong that in all this wide world, teeming with its millions, there should be one sorrowing heart on that •lay. And yet there are some who let very small things spoil their Christmas, and this letter spoiled Mrs Elroy’s:— 'Dear Mrs Elroy,—Mrs Smith eame Jast night, and we gave her the second floor front with the aleove. She brought eight trunks. two big bags and a shawl-strap full of rugs and sich. She said as how she would wait until you came home, and we needn’t put ourselves out any for her. I thought it only right and proper you should know Wiat you had visitors. Yours with respect, ‘ELIZA ANN ROBBINS.’ 'J'.S.—She's brought two dogs, little yapping things.’ Mrs Elroy opened and read the almve letter from her housekeeper while seated in one corner of the verandah of the big hotel at Beaehview. on Long Island. ’My goodness gracious!’ she ejaculated at its close in so audible a tone that a young man lounging in a hammock near by dropped his eyes from a squinting contemplation of the burning blue sky overhead and stared at her in astonishment. Mrs Elroy’s beautiful cheeks were Hushed rather more than was strictly becoming, and her eves snapped with an excitement quite unusual to their soft depths. "What, I should like to know.’ she said, addressing the aforesaid young man sharply, ’is who Mrs Smith is anyway?’ The young man looked somewhat bewildered. ‘ls she stopping here at the hotel?’ he asked. ’No. I wish to goodness she was.’ ’Perhaps I might go out and find some Mrs Smith to come and stop here if you would agree to pay her board.’ he ventured mildly. ‘And she has two yapping little dogs too, the impudent hussy.’ ‘Dear me. Is it against the law in this country now to keep two dogs?’ ‘Don’t be absurd. Charles.’ ‘I am not. the only one.’ sang' the incorrigible Charles. 'Methinks my dear aunt acts as if her head had been slightly turned by her troubles.’ 'VVeli 1 should like to see the woman who could keep her temper under such provocation as that. Just read.’ tossing him the letter. The voting man reatl it and then pursed up his lips and emitted a long, low whistle. 'Did you ever hear of such a piece of impertinence’* 1 don’t know the woman from Adam: anti whsit Mrs Robbins means by letting a stranger into the house and treating her to the best of everything is more than I can understand. It makes me just wild to 'think of those yapping little tetriers in that second floor front. I suppose they sleep on my Smyrna

rugs and take their meals from the Etruscan-tiled hearth.’ 'But, my dear aunt, surely you must know the woman.’ •1 tell you I don’t. I have never even heard of her.’ 'J upiter!’ ’Don’t sit there using profane language. but tell me what to do about the creat lire.’ Why—why, I think I should just write Mrs Robbins to turn her out.’ ’That might do.’ hesitatingly; 'only suppose Mrs Robbins hasn’t any gumption and doesn’t succeed. 1 don’t, want those dogs in the house any longer than I can help. No. I shall have to go home and settle matters.’ ‘And what about me’.” asked Charlek. lazily. ’You haven’t found that heiress for me yet.’ ’You’re a nuisance, Charles.’ ’I told you you had better leave me alone and let me go West and ranch it.’ 'That subject is settler! for ever, Charles. I say it is not necessary for a nephew of mine, possessed of your abilities, to bury himself alive yet awhile. No, sir, not yet awhile.’ ’Well, I might go fishing with those fellows from the island while you are gone.’ Mrs Elroy surveyed him doubtfully. 'I should enjoy a little outing like that immensely,’ said the young man, enthusiastically. Perhaps his enthusiasm was too great, or perhaps it was because Mrs Elroy's eyes rested by accident at that moment upiii, a slender figure in black and lavender, who was coming towards them across the lawn. 'No, I think you had better go with me,’ she said, decidedly. ‘I shall probably want a man about if that woman proves very awful.’ Charles turned with an astonished glance at her quick change of tone, and as his eyes too fell upon the slender figure, which was now quite close to their secluded corner, he fell back in the hammock. Then the figure mounted the steps. ’One would take you two people for lovers.' the newcomer remarked in a sweetly affected voice, with a decided English accent. 'Only some silly whose thoughts were continually running on the subject of love,’ retorted Mrs Elroy sharply. Tin* pretty woman in the Frenehy black and lavender gown smiled timidly. ’Pray do not. mind my aunt. Mrs Alstrom. She is in a bad temper this afternoon. Let us have a game of tennis and leave her to recover.’ The little lady, who delightedly went off with him. was rather pretty, rather bright, rather stylish, rather young and rather scheming. The typical suinmer-by-the-sea widow, in fact, whose cheeks were a trifle redder than nature ever intended and whose fair hair was more golden than it had been in her girlhood. Mrs Elroy was a. born match-maker, and had always taken the greatest interest in her dead husband’s orphaned nephew. Charles. It was the one fear of her life that he would go off and ranch it in the West, as he had threatened to do ever since his tenth year, when he first went live with her. Her plan was to settle an income upon him. get him a partnership with some reputable law firm, and find him some rich girl for a wife. It was for the latter purpose that they were spending the summer at Beaehview. and the poor lady had become exasperated at the young man’s indifference to the hosts of pretty, well-to-do girls at the hotel, while meeting more than half-way every advance of the artful little widow, whose income ceased upon a. second marriage. and who hail two sturdy young children. ‘There’s a silver lining to every cloud,’ muttered the elder woman grimly as she watched them move away. ’and this wretched Smith woman, and her dogs will lie the means of my getting Charlie away from that little viper." Mrs Robbins happened to be at the front basement window as the hack drove them up from the depot. She hurried out to meet her mistress. ‘Law sakes, nut’in! I’m glad you’ve come. She’s just turning this house topsy-turvy." Mrs Elroy gaze<l at her housekeeper in blank, amazed anger and then strode into the house s|>eech!es« with The changes commenced oil the very threshold, for the carpet (failed, but

onre costly and respectable), which had covered the hall when Mrs Elroy left home, had been torn up ami the floor, stained and varnished, was now covered only with a costly Indian rug-, which was one of the houseowner's most cherished treasures. Mrs Elroy paused in consternation and pointed to a deer's head which hung on the wall above the hat nick. ‘Where did that come from?' she fairly shouted. ‘Mrs Smith brought it with her. iiia'm.' Mrs Elroy sank weakly upon the stairs. ‘Who is Mrs Smith?' she screamed. As she spike a young woman in a pink dimity frock, with parted. wavy hair and a fresh rosy complexion, appeared in the doorway. She wore a large shady hat trimmed with nodding roses, and was altogether a very pretty sight to see, at least so thought Charles, who stood somewhat in the background watching proceedings. ‘I am Mrs Smith.' the newcomer said sweetly. ‘Are you Mrs Elroy?' ‘1 believe so,’ retorted the older woman savagely. ‘Oh. T am so glad to see you. I don't suppose you know me in the very least, but I have heard so much about you that I feel quite well acquainted already.’ ‘No, I can’t say that I remember ever seeing you before, but I should think you did feel acquainted with me. You act so.’ ‘l'm Alice Evans.’ Alice Evans! Maud’s little girl?' Mrs Elroy’s severe expression melted swiftly into a surprised smile of pleasure. ‘Why the last time 1 saw you you were only five years old. and you called me auntie.' ‘And 1 have talked of you ax auntie ever since. You have been much sweeter and kinder to me than any of my own aunts, and 1 have kept every one of the pretty little gifts you have sent me in all these years.' ‘You dear child,' and Mrs Elroy rose and took the pretty vision in her motherly arms and gave her a kiss of welcome, which wax none the less hearty for coining a bit late. ‘l'm so glad you came home tonight,' exclaimed the incorrigible young woman, ‘because I have ordered the loveliest dinner-—spring chicken and green peas, and asparagus salad and currant tarts with whipped cream. J know the last are good, for I made the whipped cream myself: but won't you tell me who this nice young man is?’ Any less confident person than Charles would have been somewhat embarrassed at being called nice so openly, but. he acted quite equal to the occasion and as though he was accustomed to being called a nice young man. ‘Of course. This is my nephew. Miss —. Oh. my dear. I forgot you are married. Where is Mr Smith?' ‘Oh. pray forget him altogether. He is off in the South on business, and I have come to visit you all by my lonesome self.' The young woman blushed for the first time at the mention of her absent husband, and Charles, who was watching her closely, thought with a penetration upon which lie prided himself: ‘There is something wrong with that husband of hers.' Mrs Elroy scowled, but said nothing. She was very particular about the domestic relations, and would mot tolerate any unconventionality in that direction, but it seemed absolutely impossible to say anything unpleasant to the pretty little witch who had so unceremoniously descended upon, and taken possession of her household and herself. So they went to dinner. Alice explaining the changes she had made, telling her reasons, and why they would be such improvements. ‘You see. we are quite p>or now since papa lost all that money in the Cncle Sam mine, and I have come East to earn my own living, ami mamma said you would put me up until I got something to do. You know I am quite spoik*d. and mamma says I do not know how to lx* poor, but I think I shall get on famously. Don't you?* turning to Charles. ‘You arc starting out well. I nm sure, said that young man discreetly. ‘But your husband, my dear?' ejaculated Mrs Elroy. ‘Oh. lie's not much good in the way of support.' replied Mrs Smith airily. •What in the world did you marry him for then?' ‘Well, to tell the truth, it was

