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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1887-8-19, Page 7I Audua'r 19, 1587, PUT ASUNDER; on, Lady Castlemaine's Divorce 1 fly BFR,T.IRA M. CLAY, dornoa or "s flounced Life," "gybe Enrl'x Accu. A dtruggle for " Hing," cru., etc., see. even into the neat' World. It gives me comfort to know that though the sun may cease to give light and the moon fall from the heavens, still our love shall live on." For all answer he drew her into the passionate clasp of his arms and kissed her. "Rudolph, yon forget all my warn- ings," she oried. "I have asked you to be so careful, and I am sure that gondolier will know what we are—that this is our honey -moon." "Never mind the gondolier," said Lord Castlemaine; "he has no eyes in the back of his head, and I should not care if he had. Who could help kissing the lips that utter such loving words ? Are you satisfied with my answers to your questions, Gertrude ?" "Yes," she replied ; "you have told me most of the ways in which love can die, and I find each of those ways barred to us. I shall remember the lovely moonlight night, and our con- versation as long as I live. How white the moonlight is, and how bright the sky! I wonder if Othello glided over these clear waters, thinking of the wife he was to murder." Lord Castlemaine started at these words. • What a horrible idea," he said, "to introduce on so fair a night—a morderi ed wife 1" I do not know much about the world, but it seems to me there aremany ways of killing wives. I would rather have my body slain than my heart broken." "Neither of these fates will be yours, my darling," he said, gently ; and when the dark after -days came, she remem- bered the words. "The bells have played, and the night is falling," said Lord Castlemaine. "Are you tired Gertrude?" "No," she replied, "I should never tire of this moon, and the shadows on the water. I feel just now as though I should like to go floating on forever, just as I am now, with you." He laughed. My dear child," he said, "you would grow cold, hungry, and thirsty in two hours ; there is such a difference be- tween romance and reality, between poetry and prose." "It does one good to forget the differ- ence sometimes," she said; "I forget it always when I am with you." "Thank you," he said. With swift, sure strokes the boat seemed to cleave the moonlit waters. Lady Castlemaine seemed suddenly to have grown grave. Rudolph, she said, "I have a strange feeling—a strange presentiment." "A bright one, I hope," he said. "No, it is not that," she answered, slowly. Tell it to me, my darling, and I will make it into a bright one for you," he said. "What is it, Gertrude ?".. "I feel as though this was the hap- piest night of my life," she said ; "as though no other could ever be so come plotely, so perfectly happy as this." "Why not 2" he: asked, wonderingly. "I cannot tell you, for I do not know. My thoughts are vague and indistinct as these beautiful shadows that lie on the water ; but I have a strange feeling that in the after -years I shall look back on this night as the happiest that ever fell to my lot." "Do you think the moon will never shine so brightlyagain2" he asked, laughingly; "or that the waters will not be so clear; with the quaint shadows falling over them ?" "It is not that," she said. "It seems to me that I myself shall never be the same. The difference will be with me, and not with my surrourdings." "It is all nonsense, Gertrude. Rely upon it, our happiness will last our lives, and wf.l rather increase than de. crease." And it seemed as though his words would come trim. They lingered for some time in beautiful Verdi*, and they went home by Switzerland and Ger. mTbey reached home in November. when the autumn was, almost ended and the snows of winter were beginning,. tp fall. Never was there such a royal welcome home. People said they would have gone many miles( to catch one glimpse of the bride's beautiful face. No won- der that hex husband worshiped her, No wonder thatehe was compared to a sunbeam, and a flower, and a star,' and everything else that was bright and beautiful. Her title had gone before het ; all who saw her admitted its truth she was like a lovely White Rose. "People could not have given her a fairer, truer name," every one agreed; I'm many generations there had not been so fair a bride at Neath, nor snob grand festivities, norsuch high meets. Every one was feasted and feted—no one was forgotten; and to this hour they talk in that part of the country of the day when ,her ladyship came home. There did not seem to be ones hadow on the sky, not one Sift in the lute, not ono thorn in the rose, not even a crushed rose -leaf, How would Isabel Hyde be able to keep her vow? CHAPTER 7i.. arta wuIte nose AT nom. Neath Abbey, as it stands now, is one of the finest old mansions in the land. No other name would suit it save "Abbey." It doss not look like a palace, a castle, a hall, or a manor, bet esman- tially an abbey, • The walle 'aro; of grey stone, and strong ae those of a fortress ; they axe egyororl with. thiols green ivy, that makes the whole place look beauti- ful, with tender green