Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

7 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

OUR SHORT STORY.I

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OUR SHORT STORY. I t, MEADOW SWEET. By ARNOLD FREEMAN- I "I say, old man, who's the girl?" "What girl? About a score of them there, I should think." "Score be hanged? Man, open your eyes." Jack Blay's tone was impatient. "Fix your lamps on the girl in the middle—next the fellow with a slung arm—then you won't ask such a balmy question I" Oh, you mean Miss Sheldon ?" said the other, looking rather self-conscious. "She's staying with lIn. Rea. I think the old lady's her aunt. Comes from somewhere in York- shire." "Don't blush," said Jack chaffingly. "You give yourself away. Who's the chap she's with?" "Ask me another. Cracks to have been -out in France. Fought in every engagement trom Mpns to the Somme, if he's to be believed. His left arm's useless now-that's why he carries it in a sling. All the girls are gone on him, of c-ourse. That goes with- out saying; but he d<;eMi't ring true." "Mies Sheldon gone on him also?" "Well, I won't say that. I don't quite know how the wind sits in that qu_ arter," said Burton doubtfully. "He's cut us all out. He's always dancing attendance on her. No oae else gets a look in. but sometimes she smiles on him, and sometimes she snubs him unmercifully. I suppose that's only a woman's way." "Thanks muchlv. old man. Awfully sorry "for you aR' all that rot, but let's see what you c.m do iu the introducing line. What's her front name, by the way?" "Her aunt calls her Annie,' I think." "Thought so. I saw -her going down the road this morning 3,; I came from the station, and—but get busy I've only a fort- night's leave. YLi.' tilav. mind you." And niar Jack Blay, D.S.O., M.C., took the arm of his chum, Harold Burton, and qiuet.lv propelled hiri towards the golf club- house on the veranda of which a number of, young ladies were- talking animatedly, as is -the way of woman. The girl whose lovely face had attracted the gatiant major's attention was seated opposite the top -,of the three steps which led ap to the veranda, so that the two were able to approach her without having to run the gauntlet of the others. Her cavalier 'was a tail, dark, good-looking fellow, whose left arm was in a blaak silk sling, which showed lip effectively the whiteness of the hand and tho huge diamond which blazed on the middle linger. "Another victim for you, :Mis:3 Sheldon," scried Burton merrily as they mounted the jsteps. "My; friend Blay here says that if I don't introduce him he'll put me through my monkey motions-—don't know what he means, but it sounds bad." "A bit of Swedish would do you good— you're getting too many curves," retorted the girl as she gave' Blay her hand, "You know, Xies Sheldon, I saw. you. as 1 came up from the station. That's why i hauled Ted across to you as soon as I spotted you," said Blay, looking at the little hand which lay like a white g Rower in his great fist. He did not attempt to meet her. eyes. "I saw you atao," said the girl frankly; "though I didn't expect to see you agin so i 4wen "I always was a lucky chap," said Blav Ifallanilv. "A brave man also, when you could face eo many girls as there are here." "Oh, it takes a lot of girls to upset me. Used to 'c-m, v'know. Let me see—how many sisters have I got, Ted?" "Dunno. Haven't a scoring book, an' don't keep a diary. You'd about ten when we left Oxford." "Ten sinters!" exclaimed the girl incredu- lously. "Well, I suppose I might call them -sisters," said Jack with a grin. •They all promised to be sisters to me." "I suppose that is a joke—or you were an awful tlirt." "I'tn quite serious, an' I was not a flirt, Tionour bright! But ealf love's an infectious disease, an' I was always willing to ri-k in- fection in those days," said Blay gravely, though his grey eyes were twinkling. "In those days? I suppose you are im- mune now ? But I forgot. Have you met Captain Feart?" She turned to the latter, -who had been sulkiiy twirling his moustache in the background. "This is Mr. may, Captain. A friend of Mr. Burton's." "Captain Ft-art," repeated' Blay, a pecu- liar expression appearing for a moment in tis eves. "What's your mob?" "The -hire3," replied the other, rather -unfraciously. "Are you in the Army r ito slowly, as though he searched each word for a superfluous aspirate before allow. ing it to pass his lips. "You needn't ask that. It's obvious," in- terposed the girl. "Well, I had a few months with the Terriers, and they straightened me up a bit," admitted Jack. "The Terriers," said Feart, and there was a hint of relief in his tone. "Still," he went on, rather sneericgly. "one would have