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Huron Record, 1881-05-13, Page 2THE ARUNDEL. IOTTO, BY MARY CECIL HAY, Author"Old DlyddWon's dlone,;' "Hidden ',eras;' "The Squire's Legacy;' ' Victor and ,e Du'uished;" "Nora's Lose Test •" "A Shadow on the Threshold ;' "diack £ the Old Row ;" etc., Pte. • CHAPTER VI.—Continued. Hester did not notice the playersat all, feeling not tirW•}igl'rtest interest' in the game; forgetting all else, and liv- ing, as she always did, among the char- acters of whom she read. Miss Lane's laugh at last broke the spell, and she looked up from her book to meet the steadfast gaze with which Lord Lea- holme was regarding her. She turned her eyes carelessly away, and the color never rose in her cheeks ; what he did, yr said, or looked, was matter of such thorough indifference to her. ---He read this, as he seemed to read all her thoughts, and he smiled as be addressed her with comic distress. " Miss Lane has checkmated me for the first time within the memory of man. Can you imagine, Miss Bruce, how such a thing could happen?" " I am so glad I have done it at last," laughed Bella; "I have tried so often." " I cannot understand my defeat. The fact is, I do not like to be conquer- ed in a game like this. I begin to grow doubtful of myself, and that is by no ureaas a pleasing sensation, is it, Miss •Bruce?" Hester did not wonder to hear the touch of earnestness in'the gay voice. " It must be, at' all events, a novel one to you," she said, slowly, "if this is the first time you have felt it." "I have a very novel sensation about it to -eight. It has been a very equal tame," he added, quickly, ."but I sup- pose you have seen little of it." 0 "Not one move, my lord." • Your book must be interesting. o You are an indefatigable novel -reader, of course?" Though he spoke of it as a matter of course, he looked surprised at her simple answer : . "Yes, I am an indefatigable novel - reader." "It is there, perhaps, --that- you learn- to—judge so severely." "Perhaps so," " she answered, care- lessly. "I cannot read without learn- ing something; sometimes a something •df iuhinite worth to..nie; sometimes a Something far better unlearned." "You'feel that, yet you read them all'?" "Not quite. I have courage to leave a book unread, if I feel iewould be ,better for- me to do so," "Indeed ! And does it -require •a great deal of cograge =more, for in- stance, than is required to meet, with uuconceru; the consciousness of stand- ing alone in a cold, unloving atmos- -. }'here-." She looked one moment into the handsome face which . had grown so gentle as he .spoke, that she bent to ,Ler reading again, with a defiant light .in her eyes. He leaned forward a little, and laid •one hand upon her book. "Believe me, it is not always safe to judge us by what you read of here. Sometimes you may be right, but it is' pr so hard to know when." She did not answer, and he turned' to Bella. "I should like, Miss Lane, '.to watch game between you and Miss Bruce. fill you oblige me, and persuade her o do so ? I long to see some one else efeated. Hester laid down .her book at once o take his place, and—little as .she right have wished to play—,she soon eemed to enter into the gauze with or whole heart. 'You are not a bit changed' since ,you were at school," said Bella, coldly; "you were always so keen after any gauze or amusement." . "I had not much time for indulging in them," Hester answered, good -hum - ureal '� a� spare y time then being err- rossed by punishments" ' "You lived, then, in a state of chronic disgrace," said Leaholme, grave- ly, as he sat with his arms. crossed on Vie back of a chair watching the game. "That was exactly my youthful ex- igtence at Lorne House, was it not, li,:lla'1 How kindly Pollee u•oldsmitlr U 4(I to help me. You remember Miss c;o!hsmith ,l" "Yea, I remember her, I think—a quiet, dull little thing: You were the only one she famoursd with her friend- ship. Lydia and I were•too honest for her." "What do you mean ?" asked Hester, .,sr eyes flashing at the insinuation ainst Ler absent friend. ' "I mean," said Bella, hesitating a ttle, "she was not kind to us; so we uld not praise her and say she was." "She was very kind to me,' but she would not let me praise her .and• say she was," answered Hester, quietly. "It's your turn to move." "You are an accomplished player, Miss Bruce," said the earl, apparently intent on the moves; "but your con- duct requires caution, for you have a very .determined antagonist to -night. New, Miss Lane, take advantage of Fortune while she smiles; her wheel is turned befo,;re you imagine it. Ah 1 that was a diplomatic move, Did I not tell you,: Miss Bruce, with what consummated skill you have to contend? I hardly know whatyou can do now, your fortifications are so scattered. Yes, that is the very move of moves. I forgot your outpost. Bravo 1 Now Miss. Lane, `The thirty cities' warn you;. look that your walls be strong." As be went on, laughing, yet inter- ested himself, Hester grew eager and excited over the game; Bella sitting op, posite her, cool and