loveliness. The ivy has even climbed to the top of the lofty towers, and clings to the turrets, hanging in rich, thick elaeters. What is there more lovely in the world than the green ivy which groove on old wails? The windows aro large and arched ; around them twines every variety of old-fashioned flowers --the purple cle- matis, theriobly-tinted Virginia creep- ers, rich rod and white roses—but the large windows on the ground floor were all uniform; they were embowered in rich hanging clusters of white jossa- mine—much jessamine I with leaves so green and glossy, flowers so white and starry, that their equals could be found nowhere °lee. The whole building, with its ivy.olad towers and turrets, its large, arched windows, with its wreath of flowers, re. minded .one of the picturesque houses in the Christmas annual—it was so weird, so fanciful, ao picturesque. It stood in the midst of a magnificent park, where there was every variety of scenery. Dells where the green ferns grew; Mlle covered by trees, where tho giant oak and the stately beech reigned in glory; where the silvery larch and the slender poplar, the black thorn and the white thorn male "glory in summer and in autumn shade." The beauty of the park was that everywhere—from every hill, from every tree-orowned knoll—one could see the beautiful bine lines of the sea. ' The abbey stood high, and from all itswindows there was a glimpse of the sea that made the charm of the place. You could go through miles of the deep green woodlands,and the fair pine forest —.through the beautiful undulating park,. with its wealth of trues, and its herds of deer, and all the time, from one place to another, you could find a glimpse of the lovely sea. The beauty of the place was increas- ed by the fact that' many of the most picturesque parts of the old ruins still remained ; here an arch graceful and beautiful, a pillar, a wall, a broken door. way covered with ivy, a ruined sun -dial covered with moss. People came from far and near to sketch Neath Abbey with its picturesque relics of a bygone age. This home of which the White Rose was mistress was as beautiful in the in, terior as the exterior. There had been no time for redecorating or refurnishing it, but Lord Castlemaine had ordered to be prepared for this beautiful young wife one suite of rooms that had no par. allel for luxury or magnificence. He had won the White Rose fox himself, and it was his fancy that her rooms should be white. He ordered hangings of white satin and lame; he had all the furniture up- holstered in whits velvet, the hangings of the pretty bed were white silk, and everywhere was embroidered her em- blem—the white rose. It was some. thing like fairy-land—it was the envy and admiration of every one who saw it. The white rose was on the carpets, embroidered on the hangings, on the panels of the walls, on the backs of couchesand chairs—everywhere—"the sweetest emblem of the sweetest wife;" so Lord Castlemaine said, "in the wide world.',' Lady Castlemainoherself was much surprised and wholly charmed by the size and magnificence of Neath Abbey. She soon began to love theplace and share' her husband's pride in it... Yet the very first difference that came be- tween themwall over the. abbey., "Itis a grand old. plane, Gertrude," said Lord Castlemaine, as his eyes ling- ered proudly on the great, picturesque pile. "After all, the grandest thing about it is its antiquity." "Antiquity is not always the greatest charm to me," said Gertrude. "If the house were dark or gloomy, all the age in the world would not make me like it." "That is high treason, Gerttride," said her husband. She, proud as he, and ready to resent any contradiction, answered quickly: "No, it is not, Every one to his taste. I am no admirer of antiquity." "But, surely," he said, "you must see that it is the stamp of everything—old books, old friends, old timed, old rue, old family, an old house, old blood." There was more than a flashof prides in her manner as she turned to him, her bine eyes bright, and bur lips parted in a cold smile. "I de not agree with you, Rudolph," she said. "1 know many modern Mini. lime for instance, that are superior to the old ones. Tho old ones are lifitr, worn out, witboat any great or grand qualifications; the Dew ones are full 01 energy and untiring enterprise." She looked at him with something like the dtewn,of impatience in her eyes, "Take ens own families," she said, "Yours is old; you date from the Con- queror; you have all kinds of annals, legends, and traditions. My family is a new one; my father was a city knight, I do notknow that be could look back any further than his own great•grand• father—bet yon do not think your family any better than mine, do you?" She looked at hila so straight in the face, she asked the queation in such a a very direatfashion, that he Was, to say the least of ib, startled. He glanced at her in silence. . "Yon hear my qusation, Rudolph ?" she said. "Why do you not answer it? I ask you—do you really think your family ie any better than mine ?" The hot blood of the Castlemaines seemed to flash into his face and surge THE BRUSSELS POST through la heart as he answered; "If you Maid