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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Record, 1881-04-29, Page 2<Re THE WNJJEL 'MOTTO, BY,MARY CECIL HAY, Author of "Old hfuddteton'e Money;" "Hidden ',eras ;". "The Syutre'e Legacy ;" "Victor and; Vanfuished;' "Nora, Lova Teat;" "4 Ahadoto on th T Threshold ;" "Bask Co the CHAPTER IIL--Continued; .. "Yes; so I had hope with me on my journey, though so little, You may guess the cruel ending when they took um to my poor dear boy. Ana he, Bessie, he, the doer o£ this foul deed, has inherited a title and position which has been proudly and purely borne by l.y tho highest in the land, Soo true it is that God's ways are not our ways." "Does Uncle Alf know be did this thing, papa 1" asked Hester, after a pause. "No, I told no one but—but your mother and yourself, You will judge whether he shall be told. Perhaps it is not for usto interfere if they are friends; but for yourself, my darling, you will remember bow his hand. is stained. "Always—always." "And this is a°promiso between ua1". "A. promise, father." Iter father bitterness of'wron Hes- ter shared; her father,s abhorrence of the man who had given them the one overpowering misery of their lives; but the father's anger was,: after all, less .leep and undying than that which burned in the girl's strong, ardent na- ture, as she looked upon the .wrec, which the misery had left. UHAPTER IV. dead. Love, will you remember this ?" "Can 1 forget?" she cried, and hid her face, "Can I forget, dear father,. that, or anything you have told me?" The night wore on in silence,, and when the first faint streak of dawn crept softly in and lay upon the bed the tired voice whispered : "I am bet- ter, darling." At those few- bright words, so weakly spoken, the girl's brave heart, gave way; the tension of the long night's. agonized watch Was broken; and Iles - ter fell on her knees, sobbing pitifully,. "Is Alf comet" • She could not say the " No and only shook her head. " Darling, look up at nig again, I have no pain now.". The voice grew lower and more earnest. "Think ten- derly of me, Hessie. Comenearer— nearer, love, My little girl—my only one. He will not leave thee, though. I do. Ale will not—forsake thee, It is coming—so gently. And my redeem- er—waits tQ ive--me rest." So when 'The earlysun flooded' the room with its pure and heavenly light,. he lay still and motionless in his last most restful sleep. 'Mr. Alfred Bruce arrived in Nice the morning after his brother's .death, and that day he spentalone, sadly boweddown by his . only brother's death, and the, grief and disappoint- neet of not having been in time to speak to him, • No trouble awaited him in conse- quence of his. brother's , will. Every- thing . was left to Hester, and that everything amounted to but little,as the expenses of the. last two years had been drawn entirely from the remnant of Mr, 13ruce's fortune. ALONE. - During the two years which. Rester and her father spent -in Italy, Lord, iealiolme's name was never mentioned l y either. Both avoided' it for various reasons, and ads they. hardly. ever- saw. n English paper, the subject did .not, . rise against their will•wben,they were together -together always • now,- for. elr. Bruce was -sinking fast,. and Hese ter clung to trim with a kind of double tenderness and pity. A tender care; and pity forhis •,veatrness•-und-pain--.a•: tender .care and pity for Herself,• in •.the ,consciousness that these were the. last' 1,eurs she could have himv'with her— him, theeenly oae er-him,.theonly_onr itj.l. thdi-world to whose heart she could cling—a pity., to herself, whichenade her; sorrow to leave ]diva for a moment, . . • • • , It was the last night, and ballad been sleeping, while she, with her head bent upon her hands, prayed, that his sleep might do him good. ,When she loo.ked up at last, she saw his eyes fined- on: leer with a . strange, yearning. sadness in their 'depths. She bent.. with ' a: kiss to catch his whispered words • "Is .Alfred cone 1" , "Not yet. He hardly .could be here yet, dear." "Then he willnot be in time. - Have you spoken to Colonel Platt 1" "Yes, this morning, father." ' • . "And you will go with them," deer - est l" •• "Yes, I have have said so," ' faltered Hester; "I shall not care .where I go then. . "Hush ! don't say that• my darling:. I ani glad to think you will•be with thein for a little time, before