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The Brussels Post, 1886-12-17, Page 29 THE BRUSSELS POST _ eiteeeneeea.enneraesseleantereueseeeelle eeartralenetmeitelerteetereaeureeeeteseleens_zereeleeeneteseesils=alesamennenerren_ ^ elealeezeleveeelereaserreen RieepO=WBILVeitY4Z=Peail .neleepeeeireeeentedete_, VC+RANT WIFE. never %urea for Velonef KeTiardson; with whic lied mad excetement, he tint ab parteidr, Then he nod ;stile door and. go to nay eocnn, and • "f no one 33T P. WAIIIM. Author of " Toe Hone ox THE MAIIBU," " AT :MB WORWS Aleite'r," ETU. musty. II nub 11.1 limn, notes. kg the expression of his wifeei face, his menner changed, and he oried roughly, It is a lie 1 It is an infernal axone I "etop, I tell you, ox I'll jump out withoub your stopping! Now rll be hanged if let you drive me out any more 1 You are just a little hypocrite, pretending to listen and be so sweet, when all the time you don't care what I say if I talk myself boarse. Go and talk your learned jargon with George and William ena— mel the deuce, if you like I I'm going to So Green, the blacksmith." She bad stopped, seeing that it was of no use to try to argue with him in the; mood, and that to disobey hirn would only be to see him break his neek before aud youe persistent jealousy is an insult to me when I tell you it has founds. tion. Ile belongs to a typo of man which hes no attraction for ma." • — PM Lypelf L0013 "He is au idler; and I have worked too tong and too hard myself not to des- pise idleuess in a man." Harry gave a grunt of disapproval. "I suppose you call me an eller." Well, I dont think you are much else," said she, smiling. e It seems to me, Annie, you expect a precious deal too much of a man," be grumbled presently, in an injured toue. "To please you he must slave like a nigger, whether he has any mood to work or not, and read himself blind over the dullest trash that ever was printed, and never tale about anything he himself likes, but chatter by the yard about things that haven't the least in- terest, and beam all over with smiles when he is annoyed," Annie laughed. I don't think I ever expeoted all her eyes. And she drove home full of that of anybody, and certainly not of enaorse, after watching him vault over you, Harry." a gate to take a short cut to the village, And, weary of this useless discussion, and making one more efforb to stop laitu she left the room as Stephen entered it. by a piteous cry of "Harry 1" of which The friendship between her and the he took no notice. cripple had never been great, and he To the blacksraith's—where Susan was now rather jealous of her position Green lived! This, then, was the end in the household, which had become of his revived adaption for herself, that stronger than that of his adored Lilian, the very first walk he took led him with whom however he bad begun of straight back to the vulgar charms of late to have serious quarrels. Harry the blacksmith's daughter 1 bad let slip the fact that it was Stephen It was a bitter, unpleasant thought, who had informed him of Colonel Rich - even for a wife not sufficiently fond of ardson's presence in Beckham, which her husband to be jealous. It was a had so needlessly excited his jealousy. humiliation which brought up in her Annie wondered what his object could mind the image of the one men who have been. thought her cbarms superior to those of Wheu she left them together, Harry any other woman. She did not feel titilV up from his chair and faced his jealous, but insulted by the rude speech of her husband, who, after she had used ' 1, What did you come tormenting me every care, every charm at her command for with your humbugging stories about to fulfil her duty to him in sickness and Annie and Richardson? She doesu't in convalescence, rewarded her with a care a straw for the fellow 1" ' coarse taunt and an openly-exptessed °Deanne she ? Oh, that's all right 1" intention of leaving her for the society said Stephen moaningly. of a girl of low birth and nob unspotted "No; she only spoke to him out of name. civility," said. Harry, raising his voice, She drove home, and as soon as she but looking anxiously at the other. had taken off her hat and mantle, went " Here—what do you mean with your into the library, where, in spite of confounded shrugs and squints ? Look Harry's rough prohibition, she still con- me straight in the face, and say what tinned to give William lessons in French. aau mean." Dusk was coming on ; but it was light -' . The cripple was trembling and his enough for beet° see the figure