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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1887-8-26, Page 7AucuiT `'2O, 1 w,s7 PUT ASUNDER' word antiquityi, "Was this file chanes, the opportunity, Oil, Lady Casticmaine's Divorce 1 By BERTHA M. LLAT, AUTHOR OJ "A 7annnled life," "Tho EarPM Atoll menti' "A Mirnagio for n mama' ij,' etc., eta., etc. • Treachery is not always free from pain. "You," said Lady Castlemaine. "I speak very frankly, and it is true. 01 all the girls I have met, I like you best. Will you be my true friend ? The dark face and the fair one drew nearer to each other. In the one heart was honest and loyal friendship ; in the other, bitterest hate and darkest perfidy. "I will," said Isabel Hyde. "Give me one kiss on the strength of it, just as a pledge," said Lady Castle. malne ; and the two beautifulfaoes met. "Now," said Lady Castlemaine, with a musical little laugh, "I have all that the world can give mo, But, Isabel, you look pale and tired." It was not so easy to look into this fair young face and give bo sign of the treachery at work. When Isabel Hyde kissed the lips of Gertrude Castlemaino, she said in her heart : "I willsupplautyoul" and she intended to keep her word. It is very sweet when it is true, this girl friendship, and Lady Castlemaine was exceedingly happy in it. Her husband had all the love of her heart, all her thoughts and cares, but kherewere many things she knew would not interest him, of which, young as she was, she liked to speak—dress, or- naments, parties, trivial stories of other girls—topics whioh would not have in- terested a man, but which were pleasant and natural enough to young girls. Lady Castlemaine and Isabel Hyde en. jived these themes. They discussed, as girl friends will, every topic under the sun—nothing escaped them. During these conversations, Isabel Hyde lay, as it were, in waiting for some indiscreet word the young wife might utter, by which she could make mischief, and so insert the thin end of the wedge. The time and the chance so patiently waited for came at last. Lady Castlemaine had made a very. fortunate discovery. She had heard' something of a very valuable picture that had been locked away in a lumber - room, and she went with Lord Castle. maine to see it. It proved to be a valuable work of art that by some mistake had been left in a lumber -room. A housemaid with a soul for art, had made the discovery, had spoken of it to a footman who wee an admirer of hers; he in his turn tolid the butler; the butler told Lord Castle- maine, and the result was the discovery of a most noble picture. While they were still in the lumber - room Lady ,Castlemaine looking idly around, saw an old carved oak chest; it seemed to have the rust of years upon it. "That is a find old chest," she said to her husband. "It is large enough to have held Ginevra," he replied. "I wonder," said Lady Castlemaine, "what is in it?" "I will soon see," replied the earl. When ib had been brushed free from dust and cobwebs he opened the lid. What should there be but untold treasures of richest lace—Valenciennes, rose -point, Venetian—all of it priceless. Lady;Castlemaine uttered a cry of joy when she behold it. Why it had been planed there no one know. "It was not my mother's," said Lord Castlemaine, "or I should have known something about it. It could not have been my grandmother's, or my mother would have known of its whereabouts. It has boon placed here for some safety in troubled times by some of the Ladies Castlesuaine—perhaps during the civil wars, or the War of the Roses—no one can tell when, It is a treasure-trove, Ger- trude. I am not much of a judge, but I never saw such lace in my life." "Nor have I," said Lady Castlemaine. They unfolded some more of it—lace so fine it could have been drawn through a wedding -ring, yet so strong that not a thread was broken. Flounces, shawls, veils, collars and cuffs—never was there such a rich collection. Lord Castle- maine gave it all to his wife. "You will bo the envy of every lady at court, and everywhere else, Gertrude," ho said, laughingly. "You will have the finest store of lass in England." It so happened that during Christmas week Lady Castlemaine told Isabel of the discovery, and took her into one of her wardrobe rooms to show her the treasure. Isabel was in raptures, her face was all smiles, her eyes bright, as she looked and listened; but in her heart she was Baying s "This should have been all mine ; he knew me first, and I loved him best. It should have been mine." "/ wonder, said Lady Castlemaine, in her simple, girlish fashion, "what mamma will say when she sees this ? She is a worshiper of lace ; she would rather at any time wear 'fine lace than diamonds." "I like both," said Isabel Hyde. '"I hope you will always have plenty of them," laughed Lady Castlemaine. "I understand how the antiquity of this makes it valuable. I do not care for antiquity, as a rule." She was silent for a minute, then she laughed. "Isabel," sho said, "do you know that I was