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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1887-9-23, Page 7SEPT, 23, lots? PUT ASUNDER; an, Lady Castlemainer s Divorce 1 By BERTHA N. CLAY, AMTiien or "A ir 1 Llfo," "Too Darya Atoms meanie." 4 Struggle for n ,Milne,' ate., ate., ate. duke pushed for and 1.0 easy chair, and Lady Castlemaine sank down upon it. Titiens might have painted her as she sat there, her delicate fade and golden hair rising, as it were, from the rich blue velvet; and the pioture would have been famous forever, for the beau- ty, the richness, the magnificence of its coloring, In cue band she held a richly jeweled fan, made from the soft plumage of some rare bird. She held itint x eo against s her breast, whiter still. A picture such as the world seldom sees 1 As she was seated, she did not Bee who entered the room or who left it. She bad a vague idea that otherpeo- ple were there that some one as standing before a line painting of Cleo- patra on board her galley, and that there was a little group before the fine copy of Gibson's tinted Venus; but she had no particular interest; she was listening attentively to something the Duke of Portsea was describing to her. She did not see a stranger enter the room, look at her fixedly for some time, then disappear. He was not there manyminutes, lint during those minutes he took a mental photograph of that fair and imperial woman that lasted until he died. He stood quite still, he made no sign, he spoke no words; but he said to him- self that he had met the woman who was hirs doom. He did not wonder who she was, or anything about her. He looked at her, and said to himself that he had seen no other like her; he drank in every de- tail of her loveliness—the sheen of her golden hair, the sdft rings of gold that looked like a crown on the white brows, on the datk, straight eyebrows that held the pride and beauty of a Greek goddess ; on the lovely mouth with its fine lines, its sweet yet Boornfn1 curves, the per- fect chin, and the dimples that came with every smile. He noted the picturesque grace of the beautiful blonde head, set so royally on the white neck; the pearly whiteness of the shoulders, that were shapely as those of Venus herself ; of the white rounded arm and perfect hands; he took in all the grace of detail, the delicate finish, and he said to himself : "That is a woman of perfect beauty." He added some other words which it was well that no one else could hoar. Just as he left the room he met Miss Hyde, who was on the point of entering it. Seeing her, he paused with a gesture she well understood. He intimated that he wished to speak to her. She turned back and walked into the ball- room with him. He looked eagerly at her. "Miss Hyde," he said, "did you see the lady speaking to the Duke of Port - sea 2" ort•ssa?" "Yes," was the brief reply. "Who is she ?" he asked. Isabel laughed. Ts hould rather think T could make my anewer as long as a three -volume novel," she replied. "You wore not in town last year, so you know nothing of the War of the Roses. That lady is my rival, the famous White Rose." "The White Rose 2" he repeated, "Why, the name just suits her. But who is ebo 2" Miss Hyde saw the dark face quiver- ing with impatience, and she smiled again. "How impatient you are," she said. "She is Lady Castlemaine, the wife of Lord Castlemaine, of Neath." She loved him so well that it was impossible for her to pronounce his name calmly. As she uttered the words, an inflection of tenderness came into her voice, her lips seemed to caress the words as she uttered them. "Lord Castlemaine, of Neath ?" he said. "I know the name well onaugh, and I think I know the man. Rather strait-laced, is he not 7" "I think he is all that is most ad- mirable in a man," replied Isabel ; and the colonel laughed at her enthusiasm. "Whatever else be may be or may not bo, he is certainly the most fortunate of men to have that most beautiful woman for his wife." "You admire her so much 2" said Miss Hyde. "I have seen no one like her," he said, slowly; and Isabel looked at him with searching eyes. An idea ran with the quickness of electricity through her brain, an idea so strong, so sharp, so terrible that it startled her ; but she would not look at it; she put it back, as it were; another time she would look at it, perhaps encourage it, but not now. "You do not know Lord Castlemaine at all ?" she asked. "No, I have never mot him ; but I have heard him discussed like every one else. I should like to know him." "That is more than ho said of yon," thought Isabel; and again that Sharp, wicked idea seamed to eurge through her brain, "Miss Hyde," said the colonel, "you know Lady Castlemaine well 2" "Yea; she is my dearest and most intimate friend," was the Reply. "Will you introduce me to her ?" be asked. "Nothing wouldive me greater pleasure. Lady Castlemaine is a hero - worshiper. We were speaking of you the othet day; but 1 must not toll you what she said," "Do you moan that she evoke kindly of anything I have done ?" he asked; and the bold, handsome faco grew