HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Record, 1881-05-06, Page 2THE,A.BIRDEL 110170,
$Y MAFI•, CECIL HAY,.
Author S "p11f�ddleNn's Money;" 'Ridden
!'.nils,' "' )acre's Leveey;" Victor and
Vanquished'. ++"•Yore's Loue Test;" "¢
Shadow on e'hreshotd ;" ".Back to the
Otd dome;' etc., etc.
CHAPTER V.—Continued.
"But she may marry the heir," he
said, looking into her eyes with a cora-,
cal seriousness,
"Lord Leaholme, what will you say
next.? Fancy Hessie marrying Alfy,"
"I have read a capital account of. a
a marriage, where there was more, dif•
ference than that between the bride
and bridegroom. A brave young fel-
low he was, and a noble darne was she;
and an unlimited future of intense
Happiness they are supposed to have
spent together." ,
"Did you .know them 1"
'Thoroughly, by the time 1 reached
their third volume."
"Oh, Lord Leaholme ! It wase book.
.thou 1"
'."Yes. Do you not knowatl"-
"No—o, I think not," she answered.
"Take care if you are going through,
Lord Leaholme; •your head is too tall
for these windows."
She watched him as he sauntered off
antotig the flower bed, thinking bow
st,rulig was the tall, well -knit figure,.
yet how light and easy; but, strange
to say, she did not, as usual, suddenly
remember that she, too, was going that
very way.
"Do you know, Lydia, even yet I
do not quite understand him," she.said,
es Lydia came slowly up to the 'wie-
dow.
"T am rather glad," she said sniffling,
"for it makes me seem less silly.". ,
"You are a perfect little. goose;
Lydily," said'Bella, with a friendly slap
ou the shoulder that was ..on a level
with her own ear; "you tremble before
him yet."
"And always'shall," answered Lydia;,
plaintively; "and I don't quite know
.what I shall de if—when __you. Marry.
Lim.
"Oh, I will not let him frighten you,
.. "tear."
"But he • does not frighten me now,
only 1 cannot help always blundering.
in my answers. You' cannot under--
stand,because you are so self-possessed."
"It must be wretched to •feel awk-•
ward," ruminated • Bella, comfortably.
"•Lord Leaholme and I get on very
wetl,. don't we Lydia 1"
• "1 slreultattnk.t dear; you a+iways
-try to go together." ' • • '"1
"You mean he always goes with me,"
interrupted Bella, hastily; "yes, he
does. Where is he going now, I won-
der, . loitering off there out of sight. I
don't think, Lydia, that he is one to
show himself very, very much inlove,
do your
"No, he does not show it very much,"
assented Lydia; readily.
"Bella," said her another, 'as.she
rose from the table,' "we'have . had 'a.
long discussion this morning and grand-:
mamma consents to coma with us if we
• go to Aberswys this summer. Now
. you rust try and prevail on Earl' Lea
holme to come, too." • •
"Ot., that will be glorious ! Where,
are you going Lydia=to that everlast-
ing practice of yours ?"
"No, I am only going to Mrs. Paley."
As their steps died away, Bella 'stood
',opposite her mother, a rather unpleas-
ant expression on her shallow face.' •
"What do you really think of Hessie?
Will she be called—pretty 1"
• "Very probably, love; but•there are
as Many various tastes in the world as
various faces."
Belly performed a gay little Glance
up to the mirror, and pulled out the
• loops and twists and other machinery
•of her frizzy light hair, while Mrs.
Bruce watched her.
•
"If Hessie behaves as she ought to
behave, Bella, there is no reason why
she should be content and happy :here;
. of course I shall do all I can for her
But it must not be forgotten •that you
'are'hpr senior, and a daughter of tile'
house." •
Bella laughed, perhaps at the bare
possibility of that, fact being allowed
tosink into oblivion.
"All right, mamma; you aitd.I, and
derstand •each other thoroughly."
And Bella tripped away. • 'She was
•• rather given tortripping, and starting
and clapping her small plump banclsi`
•'and :uttering exclamations of astonish,;
Hien on the smallest provoeation; as is
. the manner of some inaidens. . .
CHAPTBIt'VL
TIIE, WINNING MOVE,
Hester spent a very merry morning
with her little cousins, the three firmly
establishing a friendship which was to
,,last as long as life. Perhaps she . was
drawnmore naturally to Wattie be
cause he bore her father's name, and
because bis clinging gentleness won he
tender, lonely heart. .But she was
more assumed and enticed from sad
thoughts by .&lfy's gay and .thoroughly
boyish words. and ways.