bending face paling, but not with fear of his over a book in a low chair near the companion. Ho hesitated fox one Imo. window. She crossed the room andput ment, and then said, in a hurried low a hand on his shoulder. voice, as if the words were wrenched " 1Villian2' bow wrong of yon to try from him againsthis will— yout eyes like that I" " Very well; don't mind whoa I say. He looked up. It was not William, Of course I am warning only you for but Harry. fun, for my own amusement. First go " Yon, Harry 1" murmured his wife, in and tell her what nonsense I've been astonishment. talking, and. then—then let her meet "5s, m0—Hate. I may try my Colonel Richardson at the lower gate at eyes as much as I like, mayn't I 2" eleven to -night, and, take my word for . She took the book gently from his it, you won't be troubled with your wife hand. It was &n -tor Resatha. any m„," "You have not been reading this?" "Liar 1" hissed out Harry. she gasped. "01), ib is only my fun, of course !" " Yes, I have. I saw it lying on the sneered the cripple. table with your book -marker in it, so I Harry stood for a moment leaning tookit up to see what it was like; and heavily on the table. Hie first instinct I've read six pages, but I'll be hangedif was to seize his cousin by the collar and I can make head. or tail of it 1" confront him with Annie ; but the next "Nor can 1," said Annie. moment a terrible fear that this VMS the "Well, what do you read it for, trubh that he was hearing seized him, then ?" and a sudden desperate resolve stopped She hesitated. his band and restored to him an al)- " It was written by a great man, a en Penance of calmness. 11 lik. to try — Thehideons story seemed to him in ' mighty thinker,' a d I find out what he means." hie excited state only too likely. This "Well, I think it is a very dull amuse- would explain her anxiety to get away, ment. Thomas Carlyle "-1 e ea wkii•e her comparative coldness towards him - the title -page. "Mighty thinker, you self, and would justify the suspicions he say. I've heard of a mighty hunter—" had, not of her parity, but of her "01), you are thinking of Nimrod I faith. It's not the same person,'' said Annie. "I hate her, I hate her I" he said to " You are laughing at me 1 Very well 1" himself, as he dashed away from Ste - e phen, out of the library., and flung him. "Yes, lam," said Annie, smiling, and. self down upon a seat in the empty bil- putting her arm affectionately round his liard•xoom, with his head in his hands. neck. " But I think, if I didn't laugh, I "I thought I did, and now I know it. should ory. I—I feel very much touch- The little deceitful heartless vixen 1 I'll ed by fleabag you—finding you here just take a leaf out of her own book, and trying to read my dull books when I see if I can't be loving while I mean all was feeling very angry with you for run- the time to inake her suffer. You do- n*, away from 010 08 you did." spise me, do you, myriad), ? I'm a clod, Barry rubbed his curly head against am I ? We'll see to•night if we can't her without saying anything for a mi- turn the tables for once. You thought nutc. Then he Weed. up searchingly you could turn me round your little into her face. finger, Pll warrant, and laughed at me, "Annie, I want to ask you sometbing. and thought mea boor and a poor silly ' Jun now Ste—some one told me they fool to be fond of you. But you are had seen Colonel Rieliardson in Beek- mistaken, my fine lady 1 I bate you, I ham several tines during the last few loathe you, and I'll prove it to you to. days, and had seen you talking to him. e Well ?" ni ht 1" 13ut one thing in his programme ib was "Well l"—therply. " And. why didn't barrel Harry's strength to carry out. you say anything about it ?" ,,,,, He could not act; and, when he =oblate Colonel Richardson, I spoke to himI,Inaa "There was nothing to sey, -wife just before dinner, and would fain that was all. What is there strange in ehaveeree zoenge ema leeede, muen, tinder .spo ef te 8 0wordsete andin that 2" dignation which was raging in him, he " Oh, nothing, of count; 1" He paused was obliged to turn away from her for a moment and looked away from brusquely after the very first words. her. Then he burst out, but as it to She noticed his eugitetion ; but it 'WM as himself—" It was Colonel Richeedson impossible as it was unnecessary to fa. -who came dangling after you four yeets them all her husband's caprices, and her ago. You always liked him." own manner then and at Bittner was ex- " Harry, don't be so absurd as to be aetl the same as ;name