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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1887-1-28, Page 7JAN 28, 1587 THE BRUSSELS POST .392 4 g9. VAGictANT WIFE. uncopeciouely brought Stephen from the deep down in hor heart a fierce eager. tie winding road through it Ari r Br It, Warman. ,Author of "Toa 130089 09 0119 MAsan,'� "A' a3ur WORLD'S bleier," Bra. determination to work ror himself and ber, rather than live on her money - might prove to bo the true one, so that he might deserve the plane he had in. sensiblyy won in her heart. Yet how to reconcile the love whioh had prompted this determination with hie acquaintance with Muriel West, hie giving to this wo, man the jewoliy she had deprived her. self of to help him out of his difficulties with the fact that i6 was to Muriel she had boon referred for his address, and with hie acceptance, without a word of aoknowledgment, of her money? In spite of all, ahe would fain have cleared bim df these charges, and, failing that, she was ready to take the greater share of the blame of his misconduct on her shoulders, and to forgive him the rest, if he would but ask for forgiveness. All the excuses which ahe had refused to make for the headstrong bridegroom of twenty, when she, tho bride of eigh- teen, shut up her heart against her rough boyish husband, now appealed to her with irresistible force. He was so young; he had been so badly brought up; his family had been "wild" for generations; he had meant to treat hor kindly, and his marriage with her had boon the result of a generous impulse; he had given up drinking since his ill. nese, for her sake; while she bad run away from him, treated with coldness his first protestations of love on his ro. eovery, refused to stay with him, con- cealed hor marriage from others. Was it surprising that he should bestow his warm affections elsewhere, when she had shown herself so indifferent to every proof of iiia love ? Ono determination silo Dame to, as' the result of a sleepless night of agitation and reflection -oho would find out where Harry was, without the delay of another day, and come to some explanation with him. But how was she to do this ? She could not deemed to ask his address of Muriel, and the only other person she know who could give her the information she wanted was Stephen Lawler, who had proved himself almost inaccessible to her. Ile had not replied to her last letter, asking for 130198 of Harry; so that now her only plan was to hunt him out and insist upon his telling her where her husband was. Whether she would be successful in this by fair means was doubtful, as Stephen, with all his servile docility to any one to whom ho was attached, was as doggedly obstinate by nature as the rest of his family, and could take refuge in stolid silence when driven into a corner. However, she must try. The next day sho drove to the club to which sho addressed her letters to him and her husband, but heard that he was nob there. Sho was not ingenuous enough to bo satisfied with this answer; and, after goiug away and returning several Stnoe with uuwearying persis- tency to a spot down a side-streot from which sho could watch the entrance to the club, she at length saw the cripple descend the steps vary slowly, and walk away with the aid of his crutches. She followed him, Hia infirmity made it easy for her to keep him in sight with- out going near enough for him to notice her. He left the crowded fashionable streets, and made his way at length to a narrow, quiet street in a dirty unattrac- tive neighbourhood, wh ere unkempt chil- dren played and screamed in thegnttere in front of dingy houses whore apart- ments were let, presumably cheap and uninviting. At the door of one of these he stopped, and, taking no notice of a few bowls from the re, gedboya at his crut- ches, took out his key and went in. Struck with wonder at such a choice of residence by the fastidious cripple, and with pity at the forlorn existence it im- plied, Annie hesitated about pressing her inquiries that clay. But her anxiety to hear about her husband overbore all scruples, and, after allowing a short in- terval between his arrival and hers, she knocked at the door. A little girl opened it, and, upon being asked if Mr Lawler lived there, nodded her head backwards in the direction of the staircase, with the brief direction, " Third floor, right up top ; " 912d, as she made no attempt at the ceremony of announcement, Annie only asked which was the door of the sitting -room, and, on being told, "You go right straight into it Boon as ysr get up," she showed herself up without fur- ther delay. When sho reached the third Hoot, she found the door of the little sitting .room half open, and, after knook- ing twice and getting no answer, she went in. It was a ineagrelyfurnished room, not much better than a garret, . boariug 1 evidence of Stephen's occupation of it in its extreme tidiness -for he was always neat and orderly in his surroundings. Tho only thing whioh looked out of its place was a flat Tramper, which stood with the lid open on one of the chairs. 