HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1913-06-27, Page 6Her Great Love;
Or, A Struggle For a Heart
CHAPTER•
VIII.
"Wait until I decide whether I can tell
you," said Gaunt.
And Decima waited, her innocent gray
eyes on his face with a kind of troubled
patience. •
He looked beyond him fixedly, with a
grave thoughtfulness, and was silent so
long that Decima almost thought that he
had forgotten her, then he looked at her
with a grim smile.
"I have decided that I can not tell you,
Miss—" He hesitated.
"Deane," said Decima—"Decima Deane.
You have forgotten my name!"
"I had," he said. 'It was unpardon-
able. But, you see, when a man has need
of go much forgiveness, a email short-
coming or two more or lees scarcely
counts. No; I can't answer your question,
Miss Deane. But, all the same, I should
like to make a short statement in my own
defence. Every criminal is allowed to
cross-question and palaverbefore the
judge passes sentence, you know."
"Yes," admitted Decima.
"Very well, then. Shall we sit down?
This bank will serve for dock and bench."
"My brother is waiting for me," said
Decima,
"If I know the angler, he has complete-
ly forgotten you by this time," said
Gaunt. "And I will promise not to de-
tain you many minutes. Will you not sit
down? Let me remind you :t will not be
the first time we have taken a acct to-
gether, aud—well', I trust you suffered no
herrn on the last oceasion.
Decima gunk down on the mossy bank,
and be sat beside her, but not too close.
Then he looked at her in an absent-mind-
ed'fashien,. and mechanically realized that
;she wore a white linendress, and that the
dark -blue bow at her throat was the only
spot of color, From her bow he looked to
her eyes, and the depth of their hie
struck him at the moment as strangely'
beautiful. Something in the face. above
and beyond its loveliness, smote him, as
it were, sbftly. Then, as he turned his
eyes away, he asked himself if it were
worth while to attempt to change this
girl's—this child's—estimate of him. 'Was
it worth while? What did it matter? Let
her think him the monster Lady Pauline
had no doubt painted him.
But Gaunt was in a queer mood that
afternoon. Perhaps the sight of the old
place in which he had been born, and
which he had neglected so long, had.tpld
upon ncrea1innocent
franknessand candor had their
effect, Anyway, he yielded to the impulse
and began."I suppose it was ;.
Pauline, whoeur ana
told youthatIwas so
Wicked?" he said.
"Yes," said Decima.
"Ah!" He smoked for a minute or two.
"Did elle tell you of what crime or crimes
X it ki,heen guilty? But, no; I suppose
net-" •
Decirna shook her head.
"Lady Pauline is a very religious we -
man; is she not?" be asked.
"Yes --oh, yes; she Is very good—good-
nese itself," said Decima.
"Yes; I have heard so." he ,remarked.
"Now, I think you will admit that so good
a woman as Lady Pauline Lascelles would
be disposed to regard other persons who
were not so good as—well, let us say, very
great sinners?"
No," said Decima. "Aunt Pauline—"
Then she stopped.
"You would like to say 'No,' but are
forced to admit that I am right. Lady
Pauline, for instance, would consider a
man whose life was entirely given up to
amusement as a cumberer of the earth, a
useless member of society, scarcely worthy
of living in a workaday world?"
"Yes," said Decima, reluctantly.
"Quite so," said Gaunt, with a grim
smile. "And for some of his amusements
Lady Pauline would find no word o£ l'eon-
demnation too hard. For instance, if he
played cards" --lie had to choose his words
carefully, for he felt the girl beside him
was as innocent of the world as a child—
"she would call him a gamester—an habit-
ual gambler." •
Yes," said Decima,
"Thanks. I am coming to my point,
though I seem to skate round it. And
if he went to the opera,'and the theatre,
and to balls, she would call him a world:
ling—I think that's the word—and a slave
to dissipation."
"Yes," said Decima again. •
"Very well," he said. "Then, I am
afraid, I am, according to Lady Pauline's
code, a very wicked man. But, Miss
Deane—"
e paused. Was
after allwort
while to defend himself beforee this sweet
girl -judge?
"Yes?" said Decima, "Why do you not
go on?"
"I beg your pardon," he said, with a
slight start, as if he had lost the thread'
of the subject. "Yee, I am rather absent-
minded. Please forgive me. I was going
to say that it is very difficult for a man
to work who has never learned to do any.
And that's my case. ilnfortuilately, :ay
parents and guardians neglected to teach
me to use either my hands or my brains.
