HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Sentinel, 1881-01-14, Page 2A Story 01 -the New Ye
CHAPTER 1.
The ground was as hard as iron, the
as blue as turquoise, the sunshine ye
as gold, and the air as still and as sile
only the hardest of frosts can be. Nob
for weeks past, had dared even so muc
to dream of a fox -it was Reynard's
day. Had things been as they ought t
Rupert Grayshaw would not, late
afternoon, have been found upon only
legs instead of four. Things being as
were, he was making the best, or wors
them by walking briskly along a win
lane that led from the village of. Co
Bassett to nowhere in particular, at the
of something over four miles an hour.
Rupert Grayshaw was going on for t
and -thirty years old, full of strength
life, handsome and something more.
people noticed how rine a face he r
had until they came to know him well
those Who saw him for the first, secon
third time were struck exclusively b
such signs and symbols of both mental
vital force as would have made Om
forgotten. He was a man who le
both eager and able to enjoy
whole of life all round, with
brain and soul. And assur
though the foxes were safe, it was a .d
which life could be most amply and act
.enjoyed. I need make no - mystery
Rupert Grayshaw, for there
none to be made; and though
doubt, he had his secrets and
privateaaffairs like other men; he
known, on the whole, rather more o
than most of one's friends. He wa
only son of the younger son of an old
shire family; he had taken high math
tical honors at Cambrid_ge ; he was a F
of- St. -Kenneth's; he was without
relations; he had no profession, .but
on his Fellowship, and, Without sacri
- any plea.sures that were open to him,
with an endnring entlausiastn;
_ scientific investigation and discovery
career. Heteld hirntelf as much
and :beyond titarria,se as science is
the brewing of smallbbeer..-H@ _had
to Combe Bassett- on a visit his fa
old friend, Dick Derwent; for the: s
tb,e coverts ; and, so far as the covert.
, Concerned,- had: wine in vain.- And t
z his whole . history, as -cornpletelY
- man's can be -from the outside.
. -The tate presently led throuarli
but now brown and leafless Wood
• vaulted oyer a stile to the left, and hi
• were soen 'enjoying the never-palli
light . of trampling and crunchin
fallen and frozen leaves - He was "g1
with health and exercise, and, it Mig
with some still more pecaliai joy.
wood Was a; maze •of paths,. but he
knew their due by heart or elde gav
-sell to cbance-morp decisively -than
men .go towards a known goal. A
either by accident or design, he reatl
last a. solitmar cottage standing M
garden and nearly bidden.-ansongthe
It as a, humble -place. enoriglaaa litt
net much, better than the common
Meters!. dwellings in. that part
eountry-low; rough fast and
thatched, with small latticed wind°
inimensely deep eaves. The long s
garden was gia-en overto vegetable's,
- &patch in front Of the porch,
. • not hard, though in -midwinter, c
up, in fanev, a little wilderness
scents and strong colors. Some- sty
given to the place, even.now, the
, with the evetgreen leatett and. --scanl
ries that covered. the porch and the
ivy that darkened the lower Winclo
•if he. knew its inmates and all 'their
Rupert went to a Window. at the sid
Cottage and tapped thereon three
Thep he leaned against a pear:,tr
waited. patiently:
Or perhaps impatiettly. For pr
a the lattice opened, arid like a Elie
I set in a frame of ivy leaves appeare
-that seemed to -say, "Ah? he has a
in his life; after-all-and:1'am She'
Yes ; when a man conies to 1
Foxes.and.finds Frosts,- he must fin
- thing *herewith to .fill idle
something or -anmebody. Of Cour
unlucky when. it happen to be So
instead. of Something -when be ha
publicly and privately forsworn an
and. when, if he ferswearshiineelf,
give Up the, meana of. study and
breal-nrinning. instead • of -worki
science and. glory. Perhaps it ia r
• men to takelong holidays until the
least 70-yearS old.. For if -ever ther
tace,made -.06M8 :between -a stud
- books, between a sportsman'
sport; between a sworn bachelor
vow, it was the face that Rupert ha
---',friara, out the ivy as if his' three t
been spells. It Was a very Youn
she eouldnotposeibly havsabeep m
- 17, But her nurci\lier of years wa
gathered from tbe indefinable ex
of girlhood rather than froth any
She was neither- phi
woman,: ' but blent in one
. charms of The deliaate,
perfect _health 'breathed from h
7 biting air did. her. no -Wrong, but
deepened the glow on her !cheek tha
no frost to he within. - She could b
neither., dark' nor fair, but simp• '
moatieus..; and'atat quick Were the
of light and shade that: Rived see
_heat her looks -with .ibine _ subtl
sense as if they were the melody of
And, whatever else 'the -words Of th
. might be, they were at. least gen
pure. ,Why -teed deacribe her fe
feature, line by -lite? Enough that
- said heedless eyes weeded have ca
lovely, while Rupert's- as clearly fo
a great deal more.
