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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1887-5-13, Page 7MAY 1$2 aralMaCeeeMenanteeleararzWileroW TH THE ACTRESS' DAUGRTER' i EISTR,PSS OP 1tICEIOND ROUmI7, A TALE dais iVICONG AIM REIIIUIIMJE, — By 'Mrs. MAY AGNES F EMING, Author Last Afar a iVoram'?"TMIRO Percy% M1ooret," lite., Eta torturer, and atraugled him fn my own death throes !" Again she laughed, and looked up in his face with her gleaming eyes. "My dear, you are hysterical," he said, in alarm. "Be calm; do not ex- cite yourself so. I always knew you were wild ; but positively this is the very superlative of wildest. To -morrow you will feel better, Georgia." "Oh, yes—tomorrow, when I shall have bogged her pardon 1 Listen,Rioh- mond, do you know what I wished to- night ?" No, dear Georgia ; what was it ?" "it was, Richmond, that I had never married you 1" CHAPTER XV. SOWING TEE WIND. Merry days were those in Richmond :}louse, with the old hall resonnding with music and laughter, and the hum of gay voices, from morning till night. Astonished and awed were the people of Burnfield by the glittering throng of city fashionables who promenaded their streets and swept past them in the sweeping amplitude of flashing silks and rich velvet and furs. As for our city friends themselves, the ladies pronounc- ed the place "horrid stupid;" but, as the young gentlemen, with one or two ex. ceptions, found the couutry girls exceed. ingly willing to be flirted with, they rather liked it than otherwise. A proud man was the Reverend Mr. Barebones the first Sunday after their arrival, when the bewildering throng flashed into the meotiug-house, and, with a great rustle of silks and satins, and an intoxicating odor of earl da Oologna, filled the two large front pews that from time immemorial had be- longed to Richmond House. It was not religion altogether that brought them -- at least, not all. Languid. Miss lioid, for instance ,went boeanso the rest d.d, and it was less trouble to go than t, form excuses for staying; and ttei quintessence of exquisiteness. Mr. Aa phos Lester, who was tender ou t..,. young lady, went because she did, M '- Harper went because Captain A r ,"• was goiug, and Miss Freda} 1 el„ ui. went because she was a very ciaaa young lady and it was "proper" to divine worship, Sad hiss Riuluuc ; never shocked tho proprici:u:+. Ocie went because sho had to, and Lieu, ant Gleason and his father wout to loll time, which always bung heavy ou their bands ou Sundays. Of tho whole parts, only Master Henry Gleason and Mr. Curtis were absent, Master Henry hav- ing pronounced the whole establishment of Christian churches on earth and their attendant Christian ministers "Horrid old bores," declared his intention of stay- ing at home and having a "jolly good snooze." Every one seemed to have enjoyed themselves the past week at Richmond House but its yyoung mistress. There were rides, ana. drives, and excursions during tho day, and sailing parties on the river in Mr. Wildair's yacht ; and there were dancing, and music, and act- ing charades, and•all sorts of amusements for the evening, into which allthe young people entered with eager zest—all but Georgia. Those days, few as they were, had wrought a marked change in her. The flush of health and happiness had faded from her cheeks, leaving only two dark purple spots, that burned there like tongues of flame ; her eye had lost its sparkle, her brow was worn and hag- gard, and her step was slow and weary. She lived in daily martyrdom, such as none but a spirit so morbidly proud and keenly sensitive - can comprehend. Slights, insults, and little galling riots of altalice, "making up in number what they wanted in weight," were daily to be borne now from hor supercilious mother-in-law and her malioioue, in. solent shadow and oche, Miss Richmond. And those were offered openly, in the presence of all; not an opportunity was allowed to escape of mortifying her, un- til sometimes, wild and nearly madden- ed, she would fly up to, hor ;room, and, alone and frenzied, struggle with the storm raging in hor heart. Richmond, absorbed in attending to the comfort , and amusement of his guests, knew nothing of all this. It was not their policy to let him suspect their dielike—yes, hatred of his bride; mid, as they well knew, the rest, who saw ib all, would not venture to speak on so delicate a subject to their proud hest. It is true he saw the change in