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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1887-10-28, Page 72,8, 88 (. , ocuswstom sthsosemmor,aYsslm ossasa ux,srvxvrxtrxsmorwswa >uamarom PUT ASUNDER; on, Lady Castlemaine's Divorce 1 By BERTHA. M. CLAY, ♦ninon or "A Mounted Sac," "'Phe 18nri'e Atone+ went," "A Struggle for o. Mug," etc., etc., etc, wounded him ; but lie should not hold you responsible." "And who is, if not I ?" "Your husband. If ho chooses tp dis- like the colonel, and orders you to do the same, what recourse have you ?" "What 1 Why I have a right to think Ior myself." "You have none. In English law a woman is the chattel of her husband, Did you never road of the idiocy of snarled women ? Hail you aro mar- ried, you aro a reasonable being, able to manage property, think, act, speak for yourself. Onoo married, you, your opinions, acts, property, are at the book of your husband." "That is outrageous 1" said Gertrude. "It is law." "I do not caro if it is law. I would not submit to it, one hour." "Don't fight fate. Be glad your bus. band is not very arbitrary, only a little ander the dominion of jealousy, pride, and temper. You know I admire Lord Uastlemaine as much as it is proper to admire a married man. But when I consider him, with rank, wealth, power, • ome, wife, friends—all that he can ask or happiness—I confess I feel a sympa. thy for men like Colonel Lennox, who, with warm feelings, and every quality to attract the heart, live the lonely, pre - noxious, homeless existence of the so1- lier. If I could do anything to make such mon happy, 1 think I would." They had gained the knoll and eat town. And yon think Lennox unhappy?" asked Gertrude, softly. "He looked very unhappy the other svening. I could not think for what muse—but you have revealed it to me." "But what can Ido 1" Dried Gertrude. '1 d" not wish to be unjust to the solo,, and I do not wish to be the means of rousing a quarrel between him and Rudolph. I could not have a scandal—and if the one man is sensi- tive and brave and the other proud and prejudiced, I cannot help it." "No ; but I do not see why you should occasion conflict. You can be gracious to Colonel Lennox without parading your friendship before your husband. A little caution is all that is needed. All women have to learn this caution in married life. if they would not be made absurd by constant variations at the orders of their husbands. One day they must bo friendly to a man, the next ignore him, because of some party spite. Let Lord Castlemaine have his dues, of course, and the colonel his." Long after, Gertrude remembered that hour, those words, that wooded knoll. She called it, in her soul, the Hill of Evil Counsel. AAs she meditated on Isabel's crafty suggestion, Isabel whispered in her ear. 'Now you have your opportunity: hero comes Colonel Lennox to join us." Sho turned, The colonel was hur- riedly approaching them. CHAPTER XXXV. COLONEL LENNOx POSES AS A swam With au expression of deep melan- choly, Colonel Lonuox approached the two friends. Ono instant he stopped swiftly, the next he stayed his stops, as if fearing he was unwelcome. "Do I intrude 2" ho said, softly. "Certainly not," said Isabel, briskly. Gertrude did not speak, but she lifted her blue eyes, and Lennox held them with an adoring, reproachful gaze. "I feared you wore angry with me," he said. "I know not in what I have offended, but I cast myself on your meroy. Whatever is my error, I crave 'pardon.' "I do not know why you should think I was angry," said Gertrude, gently. "Miss Hyde and I were just wondering what had become of you—whether you had returned to Zululand." "Without a word of farewell to those who have given my visit to England its greatest charm ?" "We had hi hideas of the stringency encY of a soldier's orders, and the prompti- tude of his obedience," Said Gertrude, smiling. "I should at least have found time to say 'farewell,' when it might be forever, for mine is a most precarious existence. Then, too, gratitude would have im- pelled me to thank you for your good- ness to mo—may I say your friendship? I gave my country all I had to give— my right arm and my sword—and in that giving I have debarred myself of those many ties so sweet to other men. Without mother or sister, with scarcely a relation, you cannot tell what to me is a gracious woman's friendship ; you Whose life 19 so: full and so rich, cannot understand