I can neither sow nor spin. I can do
nothing that would earn me a glass of
the cheapest ale. It is sad, but ,ehere"it
is. I can only amuse myself, and"—he
sighed—"I can't always do that—very sel-
dom, indeed."
Decima looked at him. There was a
smile in his eyes and op. .his lips, but it
Was rather a sad and sel 'mocking one.
"But that's all the point I. wanted to
make," he went on, knocking the ash off
his cigar and looking at her as if --or De-
rima felt—she were a long way off. "I
wanted to' show how unreasonable, how
inconsistent you were in cutting me just
now."
"Yee?" said Decima, flushing slightly,
"Inconsistent!"
"I am, I will admit, very wished; and
you, of course, are very good."
"No one is really good," said Decima,
rebukingly.
He regarded her with a half smile.
"Ah, well; fairly good. Now, Miss
Deane. do you think there is no hope for
i' •
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the wicked? Do you think that it is im-
possible for a bad man to become good?"
Decima looked shocked.
"Oh, no, no! There is always hope! It
is never too late—"
—"To mend," he said. "And don't you
think it is the duty of the good folk to
help the wicked ' on to the right road?
Poor w.icke 1? Perhaps they have strayed
through no fault of their own—have only
lost their way. And think! A helping, a
directing hand may put them on the right
path again. Do you think it is the duty
of all the good people to stand a long
way- off and watch the bad ones drifting
down the broad, the Primrose Path, that
steep descent down the hill of Avernus,
without making an effort to stop them?"
Decima glanced with a troubled little
frown at the' handsome face with its half -
grave, half -bantering smile.
"I never thought of that," she said in a
low voice.
"Just so; so I suspected. But you are
not singular. It's a way most' good peo-
ple have. They look upon the poor black
sheep as lost forever—"
"Oh, . no, no I" said Decima, breaking in
with a piteous little eagerness.
"You do not?" he said, still smiling at
her. "Thank you. And, after all," he
said in a moment or two, "perhaps the
sheep is not so black as he is painted.
Some persons, especially when they are
so good as Lady Pauline, have a knack of
exaggerating. Give a dog a bad name,
and you may ae, well hang him right
away, Now I, apparently, have a bad
'name; but don't hang me, please I'mean,
don't cut me as if I were quite too black
and criminal Who knows? If you knew
the story of my life—" . ,,
He paused, and bit his lip al if he were
trying to catch his words; but Decima
looked at him waitingly.
"I was going to say that even for such
a one as myself it might be possible to
find some excuse; and it is, again, just
possible that you would let me off ayeth
the o'ition of a fine.' But the poor pris-
oner at •the bar has spoken, and his
prayer is that the sentence will be less
severe than the cut direct. Is the judge
inclined to mercy?"
Decima looked straight before her. Not-
withstanding the smile, there was a cer-
tain sadness and gravity in his eyes
which revealed the seriousness under the
tone of banter.
"I will not avoid you again," she said
in a low voice.
He inclined his head.
"Thank you," he said, gravely. "I shall
not abuse your indulgence, for it is not
very likely that we shall meet often, or
for a very long time,"
"Are you going away? Do you not live
near here?" asked Decima.
He ignored' the latter question.
"I am going abroad very shortly, and
shall be away" for some time," be said.
"That will be nice," s id Decima.
But, even as she spoke, she was con-
scious
onscious of a vague sensation of regret. He'
had been so kind to her at the Zoo, and—
well, a young girl could scarcely help
being flattered by such a plea as he had
addressed to her. •
"Nice? Ah, yes,, yes; I dare say you
would enjoy it," he said.
"And will not you?" asked Decima, re-
garding hint inquiringly.
"Not very much, I am afraid. Do you
know the story of the boy who startled
everybody by refusing a raspberry tart,
until he informed them that he was em-
ployed at a pastry -cook's? He had got
tired of jam tarts. I have got tired of
travelling, and most other things. But
—I don't know how it ie—I have dropped
into a fine display of egotism. Will you,
tell me how it is I find you down here
so unexpectedly?"
Decima rose and took the path through
the firs toward the river, as she answered:
"My father seat for me quite suddenly.
Our house, The Woodbines, is near herd
—down the road to the village. Perhaps
you passed it. It is a very pretty cottage
overgrown with ivy, and with an old-
fashioned garden, in front."
"Yes; I noticed it," he said.
"But all the place is pretty," said De-
cima. "And isn't this lovely?"
She paused and looked round her and
at.the great house, a glimpse of "which
they Could still see between the straight
fir trunks.
"Yes," he said. "May I go down as fer
as the river with you? I should like to
know what sport your brother is hav-
ing,"
"If you like," she said, walking on
again. "Isn't it a. pity that the piece is
so neglected?"
