HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1926-1-27, Page 7,VAroaM10100•11110OWISkisseamialammeaualustabildla
L ve, The Tyrant
^
"If you please to give an eye ts)
le rick before Us leaves, sir," thc
man sttunmered; and jack, with -I
nod, followed him, mounted the rielt
and tnechanieally put'fbe last to.fehes
to it. Then he came down and sent
he men home. When they had gone
e walked round the fields, as was
tis duty; but he moved like a man
a a dream, and every now and then
te stopped and leant on the fork he
till carrier!, as if he were worn out.
gate had been left open and he
ent wearily to shut it. As he did
), Kate Traneom passed down the
no before him. She raised her
ead and glanced ttt him. Jack lift
-
d his hat; then sho paused as if
ruck by the look on his face, and
ood gazing at him with timid anxi-
ty.
"Are you—are you ill, sir?" she
sked.
Jack forced a smile.
"Not a bit," he said. "Only tired.
'm afraid you .are too. Good -night."
She was moving away, but she
paused again, and very thnidly drew
nW01.
"I'm—I'in sure you arc ill," she
said, tremulously. "Let me—can't I
get something? You—you helped
me when I was in—" The color
rose to her face, and her eyes im-
plored him mutely. "Let me run back
to the -farm and get some brandy—
something. I *ill not be a moment
or two."
Ile put out his hand and caught
her arm to stay her.
"No, no," he said. "You are very
kind—kinder than I. deserve. I'm
all right. Good -night."
She stood looking up at him while
one could count twenty; then she
sighed and turned and left him.
,Tack closed the gate and tramped
back through the now deserted fields
to the cottage; and Bob followed clad-
ly with drooping head, for he knew
that his beloved master was 'unhap-
py about something.
Jack sank into a chs,ir and looked -
sound wistfully; then he laughed
gritnly and patted the dog, whose
head lay on his knee.
"Yes; we've got to clear out, Bob,"
he said. "It's my fault—all my
fault. We must get on the tramp a-
gain, old chap; Ws rough on you—
for you were happy—as happy as
myself, eh: --but there's no help for
it. We'd better pack at once. It
won't take as long, that's one com-
fort."
He rose and began to get his few
things together in a mechanical fash-
ion; but presently he drew a long
breath as if were stifling.
"It's hot, Bob, isn't it? We'll take
a turn in the woods—for the last
time, the last time!"
Bob gave a short bark of approval;
no doubt thinking that his beloved
master might get more cheerful in
the open air; and Jack, mechanically
taking up his gun, went out. His
brain was beginning to clear from
the confusion which remorse had pro-
duced, and as he walked along with
bent head, he was asking himself
whether there were any escape from
the misery which lay before hini, for
he knew that this was the love of his
life, and that it Would last him for
as long as he should live.
"Once or twice I've fancied that
I've been bit," he mused, "but it was
only fancy, and passed off like Net -
tie's measles; but this—this is •the
real thing, and I've got it badly; and
it's hopeless! If I hadn't—done
what I did to -night and behaved like
a brute I might have tried to win her.
But no, she would never have stoop-
ed to marry a man so far beneath
her as she thinks t am; and I couldn't
have told her who I really am. That
would have been worse still, for her
pride—and my darling is as proud
as a female Lucifer, bless her! 1
love her all the better for it—would
have been up in arms, and she would
die rather than marry me. She'd
think I only asked her so that she
wouldn't lose the estate! Oh, Lord,
what a Maze It is! But it doesn't
matter; rve settled my hash with
perfect completeness. She must hate
me; she must feel—oh, I know what
she most fool!"
He stopped and, wiped the drops of
sweat from his face—it was still pale
and drawn, as if he were suffering
physioal pain—and looked round him
and at the 'glimpse of the Towers
which be coutd see through the trees.
"And yet people say tliere is no
such thing as luck!" h muttered, it,
terly. "There is, and I've got the
devil's own.4 I've had it since I Was
o boy, and it clings to me like a
horse -leech. That place is mine—
hut 1 hoar of it just after I'Ve given
it away in a sacred promise; and So
I'M doomed to a tramp's life. In
there is the girl 1 love, and I've not
only no chance of winning bor, but
I've offended het beyond the hope of
pardon-- What's that?"