your new life begins. - You.will not be ;fitfor the journey with Alf; nor to go into : a new, strange home just yet. You are fond of Ella Platt?" - "Yes, I am fond of her, papa," . said Hester,' thelow voice ;making uncon- scious emphasis, as if that fondness were a very distinct' thing from the love with which her 'sad little, heart was overflowing.. "And you will like to spenda year with them and go back when they go 1" he asked, tenderly. A letter from Mr. "Bruce had told his brother of the :arrangement that Hester should travel for some months with Colonel and -Mrs. Platt, who were living abroad fee the benefitoftheirown daughter, . •Ella,:_ who,though a . few years older than Rester, found it vett' much more difficult to acquire the tan `guage : and Mr: Bruce entered into the plan gladly; for he felt that the. long. .watching and nursing, and the bitter. sorrotiv �vhicli "sod;naietl 'so"con�isl`etoly to have ";entered her soul," would hardly fit her new home among strange *lee. As.for Hester, herself. as'she dreaded the going -back, and she -dreaded the. going on In her. silent grief; they could have done with her- what they diose., Soher uncle saw her off with doubt aecl .an elety, . remembering that last visit to the lonely,- sunny grave, where poor, little Hester thought her own heait lay. "Yes, papa, that will , be •ivlien. Ella marries, in a little less than a . year's tune -a year's time," she repeated, with unconscious pathos, as if the years were going to be very dreary ones, • " Hessie," her ' father whispered, gravely and tenderly, as . he read .her face, "if you are not happy '' in your new home, you will be in haste to,leave .. it; and there is but one way in .which you can do so; but oh, little girt, my darling little girl, do not let that in- fluence you, or you will leave it for , a- real misery f Never marry for a home my child. Marry only one to whom-- through pain and uiisery.*you'car: be true and faithful unto death. Bement- bcr that; •my darling,' as you are to 're- member one thing more.': •- . He laid his hand softly on hers, and spoke a little clearer, '"When they tell you. you are beautiful, Hessie, racy dear loved child, remember . that the beauty is in the truthfulness 'and in- nocence and purity of the brave, sweet face. If those are gone, if • the good- ness is to fade from the young face that is watching me,, better that it should lie here beside me, still and she raised her face again rather proudly saying, with utter weariness, "I should like to see a fire most of all! With an odd little: smile on her lips (Bella. Lane never smiled except upon her lips), she told Hester to fallow her ; and throwing . open the door through which she had come, she led Hester into a large, brilliantly lighted drawing -room, "Hessie says that all she cares to. see is fire, nianima," she said, with a titter, 'iso I brought her here," Hester saw nothing distinctly,, but she felt that a .crowd of faces were turned to her,in surprise, and that one voice said something about the cold night. Standing where she was, and drawing her travelling -cloak around her, as if the sight of the thin, light dresses made it more welcome, she quietly begged pardon, and asked if she might go to her room. When she reached it, she took upon herself to order fire,and sat before it until it seemed to give her back more gloomy pictures of her coming life than she cared to see just now, so she went to bed, . And when their guests were gone ,T,1rs. Bruce. and Bella came in, and kissed her with a cold good -night. Surely the breakfast -bell ! It woke. Hester with a start from her first sleep. She entered the breakfast -room 'slowly. wondering' what. would be her greet- ing. . CHAPTER V. EARL: LEii0 ME. Late on one of bbs bleakest evenings of tlie• early sunnier, : Hester came' to tlie end of the first journey she had, ever taken alone;' and waitedbeside her boxes on the platform of the dim • lighted station which stood. on - the out- skirts of the village of Ruyglen . , Her eyes followed the train almost wistfully as it rolled away; then carie bardsslowly, and she followed the .por-. ter . through the gloomy station yard, to where a servant in livery stood be- side a waiting carriage: • "Tho 'piaster would have been here himself, ma'am, hut. ha, only returns from town by the night marl." ' • "Oh," said Hester, her heart falling a, little as. she heard .it; " thank • you. In half an'hour adore she was ' to be at home. Would it be the homeun- attainable. "'mid pleasures and palaces?" What would the do until she reached :it? .Sleep? .Nothing was more .thor- oughly out of her power;' •Look,out1 That'she diel, but the gloomy blaek'ness was not' attractive, even 'though the car- riage lamps thew weird ,little -flashes on the. undistinguisliable ••latndscape., like the quick Satanic smile of Mephis• topheles in the opera.