"Is it neglected?" he said, after a mo-
ment.
"Oh, yes; so my brothel says. lie was
telling me all about it last night. We
strolled down here after dinner, and you
can not imagine how lovely it looked in
the moonlight; and yet so weird and-
and melancholy; for there were no lights
in the windows,. and no signs nor sounds
of life,' -
"Yes, it would look rather eerie," he
said, very quietly.
"It is a pity that the law does not take
it away from its owner, and give it to
some one who would appreciate and love
it," said Decima.
Gaunt put up his hand to his moustache
1'o hide the grim smile, It was evident
that Lady Pauline had not told the girl
his name.
That sounds like a' kind of socialism,
Miss Deane," he said. "But bow do you
know he doesn't appreciate it?"
Decima stopped short and looked over
her shoulder at him with faint surprise.
"How can he, seeing that lie never
comes near it?" she. said. "I think he
must be very heartless," ti
"Heartless?"
"Yes. My brother was telling me bow
the steward had written' to him, asking
him for instructions to manage the es.
tate, And he will send no answer. Is it
not—well, yes, it is wicked. For, thinkl
surely it is wicked to neglect one's duty.
And it is his duty to take care 'of pee.
pie—the tenants and laborers who live on
the estate—and naturally -look up to him
as their friend and protector as well as
landlord."
Ys he a hard landlord, did you bear?"
said Gaunt, quietly,
"Oh, I think not. It is that he neglects
them. Why does he net come and live in
that bea.utifel house e,nd in thio lovely
place instead of deserting it?"
"Perhaps he can not•help himself," said
Gaunt, ventured te :plead for laer
£or myself just now, Mist Deanel let me
now plead for him. We don't know leis.
story. It's likely enough that it we
heard him in his own defence, he might
not seen so—heartless was what . you
called him, was it not?"
DeciMe. nodded.
"Do you net think it is heartless to lead
a life of selfishness, and neglect all one's
duties,? Bobby says-•- But I mast -,not re-
peat it,"
"Please do!" lie said. "What was it your
brother said?"
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"Oh, I do not suppose Lord Gaunt wonid
care who repeated the story, that while
he can not find any time or money to
devote to this beautiful place, lee:ean
afford the time and mousy to spend in
pleasure and gambling. Is it true that he
won—what was it, fifty thousand pounds
of a Russian prince?—I forget: his mete—
and that he thinks of nothing but amus-
ing himself? I hope it le not. true."
"Not quite," he eaid.. It was not so
large a sum as you mention. Twenty was
the amount, and he lost it, not won it.
And as to devoting hie life to thepurusit
of pleasure"—he paused and laughed, a
laugh of grim irony -"if. he does, his de-
votion does not meet with itelreward."
"You know Lord Gaunt?" 'said Derma,
Gaunt was silent for a moment. Now
was the time to say, "I am Lord' Gaunt"
--or, rather, it was not the time. How
could he distress her by revealing himself
after her, denunciation of him? No; he
would not discover, himself. In a few
minutes he would have parted from her,
and she would remain in ignorance ; of
his identity—at any rate, till he had gone;
and so he would spare her -the embarrass;
meat which would overwhelm 'her if he
made himself known: He would leave her
when they reached the river, and 'out
across the meadows to ' Bright's house.
Half an hour with him would • euffiee, and
then for Africa ecce more,
Meanwhile, Decima- waited for her, an-
swer.
"Yes, I know him—know him very well,"
he said, as if suddenlyawakening,. from
a reverie. "There is something to be said
for him like the rest of us, Miss Deane.
He is rather an—an unhappy man."
"How can he be happy?" said D,eclma,
with her frank eyes axed en his face.
"No one can whoneglects his duty.'' Why
does he not come and live, here and try
to make others happy? Perhaps be would
find his own happiness then.
Gaunt looked at her,. with his weary
smile. .
"I'm half inclined to think he mint be
persuaded to do so, if he heard you, Miss
Deane." . -
Decima flushed slightly and frowned a
111tIe.
"Oh, I! It dbes not mutate
think. 'I am only a girl; Alva 711 P£.
norant; and—and I ought not to haws
said what I did: But—but— how, did
come to say it?"
"You have said nothing wrong or `in-
discreet," he said, more gently than be had
as yet spoken. "Every word. you uttered
was true and just, and I know that he
would he the first to admit it. Think no
more of icor :rim. 'Gere is your brother
—and, as I prophesied, quite absorbed, in
his fishing."
