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The Brussels Post, 1886-10-22, Page 22 A VAGRANT WIFE, BY F, WARDEN, THE BRUSSELS POST "Yes and—no, t nee It when 1 don't think. I like walking so far and run- ning so fast and jumping over so many ditches that I am too tired .at night to do anything but long for bed -time.' "' But you onn t pass all your life liko Author of "Tum HOUSE ON TIM Meilen," twee "Ax Tire WORLD'S MERCY," Loo. " That is the worst of it. I hate the thought of coming back to—rami-oivili- it not having yet occurrea to Laup ration wheu I am too old for my savage Braithwaite to torment her daughtor-in pastimes." law, who was very submissive to her, by "You used to write a little, I think making her stay in to help entertain you told me. Have you given it up ?" chance visitors. She got two invitations " Quite. I could never make a great however with the other ladies, and en- author now, and nothiug less would con - dared with them and George, a dull din. tent me." ncrparty,andwiththom,withoutGeorge, He smiled; there was something of a duller afternoon tea, at both of which the simplicity of a child about this she was mueh adiniredand looked upon 05 matron. To be a great author one had a pretty child. Her style of beauty led but to wish it and to be unmarried. And to this mistake; she was so small, so he lingered about the piano a long time, low.voiced, had such frosh-coloured discussing authors and authorship, and rounded cheeks, and snch.timid though now and then hazarding a romark made pretty manners, that nobody suspected expressly to bring the indignant fire in. the strength of will and ambition and to her eyes and some epoch to her other deep.seated qualities of which pretty lips piquant in its severity. their young possessor was herself At last Lilian could bear it no longer ; scarcely aware. They lay dormant ire she rose and, with heightened colour deed just now. The uppermost side of and a dangerous light in her eyes, walked her many-sided nature at present was a to the piano. buoyancy of spirit which made a lad " Won't you sing something, Annie ?" scarcely sixteen her favourite compo, Her sister-in-law at once complied, nion, and a wild delight in havingescap. and, before ehe had finished the first ed from the shackles of the schoolroom verse, Lilian had diverted the Colonel's on one hand and of lodgings alone with attention from all but herself. The a sulky ignorant husband on the other. son ended, Annie rose, and, her cheeks And, just when her heart began to cry still flushed with the excitement of out for something more than this, she playing hor hest, slipped into the cool made a discovery which sent her to her conservatory, murmuring the last words knees in utter joy and thankfulness to of her song still softly to herself. Sho Heaven. No more ennui, no more re- had not been there two minutes before pining now ; even in the house the gra- George joined her. vity of her little face gave place to an ex- " You don't mind smoke, Annie, do pression full of hope and sweetness, you 2" while, once escaped from silent submis- " No ; besides, I am going back into sion and Lady Braithwaite, her eyes the drawing room." would dance and her lips break into " Don't go yet. Ib is much nicer out ;oft song, till William declared he did here. And Harry has a quarrelsome hot know what had come over her, and fit on and would disguet you." ;;anfessed one day, with a lump in his That instantly checked her steps. throat when she stopped to rest on a Harry's bursts of childish petulance felled tree, that he believed she was go- were among her greatest trials. She ing to die and go to heaven. turned with an impatient sigh again to And—and you seem to be glad ; and the flowers. - -anditisbeastlyofyouwhenyouknow You played beautifully to -night, how fond I—" much better than you ever play for any Hero the lad gave way; and she of us." laughed at him, and made him sit by " Colonel Richardson understands her, and told him he was talking non- ^music.' sense. " While we understand only drinking "IffI look' so sweet' as you say, that and fighting; that is what you mean, marvellous effect is due, not to my be- isn'tit?" ing dying of consumption, but to the " 011, no, it is not ! You understand Gemstone air, which is making another a great many things which I knownoth- woman of me." ing about—how to tease a person to " Theu why do you always want to death, for instance,' said she, with step and rest ? You never used to." weary petulance. Because—because the cold weather " That is unkind," said George quiet - is coming on and that always tries me." ly. " Never mind ; I won't reproach " But it oughtn't to ; it ought to brace yon now, when you are tired and excited you up." by your own playing." Here come the IYIainwarings 1 Let She looked up at him with some sur- as get through the hedge," interrupted prise. Annie. "It is astonishing that such a boor as And an undignified exit put a stop to I should have nobicod that, isn't it, and the conversation. Annie told her secret that I should know the, difference bo. to no one living. tweon the half -mechanical playing of That very day, when these twe re- pretty tune§ and music full of passion turned home just in time for dinner, and feeling, like that you gave Colonel they found t -hat an unexpected guest Richardson to -night ?" had arrived. It was Colonel Richard. " I did not know you liked music," son. Beckham was - not in a hunting said she, in a low troubled voice. country, but a journey of a hour and a "You never took the trouble to in. half by train took the Braithwates with. quire ; did