COINCISSNEES TOLD in FOUR LESSERS

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume VIII, Issue 2, 1 May 1903, Page 131

COINCISSNEES TOLD in FOUR LESSERS

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Illustrated by M. W. Kimbell

No. I.— From Violet Grey to Winifred Holmes.

The Vicarage, Oldlove, Tuesday, 22nd May, 1900. Dear old Win, Don't get too great a shock when you receive this ! I would have written before only — but I'll tell you in a minute. The whole parish is terribly down in the dumps, why I don't know, considering the cause concerns nobody but myself. And, 0 Win, Ido feel it so ! I'm sure I must be getting thinner and thinner every day. I must tell somebody about it, and I know I can trust you, Win, dear. He's been transferred to Newlove, and I thought that perhaps you might — you might — oh, well, you know, just keep an eye on the dear boy for me. His name is Reggie — Reggie De Vere (perhaps you may have met him already, it is quite a month since he left here). He's in the bank, I'm not sure which one, but anyway I know it's' the bank. Now I feel sure I can trust you, Win, some day you will learn what it is to be in love yourself. I hear from him every week. He says Newlove is so uninteresting after Oldlove (he means me), but ask him up now and then, Win ; it will help to cheer the poor boy up. Jf you can manage to draw him out a little, you'll find that he plays ten-

nis splendidly. We used to sneak away for a walk after church (always pitched Dad some fairy), and it is so lonely now, Win, but I know you'll feel for me, wont you, dear ? Bother it, there's a ring, I suppose it's old Simkin, the poet (I just hate poets), so I must run. With fondest love, hoping you will write soon to Your loving friend, Violet. P.S.— I know I can trust you not to tell anybody.

No. 2. — From Winifred Holmes to "Violet Grey.

The Klms, Newloye, Tuesday, 22nd May, 1900. Dearest Vi, I am actually going to write to you. It is just twelve months since we had that jolly time together in town. Oh, it was just lovely, the restaurants (with the funny waiters — you remember), and the galleries, and the ride in the Twopenny Tube, and the afternoon teas ! We were happy, weren't we ? But that is one sort of happiness, since then I have discovered another. I know you must be laughing, but don't say a word about it to anybody, will you, Vi, if I tell you ? Listen, there is such a nice yqungf man here, a Mr. De Vere— Keginnlcl

his name is. Perhaps you know him (he said he was once stationed at Oldlove). Oh, he is so nice, Vi, just too sweet for anything ! We're just a match at tennis, and yesterday afternoon when we were having a quiet single, he called out " Love One ! " Oh, I did blush terribly ■: it was the way he said it, you know. Fortunately there was nobody ■ i about except the gardener, so it did'nt matter (but what a waste of blush, Vi). Oh, I forgot to tell you ; Mater is going to- give a big,

"At Home " to-morrow night . Of course Reg is coming, and I've found such a grand place in the garden for sitting out — I must drop Reg a line! this) afternoon and tell him. There's one point I admire about him, he talks very little about himself. Once he told me that his people lived on their estate ■ in Ireland, but that was all I could get out of the darling. I can see the postman coming along, perhaps he's got something for me. I'm so happy, Vi. 1 wish you could know

what it was to be in love. Goodbye for the present, write soon. With, best love From your affectionate friend Win. P.S. — Don't say a word to anybody about that, will you ? Win.

No. 3.— Six months later. From Violet Grey to Winifred Holmes. The Vicarage, Oldlove, 10th November, 1900. Dear Win, I have just read the paper. How dreadful ! Is he in jail ? Oh, what an escape we had ! What toys we are in the hands of these men ! I shall never fall in love again, never, so there, and don't you ever again listen to what they say ! .[ did'nt tell a soul about your letter, and I'm sure you would not say

anything about mine. He must be a thoroughly bad nan ! Yours sorrowfully, Violet.

No. 4. — From Winifred Holmes to Violet Grey. The Elms, Newlove, 10th November, 1900. Dear Violet, Have you heard the awful news ? Ecg — Mr De Vere has been arrested for such a lot of terrible things. They say lie has a dreadful record and a long list of aliases. Just think, Vi, if either of us had married him ! 0 Vi, I think I should have died ! However, it will be a lesson to us both, only he was so nice-looking. I almost feel sorry for him. I kept your letter a dead secret, I hope you did the sarao with mine. Write soon. I feel so sad ! Yours tearfully, Winifred.