upon it, Gertrude, that I should reply to your }question, why, then, I most certainly do," Her face Rushed angrily, and some - thin RR of defiance shone in her eyyes. "Yon mean to say, Rudolph," she cried, "that you consider yourself than X?' "I did not say that, Gertrude," he an, severed. "It was a question of our fami- lies, not ourselves." "It im the same thing," she said, "No, it is not, Gertrude. Take you yourself, for instance ; I think you are peerlesa—tbare is no one in the wide world like you ; but it would bo absurd for me to say that your family is peer- less, and that there is no other like it," "Jut you maintain that your family is better?" she said. "Let us make a compromise, and say older than yours," cried Lord Castle. maine. She looked up at him with a sudden contrition and tenderness in her beauti. ful face, with tears half dimming her bine eyes. "0h, my darling," she said, "I was nearly quarreling with you!" With a sudden and impulsive movement un- utterably graceful she laid her arms round his neck and kissed bis face. "My love—my darling," she said, "I was nearly quarreling with you. How wicked I am—how oruel I am 1 I told you I was proud, Rudolph, but you would not behave me; you would per- sist in thinking that I was perfect and without faults. Now you see how proud I am—X have quarreled with you be- cause you said your family was better than mine." Even your pride is beautiful," said the young husband, touched by the caresses . and sweet words. The pity was that he did not always think so. She grow pale as she lay in his arms, and shuddered. "To think," she said, "that I have. been so near having my first quarrel with you, whom I love so dearly, and over anything so foolish as antiquity. I shall hate antiquity after this. Oh, Rudolph, hold me more closely to your heart, and promise me that you will never quarrel with me, no matter how bad-tempered or proud I sm." "I will never quarrel with you," he said, hissing the beautiful face over and over again. "How can I, when you are so sweet and loving? I think a quarrel between us would be but kisses, after all." Later on that same day, when Lord Castlemaine was enjoying. hie Alger fat - the pretty room which was cuffed his study, and which overlooked the avenue, she went to him, and, with one of ber graceful, caressing gestures that made her so charming, she laid her hand on her husband's face and raised it to her eyes. "Rudolph," she said, gently, "do you remember that night on the water at Venice when the moonlight was so bright, and we talked of all the fashions and ways in which love could die ?" "I remember well," he answered. "Did you tell me of one where hus- band and wife, having the same faults, grew tired of eaoh other, and their love ended in hate ? That will be our rock ahead," she continued, kissing the dark brows. I have been thinking it all over, and,I see that we have the same faults." "What are they?" he asked, just a little amused at her decision of'char- acter. "We are both proud," she replied. "You in one way, 1 in another, and we are both bad-tempered." "You have been making some grand' discoveries, Gertrude," he said. "I cannot quite plead guilty. I admit being proud, but I am not what people call bad-tempered. I am passionate— all the Castlomainee are passionate. I say or do a thing in hot haste, and theh I repent of it with all my heart; some- times the repentance comes too late. And you—how can you call yourself bad- tempered. I think you have the sweetest temper on earth." She laughed in well -pleased surprise. "X am glad you think so, Rudolph. I have found out another failing—that I did not know I possessed. I am afraid that I am just. a little jealous. Last evening when you admired Lady Hamil- ton, I wished that she were not so beautiful. I suppose that in all of us there are great possibilities, for good or for evil." "Your possibilitiee are all for good." said Lord Caetlematuo. And so the conversation ended. CHAPTER XI. A RED ROSE AT NEA'TH. It was a Week before Christmas, and the outside world was covered with snow —a white, bright world into which no sin or shame ought to enter. The wild went moaning through the great pine forest, and the sea lashed wildly on the shore. The snow lay on the ground and on the low branches of the pine trees; it Iay so soft and white on the ivy leaves. This year there was a magnificent quantity of holly at Neath-holly with glossy leaves and rich mimeos, berries; round the sturdy oaks in the park the mistletoe twined itself in abundance. Lord and Lady Castlemaine were seated in the library, a bright fire burned in the bright steel grate, the lamps were lighted andlooked like huge jewels; and, even though it was nearly Christmastime there were white roses M all stages, from the tiny sweet bud to the full blown' dower.. Lord. Castlo- maino had given bis head pardoner hi- struotions thatno matter What the cost or the trouble he must have White cones in bloom all the year round. He could lake the large conservatory far the purpose, ere another could be built. No (matter what was done, white roses m;Ret be ready in buds and in flowers, alpha ymar roans: John Anderson, the bead