Another Princess of Thule.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume 01, Issue 9, 1 June 1900, Page 72

Another Princess of Thule.

By W. Shereiff Bain,

Illustrated by W. A. Bowring,

VERY little, and very stately ; with golden-white hair that had once been red ; and with eagle glance unquelled by eighty-one years of chance and change. " You are Scotch ? " she interrogated, on my being presented to her. " I have that pleasure," said I. " Pleasure ! These others know nothing about it ! Scotch ! It's glorious to be Scotch ! Would I like to go back ? Yes. And no ! What have 1 to go back to ? My grandfather owne 1 all Orna and my father lost it. Oh, but I used to fly about on my pony ! The country side knew me -Isabel Gordon. Those were the days !" Then, with old-world courtesy, she turned to speak with her other visitors, while her middle-aged daughter, dark and thoughtfulbrowed, entertained me with reminiscences of early New Zealand. She was a clever narrator and had good stuff to tell ; but I was the thrall of Mrs. Fotheringham; and heard her detonating speeches all through Miss .lean's discourse. In her black moire and fairy-fine white lace and cap she stood as lithe and blithe as many a girl of eighteen. " Good-bye ! lam pleased to have seen you." Then some sudden remembrance cast its shadow on the fiery little soul. (How many good-byes Lad she uttered, had she heard ? Or perhaps adown the years swept one only — only one Good-bye!) She quickly drew her handkerchief across her eyes ; but gave me her delicate, venerable hand directly afterwards, with bright unconquerable smile to treasure evermore. Then in. that backward vista I beheld her, a dainty despot, careering on Black 'Struan, — tlie welcome visitant of every

household within ten miles of Castle Dunorna. How capricious were her favors ! how leal her heart ! For it was no slight thing that the Highland maid of sixteen fared forth to Indian jungles, even though her aunt went too.

Lord Lennox greeted them with pride, and gallant Major Fotheringham -with adoration. Ay, she had stirring times then !

But the rolling years stole the sons that were born to her, and maybe they stole

something even dearer. .Anyhow, she pined for the heather braes, and the doctor sent her back to them lest she should see them no more. They gave her new life and they enchained her with the fascinations of centuries. The little mountain bird would not> could not return to the tropics ; even when her husband retired from the army, and took his daughters to the lovely nook he discovered in New Zealand, she lingered ;— then she suddenly learned that every turf had been alienated long ago by her wild dead father, and she winged away to far Akaroa. She found a beautiful romantic home; she

"My relations were all dead, I had not a friend in .New Zealand. Tlio little girls became fond of me, and were so easily taught ; and he — he was grateful and kind always. Por a long time I thought ho was a widower ; but one day — 1 had just beou thrown from horseback — he told mo, and wo could not part; but I am glad to be dying. Ah ! God knows it all, and now you know !" The older woman broke down. "Mabel," she said, " I should bo glad to die instead of you !" And they kissed eacli other. Every morning a bending figure walked to

found her three girls tall and blooming ; she found her soldier-husband handsomer than ever ; she found a lady — with lineage lofty as her own — pale, gentle, and very sad.

Then were cyclones, and then the strangest calm.

Day by day the pale lady faded and drooped, the man's hair whitened, and the Highland ehieftainess thought many thoughts.

Ere long, in the huah of a little chamber, one woman awaited the signet of everlasting peace ; while the other tended her, holding the wasted fingers, listeniug to the murmured breathing :

the gravo in the valley, to spend liourß on the bench he had constructed by itn aide ; evory morning for months. Then the bench wan taken away that he might lie bolow, ovon as his testament ordained, Flowers were planted there — and thcro. But life has to be faced by those who live, and better chances offered in Christchurch for the benefit of the girls. So thoy removed, to struggle valiantly, and to find that the battle is long and hard to womankind. They struggle still, valiant as ever; each daughter in her own sphere ; each enshrining the little mother as another Princess of Thule.