paler with emotion. "I tell you that she is a hero - worshiper, but I shall toll you no more," replied Miss Hyde. She seemed suddenly to grow faint and dizzy as "the idea" returned to her with electric force. She atretched out her hand and gave a little cry, "What is it 2" ho asked. "Nothing," she replied. "See 1 the Duke of Portsea hast deft the drawing - room, I shall intr�lfico you to Lady y lemaino now,if yon wish." Cast "I do wish it," he replied; and they returned to the drawing -room together. CHAPTER XXIII. "AT LAST I—AT LAST!" Lady Castlemaine was sitting alone when Miss Hyde and Colonel Lennox nox entered the room. Sheb ad evidently been speaking of something that amused her, for a smile still lingered with dainty curves on her beautiful lips, and a soft, dreamy light lay in her blue eyes. She looked up as they drew nearer to her, and the thought occurred to her—what a handsome pair they were 1 She had always admired the dark, proud beauty of Isabel Hyde. Iler eyes rested calmly on the magnificent figure of the man by her side, and on his bold, handsome fade ; and no warning came to her that the tragedy of her life began in that moment. She saw wondering admiration in the bold eyes that had never fallen beneath the glance of another; she saw some strange expression in his face as he bowed low before her. Isabel introduced him in a few grace- ful words, but, like all other words she uttered, they were full of point; and then Lady Castlemaine looked into the face of tho man who was to bring her doom upon her. There was nothing to indicate that it =was the dawn of a tragedy. The words spoken were at first few and commonplace enough, like the open. ing bars of an overture, which give but a faint idea of the harmonies to follow. Then Colonel Lennox, emboldened by the smiles of the beautiful woman, asked permission to take a chair near her, and Isabel stood watching them. Ah, moi how the idea grew and grew —how it electrified her—how she stood with her heart beating, her face flush- ing, a light that was almost terrible to see in her eyes 1 Yet—she beat it back ; she would not have it, she would not look at it, until she onld examine it face to face. The white lingers were tightly interlaced. Yet, what was she watching? A very ordinary scene—a man with a bold, handsome face talking to a fair and gracious woman. The colonel grew bolder, and asked for a dance; "but not for the world, it Lady Castlemaine were tired." She was tired, but there seemed to Lor something of novelty in dancing with this man, who had such a reputation fox brave and daring deeds. She looked at those strong arms, that had done such woudrous things, and could hardly fancy them clasping the slender form of a girl. It would be a novelty to dance with him. He bad taken up in his bands the bouquet of white lilies and lilacs that lay upon the table, and she, looking at the hands that touched the flowers so caressingly, thought of the stories she had hoard ; how he had picked up the burning shell and thrown it away. She was a hero worshiper by nature, and he interested her. Isabel stood by in silence. If Colonel Lennox could have seen the expression of bei face he world have marveled at it. Lady Castlemaine was not too tired to dance, and soon afterward the sad, sweet music of the Manola Waite floated through the rooms. Celone' Lennox had faced death, he had .lista his life, as it were, in the palm o`. his hand, he had done the most reckless and most daring deeds that a man can accomplish ; but in the whole of his life he had felt no such emotion as this. It was litre dancing with a goddess. Lady Castipntaine was the very embodi- ment of the peeitry of motion. She was still more deeply interested when the waltz was ended, and he took her to see one of the finest pictures in Lady Morgan's possession, and they stood for some time before it, talking eagerly; interested, but forgetting the picture. "Hero worship," thought Isabel, an hour afterward, as sb vaw Lady Castle- maine's blue eyes treed to the bold glance of the White Lancer. She had watched them, and had fol- lowed them, yet she would not look her idea straight in the face. She admitted, this much to herself. "Tho husband does not like him, I know it by instinct; but the wife does. She has heard no evil of him, she has heard all those stories that delight a woman like herself; she will wish to see morn of him, and Rudolph will not have it. Ah, Heaven I do I see my way at last—at last 2" Her heart befit loud and fast; it seemed to her Most as though she were in view of the promised land. "They must become friends," she said to herself, "before Lord Castlemaine knows that she has been introduced to him; if not—" and she did nob finish her eontenoe oven to herself. Once again that evening the White Lancer and Lady Castlemame met. She n ervator the prettyoo a lead gone into Y of which Lady Morgan was so proud, and stood looking at some white hyacinths, famous ter their rare frag- iia ranee. Several people d been admix., ing them, Colonel Lennox last of the, group. I neves care to leek .at ;white