Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1886-7-30, Page 22 THE BRUSSELS POST Jul.Y 30, 1880, M14R'W1f.S�W3\ti..lpaSFGTTi I'wPlnFt` 1D1itttNMIM•�P]�WOTiRC.0.CAS%'•aSiRQY2nL.WJ1W SnSI�YL�WINLNW"'"""^�?�'MW.itAiRl \N%�.7W]MSAItWlti : FLVbIM' /Nr?WI,.U!UVI9Niu.AYYk-P•A.,..:'G4(aY?fM,tl�',k:iW'MMYIISRA11R9P1 4Nf.1tMA19ffJtt.it\.%O•�MIIVIi;..f!IU'1Y!]4K1:'FFIAIO.-.'.4A:.1'YRV„Lt'IY6 IY'kL-I8^T\VA'f�'A h'�I:IYkIM1MR }jUBON ,AND BRUCE CUSTOM TAILOUINO, LoanL& Investment Co. SWORN TO SILENCE on, ALINE Tt'ODNEY'S SECRET. Ey n s. ALE. aIIoViext ra arinamers, AMU= clr r If,nurel Vane," *Lady pay's 1Prlde,"" etc., cte. mina he could make," sho said, tinnily, "Will you tell me what,aon meant?" "Ile must make you his wife, Aline. He must give you the shelter of his proud, honorable name to wash away the stain he has cast upon your own. In no other way can he make atonement tor his fault," Mr. Rodney exclaimed. CHAPTER XLV. Mr. Rodney's firm and decisive deela. ration had the effect of frightening his tc it young daughter. She looked nurse, piteously. "But, papa, I do not want to be mar- ried," she exclaimed, with such a child- ish air of dismay and surprise that he could have laughed if ho had nut been so miserable. "I do not want to bo mar- ried, I should not like to be married," Aline repeated, forlornly. "But, my dear, all women marry," said her father. "Not all," replied she; "I know several who did 'not. There are Miss Palmer, Miss Brown, D:Iiss Robinson." "Cruse old maids, all of tient," Mr. Rodney replied. "I hope you will never be en old maid, Aline. Indeed, you must not think of such a thing. You will have to marry, and the man you marry must bo Oran Delaney." tt dare say lie will not want to be married any more than I do," said Aline, with unconscious hopefulness. A certain hard and grim expression carne over Mr. Rodney's handsome face. "He will not have much choice in the matter," ho replied. "Oh, papa 1" the young girl cried, and a deep color rose up all over her face. 4\'oil:?" he saki. "Would you give me to one who tool. me unwillingly 1" she asked, in a tone of blended shame and repruach. He was silent a moment, and his brows knitted themselves together in a straight, hard lino. Aline, gazing wist- fully at him, saw that gray hairs had come into his brown locks that were net there a few months ago. Her heart thrilled with pain and remorse. "Aline, I do not know how to answer you," he said. "God knows that I do not wish to force yen on any man. But your good name is irretrievably com- promised, and nothing can clear it ex- cept a marriage with Oran Delaney. As yon aro, you can never hope to hold up your head in society again. As his wife, you would soon live down the scandal that now assails you, You would have some chance of happiness. He owes you this reparation, and I, as the trio guardian of your happiness and honor, shall compel him to make it. If he refuses—" he paused, and an omi- nous light Dame into his eyes. "If he refuses," she echoed, faintly. "Then I will kill him or he shall kill me 1" he replied bitterly. Aline sat gazing at him like one stun- ned. All the horror of her position rushed over her. Was there indeed no other way out of the labyrinth of error in which she was involved than by this dreadful forced. marriage ? All the native pride within her rose up in arms against it. Could she give herself up to be an unwilling bride forced upon an =willing bridegroom ? She shrunk sensitively from the bare thought. Better be dead, she thought. She looked at her father, and said, with a babyish quiver of the sweet, red lips: "Papa, I wish that Mr. Delaney had not saved me yesterday. I should then have been spared all this trouble and distress. My poor life is only a sorrow and disgrace to you all." Mr. Rodney did not answer. Perhaps his troubled thoughts ran in the same channel. Aline waited a moment for him to speak, but as he remained silent and abstracted, she asked, timidly : "Papa, will you not tell me bow you became possessed of my secret ?" "What good can it do you to know ?" he inquired. "None that I can think of," she re- plied, wearily. "It was only my natural curiosity that prompted the question." "At some other time, Aline, I will tell yon," said hor father. "I would prefer not to do so at present." And after a moment's hesitation, he abruptly left the room. Aline remained sitting wearily in her chair, gazing into the leaping dames of the bright coal fire with sad blue eyes that could scarcely see for the thick mist of tears that filled