was no cottager's - daughter
she was found in. this out -of -the -
moat hidden cottage: She suggest
those princesses Whom traveller- s._
• chance-amohg wood. cutters and e
7 burners in the • •forests of fairyla
things- favored the fancy --the bre
_ windless wood the blue sky, the
' and the loneliness eVetywhete. S
self had not spoken, except with
and, after a moment of sudh-greeti
- the window again.. But Rupert,
• had his answer, went to ' the dgo
• - the latch' and entered-. ,A.nd
seed to turn over another p
- fairy tale. He passed thron
. ordinary kitchen, ,avith: Open
and 'a brick, floor, With- nothin
the' common about it except th
411111.1.,
araa,
!empty on so hard a day, when labor had •ing through, whet the stroke of a church
s I nothing to do but sit and rest by its own bell soupded full and close through the full
i fireside. But the room into which- he air. Dick Derwent rose .and ' filled his
passed out of it was very different indeed; tumbler to the brim.
. in such a place it was even startling to find "Let all who love me, follow 1" cried he,
such a room. It might have been a boudoir in his bluff, ringing voice. "Ai the first
of any great lady in the land, if it had not stroke of twelve, I throw open the front
likY been so obviously an enchanted maiden's door with my own hands, to let the old
1-ew bower. In that country of Once upon a year out and the new year in 1"
a,s t Time, soft carpets, fine hangings, luxurious Dick_Derwent was a fine, stout, hearty
Y, upholstery, beaks and pictures cost nothing country gentleman, with all • manner of
as ore than a few waves - of a wand, or else jovial ways. He was the very pink of
oh- mtheir presence here would have seemed generosity and honor. He had been
be, something more than strange. And here Rupert's father's staunchest friend, and
the she, whose face we have for annoment seen, had, at old Mr. Grayshaw's death, transfer -
w•' ran forward to meet Rupert quickly and red his affection from the father to the
leY1 joyfully, and let him take her in his arms. son. Indeed, it was More than common
. oft "1 have good news, Bertha!" said he. .affection that he showed towards Rupert
ingri. "And you will never guess it. The post, on every possible occasion. Though
he this very morning, brought me the news. so much the elder, he had a, strong
Vial I am rich -enough. for all things -for belief in the prudence and. torlcily
You, :and Work, and Gladness, and all life. wisdom of the younger man, which 'cannot
Pe- means to me: for You and Love, above all! be supposed to have been altogether ill
fl11IYes, my darling, it's true. I shall be able founded -at any rate, Dick Derwent was
• IV to give you a better bower even than the not the man to have let a hund.red fellow -
11 mysterious enchanter who keeps you here ships stand in the way of marriage.had he
for in his power." ' been that way_ inclined.But, then, it is
o " Oh, Rupert! What - .has happened? true he was nota man of science, but only
ed What is going to happen? What do you a jolly middle aged gentleman who kept up
"I mean ? " .. old customs and followed the hounds well.
ess "Everything has happened, Bertha! A The half .dozen young and middle aged
• e far-off cousin of mymitlier's,whom I never men, without a woman or a child among
0 saw in my life, is dead, and has left me a them, gave way to their host's whim,
dY fortune -an immense fortune .for me and though not without smiles and shrugs of
1Y you, but not too large to be a burden -only the shoulder at taking part in 'such a piece
o on condition that I 'will change my name"- of obsolete folly.
el3 "What !-you are not to be Rapert, my "What does it all mean ?" asked West
Pon Rup:ert, any more?" - ' „ --a young man who was wiser in his own.