the poverty of a life de• barred of—love." ' Gertrude was deeply moved by these words, spoken in an intense undertone, and accompanied by a pleading, admit. Mg gaze. She thought how that voice, tremulous now with earnestness and softness, had ring over the battle -field • she thought how those eyes, soft and bowed before hers, had flashed lire in the fierce shock with death. The colonel's loneliness seemed to be pecu- lliarly pathetic. She moved a little nearer Isabel, 'Vhat left a greater portion of the rustic fioat vacant. The colonel bowed, ac- doptnd the tacit invitation, and sat by her side. "You must pub away the thoughts of loneliness and exile ou such a perfect day as this," said Gertrude, kindly, "It he in such summer days of fragrance and sunshine that we get our awootoat remembrances of old England—pictures to carry iu our hearts forever." "I shall never forget this day," said the colonel, fervently. "I shall recall the golden sunshine, the May air, the song of birds, the greenness and beauty, all as forming a frame for your—for two fair, kind faces, the Rodand White Roses." "When they Galled us first the led and White doses," said Miss Hyde, "I suppose they fancied we should enter- tain London society by being rivals— enemies ; instead wo aro friends," "Sisters 1" said Gertrude, with effu- sion, "as it should be. .doses should not quarrel. I always wondered why so lovely things as roses were made the Igo of "Many most lovely things have been o signal of war," said the colonel. air landscapes have embroiled em- pires, and fair women have overturned Whatever I may ones have ought concerning sighting on a ques- tion of roses, I horn confess that for roses I would draw sword from scab- bard and fight to the death. If new arise, behold me citrated for the Roses, and hear me say, with our lau- reate marvel, sovereign lady, in fair field, Myself for such a fFaoo had boldly died! I answered free, and turning I appealed 'Po One Shut atoOd bosida.r" During `the first two lines, uttered with exceeding passion, he fixed his eyes on Gertrude; with the last, he turned toward Isabel, and inclined his head. • Miss Hyde spoke quickly: "But she, with sick and scornful looks arose - To her full height her stately stature draws; 111 youth; site said 'was blasted with a curse - This woman was said, cause 1"" "Isabel 1" cried Gertrude, "how very strangely you said that 1 Yon seemed in earnest, you terrify me. You both seemed so earnest," sho added, looking toward Lennox, a trouble in her fair young face. "1 u'N.s," said Lennox, in her ear, in a deep, low tone. "Do you know," said Isabel, "there is something in that verse I quoted that enthralls me ; whether it is the rhythm or not, something in it haunts my brain. I say it to myself a thousand times." "We are all of us really becoming tragic," said Gertrude, trying to shake off the spell that seemed over her. "Tho tragic is an element in all na- tures," said the colonel, "strongest in those who can dare, do, and susfea most." 'Lady Castlemaine is very susce - tible to its influence," said Miss Hyde. "Do you remember, Gertrude, our match. less tableaux last winter ? You were so carried away by them. Sho was Anne Boleyn, colonel, and for days really imagined herself about to lona her "If Auno had been half so lovely, I am sure no ono could have been found to cut off her head," said Lennox. "And Lord Castlemaine was henry the Eighth," said Isabel. "I doubt if he has the proper make- up for that character." "I -lo has in some thiugs," laughed Isabel ; "he has, for instance, the pride and capacity for jealousy, at least he acted admirably well. So did we all. I was Catharine of Aragon. I wish that now, as the season is closing, we could have one evening of tableaux, and have the Dream of Fair Women among the rest, Gertrude, you should bo that 'Daughter of the gods, divinely tall, And most divinely fair.' And I would be 'Ono sitting ou a crimson scarf unrolled, A queen, with swarthy cheeks, and bold, black oyes, Brow bound with burning gold."' "And what should I be," demanded the colonel. "Of course .the intruder in that 'old wood,' " said Isabel. "I wish we could manage it, Gertrude." "Yes; I do, too. I think Rudolph enjoys such things. I will suggest it to him. At present ho is much ocoupiodi as the session will soon close." "My aunt should give such an enter- tainment. She owes one thing more to Lucy before sho is off her