HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1925-11-18, Page 7Love,
The Tyrant
d
He stopped for lack of breath and
stood with clenched hands, his oyes
fixed on, her fate with the look that
ie as old as the bills, the look which
will burn in men's eyes when that'
rest on the woman they love until the
world crumbles into the original dust
and ceases to be.
;fate's face was pale, but her eyes
and her Ups were cold, His passion-
ate word, and more passionate love
awakened no echo in her heart, no
responsive love. His ardour repelled
and troubled her, that was all.
But with the coldness and lack of
expression was mingled the subtle
fear with which Dick Reeve was re-
garded by all who knew him. Fie
was more than half a gypsy—' his
-mother had been a member of the
nomadic race, and his 'father had a
touch of the Zingari Mood in his
veins -and Dick peeve had .inherited
that singular ' power of influencing
others for good or evil which belongs
to his people. The man was a ne'er-
.do-well, a poacher and idler, the kind
.of man such a girl as Kate Transom'
—who had done well at the Board
School ---should have been able to dis-
miss with a word or two; but she
found the word or two difficult to
.speak. Then, again, a girl le strange-
ly moved by her first declaration of
love, from whomsoever it may come.
It is the crown of her womanhood,
The acknowledgment of her sover-
eignty. The words "1 love your
from the lips of any man make a girl
a queen amongst the women who have
not been "asked."
"What do you say, hate?" he de-
manded, his swarthy face pale with
emotion, his dark eyes glaring with
mingled hope and fear- "If you'll
say 'Yes', if you'll be my wife, I swear
I'll make you happy. I'll give up `the
poaching and the public; I'll get work
on the estate, and I'll settle down
with the best o''them. Come now!
speak me fair—"
He was foolish enough to take hold
of her arm. Mow, when a girl loves
a man, his touch turns her heart to
water and she is just as potter's clay
in his hands; if she does not love him,
his touch rouses all her antagonism,
all her maiden strength and ferocity.
At his touch Kate -shuddered and
wrenched herself free, the colour
flooding her face'for one moment, the
next leaving it white and cold.
His hand dropped from her round,
warm arm, and his face darkened.
"You don't love mel" he said,
fiercely. "And I love you better than
life itself l"
She made a petulant movement.
"It's no time to speak of—what
you've been speaking. I'm anxious
about father—"
"Your father's all right; and he's
.a friend of mine, Kate. Say that
Tye got a chance. just a chance—"
"Nog" she broke in. "I can't! I
don't want to love anybody,"
His face darkened, and his eyes
'lost the yellow bar in their darkness.
"There's no one else, Kate, is
there?" he said, hoarsely. "I've
watched you all the eeme, and I
haven't aeon anyone. But" :rte
swore one of the simple country oaths
before which the London oath waxes
pale—"but if there should be, he'd
better look out for himself." Who-
ever he is,' --he's got to reckon with
Dick Reeve!"
She drew herself up proudly, and
the colour hooded her face.
"There is no one alae," she said,
with an indrawing of her breath.
"There is no one—"
Then she paused.
"I'm glad of it, for his sake, who-
ever he might be," he said, with a
savage snarl. "If I thought there was
another mall—"
White to the lips, sho shrank back
from his menace; but before she
could speak, the door opened and her
father came in.
"It's late," he said, with the air of
a man who has been lost in thought.
Dick Reeve nodded in Assent.
"Good -night, old man," he said.
"Good -night, Kato."
He held out his hand to her, but,
as if she had not noticed it, she turn -
ad aside and picked up the lantern.
Site lighted her father to his room
raid then went up to her own. It
yeas a tiny square under the thatch
oof and poorly furnished, There
was just the bed, a chair, and the
dressing -table and wash -stand, but
is was all seruculously clean and
feat; and ar bunch of primroses on
drowning that of Dielc's, her lover's.
klew thts stranger ---had spoken in
accents new to her, in accents that
had stirred something in the depths
of her heart. She remembered every
word; every gesture, every look of
his was engraven on her mind. She
triad to forget him, to put him away
behind her anxiety about her father,
behind Dick Reeve's avowal of love;
but this strange man, whom elle had
seen twice only, thrust himself for-
ward and obliterated everything else.