Waeyes even than Rupert.Grayshaw; was in
.,
" Oh, I shall; keep that name -that is
yours! But I shall give up my Fellowship Dick Derwent's. St Why should we trouble
Inourselves to let out a.good time -thanks to
n
with more pleasure than I hadsin getting
Ira it ; for I hate the least thing that has kept . you, Dickand let inWhat nobody kuow-s,
n1 may -be-death, maybe marriage.",
me from you; and there is nothing left but
th" Marriage., eh ?" - said Dick, turning
a form or two to keep rue from mywifefor
or -uponhim
suddenly. " Perhaps -I knew.
another hour ! When will you come te me?
paasmore - about - that - than you. But that's
In two weeks? -In one? -In"- . :
110 " Rupert! /s it true? - . -neither here tor therea-marriage won' t come
einside this door for many a longday. That
"All true word When will you
come?" 'isn't what it . meats. It meats that the
in master of this hopse_has, with hitt own
v
.1" And may I tell my father-" . '
I " Yout.father ! Bertha, my darling, notv. hands, let in two hundred New Years, and
te that I'm not . going to be - the :first
la
that I can claim you I think this. Mystery
✓ inhospitable fellow that has been surnamedought to be at. an end. Just think what
ON Derweht' and christeted. Richard: ' Nov,'
our story has been --n that nobody
theii-aWelcome, Whatever - you are!" he'
could believe. I come down to ' Combe
said loudly, isle threw open- the front -door:
Bassett.withaheart is empty as life with!
mad lettbelitst cold -blast Of the New Year.
- out you.: .1 wander into a losod-I tind„by,
.chance, :in ..a- ' -common cottage, a . ivaaay rush.iiito- the "Sails- I' God. speedthe: old,
Queen,: I Win her heart,: and her trail- `mid
- - '-
" '.
:Gad -bless the New 1-;" ' !. • . :: . .'
plight, and at the end 'weeks I know to ' I keevaita A COtila011 CuStem,"-laid.
a mere of :her 'than that. her name is 'Bertha Rupert; "ler the: =tater .of . the bouse to
- _
open, his door' at the first stroke the last
-Queeli Bertbaaticlsthat she haa no, shr-
midalsglit el the Year. - -- Blit I enald never--
tante, ' but only : a. mysterious, • nameles0
pe t .father,. who comes to see heat like .ap._ eta fincl out whatit Meats and yet every su-
; t. • chanter, from far; away--flyiug, '''I euppose, pOrstition must have a aneaning.somewherea
fe t
•
a • I wottler wbat -mple ., think would hapPen.
.ors a magic' -carpet, .or a - brazen -horse.
V r throughthe air.. - She N attended by iiavisi- if the New Year tame to a house in.dIeutd
t hies hands-445r-nene but her cavu haVthe doer cloaca?e' I s a .asappeir?" .said 'West. • ." Why,- that
' eon- I- am sworn to ask:. nothing more
T a than if -the levee rrMa-- She-forbids...me to ,fewtr pe°00-1-v°111'd- Vegin' tlie:Y6ar wit -31''a
th r enter:, her bower- AV ithOilt . a eignaL, and sneeze. What:Asa do you: su,ppo4e,?-" '
i a unleeait iSrans'
.wered... 'And yet I know that •' '" -1-. darn ' *--1:Y;': '441- 1 )ick --1-" 1 ' aal'e atlY-
';
n t she is' as innecent- as -the .lilies; and &Spurt
they knew phcenpou a time. Well,Its dole
no-w,..and'aftet all_it: vapald heVer have dene
a . ,,,,i as. the snow. ' 'Soonetathanlese you,Berthas
I would: consent to know nothing but ...that to .hava thefrost break up every here dee
It you .are lovely, and good; and true, and Oat .anil.het. round.. tho Tian."
m 1
•
re you ,.. love nae: bNmti
but is I it in anot- to wieh Btit the fitstala,y, of the New Year did
. la
to knew more ? And fait tet -time ?". a not bring tiathaw either : round t e Hall pr
TO.7day was .ytsterday's. twit.
ut -.S‘. As if I Weald not tell yu
o. every -thought. elsewhere,-
V e I have in me! But, oh Rupert,- how' cat I brother.' Not Was' Repertk sorry for it, for,
r v
d tell yoil- a, :name. I _never -heard.? ',As you 4 thawed, - lie- ' *mid , haYa fdrund-
1say; I must hitae another matte than 'Bel; it al'a6(lin.vslY tliffiertlit Ib 'il:Ive4t im.
.exclise
'q) f tha,, I auppese it is .trim. ., As ' you aaaa MY. for etayitig at llama
-While : the.- ether: men
ac t father minit -has*. Sonia _ dwelling -place ef• were all - afield. -,Ofs Cour-e, While- the
a.grountl was:bard it NV83 118,turp." enough
A
his -own, I. suppese that is: true , too.
kIJ . eAnd—"a • a•. .. - for a philotioplter. to, take,-sOlitary walks in
Ill 'conipapy- -With Iptoblems.... But rproblelp.8
•
'When. the, secter 1,4a-eve1. as :broken- :leg
'"-And vo-u-• really do nOt l'iliow, Who you
e er- . . , . .