hands, I am sure, laughed Isabel. "In Lucy she is retrieving the dfsgrace I brought upon her, by remaiuing single after two whole seasons. Only fancy 1" " your own fault said That is surely w , the colonel, gallantly, "You eeo, at the crucial instant, I could not make up m mind to be re- duced married e of idioo of duced to tho stat women. I was explaining it to Lady Castlemaine when you name up. The married woman must see with her hus- band's eyes, hear with his ears, speak his thoughts." "Always ?" said Colonel Lennox, in a regretful tone. "Always? I hope not. I cannot conceal it from myself, that for some reason or another I am not so fortunate as to commend myself to Lord Castlemaine. In what I could have offended ono whom I never met, I can- not tell. My political views aro diverse, but I did not suppose that would matte diversions in soma life. I' trust that Lady Castlemaine is not so permeated with conservatism that she will abhor an unhappy liberal" th "Fair pit kingdoms, th do roe ba wars re • "I am not a conservative at all," said Gerbrudo. "ibly father was nob ono. I was not born to the Castlemaine views of life." Then, noticing the lighting of tho colonel's eyes, the added; "Not that that makes the least difference between my husband and my. self—people should net be too much alike. He may in time modify my Lib- eralism at tittle, and I will soften his THE BRUSSELS POST tuRrtare Conservatism." i do, She could non live en indefinitely "That is a very charming view' 01 -with Lord and Lady Costlomaine, Her married lsfo," said the colonel, is an M. aunt pronounced her, with all her wad fury. "Meanwhile lot the Liberal beauty, a social failure; it was terribly side of your nature allow mo a medial l's dull at home in the country, and could of your good graces, for 1 am a voxy she go there and give her younger mar• lonely man." tied sister the precedence, and sink At this Institut aflowersellor, apretty, down into 4 quiet life, the old maid of ' dark girl, iu the piotnresque garb of ' the family? Italy, came up the knoll, and bold out 1 Why had she missed opportunities of her basket of treasures to Colonel Lan. restablishing herself ? Because she had , nox. He locked at Gertrude, f sot her heart on Castlemaine, and this "With your conservatory, au(I all bho White Roo had robbed her of him— splendid gardens of Neath at your ahs' Gertrude, who had a great fortune and poral, one can scarcely offer you flowers: 1 all that life could offer ab command. And yet, is not your corsage bouquet When Isabel thought of that, she hated just a little drooping from the heat, ! Gertrude desperately, and resolved to since you came out ? Will not you ladies wear my flowers the rest of the morn• go on to the bitter end. ing ?" He bent over the basket. °must oro manage more and mace to entrapap the sympathy and ad- 'Buy this forLady Castlemaine," said miration of Gertrude for Lennox. She Isabel, as his hand lingered near a chis- must school Lennox in paying court as. ter of tuberoses set in a thick ,circle of siduously without alarming either Ger- blas parma violets, trade or Castlemaine, and then, when He extended the bouquet, with a Gertrude was sufficiently absorbed iu pleading look, to Gertrude. She heal- her friendship for Colonel Lennox to defy her husband for his sake, it must be Isabel's part to stir the jealousy of Lord Castlemaine to its wildest frenzy. After'that all would be easy. Let but 1 an open scandal, an irreparable breach, j a separation come, and Isabel's task would be ended—a divorce would re- venge her for the marriage ceremony. As she thus planned the terrible future, to which all now seemed hasten- ing, a light tap at the door was followed by the entrance of Gertrude. "Rudolph is obliged to go to Paris," she said. "He will be gone ten days. I suggested that he should take me, but be thinks Paris will be too warm, and before long we shall be going down to Neath." "By 00 means think of Paris at this time," cried Isabel; "in June it is de. testable 1 A hurried journey is always uncomfortable. Then the season is just closing here, and it.must close with eclat. You cannot leave us now—for there will be the tableaux at Lady Cresson's," "Oh, are we really to have the tab- leaux 2" cried Gertrude. "I am so sorry Rudolph will not be here to join in them." "I fancy though lie is willing to share tableaux in NeathAbbey, hewould think them too frivolous here in