Georgia's th face, and e freezing coldness her man- ners were assuming to all, even to him ; but!]rom some artfully dropped hints of immaculate Miss Y reddy s, he set down to stubborn sullenness. And, be- lieving her to be incorrigible in her dis- agreeableness and insubordination. he grew markedly reserved and cold when alone in her society; and thus the mis- uuderstanding between them daily avid- onod. Georgia was too proud to complain of what she herself suffered and endured -'-she was dumb; and indeed, if she had been inclined, she would have found it bad to make out a list of hor '.griev- ances and relate them, for Miss Freddy 's insults were offered in snob a way, that, keenly as they struck home, they dwindled into nothing when related to a thi d t Had t b en so bsorb- ed in the dutice of hospitality, and Striv- ing to atony for hie wife's noglecb, he might have seen for himself; bub he was blind and deaf to all, and only sGW her aneearteeus treatment of his friends and her wifely disobedience. And before long—no one scarcely know how—Oeor- gia was pushed aside, and Mrs. Wildair and Freddy began to take the part of hostess, and Richmond looked on and tacitly consented. All were consulted in theirplans and amusements but Georgia; she was overlooked, with the coolest and most insolent contempt; and if sometimes, as a matter of form, hor opinion was asked by either of the ladies, it was worded in such a way or uttered in such a tone as made it even a more galling insult. And Georgia, with a swelling heart, and her lips com- pressed in proud, bitter endurance, con- sented to have her place usurped with- out a word or attempt to regain it. With a heart that underneath all her calmness seemed ready to burst at such times, she would refuse to accompany them, pleading indisposition, or some- times giving no reason at all; and I1Irs. Wildair would torn away with an in- different, "Oh, very well, just as you please," and Richmond would say noth- ing at the time, until he would find her alone, and then he would coldly begin : "Mrs. Wildair, may I beg to know the reason you will not honor us with your company tomorrow ?" "Because I do not wish to," she would flash, with her old defiance flamiug up in her dusky eyes. "Because you do not wish to! Inso- lent ! Madam, I insist upon your ac- companying us to -morrow!" "You find my society so brilliant and agreeable, no doubt, that my absence will destroy your pleasure," she would say, with a bitter laugh that jarred painfully on the ear. "No, madam, I regret to say that your fixed determination to disobey me, and be uncourteous and disagreeable, is being carried out in the very letter and Spirit. Still I cannot allow my guests to bo treated with such marked dis- courtesy. re courtesy. 1 have some gand for the laws of hospitality, if you have not. Therefore, Mrs. Wildair, you will pre- pare to join our party to -morrow." "And if Irefuse?" His oyo flashed, and his mouth grew stern. "You will be sorry for it l Do not at-. tempt such a thing ! You may disobey, but you shall not trifle with me." She lifted her eyes, and he would see a face so haggard and utterly wretched that his heart would melt, and he would go over and put his arm around her, and say, gently : "Come, Georgia, be reasonable. What evil spirit has got into you of late ? Why will you persist in treating our friends in this way ?" " Our friends ! — your friends, you mean?" It is all the same ; for my sake you ought to treat my friends differently." Hex heart swelled and her lip quiv. ered. Yes, his friends might slight and insult her, but she was to put her head under their heel, and smile on those who crushed her. „Weil Georgia, yon do not speak," he would Geo say watcing her closely. "Mr. Wildair, I have nothing to say. Your mother and cousin are mistresses here; my part is to stand aside and obey them. If yon command mo to go to-morrow,I have no alternative. I am still capable of subnaitting to a great deal, sooner than willingly displease you." "My mother and cousin undertook no authority here,Georgia, until you neg- lected all your duties as hostess, and they were obliged to do so. It is all your own fault, and you know it, Georgia." She smiled bitterly. "We will not discuss the subject, if you please, Richmond. I make no Qom. plaint; they are welcome to do as they please, and all I ask for is the same privilege. I cannot have it, it appears, and—I will go to -morrow, since you