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The Brussels Post, 1887-1-21, Page 7JA.If , 21, 1887, --•y• A VAGRANT WIFE. lis F. Weepier. Anther of "'Tim H0137 024 2119 111A11811," " ewe WORLD'S MERCY," DZ9, bhe privilege of an old acquaintance and go to sleep I" said she, laughing, The meth day he appeared punctually in her silting -room, and sho was even more struck than she had been on the previous day by the deep Hum; in bis handsome face and the cloud width seemed to hang over him. She exerted bereolf as ehe had never done before to be lively and amusing; she had pro. pared the daintiest of luncheons, and before it was over she bad the satiefac- tiou of hearing him laugh like a man without a cere. Not a particle of this delicate welcome was lost upon the keen man of the world, and, wbon lunoheon was over, he said- " That is the first meal I have laughed over for more 'than two inonths-since you left tho Grange, in fact." "Ili it 9" said Annie carelessly, as she refilled his glees. " Yes; and I suppose yon know that as well as I do. You have the ars velars arts's, like the accomplished actress you are off as well as on the stage; but I know you inveigled me here to -day with the base intention tbat your wit'and your wine should get into my head, and make me forget for a little while my came and my difficulties." And, if wit and wine never fulfilled a worse iniseion than that, they would not be so ill spoken of," said Annie gently. Well said 1 Why did you leave us, Annie ? You were the good genius of the Grange, and I am almost ready to think that, if you had never left it, we Should all be there still." " That'e right. Put all the blame upon a defenceless woman." "1 am glad you were not there at the end; it was a miserable time." He was so deeply serious that Annie grow ,serious too. " Do you think I would have gone if I had known what was coining? Oh, George, you cannot think so ill of me 1" '' It is better for you that you did go then; you could not have prevented bhe crash ; I had known it must come from the time my father died. It has boon nothing but wave after wave of difficulty, and getting through or over them somehow.ever since. I suppose it would have boon better to give up long go; hut we were so hedged in on every ado that tho thin was bound to be com- plete when it did come, and you are just the sort of woman to understand the feeling which forces ono, with co. ',sling one's will, to fight it out to th, . and stave off the fall into a breielown swell es long as possible." " Cieorgo, George, how can you use each an absurd term? You, with your plaok, your pationee 1" 'I've used thein allem, Annie, in tho ono tussle.' "Then 3 ou must let there grow again .and go in for another tussle. You are iyonug, and have courage and energy. If I were you, I would never rest until I had bought back the Grange." " I don't believe you would 1" said George admiringly, as he watched the proud flashing of her eyes and the vary- ing expression of her face. " But I am not like that. I could fight on doggedly for something which was being dragged away from mo; but I haven't it in me to begin a battle on my own acconnt." " Then what do you mean to do?" "1 shall get some appointment where I can grow gray with respectability; ray people can manage that, and they will. It ie a scandal for a baronet to starve, you know. Why, yon'silly you are crying Thank heaven, An• the 1 I didn't think you were so fond of me." I'm not fond of you -I'm disgusted with you 1" said Annie fiereely, stiffen- ing herself rigidly as he leaned towards her. "Why, do you know that even Harry shows more spirit than that ?" "What makes you say 'even Harry ?' " asked Sir George quietly. "1 could have told you long ago that Harry had pluck and spirit enough for six, in spite of his impossible manners and boorish conver- sation. If anybody buys back the Geauge, it will be he." Annie listened with her cheeks ting. ling. "When did you first begin to think all that of him ?" she asked, in a low voiee. "1 knew, when we wete lade together, thab there was something in him ; but I own I lost sight of the fact while he led hie loose, lazy life at the Grange after you had loft him. But, when you left the Grange this last time -more than two months ago -he let me see his best sido again one night when we wore balk. in'g about you." " About ? " whispered Annie breaeldessly. . "Yea; he told me ho loved