them. Her heart ached drearily in her breast. Something like despair thrilled through her as she sat there with her small hands folded on her lar,. "It were better if I bad died yester. day—ay, it were butter if I never had been born," she murmured to herself, with a suiden passionate bitterness. CHAPTER XLVI. While Aline sat gazing drearily into the fire that winter eve, the grave, taci- turn master of Delaney House lay fan. gaidly on a silken couch in his quiet library. The dark, handsome fact had a worn and weary expression. It was pale, too, and the dark eyes were dim and heavy. His head rested wearily on a crimson satin cushion, and one hand was pressed against his brow, as if in pain. There was a light tap at the door, and then Mrs. Griffin entered alai re. footi plenished the fire, that had commenced le saw a sadder, passionate pain to burn low. behind the steel bars of the here into the pale sato, She throw out grate. Then sho stood lookingat him her hand am n not gesture gof despair.r No, I hreamiug, nor are you, anxiously a moment. she said, "I would to God that we "Your bead achee ?" sho asked, quer- were 1 This reality is more horrible tioningly, " than any dream!" "Slightly," be replied, indifferently. "But, why—why should yon wish— "Can I do nothing for you ?" the old wish to—to—" he began, and paused, woman questioned, loudly, unable to continue, and feeliug, a "No; it loos not matter. The pain shamed consciousness of a flea=con. will wear itself out by and by." trellable color oversproading huuis face. Sho looked at him wistfully a moment To he wooed in this calm, business.liko and then wont out quietly, leaving him fashion by this ridieulons ohfla wall, too to siloueo and repose again, strange, too absurd for anything;G'pncl Tho fire crackled merrily m the grate, yet there worn littlo thrills of rapturous the clock ticked softly on the marble emotion tingling along his nerves, hie mantel. Outside the uoiselose flakes of heart was beating quickly with emotion. snow full lightly against the window- The girl's eyes had wandered to the pane. Gradually the twilight began to leaping flames of tho firelight. Sho fall, and shadows gathered in the room. turned them back gravely to his faoo. Mr. Delaney lay very still and quiet, "Why do I wish you to marry me ?" with half - closed oyes shaded by his sho said. "I will tell you, Mr. Delaney. hand, his filo features grave even to Tbo secret of my stay in this house has sadness, In the gathering obscurity a boon discovered!" heavy sigh drifted over his lips. "You have broken your oath I" be ex. Mrs. Griffin came back, lighted the claimed in sudden angor. library lamp, thou paused and regarded She stood before him in proud silence, him with a strange expression. neither denying nor assenting to his He removed his hand and. looked at affirmatiov, her with his heavy eyes. Gazing at the fair face a moment he "What is it 2" ho asked. felt that he had wronged her by the "Oh, Mr. Delaney, there's some one brief suspicion. to see you 1" she exclaimed. "Aline, forgive me. I soo that I am He started up; all his gravity and suspecting you unjustly," he said. "But calmness stirred by angry displeasure. tell me, who has revealed the secret ?" "Some one to see me? Have you "I do not know," sho answered. "But forgotten my orders to admit no ono?" only a little while ago papa came in and Inc exclaimed. charged me with it. IIe was very, very "No, sir, I had not forgotten," she angry." answered. ''But she did not knock. "Angry with you?" he questioned. She came slipping iu so softly, like a "Angry with you," she answered, a ghost, that I was frightened." faint color creeping into the palid facto. "She ? Whom 2" he exclaimed.,"Ho told me that you had forever com- "Miss Rodney, sir."promised my good name, and that I "Miss Rodney—Aline—hero in this could never take my place in the world, house ? My God I" he cried, abruptlyin society, unless you married me." "Yes, sir, down in the kitchen, Walt- She was speaking to him with the iug to see you," said Mrs. eGriflin. "You simple directness of a child. He was see, I forgot to look the ..00r, and just staggered by her simplicity—aseurauce at dark the knob turned soft like, and he would have called it in any other she came gliding u, still as a ghost, and woman. Palo as one, too, sir. And she says to ""And so ho has sent yon horn to ask me, weak and nervous -like, '1 mast see me 2" he said. Mn. Delaney, quiets. Go and ask him A look of terror came over the fair to give me an interview."" face. She