insist ; my absence or presence will make little difference to your friends. ' "Georgia, why will you persist in this absurd nonsense?" ho would exclaim, almost angrily. " Really, you aro enough to try the patience of a saint. I wisp some of this foolish, morbid pride of yours had been kept where it came from, and a little plain, practical common sense put in its plane. You have taken a most unaccountable pre- judice to my mdther and cousin, which, if you had that regard for mo you pro- fess, you certainly would not pain me by displaying; in fact, you resolved frpiil the first to dislike. all I invited, and you have kept that resolve wonder. fylly well 1 must say, except as regards the two Arlingfords, towards whom you evince a partiality' that makes' your neglect of the rest all the more glaring. It is certainly a pity that you did not receive the education of a lady, Geor- gia, and then cemmou politeness would teach you to act differently." In silence, and with a curling lip and. an unutterable depth of scorn in her beautiful' eye, Georgia would listen to this conjugal tiradoi but her lips were sealed; and Riohmofld, indignant and deeply offended, would leave the room, and the next moment; all smiles and suavity,,rejoin his guests. And Georgia, left alone, would press her hand to her breast with that feeling of suffocation rising again, until the very 011 of the perfumed room would soenr to stifle her. And such scones as this were of frequent occurrence now, and One and all sank deep in her heath,to rankle there in, angnish and bitterness untold. Perhaps it mayseem strange that Mrs. Wildair apd Miss Richmond should Kato Georgia, but so it was. Mrs. Wildair was the haughtiest, the most ' overbearing, and the most ambitions of women. Her sons were her pride and her boast, in public as well as in private, and she had often boon hoard to declare that they should marry among the highest • in the band, and perpetuate the auoientgglory of the Riebmonds. When Charley had disappointed all this ex- pectation, and had become an alien from her heart and home, the shook, given more to hor ambition than to her affections, was terrible, and when she recovered from it, all hopes centered in her firstborn, Richmond, There was an English lady of rank, the daughter of an earl, et that time visiting an acquaintance of Mrs. Wildair M New York, and to this high-born girl did she lift hor eyes and determineupon as her future daughter-in-law. But be. fore she had time to write to Richmond, and desire him to return home for that purpose, his letter came, and there she road the quiet announcement that, in a week or two, ho was to be married in Barnfield to a young, penniless girl, "rich alone in beauty," he wrote. Mrs. Wildair sat fairly stunned by the shock. Down came hor gilded core - noted r'Iuaeas d' Espupna wish a crash to rise no more. Her son was his own master; she knew his strong, deter- mined, unconquerable will of old, to combat which was like beating the air. Nothing remained for her but to con- sent, which she did with a bitter hatred against the unconscious object that had thwarted her burning in her heart, and a determination to make her pay clearly for what she had done, which resolution she proceeded to carry into effect the moment she arrived in Richmond House. "To think that sho—a thing like that—sprung from the dregs of the city, for slie is not even an honest farmer's daughter—should have dared to become my son's wife," she said, hissing the words through her clenched teeth; "a low wretch, pinked out of the slime and slough of the city filth, to come between me and my son. Ola I was Charley's act not degradation enough, that this must fall upon us, too ?" "Let us hope, my dear aunt, that tho place sho has had the effrontery to usurp will not long be hers," murmured the dulcet voice of her niece, to whom she had spoken. "We have built up already a wall of brass between them, and I have a plan in my head that will transform it to one of fire. Recollect, aunt, divorces are easily obtained, and then your son will be free once more, and our queeuly pauper will be igno- miniously cast back into the slime she rose from." Miss Freddy's ,hatred came from pretty much the same cause as Mrs. Wildair's. In any case she would have considered it her duty to follow that lady's lead; but now she had her own private reasons for hating her with all tho bitter intensity of a mean little mind. Miss Freddy was to