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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1888-4-13, Page 7APRIL 8, THE B t:•3SELS POST 1 1888 oreerelesite=sceieeziesaeemeres.-eter vaniehed fog the time from Lottio's of his own mysterioue and transforming of society in distinetion from Ilex. presence. steatre outlandish ideas. She had lemen. EST 10 EAR NEST 'TiirggiltvuoVgfeasclY,.thowca Tina' ni° °veiling smi Pasilea, with ards end. conjectures ae to who Would Again 110 aa�, " Ilow much more shall ed from her mobhor—indeed it was the disappointment and vexation, but she be there, and the day following, with zone heaveoly Father give the holy huh of her childhood* earliest taught By E. BOE, AUTEEOR 01 " aellumns BURNED AWAY," " OPENING1 A 011E5TNUT BURR," ETO. 4' X don't know whet I'll do," snapped Lottio. " Don't know what you'll do ! Why he about the same as saved our lives this evening," "Ho saved his own at the same time." "Well," said Belle, exasperatingly; she did not know whealleresteacl would M. Marehmont was asked nob to "1 wish Mr. Hemstead and all who return, Addle and Belle vanithed after say anything to undeceive elemstead. hoard the fine speeches about your dinner, and De Forrest offered to read ,, It Will du him good to soo a little of ' kind, generous hoart,' could hear you to her. She assented, having no better the world," said Lottie; and the lady noW." prospect. thought so too. " I wish they could," said Dottie reek. Sho ensconced. herself luxuriously The others were under the impression lessIg. e They couldn't have a worse under an afghan upon tho tufa, while that Lottie still purposed. carrying out opinion of me-tImn I have of myself." the persistent lover, fooling that this hor practical joke against Herastead. " Bat what do you intend to do about would bo his favored opportunity, deter. At the time when ho had saved them Mr. Heinstead?" mined to lay close siege to hor hearb, from so much danger the evening be I don't intend to do anything about and win a definite promise if possible. fore, they felt that their plot ought to him. X half wish X had never soon ' For this purpose ho chose a romantic be abandoned, and as it was, they had him." poem, which. at a certain point, had a mainly lost theirrelish for ib. Hemstead "That you can trifle with him after vory tender and love.infusod character. had not proved so good a subject for a what has happened to•night, is some. Here he purposed to throw down the praebical joke as they expected. But thing that I did not think, even of you, book in a melodramatic manner, and they felt that if Lottie chose to carry it Dottie Marsden." pass from tho abstract to reality, and on, that was her affair, and if there wore " I haven't said X wee going to ' trifle from the third person bo the first. He any fun in prospeeb, they -would be on with him.' Ho's a man. you cau't trifle eves more familiar with stage effects hand to enjoy it. The emotions and with. The bosh thing I can do is M lot than anything else, and had planned a virtuous impulsed inspired by their nee. hire alone." prate, Mule scene. As Lottie reclined moot of peril had faded almost utterly "That is just what I think." , upon the sofa he could very nicely and away, as is usually the case with this 't " Very well, then, go to sleep and bo ; comfortably kneel, take her hand, and style of repentance. Even Belle was quiet." gracefully explain the condition of his growing indifferent to Lottie's course. "How long aro you going to sit heart ; and the was certainly in a cone- Harcourt, who with all his faults had , mooning' there 2" foetable position to hear. good and generous traits, was absent on " Till morning, if I wish. Don't A man loss vain. than Do Forrest business, and had partially forgotten bottler 0110." WORK not have gathered. much en. the design against Hemstead, and sup- " After coming so near having your courgement from Lottie's face, for it posed that anything definite had been frame of mind." as he commenced the rather stilted and- rendered to them all. given up on account of the service nock broken, you ought to bo Inc better had a vory weary and bored expression " So had you. Neither breaking my very sentimental introduction to the Dottie was drifting. She did not know Sho divined his purpose as she saw impulse, the slave of inclination, with what would. bo her action. The child of neck nor coming near to it will convert gush thab was to follow. " Well, I hope you will got through him summoning to his aid all his rather no higher aim than to enjoy the passing your moods and tenses to -day. You limited elocutionary powers, and noted hour, sho could not keep a good resolve, have had more than I ever remember how he gave to every line, that