once very nearly quarreling with my husband, with Rudolph, over that for which she was waiting ?" Isabel asked herself. "quarreled I" she repeated, "Nay, I could believe that the sun shone by night and the moon by day, but I could never believe that you bad quarreled with him," "I said almost," laughed Lady Castle- maine; "not quite. It was a narrow escape, though, You have no idea how conservative he is," "1 always thought so," said Isabel Hyde, "IIe never talked polities with me, or anything else much, except lova," said Lady Caetlomaine. "He thinks the greatest boast of a family is its an- tiquity, I do not. I think activity, anergy, and industry, earnestness and perseverance, the courage to do and to dare, aro all better than the antiquity that he upholds so strongly. My father was a city knight, a man who made bis own great fortune, and I think my family quite as good as the Castle- maines, He does not." ,"He would never say so ?" oris Isabel. Oh, yes he did. IIe made no secret of it. I told you we almost quarreled, Fortunately enough, I remsmberd just in time that it was not worth while offending him over such a thing ; but we did not agree." Ho converted you to bis way of tliinking,•I have no doubt," said Isabel, "Indeed he did not, and to tell the truth I feel some land of vexation when. over I think of it." "You have radical ideas, then," said Isabel. I do not know if that is all," laugh, ell Lady Castlemaine. "I am inclines to think that I was brought up to be: Novo a great deal of myself, and I do not think it pleased me to hear that mi husband's family was superior to mine.' '•Perhaps, though he said it, he div not mean it," remarked Isabel. ',Yes, he did. I should nob respect him if he had said what he did not mean," said Lady Castlemaine. "And that is the onfy point on whit* you have not agreed 2" asked .Isabel Hyde. "Yes, the only point," replied Lady daetiemaine. "It was not much, certainly," and the beautiful woman wondered if it were passible that she could construct the shin end of the wedge out of this. The next morning she was standing by the great window in the library by Lord Castlemaine's side, and they were rvatching some robin redbreasts out in the snow. Suddenly she laughed a little laugh of quiet amusement. "What are ydu thinking of, Miss IIyde," he asked. "It is almost cruel to keep anything amusing a secret." '"I do not know that my thoughts wore amusing, and they are no secret," ehe replied. "I was thinking of you :nd Gertrude." Wore you, and what were your thoughts 2" "You were such a conservative last rear, I remember, that I was surprised :t your enthusiasm." "I am conservative now," he replied, 'just as I was then." "Are you? I should hardly have Imagined it. I was thinking howstrange was that you should marry one who vas nos a conservative idea. Gertrude :muses me. She oonsiders the antiquity if a family to be its least recommenda- tion." Lord Castlemaine frowned, his brows harkened, he looked impatient. "Gertrude cannot mean such non. tense," he said, curtly. "Gertrude does mean it, with all her assert," laughedIsabel. It was te thin end of the wedge. Row clever she had been to Find it out. iter heart boat with delight as she saw the frown on bis face.. "Ile can frown when he thibks of ser,"she said to herself. "I shall win the victory and keep my vow." CHAPTER XIII. TEE WEAVING} or ANoSEEE WEn There are many people who honestly bolleye that when a woman is wicked, the is worse than a man clan possibly be, flow true this may be it is impossible to lay ; but no man, not even the most Nicked upon earth, could have sot to work in a more treacherous and de - berate manner to annihilate the hap- piness and mar the lives of two people, Shan did Isabel Hyde. She had done what she could in a small way to prevent this marriage, but she had no opportunities ; now she had every opportunity.' She was in the same house, under the same roof; she sons Iho bosom friend of the wife, she was a trusted and valued friend of the bus-, band. She had studied each separate' ihasacter; he know 'the strength and the weakness of each; she knew the faults and the virtues of each. She' saw that both were very proud, both' wilful ; that Lord Castlemainowas im- j patient, that he prided himself execs -I lively on the antiquity of his name and' race. That he,belonged to one of the. oldest families in En land was his great THE 1. 