She undressed slowly and threw
herself on the bed; but though she
slept at last; her very dreams were
haunted by his •voice and face and
form,
CHAPTER X.
Esther would rather have died than
admitted it, but she, like Kate Tran-
som, thought a great` deal •of Jack
Gordon, the foreman of the home
farm There was something about
the young fellow which, as she would
have put•it, "got en her nerves." He
was so terribly good-looking and his
deep voice was so musical; and with
ant companion. ' Esther and Miss
Worcester had, if the truth must be
told, been bored befere his arrival,
They had been in mourning for Sir
Richard, and could neither bo out
or entertain; and the vast place, with
its innumerable rooms and tremens
Hous surroundings, had weighed upon
them rather heavily, and the advent
of Mr. Selby Layton. a man about
town, had come as a pleasant relief.
He talked well, and on all sorra
of subjects, many of which were new
to Lather, he sang and played 111ce
an angel, and he showed by word
and look and gesture his evident de.
sire to win the good graces of the
two ladies, Ile did not confine his
attentions to Esther, but directed
them to Miss Worcester, with whore
he talked Browning and the Pales.
tine Eitploration, and for whom he
held her skein of wool,
� 't 4r
ed It because her tat lor had told her She ran upstairs, calling' Marie,', sir; but donlet Aiss rancou
recd
that she would need it, though dhe and in three quarters of an hear' the mare."
had never been on a horse in her they had the habit on. She found sel'by wave= smelled Ina weaiie-be
t b p
life. As ells loomed ..at it, she was 14r, Layton in mel t'r oekers , which superior 1pahion seed the chestnut
struck by the Idea that the mistress was his nearest approach to a riding; sidled out of the stable courtyard,
! of Vancourt Towers ought to be able suit, :and they went down to the stale followed demurely by the mare. Ghee
to ride, ought very possibly to be be; he in inward trepidation, Esther looked after thed critically and lath-
, able to hunt; and idle got out the with that light -handedness which is pe deubtfully.
habit and put It on, born of ignorance. They found Giles "Gentleman don't look much of a
i There le no costume, which even superintending the grooming; of a 'orseman, Mr. Giles," remarked his
Paquin himself can Invent, in which horse by ono of the under -Mantis. second in command.
'a young and graceful girl looks to r "Giles, we are going for a ride," "Rides like a d—d tailor," respond.
better advantage than in a riding- said Esther. "1 want quits a safe tel Giles, contemptuously. "Shouldn't
habit. It defines every curve of the and sober horse; but you must give wonder if he COMM off. But Mies
1 figure; its severe limes and calor set, Mr. Layton a good one. Vancourt's all right, if she don't curb
off a girl's beauty, if she has any; Selby Layton's heart engrave him, the mare. P'r'aps, I'd better have
and Esther certainly was beautiful. but he shacked his leg with the whip gone with 'em. It's too late now,
She looked at herself approvingly he had taken frees the hall and tried though"
far a minute or two, then she got to look at his ease. Giles touched his The chestnut was young, and
back into her morning frock and forehead and looked doubtful for a though free, from vice, full of frolic.
went downstairs. Mr, Selby Layton
He drove and walked with the lade
les, and was always ready to sing
and play to them; but being a re-
markably astute young man, he was
careful not to inflict much of his
Presence upon thorn. lie went out
for long walks alone; and, as he
could take a long walk without going
outside the estate, he became fairly
familiar with it; and the more he saw
of it, the more he admired it, and
longed for it.
all his roughness he seemed so gentle' At night, when the ladies had gone
and tender-hearted: see what care to bed, he sat over his. whisky and
he had taken of her in the axe bull -"soda and Sir Richard's choice cigars,
nese, and how fond he was of his and plotted and planned, with one
dog!