glanced around her, fear - Ho could only stare at her in blank fully. astonishment. "'No, I have stolen away, and if he "I was so surprised and frightened, misses me he will comp here to seek for sir, that I did not speak ono word to mo," she said. "I must hurry back, her, but just loft her standing there but first j must have an answer to my shivering in the middle of the room, question. Tell me, Mr. Delaney, will and came away to do her bidding. Now, you do as I have asked you 2" what answer shall I take back? Will yon see her, Mr. Delaney ? Ho hesitated a moment, and Mrs. CHAPTER XLVIII. Ortilin added, respectfully : It was the strangest question Oran "I think she's in a hurry, sir, and Dulaney had ever heard from a girl's perhaps she's afraid to stay down thee° lips. He said to yt,imsolf that Aline alone." Rodney's simplicity was simply match - Ho drew a long breath and answered: less. If she bad been reared within the "Very well. You may show her up walls of a convent she could not have here." seemed more ignorant of the offence Mrs. Griffin turned the dim lamp'up she was committing against society, to a brighter flame and hastened away against the creed of the whole world, in to do hie bidding. asking a man to marry her, and thus Oran Delaney remained standing in vsurprugbis masculine prerogative. 1;ie centro of the beautiful lofty xoom, Breaking in upon his stupid silence, ;wing expectantly at the door. she continued : In a minute he heard Mrs. Griffin's ""Only a marriage in name, you know, hoavy footsteps in the hall, with light, Mr. Delaney. I should not live with ejuick ones pattering beside them. The you, of course. Neither of us would noor opened quickly, and Aline entered care for that. If you gave me the shel- alone. ter of yournamo at the altar I wouldgo Sho was wrapped from head to foot back Hien to my father's house, and in a long dark cloak from which her never trouble you again." pale face gleamed like some beautiful "You do not know what you are say. white flower. Her dark blue eyes were ing 1" he cried out, passionately. "Never black with excitement, her parted, trouble me again I Ob, my God I" panting lips, from which tbo breath "Indeed I should not, Mr. Delaney 1" came in quick little gasps, showed the alio cried out hastily, and quite mistak haste with which elle had sought his Ing the cause of his agitation. "I should presence. She stood just inside the never come here again. All that I wish door, a dark, chilly little figure from is to satisfy papa and the world. The which the melting snow -drops ran down simple marriage ceremony would do in little rills upon the velvet carpet. that." Mr. Delaney shook off the trance of "And you would be content with that, wonder that held him, and went for- Aline 2" he asked, gazing deep into her ward to meet her. splendid violet eyes with a look she Miss Rodney, what has brought you could not understand. back to this ill-fated house ?" leo ex. "Quite content," she answered, letting claimed- the long fringe of her lashes droop low "I knew you would be surprised," she before that anxious gaze. answered quickly. "Mr. Delaney, I came "But I am a wealthy man, you know, here to ask you to marry me I" Aline," he said. "Should ylli not wish to have some of my income settled upon CHAPTER XLVII. yourself ?" If the solid earth had parted beneath She raised her blue eyes fearlessly to Oran Delaney's feet, he could not have bis face. been more surprised than be was at "I think I have told you before that those words from Aline Rodney's lips. the wealth of the world could not make He did not answer, only stared at her up to mo for the trouble you have caused in hopeless bewilderment. me," she said, proudly. "I came here to ask you to marry "And you would refuse it even as my mo,'' she repeated, that Inc had not hearclearly, d her, and no blush wife n 141,fes," Aline answered steadily, and stained the pale cheek, the white lids then there was a brief silence. The did not droop over the blue oyes that man turned his back upon her and walk. gazed at him frankly and gravely. ed to the furthest corner of the room. What did she mean? Hal she gone In that moment he was paltering with mad under tho stress of her great trial? the most terrible temptation in his life. Ho wont over to Ler and lifted one of The angels of good and evil were fight - the white hands that hung by her side, ung fieruely for his soul. It was cold as ice as he held it in the She waited in nervous impatience for warm clasp of his own. him to return to