The Wingham Times, 1885-04-24, Page 2• TM WGN1 TICS FRIDAY .A.R,LUL 24
Brng
1 'Yet, if you. knew why I ask it,
The Lad of the y IGtl� U�11 `ihe a insure you would osy yes,. unless,''--
With a grave 'mutiny of his per-
QOked high 1311414"a' `Unexedless,'
face,
s,' she paused.
The General I
D'nles,' she repeated emphatical-
then touched, and certainly pleased ; ! ly,--'unless we have erred in the
for the kiss he gave her was a hearty `estimate of your character, if you are
one. the generous, upright man we fancy
'My dear, ao many years. have pass you, you will not injure the friendless
ediaince I saw your mother, that. I girl whose future depends on your
scarcely recognise her again; but you forbearance''
Are a true Darrel --you have the fee,.
'You are still speaking in riddles,'
tares of our family. I am glad to see Ernost retorted, 'and is it not cruel to
you, And so yon have been. anxious take advantage of my interest in your
about your brother f" daughter, madam. I cannot, even
The glance Florence shot at the - for her sake, abuse the confidence 0
half petrifiedBrnest seemed to beseech General Darrel"
hit silence, and her voice took a 'Listen,' she said leaning towards
thrilling tone, as she answered, 'Ah, . him, '1 nave one excuse for my per -
sir, he loves •his - mother and sister sistence, which even you must ac -
dearly 1 Ic has been a trial to him-- knowledge to be well founded 1'
I am sure it has—to leave them 1 It She rapidly whispered half
would be .hard if we bad not felt dozen words in his ear.
grieved and unhappy when we knew. So strange and. unlooked for was
that he suffered, and was so far from their import, that he recoiled a step
home!' and seemed scaruely'to credit them.
*True,' said the General, thought- But Bridget's emphatic nod , when
fully ; 'I did not think of that. Of his eye was turned upon her,
course, he has missed the familiar vouched for their truth. •
faces. My own bachelor life makes 'Can this indeed be really true,' he
me forget that others cannot always cried involuntarily,
reconcile 'themselves. to its dullness. Ere site could reply., Sandie tapped
Well. well, he added, briskly, 'we at the door. His withered features
must talk this over, andd•see if we can- were puckered up, as if his wits were
not make the young man look a little in a state of direst confusion.
more cheerful than he does at present. His errand was to remind Mr.
If Mrs Stanhope is not too unwell to Stanhope that the General waited for
spare you for an hour, will you come 'hire. '
and pour the coffee for us '1' 'I will be .with him directly,' and
Florence, whose hands were .. still bowing to 'the lady he hurried away
clasped iu the General's, looked at her to make a few alterations in his dis-
inother.. ordered toilet.
'You'll Spare me, dear mother, won't When he decended to the breakfast.
you t I should like to go. Bridget rooin'he found the General' standing
will take care ofyou•' at the window pointing out to
The General drew the young lady's Florence the different objects of inter-
arm
nter-
arm into his own. est, and her attention seemed so oh -
'Yes, Bridget shall pay Mrs. Stan- sorbed, that it was only by a slight
hope ever attention_; and by and:by, 1 suffusion in her.fair cheek, that the
hope she may be sufficiently rested to entrance of Ernest was noticed.
join us below. And now my dear, General Darrel accusing himself of
you. meet tell ire your name.' . selfishness iu keeping the young
e She raised her eyes to his, and ens- people apart, bade Ernest lead his
, veered slowly, as'if half afraid of the sister to the table
effect of her speech. 'I am named Bt* Florence; with a pretty im-
Florence. 'You'll call me Florence, periuusness, proclaimed herself the
won't you ' commanding officers for the nonce,
The General gazed at her, sorrow- and stationed herself at the General's'
fully, •Florence 1 It is a name that elbow, where she sat paying and
is very dear to me—it was my receiving those little courtesies to
wife's 1' which the old soldier had been so
'It you dislike to hear it, the pretty -long •a stranger.
owner of the appellation murmurmed, When she ran away to seek her
—if it pains you—' • mother, the roo.n, that had seemed so
'No, no, my loved I mustn't give full of sunshine, faded beck to its old
away to such foolish sentimentality ; gloomy aspect, and Ueceral Darrel as
it's childish, Besides you loon as if be picked up his hitherto forgottou
you were 'worthy the name. So come, newspaper, sighed audibly.