London, where all his political friends are. You must learn to have some pleasures with- out him. Verily, I should not,be loung- ing here. I promised aunt and Lucy that I would be with them this morning to complete the plans. When does Lord Castlemaine leave 2" On the eight o'clock train to -night. You will see him at dinner. I will order the coupe for you." Left alone, Isabel sawheropportuuity to crown all her schemes. She knew the singular susceptibility of Gertrude's temperament—how absorbed she be- came in heart. came in anything dramatic. If she and Daly a young, beautiful, very Colonel Lennox could be brought to - She was inexperienced woman, and flattery i6 1 gether fascinating teaux vivants, h snflunce over her sweet, and it is not so painful to feel I would be tenfold increased. that one surpasses even a friend. Lady Cresson bad not pledged herself aI thintsailIsabel' suddenly,"that to the tableaux as Isabel had•indicated. it was very well that we met Colonel She was "only considering the subject." Lennox. He was evidently lonely and Isabel resolved to go to her at once, and sad, and we cheered him without harm- aided by her sister Lucy, who was just ing any one. For my part, I think there then in high favor—because being mere - is so much sorrow in tho world, that it ly a "pretty and pleasant girl," she had is something to be really thankful for if made a certain success—she would Bo- one can lighter even a litte of it. Ours ours a promise of the tableaux, make are rather useless lives, Gertrude, and out the invitation lists, and, aided by opportunity to comfort and sympathize some of their friends, begin to arrange comes to us very seldom." 1 the casts of the scenes. It was a sentiment that pleased Ga- , Arrived at Lady Cresson's, her elo- trndo, and soothed her awakening anxi- 1queue° carried the day. She smoothed sties. ! away all difficulties, explained how very As they passed to their rooms they anxious Lady Castlemaine was for the met Lord Castlemaine. He stopped to entertainment, and how Lady Morgan eek if the enjoyed 's ed their rids and ` n skill J y would aid thaw with ]six taste a d if the park had been very gay, and then and so, bearing down all opposition, she the scent of the tuberoses drew his oyes t soon had carte blanche to prepare for the to his wife's corsage. entertainment, and had the satisfaction "What, not white roses I" he cried. of seeing her aunt and sister busy at "One gets tired of the same flower, 'tho escritoire, making a lief of the dear always," said Gertrude. five hundred, to the highest numbers "I never do," said Lord Castemaine, that the elegant reception -room would heartily. contain. "But these are very lovely for a ! Isabel had undoubted genius for social change," said Isabel ; "see the contrast ' life—ba taste was exquisite, her quick - of the white and blue tavola and pearl. ness was invaluable. The ball -room at And then do you know the language— Lady Creseon's was so arranged that appreciation and constancy l" from it opened the conservatory, and • Yes ?' Well, I never studied the all Sha glass doors dividing the two language of flowers, but the odor of a tuberose some way always reminds me could be rolled back. Isabel proposed of death." to have all the pictures out•of-door "Is it so ?" said Isabel lightly. "Why recuse, and by removing some of the toted an instant, then removed her own knot of whits roses, and replaced it by the colonel's flowers. She laid her roses on the rustic seat, while the colonel se- lected a cluster of crimson pinks, veiled in heather, and offered it to Isabel, Then, when the flower girl had disap- peared, he reverently took up the roses. "This 10 sacred," lie said, softly, "I would not that the winds of heaven should visit it too roughly, or the sun scorch it." IIe kept it in his hand. Gertrude was much distressed. She did not wish to seem to notice that he had her flowers ; to demand them back would magnify a trifle into a matter of too much importance; nor would she seem to give them. She wished with all her heart that she had refused the flowers. But then the poor exile girl bad looked so anxious to sell them. Oh, if she had not left the carriage, or Col. ouel Lennox had not joined them on this fateful hill, "Isabel," she said, "Do yon know how very long we are delaying here ? We must go back to the carriage." Colonel Lennox attended them to the road, and as the footmen heldopen