you with all his soul, and he meane to Will you back to him if ho had to wait ten yeaese And I behove him." e George," said she, iu a low, uncer- tain voice, raising her eyes to his aftera pause, "he has done it already. But - hut he won't give mo a chance of tolling him so. He wmal let me knoviewhere he is, and -and Mcleod he dciesnl care for me es much as you think ; for, if ho did, he coddle% make appointrrientswith: • -with other women," sobbed she, with her head m bee hands. "Are you sure that he demi, Annie ?" asked her brother.in-law earnestly, "Quito sure. I-1 overheard it,". quavered she. "Dont be so •certain about it yet, .my poor &dd.! If over a 321131 was in i solemn earnest, Harry was when he spoke to nee about yota and he is far tee Pladeeteded tie *lave likeethat ib a few 'weoka. He swore to ane that you were ' the only woman in the world for him, eta he aihould never look at another again. Trust me, don't make np your mind that he is faithless to you yet. His ; keeping away from you means some- thing more than that, or I'M muob /Ms - taken in him." Annie allowed herself to be somewhat comforted by these worrle, and she pro. lensed George, who of merge manneled to allow himself as many -if nob =ro- of the small comforts of his life as he had done before his mita to accompany him to /Iamb in ten days' time, to play good angel to him and raise his spirits, • But in the meantime she had euothei visit from Stephen, who loolcocl morn haggard than evor ; and, as he hinted to her that Harry was again in want ol money, and as some dressmaking ex. menses bad used up all she had in hand until sho received her next weekly sa- lary, sho fastened up a bracelet, hoe best pair of ear rings, and a diamond brooch which George bad given her into a little packet, which she put into Ste. phen's hands saying -.- "1 have been spending a lot of money upon myself this week, so 1 can't spare any just now. There are a few trinkets, here which I never wear, and loan spare them better than money. Would you mind selling them for me, and giving the money to Harry ?" • "Your jewelry I No, I can'b tale that 1" said Stephen, thrusting the packet hastily book and opening ehe door. " Nonsense ! You must -I iusiab 1 !here is not a thing I care for among them," said Annie ; and with gentle force she made him take them, pitying the poor follow as she did 80 for his roluctance to let her part with her trin• I kets. A few days after that was Oup-dayat Ascot; and George, true to his promise, I came in a hansom to take her to the : station; for they were going down by train. It was a most beautiful day, Annie enjoyedherself with an unclouded delight which infected her conipanion, and it took all his loyalty and a htble of her tact to prevent his making love to her again. She was too wise to suggest economy to him when he took her, as a matter of course, on to the grand stand and spent his money with rather more recklessness than in the old days when he had a large establishment to keep up and clamorous younger brothers' allow- ances to pay. Men in difficulties always had plenty of ready money, she knew, and were much lighter.hoarted compa- nions than men who went on ploddingly paying their debt as they arose. George left her for a few minutes, sit- ting, her face all smiles and sunshine, with his race -glass in her hand, exam- ining the carriages which lined tbo comae. He had gone into the riug, and had promised to be back in time for the next race. He returned to find her, leaning back, white and shivering, with the lustre gone from her oyes and her arms hanging limply at her sides. lady -a stranger -wet supporting her head. " Good heavens, Annie, are yon ill ?" he cried in great agitation. " Sho is going to faint, I am afraid," said the lady with her. "No, no, I than not faint; 1 am well already 1" said Annie rousing herself by a great effort. Thank you very much for your kindness. 