THE BHUSSE,tLS POST 7 hyacinths," he said to Lady Castle. mama; "theyremind me of one of tho most pitiful sights I ever saw in my life." "What was it ?" elm asked. "It is hardly a story to tell," be answered. "I ahould like to hear it," she said, gently. "Your wish must be law to me," he cried; "the sweetest law." She looked up at him in haughty sur- prise, He was quick enough to perceive his error. "I beg your pardon, Lady Castle. " maine,"hesaid. I did not think hat w 1 was saying ; we eo1diore have such a blunt, brusque way of speaking.. Pray forgive me. It is the fashion in camp to say just what we think. You have no idea, if we think anything sweet or the reverse, how difficult we find it to refrain from saying so. Am I forgiven?" "Perfectly," she replied, with a gracious bend of her golden bead. "Now tell me the storywhy , and the white hyacinths are ainfA! to you." 9"I should hardly call a story," he said. "It is rather an incident that happened at Isandula. I meet not men- d name comrade, men- tion the a o redo, but T will Y call him Gerald. A fair -Faced hand- some, honest lad,' whom every one loved. We e fou ht side byside at Isandula. Twice I rescued im from those—, forgive me, from the Zulus. The third time ho was attacked he fell, pierced through the heart with an assegai. I raised him, and at some risk afterward brought his dead body from the field. When we undressed him, to see if by any chance be might still be living, we found in his breast a packet of white hyacinths. Of course they were faded and dead ; the assegai had pierced them, and they were wet with his heart's blood; but on the paper was written, in his own handwriting : "'If I fall in battle, send these to her.' "The name and address were written beneath." "Did you send them ?" she asked, in a low voice. Yes ; and I hove met the lady since. She is one of the ornaments of London society. I always see her bright, laugh- ing, and gay ; yet I know that the greatest earthly treasure she possesses, the prize she values most on earth, is the faded bunch of white hyacinths that were wet with the heart's blood of her lover." He saw the tears dim the lovely blue eyes, so tender and so tree. "Did she marry 2" she asked. "No. How could she, Lady Castle- maine, after a romance like that 1" "How much you have seen," she said, slowly. "Much that I should like to forget 1" he cried ; and there flashed across his mind the vision of a dead woman's face —a woman whom friend and foe alike aaidhe had driven to death. "It is a grand life, that of a soldier," said Lady Castlemaine ; "and you must have been born for it. You were made to be a soldier; you could not have been anything else—you are so strong and eo fearless." "I love my profession," he said. "And you have made a great name in it," she replied. He bowed low. "Forgive me," ho said, "if I presume to say, that is the sweetest praise I have ever heard." The queen gave you the Victoria Cross herself, did she not 2" asked Lady Castlemaine. "Yes ; and that was the proudest mo. went of my life, except one." "What was that 2" she asked. "I must not tell you yet," he answer- ed. "I shall always think of the lover and his lady when I see white hyacinths fox the future," she said. "Have you ever been afraid in battle, Colonel Lennox 2" "I think," ho replied, "that the very bravest must feel something that is more like awe than fear. It is difficult to re- alize that this minute you are strong and well, and that the next you may be biting the dust, pierced to the heart by sword or bayonet, or blown into !atoms by a shell or ball. It makes a man thoughtful." I should think," she said, "that a soldier must always keep himself ready to die." "I am afraid very few of us think of it in that light," he answered. Some of his wildest escapades had taken place when death stared him in the face, He continued "No one feels either awe or fear when the rush of battle begins. Then it is hilae, not blood, that runs in a man's veins ; the very air seems red. Ti a:re is a great deal of the tiger in dare having once tasted blood— Ila stopped abruptly. "Forgive me again," he said. "I am very unfortunate bhiis evening. I have shocked you." "No," she replied; "you hove ouiy made me think." Sho smiled as she continued : "I cannot imaglbe that there is anything of the tiger in you. Bub then, brave men are always gentle." It was almost a shook when Bethel Hyde's voice sounded near them. "I could not find you, Gertrude," she said; "and Lord Castlemaine is looking for you." She did not seem in the least degree flurried; her beautiful face was calm and unconcerned. "I have been hero some time," she said. "Colonel Lonnox's stories fasoi- nate me." "I thought they would," said Isabel. Ah,heaven! was it comat last? at astDid she hold them threads of the web in herow n fingers 7 At last 1 at last) He was looking at • Ler with paseionabe, adornag eyes, and elle was serene and gracious. "Does Lord Castlemaine wish to go home?" asked the beautiful White Rosa. "11 so, I am quite ready" "She has no regret at leaving me; thought the colonel. '"Sha