the door, he handed the ladies in. Then, standing an instant on the step, he closed the carriage -door himself, saying in a tong heard only by Lady Castle- maine ; "So, close the gates of paradise against a sinner 1" The carriage rolled away. Gertrude leaned back in her seat and was silent. The breath of the tuberoses drifted up over her face, and seemed to lull all her senses into romantic dreams. The col- onel bad in speech connected herself and Isabel in nearly all his•compliments; he had spoken of "roses white and red," of "gracious women," of friends, and yet she felt tha'the sense was rather for her. The words bad soothed her reticent pride, the secret meaning flat - then it must be the death of lova for larger plants, build the stage in the he erfnuxo is so sweet a shsn� and . conservatory, loavinp, the entire ball - love, you know, like all else, must die." room to be oecupie by tho audience. The death of love I What a memory Lady Cresson finally became much in - the light words awoke in husband and terestsd in the whole affair, especially wife—was it only a 'oar ago that day ? when Isabel explained a new way of And love must the A cold breath of lighting the stage, and reducing instan- desolation blew upon both. taueously the light of the audience - room to aale twilight. p g "Isabel," cried her aunt, "you have CHAPTER XXXVI. genius for these things. If you had only, with your beauty, made a social success THE DOWNWARD SLOPE TO DEATH. two years ago, you would - be the ao- Isabel Hyde was alone in ber room. ' knowledged loader of London society." She had dismissed hot maid under pre- "I followed your directions implicitly, tense of resting. She wished time to aunt," said Isabel, dryly. think, She was lying baok in a chair "I know you did -and my directions cushioned in rose color; her heavy black were never before at fault." hair, unbound, fell over the cushions and !* * 'k * over her shoulders; her rose-oolorod ' • ''I am so sorry you are to be away, , -robe, with its white Taco, softened her Lord Castlemaine," said Isabel, at din• beauty, and with her hands calmhyfold. net. "Lady Cresson is to close her en. ed in her lap, she looked all ease and tertainmonts for the season with a innocence. There was no outward iudi- tableaux party, that promises to be brit. cation that her heart was full of fury lieut. We shall put Gertrude clown for and vengeance. Just now there was it all the most charming parts." 1pause in her downward way, and she "Not for too many—ahs fatigues her - felt sick of the black task she had as- signed herself. She murmured : "I would the white, cola, lieavy.plun ing foam, Whirled by the wind, had roiled me 0eol, below, Than, whoa nett my home." self by her enthusiasm," said Lord Castlemaine. "We will not give her such tragio parts as sho had last winter." "And who else will take parts 2" Girlhood, with its innocence seemed"Oh, all the handsomest people we can find—Lucy, andAllerton, and Agnes so far behind her. Was it not the Soourton. We have nob ooncluded the blackest of sin to try and sully a whits plans yet." soul, and lead another on to sin ? What c,I am glad you have this in prospect. Judas work was this to betray a friend I Gertrude hos threatened to bo lonely Then she considered what she should while I am gone." ...- "We will keep her so busy that she will forget that," said Isabel. In fact, Gertrude was not given timo ' to consider that her husband was absent, O Isabel hurried bet away into a whirl of exoitement over the tableaux; all the , l{ time not already engaged by the crowd- ing festivities of the closing season was absorbed in disousaing scenes, dress, ex. pressions. Isabel asked Gertrude to invite the committee who were arranging the scenes to a midday luncheon, to be sot forth under a marquee in her garden. Gertrude gave her liberty to send the invitations in her name, and three ladies and five gentlemen, among whom was Colonel Lennox, came. The memory of Rudolph's deoidod words about Lennox weighed heavily on Gertrude, who felt in her secret soul that she was very wrong to have permmittedhisbeing allow. ed to come to her home. The scene from the "Dream of Fair Woman," suggested by Isabel, was one of the chief features of the tableaux. Isabel was Cleopatra, and Gertrude re• presented Trojan Heleu, while Colonel Lennox was the Intruder. The last scene was the drifting of the Lady of Shalott down to Camelot. As