Stmilien etepped Into the keen au ; but he strode waileug for t e other to ture and en should. kuow anything about it, 1 of the cold and wet on his not yet ro• tion was fixed on tho rapidleeemproaoh, again. I didn'b promise --I hadn't of the garden, reckless as to the effecte bust frame. He reached the lower ing figure. Harry would not look at time • but I never will, all the sante. gen ; but, to his intense relief, there her. It was nob until the two had met And,'Aunies, bo is worth loving. Do try was no one there, no sound to bo heard. that hie eyes, in watehing the elan, fell to love him back 1 Ole yon would if He waited a few 'Mentes, and a deep upon the woman also. you knew what it it to have a husband sone of joy, followed by the detetmina- " I could nob geb away before; the 'Who is a monument of ell the virtues, tion to transfer his revonee on to Ste. boys were all over the house," she wail but almonumont in stone 1" whiepering deprecatingly. And the wayward woman, who, with him, had risen in his breast when he His hand with the revolver dropped all her faults, had generous inapulsos, Pliele, who had playea tgis nil* upon heard the wet aouna. af wheals ao teofelts estildrie,Thaes theseeehperantghefmoruLut'eadreidarengclgeh(i laid her boantiful head on the bed aud s o bslabeed as nurse; and, when Harry, a er ei g ---------.-------- 8 •::. e * * * long in danger of : flicr- ed back towards couvalescence, blie first . down 01713T the lawu toward the bottom hiee, But ejeteeee Hiebardison's adore would promise Dever o try to go off through the falling flakes a close nee Lief, LlieeYe insisted on sharing Annie's duties hoofs over the soft snow, and saw Diego coming slowly up from the direc- tion of Beckham. It stopped at the gate, Harry held his breath; the canine. door opened, and a man In a thickgreee. coat steppea down into the snow. et was Colonel Richardson. Harry, NV/10 on the approach of the carriage had crept inamong the leafless snovecovered trees and the tall ever- . greens of the shrubbery, uttered no sound; but bis Tight hand went swiftly to his coat -pocket and drew out a revolver, which he thrust into the, breast of his coat without again relaxing his hold of it. Colonel Richardson walked up me down in the snow in front of the gate, stopping after every few steps to listen and to shake the thick flakes off his net impatiently. He never came very near to the motionless figure among the trees, for there were a low wall aud 9, thick growth of laurel and rododendron bushes between them. And the spot Harry had chosen for his station was on the lower side of the gate, while itnyoue coming from the house would come down to the upper side, so that Colonel Richardson, peering e.uxioesly in inepe.. tient expectation through the branches never once glanced in his direction. When, in a low voice, he gave the coachman some direction, and the car• ridge went on a little way and then turn. ed slowly round, Harry recognised it BE a hired carriage from a livery•stable it Beckham. His hand still round his re• volver, be was on the alert for the next movement; but the carriage, havins turned so that the horses' heads were towards Beckham, stopped again before the gate. Time went slowly for both men, the watcher and the watched; while the latter stamped the snow from his boots strode up and down, and showed over increasing impatience, the former re• mained as still as ever at his post among the laurels. He did not feel the keels wind, or the failing snow, or the cold ol the damp white mass beneath his feet which was striking into his frame and chilling him to the bone. For almost the first time in his life thought had gob hold of him, aud wee torturing bim with sharp pangs which deadened the sono of bodily discomfort withinhine His hatred of thaman whc stood there unconscious 01 1115 presence and the deadly errand which brought him blazed as fiercely as ever; but his auger against his wife was dying away, and giving place to pity for the beauti• ful little creature who had so rashly given her happiness into his keeping four years and a half ago, to be punish. ed for her rashness by his brutal neg. lent and indifference. "Yet I meant to bo kind to her. I did not want to bo cruel. Am I such a brute that I can't help it? I have tried to be gentle with her lately, and she likee me no better. She comes back to tan, talise me into loving her as I neve; thought I could love any woman, and then runs away with this blackguard who would just throw her over whet ---. Good heavens No I Even hi couldn't