will not leave him so easily in a low woeks' time," thought Isabel Hyde, And Lady Castlemaine, in all the pride and serenity of her loveliness, swept from the conservatory. "At Met 1 at last 1" said Isabel Hyde to hereelf. One watching her might have thought she was preying, her lips moved so earnee 1her co o bright. t ,and fa wane b t Yg CHAPTJIB XXIV, TnE LITTLE SEED. ,11a Ioome inHyde. Isabel yd -Yes," 2"said Is b 1 " Lady Castlemaine hastened to answer. "I was longing for you. You can go, Janet," said the young Countess to her maid. Thera could be no prettier picture than the interior of that dressing -xoom, with its hundred treasures of art, its luxurious disarray. LadyCastiemaine 1n a dressing.gown + gg of pale blue ailk, embroidered in white flowers, her long golden hair lying like a yell over her shoulders, was one of the loveliest pictures. The ruddy glow of the firelight t fell full upon her and deepened the delicious tints of her face, her eyes, her hair, and her dress. She pointed to a chair. "Sit down, Isabel," she said. "I was longing to see you. I have come to this conclusion that the latest luxury on earth is to have one's hair well brushed after a long night's dancing." "Brushing your hair is no light task, it is so abundant," said Isabel, passing her hand Caressingly over the shining waves. Caressingly; but the thought was that some day that saintly, queenly head would be humbled to the duet. 'I shall not mind if I fall with her," she said to herself, "provided only that she falls." And there was ever before her, both by day and by night, a picture of a queenly White Rose fallen into the dust and mire—withered, faded, and dead. None of these thoughts were written M her face; that was smiling and bright enough, as she said: "It was not about the luxury of hair- dressing you wanted to see mo Ger. trude 7 "Indeed it was not," laughed Lady Castlemaine. "I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed my conversation with a great hero. Do you know, Isa- bel, he seems quite different from other men." "He is different," said Miss Hyde, with a peculiar smile. "Do you really like him ?" "I do; very much, indeed ; he interests me greatly. Is he married, Isabel 2" "No," replied Miss Hyde. "Such men as Colonel Lennox never marry." "But surely he loves some one. I cannot imagine a brave knight without a fair lady." "There is none in his case," said Miss Hyde, "or I should have heard of it. If Colonel Lennox were to devote himself to any woman, that woman would be for the time queen of all fashionable London." "Why do you not enter the lists, Isa- bel ?" asked Lady Castlemaine. She held the shining waves of her hair in her hand, and was watching the golden hue. "You would win, I am surd." "I might," said Isabel, carelessly ; "but although I have a great admiratiou for Colonel Lennox, he is not the kind of man I should fall in love with or marry." "Perhaps not,"said Lady Castlemaine, thoughtfully ; "but be is a great beta, Isabel. Do you see how the fire flashes from his eyes ? I should like for once to see him in a rage ; he would be some- thing magnificent." "Something terrible." interrupted Isabel. "I should not like it. But, Ger- trude, you really would like to see him sometimes and talk to him 2" "Yes," answered Lady Castlemaine ; "I really should." "Then will you take a little advice from me, Gertrude ? You will .never regret it. You would like to be on friend- ly terms with Colonel Lennox—to ask him to your balls and parties 2" "I should," said Lady Castlemaine. "And you will bo able to do so, He may even become the tame cat of the house, if you will follow my advice, Gertrude." "Let me hear it, first," said Lady Castlemaine. "Say nothing about it just at first to Lord Castlemaine." "But why not 2" asked Lady Castle- maine. "Why not, Isabel 7" "T will tell you," she replied. She drew the shining waves of golden hair through her own hands, and there was a strange, pale smile around her lips as she answered. "I will tell you; for, with all your quickness and cleverness, you do not understand the world as well as I do. I will toll you, Gertrude. Al- though Colonel Lennox is the hero of the hour—although he ie one of the finest of her Majesty's officers, there are just a few people with whom he is not popular." "They are jealous of him," said Lady Castlemsane. qt may be that," was the diplomatic reply. "Colonel Lennox holes strong political opinions of his own. He urged a certain line of combat during the Zulu war which made him enemies. ' "That is not just," cried Lady Castle - mine. "It is not just, but few things are in this strangely lungs eel world," said Isabel; and she tat her lips as She thought of a certain injustice' done to her. "Men form strong opinions on such hatters," she continued "and they are often bitterly prejudiced against eaoh other. Not one word of the real stories agalntt his olfaractot, which would have made Lady Castlemaine dislike hire ; not one whisper of that moral turpitude which would havo made him distasteful to her. She did not even hint at the resume wily