1 Annie stood fora few minutes in the middle of the room without hearing any , sound, then, attracted by the scout of fiowera,and by the sight of the ferns and fc leaves which evidently covered them, , she glanced again at the hamper, crossed the room, and saw, laid on the loaves, a visiting card with her husband's name and address upon it-" Mr. Harold Braithwaite, liirleyPark"-andpencilled 1 underneath the oamo, in his hand- t writing were the words-" With love to , my darlin� t" With a throb of mad hope, sho seised the lid and looked outside for the direc- tion. Then ahe stood looking ab that, as still and almost ae white as stead, for the hamper was directed in a different handwriting, to " Miss Muriel Wost, Vic. atria Street." Sho was still standing be it when a tame meta she uttered next room. He started, and OM in an noes to see him again, to hear hie voice, thoughts w ro for a few gmomentsudi- instant as whits as she when be saw h93r, to feel the touch of his hand, even if it i verted by the lovelfnese of the scene Stephen, I did not mean to frighten were not held out in welcome. around hor from the doubts and fears you, What I came to ask you I have . Part of her curiosity regarding her. I whioh were agitating her, found out already -hero ; "and she glen- ,husband's occupation was satisfied be. When they reached the house, her cod at her husband's card. fore she reached Kirby. Two gentle- husband was standing on the steps to Bob the cripple began to tremble from 1 men had got into the same carriage with Help box to alight. As they all went in, head to foot, and to stammer out it was her at Waterloo, and bar attention was hee said - the wrong address, that dairy was no caught talk; y the words "Kirby Park" in "You would like to rest while wo go would reu�rhok;boat no letter s°'at there i wandered offand again her the subjects ' hts had werevil! tn to ake che tare of you until we come ao.. ,a to nm rignu actuates „ueu, which wore absorbing her, she was sud• book," mid Annie, recovering her calmness, denly recalled to the presence of her two A very staid elderly woman, the mo- lt is of no use to try to keep it from companions by a reference to " year% del of a trustworthy housekeeper, step - am any longer, for I will find lnm out, Braithwaite " by ono of them, ped forward and led Annie up -stairs to sad I will stand face to fooe with him You Hoed nob have the least appro. take off her mantle. term another week is over 1 " pension on that score," said the other, " Whose room is thio ?" asked Annie, " But you mot not, Annie, " declared " He bas a sort of genius for the man- as sho was shown into a large front ahe cripple, his forehead damp with agi• agement of horses, and has lived more room with a beautiful view of the park ration. "FTe will not see you; he will in the stable than in the house ever and the landscape beyond. threaten you, abuse you. If you attempt since he was about two. I would trust "Mr. Braithwaite's, ma'am." so force yourself upon him against his him, on any matter connected with Annie trembled as alis entered. Sho will, I will not answer for the 00000. them, before any man I know, young or could not think yet, could not under - tomes. " old." stand what this calm welcome forebo- e I can face the consequoneoe, " said ' He is a gentleman by birth, isn't del. As his hand had touched hers iu &unie qt. -dotty, " I on suffer anything he ?" asked the younger man. helping her from the dog -cart, it had out being cheated and deceived and " Yes. Haven't you heard of tbo not hold hers quite steadily ; but Annie ^risked, as I have been by both of you. pranks of Sir George Braithwaite, one had not been able to see his face, had f shall find out where hirby Park is, of the typical hair -brained immure of a not known what emotion caused his sell go there without delay. " generation ago ? This lad is his son; fingers to close for an instant so conval- ' You will not see him there. Ho was hie oldeat brother, the present Sir sively on her own. What did he mean there; but ho has gone, and they cannot George, had to sell the estates a few to do ? What would he say when at loll you where. " menthe ago, and it was bhen young last the time came, as come it must, for Very well. Then I shall find where Harold came to me, reminded me I was speaking to her alone ? he is from Muriel West. " his godfather, and said if I didn't give pMrs. Clower took her to the drawing- ' Go to liar then -go to her, ask her, him some work to do, he would hang room -a cold bare room whioh looked, if you can stoop 80 low, where the flow- himself on the gate -poet as he wont out. as if it were little lived in ; and, when ars come from that deck her rooms- So 1 asked him what he could do, and the gentlemen came in, and tea was that lie in her hair. And, when you aro he said he could ride. I told him I had presently brought, she played hostess sati8fied, find out your husband, if your no doubt of that' but he was a long very gracefully, doing her best to make pride does not hold you back, and enjoy way too heavy for a jockey. ' Well, her husband proud of her by charm. of the welcome ho shall give you. " make me 0080hman, groom -anything, a eeeh and manner, Whatever effect In the midst of her own distress Aunie said he; ' and, when once you get me she might have upon her husband, who feared for the effect of the strong excite- into a stable, you'll soon see I know spoke little to hex and never once mot under which he wa8 labouringmore about my work than anybody looked into her face, she enchained his upon the fragile form of tbo °ripple, and, there. You' needn't say who lain, and guests, who regretted sincerely that without any further answer to his taunts they'll never find out I'm a gentleman,' they could not stay to dinner, and de- ar auy more reproaches for hie double. he ended, rather bitterly. Well, I laved their departure until they were in dealing, she wished him goodbye very couldn't do that, of. course; but I got danger of missing their train. When at gravely, and, taking the card from the lad to stay with me, for I was rather last they left, and Harry accompanied among the leaves before ho could stop interested by his obstinacy, and thought them to the pail, gates, she retreated to her, alio left the room as lie was strew I would find out what he could do. I the deserted drawing -room, threw open filing to reach the door to prevent her soon found he could sit anything, break the window for air, and leaned against exit. It seemed a horrible thing to leave 111 anything, and could give points to it shaking from head to foot with ex - him alone, cripple that he was, in a ' most horsy mon on any matter of citoment and fear. Then, after what ;tate of such utter bodily prostration as training or going. So I made up my seemed a loug time, during which she this scene had reduced him to ; but she i mind to give him a trial, and I set him thought with horror that he had gone knew that he would acept ne help from up at Kirby Park and put some of my away to escape her, she heard his tread her hands, and she went down the nar- racers under hie care. And of course in the hall, row dark stairs sadly and slowly, listen. two or three more have followed my iu� as she wont, lest she should boar example ; and now the lad has husbands him fall, But she heard no sound from , full, and has got a fair chance," the room np.stairs, and, as she loft the I "Itis a great -responsibility for such a house and walked towards home, her young man. He ought to be very grate - thoughts turned from the miserable iu- i ful to you—" strument of hor husband's treachery to ; '' Well, I hope I may have reason to Harry himself, with all her newly awak- be grateful to him. My only fear was shod love changed to a passionate wish as to whether he would stick to it. He tor vengeance upon him for his cruel was very wild a year oe two ago, I've deceit. heard; but he seems steady enough Kirby Park -Kirby Park 1 That was now, as far as I can find out. 'I think where she would go -whore, in spite of I've got the right man in the right place, Stephen's worthless protestations, she and that ho feels in. his element, and believed that she could find her husband will settle - down all right. Wo shall and be able to confront him, and sting see." him with tbo sharp taunts which rose to With breathless interest Annie had her lips now, which should make him listened to all this. This, thou, was the writhe and start and feel shame, how- occupation whioh hoe husband had ever callous he had become. Her pas. found, and of which, according to Ste - sive hatred he had felt before, and had phen, ho was ashamed for her to hear t boon able to afford to treat with