you ? But even among the in easy distance of the meets of a very ' semi-civilised'—to quote some words I good pack of foxhounds; and it was at heard you use tonight—there may bo a Hunt.breakfast that day that the capabilities for something better, may three eldest Braithwaites had met him. there not 2" Harry, delighted to see his idol again, Annie hung hor head in confusion. Ile had introduced him to his brothers, and spoke quite gently, and looked down at Sir George had invited him to return her as if he were hurt, nob angry. with them to the Grange, to break the "I. am sorry—I spoke without think - journey to Scotland where the Colonel ing," she said, in an unsteady voice. /as due. He scarcely recognised An- " Yon were right ; I am very tired, and are, she wee so much changed for the that makes me cross and—and foolish. better. Lilian received with an indif- But I won't play mechanically to you ference which, to Annie's observant eyes, again. I will find out what you like seemed rather overdone. best, and learn to play that as well as I That evening, after dinner, when the possibly can; and I'm so sorry you wore ladies went into the drawing -room, An. hurt by my rude speech f" Die went as usual straight to the piano, Sho held out her hand to him to see while Lilian lounged upon a low seat in whether he had forgiven her; he took a corner near the entra,nce to the con- it, hold it in the warm pressure of his, servatory; her favourite retriever came and finally kissed the little fingers two to rub his head against her band, and or three times before letting them go. Annie thought, as she looked from the " You are a dear little creature, and I dog to its mistress, that she had never should like you to insult me every day seen such a lovely.woman. For Lilian for the pleasure of forgiving you. But had taken the utmost pains with hex that is too much to hope for; you won't dress that evening ; hor black gown, do more than ignore me." cut square at the neck, set off the " Is that fair ? You pretend to forgive fairness of her complexion. She ha- me, and then bring another accusation bitually despised ornaments and could against me in the same breath," pro - afford to do so ; but to -night a few tested Annie, who did indeed habitually sprays of white azalea and white heath avoid Sate-a•tetes with him, but who, as and delicate maiden -hair fern relieved' usual, once brought to bay, was perfect - the sombre dress, and a very small ly at her ease and able to defend her - bunch of azalea and fern was fastened by self. a gold.headed pin in her cheannt hair. " Well, I thought I had bettor state. And Annie saw bhe girl's face flush all my grievances at onus, as I know when they heard the dining.room door it will be a long, time before you 5+ive open and the gentlemen's voices across me another chance. Seriously, 11 gives the hall ; but, when they all entered the me great pain to see you sitting silent room, Colonel Richardson came, in a in my house or slipping through the few minutes, not to that seat near the rooms like a snubbed and neglected conservatory, but to the piano, and told child, only waking up intolifeandbright- Annie Schubert was his favourite eom- nese wheu you axe out of sight of—tboso poser. For it was a song from the who are longing to see you happy." Sehvcasenpesang, arranged for the piano, The tears were in her eyes. She was that she was playing. touched by the kindness of his words ; Annie looked up with irrepressible but how could she tell him that his own surprise that ho sbould recognise it. mother and sister oast, by their gold. She was so used to an audience who nese, a chill upon hor from which, in eunsidsred all music above the level of their presence, it was impossible for her Offenbach as a not unpleasant noise to escape? thather face beamed with pleasure at "I will try to be more cheerful," said his very simple remark. she humbly and rather dismally. "I will play you another—my favour- " No, that won't do," declared Goorge Ito," Raid slip. impatiently. " I don't want you to suet, in Ler delight at beteg with an pump uh liveliness that you don't tete, appreciative listener, she played better or laugh when you feel inclined to cry." than usual, and at the end looked no " That what do you want me to do ? " naively for his approval. He gave it " Well, when anything amuses you, withodt stint; and ehe wont on from and you look stealthily at William With these to other favourite pieces, which a perfectly stolid face but a laugh in she know well enough to be able to talk your eyes, will you look at me too 2 I at the same time. can enjoy a joke as well as he." "You must load an isolated life here, " Did you notice that ?" said iinuie I Should think, With no one to talk to ?" wonderingly. " So I don't talk," said ehe, smiling; " Yes ; you exaggerate my dginess "I run wild in the fields with William." enormously. Now will you promise 10 Do yoteliko the life?" share the yoke with Mme 2" " But William is only a boy. If 1 wore to laugh with you as I do with him, Harry would think himself shunted and behoreibly unpleasant, as usual. I don't mean to say anything against Harry," she added hastily. " IIo is your bro. tber--" " Do you think I feel so tenderly towards him that I cannot hear a worn of truth about him 2" said George pas. eionetely. " Do you think I cherish any deep affection for the brute who first robbed me of the treasure I would have died to win, and thou neglected her, crushed the brightness out of Lox youth' by his boorish ignorance, insulted and disgusted her by his tastes and habits 2" Anuie was frightened by his