b r-
" Surelya-that I m Bor
-weuldbasly at rte Ira atar:- excuse. forShires
11 k.... Bufif itinae--".athaaand. s,
theia.after three long ateeksrof. iron, ' Rap,
a' It is .
time," ' -'• ' ''
.- a ' ' 'pily,. the Weather 'allowed a him', with no
- .' t is -.-.. • ' YOilt
- " ThenaLtny father comes to-morrewatit more..difficulty 'than usual, . to 'be At . the
-. . - -cottage 'by 6 111 he altdatmou, f he :had
t -'s .
qf i e 5
o'clock in theaftettoon. ''T hove told .yijii
believed' -Waii.Idba, e felt- that
-
-why you .must not cbnie to ,me' witin omens; lie hout -Kis lack tit least had net channe With the a signal; :becaues he does': not with to bo .. el • "
seen,: and because 4 de not alsvays know- change of year.: : i - : - - .. a ... .,
• - -
-: - S
'when . he. ta- -coming. - But I do happen AO . He was.neitherhYlier tinaid.iby..nattirP,
..kiroaato-dativhenaliist next visit will. be- ,and-wastagerrather than:maXiOui -fot '.hie -
first interview with :sthe myst;rions. per -
for be never failAte seeme Oa the firstday
WeIcl?o'. na'
-" Yes---4o-iriorroW i. New :New Year's Day.
e Rbaert- and come openly and
- ' - . _ ' , - s ' -a. Beyond all question; Bettlut Was nearly as
•-ignorant Mt he •cf her osan; 'hi tory. .- She
eanfiTied in.sifell- -an- ,uninconntabley.prisot.
sonaae whe'kept bis daaglitetase strangely:
of the New Yeara----". ' . ' :
tell him----" - ' : - .. . .•Searcely kireW of . any other -life, exeept.
- " And if he says .Ne?." . after the -vague at& -uuttnstwor hy tria,-nner
'. :Was fairly . wel • educated,
- " Why should- beof dreams.She
a say NO? And -if he.
. - -
does-sclo I -not love Yell?: He cannot,for4feta she badbeen thrown Upon her own
hid that; Rhpeit—" •
.
. .-. :, _ .. :. . ;mental resources: all her life, and had laten
' " Aly •
darling! . - I -104 come,. EpC: '-
hante;• Put by this .atrae pngueSsalale father inth
though he be." :
the right teed _ for using ' them. - Oddly-
..-• . -• '
-- Rupert: left- the Cottage just in time te enough ; she was most familiar -with the
'reach . the gall- (0 his lioit's. plop .1Yis very bgekt and branehes. of khoinledge that
repularix-ctaled) 1.,efere'rdin,ner. . . me met Rupert-1:4*pH. Wohld.liaVi chlsen for her
had: her eau -cation ' been -giVer, into Ilis
nobody on the WaY-
but an -old 'wen:Ian:in. as
bands. :,Slie had lived.in 'this- waya-age- le-
blae 'cloak, of whom lie took to-speoistl.
learned from liersall . her -Elea- seeing
heed -far Winst were all, eutwa,rd things to
tone but her fathet and - an : elderly
a Man wholoved, and was, loved; Mid be -
turtle who attended to heraadmirably, but
fore whoa the future was opening Oa -in
toldher nothing... She -WaS.Under A strict
raihbow colors? Even the Mystery of bier
di%CitilineaVhich she had never thought of
love -story gave -it at 7additiertal 'chant to
him, whoseinita,ginatiqn, of shardstudys needed chtenically k,ept. breaking through, never .going out for e-xer-
'
in the grooves .
ti.s.e: except s in, 'the early morning in a the nova
woods, or being: allOvied ' to have rah-Nfld.
and then t�takea .fiight into the free and
•
. . S'nert el/taking ingaitiee,. Ruaett had in,
.opeil alit/ - :, • -- . - - ..-... -.- vented a thousand. thetAes. tokaccount for
the naysitery, but had 'rejeCte :Arent 0.1.