desert leer!" His Hp quivered, and tbero came s choking feelieg in his throat. "Thank heaven I'm in time to stew her 1 She'll have to stay with me now : but she will find a way of making il more a punishment for me than for her, I expect. What an ass I am to care about her—I mean, to have cared about her. I'll just show her the difference now. She shall see if it wasn't bele] to havo a churlish husband for a slave than for a master. She despised me did she, and thoughb me a fool for let• ting her do what she liked with me Yes, that is tho way with women. Well, now it is her turn to do what I like; me I shan't be so soft about it either. Pll just— Confound her, I've a good mind 50 105 her go off with him, and snap my fingers at her and be rid of her ; Ay, and I would too, only she is my wife, worse leek, and I must do for my honour what I wouldn't do for her. No. that I wouldn't! Oh, good heaven.: well she nevet love me ? I'm nob gooe enough for her 1 but rm not such a cur ib is not for me to reproach you, espece as that fellow 1" ally on the score of want of wifely dove. As the minutes dragged on, a hope tion, When he found. it WAS I, Harry began to rise within him that she was tried to drag me away; bub I struggled not coming, aft& all, while he could sec to escape from him, and told him not to to his joy, that the anxiety of the mau interfere with mo. He would not let he was watching had grown keener. me go, and I told him— You will bo Still they heard no sound, though they shocked, Annie, but I loved the man— listened inteutly, the one in hope, the I do now—and I was desperate. I other in deadliest fear. asked Barry how he could be sure he At last Harry saw Colonel Richard. was not too late. And he looked me BOA burn his head quickly, as if his ear straight in tho face very steadily, so had caught some expected sound; then that I felt awfully ashamed of myself, he laid leis hand upon the latch of the and, he seed, '1 may not be in Mine to gate, Still Harry heard nothing. save your character, but at least I will But a minute later, through the fall, save your reputable:me Ana for a me- ing snow, he saw above him, swiftly pp. went stood rite still, hesitating, jealous of Colonel Richardson I Indeed watched him as he glared at his wife ; 'you weer had the slighted cause to be and, when dinner was over, he fastened so." • himself onto Annie to prevent aconverea.- " Hew can I be sure of that ?" said "One was between her husband aud her. he, trailing ill'm ilra 811adenlY' • This was not difficult, for Harry, for the thing I am cettain of—that is, that, duriug these four years that you havo been away from me, you have met some- fitst time during his wife's stay at the Grano had looks,haa and excited himself so disregarded all ber ett. body you liked bettor than mo. I aon't '''''''' ; much with wine that she kept carefully say it was unnabnral—I don't say Im out of his way when the gentlemen came surprised; but I sly that. I ectiovs I'm into the drawing -room. right, and I'll find out rho it is, 05 5000 Except for that incident and Haerya as I'm your husband 1 You say I've no consequent ferocious sullonnesss, the need to be jealous of any actor—and I evening passed off as usual until, at don't myself think you would lower half -past ten, Annie and Lilian retired yourself as far as that—," , for the night. Then Reny, instead of "You forget that I'm an a,oteess, ' said joining his brothers in the billiard-toom, Annie cemposedly. sprang up from the corner where he had "Were an actress 1 but you're not one been sulking and vveaching for the last saw," answered ho hastily. " Well, if ,. hour, snatchee up allele in the hall, and, eeota never cared for any actor,04 nee without waiting to put on his cerement, for Colonel Riehardson ? He is Ilan& slipped out, without ban seen by any. berg on to the pathway, drew eut hie some, and kneens how to talk to you one, into the garden. It was a snowy revolver, and covered the other pan about the things you like." 1 February night, and he shivered 08, bee with it as steadily as ho had ever annee " But I hew; told vas already that I At twenty minutes to twelve that night Annie was Tensed, from sleep by person ho recognised ab his boded° IN as his sister. Her passionate nature, which knooleug at her door. in many respects resembled his, a ll ,, What is ib?" she cried sleepily. been deeply moved by whatbe had dope But the answer atartled her into wake. for her, and still more by the unexpec- fulnees. tedly quiet and dignified way in which e Annie, Annie, open