- The horses made aslow turn, the coachman's voice called down "good night," and Hester's heart beat more quickly, • for she knew. she was turning in at the lodge gates., The ' *heels ran ' faster and more smoothly, then stopped, and Hester, half dazzled by the light which' poured from the open halltdoor,,mounted the wide atone steps. As the. • servant 'closed the door behind tier, a young ledy came into the hall - a small girl,. in gay •evening costume, with light hair, very much waved and puffed, , A pretty girl in her way, butthe. rose 'in her plump 'cheeks had too purple a tint, and her blue eyes were too cold and changeless. " "How do you dor she said, holding, out a warm hand and speaking as if it were a tiresome duty, and ,the sooner it were over the better. "Will you, take tea or supper 1" A slight nod from Bella and Miss Dyott; ,a long, - wondering gaze from two pairs ofchildisheyes; and a half - muttered "Miss Bruce," from the head of the table, in . acknowledgement . of. which careless introduction • Hester bowed but slightly, trying to hide the aching at her heart. She was•just tak- ing the seat to which Mrs, Bruce . had motioned her, when her uncle entered -•-her dear father's brother, , Sbe met hail with the great tears. welling, up behind her' eyes,; and raised her head for a kiss. : . "Well,'Hossie, here you are 'at :.last, then !":he' said, laying his • hand upon her Bead oaressiiigly. ''I : began ' to think• you had 'found another guardian., Let me -look •at.you, now you are growti` up, 1 eau see. . nothing: through such • Taslie'i ; `Those, at"any rate, you-' iili0z== ited from petit father. •..•Something else too, I can guess," he said, tenderly kiss- ing her. . • . Then he sat (hewn, arid a few utes afterwards. "'esterfancied 'he had forgotten her very preeence. 'as :she 'fancied, often, Until she learned to know hind better. Slie. was wondering hew long it would take her to; grow to• feel at; home among -the` different faces them no: who the two strangers couldbe on they other:'side'tf the table, when one spoke to her iiiapleasant, rich -toned voice. • "Allow me' to: thank you, Miss •Bruce"'(the name, though it had been so slurringly whispered, popped out in the most natural manner possible), "for rescuing me from a public reprimand." "How .have 1.- elope that. asked Hester• •in her frank, sweet voice, as she looked up at the speaker.. Looked.. up: to 'meet .: the. half=seaeching, • half - amused glance of a pair of graver-dlark" eyes which:had yet a ready laughter in. their depths; looked upfoie that •.quick. quieeical;gl.ance to :'fix' •forever in her: memory a handsome, restless, 'intelli gent face, browned'by many climates; thick hair,. with a`rich, loess() waviness growing •low- on the broad fore-. head,: and a rather proud yet -laughing mouth, half Bidden under the handsome dark mostacke. In her rapid thought's Hester imagined that she saw a perfect English gentleman; and such a - brave looking English •gentleman as she had :never seen exactly opposite her before in all her travels. • .. still, and 'a strong shuddering thrill ran through all her pulses. She hated herself for: having looked at or spoken. to him; and her lips curled with a con tempt she could not hide, "Will you look at the ring, Hester 1'' inquired Lydia, it cause round to her, "I don't understand Latin," slie an- swered, not offering to take it, "You could read. that easily," the. pleasant voice said again. "It is only the Latin for, 'We win forgiveness by forgiving.'," "We alt know the Arundel motto very well,'" said Mr,' Bruce, smiling; "and we all know how proud you Arundols are of the way you won it four hundred years ago." ".Are we 1" asked the earl. "Do you think that is a legitimate sort of pride, Miss Bruce ?" "Perhaps," said Hester, coldly, "to those who can honorably wear such a motto," "Hessie, you are fatigued after your journey, eh, dear 1" asked her uncle, remarking; the