His quiok eye bad caught sight of
1:04.111
ors
fi
eomething mo%ing lightly behind !
tree, Mal DOI) had uttered a low aud
wernieg growl,
"One of those pp:letting thieve..., 1
enepose. Dick Reeve, perhaps. Weil,
if he only knew he could blaze :tw•iy
at MO to -night, and I shouldn't
trouble to stop him. I'd better go
and not mv duty,"
he added,. grimly.
But now as he went towards the
spot, Bob's growl changed to a b.irl.
of weleome, aud he ran forward. In
:mother moment Jack saw that it was
Esther. She was standing ereet :ts
an arrow, the moonlight falling et
Iter faee, white as if carved in stone:
a statue of wounded pride and re-
sentment. in Jack's eyes.
Ile stopped dead short, and
about to turn and walk away, but tlE!
longing to hear her speak once mor,
even though it were in anger ami
seem, mastered him, and he moved
towards her. .it was very probable
she would not remain, that she. would
be afraid of him. - Afraid of him,' it
was a bitter reflection, and made him
want to cry out; but to his surprise
and relief, she waited for hint, her
grey eyes, violet now, fixed upon him
steadily. -
He took off his hat end held it in
his hand. She could not see hi S face
distinctly, for Inc back was to the
moonlight; but the action was not lost
upon her. He had bared his head for
shame: there was that much of grace
in his nature, at any rate. Within a
couple of paces of her he stopped and
looked at her in silence for a mom-
ent, and Esther's eyes still met his
with cold anger.
"May I speak So you, Miss Van.
court?" he said at last.
There was no brusqueness in his
tone now; but though it was humble
enough, there was a touch of dignity
in its gentleness. It was the first time
in his life that Jack had had to sue
for pardon, and he did it with the ait:
of one who does not expect toreceive
forgiveness.
Esther's heart was healing fast
and her throat seethed dry, but there
was no tremor in her voice as she
replied coldly, proudly:
"What can you have to say to me,
Mr. Gordon? And what business
have you in the woods?"
She asked the question with a wom
an's mercilessness, knowing well how
it would sting him.
Jack winced.
"None. I know that I am trespas-
sing," he said, grimly, "but I didn't
expect—think to meet you," he add-
ed, With the simplicity of the man.
She colored, but too faintly for
him to see,- and her teeth caught
sharply at her under lip.
"I am gang .to the house, and I
can only remain a moment. Say
What you wish to say quickly, if you
•
please."
Jock drew his breath.
"It's. only that—Pm sorry," he
said, in his low, grave voice. "Of
course, 1 know that that doesn't bet-
ter matters. Most men Are sorry;
when they've acted like brutes and I
acted like a cad just now—in the
field."
The red of shame flooded hie face,
and he looked down so that he did
not see the responding crimson m
her. When he looked up her face
was white and statuesque again.
"I can't tell what made inc do it." •
He paused, and strangled a sigh;
for how well he could have told her
Id he had been free to do sol "I must
have been mad—have lost my seeses
for I never did such a thing before."
He volunteered this piece of in-
formation, not in a tone of evcu•se,
but a sif he had 'been suddenly struck
by the fact; and as he soid it, a itecn
pleasure, a swift sense of satisfaction
stirred in Esther's beating heart.
"That's no excuse, of course. In
fact, I haven't any excuse. --except —
He paused and stumbled, and half
unconsciously' his .eyes rested on the
white face with a passionate love
and admiration which. Esther could
not see. "Alt, well, it does not mat-
ter! There's no excuse.; and sons
ing I could say would lessen the itf-
fences I behaved like- a ruffians a
madman,. and I don't ask, hope, that
you't1 'fergive Inc. I'm not such a
tfool, • No woman could forgive such
an—an io.sult! And yet, before
Heaven, I didn't mean it as such,"
His voice had quickened and deep,
otted, and his eyesflashed as they
rested on her, and for the momnt
Esther's sank before tho firo in his.
"What else was it? What else did
you Moan?" , she asked, quietly
enough, but with every word falling
on his ,heart like ice,
Ho swept his hand across his knit-
ted brows.
"I don't know ----I can't toll you, 1
only know that I'd rather die'than
sulti you, at let another than .offer
you ono," he said, almost stonily, "I
can .only say that .I, ani sorry that If
these was anything It.could do. to Wing
THE BRUSSELS POST
•••••••mme...aeaum
(nit the remfmbrance ef my act
would do it, whatever it might he.