little Florence ; our eggs will be cold. 'Pray don't let me keep you from
Mr. Stanhope, are you Bendy ? My your relatives, Mr. Stanhope,' be said
letter is from my solicitor, about that after a few , moments silence. You
affair I confided to you; but it can must do your best `to amuse your
wait until we are more at leisure. pretty sister. I'm afraid she will find
Without staying for a reply, he left the old Priory wretchedly dull Poor
the room, with the young girl cling- child, I should be sorry t t see her
inb to hisarm, She cast cue quick lose her snieits. If you can devise
gtanee behind her as site went, and see, thingfor' her entertainme.it, don't
laid her finger on .her lips, the glance hesitate to mention it.'
resting timidly on Ernest ereshe 'I think,' said Ernest, 'Florence
var"ished will bo contented to converse with
:Bridget caught him by the sleeve, yon,'
fie awakening front his stupor, he was. 'She seems to be admirably educat•
hastening to follow chem. ed,' the General commented ---'quite.
'rail not ueeneve the piaster will above the usual class of youug ladies,
ye. Sure, Mister Stanhope, ye who has been her instructress.'
wo•tldn't see that darling, that tievev Fortunately for Ernest, to whom
did harm to a living ere.,ture, thrust this was a puzzling question, Florence
out o' doors wid a curse.' herself glided back to the General's
But Brnest wits beginning to heel side; 'Mamma was going to he down
seriously angry at the fraud to which and sleep for an hour or two, and so
he lied tacitly made a party. she had come back. Might she stay
'Peace woman, do you think t can with hint i'
fait quietly by and see General Darrel . 'But, my deer,' cried the. Genera'
imposed upon. 1 have been silent too anxiously, 'it mine, you cannot go
. long.' a out, and I am very much afraid that
'Mr. Stanhope is right,' said.. the • you wilt find the .tours hang heavily''
lady rising, and gaming towards him; Surely I ought to be as well able
'and had thio been a preni�editated set, 10 bear it as you, dear sir,' cried
he would be justified in hastening to Florence drawing an ottoman to hie
accuse and betray us. Ilut uedoe Bide,
the eircumstanoes, sir, I must beg you General Darrel's brows contracted
to d r yotii* ezplanati�ins until 1 ani .a little, *God forbid that you should
able to consult nay daughter.' 1 have as many sorrowful reininiecences
'M.w1ava, thla is more than you to painyou as 1 have. Go my dear,
•wrr�bit err astir, end certainly more than go with your brother, I gain but a
a1 th. t .. " sr': tai.' et e eeovc"" r hough eeve'
The beautiful black eyes of Flaor, n lucle you, and what shall I eayeta
once filled. with tears. 'Don't send prevent it.' fray counsel me.
ice from you, I have heard from 'Say nothing. I would not have
mamma of your griefs, .and -•and— you th'nk of the in the affair at all,
forgive me, but l' have often longed to Ernest replied, •
be able to wile you into forgetfulness 'Gould 1 be 80 ungenerous,' site ask.
of them. I have pictured you as 1 ed, withreproach in the eyes' quickly
now see you, sad -hearted, lonely, and raised.to his face, 'Mr. Stanhope,
broodinfe over the past, and wished. if we are driven forth to be. outoast.
could comfort you, and teach you forever, it wild be; one sweet drop in
that there is still something left worth. the oup. of bitterness, to know the
living for,' Generals heir is .worthy; his good
'Alas, child,' said the General, his fortune,'
head failing on his breast, 'there is 'if such should,be the result of your
• nothing left for me. I am as you confession,'—and Ernest ventured, as
say entirely alone,' ' • be spoke, to possess himself of one of
f 'No, no, cried Florence, breaking the young lady's hand's, --'if .such
into sobs, 'don't speak so,. --don't look should be, do you think I could no -
•so.' It breaks my heart to hear you cept wealth which you do not share ?
P Sweet Florence, you are in error
speak so'. and she dropped her tearful
lace on his knee, respecting my position here. 1 am
Tho General's hand was, lightly' not sufficiently in love with , money to.
a pressed on her head,' "God bless have grasped at General Dacrel's
you, my kind little girl, .I am selfish proposals, 1 am only here as his
to sadden you with my depression, guest ; and at the close of a fewdays
Come, let us go to my study, as you I shall return to my employment in
are determined to sacrifice yourself London, contented to be poor, are that
for an old man's amusement,. Come I carry with me your esteem. More
and let me see' if I can find anything than that I dare not ask, until you
to amuse you among my old relics of lknogr inc better ; more than that I
more stirring years:', Will you go shall never ask,if—as I ought to hope
,with us Mr. Stanhope.' —you succeed In the taskyou have set
The time speed swiftly by, for the 'yourself, and take the place 1 shall
lovely guest of the General was evi- willingly resign in your favour.