1- U SSELS POST they implicitly, and believe implicitly all that their husbands believed. The Castlemaine ladies had all been of that description—all gentle, docile,' and obedient, yielding to their husbands in everything, No matter in what faith, Ibey had been reared,the Castlemaino ladies always adopted their husband's faith. No matter in what political school they had been educated, they be. mane conservative when they became Castlemaine. No such thing was ever known iu the annals of the family as the rebellion of a wife against her husband. No such Whig was known as a division of opinion. Tho Ladies Castlemaine, separately and distinctly, carried out that beautiful line of Milton's— "He for God only ; ebe, for God in bin," But this line by no means applied. to Gertrude—Lady Castlemaino. She had been brought up in more modern days, when obedience is an old-fashioned vir- tue, almost out of date, and which few people care to practice. She loved her husband with her whole heart, but it would never have entered her mind to have changed any thought, principle, or idea of her own out of deference to him. If there was to be any changing, it should rather be on his side. Had they been alone, these differences of opinion would never have come to the front, they would hardly have been noticed, but the presence of their hidden enemy, Isabel Hyde, made the whole world of difference to them. There was some one to note every slightest dif- ference, some one to repeat every word the young wife uttered, with additions so slight they were hardly to be re- marked; yet it was these email additions that always hold the sting. It was Isabel who always repeated to Gertrude every remark that her husband made on ancient lineage, to- gether with every word that fell from his lips on the subject of the newly made titles or the want of good descent. It was Isabel who pointedaall these words, and, in repeating them, made her own comments and told them in her own fashion. She persevered so industriously, and was so untiring in her efforts, she was so skilful that she succeeded in raising the shadow of discord between husband and wife— succeeded to her own unutterable de- light, and rejoiced in her success. Lord. Castlemaino, who was far too noble hixaself to suspect any want of nobility in others, began after a time to entertain a certain sense of irritation against the wife whom he yet loved with passionate love. "Why should she net think as he thought? Why must she be the only One of the Ladies Oastiemaine to have opinions and ideas different from those of the head of the family 2" Whenever she had an opportunity Isa. bol Hyde talked to him about this. Lord ateetlwnaii;a. wonld say something e1tner about the antiquity of hie famny, his house, or his title, and dilate uponit. She was always equal to the occasion. "What a pity it is, Lord Castle- maine," sho would say, "that Gertrude is not of your opinion; she thinks so differently." Then would follow a profound sigh, that said as plainly as words con'd have spoken: "I am of your opinion, and have blind faith in all your ideas, but that is use- less." Again Lord Castlemaine would feel irritated at some remark that his beau- tiful young wife had made, and which bad been repeated with additions to him. T cannot imagine," he would say, "why Gertrude is not like the other ladies of our house." Thera were times when Gertrude would tell him, with laughingfrankness, that "the other ladies of the house must have had minds like sheets of blotting paper, to receive and retain anything that was impressed upon them." "I think," sho would say, "that differ- ence of opinion gives a zest to conversa- tion." "A zest I do not like," cried Lord Castlemaine. "You would like ib in time," Lady Castlemaine would reply. "I am quite sure, Gertrude, that I abould not 1" he would answer with offended dignity. "You tbiulc that a husband should regulate the ideas and opinions of his wifc,just as he regulates the hours of meals, the quantity and quality of his guests," said Lady Castlemaine, laugh. ingly, but deep eeruostuesslay beneath this laughter. "Most certainly, I think so," leo au- ewered. "So would any sensible man." "Sensible menmust be at adiscount," site replied. "I should say you are the only person in England who has such an exploded notion of . the rights of husbander" "Still, I do held them," he said, Ranti as I hold them, you ought to respect them." "No, I do not see that," answered Gertrude, "I should oonsider ib tyranny for any man to expect such a thing. For a wife to do that would be to lose her identity altogether." "A true wife should have no identity seutce of pride and delight. • He couldapert from her husband," said Lord not endure ono word of contradiction a Cashtomailio• he was indignant and impatient with But that beautiful young wife of his every ono who did not share his views„ looked proudly at him, as elle answered: with every one who contradicted him or I would not do' such a thing. I opposed him. Next to the divine right should never margo my individuality of Icings game, in his mind,the divine :into that of any other person." right of old families. ti 'You forget," he would say, "that He was notuito leased that his husband and wife are one." wife did not shat° these feelings. "In name, in love, in heart, but not During that eager wooing and impas- ffot ng is.giving in nd opinions. It is a df sionod courtship of hie, he had never g; your heart any thought of discussing such matters. I4iving your mind are two distinct bad boon, as Lady Castlemaine said, all things, I gave you my whole heart, lova-making. He had ideas of hie own Rudolph, but I did not give you my that were quite peculiar about women mind. I have reserved that for myself." and wives. 