verged if through some twinges of conscience within so short a time ;" with this cone. toward love, the tenderest accent. she made one. She had proposed to forting statement Belle left her frieud But tho satirical side -gleam from her avoid Homestead, for while he interested, to herself, who satstaring into the fire, in eyes, as sho watched him, was anything he also disquieted and filled her with the most discontented manner. but responsive or conducive to sentiment; solf.dissatisfaction. -", Capable of the noblest things,' in- and finally, as she became satisfied of And yet for this very reason lie was deed," she thought. "1 would like to his Object, the smile that flitted across fascinating. Other men admired, fiat - know who is capable of meaner things. her face would have quenched the most tered, and bowed to her in unvarying And now what do you intend to do, Lot- impetuous declaration as effectually as a, and indiscriminating homage. Hem - tie Marsden? Going on with your fool. ish, childish jest, after the fun has all faded out of it? If you do you will WITY that quick.oyed Belle was watching the bustle of preparation. 'pirit to ij them that sale Him." and thoroughly accepteel,thatthedictum her. Sho 'Whaled her friend down "1 don't believe Frank will go to such Here is it power, a force, an agency, Now York; and, with partial Hummel a party," said Addio. OS the throe girls that the materialiet cannot calculate, Nought to appear as usual. and Do Forrest were together in the weigh, or measure, nor laugh scornfully Oh, dear," oho thought, ,, what afternoon. out of existence. shall I do with inyeelf this afternoon.. X "Let us wake hem go by all moans," As upon a sultry night a breeze comes can't endure Julian's mooning. I wish said Lottie. 4, He needn't know -what rustling through the loaves from un. Mr. Ifarcourb was hero, go wo could got kind of a party 111 10, and it will be such known realms of space, and cools our up some excitement." Without excite- fun to watch him, I would not be sur. throbbing temples, so the soul iS often intuit Lottio was as dull and wretched prised 11 110 and Mrs. Byrom mutually stirred and moved by impulses heaven - as all victims of stimulants, left to tilde shocked each other. We can say merely ward, that aro to their subjects as own resourcem. that we have all been invited out to a mysterious as unexpected. Bub the fates were against her. Har- libtlo company, and that it would be To a certain extent, God gives to the court would not bo back till evening, and rude in him not to accompany us." ' Prayerful control of HilASOlf, SA it were., and becomes their willing agent; and when the time comes when all mysteries aro solved, and the regent of all lives is truthfully revealed, it will probably he soon that not those who astonished the world with their own powers, but that those who quietly, through prayer, used God's power, were the ones who made the world move forward. WhIle Hemstead would never be a Mystics or a Quietest in his faith, ho still recognised most clearly that human offer t would go but little way in awaken- ing spiritual life, unless seconded by the Divine power. Therefore in his strong and growing wish that he might bring the beautiful girl, who seemed like a re- velation to him, into sympathy with the truth that he believed and loved, ho had based no hope on what he alone could clo or say. But her manner on the previous morn- ing had. chilled him, and he had half purpeeed to be a little distant and in - make a fool of yourself instead of him. He is not the man you thought ho was, ett all. He is your superior in every re - ^aped, save merely in the ease which comes from living in public instead of :seclusion, and in all bis diffidence there has been nothing so rude and ill.bred as Julian's treatment of Mrs. Dlimm. Ju- lian indeed. 1 He's but a well-dressed little manikin beside this large -minded raan," and she scowled more darkly than over at the fire. " But what shall I do ? I can't be such a Christian as Belle is. I would rather not be ono at all. What's more I cannot bring my mind to decide to be such a Christian as Mr. X-Iemstead. kr I would have to change completely, and give up my old self -pleasing and war. ward. life, and that seems like giving up life itself. Religion is a bitter medicine that I mutt take some time or other. But the idea of sobering down at my time of life 1" " But you may not live to sco age. Think what a risk yuu run to -night," urged. conscience. "Well, I must take my chances. A plague on that Hemstead I I can't he with him ten minutes but he makes Inc uncomfortable in doing wrong. All was going smoothlytill he came, and life was one long frolic. Now he has got my conscience all stirred up so that between