tone. "No, thank you, uncle. It is hardly a journey" from which to suffer after a. ,night's rest," "Hardly, if you are used to travel.". Hester put her cold little hand in Bella's and stooped to kiss her with a sensations of greater lonelinesi than she had yet known, Feeling how carelessly Bolla turned her cheek for the kiss, "The fact is," hesaid, readily, "my hate appearance' was juet begenning to be a painful topic of 'discussion, when you appeared' to, the rescue And I• really had no excuse to offer. What is it, James? Oh, thardeyou 1 • "Where did I drop it 1" • "In the stucly, mylord," sairl the. butlor,•as he handed him a handsome signet-ring. "Is that the ring that never can, be lost l" asked Mr. Bruce. • "Yes, I have tried the: experiment, you see, and it. has failed. I• never dropped it,though, before last night."' "Let me. show it to " grandmanima, will you?" asked Bella, reaohinm..out her hand for the ring. Ile gave it her, laughing. . "It is no curiosity, Miss' Lane. There is some tradition attached to it, I know, but 1 am hazy in the particulars." ' ' ' "1 see nothing but the armorial bear- ing of the Arundels," said Mrs. Paley, examining the ring through her glasses.. ' "And they are beautiful, •aren't' they 1" asked Bella, looking over her shoulder, "What is this Latin motto, Lord Leaholme 1" The name struck Mester with so. great a shock, that her very heart stood "Or like it," put;in Lord. Leaholme, "which is the cause, I fancy." -- " Are you a, judge 1" asked Hester, involuntarily. " Yes, 1. think you have travelled a a good deal, and that you like it." "You have travelled a good deal, too," she Said, carelessly. "That is not half a judgment. Do. I like it 1 "N—o, I think not." "And may I ask how you can tell l" "'You look satisfied," k � dose of tea, ever which Mrs. Paley generally, dawdled for a quarter of ran hour after the regular breakfast was finished. "She used to seem a perfect baby at Miss Berringtones, 1 remember, put in Lydia, looking down into her lap, shy of the dark eyes beside her. "Except for her naishievoustemper," added Bella. "A. mischievous temper, bad asked Lord Leaholnie, glancing the columns of the Times. "Yes, hadn't she, Lydia? She was in perpetual punishment at Lorne House," replied Bella, always hasten- ing to answer any remark of his. "A torn establishment it must have been, indeed."' "We did not see much of her," re- sumed Bella, complacently; "she was at the bottom of the school ancl, ew:u_ at the top." • "She had no objection to imbibing knowledge,.I presume," remarked the. earl, with great abstraction. she 1" down She regretted the1wo'rds the .moment they were uttered, and.doubly so when she felt, rather than saw, 'Mrs. Bruce's glance. Iler quick, impetuous. answers were .so ready, ,often to be bitterly re - petted of.' Poor child l could her. impulses, and pare, unsuspicious nature, g,uide her in cher lamentable ignorance of the etiquette of:this unfamiliar housee _who ,liad.nat.lear learned whett•_ etiquette; meant, hcl whose .acts and words had ever been so good and -right in the eyes of her •only companion: begyouur pardon,"' Hester said, loking d.ciivn again, shyly, 'vnd.meaning.` to• address' no 'one in particular, "but you asked" ' " I did,". said •the earl, in a low laugb-. ing voice, as his flashing eyes looked ink,' here,. " and x thank you for •the truthful answer.. Next time I ge. abroad I. will tryto leave the:unsatis- fied expression :behind• me, on • Some- body's. foreign visage." - "Sach journeys. as we take, you. world ,just •call : staying et house, Lord Leholme;" said Bella, rather' vaguely, "because you have been everywhere.": "Pray, hush 1 Mf siianie will be in-. creased tenfold if L have Conte •home unsatisfiedwith evearjiehere," " I should so like to -travel, .papa,,'. put.in.Bella, insinuatingly. " It is very, tiresome," interposed Mrs. Paley, with great languor. • "Very," answered Leaholine, coolly, as it 'always leaves such marks upon one's •fid e : that a strange .pair ofeyes- .can measure one's travels at a glance Does there come a fresh wrinkle after every voyage, Miss` Bruce ?" : ' - Hester' blushed hotly; but:: took no 'heed of the question. ,Still he did not. turn his eyes away from her face • "May I ask you to pass me my ring;? On its way .back to me, it has stopped beside you. Shepushed it slowly across the table, Hardly touching it as she' did so. "Thank