thought that a chap like you-" "So long as the authorities are willing to allow me to stay in England, I've no kick," retorted Jack. He turned to the girl. "You might show me round the links, Miss Shel- don. See you later, Ted." With a nod to- the captain he walked -<oollv down the steps, Miss Sheldon by his -side. He evidently meant to take her by storm. "By'gad! he always took the biscuit for ,cold, compressed cheek!" gasped Burton. < "But that's the limit. I remcmbN-" But < the captain, an ugiy scowl on his face. -had stalked off. The next day. Blay, after consulting an Army list, seut off a wire before accompainy- ino- his chum to the links. When they arrived there Feart was just commencing a round with Miss Sheldon. He nodded to Blav, a look of unconcealed triumph in his eyes. Jack ignored him, merely lifting his cap to the girl. "Why did you c-,tlb the-chapf" asked Bur- ton as they entered the club-house. "I've'no desire to know the bounder." wa;3 the curt answer. "Jealous, eh, already?" suggested Ted slyly- The other did not answer. He eat smoking moodily until the- pair had finished the round. Then, still ignoring her companion, he calmly took possession of the girl; iina though Feart seemed angry at what lie evi- ° dentlv considered the major's presumption-, something in the latter's manner warned him off. He contented himself with vague mutterings over some whisny in the smoke- room. All that week Blay carried matters with a high hand. He took possession of the girt, whenever she appeared as though he had the right ,and she seemed quite satisfied with the arrangement. Before the week was out there was a new light in her eyes, which en- nand her beauty. On the Saturday Blay and his chum went up in the morning.' The links were appa- rently deserted, and the two chums were- passing a narrow dene just past the third assin g a narro,,v de, hole when Miss Sheldon appeared suddenly round the bend. She was agitated, her face white, her shoulders heaving. Blav hurried to meet her. "What's the matter?" he asked, his voice full of tender concern. "Take me home, Jack. I-I-don't feel -well," che faltered. He tucked her arm under his 2nd they went off together, "Jack" he repeated. "By Jove, thinge are moving!" 0 Then a sudden thought struck him, and lie hurried down tlife dene and round the bend, just in time to see, disappearing over the brow of the frill, a figure he knew well— that of Captain Peart. "I thought ,so, hanged if I didn't," he muttered. "I'll bet it was thht "beggar who upset the girl, blight him!" 00 "Just what I thought," said Jack, when Burton mentioned his suspicions. to him that night. "She 'wouldn't say what had hap- pened just said that she was ill but I could see she'd been fright- I ened. I'll settle that bounder's hash darned quick "Are you going to spend all your leave on the links-" asked Ted on the Monday, when Blav proposed the usual expedition. "If n«ct\ssary," said Jack grimly. "I've had a purpose in VH?W all along. I've not been going for the fun of the thing, what- ever you may think." There was quite a crowd present -when they reached the club-house, but the gallant eaj tain was not on the veranda. "See if he's inside, will you, old man?" ke dJack. 3,s "He's having a whisky in the smoke- room," reported Ted on his return. "Looks blessed sulky too." "He'll look snlkier before I'm through with him. Would you mind doing me a favour, old man? :ot a pleasant job, but I want to stay here and keep an eye on our friend inside." "Certainly. Spit it out! I'm game far any bloomin' thing." "Thanks. I want you to meet the London train that gets in at three-twenty. A woman will get off and wait under the clock for someone to fetch her. Her name's Binks— not very euphonious, but you must make the best of it. I want you to bring her right lit) to the clubhouse, and then send in for Captain Feart. I'l be on hand. No i —na questions. I'll explain tater." Burtsn carried out his instructions. Feart, on receiving the message, strode out on to tb-p veranda, to find himself fr.ee to face with Burt-on and a stout, overdressed woman of uncertain age. "Here you arc. Captain! This lady wants you," sang out Burton. lie wont slowly towards then-, his eyes almost starting from his bead, his iace green, beads of perspiration on his foreh^ ead. "1 suppose I've to thank you for this-" he said to Burton with a t-uarl. "o thanks required, old man," said Ted 1\miauJy, "I'm quite -in the dark myself, give you my word!" "I'm the person to thank if Jóu're in the mood for thanksgiving," interposed Biay. MoO.Cl for trliatik,ivin. inlvw I've sta,,c-inana-ed comcd y for vGLlr You you ■" buttered the captain. Quite so, quite so," said may sootfnn.gly. "Crlm down, mv