them both I shall have Ude comfort. I won't go with him to Mrs. Dlimm's to. morrow. He will talk religion to me all : CHAPTER XIV. the time, and I, like a big baby, evillcry, and ho will think I am on the eve of 1 LOT= A. MYSTEETOIIS PROBLEM.; conversion, and perhaps will offer to I take rue ea among the border ruffians asAfter a brief toilet Dottie came clown an inducement If I want to live any old to tea looking like an innocent little life, and have a good time, the less I see I Iamb that any wolf could beguile and of Frank Hemstead tho bettor, for some- 1 devoin. Sho smiled on Do Forrest so how or other, when I am with him 1 ' sweetly that the cloud began to pass can't help seeing that he is right, and from his brow ab once. feeling moan in my wrong. I w_ill just "Why should I bo angry with her ?" carry out my old resolution, and act as he thought; "she did not understand badly MS I MIL HO will then see what what I was aiming at, and probably elm - I am, and let me alone." posed that X meant to read. hor asleep Having formed this resolution, Lottio and yot I would have thought that the slopb as sweetly as innocence itself. fence of my voiee—well, well, Lottie To Hemsboad, with his Viet and rage has been a little spoiled by too mach ular habits, the day had been long and devotion. She has been accustomed to exciting, and he was exceedingly weary; it, and takes it as a matter of course. and yet thoughts of the brilliant andWhen WO aro married, the devotion beautiful girl, who bewildered, fascin. must be on the other side of the house." ated, and nevelt° his sympathy at the it I thought' Me. :EIemetead would be same time, kept him awake till late. back this evening ?" elle said to her Every scone in which they had been to. aunt gothor was lived over M all its minutire, " No, not till tomorrow evening. and his conclusions wore favorable. As Yon seem to miss Frank vory Touch." he had said to her, she seemed " capable Then Lottie was provoked to find her - of the noblest things." And the fact solf blushing like a school girl, but she that she appeared eo open to the truth said, laughingly: and so impressible, inspired the strongest "How penetrating you aro, auntie. 1 hope. &raise Mixt iu a way that you cannot pousible, and would now go willingly, if understand,e athed. But the others understood the remark At the first welcome sound of the din- as retorting to her regret that he had es. ner.liell she sped downstairs, and glen°. caped ftom her -wiles as the victim of ed into -the parlor, hoping that ho might their proposed jest, and Belle shot a vi- be there, and that in some way she proachful glance at her. Sho could not might still bring about the ride. But 'mow that Lottio bad mild this to theow sho only found De Forrest yawning over dust into their oyes, and to account for it nowspripee, and had to endure his her sudden blush, which she could not senbimental roproatheg that she had ab- account foe to horsolf. rented herself so long from him. Before supper evas over Harcourt came " Como to dinner, ' was her only and in with groat news, which throw Adak rather mosaic teeponso. But Do For- : into a state of lovetish excitement, and rest wont cheerfully, for dinner wail interested all the obliots. something that ho could enjoy under auy "Mrs, Hymen, her son, and two choutustances, daughters, have come up tor a few days To Lottio's disappointmenb, Mr. Dim- 4.,, 4. 1, ee ,etieo a poop al, the country in winto0, molly mumbled grace, and still I-Iem. and enjoy some sleigh tiding. I mot stead click nob appear. For soma reason Hal Byram and drove in with him. sho diel not like to ask where he wag, Their largo house is open from top to and was provoked at hetself because of bottom, and full of servants, and to.mor. hor hesitancy, The ahem , who ltBOW BOW owning Choy aro going 0 give a of his &Torture, supposed he was aware grand party. gniero aro invitations for of it also. At lest hoe curiosity gained yon all. They expect most of thole the -mastery, ma sho asked her =lib with =indifference, not so Well assumed 111111 duet 1101! calm: heightened a little— " Whore is Mr, Homettad 2" " lie wont down to the city," replied mill -pond. might a meteor. But Julian, oblivious of all this, was growing pathetic and emotional; and if she escaped tho scene at all, she must act promptly. She did so, for in five minutes, to all intents and appearances sheens asleep. At first, when be glanced up to emphasize a peculiarly touching line, he thought elle had closed her eyes to hide her feelings; but a+ last, when ho reach- ed the particular and sonl-molting climax that was to prepare tho way for his own long.deeired crisis, having given the final lines in a tone that ho thought would move a marble heart), he