null£- He had become a trainer. But Annie Jerome ;she would see whether tho ao. intoxicated with pride at the thought five hatred into whioh his shameless i that her husband had shown a special neglect and ingratitude had turned her ,capacity which proved 12±30 to be much wistful affection would not make him morn than the lazy, incompetent idler feel some of the pangs he bad caused she used to consider him, that he had her. Annie felt changed by that day's shown talent and had found a field for discovery into a wicked woman, with no it, that, if he had taken her money with. feelings of pity or pardon possible, who out acknowledgment, he had at least would stop at nothing in the madness of not lived upon it in idle dependence. her misery. She sacrificed even her But this discovery only made the womanly dignity, in her wish to make thought of his infidelity more bitter ; in the husband who had despised her love the very moment when she found that feel an added pang at the sight of her. he, possessed all the qualities which She would not simply go down, hunt him might have earned her respect as well out, and confound him; she would let as her devotion; she was hastening to a him think it was the worthless woman meeting which wonld fill him with die - he loved who was coming to see him, so appointment and anger, and bring down that disapointment might be added to upon herself his execration instead of his annoyance at meeting his wife. his welcome' It was Friday, and she could not leave She felt afraid of him. Already sho town until Sunday, her only free day. was hesitating whether she should not As soon as she reached home, she collect- go beak without seeing him, asking her - ed some parts she had played on tour, self whether she could oontrivo to miss lent her by Muriel, and copied in that him at the atation, when the slackening lady's handwriting. of the train's spend and the exclamation These Annie placed before her until of one of the gentlemen, " Here we are 1" sho had mastered every detail of the told her that the end of her journey was slanting scrawl, and then she wrote the reached, following note on a half -sheat of paper, " Hallo, there's Harry himself 7" said in an imitation of Miss West's writing - window. elder gentleman looking out of the window; " Why, how many more of us Dear Harry, -I will come down and does ho expect? Ho has brought the see you on Sunday by the eters train dog -cart as well as the phaeton. Nice from Waterloo. Send somebody to turn -out that 7" he added admiringly, moot me. • " Your Helium" " here he is 1 Well ho " Oh, heavens, *.shat will he sly to 300 ?" !.heuent she. C. Lel"2itR XI: VII. Annie heard hor husband open the door, but she diel not turn round; then she heard his footsteps advance to the centro of the room and stop. She still stood leaning against the open French window, seeing nothing before her, and waiting for him to speak to learn what tone he was going to assume towards her. At last she beard him clear his throat, as if to attract her attention; but she took no notice. She fancied be must be working himself up to a proper pitch of indignation, and she tried to school herself to show a bold front when at last his wrath should burst out. Her case was the stronger by far, and, although that fact did not give hor all the consolation it should have done at that moment, yet it would stand her in good stead when the conflict had really began. Nevertheless she would have given worlds for the sangetroid, with which she had entered upon any con- test with him in the old days, when his opinion upon any subject was a matter of indifference to her, and when his outbursts of unreasonable anger had excited in her nothing but contempt and disgust. He cleared his throat again, and again she took no notice. At Last he spoke- , Annie, aren't you goiug to speak to me ?" he asked, in the gentlest, most entreating of voicde. She turned round in surprise. He stood there before her, this big, hand- some young fellow vaho could tame the moat fiery of horses with a hand and a will of iron, shy, nervous, irresolute, looking down with wistful submission on the email slight woman at the win- dow, "Haven't you a word for me after all these weeks 2" said ho, as sho was still silent. " I can't help being Horsy, so waau't it better to turn my horsiness to some account? I forgave you for not answering my letters; but, now you've come to see me of your own ac- cord, I thick you might havela kiss Annie had consulted a railwaytime- Harry 2" he called out, as he turned the for me,' table and found a suitable trai. She handle