1 am afraid I fright. cued you. George, tithe me to have a glass of wine, please." He led her, supported by his arm, to the refreshment -room, and in a few mi- nutes she had controlled herself suffi- ciently to bo able to tell him the reason ef her sudden illness. "I saw the woman I told yon about, neem xiarry sends messages, on a drag on the course; and. I saw Harry ride up and speok 00 h " George muttered a savage imptethe Mon between his teeth. Annie cou- tinued- 1 want you to take me down there amok; the carriages, to be quite sure it is she. Do take me, George 1 If you won't I must go alone." " I will take you, if you wish ; but, my child, you had bettor not go. If you wero to see them together again, it would break your heart." " Oh, no ; my heart is not Bo tender as that, George," said she, wearily. "Let us make haste." Sho was afraid of her streugbh giving way again if there was any more delay. So he took her down, across the course, and in and out among tho carriages until they eame in sight of the one sho was in search of. Harry was no longer liege° the drag-; but there sat Muriel, her complexion carefully made up, and dressecl with more extravagance than good taste; and in her oars wero the ear.rings and at her throat was tho brooch which Annie had sent to Harry to help him out of his difficulties a week before. She turned away quickly, and. wide. pored to George, clinging to him like a child, and with a little tromour in her voice - "Now lot us go away -let us go away 1 -as fast -as we can -straight back ' homel" She bore up bravely all the way to the •station and during the journey in the train; but, when they were driving along together in a hansom, she said suddenly-. "Tallt about the races, George, please." But he could not, for thero was a lump in his throat; and all he could say, as a litt to the conversation was-. • " ()twee Mini 1 at, 1 .4 I THE F3T-RIJSEI.-.S POST • 77.4crm...--:.•=•••:•1•••-• law was living. 4. You are not tit to act he has treated ale badly, it le no more tie -night ; they must got somebody oleo," than I deserve." ho added, with the °harming sim. She spoke in a very sad quiet voice, pliorby of u si er " lo theatri. with all the bright ring gone out of it ; cal matters, whodoes not know how mid George thoeglit, as he watched her loath the rising actress is to give her eves fixed steadily before her and ler " understudy" achance of proving that 1,8 gel veriug 9 13910 ha spite of herself, she herself is not indispensable to bhe ,t, if her truant husband could the her now, he would realise how foolish success of the piece. '1 must go, George; and it will be It had bean to expect that he could me the beet thing for me," said she, with a e oat such a pretty little wife without some more discriminating person's try. ing to console her. " 1V011, now you must forget all about a brute vvlio could take away your jew- elry to give to another woman. And of course it -would not be right to soo any more of rho other mu -the lee or. But I will 00100 and eeo yeti as often as you like, and take you out, and have tots, with you and luncheon with you whenever you feel dull; .I will come aud live nearer thNvii is y-thtit • will bo the beet plan -and then you 000 send for uni whenever you want me," said Geoego benevolently. "Thank you, George; I R01 very glad you are in town," said she, mil. ing ; "but I won't trespass upon your kindness so much as that. I am afraid Harry isn't worth the deterrninatioa ; but I'm nut going to give him a loophole for complaint of me again." " Bub be couldn't be jealous 01 rio," • said George, with eager surprise. " You can't bury yourself alive for the sake of 0 nem who is deceiving you, who writes to say he is getting on badly "-Annie bad told him that, but -without saying anything about the incemy she had sent-" and whom you see a week after on horseback on a race•course enjoying himself as if he were rich. It isn't RS if I were ono of your handsome act. ors —" "Von aro too modest, George. You are handsomer than any actor I • know." "Handsomer than—" " Oh, yes ; he is quite ugly I That was the hardest blow of all to Harry," said sho, laughing. " leut, haudsome or ugly, Harry shall never have the roasts reason to bo jealous again." " Aro you 50 8000 of yourself ?" asked • George softly. "You know," he •con. tinned diffidently, "you thoughb you wero quite cold and aafo before." "1 have a safeguard now," said she, in a low voice. "In spite of all that he has done -and you have not beard the worst -I love Harry; his forbearance to mo when I was in the wrong seems to have subdued me; and nothing in this world now, not even brilliant suc- cess en the stage, has so much charm for mo as the hope of some day winning him back to me." "1• hope you will, Annie -I hope you will. You deserve the greatest happi. ness the world can give', and Harry would be a fool not to speech at what many a man will envy him for." Annie