Altogether they enjoyed the morn
ing, but when the boys were summoned
to their early dinner, Hester stood a
the window in her own room, and le
that bitter .longing creep over her
which so few of us have not known
the longing which we must feel when
on the dusty, toilsome road, we look
around and feel our dear companions
have left us there :algae, without one
to which we can cling -with that dear,
sweet claim which makes a ?come, and
gives the world its widest, purest in-
fluence over us. •
Poor Hester felt the burning tears.
start against her will, The loneliness
was cold and Bard to bear; yet, as she
felt in a vague kind of way, there was.
something worse than. the loneliness—
some heavy shadow for her on the life
that 'was just begun: A shadow of sin?
Ah.1 could it 'be otherwise, she sobbed
to herself, while be was there; while
she. must sleet and speak to hint, nurs-
ing this horror of him in her •heart;.
The, tears spent themselves, and
Hester, looking down to see the bright
noonday sunlight playing among the
summer leaves, said to herself :,
"I will go out alone a little; it is
very beautiful down there, and I must
be calm and self-possessed before I meet.
them all again." ' '
Taking up leer .bat, 'and tilting it
low over her eyes to hide the marks of
the tears, she went slowly through the
hall and out into the sunshine, where
everything was bright and free. And
Hester's thoughts regained their bright-
ness. and their freedom, as. she saunt
ered on down• the north, avenue. •
Ilez intense' love for something beau -
brought the old glad light on her
face, and she actually caught, herself
singingsoftly--singing a favorite ;old'
air, _which fitted into the, bright, calm'
Beauty of .the hour, and :thee sad, pa-
tient thoughts. of her heart :. • ,
'"Theres nae sorrow there, Jean, ' '
There's neither cauld or•,•care, Jean,
The days aye fair.
l:':.the lands o' the leiil".
She had stopped in her walk, .lean-
ing. on the back of ope. of the : seats,
placed among the trees, and ;looking
off to. where she could catcha glimpse,
Of 'the river' in the distance; and as she
finished singing, a ' voice, which' • had
startled, her before; and which it was
not easy .to forget, broke the ssilence.
"When I ,• come here idly seeking '
pleasure, Miss Bruce; I little thought
:I should find it in a verse of that:"siveet
old song."' .
""I conte here for pleasure, too,. my
lord."
-1 "Very. Have you .been far down
' here 1"
r ""1 have come :straight from the
house,"
"Did you see Lydia'?"
"No,"'
"It is very quiet, One seldom meets
any one here."
t "1 have met some one, you see, on
t my first journey," - said Hester smiling.
"Oh ! me, .you mean, But otherwise
; you would have met no one, I suppose,"
Hester, too busy in her'thoughts to
guess the motive of this question, an-
swered lightly :
"I .should, indeed. It is not five
minutes since I met Lord Leaholme."
Bella rose slowly, trying to bide the
vexed expression on her face.
"I must go, ' it is near luncheon
time," she muttered. ,
Hester prepared to accompany her,
but she stopped her.
"Do not shorten you walk; you will
have time to go round, and dome by
the other avenue."
::. So. I-Iester went on her solitary walk,
and enjoyed it ver' much until, on her
homeward way e, sudden. turn showed.
her Lord Leahotnte and Bella strolling,
on before her, Ile heard the step • be-
hind, and turnedon. his heel and wait-
ed. Miss Lane waited, too, but with
much surprise on Tier face; and they
walked to the house together.
As Bella and Lydia mounted for.
their •ride that afternoon, Hester stood
on the terrace, talking lightly to the
children, who hovered in keen delight
round,; their new grown-up companion.
The girls had not asked her -.to join
then; yet—though she feared the tears.
-started every =bent, with the hinging
she felt for a breezy, healthy canter,
between the,•sweet spring hedges—she
stood, to all appearance, utterly and
easily indifferent to it all:
• "You do not ride, then Miss:•Brucel"
Lord`Leahol►ne stood behind her,.
drawing on his- gloves, as he asked the
giestion aloud and pointedly,..'
"I do sometimes;" she answered, with
aproud"sadness in her v once,
"The Churleigh stables are not limit-
ed. 1 believe, Miss Lane,?" .