-• _ There were tot Many ;guests at the Hall. -
a. - . - - -
Dick Derwent was- a bachelot. of 45,- who Bilt about one thing there .avae to inyetery
did hot tare to fill bishouse for the Sake of At:all.' :-NoWorider that 'a, young %girl With
'Itavin,g itsfull; a -The 'few who were there o s , . . - . . - ,
such infinite ca,pacity for the life -that had
Were .- men. 'who. were waiting fOr.athe been withheld 'front.. her* fe : seventeen
fi.OSt to break, Mid, with whom RaPetta. .yeats, had snatched at life, love atd liberty
enga,ged . as he was . with bis own affairs-- as sopuits . they . had found her -out in her
who was the best of geedfellovisi4n4 had
had but little synipatliy:: . .-He 'liked Dick, sqlitude.. She was- the ,sleeping'princess
shownn hini.- tnuch kindneas abut he cared Who Woke When-. the pritoehad forced his.
way-th her through- the theism.
little for Dick's friends. And even to Dick, .13-iitnew, 'at laet, the_wholeaecretwas to
.-geed'letlow is be watialiehad neVerlareath-, be Cliscieseds . 01 the result Rnpert had ab-
ed it :Word of- his love -story.. There, Were aohitely. no fear.' -He was - rich enough
Many: 'reasons for salience, .: Of . Which each sa,tify. .any ' • earthly i father, and in love
. . .. .
was, all -sufficient for him.-- in the.. first enotigh -to satisfy .:.. any father; . man .or
place of
to.da,y7-marriage had, from. don,* who. lima 1115 child.: . - His highhispOint,Of view,' been simplyimpqatlible. -aPiritsof yesterday were nothing compared had been 'merely drifting; and had with to -day s. - He hardly telt the ground
hardly • cared. - te,a9pen .. :his: 0*n...eyes as be, walked, but seemed to ..ttead tin air:
as.' ...to' the course he a' had . a been a' -He reached ' the Cottage w.eirbefore.hiro.
taking:: . In the ' secOnd -, . plaCe; ' to
prelate the mystery - Ofhis romance by
•The door stood wide .0p3A, and the front.
, . . - . -I -
speech. would be --sure to a reduce it fronia•
. garden•-•-. Was littered _with bit@ . of. broken
.poetry to prose. ;Again, how could lie bear
wood, ends of cord, and straw. ."The kitchen .
to :tell -such a atory, to , open-hearted and.
was Without 4. fire:. With A strange -feeling
free -tongued Dick, Who : had tetra -kept a
Of feat' in hie:heart, he wen at once into
secret in his life, and _would be . sure to
Make Beit-Bertha's bower-'-it.haaturAd'into nothing
hwand Riipert'a lave ' for * a-
-
matter -of rough ehaff, even if they did • • not but a-shrunkeh square 'cupboard, with:lour-
• -
bare walls, and an enstity floor.' The lattice
•aome day, fel: want 01 better sport, -ride
was .orstn, and air seemed cold.
'out and -dratt-tbe cottage with '''.Yoicke!' . -Aad_it all been but a;Fairy Dream? But
.and "Tally-hol''., And .Who wassBettba'S. it. was to dreihn that he loved- her with his
father& and What secret tnigliflio. not have whole heart-aild she w&ii gone . ' '
that ought not,. in honor, be betrayed?
.• enema li, i •
One: . Two: Three: -Ten o Eleven: .T.win'ta 1
: iHe whomt bettered Fortuied7and a testa-
tor's fancy had-Ltransmated, tioni...AUPert
at
;•,
Grayshaw into upert Hildreth did not or be contaminated by the companionship
rise from his ch r, or throw open so much of °then. girls. He believed that every girl
as an inch of -ndow at the sound_ He ought to grow up alone, with no knowledge
laid down his pqa-but that was all, The of, or communication with, tbe world.
twelve strokes p-Aame to his ears muffled He had had experiences of the other
through double indows and close doors. sort of thing, you see, when he was a
"1 am not su a fool as that," faought young man. So, Mr. Ilildretb, knowing .
he. "The old ear's a, great deal too good your prudence, your honor, your friendship t
to lose, and I on't want a better. I've for him, and -your hermit -like tnode of liv-
done for six ye. s past with wanting more ing, he leaves you a legacy of ten thousand
than I have, s ce-since-No ; I'Nr3 done pounds on condition that you will, as 'joint i 1
with dreams. a_ erhaps they might come guardian with myself, undertake the sole t
back if I openettbe door to a change. Let and entire charge and education of the z z
those open theta doors who are eick, or child. (she living here with you) until she 1 'I
sorry, or sinfu. or poor; not I, who am attains the age of 24, at which age Mr.