mostly for eonvriiiciicr. I rather wish 1 hadn't now,' with a queer glance in the direction ot Charles, who looked very much as though he wished the same thing. Mrs Elroy intercepted the exchange of glances between the two young l»eople. and her match-making natun awoke at once. Here was a pretty bright, sweet girl, just the sort oi woman to make Charles an excellen* wife. To l>e sure, she had no money But then she was the daughter of her (Mrs Elroy's) very l»est friend, amt she felt sure that any (laughter of Maud's was worth her weight in gold, even if she was rather fond of her own way. and did iqisrt other people*-, homes ami turn things topsy-turvy and keep dogs. But right at this point, the thought of Mr Smith obtruded itself. and Mrs Elroy brought her hand down forcibly up>n the table. ‘He must be gotten rid of.' she said firmly. The young people looked start led. ’Who?' cried Mrs Smith. ‘I hope you are not referring to me 1 seem to be. the only he around jus. at present,' said Charles. Mrs Elroy made no reply. She was at a loss just how to explain her unconscious exclamation. ‘I hope you won’t mind my aunt. She's often taken that way.' said Charles, laughingly. Ami the young people went, on getting acquainted with one another, and laughing al sweet nothings and stealing swift glances at each other, as young people will do sometimes. And Mrs Elroy did not interfere, as was manifestly her duty when she saw a fascinating young married woman flirting with her nephew: for the determined lady had already made up her mind that Mr Smith must lx* gotten out of the way. although she had given no consideration to the exact manner of annihilating that unfortunate man. ‘I wish he could be hung.' she thought, blood-thirstily. ‘I am sure hr deserves it.' Mrs Elroy wanted Mrs Smith to go bark to the seashore with them, but that, young |x*rson was firm in her ref usa I. ‘No.’ she said. ‘I did not come Easl to visit the seashore. I came to earn my own living, and I mean to gel about it without waste of time.' It ended, therefore, in Mrs Elroy and Charles remaining in town for the remainder of the summer, while Mrs Smith soon obtained a situation as amanuensis to one of the former’s business acquaintances, and went out every morning’ to work, thus making Charles feel like a lazy beggnr. though to tell the truth hr put in his time to very gocxl account reading law preparatory to entering practice in the a iitumn. Mrs Smith proved to hr a very sweet and charming addition to the little family. She always got her own way somehow or other, and that too without having any difficulty or difference of opinion with anyone. As time wore on Mrs Elroy became intensely anxious about the mysterious Mr Smith, while Charles became intensely miserable liecause of the same gentleman. ’I declare she is a dear little thing, but. she acts like a perfect Sphinx xibout that husband of hers,’ Mrs Elroy said one day in exasperation. ‘He must be a fool to stay away from her like this.' ‘Well. I'm sure I should not like to have him come bothering around after her. Would you?' This mere suggestion made Charles look gloomy. Charles had formed a habit of strolling down town evenings about tin time that Mrs Smith was coming up from the office, and as she frequently walked home he would join her. One. evening as they were crossing Broadway a cable car whizzed around with the usual velocity necessary al some points. Charles. who was watching, saw the car coming and paused, but Mrs Smith unheedingly continued and was upon the track before* he could detain her. It was only a second before the clang of tin* gong startled her into action, and she sprang* forward just in time to escape being run down: hut in that moment Charles turned white and weak, end his voice trembled when he joimsl her on the opp»sit< kerb. ‘Never do that again,' he said. ‘Why. what is the matter with you ?’ she asked. ’’l'here is more the matter with me than I dare to tell you.' he replied.

‘Are you ill?’ Mrs Smith tried to calmly, but her face flushed. ‘Yes. I am sick.* ‘Why can you not tell me about it?’ •Because of that wretched husband <>f vonrs.* Mr Smith? What has he got to do with your being sick?’ ‘Well. I suppose he might object if he knew I was sick for love of you. Now you can In* angry if you like, only remember you made me say it.’ ‘Oh. Mr Elroy!* And Mrs Smith laughed heartily. ‘lt is not very funny for me.* said the young man. ‘Why it is the best joke in the world on you.* ‘I fail to see the point.’ ‘You will see it fast enough when I tell you that there is no Mr Smith.’ ‘ls he dead?’ asked Charles solemnly. ‘Better than that. He never existed.’ Charles looked puzzled. ‘Listen. I had heard what an inveterate match-maker Aunty Elroy was. and I resolved she should not bother me with any such nonsense, and so I just fixed up a Mr Smith to save all trouble.’ ‘You little witch!’ And < harles looked things innumerable, but as they were on the avenue he was forced to content himself with looking. though he did manage to squeeze her hand as they passed into the house. Mrs Elroy met them in the hall, her face beaming with smiles. ‘I have thought of a splendid plan. You must get a divorce, my dear.’ The young people looked at one another and laughed. Then the matter was explained to Mrs Elroy ‘I was awful sorry that 1 had invented Mr Smith when I saw you,’ Alice confessed at dinner, when they were talking the matter over. ‘Thank you,’ said Charles. ‘Aunt, 1 always told you that I was irresisti ble.’ Mrs Elroy held up her wine glass. ‘Here’s to Mr Smith.’ she cried. And the others smilingly drank the toast.