collected, yet look- ed, as he had said, a very .determined antagonist. "Checkmate 1" and Hester ,looked up, blushing. "Are you quite sure?" asked Bella, as she made a clever move which ,'Hes ter had overlooked. Hester's face flushed bright as she met -the earl's amused glance, and she moved rather nervously, laughing as she did so. "You are losing wilfully.' new," he said,- gravely, almost angrily. "It . is no pleasure to watch a struggle from which the conqueror retires in the mo- ment of conquest." "Now allow nie the pleasure of say- ing checkmate," said Bella, ecstatically, "You spoke a few minutes too soon, you see." " And in the wrong person," contin- ued Hester, at her ease.again, ' " You own yourself defeated, then ?" asked. •Leaholuie, rising as he :did, " though you must own, too, that you might have- conquered if• you . had chosen." :' • " IVfost humbly I own myself de- feated." " I hope you do not feel so uncom- fortable Under the circumstances as I "The sensation is not at all unpleas- ant to -me, nor ie it novel," said Hester frankly returning his searching gaze ; "-I should have -no -pleasure or excite-. ment in any game' iffI• felt at all sure beforehand how it would .erid." "Shouldyeti not?'.. I'm afraid I' Make up thy, mindto win." "In every game ?" ."In every game t care about.There is a saying -that those who lose oftenest }rave the victory; but ;where we set our hearts, of course we ;like to win." He spoke the last .words so low that she.' :hardly distinguished them. Yet they made her'lips quiver as -she bowed coldly and left the room, not sorry to find herself alone once more, that first day gone forever. • - CIiAPTER" VII. Ton 's RETURN. Hester's days passed onso unevent fully thatjit almost .surprised her to find how rapidly:'the spring had tilos. soured into , full, .. luxuriant., summer.. luxuriant., She had grown accustomed now to the cold, unloving companionship. of Mrs. Bruce. and Bella. .Her unclewas al- ways kind and gentle ;to -her; but then she saw'hint so seldom, ; 'his mornings were spent entirely in his study ;• three hours a day' lie taught his little boys, and one or two more Lespent in his. favorite scientific occupations. The afternoons he generally devoted to his estate, so that Hester seldom saw him except when the whole family was present, when he was particularly care= ful to treat the twogirlsexactly alike. More. often still when there were guests present, •too,- for Churleigh was hardly ever free from guests. Her little cousins had, grown to• live her very dearly, and for this she was more • grateful than she could have told. It was a Julyafternoon, and in the long drawing -room (its windows open to the terrace) the wholefamily linger- ed in different degrees of idleness and expectation ; •the oppressiveheat being the cause of their idIeness,the antici- pated arrival'from: Cambridge the cause of their expectancy. ' Bella. on ;a low couch near Lord Leaholnt, who had lately returned from London,: begged him to tell her what he had been saying in Parliament, for she'was very tried of 'the dull country life he'had left behind Lim, and this .had been, she said, up to now, a par- ticularly long day. And the earl talk- ed with a provoking laziness and light- ness; but he noticed Trow Bella every now and then opened her eyes and gave ,a hefty lo6k around, Hester at a distant • window, • gazing into the hot and heavy stillness with- out, lea°ring without heeding the chrang-. irk voice, and the easy, flowing non- sense that it talked. • Lord Leaholm, she thought, carne to Churleigh very, very often. Of course, he, mute. be going to marry Bella --at least, to. ask Bella to marry him Poor Bela 1 who so little knew what a black, sinful heart she was trying to win. Humming very softly to herself, to prevent recurring to this old thought, Hester looked along the avenue, watch- ing for the first glimpse of the carriage which had been sent to the station to meet Tom—the little Tom Lane whom. she could just remember as having been kind and' pleasant to her on that ter- rible day when her childhood had seem- ed' to end—the new cousin to whose 'vacation she had been unconsciously looking forward as a break to her own loneliness. "Hessle," said Mrs. Bruce, rousing hersel£,suddenly, "I wish you would write that letter to Abersys, and say. we take the house, and shall be there on—what day, Bela?" "Oh, mamma," cried Bella, gayly— "1 am so delighted to go to Aberswys l Let me see we' are to dine with the Dyotts at Rebbington on . Wednesday, to meet grandma. Then we are to bring • Lydia and grandma back with us. They will be ready, of course, so we can go next day." "Suppose we all go from Hereford. It will be quite as near for us to drive from Rebbington to Hereford as to Ruyglen. Alfred and Hester and the children can leave Ruyglen by the 1.45 train, and we will meet in Hereford. 