have married Charley, and was quite ready and willing to do so at a moment's notice, but in hor secret heart she would have far preferred his elder brother. Differ- ing from the rest of the world, Rich- mond, "from boyhood's hours," had been her favorite; but when she saw his mother's hopes aspire to a coronet and a. title, she was overawed, and made up her mind to be oast into the shade. To be rivaled by a ladylike this could bo borne, but that a peasant girl—a nameless, unknown girl—should win the prize for which she had sought in vain —oh 1 it was a humiliation not to be en- dured. So she entered heart and soul into all hor aunt's plans, and von that lady's approbation for her dutiful con- duct, while she carefully concealed her own motives. And this, then, was the secret cause of Georgia's persecutions. The "wall of firs" the amiable young lady had referred to.was to make Rich. mond jealous. Now, jealousy was never a fault of his, but artful people can work wonders, and Miss Freddy went carbfully, but surely, to work, with Mrs. Wildair for hor staunch backer. And Georgia, all unconscious, walked head- long into the snare laid for hor. As her husband had said, the Arling. fords were the only ones Georgia could at all endure. Tho frank, genial, honest straightforwardness of the brother and sister pleased her ; and, indignant at the treatment so openly offered her, they devoted themselves in every way to interest and amuse her. And Miss Freddy seeing this her little keen eyes fairly snapped with gratification, and by a thousand little devices and pretenses she would manage to dispose of the sister, and leave Georgia altogether to bo entertained by the brother. And then the attention of the company world be artfully directed to the twain who were so much together, and Richmond would hear froti' one and another: • "What friends Mrs. Georgia" (so sho was called to distinguish her from the other) "and Captain Arlingford are!". "How very'intimato they are 1", "Yes,, inded ; just see how she smiles upon him—don't- you think,sher hand- s&me when she Smiles?" "Very much so. Captain Arlingford seems to think so, too. What a'piity he is the only one she will honor by one of them," "Well,' it is fortunate she has' met' some 0110 who can please her --she seems so dull, poor, thing 1" "A handsome man like Captain Arling- ford does not find it very hard, to bo agreeable,1fitful ; he is decidedly the bestlooking young man here,'. "Mrs. 'Georgia's opinion exactly," said Misp Raper, sending a spitefyi glance at the unoonscfous objectsof these re- marks, who sat conversing on a sofa at same distance. el asked her yesterday, and slie said, 'Yes, she, thought he most decidedly was.' ' "Poor, dear .Georgia 1" chimed in Miss Freddy,lookin" tenderly toward her; ant so glad the likes him; elle seeing to like so few, and indeed nobody coolcl help liking him, ho is so charming. What a nice nose, and lovely'eaustaobo, acid sweet curling hair he has, to bo sure l" "And, by, George 1 he shows hie good caste, too, in flitting with the prettiest woman among you," exclaimedPfarry Gleason, bluntly, "Arlingford knows what's what, I tell you; he'll go le and win, Pll bet I" Now these remarks, though at first he paid no attention to them beyond what the wade conveyed, jarrod disagreeably on Richmond's mind. But as days passed on and they grow more frequent and more meaning in tone, and he saw the curious expression ofhis mother's Face as she watched them, and saw his cousin look first at them and then at him with a sort of anxiety and tendon pity, he felt a growing disagreeable sen- sation of uneasiness for which he could hardly account. Even to himself he was ashamed to own ho was jealous of Georgia—his true -hearted, pure -minded Georgia, whom he had never known to be guilty of a dishonorable thought in her life. Fiery, 'rash, high-spirited she was, but treacherous, deceitful, wicked she was not. He could have staked his soul upon her truth, and'yot—and yet by slow degrees the poison began to anter bis mind, and he commenced to watch his wife with an angry, suspicious eye. Oh, Richmond I Richmond ! that you should fall so low as this 1 You whom Goorgi' once regarded as a demi-god' you whom she still believes, in spite of your sorrowful misunderstanding, every. thing that is upright and true; you whom, had heaven, and earth, and hada accused of infidelity, she would not have believed. And now, you are rowing jealous of your rash but lad - hearted wife, whom you have complete- ly neglected yourself to attend to others. Oh, Richmond 1 "Really, nay dear, you are a jewel without pries—wortk a million in cash 1" exclaimed Mrs. Wildair to Freddy, de- lighted at the success of her diabolical scheme. "Your plan has succeeded be- yond all nay expectations. 