When 0 goal:it-non—"
Ho choked himself as if the word
had slipped froth him inadvertently,
sod Esther oaught it up.
"I .hitve always understood a sron.
tit -man is known by his coadnet, Mr.
Gordon," sho said,. incisively.
Sack nodded.
-That's true. I've no right to the
ss-in.1 Lake it hook. When a man
1>r, ved as I have, the only thing
hs Call do ie to say that he's sorry
and remove himself from the faro of
the earth if ho can; at any rate, out
of the sight of the woman he has of-
fended. I felt strongly tempted To
111001 myself"—he laughed bitterly—
"but that wouldn't have wiped out
lily black deed, would i';?"
Ile- did not see that her lips had
mivered and her eyee bad closed for
,te. instant, Mid he Wellt on gravely:
"But I needn't say that I ant going
way at once. 1 suppose 1 ought to
'have had ihe grace to wait until you
had dismissed me, Miss Vancourt?
Yes; I didn't think of that You ,ses
what a thick-headed idiot I am!"
She leant back slowly until the tree
supported her; but said nothing. He
was going. Well, that was right, was
quite right and inevitable.
"I will go to -morrow morning," he..
went on, checking a sigh, and after
a pause during which he had waited
for her to speak, with the, he knew,
wild hope that she might—Ah, bet
it was too wild a hope. "Martin is
nearly all right, and the hay is in;
and there really isn't any need for
me to stay on, under the circumstan-
ces. The wheat—"
Esther made an impatient gesture
with her hand.
"I don't know that I care to dis-
cuss the cbndition of the wheat with
you, Mr. Gordon," she said, haught-
ily, all the more haughtily for the
dull pain that was aching in her
heart.
Poor Jack colored under the little
womanish stab.
"Of course not. I beg your par-
don!" he said for the first time, meek-
ly. "I ought to have kept that for
Martin; but you've always taken an
interest in the farm— However, I
beg your pardon!"
"You go to -morrow?" she said,
after a silence, during which he had
,tricid to force himself to go, to tear
himself away from the woman for
whom- his heart clamoured.
He nodded.
"Yes; I'd go to -night, but I want
to see Martin—and it's late."
"Just so," she said, as if she were
speaking to a servant. "There is no
need for you to leave your work
unfinished. You may remain untn—
until the day after, if it is necess
sary."
She tried to speak coldly; she felt
as if she could dash the words back
from her lips; but they would come.
To •keep him for even one day was --
oh, the shame of it !so much to her.
"Thank you," he said, gravely. "Of
course I'll take care—he stammered
and broke down—"1111 be careful
that 1—that you—P11 keep out of
your sight, Miss Vancourt I'll go -
to -morrow if I can -,-Pd intended to;
but Martin may want me—there are
one or two things to do—but the day
after I can get away for certain."
She inclined her head,
"Where—" She tried to stop her-
self, but failed. "Where are you go-
ing?"
He shrugged his shoulder's. "I
don't know quite. It doesn't matter.
To London, I expect. There's always
work in the docks;—perhaps abroad
to the old game—" He stopped.
Abroad! Ho would leave England!
An awful sensation of despair closed
ithout her heart like -hie. He would
go away poor and friendless. Oh, of
course he deserVed it all, but—but!
— She turned her head away from
him, and fought down the lump that
rose in her throat.
"If—if you want money—" sho:
began; then she stopped, as the blood
mounted to Jack's face. For a mom-
ent he stood looking at her sternly,
then he smiled.
. "That is something like coals of
fire,' Mies Vancourt" he said, grimly.
"13ut 1 desetve it. And I thank you.
No; I don't want money. There's
my wages— Good God! women have
no mercy!"
The last wards were almost in.
audible, but she caught the souse of
his exclamation turd she trembled. If
110 had thrown himself at her feet—
if he had flung, his arms round her
aho would have fallen on his breast
and all would have been well; but he
stoodstock still; .wounded to the core
and she, feeling the wound as keen-
ly as he, yet hardened her heast, and
'setting her teeth firmly would not
yield an inch to the tomPtation that
assailed her, the. terrible tonging to
cryi "Nono; 1 did not mean it so I"
"Pm all tight" he said, presently.