one picture after another was presented to the audi. enoe admiration grew higher and high - or. Finally, after choice music by a celebrated pianist and harpist, the cur. tain rose over the Lady of Shalott. At that instant Lord Castlemaine en- tered, and in the dim light took bis seat at the bank of the room. He had ar- rived home sooner than he expected, and being told that his wife was at the entertainment at Lady Cresson's, he had hastily dressed and gone thither. Among the trees, shrubs, and vines in the conservatory rose the wall of Ar. thur's palace, and on the balcony stood Arthur,JLauncelot, Guinever, and two or three others of the famed British court. Over the balcony, "crossing themselves for fear," they leaned, looking at the boat that drifted down the "river's dim expanse." The boat was piled with flowers; a pall of blue velvet fringed with gold floated book upon the well -simulated water. T On that flowery bier, "a gleaming shape," lay Gertrude Castlemaine, her snowy robes skilfully draped about a form that seemed sunk between death and sleep ; her unbound golden hair swept about her, her hands folded like snowy lilies over her heart, her match - leg; face perfect in statue -like repose. Above, the dark, brilliant Gmnever, in crimson velvet furred with minever and golden coronet, her eyes rather scanning Launcelot than the dead lady. But Launcelot, leaning on hie spear, was whlly lost in contemplating the Lady of Shalott, and that Launcelot, with his shining armor, his feathered helmet with visor raised, his "coal -black curls," his blazoned baldric, all the splendid panoply of the old-time knight, was—Colonel Lennox. The effective voice of a famous actor, persuaded to read'foreach scene, was reading as Rudolph entered : "Under tower and balcony, • By garden wall and gallery, ' A gleamingshape she floated by, Sileninto Camelot • But Launcelot mused alittle space; He said: 'She has alovely face; God in His mercy lend her grace, The Lady of Shdlott.' "Beautiful 1—perfect 1—highest aril She seems suspended between sleep and death. All the figures are perfec- tion; the queen looks transported be- tween wonder and jealousy; and see the intense, sad admiration of Launce- ldt 1 Perfect 1" "A little too perfect !" said a low voice. "So bo looked at her as Helen of Troy. It seems as much reality as acting on his part." Every word burned its way into Lord Castlemaino's soul. It was only by the most violent effort that he could control himself, as the scenes were ended, to greet bis friends, pay his respects to Lady Cresson, meet his wife, and finally go home with her and Isabel in the carriage. His fury was too great for delay. They had scarcely reached the drawing -room when he broke out : "Gertrude, have you no respect for my wishes, my commands? I told you to have nothing to do with Colonel Len- nox, and here I And you acting in a tableau with him."• "What do, you mean?" cried Gertrride. "I told you all about the tableaux, and you liked the idea. I had nothing to do with the cast. 1Are yon so hostile to Colonel Lennox that you do not expect me to take part in any entertainment where he is 2" That is exactly what I wish 1" cried Lord Castlemaine, angrily. "As society will not agree with you in turning him out, I suppose I muat ostracize myself," said Gertrude, score - full . "If it is so sinful to be in a tableau with him, why not reprove ,Isabel 2" "Tableauxare nothing—they mean nothing, you know," said Isabel, look- ing innocently, at Lord Castlemaine. ".Lath thinks of his own pat, and not of other actors. Now 1 was all ab- sorbed in whether my crown was be- coming and my host cal showed well; Gertrude, no doubt, was engaossed with whether she looked dead and not ghost- ly, While Lennox, you may be sure, hoped his armor shone, and in his soul trembled lest he had put on some piece wrong. We none of us thought of the others; humanity is selfish." "However .that is," said Lord Castle. mains, "Gertrude must understand that she is to have no association of any kind with Colonel Lennox." "I did not dream," said Gertrude, coldly and soornfully,,"that pride and jealousy could be carried to such a dis- graceful height ;" and holding her head high, the turned bet back on .Lord Cas' biemaine and marched out of the room. She was very angry with him for his Iio 1313 CONTINUED,) H H T 0 0 0 ./J 7 C 1-1 cD ?-r-' 0 0 it t @ F•� 1-� m e CD 0 I� C� d CD 00 00 s CD 4.1 N