those who disapproved of hie vices passed on the other side of the road and held out no hand to him, If Lady Castlemaine had heard even one of those terrible stories about him, she would have deolined to meet him, and would have known that her hero- worship ero- or hitheim res - w s waswastod. But slop so cleverly conveyed to ber was that Colonel Lennox was eccentric or peculiar in his line of politics, and so drew on himself the dislike of those who did hedid. The hole not thin s d w Nail* world must admire him as a brave sol- dier, a man of magnificent courage ; but all men did not of necessity admire his politics. "But, Isabel," she said, "although Rudolph takes the greatest interest in politics, he would never be so unfair as to dislike such a man as Colonel Lennox en account of his opinions, let them be what they ma Y "I do not say that he dislikes him, that is going too far; I merely say that I have noticed in Lord Castlemaine a shadow of dislike to him, a faint shadow." "I have never even heard him men- tion his name," cried Lady Castlemaine. "Nor have I," said Isabel. "It was by his perfect silence when the colonel's name was mentioned, and the expres- sive shrug of his shoulders, that I knew Lord Castlemaine did not like him." "You are quick, and have a keen in- stinct, I know," said Lady Castlemaine; "but, even if it be so, why should Icare ? I do not like all of Rudolph's friends, nor do I expect him to like all mine." "At last—at last 1" Isabel couldhard- ly withhold the rapturous cry that rose to her lips. Here was the small seed sown in good ground—if she could but cherish it, cul- tivate it—watch it until it grew into a strong plant. But she must be careful —her fingers must not grasp it too tightly, or it would perish—she must guard it with a breath of flame or it would die." "No," she replied, softly, "that's quite an exploded idea—indeed, the Caatle- maine idea of matrimony is altogether opt of date. Husband and wife in these days choose their friends, and go each in his or her own way." "I would never choose a friend whom Rudolph did not like though," said Lady Castlemaine. Ah! little seed, you are hardly strong enough to plant at present "0f course not," said Isabel, "and that is why I am intruding my adviee upon you. 1f you were to go to Lord Castlemaine now, and say to him, 'I have met Colonel Lennox, and I like him, I should like him to be invited to the konse he would, with all the Castle- maine obstinacy, reply that he did not like him, deoline to invite him, and there would at once be civil war. You see that, Gextrude ?" "Yes," she replied, thoughtfully, "I see it, Isabel." "Whereas, if you.are careful and quiet for a short time, you need not have one word on the subject." "But what is your advice ?" asked Lady Castlemaine. "You have not given it to me yet." Resolute as she was, her lips paled, and the hands that held the golden hair trembled as she answered. "1 should cultivate a friendship with Colonel Lennox without your husband knowing it ; not for long, just for a few days or weeks, Then, when you know him pretty well, and have established your friendship, your husband will take it as a matter of course, and there will be nothing said." "That seems to me a weak argument," said Lady Castlemaine. "Still, as you are generally right in what you think, I will be guided by you. But then, Isa- bel, Rudolph is always out with us." "Not always. You often drive alone in the park; at afternoon tea Lord Castlemaine is seldom present ; he has his club engagements ; you go at times to balls without him, and sometimes to the opera." "I did not know that I was so often parted from him," said the young wife, half sadly. Isabel Hyde had the sense to know that she had said enough. She was wise enough to know that another word would make Lady Castlemaine espouse her husband's cause, and refuse the friendship of a man whom he did not like. She turned the conversation to quite another subject, but she knew from the expression of thonght on the beautiful face that the seed she had dropped had fallen on good ground. No truer or more faithful wife lived than Lady Castlemaine; she had no thought, no interest, 00 care away from her husband; she loved him with true and love. Buttender there was just a spice of romance here that captivated her fancy—to form a friendship with this magnificent man who was a great hero. There was a gleam of romance in it, and she had not the faintest idea of evil or harm. She was to make friends with him first, and tell her husband afterward, when she knew him well. Isabel talked to her of the coming masquerade to be held at Raneleigh House, to be given by the Duchess of Ilianeloigh, and which was to be the leading feta of the season. "Have you decided about your cos- tume yet ?" the asked. "No, T have not even begun to think of itet. Should we go as Rebecca and 'Rowena, Isabel ?" "With only one Ivanhoe between us," she replied, laughingly. "Oh, no, Ger. inflame wo must think of something betterr than that. a Sho did +et fall asleep till morning "T0 an coeenmeD.1 ,44 Jo mus Tmtu 1-3