/This question was :a little morepoint-
ed,still•, as he turned to Bella. ••
"Certainly not. :Hester . can ride if
she likes."
• "Of course,", he answered, smiling at
her impatient tone. . "Can you, too;
find it here,. I "wonder 1".
"Not now,".she°said; •very'.low ,• but
very "steadily, •,
''You stay," he answered kindly;
"You
.
You only.seek relief' frontaolonely
dread you have in looking forward."
"You cannot tell"
TTe laughed quietly:
"Ido,:?indeed, I'read itin•your face.
I.read it there,this.morning;; I. read it
there even last night;"
"Impossible," she said, with' a ner-
vous attempt :at a -laugh."
read. it now,', he went on, coelti,*
"as plainly as I read those wordsupon
my ring." . r.
As she followed his eyes, she saw that
his hand was close to hers -upon thereil
of th.e seat, and with a quick, shudder.
ing gesture, she drewhers away; re-
membering that her'father had called
it "the stained hand." • ' ' •
He met•her eyes, •with an amused,
confident light in his own,•which doubly
strengthened•. the passionate . feeling of
resistance which, 'from that moment,
made her one aim in his presence to
be to stand alone, apart from hiss in
every way, with. asteady, unwavering
antagonism filling her heart.
"Returnmy confidence,. Miss Bruce,
and tell nie what 'pleasure 1 come to
seek,"
do not know," site .said: with cold,.
proud emphasis, though a passionate
light come into her eyet; "do leave me
to myself."
' "I will, for you are .in earnest," he
said, keenly observing her face; • but
never seeing that the misery he .,saw'
there was caused by himself; by his be-•
ing near her—he, .of all the world—
and
orld-and no other friend. He turned aivay .
and slie walked on, but not singing
now.
A feiv' minutes afterwards she reach-
ed another .seat among the trees, on
which sat Bella, with her work in her
hand. She looped round as Hester,
came up, then turned away carelessly.
How bright and pleasant it it !" said
Tlester;, standing at her'side,
"And who would ' dislike it •on such
girl afternoon as this 1" he' said, .gently.
"May I see about a: horse''?"
"What for 1" asked Hester, turning
a:little defiant face to meet his.
"For you -you said you rode?"
"Yes, I rode once. Ishall :ride again,
perhaps, 'sonie da_ y." '
"You decline to ride to -day 1.
",Yes,"
Ile bowed gravely, without answer-'
ing ; but as they rode .off, and she turn -
away -to have a -race with the •. boys,, he
raised his hat, with a smile of amuse-;
ment.in his'handsonle.'dark eyes which
she did not like.
When.the ladies left the dining -roost
Wattle, drew tester' into the conser-
vatory,. and.
onser-vatory,.and. there the two lingered to'
gether,• -while the child made a little
bouquet, and arranged it: in her black
dress. Then the little fellow laughed
and .clapped his hands.
"Oh Hessie, you ' area pretty and
bright!'
And the involuntary criticism was
a truer one, perhaps, than . we .: have
-been "'able: , to.' give.. 'Properly, more
than beautiful, her face waslessentially:
a pretty face—pretty fi the truest
meaning of the word,;. a face intensely
bright and lovable, .with its radiant,
wistful, child•like,'eyes, and mouth so
tender, ,yet so ready for a smile; a face
that could not index a., mind in which
there lurked one shade of vanity or
selfishness,..
The luxuriantbrown hair, brushed'
back on the temples; '.'stilt ;'kept . its old
Wayward bend upon the smooth; wide
forehead, and inits wealth crowned
the dainty: little. head.
"Ant I pretty, • Wattle 1" Rester ask-
ed; almost sadly. " How do yoit
know 1" •
"Cant I• see ?" inquired the, child;
She lifted him in her arms, never
heeding his cry to take care of the
flowers, and kissed him two or three
bines.
"I would rather you had said it than
any on -o, else in the' world at this mo-
ment," she 'murmured, as she walked
slowly into the drawing -room,
Bella was playing when she entered,
and she went up to the piano and be-
gan turning over the loose music list-
lessly. • .
"You used to play that at`seliotll, I
remember," sho said, when Bella had
finished,
"What do you mean by playing it at
school i" retorted Bella, very anurily.
"Dont you see that this is all new
music ? I shall: try some more of it
presently."