dear fellow. I should -hate to have to kick you off the ground- md ladies present. Of course, there's always the police," he went on reflectively. "Façt is, vou re bunkered, old inait. I vou told me that you were Captain Feart, iand told me'the name of your moh, your wine was up. though you didnt know it, did you? Your Captain Feart happens to bo i a friend o' mine. See? I knew that he was in hospital. I just wired to London for a few discreet inquiries" to "be' made, and 1 soon found that vou were the valet, and tuat vou, along with your wife there, had been ieit in charge of the house. Isn t that so" l Mrs. Binks?" YeB.Sl, but "Just one moment, Mrs. Binks. I guer-scd- "Ju st o- ie inoinert -I l I 'that when your husband-he's net looking vfCY cheerful now, is he?—heard that his master was in hospital he decided to have a holiday in his master's clothes, with his master's jewellery and cash. So, of coiuse, I let vau know the game he was p.ayiflg. The gallant captain-could not speak, His head hung down. He seemed to be on the verge of a collapse. His wife stepped into the breach. "Don't be too hard on Halfred, si. r, „ she said pleadinglv. He allua ? wanted to be a ?entlema?. "H?'s bin a good husband to mc but 'c'a young, M' must 'ave his fiin, me i)-Lit 'C';s Toil._ul an' w. ",st 'ave' his fling. An' it's all rigi'lt, ii?out tbe master .s dotncs. He brought 'em to look after cm— an' who should look ?ftsr 'em but him" "Who, indeed' said Jack gently. Id W ho, take vour husband heme, if I were you- and watch him." He shook lfands with tho woman, and the pair went slowly away After they had gone Miss .SheMou v. put- up to Blay, who was standing .olj?ne, deep in ,i y thought. Don't you think it was rather cruel, she, said in a paired voice:—" the public humilia- tion not only to them, but to us who ac- cepted him at his fr.ee value, and have been friendiv with him?" "Perhans so," .said Jack, in a lifeless voice. "And Fm afraid that -I must be-still more cruel. Will He offered his arm, aud tfto-ether they went towards the dene. When quite out of sigbc of the gaping crowd he turned and faced her. His face looked drawn, hi& jaw set. "Now, Miss Sheldon. I didnt tell you, when first I met you, that you were not a strapger to me. That I was familiar with your race th. t your name I had keard a hundred times that though I had never met you before, I recognised "You knew me?" she said, a puxzled Iciok on her face. "Are you not mistaken?" "Would to God I were but I'm not. I thought that your face was familiar to me when I saw you the first time in the street. I was not surprised when Ted introduced you as Miss Sheldon; when he told me that you came from Yorkshire; that your name was Annie. I am Major Blay, of the-— Light Infantry." "Major Blay!" exdaim. the' girl Of course, I've heard Rafe speak oi y^u, but whv do you look At me like that? What is the matter?" "I thought you would know me," went on Blay. "Rafe Weston is in my battalion is my chum has been for years. Every dug-out, every billet we occupicd, the photo- gr:1ph of a girl held the place of honour. He almost' said his prayers to that photograph. I saw it often, so it isn t- surprising that I recognised you that I wanted to be introduced to you. I wanted to talk to you of Rafe, so that I might-tell him of you when I got back. And I saw you "apparently free, enjoying yoursedf as though you had no lover in France thinking of you day and night. I paid attention to you because, seeing what rou were. I wished to teach you a lesson. I've been playing with edged tools," he went on with a .twisted smile, "and I've cut myself pretty badly. With the knowledge that I had I thought myself safe, However, I'm going back. I shall let Rafe live on in his fools' paradise. One hasn't a lease of life out there. If he haa to t go, it .is better that he should go happily, iu Y011. 31 believing in you." When he had finished there was a smile on her lip. "Are you f$ur Rafe haa my photograph; she qked softly. "Don't!" he said wearily. "I .will/ shfe persisted. "He hasn't my photograph. My sister Nance is en- gaged to him. I rather thi, nk the photograph would be of her." "Nance!" cried Blay. "That is the name. What a blinded fool J.'v% been And I thought that you were playing ftand loose with him. Annie—Annie—can you for- give  There waa a great light in her eyes as she smiled up at h'm. and in the narrow dene, the air love-spiced with scent of meadow sweet. with her" warm young body Ipre-,?,ed c1o and her lips to hi?—he was forgiven.

IN THE POULTRY YAR3. I

I 'OtHE!M:EN'S MINDS. I

CLUB WINDOW.,'

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-! OUR LONDON LETTER. I-

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