But all the same, she told herself
that she did not approve of him; he
was far too rough and brusque. Why
he had almost been rude and disre-
spectful to her; bliss Esther Van -
court of the Towers, if you please.
his mistress. She made up her mind
that the next time she met him she
would snub him and put him in his
proper place. Ilut the worst of it
was she had snubbed him more than
once, and he didn't seem to care; he
had even argued with her and o.l-
posed her will; he had almost forced
the axe from her hand, she remem-
bered. But, being just—which is
strange for a woman—she remember-
ed that he had opposed her for her
own good, and -here is a tip for the
too complaisant young man of the
period—women who arc worth har-
ing, hike being opposed for their own
good.
No doubt her, thoughts would have
dwelt a great deal more upon rack
Gordon but for the presence of Mr.
Selvy Layton. In these liberal days
one gives even the devil his due; and
to give Selby Layton his, one must
admit that he WAS an extremely pleas -
ar+r`ti '`7 the table, the arrangement of the
curtains, together with a shelf' of
books,. spoke eloquently enough of
the results of the Board School train-
ing.
Kate went to the glees--• a small
affair of the cheapest kind --and be-
gan to undress, She let down her
' z hair, which fell in a marvellous aub-
urn torrent, before she reeked in the
glass; their she gazed into its murky
depths with a new and strange solici-
tude.
And she saw, not the refleetion o:f
her own girlish beauty, but the face
and form of the nest who had Game
tipon her father in the woods.
Not for one moment since she had
seen him lutd she, forgotten him. Even
'while Dick Reeve had boon declaring
his love for her, the handsome, suer
tanned face had haunted her.
Haunted her was the only Way of
expressing it Ula voice, so tluiet,
ea masterfttl, had l'ubg in her eats,
■
,l.
sole object in view—the possession of?
Esther and the Vancourt estate and
money.
Now, as they drove or walked, they
occasionally came across Jack Gor-
don. Sometimes he was riding a
half -broken -colt, riding it with that
perfect ease which is only owned by
a Mexican or a backswoodsman. Ile
always raised his hat with marked,
if cold respect, and Esther vouch-
safed him only the coldest of bows,
and Selby Layton touched his hat
as he would to any inferior.
He knew nothing of Esther's first
meeting with Jack, and, never spoke
of him. To Mr. Selby Layton, as-
tute as he was, Jack Gordon was just
the foreman of the home farm, and,
yy gentlemanly and handsome as he was,
of no account.
II But, charming companion as Sel-
1
by Layton knew himself to be, the
1 time sometimes hung heavily on Es-
ther's hands. If the truth must be
told, she actually missed in this life
of luxury and ease the past drud-
gery of music teaching. One day,
while looking listlessly through one
of her many wardrobes, she came
upon a riding habit. She had ordee-
moment, then he led the way to the
was smoking a' cigarette on the ter- stables.
race, and discussing the last library '"ire's a mare as would suit you,•
book which Miss Worcester was read• miss,,, he said. "She's old, but she's
Ing, steady and sure-footed, and she s
Esther went up to them And look- been used to carrying a lady. There's
ed round wistfully, np difficulty in fitting you, sir; I'll
"What a lovely morning for a saddle the chestnut you saw men
A good rider would have enjoyed his
gamesomeness and would have al-
lowed him to dance around and get
rid of hie superfluous spirits; but
every erratic movement of the horse
filled Selby Layton with fear up to
his back teeth, and he tried to check
drive—or a ride, Mr, Layton! Do a hint, which only fretted the chestnut
you ride?" yesterday. and told it plainly that he had an
Someone had said, and with a cer- Selby Layton's heart grew heavier, inexperienced horseman on his back
tarn amount of truth, that there are ' for when he had seen Giles yesterday Polly plodded on steadily and meth -
two things which an; Englishman wilt the chestnut was prancing and rear-' odleally, and Esther, with heightened
always declare he can de—act and j ing in an alarming fashion. Esther colour and dancing eyes, which at
ride. Selby Layton had only been went up to the old• mare and patted ; another time would have aroused Sel-
on a horse two or three times in his i her and rubbed her nose. by Layton's artistic admiration, ex-
lifebut he replied,unhesitatingly: "You must be very good with nae," i claimed:
,'Oh , yes. Delightful ghtful exercisegird rid- ; she said, confidentially; "because I "How jolly it is, isn't it? I'd no
leg, isn't ht?" idon't know anything about riding or idea -Wing was so delightful. I shall
Esther laughed. i horses, and If you are't very care- . go in for it; i shall ride every day.