laid the book down to proper() for action, the dreadful truth dawned upon him. Sho WaS asleep. What could ho do ? To awaken her, and then go forward would not answer. People wore generally cross when dis- turbed in their sloop; and ho knew Lotbio was no exceptien. Ho was deeply mortified and dieappointed. lie got up and stalked. tragically and frowningly to the hearth -rug, and stared at the apparently peacefui sleeper, and then flung himself out of the zoom, very much as ha was accustomed to -when a spoiled and petulant boy. After he was gone Dottie quivered with laughter for a few moments; then -stole away to hor room, where she blotted out the weary hours with sleep unfeigned, until aroused by the supper - bell. stead not only admired. but respected and esteemed her for the good qualities that she had semulated, and with equal as she suddenly stood before him under sincerity and frankness had rocogmsed the chandelier in all the wealth of her faults and failures. She had been ad- radiant beauty. mired all her life, but respect and es. Her hair was arranged uniquely in a teem from a true, good man was a now style peculiarly hor own, and powdered. offering, and. even though obtained by A necklace of pearls sustained a dia. fraud was as delightful as it was novel. mond cross that was .ablaze with light She still wished to stand well in his es- upon. her white bosom. Her arms were timation, though why, she hardly knew. baro, and her dress cut as low as fashion would sanction. In momentary triumph she saw his eye kindle into almost wondering admiration ; and yet it was but momentary, for almost instantly his face began to darken with disapproval. Sho at once surmised the cause; and at first it amused her very much, as she regarded. it as an evidence of his de- lightful ignorance of society and minis- terial prudishness. "1 gather from your face, Mr. Hem. stead, that I am not dressed to suit your fastidious taste." " I think. you are incurring a groat risk in so exposing yourself this cold night, Miss Marsden." "That is not all your thought, lir. IIemstead." "You are right," he said gravely, and with heightened color. " But it's the style; and fashion, you know, is it despot with us ladies." " And like all despots, very unreason. able ; and wrong ab times, 1 perceive." " When you have seen more of society, Mr. Homstead," sho said, a little pat- ronizi 1 " ou will modify your views. of their wealthy circle was a, one thority, from which there was no oail. ce+ peal. Harnett:ad suffered in her estimation. She tried 1,0 think of hint as uncouth, ill. —which to her was the only life worth er bred, and so ignorant of fashionable life naming—that she could dismiss hint from her mind frora that time forth, () And in her resentment the thought she could and would, She WM verygracious to De Forrest, and he in consequence Wat3 in superb epirite. 7 „.41111.1,1111111111111111111111116111111ISNSISISIIS 4. As they gathered in the parlour, be- H • feeetel fore starting, lie Forrest looked Hem. ge.eb etead over cribioally, and then turned to le—/ • Lottie and raised his eyebrows signifi- cantly. The answering smile was in ieoei harmony with the exquisite's implied 1—d satire. Lottie gave the student another (ID quick look and ewe, that he had observed `,..1-1 their meaning glame.es, and that in con: (ID sequence his lip had curled slightly; and she flushed again, partly with anger ri) and vexation. "Why should this adverse opinion so nettle mo? He 18 1)0 body," she thought, as she turned coldly away. ren Though Hemstead'smanner -was quiet and distant, he was conscious of a strange and unaccountable disappoint- c....te ieee*b meat and eaduess. It was as if a beautiful picture were becoming blurred —more than he underetood. He had CD before his eyes. It was more than that p) sense of personal loss. He saw and sincerely regretted his it different also. cousin Addie's faults ; but w ion Labe It did not occur to him that he was failed in any respect in fulfilling the fair growing sensitive in regard to her treat- promise of theirfirst acquaintance, there ment of himself, as well as of the truth. was something more than regret. He readily assented to Lottie's re. At first he thought he would remain quest that he should accept Mrs. at home and not expose himself to their Byram's invitation, and found a strange criticism and possible ridicule; but a pleasure in her graciousness and vivacity moment later determined to go and if at the supper -table. possible, thoroughly soh- the mystery His simple toilet was soon made, and of Lottie Marsden's character I for she he sought the parlor and a book to pass was more of a myeeeroote/ itoteM=.. the time while waiting for the others. Lottie was a veteran at the