110thoughtthey ought to Lady-Oaetlemafne,having the keenest wit, and, womannko, the quickest dew Gertrude, darling, It cannot 0414 out the of words, generally won the victory; da'uP, You meat breathe the damp but they were victories which cost Ilex air in spiteyou' r warm furs. Do not I dearl go, or if you wi1o£� 1 gt,order the brougham," Eaob controversy, eaoh stout!ry cou- She Dried out impatiently that it tested argument seemed to wee en in some little dogroe the lova of the roan who could not endure contradiction or opposition ---who could not brook auy ideas except those he held himself. It would not have mattered in the least, had they been loft alone; after a few minutes Ilio wife would have gone to the husband, and said ; "How foolish ave are to argue and die. agree over trifles, What does anything matter provided only that we lova each other 2" Ortho husband would have sought his wife, and said ; "We will not argue, darling; let my stronger thoughts guide you, lot yon: sweater thoughts guide me; nothing matters but that wo love each other." But this never happened, for there was some ono always at hand, to fan every tiny spark into burning flame, to irritate, to annoy, to deepen every bad impression. Always at liana whenever ono of these little discussions occurred, and few days passed without them ; she uoted with quick keen ears all that was said, and she know exactly how to fan the fire. Lord Castlemaine would go to his favorite seat, the great window -seat in the library, or out on the southern ter. race, from where one could see the shining blue sea, and take a cigar to con- sole himself. So sure as he lighted it, Ue would find the beautiful face and figure of Isabel by his side. "I must try to convert Gertrude to your way of thinking," she would begin; and then a feeling of irritation rose in his heart that even a shadow could lio between himself and hisoun wife. "'1 will convert her myself," he would %newer, proudly. Then Isabel would shake her head. "I do not know ; I am not surd that you will," she would say, doubtfully, and that irritated him the more. Than she would seek her other victim, and would kiss .the beautiful face, and say, laughingly: "You must nob give in to that husband of yours,Gertrude; he bas great ideas of his own authority." "Far too:. great," she would reply, laughingly. He wants three years' apprenticeship to a class of strong- minded women. t fear that even I am too meek for him." "You meat, not give way to him, or you will entirely lose your own individu- ality," said Isabel. "I shall noder do that," said Lady Castlemaine, proudly ; and although she loved her husband with all her heart, ;here was always a sense of angry irri• Cation felt afterlone of these conversa- tions. It was a web of another kind that Isabel Hyde was weaving now. It was more successful than the first, Then she had tried to weave the web of lot's round the heart of one man ; now she tried to waaye the web of hate over two hearts that, but for her, could never have been disunited. She laughed at times with a wicke.i sense of victory, anis at times she wet• despairing of eneeese. But, day by day , He looked at her kindly, and abs felt the web grew longer and dragger, P.O,: that to have that sense of loving care less liable to break. always over her she would give her life itself. "I shall go," said Lady Castlemaine, "damp or not damp, I have determined to go to nearness, and go I will." "I will not," said Isabel Hyde, "Lord Castlemaino is quite right, the day is against 08.' After these few kind words and that kind look, Gertrude could not have op- posed him, so a compromise was made and a carriage ordered. The incident, trifling as it was, helped Isabel be weave a few more threads iu that strong subtle web of hers. She took Lady Castlemaine to task in a fashion quite her own. That afternoon, as they lingered in the warm oozy bon- doir, over a cup of delicious tea, she commenced her attack. "Gertrude," she said, "you do not understand your husband." "Not understand him I" cried Lady Castlemaine. "I beg your pardon, I am quite sure that I do.'' Isabel Hyde shook her beautiful head. "No, my dear, you do not. I really believe," she added, somewhat impeud- ontly, "that I should understand him, in time, better than you do." No jealousy stirred Lady Castle- maine's heart; she only thought that Isabel was a little too outspoken ; still she would like to know what was meant, "What clo you moan, Isabel 2" she asked, gravely. "Nothing to make a tragedy about," sho replied, "I was thinking of this morning. I was so struck by his care and sohoitude over you, and yoe grew impatientwith him." "1 am not very patient," said Ger- trude, with a sudden contrition, "I own it, but I cannot endure to be fussed over and watched. You are right, Isabel. I was, as you say, impatient without cause." "I knew at once that it was his care for you that made him persist," con- tinued Isabel. "I have often noticed that when he tries best to please you, you understand him the least." Lady Castlemaine could nob explain, even to herself, but eomething in that moment seemed to rise like a shadow between her husband and herself. It was not jealousy; as yet that fatal and terrible passion hod not awoke in her heart, It was an intangible eomothing —a shadow ; and the clearest idea she had after the interview was, that she did not really understand' hex husbaud, [TO 33E CONTINUED,] would not hurt bur, that she bad often been out in the damp, and would have no carriage, "You make me -feel like a delicate *Id j wothat manway."'