the door, rot he had done it. She had had time to heaven's sake 1" see the depth of the social abyss into It was her husband's •voice, but which her proposed flight would have horse, feeble, and broken. plunged her. Her long-standing pre. For one instant she .paused. Bui formes for Herbert Richardson she bad there came another faltering Imook, and not subdued—she felt thee she could not Harry's voiee again, more feebly still, not subdue it; but ebe had broken off called— even her correspondence with him ab Annie,. Aunie, lot me in; I am cly. Harry's request. ing I" Brother and. sister drew near to each She flew to the door, unlocked and other, with far deeper mutual affection opened it; aud Barry, me war wee than they had ever felt before, daring with half -melted snow and covered Harry's slow return to health. They with blood, staggered. forward into her felt that they had much in common, 081115. both ardent, passionate natures being tied to colder ones who could not or CHAPTER would. not respond. to their warmth with the enter() abandonment; they craved. e Let me stay here! Dou't send me There the likeness in their positions away 1" were Harry's first words, as his ended however, for Lilian had never wife led him to a, chair and ;supported even tried to sound the depths in the his bead against her breast. heart of her teidelle-aged husband, while "Yes, yes, you shall stay. . Oh, every look, every touch that Harry be - Harry, what have you done? You stowed on his wife told wistfully of the aro drenched to the skin and cold as longing bo felt to be master of her love ice 1 Where are you hurt? Is it only as he was already of her duty. hero?' xne gentlemen ane even cenuerneese She touched. his forehea,d, from a A her care ,of him now would have out in which the blood was still flowing. satisfied any one less exacting. Bub Tbatis all—I think," said he drow. !madness had made the young fellow sily. " But I'm—oold." :dear -sighted ; and he knew, or thought Ho was shivering violently. She ele knew, that ber heart could give more rang the bell for assistance; but it was than that, if he could only roach it, too late to avert the consequences of A.nnie herself, who seemed in this that night's work, and before morning matter to have exchanged wits with her the:lever was back upon him. It was husband, growing duller of perception as impossible to learn from him bow ithall he grow brighter, fancied that his fond - happened. When his mind wandered, nese for his sister had grown stronger he talked disconnectedly of herself, than his fondness for her, and, after a sometimes tenderly, sometimes angrily moment's pique, she felt glad of it, as it and. jealously, but always of her. Annie tendered au avowal she bad to make all sat up by him ell night, and. in the the easier. morning with softened tread and pale, It was the first day after he had again downcast, anxious face, Lilian crept in. joined tho family circle that she found He did not know her—he did not know an opportunity of speaking to him alone, any One. and of telling him, under a promise of " Go and get some net now, ; secrecy, that George had told her he I will watch by him," she whispered. was ha serious difficulties, and feared. Why, Lilian, you look as if you had that be would nob be aisle to keep up sat up all night too ; what is the matter the establishment at the Grange much with you?" longer. Harry listened rather mdiffer: man dee not answer for minute, ently. He had been so accustomed to but stood watching the restless move. bear of those difficulties, nob only since meats of her sick brother; a•nd, when his brother had been the head of the she turned again to Aimice her proud family, but also in his father's lifetime, gray eyes were full of tears. that, as it had never been his business "1 may as well tell you now, for you to find a way out of them, they had al - ere sure to learn it as seen as poor together ceased to excite any emotion Harry comes back to his sonses—if be in him beyond et faint wonder why peo- ever doee" ple could not keep these matters to She paused, and the other listened themselves, without worrying other curiously for her confession, for a con, people about them, and an Injured feel- fession she felt sum it was that she had mg that the head of the family would want to out down his allowance. to hear. She was right; for Lilian went on— " George is always in difficulties," "Annie, you mush not despise the said he. poor fellow any more. He can mot like " Ah,, but it is serious this time 1 We man if he