'I really did not think you could make Richmond jealous without alai him, ming `Sud put- ting him on hisguard against us ; but, positively, he is growing jealous as a Turk, and never suspects either of us in the least." Miss Freddy smiled her sinister and most evil smile. "Poor Richmond ! What a hard time be is goingto have of it with the green- eyed monster 1 And how delightfully unconscious Mrs. Georgia walks into the pit with her oyes opens Really, it is as good as a farce I Oh, the stupidity of these earthworms!" "Poor Rich 1 he did look so deliciously miserable tonight when he saw those two sitting together in a corner bythem. over those prints, just as innocent as a couple of angels." And both ladies leaned back in their seats and laughed immoderately. Poor Georgia! the sky was rapidly darkening around her, though this, the blackest aloud, was still invisible to her eyes. Sometimes, in her desolation, it seemed to her as if she had not a sin- gle friend in the world, for Emily never ventured near Richmond House now, and she had only seen Miss Jerushei once since her return. She could' not dis- simulate. She had tried ib in vain, and she would not bring her haggard face and anguished eyes to tell the tale her tongue was too proud to speak. ; So she'. did not visit the cottage, ,until at last' Miss Jerusha grow seriously uneasy, and resolved to brave all obstacles, the im- pudent footmen included, and go up• to the house and see Georgia. Until she was fairly gone, Miss Joru- sha had never known how large a share of her heart her ,;n•otepea had monopo- lized ; and so, worthy reader, behold her arrayed in that respected"kalilcer goowud" you aro acquainted with, for brown silk could not be worn on a week day, with the lady 'shawl, and a pink calico sunbonnet, a recent addition to her wardrobe, knocking at the hall door of Richmond House. It was some time in the afternoon, and the household were dressing for dinner, and so the servant told her, re- spectfully enough, for hor first visit had taught them a lesson they {lid not soon forget. 1 you gib out l" said Miss Jer- usha, nVegnantly, "and it nigh onto four *lock. Don't tall me no such stuff 1 Jhst be off and tell Georgey I want to see her. Clear 1" Tho man hesitated. Miss Jerusha looked dangerous; he expected the au. ner-bell to ring every moment, and his mistress was in her room ; so while he stood hesitating a rustling of silk was hoard behind him, andtbe next moment Mrs. Wildair stood gazing in haughty sur- prise at the intruder. Now, Mrs. -Midair knew well enough who Miss Jerusha was; her niece had pointed her out one day; but, as this was an excellentopportunity for morti.. fying Georgia, sho chose to be quite ignorant of the matrer. "What is this ?" she said, stepping back haughtily. "What does she want P Wil- son, bow darn you allow beggars to eater the hall door ?" "She—sho ain't no beggar, ma'am," said Wilson, abating an apprehensive glance at Miss Jerusha, "she's—" "I don't ogre' what she le. Personp of leer class should go round to the kitohal door. Send her out, and let her go there if she wants anything' ogclaimed Mts. Wildair, sharply. Up to this point Misa Jerusha had stood fairly stupefied I She mistaken for a beggar 1 She—Miss Jerusha Glory Ann Skamp—whose ward was lady of this great house 1 For an instant she. was speechless, with the blood of all the Skanips boiling within her, and 'then she burst out "Why, on 'roller old lantern-jawed ni.ftiazleii, be -flowered, impidorit old woman 1 to call me a beggar 1 Oh, my gracious1 to think,1 should be called that in my old ages o' life ? A beggarl My -y -y conscience! 