With which. glib little falsehood---.
which was not a falsehood to Bella,, be-
cause the music itself was newly
bought, if the notes had been learned
years ago—she rose and left the piano.
A shadow that was more than disap-
pointment fell on Hester's face as she
sat downand began to play very
quietly, as if to herself,
$he had only just. left off, and was
standing at the window, wondering
whether a retreat would be feasible,
when Lord Leaholme joined. Bella, who
was sitting near her, and spoke rather
low, but for her to hear.
"How strangely you have been play-
ing ! Where were your thoughts the
while 1"
Not in the' dining -room," she ans-
wered, looking up with a smile..,
"No; I hardly expected .it. That
playing spoke of thoughts far more dis-
tant."
He said it with a grave seriousness.
never raising his eyes. Bella rose
rather •hastily.
"Will you sing l" she said. . "Will
you sing to me 1"
"Is that an insirivation'that no one
else is supposed capable of undergoing
it?" . ..•
"Mamma andgrandma are napping,"
she whispered, "and papais not come.
Lydia, of course, is deepin her tatting.
So, niuoh as you dislike it, you• must;
sing to Inc." .
will,"• he answered; "though I
ignore the existence of 'a �liuEt, having
a firm conviction that my songs have
strong somnolent tendencies, and would
therefore be appreciated by the nap-
ping portion of my audience; also that
the excellent time :1 keep would sim-
plify the arithmetic , of Miss Dyottt'e
tit -for -tatting. I will sing tci yon Miss
Lane, but—who is that in the shadow
of the window -curtain 1 ; Miss .Bruce,
I declare 1 awake,,. too; and: aotually
idle,! I. will sing to her next; that is
hen punislnnent for beingneithei asleep
nor tatting. Why . do you, .laugh'?
Have I mistaken.• the word again 1"
"There are a hundred. -songs 'there
,that You ••know, Lord -Lealrolnie," said
Bella, laughing,' as she took her seat.
"Which shallit tier
He turned the music over :' lazily,
Making little comments as he put•aside
•sheet,after sheet:
"I do not like the' key; this is so pro
vokingly short that you willencorelit.
'And that—let me see—the -.words are
•
'meaningless,, and :gooeymusical words
areas necessary in •a swig_ .as ' good
musical•notes:. No, that is .too mielan-'
choly; if your: eyes 'fill • with tears . you
will not see to play, :and so Put me
me
out. This is'good,_ but I do not••think
you play•it well; or: you 'play, it - too
well, or something. Ah ! come, this
'will do. I willnotdetain you." .
Bella laughed so • heartily at this idea
after the long delay, that she did not
notice that he had taken .out two songs,1
putting one open on . tlie., desk Of the
piano, and leaving theother under his,
hand.
• ' "Now I are ready to sing , to- .you,.
like a melancholy . troubadour of old.
Put a great deal of feeling into.the ae-'
contpanimenbto'help me."
Without being conscious of it, Hes-
ter had followed •the words, .and: was.
prepared to .hear, a sad 'and plaintive
song. She started ' in surprise at' .a
rich, clear. tenor .•voice ' began- with a
light gayety.;
'"We,ire a! noddin nil?; nid, noddin' ;
We a' noddin' at our house at home."
"Thanks," said Bella, in a, tone of,
suppressed mortification. ' "" f just pall
it a desecration of a 'beautiful voice -for
you tp sing these things, Now ; sing
'0 tu, ]'alma -adorn,"" • ' •
"With pleasure; but, I said I •would
dedicate -'the second : to Miss *Bruce.
Here is one. May .1' trouble you 1"
•'i ith; .a quick, hurried' moVerhent,
site turned over the leaves of the song
he took from the others. "
"1 never Saw this before."
'• "It' u i nr'; x believe. . It was dent
nie with various others yesterday from
the publisher: . I brought it ; with me
last night, but never felt inspired to
sing' it. .1 should like to do so now, if
you have no: objection."
Bella' began rather heavily ; for
though she read music without much
hesitation, she read it without any •ex-
pression at all. :., •
"It is unjust to''ask me to play it
without ever having looked at it," she
said, trying to speak gayly while she
knit her brow. over the effort.
"So • it . is. Perhaps •Miss . Bruce
knows it,- Miss Brute, do you know
'My Queen?"' ,
"Yes," said Hester, quietly;, "I have
seen her twice;'onte in Scotland, once
in Ilyde Park."