rich, and contel , and sound in heart and Derwent believed that a girl, properly T
limb and brait . . . and who knows brought up according to Lis views, ought to
what happened. once, when I let put the be able to run alone. She is IIONV in the
one sweet dre' du mV whole life, and charge of an aunt, Mrs. Joy. You accept s
when that betts_ waking came in through the charge, Of course—" e
the open door !A Never again. I might let "What, I? No. No, Mr. Dimond.. '
in sickness, .o discontent, or worse -who Without hesitation and most decidedly,
knows? I'll as I am, with one long, No. New years bring, and shall bring, no
faithful old y r all to myself, that I've new things to me. What should I, a stu-
tried and pro d; Yes, it has anawered. dent who live 'alone with my books, do
e with the new years, and . with a girl -a child—"
Fevers have c
laave emptied ther.bouses, but thay have "The orphau of your friend—"
passed by my ors, that had kept put, the ',` Whom I do not need, and who does not
evils of the .0 nown like those of a wise need me. No. I closed. my door last nignt,
m,an. .Fortu d have broken; but mine and 1 close it still. I will have hothing
stand. Other in the . new yearit, have new in my life—"
married and led; I, with thc. old year "Not -ten thousand pounds—'
under my roo am as alive and. free as I .44 No. No, once for all." He bowed Mr.
was six years •o. -I have seen others grow Dimond out, and -went back to his work,
gray , and w kled: I am near middle without giving another thought of the New
age, and you . .Life palls on others, un, Year's cunning but vain attempt to creep
less they.rene it in their children; Ihave within his doors in the shape of a child.
only myself a d my boOks,--but they are It was all Very well for the lawyer to
as fresh as of • • • • •
i speak of a -grown girt of three -and -twenty
Why, if there 0 a grain of truth in 'old as if she were no more than- a ebild in arms. -4)
wives' tales, t 'bar the new year Out and Equally reasonable was it ..for Rupert to IF
to bolt the 014 ear in means -to staiud still argue that, since Dick Derwent was un- -
*at one's best a one's days, to bp fot altvaya married seine six yeas - ago, hiss- s
as one is, and, o fear no chance or i change orphan daughter could hardly - be five
that comes to,. he rest of the wothl•i: a • ' years old. - Bat there is nobody so good at
SO-knoOk on, ' ew Year, as ' hard apd as keeping a secret, when he likes, as your• 1 12
long as you li ---ypu'llfind one aedr bolted bluff, frank, hearty, talkative, open -man- i §
and barred a net ybu and Yoursat 1 tater' .mari. -Mr. Dimond k -new, and
He took Upa is pen again, andwotked on.- thought Inc client's intimate Mewls. knew
It was true tl • t, ever since that -niidaight -alio, that the Squire of Conabe Bassett had
of • six years 0, he had practiseethe ne* married once aspen, 'a time and had been
.stiperitition keeping his ftaut cl+oi close left a father and a.widoweravithin a year:
-shut, so th a he hew year might find 4 net 04 so, but that, surrounded as he was
chink where - to creep in: ;For lora that by society of Which - he . Was unwilling to
tight of le ago he had lain doiwn. With deprive himself as he was anxious that his
joy 4fla h.Opej vhich the newyearhad; with datightershOuld hot -share it, he bo.A. taken
'its; .first ton ' , taken away. 1 Perliaps-se extraordinary precautions ingainet the dis-
he felt in fa V-s-ifahe bad. -keit lite nel- coVery of her -existence till -'she Wat fully- ;
year out, Be • a and the. old-. year would grown.. His friends were mostly good fel-
have.- staye with hitU i-: her was a atcy lows With no money to • spela who'weald
,a ' f '
•
.gnite So unru scalable in a nian . of, science ivaeop down mi an.heiress-After the genial,.
'as it may a ;7for. avhitt had.Bettha her- minter of their kind
' One i:bright, eold morning, Whet, in Mid -
a .
winter; her own heart•was overflowing with
Opting and jay, the old. nurse who served '
arid guarded. her was:Suddenly_ disnaissed ; '
she was carried, by road ' and tail, many
Miles iaway from her old home, and pre-
Sently'. her lather came And took her to
traven• With hitt abroad. She conild not
speak i to -him - of the -dream which he •
had doubtless- -disCoVered, . - and had
thug answered. It is . to be liciped he -
was iatisfied--. . She was d.Poile 'and gentle,
and het father was alwayslirind-ltiadn.ow,
even hi keepipg her tohimself ; for she had
seen all the hatnan. beings . sho. heeded- to
s'ee.in .seeing one whom she saw "ird more.
He ilepc1.- not have fearecl. the adventurers
and fOrtune-lahhters whoni he: nevi,. as • if
ruled a craze, spent hia,.- whole time in
avoiding. . He heed. not even - have made
=Oat Will when he died; so that his hand,. .
thoogh.dead, might- still -guard her from :
lovelessness "iii marriage,. and all lesser .
harm.1 Mr. Dimond must have been - ter -i
-Hwy I right. when suggesting, , what the
Squire's -own experience of the world .mhst
have beenbefore- :fader@ he settled down.- at -
13CiosrahtBd:ssett with the seul. of 'a sgirl - on
. .