dressing. table and b dint of exacting much hel from Belle, and resting content witE , y nature's bountiful gifts—that needed but little enhancing from art—she, too, was ready considerably in advance of the others, and in the full undress -which society permits, thought to dazzle the , plain Western student, as a preliminary to other conquests during the evening. And he was both dazzled and startled Sho was now greatly vexed with herself that sho had refused to visit Mrs. Dlimm. She was most anxious that he should return, in order that she might discover whether he had become disgusted with hor; for, in the h-nowledge of her OW11 wrong action, she unconsciously gave him credit for knowing more about hor than he dia. She had no definite purpose for the future. Instead of welly carrying out a deliberate plot, she was merely per. mittiug herself to bo carried along by, a subtle undercurrent of interest and in. clination, which she did not understand, or trouble herself to analyse. She had f elt a passiug interest in. gentlemen be- fore, and which proved but passing. This was no doubt a similar case, with some peculiar and piquant elements added. A few weeks m New York after her visit was over, and he would fade from thought and memory, and pass be- low the horizon as other stars that had dazzled for a time. The honest old counsellor, conscience, recklessly snub - hall d. itl bed and. dismissed, ha re re w a few plain words, for the time, from the unequal contest. She met Hemstead tho door on his return, and held out her hand, saying cordially :— " I'm vory glad to see you. It seems an age since you loft us." His face flushed deeply with pleasure at he words and manner. Expeoting a cool and indifferent reception, ho had proposed to be dignified and reserved himself. And yet hor manner on the morning of his departure pained. him deeply, and disappointed him. It did not fulfil the promise of the previous day, and ho was again sorely perplexed. But his conclusion was partly correct. " Sho is resisting the truth. She sees what changes in her gay life are volved by its acceptance ; and therefore shuns coming tuider its influence." He deeply eogretted her action, bob felt that only the Divine Spirit could awaken a docile intermit, end give a re. captive heart, and frequently had ap. peeled to heaven in het behalf during Ms absence. What a strange power this is that tiobject. I consider myself a babel: God has bestowed upon us 1 There is judge of those matters than you are." SOB.10 one that we long to influence and He quietly bowed and resumed his change for the hotter. That one Inv book. Sho shot an angry glance at him know our With and pirpose, recognise and left the room, our efforts, but quietly baffle US by an This was a now experience to hor— independent will that we can no mote the vevy reverse of what sho had antic!. coerce and control than by our breath noted. This was a harsh and discordant soften into eying warmth a wintry break iu the honeyed straius of flattery morning. We can look pleadingly into to which sho had always been aoeustom- some dear ono's oyes, clasp his &ride ad, and it nobbled her greatly. IVIoreover, and appeal with even tearful earnest. the criticism she received had a delicate noss, and yet ho may remain unmoved, point, and touched her to the oozy quick; or be but transiently affected. Though and to her it seemed tinjustanclimealled by touch or caress, by convincing argu- for. What undoubtedly is wrong iu it- mente and loving entreaty, we may be self, and -what to Eorostoaa, unfamiliar unable to shako the obdurate will, we with society and its arbitrary customs, can gently master it through the inter- seemed strangely indelicate, was to her nation of another. The throne of God but a prevailing mode among the ultra - seems a long way round to roach the fashionable—in which class it was her Mena at our sule—foe the mot a 't ' . teach hor child in hor arms, but " The goat, voeclant boor, elm said in usually peeves the quickest and most her anger, as she paced restlessly tip offoottial way. Where before there was and down the " Whet fool I am only resistance and indifference, there to care what ho thinks, with his beck. comes, in answee to prayer, strange re. mode ideas, thall any more, 1outhigs, mysterious longings, rocepti.e lb dual kern to.uight; that I belenee to vity, and someLimes, in a way that le dittos:Mt world." aseonishin t full acceptance of the Do Forrest joined, hor soon mud goretee; guests front NOW 101% however, truth. What reassured her by Ins profttso d o coin- -Tin) wind bloweth where it listoth," plimonts. Nob that sho valued them as elg Y, Y Ideas imported in the Mety.flower aro scarcely in vogue BOW." He was a little nettled by her tone, and said