� whoa you fidget about me in She looked up at him with a smile as mile spoke, but there was some little sign of irritation. Isabel IIyde stood by, a silent spade - or, each word,o expressive of t ,shis tender solicitude for her beautiful rival, pierced her heart. "I will not be an old woman yet," repeated Gertrude. I like yon to go out in the frost," said Lord Castlemaine; "that hurts no one, But damp air is quite another thing." "Oh, Rudolph," Dried Lady Castle. maine, "you will make me impatient." "It Is not an old woman, you re- semble," said Lord Castlemaine. "It is a beautiful white rose. Now I ask yoa Gertrude, how could a fragile white rose live in this miserable damp 2" There flashed upon him the light of two beautiful dark eyes, in which love, pain, scorn and despair were all told. "Is all your care or solicitude for white roses 2" asked Isabel Hyde; "hate red roses nothing to fear 2" "If you take my advice you will not go," he said, slowly. "I do not think it is a fitting day for any lady to go out." Still," she continued, "you would not have remonstrated if you had seen me going alone." He looked at her somewhat wonder- ingly, knowing nothing of the storm of jealousy that rent her heart in twain. "Well," he replied, "you see, Mien Hyde, it 1s not the same thing. I night have advised vou, but I could not inter- fere with you." "I may go out and get killed with the damp, and you would not say ono word to me," cried Isabel. "Forgive me, buthow very impetuous you ladies are," he said. I have dis- pleased you, Isabel, and half offended Gertrude ; yet I cannot imagine why." "You are over solicitous for me," said Lady Castlemaine. "You are not solicitous enough for me," cried Isabel Hyde and then see- ing the startled look in his eyes, she began to laugh, but no woman ever laughed with such an effort before; her jealousy had for the time carried her beyond herself. All that loving care and solicitude for Gertrude—the wind must not blow too roughly on her, the damp must not come near her ; but what chid he care for her ? He was Be anxious and solicitous about Gertrude that be did not seem to notice whether she were going out or not. But the wonder in his eyes called her to herself. What right had she to show any jealousy of another woman's husband. She laughed, but there was little mue leu h "Whilesicin Bothmuch . oars and solicitude are to be had," she said, "I may as well claim a share." "You will always have it from me,' Baia Lord Castlemaine ; "I strongly ad- vise you not to walk out this damp, un- healthy dos." CHAPTER XIV. "LEAD na NOT INTO TE➢rrTATION." It is a terrible thing to throw one's self wilfully into the way of temptation, as Isabel Hyde. had done. Iinowing that she loved Lord Castlemaine, she should have kept the breadth of the world between herself and him, but in her reckless desire for vengeance—in her mad, passionate desire, to fulfil her vow, she forgot or utterly ignored the danger and the temptation for herself. She had given, unsought and unasked, the whole passionate love of her heart to Lord Castlemaine.' She had hated with insane hate the beautiful girl, who had, as she considered, taken his love from her. She had voluntarily placed herself under their roof for the purpose of seeking vengeance. .But she forgot that in so doing she must suffer un- utterable pain herself. Every kind and loving word that Lord Castlemaine addressed to bis wife was like a sword inher heart. SUo would grow cold, sick, and faint when she saw his great solicitude, his care and attention for her. Her heart burned wibb jealousyand envy. There came a morning, when a damp, cold wind seemed to sweep the warmth away, the atmosphere was damp, the skies gray and lowering; the sun bad set in sullen discontent for the day, and, Lord Castlemaine saw his wife wrapped in her costly furs, going out. Isabel was with her. "Gertrude, where are you going 2" was his first question. "I am going to nearness," was the prompt and cheerful reply. nearness was the nearest town to Neath Abbey—a bright, pleasant town by the sea. "To Redmoss," he repeated. "With whom are you going, darling 2" "With Isabel," she replied. "How are you going ? T hope you have ordered the brougham?" "Oh, Rudolph, what a string of ques- tions. No, I have not, we aro going to walk." 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