did nob want him to grow sen- timental, and she soou turned the conversation to other matters. She had a firm friend now in her ol- dest inother-inlaw, 'whom Ole knew how to manage, and to whom, in this time of his ruin and consequent troubles, Sho did infinite :service by her sympathy and encouragement. She could not, even if she had wished to do BO, prevent his coming to see her coustantly ; for, though a man accustomed to depend upon himself in a struggle, be no could find no consolation, now that the strug.gle was over, so greet his sister -thirty's sweet voice and kind eyes. She had dropped much out of her circle of acquaintances since the blow she had received, at Ascot ; life had lost some of its zest for her, and'she had grown restlessly anxious for news of her husband. She received letters from him now and then, short, affeotionate, ill I wonld have packed him off some. • spelt, but vague, requesting her to sed where, and then you would have been • her answers under cover to Stephen at a t worshippers. , club he mentioned. Sho wrote ansevers -surrounded by nothing bu And, if you had liked the Grange better in which, as he never mentioned his prospects or hers, or the money she bad in those circumstances, my dear child, I don't think 0117 008 could have blamed sent him, she never referred to thorn 31 either. She also wrote to Stephen Uri- " I think they woald, though. You self at the address given, begging him see, my fault 011 through my married to come and see her; but to this she got no answer, until one afternoon sho met life hes been that I looked upon my husband tem Chi tyrant tob him in the Strand and insisted on his returning home with her, He was look - given way to or avoided as the .case • iag as haggard as ever, and seemed aught be, never as a reasonable being more uneasy- in her presence than he whose opinions and feelings were to be had been befoxe. considered for their own sake." "Why haven'b you been here fer so " But you 500 1)0 has proved that they long, Stephen, when you knew how nue- aro not worth consideting. I own to . you that, when he was getting better, to say to mo frone Horryabout Whit I and be seemed never happy when you sent him? I should have thought I de - were out of his sight, and yen went on served a Message of acknowledgment: laughing and talking with any of us bmention, in his rather than with hum and treated himut he does not even very short notes, thelelp I have so of km liko a cross, spoilt child, to be given given way to and coaxed, while he seemed"He is ashamed to do so, A/1130. But, always longing and trying to be some. he is grateful to you all the ScMe. Ho thing more to you -it did seem to me often talks to me about the saminces sometimes that it was rather rough on you must have made, and he thinks ot Harry; but now I see you wore quite right, and it was a good thing you did Mein a groat deal, I am sure." " But that is nob enough. Ho ought not get fond of such a weathercock. t 10 speak to me about then), and, if he is And hen, when he rushed up to. town red•bot to see you, and found you all Soo shy to do so by lethal:, I must hear urn exprese his gratitude person. dull and solitary—" • Where is he living, Stephen? I must "But he didn't find ine dell and soli. here his address," said. Amite, with de- tary-that is what made hitn angry," termination, said Annie; blushing. He found. '00 can't give it you -I can't indeed. actor here wliora-whom I had grown E W98 afraid you would want to heresy% fond of when I was on tour. It was and he has forbidden me to give it you; partly that I might forgot him that I that is why They° kept away from you." went to nurse Hatry when he was ill," "And what reasou have you both to she said hurriedly. " He used to come and see me hero after I left the Gtange rsiviefo rarrrythisvery doinfigtitriliel arr is eesfhumse ulaled'itl tioiba: this last time. I told him I could never go, by ilia own wife r1 marry him; but -bet I did not tell him Re is nob ashamed "nobly; but ho was married already; and somehow haws. how proud you , are, and he Harry guessed that, a,nd made me half thunk, if you knew how he earns his confess it; and then, instead of bullying living, you would look down upon hire." , me and reproaching me now that he "ea it something aa Very disgraceful eeally had something to Complain of, he then ?» took 920 to the Bingbaen Hotel, and was . perhaps you might eall it so ; et least he thinks so," "Tell me what it is.' Stephen, do toll neo 1" "I can't. 1 Mere tolulinI woieldtele," grateful look at his anxious face. " Come 1 and see me tomorrow ; 1 want to talk to you." He left her unwillingly, and that night he took a stall at the theatre where she was acting BO thee he might be at hand in case She broke down. But there was 1 no need uf such a fear for the trained actress ; her performance that nighb was, to a close observer, somewhat fitful and unequal; but 8119 gave 110 other sign of the shock the bad sustained that day -in fact, the excitement caused by it prevented her physical weariness from being ao apparent. The next morning, however, when George celled, he found her sad and Bub. clued, in spibe of the efforts sho mado bo seem as cheerful as moth. When she referred to the previous day, she did so (rite calmly; but his ref -command about the matter was nob so great as hers, and bo broke out in a few minutes and swore that be would find Harry andeupbraid him for his infamous con- duot to the most perfect womanin the world, Iain not that, George; and Harry knows ib -that is the worst of it 1 If you were to toll him you and I had both recognised my Jewels on another woman, ho would toll you it was only to be oven with me for having preferred to his the society of another man." George looked at bier in astothehment, for she spoke with bitter sell -reproach and kept hereyes away from his. " My dear Annie," you are reproach. ing yourself unnecessarily. When Harry himself behaved to you like a coalheaver, even he could scarcely. bo surprised that you preferred any society to Ins." " Not any society -I did not mean that." " No, but that of mon of his own rank, but not quite of his manners," said George, drawing bis chair a little Dearer to hers. " I did not mean that either. As long as 7 preferred any society to his, it didn't matter. So I thought myself safe; it seemed quite natural to dislike and fear Harry when he neglected me and snubbed me, and bullied and pelmet struck me. I felt that, if I stayed with him any longer, his very presence would poison me," said she, -with eising excibe- mnet. " No wonder 1 You were quite right to leave him, and if you had boon wise, you would never have come back to the brnto." " Do you think so Now I think I was quite wrong. Even if I could not have loved him, it week' have been Bader to stay -with. him, saberfor him and safer for me." "Saler for you ?" • " Yes, yes. 1 thought I was so strong, so hard, that I could do without affec- tion altogether -especially as affection could, since my foolish marriage, ouly mean Harry's. And I was too foolish and cored for biro too little to ask my- self whether he could do without 11, os well I" " He had shown and ho didn't de- serve yours, at all events. If you had stayed at the Grange, I think you might have been happy, Annie ; but, it would have been thanks to your husband's family, and not to him. You see, Lilian was mat going to be married, and my mother would soon have warmed to you when her other daughter was gone a and, if Harry bad not changed his tone, CHAPTER XXV. • "Don't go to the theatre to -night, Annie. Send a note to say you are not well," suggested George, when they reached the house where his sister -in - 50 sweet and kind to me that I -I really think, if he had stayed with nue I should have grown vary fond of him. So yon see, George, 7 ant notamuirtyr, and if 11 Then am I never to know ? Doesn't he wont over te 000 100 again?" "Some day, but not yet." • "But what difference can waltdeig make? If it is disgraceful now, it will always be diegraceful. But, if ibis only that he leas taken to earning his living by 80020 employment not generally filled by gentlemen, why, I shall only respect hum the more for sacrificing his pride I That is true indeed." But all her arguments and entreaties did not move Stephen, who seemed very much agitated by her supplications, but doggedly refused to yield00there. That night she wrote a letter to her husband, sending it as usual to Stephen to be forwarded. " My dear Harry, -After waiting im. patiently for more tidings of you than your scanty notes convey, I caught Ste- phen to -day, much against his willeand hoped to got him to give me your ad- dress, that I might come and see you. But nothing would induce him to tell me where you are or what yon are do- ing, and ho says you have strictly for- bidden Linn to do so. I now appeal to you to put an end to the anxiety I am in about you, and to let me come and see you, if you will not come and see me. Stephen seeme to think that you are afraid that the way you are earning your living will shock me ; but indeed I think, if 1 were to 800 you with a black awe after sweeping a chimney, or dri- ving a donkey -cart • lull of vegetables, 0 you could not complain of the coldness of the welcome I would give you. Please, ev, CD -1p cp w c+ cp }-9-b r.