They had reached the end of the road,
and were standing'on the crest of a'steep
little hill, at the bottom of which Bobby
was busy flogging the stream.
"Mind how you go down," said Gaunt.
"It is steeper than it looks, and the
grass is short and slippery. Will you
give me your hand?"
"Oh, no; thanks!" said Decima, "I can
manage quite well; I shall not fall."
She began to descend with her light,
firm step; but, suddenly, she trod on a
small stone which rolled away from un-
der her feet, and she slipped. Gaunt was
by her side, and his hand went out and
caught her arm, almost as it had done
at the lion's cage at the Zoo. Decima
looked up at him with a laugh—the laugh
of a girl whose heart is stillein her.keep-
ing, and who has not learned to thrill at
ally man's touch..-
"That serves me right for boapting! I
was nearly dawn, was I not?" •
He looked at the sweet, laughing_ face,
and smiled—without irony or sarcasm this
time.
"Better take my arm," he said.
"Oh, no; thanks; I , am going to ,ran
down;" she said; andshe started as his
clasp relaxed.
'Well, Bobber she exelaimed "Are
you catching all Lord Gaunt's fish?'`:'
" 'Sh-sh 1" said Hobby, rebukiugly, and
without looking round.: "Don't kick up
snob a . shine, or you'll frighten every
trout in the river! What fearful ignorant
things girls are! Keen out of sight;b rind
mind the hook when I throw, or you'll
have it in your hair or your. clothes:'
Deeima.withdrew out of the radius of
the fishing -line as it flew back and round
in its graceful curve, and Gaunt went -up
.to Bobby.
Any sport?" he said, raising the lid of -
the basket.
Bobby nodded -
Very fair. But they're rather small,
aren't they? There's a big one just over
by that bush, ' aid I've been trying for
him, for the last ten minutes; but I can't
get him."
"You don't quite reach, do you?" said
Gaunt.
"No, I don't," admitted Bobby. "I can
throw fairly straight,but not so far as I
should like; the fly fella about a yard
short of where he is feeding. You try."
Gaunt hesitated a moment, then . took
the rod and threwthe fly.
"Is it there? Ah, yes; I. see him."
"And have got him I" exclaimed ?lobby,
with a flash of excitement. "I say, what
a fly you throw!. That 'was splendid!
(To be continued.)
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On the Farm
Poultry Pointers:
•
Keep the eggs ma cool, thy room;
or cellar.
Attend to the machine carefully
and at regular flours- ,
Always test the hen on china or
nest eggs before setting..:,
Proper ventilation' and sunlight
mean a dry house and healthy birds.
Th hopper system" is all right,
provided you have the -proper...
things in ' the hopper.
Sickness and lice are scarce' art-
icles where poultry houses are kept
dry and clean.
Lookout for hidden nests. At this
season hens that are on range are
very apt to steal their nests.
A quiet, gentle hen with the
mother instinct strongly developed
is worth money in the chicken busi-
ness.
Give the fowls, old and young,.
all thewater they want, with 'oc-
casionally some milk if you would
get best results.
Overfeeding must be avoided~ as
must also underfeeding. Either ex-
trem.e will stunt the growth of the.
young stock.
A dust bath three . feet Square
filled with common road dust or sift-
ed ashes, should be placed in one
corner of the poultry house.
Crippledchickensshould be put
out of their misery with a good
sharp axe, They spoil the looks of
the flock and the feed they con-
sume is a loss. - -
In your ' spring campaign do no
forget the importance of keepin
down lice. These pests will procluc
all the symptoms of disease in
flock of fowls, young or old.
The strong, vigorous April -hatch
ed chicks should now be growin
well. A good growth now will bet
ter fit them to stand the depressin
effects -'hot June.- suns are apt
have.
It will not take long, if you' wate
out, to see what kind of . food you
birds take the most of if they 'ca
get it.. Then furnish, that kind ge
e.rously. ' The hens need it .and—;w
make good use of it,
Give: special attention to':the a
ting liens. IIa-i e their nests so
ranged that they cango on and
at will. Do not floss with them,
keep a watch on thcit•:supplie
grain and water should be•const
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During the summer months w
fowls have free range and can
cure insects and an abundanc
grass, -meat andvegetables are
so essential in thb bill of fare,
if the hells are confined meat se
and green feed should still be
plied. ,
B.egular feeding is of the ut
importance. Adopt the nuetho
feeding best suited te your cit
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irregular feeding impairs , dige
from overindulgence if the fe
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Egg eating is, generally cause
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best cure is to give 'then 'al
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i10An old negro' •was char
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