gardener, looked at We lordship wbon he gave these directions. "If I am to do that, my lord," he said, "I shall want 'author assiajtaat. It will take all one man's time," "If it takes twenty men, it numb be done," said his lordship ; and theoce- forth John Anderson made it his Wei. noes to oultivete plenty of white rosea, end to bring them to perfection. So tble Ohristmas'time they stood in the bloom andfragrauce of summer. Lady Castlemaine was leaning back in her favorite arm -chair. She wore an evening -dress of black velvet; one ex. quisite rose nestled in her golden hair, and ono in the bodice of her dream. Husband and wife were quite alone, and they were malting up the list of geoids to be invited for Christmas, This was the month of December, and they had been married in May ; yet Lord Castle- maine was a lover still, Ho kept all his love and his worship of his wife pure and unsullied; ho had not taken one thought from her to give to another. Now, as she hold a Bible jeweled peneil•case in ber band, writing down a name every now and then, he thought to himself that he had never soon such a lovely white band, so slender and so shapely, with diamonds on it that were like points of flame. Tho first and foremost name men- tioned between them was that of Isabel Hyde. Lady Castlemaine looked at her husband with a bright smile. "I am more anxious to see Isabel than any one else; and I think," sho added, slyly, "that I might ask her alone, without Lady Cresson. I am almost ashamed to say it, but there ie something about her which I do not un- derstand and I do not quite like." "I like Lady Cresson," said the earl, decidedly. "She was always very polite and kind to me." Then, shall I write and invite her ?" asked Lady Castlemaine. "No. As you say, you will play chyle. rose to Isabel Hyde. It will be more amusing to have young people in the house.' So the name of Isabel. Hyde headed the list. "She will be sure, to come, I think," said Lady Castlemaine. "She was very much attached to hie, and she was also my chief bridesmaid.' "Yes. Do you think l have forgotten ? Why, Gertrude, every detail of that day remains as clear and vivid as can be." He bent forward as though he would kiss her, but she raised her white, jew- eled hands with a pretty gesture of au- thority. "No, Rudolph; I have no time for love -making just now," she said. "We are already late with this list, and the letter must go tonight. I hope Isabel Hyde will come." "I think you •may be quite sure of it," said Lord Castlemaine. + "Gertrude, what shall we do to amuse our guests ?" "We shall find plenty of'amusemeut," she said ; "we will have balls and dances, and we will play all kinds of games in these great, beautiful halls. I am half ashamed to confess it, but when I see these great staircases and passages, I long for a game at bids -and - seek." IIelaughed. "We will have a game in Christmas week," he said. • Then the letters were written and disppatched.. When that letter of invitation reached Isabel Hyde, she took it to Lady Ores. son. "What shall I do ?" she asked. "What you like, what you please," said Lady Cresson., "It will not bo a very agreeable thing to visit a man whom you failed to charm, and the woman who was the successful rival." "I think that I should like to. go, aunt," said she. "There is one thing certain ; such a visit will set you right in the eyes of the world. If ever there has been the faintest doubt over you, that will set it to "rest at once. Lady Castlemaine can never have been jealous of you, or she would not ask you to her house the first Christmas of her married life." "Certainly, she was never jealous of me," said the girl, proudly. "I made. many mistakes, but not that. I should like to go aunt. Gertrude always liked me. It is kind of her to think of me first." And a flush rose to the proud, beautiful face. Go, if you will, my dear; I have no objection. Your sisters will stay with me. Go ; but be prudent." "I have been too prudent," was the bitter rejoinder. "If I had been less prudent and more natural, I might bo Lady Castlemaine now." !1I am sure I with you were, with all my heart," sighed Lady ()reason. "So do I," sighed Isabel Hyde. The letter she wrote in reply delight. ed Lady Castlemaine ; it was so kind, so cordial, so full of delight at the thought of :meeting her again. Gertrude read it to her husband. He was not very deeply interested, although Ifo praised it. I consider Miss Hyde a sensible girl," he said. "She is coming to enjoy herself, and she is not ashamed to say so." The other visitorsdo not concern this story. .Isabel Hyde reached Neath Abbey on Christmas Eve, and for her there was quite a different reception to that a0. corded to other visitors. They wore made welcome enough, bntLady Castle. mama received Isabel is her ownu b o . noir; the beautiful room hung with White satin and lace, with the exquisite furniture upholstered in white velvet, and, although it was Christmas-time— the bloom and fragrance of white rosea Were everywhere. Lady Castlemaine looked as beautiful as her room. She wore a tea -gown, with a bewildorina little can on her golden hair, and was altogothe'r fair and moms levely to