deutly putting forth all lier powers of This was a long speech for Ennest
pleasing. At _first she seemed to be
half afraid of Ernest, but when she
saw he eagerly secouded her efforts to
win the .:General hking, her bewitch -
frankness included him, and a happier
t, io never existed than the party who
lingered in the study until the first
dinner bell rang. •
The supposed Mrs. Stanhope joiued
them at dinner, but her spirits wan
scarcely equal to enteris,g into general
conversation. Florence and Ernest
combined to shield her from observe -
tion, and, the General believing her
to be in delicate health, considerately
left her to herself.
When he had aiscussed his wine,
inbtead of retiring as usual to read
for an ho •r or two, he ascended with
Ernest to the seldom used drawing
room. The piano was opened, but it
Iliad lost its tone, for no one had
touched its keys since it was put there.
This the master commanded Sandie
to rectify on the morrow, and Tlo•
ren ea learning that 113 had once loved
music, took her seat by his knee, and
sangpathetic old ballads, in a low
sweat voice,
At last the General started up and
declared it ' was downright unfeeling
to permit her to wear herself out for
his pleasure, and with a ooi.dial'Gooti
night,' all around and another kiss o
the lips of his favourite, he said he
would leave them to tbemselvee.
When the door closed upon him
Florence, thoroughly overcome by all
sic, had done and endured within the
last twenty-four hours, threw herself
ou her mother's bosom, and wept
hysterieally.
Ernest quietly summonEd Bridget
to their assistance, and retieei to 1 is
own rooms. But very little sleep
visitedshis eyelids that night. Con
jectuiesee to the result of the decep•
Bon that was being practised,—ansie-
'ty foe the peautiful girl who was
the ptineipal actress in the plot—and
a little but very lit le, anxiety on his
own account, alternat, ly swayed him
ontil it was nearly daybreak,
Nor did his slumbers last' loiig.
Be was the fist in the breal.fsst
ronin on the following morning, where
he Bono soon joined by Florence, her
pale grave face betokening4 her cwn
metal uneasiness.
Mn Stanhope,' she whispered
es he greeted lrer, 'what a deceitful
creature you must think arc. Can
you Wove thltt 1 really love the
General, -that tine sight of his furrow
ed creeks and trio gray Bair has made
ore yearn to devote my life to him.'
'Why should I doubt it,' :E next
asked.
'And we have entangled you in our
se'tiemas,'she added pursuing the tor-
rent ent of her own thoughts 'When he
Tr. -
to the desk, and' steed on tiptoe to
examine it, 'Your wife's 1 And 'wok
think it would not interest me, and 1
' her namesake ? Ola, General 1'
But he closed the closet -door. '
did not Say the contents woad no
interest 1;oueeny dear. Young ladies.
I fancy, can•alwaye read love letters
s with avidity ; but : mine to my dead
'Florence, are snored. I used to take
a sorrowful pleasure in'perusing her's
to me-.tltey,are all there --whenever
I was vexed. It has a soothing effect
upon me to recall her deep but equable
affection, But I have not opened
them for years—not since I lost my
son.'
• The reminiscences thus called up
disturbed the General ; and after
vainly trying to compose himself, h'+
said, 'My dear I must leave you. 1
shall be better by myself for an hour.
Let your brother take yautand. Moe
Stanhope for itedrive. 1 will order'
out the phaeton ; and if you feel dia.
posed to go as far as the town, you
will oblige me by doing a little—
shopping, don't. yon call it 1 I. do not
petr,,nise the shopkeepers as much, as.
I ought to do.'
Slipping a bank -note into her hand,.
he went away. .
Fiore ice cried heartily. over. liis..
gift ; but when Ernest approached to
soothe her, sho murmured something
about asking mamma to prepare for
the drive, and loft despite his efforts-
to
fforts
to.detain her.
to utter, but it was breathlessly listee-
ed to ; and long ere its conclusion
Fiereice's (Yemen face was everted.
Before she had conquered her con-
fusion sufficiently to answer it, the
General` came in. . He was .dressed
with nnusual'care•; and.there was a
light in his eye, and an elasticity in
his step, that 'made , him look quite
'another being.