„ Vi et - 0 I-- 1-1 please write to me, not one of those littlo hurried scrawls saying nothing, but a let- ter just to tell me when I may Bee you again. I don't think you would bo Jea- lous of anybody I see now, except per- haps of dear old George, whom I see nearly every day, and -whom I should like much better if only he would do something, like you. I know you hate writing; but you would find time for this if only you knew how anxious I am to be auto you aro well. "Your loving wife, " Aeune." She posted this letter under cover to Stephen; but she waited three weeks without getting any answer. At the end of that time she was sur- prised by a visit from Lilian, who had just returned with her husband from abroad, having been travelling some mouths for her health, which had broken down. She was inrush touched by her sister-in-law's kindness to George, who had dined with Mr. Falconer and her- self the night before, and had repro - son ted Annie he the guardian angel of the family. "Wilfred has come up to town, and he was with us too," said Lilian. "And he talks of you just as well, and wants to come and see you, but he doesn't dare. You are a good little thing, Au - the, to keep so staid now when every one is Wiling about you, and when Her- cr) ry has treated you so Madly." ted "Who told you thatp ?" said Annie it sharply. C.D "George. But never mind; you mustn't bo angry with him or with me. i.e.' }reel eye What has become of Mr. Cooke 2" she asked, in in a low voice. eeeee e lenee' "Mr. Cooke 1 Ob, he is married, I ea M bolieee; at least I BM sure he is 1" she answered, in an indifferent tone, but blushing. " Marriea ? Oh, well, I am glad of that 1" "There is no need on my account," said Annie haughtily. "No, no -of course nob, child. Still am glad." "People say they get on very badly. Aud now he is ill, I hear." • The tears were starting to Annie's oyes; and Lilian, whom ill -health had , C+ softened, began to cry too for sympathy. Annie fought down her emotion. "Have you heard from any of the others - William or Stephen ?" the asked, to turn the conversation. C,12 "Stephen came to see me this morn- ing. Ho is in wretched health, and seems to have an unaccountable dislike to balking about you. I told him to come and see me this afternoon, and I expect he is waiting for me now. I shall send Wilfred to see you todnorrow. Good- bye, you good child. I don't know what to wish for you." And Lilian, whose movements were slow and languid. and whose beautiful face had grown thin with illness, kissed her sistee-in-law affectionately and left her. CD 11 e- • CD • L)D CHAPTER XXVI. lea -A Annie did nob sleep that night. Thoughts of poor Aubrey and tbo wreck -a 0 the clover young man had made of his t life, and remorse at her cwn share in bringing it about, occupied mut of the weery, wakeful night, and brought some tears •to her oyes. But her mind went back again and again to the husband who had desetted her, whoth address was in the hands of Muriel West, and whom sho upbraided one moment and prayed for the next. For the sentiment planted by his own forbearance and ten. al OD del:noes had struck deep root during these monthsig,t suspense which hail followed, CO l''d in spit° of the shortuese of his Meters CD 0 and the long periods of silence between, in ripen of his iugratitude in not ao- knowledgliag the sacrifices she had made to help lum, in !mite of her doubts of his et- ICI lidellby, in spite of the indifference his never once coming to see her seemed to prove. The foot Wail that Annie had at last • ' fond something to respect in her bus- ael 0 band. During that week whioh dwelt so ee continually in her memory he had taken soio his riglitful place as her superior, owing ! to the discovery which had Avoca her to . CD appear before him as re culprib. She hoped and oven prayed that the teasel' . he heel given for lea7ing lr+tet-via., his ' P., (I) tai 60,1 •Nat to' TO BE CONTINUED.