See. The jewels glistened on her white hands, the light played on the golden sheen of her hair and on the flower-like face. She wont forward With e bright, almost eager smile he Welcome Isabel Ilyele, She kissed the :dark, beautiful thee that smiled into herb; she uttered Wenn andfriondlpwor'ds of.Wblcoree. "I do not think," she said, "that either Lord Castlemaine, or I wonlq have.enjoyed Christmas without you." "1 thought yon would like "tea in my boudoir," continued Lady Castlemaine, "while I tell yen wl}o the other visitors are, and give you a , sketch of them. Some are quite strangorstoylou." Then the rival beauties had a quiet, comfortable.half-hour. They drank tea, and discussed the plans for the coming week. While Lady Castleivaine talked gayly, frankly, and happily, Isabel Hyde's eyes wandered round the room; she noted every detail'. "White roses everywhere," she said to herself "he keeps up the poetry of love. And all this ought to have been mine. If it had been mine, the Red Roes would have been where the Whim Ross now stands. It might have been mine. I loved him first, and I loved him best; she had no right to take him from me." These thoughts ran through het mind while Lady Castlemaine talked to her, believing that she was talking to one of the best and most sincere friends she had. Then they heard a footstep and the sound of a voice. Lady Castlemaine's fair face flushed suddenly—it always did when she heard her husband com- ing. The face of Isabel Hyde turned deadly white—so white that she bent over the table to conceal it. "Welcome to Neath 1" cried Lord Castlemaine, in a gentle voice, as Ise held out his hand to Miss Hyde. "I hardly expected when we fust became Wendt( that you would brighten and honor the old abbey by your presence." Kindly sounding words but the in. ference drawn from them by that jealous heart was : Ah I then he never could for one mo• went have dreamed of making me the abbey's mistress.!' He did not understand why the light seemed to flash so suddenly from her eyes into his. If he had known her as she was,he would have struck from him the white bands held out to him ; he would have turned in utter loathing from the beautiful face; .he would have prayed Heaven to save him from this, his groat• est ifoe. As it was, he saw only her beauty and her grace; he beard only the kindness in her voice, and he thought to himself that he and his wife were very fortunate in this friendship. "I will take a cup of tea, Gertrude," he said, and there could not have been a prettier or more homely picture thea the luxurious boudoir -the pretty table, with the bright silver and delicate china, and the three handsome people round it. They talked and laughed so happily, so gayly, one would never have sus• emoted a cloud in the sky—much less would one have suspected even the dawn of a tragedy. But while Isabel Hyde looked bright and happy, she was going over and over again in her own mind the hour of that marriage service. She stood again in the church whisper- ing to the white ljlecs that she would part them yet—conic what rigid, come what might, she would part ahem yet. And she meant tokeep her vow. CHAPTER XIL SOWING THE SEED. . Christmas week at Neath Abbey passed very pleasantly. Lord Castle- maine was one of the most genial and kindly of hosts; Lady Castlemaine one of the most graceful' and thoughtful el hostesses. ' The favorite guest ' was Isabel Hyde; every one saw it but tie one felt hurt or envious. It was well known that Miss Hyde had been Lady Castlemaine's: chief bridesmaid, and that they were on very affectionate terms. Many a cozy half-hour in the warm, luxurious boudoir did the two friends pass together, many a -ramble in the frosty woods did they take together. True friendship, sincerity and honesty on one side ; treachery and the desire for vengeance on the other. "You must be very happy," said Isabel Hyde to Lady Castlemaine, "There does not seem to be one thing wanting to make your life perfect." "I do not think there is," replied the young countess. "I ought 'to be very grateful, and I am grateful." "It is not often," said Isabel Hydo, "that one marries for love, yet has all that this world can give besides.". "Not often," replied Lady Castle. mains, "but that has been my forbuuate fate." "Then she did marry for love;' thought Isabel. "All the worse for ber." Lady Castlemaine raised a bright, smiling face to hers. "!There iaejnst one thing I want in the world," she said, "and one only." "What is that?" asked Isabel. "I bave the best and dearest husband in .the world—I have the kindest and best of, mothers; bat I have no sisters. The only one thing I want in this world it a friend; a girl of my own age and el my own taste,withwhom I can talk about the things that interest mo, who 'would he something more to me than other girls --ea real, true friend. And whom do, yon think, I would dhcose fog Apt that friend if X could 2" "I do not know," said Isabel, with a Weep, sudden sinking of the hearlc. "TO BE coenim8».] 7 6,l1 0 h"'' P 0 0 1_14 01 CD f.�:y E 1-11 1-31—• .} Crg 02 tD s w CD IP' CD 0 - Vg C/2 ct- 0-1 c 6-%9J. Ug CD Cn ►' 1-r ° 0 1-1 CD 1. 1-'l 0 03 P 0 11 c 0" �ry 92. C'