with a tinge of dignity: "My ideas on this subject were nob imported. in the May -dower. They are older than the world, and will survive the world." Lottio became provoked, for she was not one to take criticism of her personal appearimee kindly, and then it was vexatious that the one that she chiefly expected to dazzle should at onto com- mence finding fault; and she said with seine irritation : "And what aro your long-livod ideas 2" '1 fear they would not have much weight with you were I able to express them plainly.. I can only suggest them, but in a way that you can understand me in a sonteuce. would not liko a sister of mine to appeal: in company as you lire dressed ?" Dottie flushed deeply and resentfully, but said, in a frigid toile : "1 think we had bettor change the Even languid. Bello g Acme a . proved of so muchgaiety; and thought wore the words of the all-pewertill One, coming from him, but as te society man, , f Ihmstend and( -same of conscience of the beantifid and mysterious , she felt 1,11011 110 was giving the verdict ITO BE CO11TI11E1).1 [Lap:LEL Mersenne enes " trek up< They soon rea... A fu. Ityerein'e elegant country house, which gleamed afar, ablaze with light. Theobsequious footman threw open the door, and they entered a tropical atmosphere laden with the perfumes of exotics. Already the music was striking ne, for the chief feature of the evening. Belle reluctantly accepted of Hemstead's escort, as she had no other resource. "110 will be so awkward I" sho said to Lottie, in irritable protest. And at first she was quite correct, for Hemstead found himself anything but at home in the fashionable revel. Belle, in hex efforts to get him into the pre- sence of the lady of the house that they might pay their respects reminded ono of a little steam yacht, trying to manage a ship of the line. Not only were Lottie and De Forrest smiling at the scene, but also other ele- gant people, among whom Ffemsteall towered in proportions too vast and. ill - managed to escape notice; and to Addle, her cousin's lack of ease and grace was worse than a, crime. Bello soon found some city acquain. tances, and she andher escort plated with mutual relief. Hemstead drifted into the hall, where bo would be out of the way of the dancers, but through the open door could watch the scene. And this he did with a curious and observant oye. Tho party he came with expected him to be either dazzled and quite carried away with the scones of the evening, or else shocked 011(1 110117 solemn over their dissipation. But he was rather inclined to be philosophical, and study up this new phase of lite. He would see the creme de la orate, who only would be present, as he was given to understand. Ho would discover if they were made of different clay from the people of Sorub Oaks. He would breathe the social atmosphere, which to Addie, his aunt, and even to Lottie, he was compelled to fear was as the breath of life. These were the side issues: bub his chief purpose was to study Lottio herself. Ho would discover if sho were in truth as good a girl—as full of promise—as ho hall boon led to believe at first. Of course he wet a predestined" wall. flower' upon such an occasion, Addio had said to Mrs. Byram, in a tone hard to describe but at once understood : 'A cousin from the West, who is studying for the ministry ;" and Hem. stead was immediately clamed in the lady's mind among those poor relations who must bo tolerkted for the sake of their oonnexions. He was a stranger to all, save those he came with, and they soon completely ignored and forgot him, save Lottio by whom ho was watched, but so furtively that she seemed as neglectful as the rest. It was one of the fashions of the hour —a phase of etiquette as ill-bred as the poorest social sleeig—not to inbroduce strangers. MTS. Byrom and her &ugh. tors were nothing if not fashionable, and in this case the mode served their inclination, and beyond a 101V formal words they willingly left their awkward. guest to his own resources. He could tot tendersband how true courtesy permitted a hostess to neglect any of hoe guests, loast of all those who from diffidence or any cause goateed most in neec't of attention. Still, in the present instance, ho Wass glad to be left alone. The scones around him had Mate than the interest of novelty, and there was much that ho enjoyed keenly. The mask was good, and his quick oar kept as perfect time to it maid Lottio'S foot. He thought the spare dances wore beautiful and perfeetly unobjectionable, a; vast improvement 011 11110117 01 11110 rade and often stupid games that ho had sten at the few conmanieg he had at. tended, and Loam appeared the eine hodiment of avow, as Availed throucio 0 0 0 0 /113 ' te 1- '1 CD 0 w .C1+ 0 0 (-1 33)