"Which is, being interpreted, 1 must
play my •own accompaniment,"
He sat down and played asymphony,.
looking quizzically, as he did so, at the
darkening window, where Hester lean-
ed her head against the glass, and gave
herself up to the sweet, sad pleasure,
she always felt oil hearing beautiful
music. That this was the tough of a.
true musician, she felt at once ; anci
when he began to sing Blumelithal's.
then new song, tate vi ords Moved her
strangely, in their earnestness and
reality :
Whercemd how shall I rliest meet her t
What aro the words she first will day 1'
By what name shall I learn to greet her 1
1 know net now, but 'twill come soma day.
With the self -same sunlight shining upon her,
Streaming down on her ringlets' sheen,
She is standing somewhere sho I: would honor,
She that I wait for, my queen. •
I will not dream of her tall and stately,
She that. I love may be fairy light ;.
I will not say she would would walk sedately,
Whatever she docs will surely be right ;
But she must be courteous, she must be holy,
Pure Si her spirit, that maiden I love ;
Whether her birth be noble or lowly,.
I care no more than the spirit ahove,
And ru gtve my heart to my lady's keeping, -
And ever her strength on mind shall lean;
Aud the stars shall fall, and the Angels be weeping,.
Ere I cease to love her, my queen.'"
There was hardly a minute's pause,
and • Lord Leaholme modulated into
the song for' which Bella had asked.
As the rich.' notes and impassioned
words died away, Hester felt she could
have hidden her face and sobbed aloud.
The darkness crept' nearer and nearer
to her from without, and the lights in
the room scone out more and more
cheerily. Still she stood there, quiet
and motionless. James was closing the
curtains over the other windows, aiid
Would reach her soon.
" Is this strange, namteless• pain, so:
hard to. bear, my child 1"
Loaholine's voice was so ineffably -
gentle, yet as its sound the pain grew
keener, and she kept her fare• ;'still
:turned away.' It was well, perhaps,
that' Bella's eager glance should' cone
between then, and bring: back Hester's.
thoughts.
"I hope Resale ;will play for us.
Were you asking her -r •
".Indeed ',was not. : I consider you„
.
and •I. Have .supplied sufficient niusis
for one night:"
- But -the few- thoughtful Words only
filled Heater's heart with greater dread.
and hatred, seeing how lie felt, and
used; his power: •
•• " Now that we are snugly shut in,"
said Bella, relieved, " let us'have a
game at chess, Lord Leaholme."
They all left the window as Jamea
came up close to it, and Bella went on,
rather eagerly, to Hester. '•
• "." Would- you . like to look at. .this:.'
book ? You are 'sure not to have. seen
it; .as itis quite'new."' '
Lester took. the novel and sat down,
very glad alley were going to, leave her
in quietness. Lord Leaholme.bronght:
the chess -table near to where' she sat,.
put Bella a seat close to ,Hester, sat
down hinself opposite, -and .began tcs
arrange the pieces.. •
,
(To BE CONTINUED.)'
TILE LAST RITES.
BURIAL, OF LORD BEACONSFIELD AT'RUG1I-
ENDRN'.'=TrnE ;VAUi.T LITERALLY 1?II4% ..'•.
EB WITII FLowERs.
London, April 26. From early:
morning trains' have been arriving and
bringing large •' numbers of ' all classes
for'Hughenden to attend tbe•obsecp ies
of .Lord Beaconsfield. The weedier -
was showery. Thee Prince of Wales,
the Duke of Connaught, and Prince
Leopold, the latter bearing a large
wreath from the Queen, left Harting-
ton. at- one o'clock.. The same. `train
took the Duke of Richmond, ,the Mar=
quill of Ilamilton, and a number of the :
members.; of. the llate. .Government,
Lord Hartington.leftHaddington some-
what later. Mr. Gladstone, according
to latest 'accounts, had not gone to
Hughenden.' There were flegi at half
mast and other signs of mourning in'
various towns throughout the country.. .
• The crowd at •Lord Beaconsfield's.
funeral Was less than expected. 'Many
who intended to attend had probably..
been •deterred, by the sharp showers of
bail. The Princess'' of Wales sent a '
wreath.
When the • burial service was cern- ,
pleted, the principal mourners entered
the vault and plaeed 'wreaths on the
coifin.: before the ,vault .waS .closed it
was literally caammed with dowers. '
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