vehemence moved too in spits of herself. He SEW this and seized his advantage. "Annie," said he, bending down over her with his handsome face full of pas- sionate tenderness, " it is too late now ; but didn't you care for me a little once?" With a long sobbing breath which was almost a cry, Annie bunt her head in- stinctively to hide her face, and, spring- ing away from him before he could de. tam her, went back into the drawing - room. Sir George drew himself up again to his full height, and mechanically put his long -since extinguishes. aieze 015 lees. .Ile was answered. � . nr+9'er ; v, ,: Ffeftr CHAPTER IL ^ } The next day Colonel Richardson went to Scotland, after taking a very warm farewell of Annie, who, so far as she herself was concerned, was ex- tremely sorry for his departure. Ile was the only man to whom she had spoken since her marriage who had tastes in common with her, and whose views of life were not bounded by the stable, the kennel, and the dinner.table. George had indeed shown himself to be ready to enter into her feelings; but hie sympathy she was afraid to encourage. It was true that she had felt for him, from the first time he had talked to her at the Grange dinner -table, a warmer sentiment than she had ever felt for Harry or any other man; and, though since her marriage she had stilled it without much difficulty, she could not but' know that his interest in her re- mained strong. She felt, however, that since last night's talk she would have to be more careful as to her conduct, and combine prudence with a little more graciousness. It did not prove so dilii- eult, after all. That very afternoon she had gone into the library to amuse herself among the old books that nobody else over touched, but in whose very presence she delighted ; and she was perched upon the gadder that stood there by which to roach the highest shelves, and had cov- ered herself with dust in her endeavours to get at the dingy -looking volume whose only attraction lay in the fact that it was out of reach, when Sir George came in. She was surprised to see him, as she had never seen any of the brothers indulge in heavier reading than that which a sporting paper at. forded. " What are you doing among my books 2" he asked with severity. " I don't wonder you are astonished to see any one reading them," said she, looking down saucily, with her dull dis- covery open in hor hand. "You think I don't know how to read, I believe." " I am sure you couldn't read this, at any rate. It is called .We:tracts from the &morns of the ltev:e,•en,l Thomas Dobbs, late Ticar of Garsions, and it is dated 18,11." " Why, no; I indulge in that only on very special occasions. I don't think much of your literary taste." " And '.Cdon't think nmch of your lf- hrary. I can't find anything better." " Oh, nonsense! Here's the Life of Knox, and the Jeerer of Josepha,s, and .foe's Martptrs. I remember my mother mother glued us of the vice of reading when wo wore youngsters by letting us have these entertaining works to read on Sundays. Have you ever noticed, Annie, that careless aud. irreligious par- ents aro always vary particular about what their children read on Sunday ?" " Bub I am too old to be cured in that shnple-minded manner. Find me some- thing nicer, please." " Come down, then, and sit by the fire, and I'll find you Clarissa Herlows, or something else as light and fri- volous." She Dame down and sat in the chair he drew on to the hearth.i'ug, while he brought one book after another, and, after dusting it carefully, placed it on her lap. Sometimes be would kneel by her side for a few minutes to look over one with her, and listen to hor remarks upon it; and they got on so well to. gether over this pastime that by the time the light of the December after- noon had faded, and the rod glow.of the fire was all they had to Soo by, the awls. ward barrier between them was quite broken dowu, and a friendly intercoueso between them begun, which was to Annie merely a new pleasure, but which brought to the young Baronot a delight which he knew to be full of peril, After that day she avoided him no longer, but treated him with gracing gratitude for his kindness, which would have disarmed a roan of better prin. cip1LuuW. tu s coldness to her Lad ;;rcivu into more open dislike since Colo- nel Richardson's fouduode for music had kept hhn so long at hor side on the eve of his journey to Scotland, But the girl could not de much :to make her sister-in-law uncomfortable for fear of her oldest brother, with whom she jealously felt Annie's .interest to bo strong. Young Sir George was a herder and somewhat colder man than his father hdd been, and took the Load in the family of which he was now the rp7ITE WILSON FOUNDAY, GREATLY Reduced Prices We have on hand the following, :—Land Rollers, Plow's, Har- rows, Scuillers, Horse Powers, Straw Cutters, Turnip Cutters, Grinding or Chopping Mills, best made, and 1 good second hand Lumber Wagon. Take Notice. 1Vo have started a Planer and Matcher to work. Parties wishing to have Lumber dressed and match- ed,- or flooring sized, tongued and grooved may rely on getting first- class jobs on the most reasonable terms. Repairs of all kinds promptly attended to at the Brussels Foun- dry. Wm. R. Wilson. HURON AND BRUCE Loan &Investment Co. This Company is Loaning Money on Farm Security at LOWEST RATES of Interest. MORTGAGES PURCHASED. SAYINGS BANE BAI:Cf. 8, 4 and 5 per cent. Interest Al- lowed on Deposits, according to amount and time loft. • OFFICE. --On corner. of Market Square and North street, Galeria . 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