"I don't know; I've never been on ful, my dear, I shall Dome off." I flow I wish I could ride like you
a horse in my life; but I should like "There's no fear, miss, said Gales. , "Y -e -s, jerked out Mr. Layton,
to try; and we'll go for a ride if 'sOld Polly will carry you right wit11 an affection of ease, but with a
you're sure you won't be bored by enough, if you dont press too hard sinking at his heart. "It's a delight-
a beginner.' on her mouth. Give her her head,; ful exercise. and you'll soon get into
"That would be impossible!" said and she'll carry you like an arm- •
Selby Layton with his sweet smile.. chair. 1 As he spoke, the chestnut gave a
"My dear Esther, pray be care- ; The horses were saddled with the little bound, and h e nearly came off,
fug;" implored Miss Worcester, ncr-;alacrity with which all the servants He tugged at the curb, and the horse
vously.. "It is so easy to meet with -I of the Towers waited upon their mis-; rose, amazed at such treatment.
an accident; and I'm sure that there ;tress, and Giles stood aside waiting ; "Your horse seems very fresh,"
is not a horse in the stables fit for I for Mr.Selby Layton to put Esther • remarked Esther, innocently.
you to ride. I looked in the other in her 'saddle. It is a very simple, "Y -e -s; but he'll be all right direct-
day and they all seemed quite wild; ;performance—if you know all about ly," stammered Selby. "I -I haven't
and I saw Giles riding one yesterday it; Selby Layton didn't. He made 1 ridden for some time. Whoa!
and it was prancing about like like I two or three bungling attempts, andSteady; whoa!
anything" then Giles, who had been watching 1 In happy ignorance of her com-
Selby Layton smiled 0 siekly smile; hint rather curiously, came forward, I hlaniotes incapacity, Esher rode on
but Esther, who had inherited the showed Esther how to put her foot gaily, the mare going steadily, the
Vancourt pluck as well as the Tow- on his knee, and her hand on hie i chestnut prancing and fidgeting at
ers, laughed easily. shoulder, and tipped her easily into • the ill -managed curb. They went
"Oh, I daresay Giles will be able the saddle, down the avenue, the pride of so
findtm something veryold and "You hold your reins this way, many Vancourts, and got on the road.
very
e g
very safe; and I may not hurt my- miss," he said. "Hold 'em loosely, 1 Esther rode badly, of course; but the
self very much if I do come off. How and don't fret the old mare. mare's paces were easy, and present -
soon will you be ready, Mr. Layton?" Then he went to Selby Layton ty she began to get into the rise and
"In five minutes," he replied with who, after many vein attempts, had fall of the trot; and while Selby Lay -
a little bow. got into his saddle, and, still eyeing 1 ton jogged and shook beside her, she,
went pretty corn -
"Keep your horse well in grand, Portably. At the end of .the road (Continued Next Week)
"Oh, I shall be half ;an hour, at
least," said Esther.
him curiously, said: 1 on a quieter horse
they came upon the upon common
over velli t ad
n ell she was hely o1 the to man-
or, aid the marc' naturally went fel'
the grass in preference to the ;lard
road.