"I don't deaerve that you should give
'a thought to .my welfare; and PM
very grateful to you. You've treated
-
Me .hotter than 1 deserve; and I'll
take care that you shan't be annoyed
by the sight of Mo while PM hero,"
.T•herp ',was .slight ttethot in his
,
.1 14 re- Li 1 I 140 1,4X. J
if rh
" Inolt In the
" Look .7.:1,0 route:" c0,-.10105 of
our
y- rank 1(10 01(1(10,' would do tne
11
11.11! • l.rs,1, Ads.
s• tws'illOs.Ams"2:S•Allt's
voice which Bob heard, and he wen:,
to his maeter and thrust his muzzle
against him; then he walked slowly
to Esther and licked the white hand
that hung at her side. Jack looked
at the dogabsently; then he said, a14.
Id the thought had just struck him:
"Miss Vancourt, if you've any dc -
sire to heap further coals of fire on
my head, you can do so by granting
me a favour—Ws like my cheek to
ask you, but— Web, I'm fond of him
ancl it goes hard with him while I'm
On the tramp, or at work, and its
likely as not I shall have him stolen
—I've had one or two narrow escap-
es already. Will you—I won't say
accept him—but be good enough to
give him a happy home,"
TWO
She understood, of course. It was
the most precious thing he had—the
only thing, indeed, he valued; and
he was offering it to her as a peace
offering, as a token of his penitence
and remorse. The lump rose in her
throat again but she hardened herself
again.
"No. I do not want him," she said,
in a strangely dull voice.
"All right," he said. "I thought
perhaps you might have been kind
enough. Poor old Bob! He'll have
a rough time of it"
She looked at the dog's upturned
eyes, large and sad—as if he knew
what was being said—and her breath
came painfully.
"If you think he may be ill-treated
--that you may lose him, you may
leave hint, if yOu like. He shall be
taken care of."
As she said it with scenting reluc-
tance, she wondered that he did not
see that her anger had melted. that
her coldness was more than half as-
sumed. But Jack was a modest man,
and no lady-killer, and hacl not the
least suspicion of the truth. It only
appeared to hint that she was treat-
ing him very leniently, that she lie-
garded him as too common, too un-
important, for a continued resent-
ment.
"Thanks!" he said, with forced
cheerfulness, and averting his eyes
from Bob. "I'll go now. If I dared
Pd. ask you td try and forgive me --
But that's impossible, I know," ho.
broke off, almost hoarsely. "Good-
night, and good-bye, Miss Vancourt."
He put his hat on; he had held it in
his hat till now. "I'll send Bob with
you now. He'll take care of you to
the house -it's late'and someone may
be in the wood." He looked at the
dog, then looked away again quickly
as he uttered the command: "Go with
her, Bob."
Esther could scarcely breathe for
the painful throbbing of her heart as
she turned to go. But Bob. for the
first time in his life, refused to obey,
and ran back to Jack with an iniplor-
ing whine.
"Never mind," she said. "I will
send for him."
The tears were in her eyes; but
he was bending over Bob and did not
'see them.
"One inoment," he said, still with
suspicious indifference. "I'll tie
something to hie collar. He'll follow
you readily enough after you've led
hint a few yards."
Ile hunted for his handkerchief;
then remembered it was in the breast
pocket of his shirt, and thrust his
hand in for it. In taking it out, he
took out another, and the second dell
to the ground. He stooped quickly
to recover it, but Esther had seen it;
It was stained with blood. A. cry rose
to her lips, but she stifled it, and her
eyes rested on his head with the look
which a woman bends only on the
man she loves, and loves passionately
—and, Heaven, how that love welled
up in her heart at that montentl—
but she fought it down with thst
streogth which is woman's birtlthight
and her voice sounded coldly enough
to Jack as she said:
"I think that is my handkerchief t"'
His hand closed over it and hn
looked at liCr for a moment steadily,
Should ho give it to her? No! She
tnight have the 'Powers,' she might
have oven Bob, but that little ware
of dainty canibric he woad keep Ms
all costs,
"NO, it ittott,"' he said. ''Itt is ono
-of Nettie's." .
Ho uttorod the lie calmly., Unblush-
ingly And Esthor was too staggered
by his dsnial, and by the joy it gllye
lot', itt p/'011014.11o4, werd.