her, and when he did "Aline child, I do not understand after a few minutes, she spoke eagerly, you. What was it you said to me 2'1 without waiting for him to speak : He saw a littlo shivercreep over the "Well, your answer, Mr. Delaney—is slender form, but she looked up at him ib yes or no ?" bravely, and repeated her words : He parried the question by one that "I want you to marry me, Mr. Dela. was cruel and out deep : ley." "Miss Rodney, do you not know that "To marry you, Aline ? Do you then it is a bold and unmaidenly act for you love mo, my poor chilli ?" he asked, to ask a man to marry you ? ' gazing into the clear eyes with sudden The barbed shaft went home. The compassion. slight form quivered as if transfixed by Slro shook her small head gravely. au arrow, the blue eyes dilated and "No, but I want to be your wife," she looked at himwibb an agony of reproach said, and the words filled him with the in their lustrous depths. most utter bewilderment. "Did you not know it?" he repeated, There she stood, a young, beautiful, harshly, almost sternly, while be avert - intelligent girl, usurping his sex's pre. ed hie eyes in gold disdain. rogative with a calm, unblushing face I should have known it if—if I had and clear, frank eyes that regarded him only stopped to think," she cried, and with the innocent light of a.ohild's--'the the great waves of crimson began to calmness of an unawakened heart. roll over her face on which ho would "You do not love me, yet you wish to not look. "I was so frightened for be my wife! Aline, are you dreaming, you that I put self as'do. I thought or am I 9" he asked, drawing her for- only of saving you, and now—now"— — ward' into the warmth of the brhi Are, she broke down suddenly, and finished for little shivers of deadly ebla were the sentence through hard, dry sobs, shaking the girlish form from head to "and you scorn and despise Mel" This Company is Loaning Money on Farm Security at LOWEST ilA'r1s of Interest. MOBTOAC1IiS PUIICIIASEB, S.IVINGS DANE mbANCII. 8, 4 and 5 per cent. Interest Al- lowed on Deposits, recording to amount and time left. Onricu.--On corner of Market Square and North street, Goderich• Horace Horton, MANAGER, Godorieh,Aug.Gth,1085 MONEY TO LOAN. lfonoyto ono 0.1 arm cr.operty at LOWEST RATES. PRIVATE AND COMPANY FUNDS W. B. DIcirsor , Solicitor, Brussels, Ont. Money to Loan. PRIVATE FUNDS. $20,000 ofPr,vateFundsbavejustboen placed in myhandsfor Iuvestrnent AT 7 PER CENT. Borrowersoan havetheirloansoomplete in three dal s i f t itle i s satisfactory, Apply to E. E. WADE. • Theundcrsignei liege leave to intlrnete to the public that he has opened a tailor $hop in the Garfield lIouse bleak, aver Powells' atom, where he is prepared to at. tend to the wants of the public in cutting, fitting and milking clothing in the latest and meet fashionable styles. My lung ex- perionee together with a mune of lnstruc. lion under one of the bent nutters inToron- to is a guarantee of being able to do satis- factory work, Satisfaction guaranteed. 110.8m Il. h. 551111, 1\[ONEY '1'O L1 Nll. Any amount of M'one'y to Loan on Fulrm or Village property at 6 & 6? PEII CENT. YEARLY. Straight Loans with privilege of paying when required. Apply to ,t 1. HUNTED, Division Court Clerk, Brussels. BRUSSELS PUMP 'WORKS. The undersigned begs to inform the public that they have manufactured and ready for use PUMPS OF ILL RINDS, WOOD S: 111011. Cisterns of Any dimension, GATES or ALL SIZES. CLOTHES I{EELS of a superior construction. Examine our stook before purchasing elsewhere. A Call solicited. We are also Agents for 11rpougall's C'ele'brated FP'indmill. Wilson &, Pelton, Shop Opposite P. Scott's Blacksmith Shop: P. S.—Prompt attention paid to all re- pairing of Pumps, fie. 1\. 0 {1 Tie L E 'Ja ANG 0- PR PMETORL, Having leased the well known and splendidly equipped Boller Flouring Mill from Messrs. Wm. 'Ironstone & Sons for a terns of years, we desire to intimate to the farmers • of I-Iurou Co. and the public gonee'ally that we are prepared to turn out the best brands of Flow, 'look after the Gristing Trade, supply any quantity of Bran, Chopped stuff, &c., and buy Any Quantity of Wheat. The mill is recognized as one of the best in the County and our long experience in this business gives us confidence in saying we guarantee satisfaction, Flour and Feed Always on hand. B 'Gristing and Chopping promptly attended to. A CALL SOLICITED. Stewaxt&Lowiok, PIZOPRIETORS. --AI'— — BOT Tr? iM PRRF E. Pure aris iS`lRASAJOIMIUSTZLa, All Kinds of Harvest Tools. B RRY.