of the door and stopped down on Annie looked, listened, in utterWhat to the platform. wad he talking Letters 1 Kisses t What posted this letter, and on the following a was he tallcing about ? Was this Harry, eiunday started for Kirby park, in a Annie sprang to her feat at the other with the loviug pleading eyes and the fever at the audacity of her enterprise, end of the carriage and looped out oa. gently reproachful tone, the ungrateful, She had had time, since sending off gerly. There stood Harry, in a light faithless husband she had comp to up. the note to her husband, to be the prey 1 overcoat, his fade rather flushed and Ms braid? Was this some artful plan to of regrets at her hasty action, to ask , blue eyes sparklingg, looking, she thought, avert her a.cousations by being first iereelf whether she was justified in handsomer bhen olio had over soon him, with trilling charges against herself ? giving him the shook sho had prepared I ,7Iensh llol thk enhowicaughtho b o gentle- hon- Still in perplexity, but thawing in spite for him, whether it would not have boort ! 1320 was thenin him of herself under his affectionate words, butter, as it would certainly have been g Y; but he sho moved mechanically towards him. more dignified, to take no notice of the was Vetter schooled than in the old But the want of spontaneity in the discovery she had made, save in a cold days, and no ono could have detected motion roused his passionate temper, and atterdocliningtobola anyfm'ther00m. ; disappointment lathe ilashwhich passed ho stepped back from her, his face munioation with him, or ohalleng- over Ilia fano on sexing her. Sho came all flushed with wounded pride and af• ng him to givo same oxjiianation to the carriage door, and, as he helped faction, 0f his conduct. Sho was beginning to her out, he said,in a matter-of.faettono, "Don't make a martyr of yourself, oar too some outbreak of her husbaud's j as if he had expected her- pray, ' said he. " I don't want a little mssionate temper when he discovered So you all oamo down iu the same cold duty-peok because •I'm your hum he trick she had played upon him. 1 carriage, Lord Lytham?" -turning to band. If you can't kiss me beeanseyou 'Chen conjectnro as to what her husband 1 the elder gentleman. Allow me to in. love me, don't hiss me at all." wai9'doing at Kirby Park -he had the troduce you to my wife." She was in his arms, clinging to him, uaino on his cards as if it belonged to i She was then introduced to the hot upturned face aglow with passion. um -and excitement at the thought ' younger man, Captain King, who be gad ate lova, almost before he had spoken hat she was about at last to solve the , to bo allowed to drive her iu theclog- the last words of his hasty outburst. nystery of his 000ppatiou added to the ; cart( and the other two drove in the leteriol Wost, money, jewelry, enanswer• 1 wild confusion in her mind. She had mail.phaston, in whioh Starry himself ed letters -all were forgotten, thrust ' dcometo t1 hoard of Kirby Park, but she could nob ha tUe ata ion. aside a8 matters to bo explained. here. 1 romomber when or how ; and the mob ; after or shelved es things of no account. Kirby lath 7Vaa only thuso•quai;ters extravagant guesses occurred to her as of a mile off. Tho house was a large Whomsoever he might have loved ip the 1 to the position ahe would find her bus- heavylooking building, whioh would past, he loved her now; whatever he land occupying. And through all herhave )(Jenugly but for the tress abont might have done, he was bolding her 1 motional() anger, her wish for revenge, it. The park in whioh it stood was an in his arms now; and ho might condos- 1 'or wander, and her sorrow there wag , extremely .beautiful one; and, as the ceud to prove hie innocence of every dogcart followed the °thee earrings up charge slip might bring against bim, or 1ml Ct he might treat them with contemptuousp�r silence -be was her husband, ahe loved (�} O him, be loved her -what else couldmat. p CD ter at that moment ?„id It was not until they were sitting side ' <1 C+ 0 by side on the sofa in the twilight that W I-� some words of his roused 113 her the S. 0 Fes'' membrane() df the grievances with p_.a„ l� whioh she had come armed. 