can't speak like a profaner. really must think about it." 11 15 had notbeen for him, I should have "W ell, -what does be want us to do? run a -way lastnight with—Colonel Binh_ tSheilelgmetechfeesr, anyoreenfluiset.,?, There is no - "nit., Lilian I" " Yes, there is one " said. Annie cau- tiously, watching "Look here, " Don't interrupt me," went on the other hurriedly—" may . not feel Harry ; I've had an engagement offered inclined for confession again. I was me which will bring me in so much to meet him—Colonel Richardson—at money that, if I save, we might live tthheereli,wer gate. Well, Harry was on,o,nlvihtobesf;ovireelqn,g." " You and I, of course," "But how was that e" "Ho thought it was you who were "Do you think I would live upon your money 2" going off." e le " would think you would be very e yes, yes, he did. I know whose munerkeeaseenneaubglhe bnoot uteoepdouss.o,Iicif 01nr bled. doing that was. Stephen had guessed or found out something, and, not having mlieuveehGleenoplrgeor,weielldlitahveeee—nough for us all the k,tuck to stop me himself, and not wanting a general mw, he got Harry to "Thou A is I who should work, not suppose it was you who wore going off You." "I think it is the one who has been wi111B—utHarr would never hese be. tiireseedketoewit, 18 1,' selahoeuledmvedotrekm,ifinedg. theut, lisved that I—" ", Why not?" said Lilian, in a hard But Harry did not smile beak. He tone. Have you returned bus affection mo,,visteliereesetrisisklye yeenahltsestoefau.eu me, mi. for you so eery warmly as to make it ; yob—yeti your words sting some. impossible for him to think that yet cared for any one but him ? However, ho,w, 0,1, bolisaerdryd ,ayt milasibm• ow I did not moan thee! Dout you see, Harry doer, you have been very ill, and won't be strong for a long time elan this attack; while I havo done nothing but enjoy myself for ;novo than three months," "Yes, you have. You have been nursing me," said he tenderly. "Ah, but that wasn't work ; that was pleasure—except when—when you were se very this last thne 1" rejoined she gently. "Aud noev I have had au offer to play a put in London which would irta suit me, and might make me a name, and to have six guineas a week for it. Aud, if I don't take it, I may never have such a ober= again 1" she added, with Hl-concoaled eagerness. "1 see," said Rimy, turning upon her ;sharply. "Ali this -time that I have DEc. 17, 1880, E 1ST IN ITS E LA ll preaching down the soft white track of while he gtiii berd my arm. He had a, the pathway, a woman's figure ; and, with a silent curse and a heavy heari within him, his eyes turned quickly to the mart who NUB stealing his treasure, Colonel Richardson had raised the latah of the gate, opened it, and stood inside, waiting. Harry's angeo blamed up with fresh intensity. "111 shoot him like a dog 1" thought Ile. And he stepped out from the shrub. revolver in Ins other hand. Before I spoke again, lierbort—Colonel Richard- son spre,ng forward, snatched the re. been ill you have been plotting bo get volver from him, and sbruolr him in the away from me as fast as possible." . facie with it, wbilo he tried to pull mo "1 will tell you what didI saw thee a piece was to be played at the Parthenon—a translation of a French piece—in which there was 0 part I longed to play; so 1 wrote for that peat, mentioning all that I have dote on the stage; and it so happened that; they Wore In a difficulty for an actress for that 1:ory pert; and 1 got the offer TO BE CONTINUBD,) GE PROVE FORK Is Offered to the 1pE37 IN .'1DVANCE. .will be seen we are de - Voting 0 Oolumn to Poetry, Temperance, ]'arm Notes and Varieties, respectively, and giving more, than our usual amount of Local. District and General news. away. But Harry never let go. Aud that decided me. I told Herbert he was a coward to strike a man hardly recovered from illness, and that I would not go with him. Harry, poor fellow, could not have kept me back then; x holl to Support him ; and 1 lea him book hem and we slipped into the house; and he bogged mo to bring him to your T}TE POST was never Bead by so Many People before and we hope to Add Very Largely to mw list this Fall and 'Winter. A 11101AL WO 18)11 bo the Ile-produetimi of ,1[010,64. from that excellent Comic' ;Journal By 0 Special Arrangement with that Paper we expect to mcsent Picture 'W'eekly I The cuts alone oi11 be worth the Subscription. Watch Out For Them Every week. "Its wonderful how we do it, but we do." HELP US OT ADD 500 bu! to 008 List. Correspondence always thankftilly received. W.H.KERR PUBLISHER.