you," he said, looking curie lonely into her face sti.dl:: "'I I. would' have borne - around for it, if I had guessed what a distasteful effort I was entreating you to make." • "Miss Lane," he went on, turning to -Bella with quite a different' tone, "how are we going to amuse ourselves. this morning ?" - Bella looked up eagerly. ".Shall we ride -you and I and Lydia 1" " With ,. pleasure. ' After lune.lieon, of course, you, mean?" , : '. And Hester in her ignoranee, wan- dered hOW on-dered'hew that anticipated afternoon ride could be called .,their , morning's amusement, . ` " Now children, this, is to be a'holi- day. Take Cousin Bessie everythere, and show her everything," 'said Mr.. Brace as he left the room. There was an odd little silence in the rooni when the little boys had led Hester !way, but Bella broke it pros - eptly. '. • "Hester is not much altered, mem- ma." ' • "She eeems .chi.ldish for her years, I. think," said Mrs. Bruce, slowly, as she sweetened her mother the little after - "But, Bella, she was the youngest child in the school," put in Lydia, who was no match for her friend in diplon- aey, and often popped in her speeches inopportunely. "She was only nine when she was:teken away." "Just the age for a mischievous tem- per to assert itself," Lord Leaholrine said, : with a grave shake of his , hand- some head. "Yes," answered Bella, readily; "and she never tried to -win our love at all. 1 think she cared for nobody but a dull little English teacher." - "Depraved taste i• What coup such a person.possess to recommend her to a lady of; nine years' .experience 1" - "I 'do not know, she said, a little • more slowly;' "I .never could see any- thing in.•her. But, Lydia, don't you hope Hester is. not sokeen. after ex- citement as she used to be '"Pernicious tastes, as well as low ' • ones, eh, Miss Lane?" observed '.Earl Leaholm, lounging over to the window. " Did the commander-in-chief allow such an inclination to be encourag eel 1" "I think; myself, that Miss Berring= ten indulged her; yet I bitee heard her. eliy-`Tlest'er-i'eq nrtxl a t ght'i'cin" _._ ...-_-'.. Standing "at'tle window, Leaholme hunuited lazily: "IIB that wuulcd rear two daughters fair, 11ust help..at steady, bridle r For Here they slip, and there they slip,:. And this and that Way sidle']'' • "1 suppose that . is an impromptu, Lord Leaholne," 'said Bella, standing opposite hind: "No. I have heard it somewhere, some time Not at ray grandmother's knee-.dhic1'i.,is' the correct spot for • picking up old rhymes :because I never possed a grandmother of•niy owiz, You are adore highly -favored." His; eyes- had wondered to where Mrs. Paley sat, sipping • her `'tea, and talking quietly to Mrs. Lane. "Yes," smiled Bella, "and,she :is so feral -of me.". `"Has your cousin,;' a grandmother whce is so fond of her 1" .. "My cousin 1 Whois' uiy . cousin 7 Do you • mean Hessie 1 We are.. not cousins." . "l beg your pardon .liunibly Hae the young lady whom presume to be,. in some faint and' distant degree con-: netted •with your house—the` young, lady with the strong propensities for worldly dissipation—any 'other rela- tives in Herefordshire 1» • "No," said. Bella; feeling . just a little at bay. "Nene anywhere:" - "Poor little girl." "Why poor, Lord.,Leaholme1 `Of course she is going to live• here always." An odd little smile played about the corners of his mouth, "I thought young ladies never: look ed forward to living in the paternal nest for 'always.' "Oh, yonmean that they generally marry," she said with a conscious little simper. : "Hessie will live here always then, unless she marries." . (To BE COltrrns `ED.) With thespproach of Spring,. Biliary Complaints prevail that often lead to serious. results. Guard. against their attack in time by using Burdock Blood Bitters : the best Liver Invigorator, Kidney :Corrector, Regulator of the •, Bowels and secretions, and, the purest most permanent Tonic in the world. Tor sale by all dealers. , A cough is ustaally the effort of nature to expel some morbid matter irritating. the air passages of the lungs. It may . however, proeeed from an . inflamedor irritable condition of the throat, a slight rash or humor often being .per- ceptible. • Let the cause be what it may, the remedy should be Hagyarcl's . Pectoral Balsam. A purely vegetable Balsamic throat and lung healer. - Por sale by all dealers in medicines •at 2 cents per bottle.