"There le, is," he said, as he tiAm
his handkerchief to Bob's collar. "Go
BOW, 4)111 GoQ11-11510 1 Tlh•re,
01.1.0 I -4;00(1 -hp,, MI.SS Vazwourt!"
He lookod at her for a Inomont;
tholi,• heron. ..;he multi raise hvr floe
•-ein which eureiy let would have read
tho eon fession et her level—he turn-
ed and ;11 -tele .away. But he stopped
when she was out of Sight and listen-
ed to her retreating footsteps., and
Bob's whin". both stabbing him to
tho hoart. Timis, wont tho two omit-
uros ho loved. Ho wait ed until It
saw tho two mount tho stops to the
house, then ho walkod away with bent
head and norves on .011ge.
The distance to tlw hollmwas
short, but the struggle of Esthor's
life tool,: Waco in it, -
"Go back to him! Call to him!
One word only! Don't let him go!
He has your }mart in his bosom,thore
under -that handkerchief. Crush
down that pride of yours and call to
him! Tho man loves you—and ho- is
a man, though your inferior. Call
him and tell him you love him, or Pke
a fool., he wretched for tho rest of
your ife!"
But she walked on, slowly and still
more slowly; tho unhappy Bob look-
ing up at her with great imploring
eyes; he also, echoing the cry of hor
heart.
She might have turned, even at the
door, but Palmer was waiting for her
and maidenly shame restrained her.
"Are—are Miss Worcester and Mr.
Layton back?" she asked.
"Not yet, miss," he replied.
"I—I am tired. Will you ask them
please. to excuse me? I am going to
bed."
"Yes, miss," he said.
He was attached to her; indeed,
all the servants were devoted to her,
and he ventured to fetch hor a glass
of wine.
"I thought perhthis, miss—" he
said, respectfully, almost awefully;
for the young girl had been trans-
formed to a woman that night, and
there was something of woman's div-
inity in the tall, slim figure, the white
face. "Thank you, Pahn.er," she
said, wearily.
She took the wine and drank it
AIM
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27, 192e.
. griL'I'vIlittUillYi
"S . take the dog, Miss?"
ISim Was about to ylold it, then slis
shook Imr head.
"No; .f will take it to my own
room. It might bark or howl , It
will be ‘mito good—sit slinps in Iwo.
Gotdon't room: he has given itt, ilo'•
Como, Bob!"
etho led him upstairs, and wh,n silo
hail closod tho door flung 11411'. if
down lo-sido him and throw hitt' thins
round his nook.
"Oh, Doh, I love h1to-1 love him!"
she wailed. "1 lovo him, and he is
going .away, going avvay from both
of es!"
Bob uttered a plaintive little howl,
rod holool her face. The door opon-
ed and Mario entered.
"Bog' pardon, miss; 1 thought you'd
It' ready for me," sho said.
"Yes," said Esther, riAng and av-
re•ting her rave. "Wait; got some
milk, bisouits for Bob. Mr. Gordon
111., gil.", II him to me—he is going."
"(loin', is he, miss?" said Marie.
"Wsli, that is a surprise! Whatever
will Kate Transom do?"
Esther had gone to the glass and
%VIA II:wooing her dress. She turned
sharply, her lips apart, her syos fixed
00 the girl.
"What will Kato— 'What do you
moan?" sho demanded, with a catch
in hor voic.,
Mario smiled and simpered after
the wanner of her kind.
"Los', miss! don't you know?
They're engaged!"
Esther's hand stole behind hor and .
gripped the edge of the dressing -
table. .
"Engaged! It's—not—true 1" she
said, with forced calmness.
"Oh, yes, it is, miss, They've been
keeping company for a long while.
Why, Giles and me saw them in the
woods the other night. They were
walking arm -in -arm. proper -like, and
he was kissing hor—"
Before she had time to comploto
this bit of fiction, a gesture from
Esther stopped her.
"That will do," she said. "Take—
take the dog down, and tell Pamer
to have him shut up in the stable --
or anywhere. And I shall not want
you again to -night. I shall read—
and be late, perhaps."
She stood until the girl had gone;
then, as the mist deepened before her
eyes, she slippod to hor knoes, and
hot Lace fell upon loth arms out-.
strotchod On the table,
And wounded LOVe Ond outraged
Pri,IY had their cruel will of her.
.s. +
(To Bo Continued).
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