On the hard gravel the chestnut
had been fidgety enough, but, when',
it felt the springy turf beneath its
feet, it became mor restless and Ilm•
patient. Esther look(' at it,
"I think your horse wants to go,"
Mr. /tartan," she said. "Shall w•
try a canter or a gallop, or whatever
they call it? It think I can etick'on;
!Intl if 1 can't, it won't matter on this
grass. "
"Pray --be careful—any dear Mies
Vancourt, he implored, jerkily, the.
sweat gathering on his face; but Es-
ther touched her mare with the whip
and Polly broke into a cantor-�-a gen-
tle canter which Esther found de
lightfully easy.
""it is delicious," .she exclahned, 4'1
don't wonder people are fond of nide
hag! Are you enjoying it, Mr. Lay-
ton?"
Mr, Layton was anything but en-
,joying it, but he murmured "Yes"
.and smiled a sickly smile, and tried
all he knew to keep the chestnut
from breaking into a gallop. It
would have been easy enough to do,
i!` he had known anything about at;
but the more Selby Layton pulled
at the curb, the more the chestnut
chafed and fought for its head; and
presently it got away and bounded
in front.
Polly, obeying its instinctive de-
sire to keep alongside its stable com-
panion, also took to a gallop. Esther
half amused, half alarmed, tried to
pull it up, and, of course, disobeyed
Giles' injunction and put the curb on
too tightly. Polly looked surprised
for a moment, then shook her head
impatiently and increased the pace;
Esther pulled' a little harder and the
mare. though she was old and well-
bred, got puzzled and angry, and
quickened her stride.
The chestnut heard her behind and
tore along at a racing pace, with Mr.
Selby Layton hanging on with white
face and trembling limbs. Esther
felt as if she were going to fall; but
Tier courage did not fail her. The
swift pace, the flying landscape, the
beat of the mare's hoofs upon the
springy turf, produced a sense of
exhilaration, and though there was,
a good deal of doubt in her mind,
there was absolutely no fear
At the end of the common, the
chestnut, which had had about
enough of it,'decided that it would go
home and turned swiftly and sharply
Emil St. Goddard driver eg
winning tum in International
Deg
boot des.y Tithe''s,�wl with .
of the Balt* Trophy.
fudge Han. Spiegel is creating •
sensation. In Germany at •pr.nnt with
make•ups.l lie tenting
deaf and astonishing
hand
danceswithout mule.
pwtnlry recentlyd celebrated th.1r
diamond wedding at eremite
Court on the Earl's estate in
wurcester.hlre. They were ac.
cempanled by their forty deaean•
dents, their yenugest eon, Hen.
Thomas emitter, a member of
the British Columbia Parlia-
ment, travelling from Canada
for the celebrations. Phalli
shows .lard and Lady Deventer,
Viscount Doerhurot the heir,
and the Bialwp of Worcester.
Showing the cheating band Propelled
Lifeboat,
ethet'tf wntri ,fethe t 11 oat1 levers
tilted
ll¢ t
tinder way by mashie the levers le
and fro thereby driving the screw•
moved; from areship's side boat
that only one trained maroon need
be In the boat.
Great interest la being taken
Ihroygho8t England 18 the steles
of lectures arranged by the
O�anadlan Pacific nallway deal.
I..a with opportunities offered
by the Dominion far the venter,
bullet and Investor. Photo•
Craph shows the interior of the
entral Halt, Blrminchem with
an audience of 2.000.
A *xp*yt1� djp is tl,y eg.t:kiskrs el?r5dae.talsisr titkieiA
Canodl
troia *Philo V CCWgasadlait Peattlr.
osaimoramoolmop
tiyra wt5�awa of eh. Mem.
ea Si* Waft* ai tlt0
vane/Ise Piens hatter -
roe • most frldhly Mite.
*t lMterist to L*a enaw.