•.. She mourned, _honestly, When he died;
Perhaps net the less .because he had made
ber-b. 6 so dull inid. empty. But ;presently
;
eheli d temearn. for her ' living self even
More. She was an heiresa-shec'hadlearned.
to hate -the very•soued.ef the word.. . And
she was left -iu charge of another -guarditirr; ri
A hark. stern man, tamed Hildreth, so she I
heard ; a recluse, who had been. chosen
by. her - father for the of6.ce because of ,.
his being the only man lit :the 'world who a
could be trusted to tarry' *ott, :cons-igen:tit): i
std. tboroughly;ber father's views. Hither- .'
to, her life had. been slavery; but love there-
with. 1 Henceforth it must be double slasseiy,
land therewith what rcipst needs become
'hate,' at least on her side, '
' . I. , • - c .
' ' And yet it was with .0, strange feeling,.
very f ar indeed from pleasure or relief; that !
tibta- heard . from Mr. Dimond of Mr. HO; ;
rdrethaty decisive, almost scornful and angry,
refusal of of the charge that had beetlett to
him. She She had sottehow expected that he
would have received her for money's sake,•,,
and then, for duty's,' have made her-di:fel
'hardly. to be barite. •But here was clearly
man, who would neither do a kiadn • nortt
accept a duty, if,they wereineotiV6A toiTf 4
him, 1 even for 'ten. thousand -patintlatta ,
there Were to be refusals and rebellion@aa
tneYought te have come from her.,
"It seems to me you have had a :hie
L ,
escape, Miss Derwent" said the lawyer.!
When his holiday 'wasoverand he came- ' i
persbn to brit* liter nein.. "There issonie
thing ;,about that fellow Hildreth that
.neither like nor anderttands he's not iik
other. people at all. He refused a. legacy o
len thousand pounds. That is being fti
_too imprudent to have the 'charge of a yo
girl:" - . - .. - • .
- :" At any. rate, he is no fortuheliunter4
said she. ' Perhaps - my poor father itheltio.
that,. andthat:w„as.. why---; . And w-Wii
ant to, donow ?" - ' , -
, " . hat'S just the point, s yob. see, a T '
_terms cif the will -are 'perfectly ,cle.a.tt
the event•of Mr. :Eildreth's refus
-der akethe charges.* of you_-whyat n., 4e
t
you say; he will haveprpved that hodoestilt
car;..for money, I am -I am sorry to say-- - -
ins meted to make him the offer of .3rt)tf
- i 6
,-
i
-. - Of my hand? Of Me V' • - t
.. " Even so. - -And it must be done.' "RI% ‘
if x do not, IShalllOse my 017711 legapyl
it is top much to lose. i If - he refuses Mt •
the,beiress'of„Combe Bassett,' you Tay' la -
. :But he can't -be Buell a foot Mt to.refit
sure. Your honored. father did know me -
'1E1 But there is something 'else to be .sa
it eems to me! How if I refuse V'
. it Thoth° iitto have ConibaBassettaa ha
(nit you. You are to have enough to live
in torhfort while you:remain. single; but
under no circumstances *Will you have 4.0y -
thing More if you marry anybody but Aro.
It is & cruel, will; Miss Derwett ; but itca's a
clever one for its. phrpose; I 'must. ii„.a.y.:
Whatever happens, the - -Man .Who M -Aries '
1
_
er
-self 'aver - b n , to: but f piney land 'a
dream?: A itwastrte. that; W1416 the
new years brought troub, les -eilumgh oia
-otherS, the ad left Rnpert 'Hildtetha the
scholarsan heistitt; undiStarbel., 111 his
life. and la r.. With hiM the me .0111
year seeme OreVer a:5 abide, mitt]. it had.
canted by c tom sat andisputed. raght ,a,nd
title ta.apl by his -hearthstone) HO an'a
his life nes+. 'knew a-chartge, ftona year to
year, fro ay. :to .day. *ler
quiet sth .sake, in the . .-.0atskirte
:.of. the to , of Rainhani. .0n0 year ta.