11 you hey the irnprdence to call me that agin, "Turn her out, she is Crazy I turn her out, I tellyou," said Mrs. Wildair, white with passion. "Do you hear me, Wil- son ? turn this old wretch out." The noise had now brought a crowd down into the hall, who stood gazing mingled curiosity and amusement on thisscene botwoen the lady and the beggar, as they supposed her to be. "'Euro mo out! Let them try it!" exclaimed Miss Jerusha, looking daggers at the startled Wilson. "Do you hero me, sir ? Am I to be obeyed? Turn this woman out," said Mrs. Wildair, stamping her foot. "'Touch ter if you darn 1" screamed a fierce voice; and Georgia, with blazing eyes and passionate face, rushed through the crowd, flashed past Mrs. Midair, and stood, white, panting, and fierce, like a hunted stag at bay, beside Miss Jerusha. "Lay one finger on her at your peril ! How dare you, madam !" she almost screamed, facing round so suddenly on the startled lady that she recoiled. "How dare you order her out —how dare you do it ?" "Really, young lady," said Mrs. Wild - air, recovering hor calm hauteur, "this is most extraordinary language ad- dressed to mo. I was not aware that persons in her condition were ever re- ceived in my sou's hoose." "Then learn it now," said Georgia, fiercely; "while I am here, this house shall be free to her in spite of you all. Perhaps you are not aware, madam, who she is." "Some of your relations, most pro- bably," said Mrs. Wildair, with a wither. ing sneer. "She looks like it." "Mother 1 Georgia ! What in the name of wonder is all this 9" exclaimed a hurried, startled voice ; and Richmond Wildair, pale and excited, made his way toward them. It means, sir, that I have been grossly insulted by your wife," said Mrs. Wildair, her very lips white and trem- bling with anger ; "insulted, too, in the presence of your guests ; spoken to as I never was spoken to before in my life." "Mother, for mercy's sake, bash 1" he said, in a fierce whisper, his face trim. son with shame. "And, Georgia, ii: you ever loved me, retire to your room now, and make no exhibition before these people. Miss Jerusha, persuade her to go, before I am eternally disgraced." "Come, honey, come; I''1 go with you," said Miss Jerusha, tremulously, quite nervous at this unexpected scene. With heaving bosom and flashing eyes Georgia stood, terrible in her roused wrath, as a priestess of doom. Miss Jerusha put her arm around her and coaxingly drew her along, and passed with her into the empty breakfast par- lor near. Whoa she was gone Rich- mond turned to his guests, who stood gazing at each other in consternation, and forcing a smile, said : "My friends, you must be surprised at this extraordinary scene, but it will not appear so extraordivary when explained. The singular sort of person who was the cause of all this was a sort of guardian of my wife, and upon her entrance here my mother, deceived by her singular dress, mistook her for a beggar, and ordered hor out. An altercation ensued, which my wife overheard, and indignant at what she supposed a direct intentional insult to her old friend, rushed down, and in the excitement of the moment, thoughtlessly uttered the hasty words you have all overheard. Mother, I beg you will think no more about it ; no one will regret them more than Georgia herself when sho cools down. And, now, there goes the dinner -bell; so, my friends, we will forgot this disagreeable little scone, and not let it spoil our appe- tites." With a faint smile ho offered his aim to Mrs. Gleason, and led tho way to the dining -room, saying, as be did so : "You will oblige me by presiding to- day, mother. Georgia, in her excite- ment, will not caro to return to table, I fancy." With a stiff bow Mrs. Wildair com- plied, and Richmond, beckoning to a servant, whispered : "Go to the parlor and request Mrs. Wildair, with my compliments, to retire to het own room, and say I wish her to remain there for the evening." "My dear cousin," said a low voice, and the small, sallow band of Freddy was laid on his arm, "allow me to go. It world mortify our proud Georgia to death to have such a message brought by a servant. Remember, she only spoke hastily, and wo must have con- sidoratigu for hor feelings." "My dear, kind little cousin," said Richmond, with emotion, as he pressed hor hand," she does not deserve this from yon. But go, lest site should make another scene before the servant." With her silky smile Freddy glided out and opened the parlor door without ceremony. Sitting on a sofa was Miss Ameba, while Georgia crouched before her, her fade bidden in her lap, her whole attitude so crushed, desolate, and fall of anguish, that it was no wonder Miss Jerusha was exclaiming between her sobs, "There, honey, there 1 don't fool it so. I wouldn't if I was you. 'Where's the hcod of minding of 'em at all. Don't, oney, don't I It's dretful to see you sol". 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