1 �'d ”±Shy didn't you come before, my � o Ex) darling ? I have been longing for a Ex) sight of you ; and the only glimpses I It este H got of you were on the stage," " But why was that? Why didn't (1) you come and see me, or send for nee ?" "How could I when you were so dis. 1--b /71 gusted with me ?" Annie's face fell, A cloud had come over this new happiness already, He bad himself reminded be of his own ��-y delinquencies, which she had been ready 1 1 F .;. enough, in the first flush of this joy in �' her husband's society, to believe untrue, RR"� " I think," said she, drawing herband Z" F; out of his instinctively, "that I had F�-1 Z� reason to be." e� But S don't think you had any," said "<' • he earnestly. " I know you will be able 1 to CD 0 tip res' po 0 ray (D e-= V 0 2. ff )' A 1. prove you were right, because you are so ranch cleverer than nee that what yon say always sounds right, even when !can't help thinking you're really wrong, after all-" " Well, prove that I had no reason to bo annoyed and disgusted -if you 0911." " Don't speak so coldly to me then, and I will tell yon what I think; but I can't if you turn away your head so stiffly and speak jest as if I were the old Harry that you used to hate," " I'm not euro that I don't hate you till I hear what you have to say for yourself." "Yes, you aro," said Harry, twining her arm about his neck with confidence, "You needn't think I'm so simple as 901 to know the difference between Annie who is sweet out of duty and Annie who is sweet out of pleasure," " Go on with your explanations." " Well, you were disgusted with me, and thought I was degrading myself." "Stephen told you that 1" " Yes, and that you thought it nearly as naa a8 being a groom, and declarer( a 1-^-1 should give it up m a month and idle C"t' - vete about again, and that it would take youcate a long time to get used to having a @<6d C- 1 171 trainer for a husband." "Stephen -told you -that 1" tete 11-1 "Yes, of course ; he was bound to tell tees 300 all you said." " Ail -I -said ?"0 " Yes, yes. Ab, you're sorry now, aren't you, my darling? You see you 11 wanted me to work, and there is nothing �y else len fit for, unless I had gone for a soldier or sailor. And you see Pm not 0 in a bib horsier than I was before. You needn't oven know I'm a trainer. unless v you like. I bad all the whips taken out of the hall to -day, and I hid my spurs and top -boots and things that were 1` 1 Jviag about my room, so that you 2130011 t V it It be reminded more of it than 1 could Help, And see -I've taken out my Ittd , CD 110,20.shoe pit ; and I've shut up the sees in the stable and— Annie, An. nie, what are you crying for?" S +;g " 1-7 don't know in the least. Go 02 olees 013," " Well, you see it did seem rather - rough on a fellow, when I was doing my C- a, -best, and not drinking -and working 6mi hard so that I might have you with Inc 1—a • -when you hardly ever wrote, and only . answered about one out of three of my 0 letters. I know they weren't spelt pro- cl,. CD perly, but if you knew how I hate wri- tt;g ting, and what a trouble even a short "SI note is to me -I never seem to be able to say what I mean in a letter, some- how, while your letters aro just like talking -I think, ifyou knew how I bate it, you would anewer more often than you do." C'i O" Annie raised her eyes, with a startled (D expression, to his loos, ( ) " i don't understand," said she slow- 1- i ly. "I answered all your notes -they 02 were very few -and I wrote you a long letter begging you to let me come and see you; did you get that ? In it I told you I should be proud of the work you • were doing, whatever it was. Did you get that letter, Harry 2" Fre was startled in his turn, and sat looking at her for a few moments in be- wilderment. Suddenly Annie sprung up, trembling.' "Hairy," said she, in a low voice. "tell me quick -did you get the let- ter ?" ' No," "Did yon -did you ever receive) any- thing sent to you by me?" " Oh, yes -I got three or four let- ters 1 " "Nothing also? " she asked breath. toasty, Yes ; mute you sent me some roe - and -white flowers, I've got them in my pocket -book." " But -but, Harry -think well, dear, dear Harry, please -didn't you receive anything else from me?" ' Anything else ? No, I think not -I am sure not, for I slimed never forgot anything you had sent me, Annie." " Yon never received, for instance---" "Well, what? What is the matter, Annie? What did you think 1 received?" "Yee never had -money or -jewel- ry ?" "from you, Annie? No, certainly not1" She sank at bus foot and put her head on hie knees iu a passion of tears. " Thauk heaven 1 Oh, Herr1', 1 am so Happy 1 And yet something frightens me," sit° sobbed ; whale ho looked dawn at liar, utterly puzzled and astonished. " Whab'do you mean, Annie ? What money -what jewelry?" "Nothing -nothing 1 1-I don't know what I am talking about," " But I mast know. Now, darling, tell me," "Will you listen quietly then, and not TO 13F' 0ONTIN(TBD. P