Plague Of lerti swept thrtangli 'plaCO,
and broke .households-qhat wauld
..i?theeeliras::: 1 they -never let the ! old year
go. But h ever troubled aboht,
nd just 'lived and worked era
Some thea t he kept himself -A o 4taueli
aloof in a Into. of trouble: and -.doubt
that 'Same ad tow Year; 'while it brought
-death to b ibi,-brOnght &die But
:what, has.1 to do with the thine of lie*
years that ave never mite te.'hm? An-
other n. ew ar had brought amen'. gifts
great.fin cial crasli that. had been felt
iu meet h es, but had not givel ,Rupert
Hildreth, ono rich :man, rt ment'S
dolibt: or f r. Re had :never tote a new
,
face; or 11QW ..enerny. Fre Jaants
ary to DeJ ber every year had :beenone
.1 •
'and the siUac
• There re -some who ititouglit aitnhitad,
,cold and -1fish. Othersakornen Meetly
----could.n help- believing -- •that l early -in
life, his art- :had been; broken by some
greatcsor V -With yvhich alWorean. had had
td • do; a that this ,made la,ts days
so ...cha, less' and . 4 his Ilife Ise
lomly a self-centaitied. He., would
have
have detu such a theory ; had it aver corae
to hie ear with scoarn His treatment' of
• tett Veara nd its effects might be ..but
• Superstiti s fancyl but lie'. lived as if lie .
'thought ' based . on truth arid 'rest:Eli:ma
Neyerasi e that New Year's Eit.'e had he
seen, or 'let, despite Of all his asarching;
heard,Of'-' ertha, again Or • of anybody. who
had ever eard :her: And no he had
shut out e threats of another new. year.
He won, ed late . and.-reSe, late,! without
taking n -that neW year had ibegun for ,
all the reit-of the world: Why Oaf uld- o,
indeed, et it was Still Abe --elf -I year,' of
years ag him?
It
I
It ,wa, Certainly tiothin .partieularly
new, thq „lila little uniasuall that he shohld.
receive asit.from stranger it ithe.eourse
of the afgrnoon.- The -card by ivfhleb the
-visitor ieroduced himself was tfiat of Mr:
J..Dinao • - •
" Mr. ildtith ? "'asked -Mr, annaond, a
itiffami , • le -aged Man; with & pijoressienal
'look abo • t ::" -Then; in the;first Place
I have tgwisli you a happy tiewyear."
' ? I -beg your pardma,"- Said
• Rupera, Bendy. sa Yen are . Oa business,
1 ,
I suppo?, !?, ' . • •.i
odd you should expect •-hat-tefy
odd • it considering ,,the sIty. It pi a
rarehe ay that has breiaght me to Rainf
hard, re happen to have friends. But
it is la Iness, all .the same; aid I have
taken ti opportunity of doing; ttamithcait
wastin day., :Time. Inc a way:of flying, -
Y9'11 se.
Or stariding . • :
"•No • -ith Me, Mr, -Hildreth not with
'rne. ars-landmarke-and so ens I
believeg you were. acqtiaintedi With Mr.-
Rich-ar. Derwent, -of Combe ,passett.
have lat:' n his legal adviser for one years.
years.'
you are not aware • , 1; •
I-IPew:Derwent ; but FL 'nave seen
npthin of hitt( for some yelars-some-,
time, I hOtild say. I hive he ?"
" is dead, Mr. Hildrethi. ; He died
last N iember, in town: And ills little
. •
_ "-Di Derv -sent dead L 701:
Rata tle -girls?' Well, law wAta• just the
Man t et married Were he diid."
s to. mother; :She; you
know, hen the claild was born.1, ; Well; Mr;
Hildr th,.tet Make a, long, storyt Short, Mr.
'Derw #t had two ideas -perhaps more, but
Oertai y:.tWO.. One . was an unbounded
trust. ia-.confidelice in your prudence and
honor,. his teatifiee.. Thiel other was
an ovSirwhelming dread .lest hiS little girl
shoul grow Up prey to for 0 -hunters;
en ly
t it
ce
ec et
Or
Tlo e -
y --
4 Is
b Y
b th
rt e,
st
e to-
.
f..or.
for
at
W93 8.
t nd
d is
d 'is
a !led
s ad.
i 's;
t an
t be
4 S ion
ir
t ble
poi
4 the
pr of
1; the
ely
✓ - ed
tc led
iar-
a
e to
n6r
no..
t ong
p nd
u by
a ing
d her
a her
11 ugh.
y al-
-0 a of
by
ar
oal-
All
, ark,
at lace
o er-
ile-;
hut
ving
ised
he
f
an Had Bertha's _existence been known- of at
ney the Hall, he would himself lipase been'the
pp. of first to hear. -
was . Dinner and billiards had lasted the °Yen-
ges
•
t-