He gaily joked Florence on her
'roses, and she rallied her spirits to
answer him cheerfully,
•During breakfast, Florence was
just as assiduous in her endeavours
to please the General as on the day
previous'; and the meal over, she
coaxingly asked him to show her his
curiosities.
' `If you wish . it. my love ;'—and
with- smiling readiness he rose, to lead
the way to his study. 'Your brother
wit .,ccomp,any As, will he not 'I Ask
him
'Florence could not refuse, for the
General had stopped on purpose. But
her voice faltered, as she said, 'Will
you come,—Ernest 1
It was the first time the young, man
had hea d his name pronounced by
throe lips ; and while he marked the
soft utterance, and the bashftrtl droop-
ing of the eyelids, as Florence turned
fora moment towards him, he crew
froth the sweet confusion happy au-
guries for his own future. - -
General Darrel forgot himself for a
few moments, when he . found that
3udith had scarcely finished her dust-
ing and sweeping in his room. But
as he stamped bis io It, and began to
storm furiously at the girl, Florence
came clinging to him to hien ; - and
with one sorrowful look into his oyes,
put her aims around his nook,. and
laid her hentl on his breast.
This action,Seo unexpected and so
lotion, calmed him directly ; and a
tear fell upon her forehead es he bent
oter her, 'My dear, I •MU a vory
'irritable old man, You meet paieion
me,it you can.'
There wa a brief 'silencee are anyone
woke after this, but by degrees the
oil- cheerfulness returned ; and as
the General ransacked his stores,
Florence's questions and merry com.
13101118 evoked many aburst of laughter
from her companions.
As he was hunting on the thelves
of a closet for some Russian orna- -
meats he had brought from Sabasto.
pool, Florence pointed to X, very old.
fashioned rosewood desk that stood 112
a caner,
'What have yon theee, air ? May I
lifb it down?'
'What t—that desk 1' the General
sighed. 'No, love ; there is nothing
there: that I al ould like to show;;
It was -my wife's,'
learns who we are, will not his anger Florence looked eagerly frail him
CRAPTi It XII.
' FLORENOE TELLS A STRANGE TALE,,
Just as Ernest finished the careful
toilethat set off his well -knit figure.
Sandie knocked at his door, with a
letter.
It was from his mother, acid was,
for the first. time, unwelcome $`e
even feared to read it, lest itshould
contain acittice that his growing pas+
sion for the beautiful and mystertans.
Florence would render distasteful._
After a struggle with °himself,be put,
it into his poreet unread, An en-.
e leisure from his youngest sis.er told
li:m that they were all well, 'but
dreadfully lonely without him. That
Master Tom h ad;won the first prize.
of his class at school, and was, in con-
sequence, so insufferably conceited
that be was unbearable. That Ernest's
friend and fellow clerk had unexpect-
edly come in;for a legacy, and that the•
first person to whom he had hastened
to communicate the good tidings, was
"Our Lizzie" 'Very odd, wasn't it t.
asked Jessie Tho result has been
that he ai,d Lizzie hold mysterious
conferences, to which mamma and I'
are not admitted. Oh, Ernie, dear,.
what a strange thing this felling in
love must be 1 And what will mamma
say to losing another colter dear ones'1
I l; now she grieves in sect et at your -
absence, .I-Iow will she spare Lizzie
also ?
' EIer grief for pie shall soon be
ended,' Ernest muttered, as -he des•
tended to the dining -:•nom. '.t, few
days more, and 1 shall return to het,.
either to tod for au•. then belnvee'one,
or to forge., in the hurry and bustle
of London life. my. (beam -like so- •
journ 012 this isiendl
, When the mother of Florence canoe'
into the drawing. vein that ev rning,
leaning on her daughter's ai•n', she
looked so white and worn, thasjGeneral
Darrel was concerned, And offered to
send Sandia eo the town for a medical
nem.
But she refused. '.[ thank you, sir.
I snail not easily forget your kind.
ness to me and niy daughter, lint my
dieorde- is one ?or which nioclioine is.
of little use. I shall he better toe
morrow, a,id then Florence and 1 will
leave the PiioryY'
'Not so soon as tu.,t,' the General
hastily answered. 'Mr. Stanhop i
you must prevail on your mother to
stay with us a Tittle longer.'
Main mit is afraid that you are grow.
big weary of my ceaseless chattering,'
said Florence beginning with a $22111e
and ending with a sigh. 'Slip fears
that, as you co -me bo know nae bettrsl,
you will .bink ore bold and promisee
to -come here at all.'
oro be couttetie,r,
•