'Will that do?" "Famously; but is not papa going to dine at Rebbington too ?" ha is.erigaged; but 1 have ac- cepted for Tom. Hessie,my dear, I am. sorry yliu'cannot , come,but Mrs. Paley and Miss Dyott return with us, and we four shall fill the brougham. Tom niust ride." "I should not at all have cared to go, thank you"" • said Hester, takingup her pen. "Then which day shall I say V' "Say the house must be ready for us on Wednesday, as the. servants will ar- rive then. We'can bo in on.'Thursciay to a six -o'clock dinner. Lord Leaholnre when have you decided to go down r Ile knew as well'as she •did that- the _five visits..had._been arranged, • "to'• suit - each other, but there was no signof this in his ready, courteous reply. "I shall. not be an hour behind you Mrs: Brune.. I shall -join your train somewhere.." "Why not go with us'from Robbing ton,. as you dine with us there on Wednesday? I hope you do net for- get that," said. Bella, playfully. . "1 remembermy invitation distinctly Miss Lane." • • • "Lydia told me you were going," she.. resumed, .highly relieved by his ans- wer, but reserving to herself Lydia's motive of telling, as described in four sheets of ivory note, sweetly perfumed: and embossed with monogram in purple green and gold Hester folded her letter and address- ed it,''"Yrnteous. House, West Parade, Aberswys,"and rose to take it into the hall: As she did so, Lord Leaholme rose too. "Wait one': moment,, please,, Miss. Bruce, I want to beg a favour, from you all, and; you generally escape. me; Your daughter says you' have no en- gagement for Tuesday, Mrs ' Bruce. Would you come ...to.the Abbey--A-=few- hours that clay s.. • Considering that visits to Wye Abbey were the proudest and pleas - ants visits' she ever, paid, and. would have been even without theonjoynients and luxuries which always awaits her there. 'would have been with only the one joyful possibility; she felt, when she looked round the vast and beautiful place; of its one day 'belonging to her daughter—her daughter, the Countess of Leaholme•1 considering this, Mrs. Bruce's• 'face: was an . ;extraordinary model of matronlydeliberation, as she pondered the. question. "Oh, mamma," exclaimed Bella, with one of her little starts, "you must not say no1 You must not reniernbersome . other horrid engagement, Wye' is in its Most beautiful dress this time of year." "And my child in her most beautiful dress Shall grace 'it," meditated Mrs. Bruce in her complacet thoughts; "some- thing may possibly come of it. Do you not consider it a ,great bore to entertain us so often, Lord Leahoinie 1" she asked, smiling gently, "I wish 1 could do it better; it is a' great pleasure tome. Miss Brea), Will you come too ?" . • She had waited at his request, but with- evidint unwillingness.; leaning on the table with . one hand, and •toying with the letter in the other, "Thank you, but I would rather not," she answered, in a low, resolute tone. ""You always refuse ine," he said, proudly. "Why is it?" "`I feel no anxiety to see. Wye Abbey, 1 fond of novels," nay lord. What else need. I say ?" "Nothing else," he answered, a great deal more earnestness in bis voice than he guessed, "unless you can say you will come because I entreat you, and have entreated you often. You are kind and generous, and always do as others ask you." "You do not understand me at all, my lord," she said, with a bright, saucy smile. I never do what I aur asked, unless it suitsmy inclination." "And this would not?" The voice was very low and. pained. "Not at all." "I cannot understand y ur persistent contempt of my request," he went on forgetting the presence of the others in hisproud, hurt :anger. "I have asked you so often, as I have never"— he corrected himself suddenly, his long- ing eyes still fixed upon her careless face—"as I will ask you once again, Miss Bruce"—the wordswere more than gentle now—"Will you, at my en- treaty, "come to my house, and let me entertain you --just for once?" "I cannot answer that," she said, with a quivering light in her eyes, "but'it will not be'until' I—until J— forget " • With a sudden relief in his face, he looked down upon her dress, and be- gan to speak' again, kindly and persua- sively. She interrupted him, glad that he had misunderstood. '"I should be but a gloomy visitor. anywhere, I thir;k—don't you Della 77 she added, lightly, as she left the room. "Lord Leaholme," said Bella, gayly, "what time are we to come?" "How soon may I look for you ?" he asked, pushing back his hair rather wearily. • • "Any hour you like to name ,• slid oh,• it will be:so delicious !" exclaimed Bella, when the time had been arrant ed. "And you will drive with us, from Rebbington on Thursday, and go on 'to Aberswys from Hereford station with us 1" "I ane too extensive an appendage to bo -put into the carriage-peckots, Miss_. Ease,•aiid 1 renienniiber.yon -told Miss • Bruce yotii had no'seat to spare." ."Oh, yes, quite forgot," she- cried, hastilyI' .. ."Mamma did say so: 'How `stupid el mel" ` When. Hester entered the drawing room, a few minutes before - dinner • time, Mr. Lane stood upon the•hearth-, rug.' talking. to . his: step -father. A slight,. fair, handsonae'fellow he wae; withpleasant, frank, blue eyes; and. light,. bright hair, just. a ..shade less�yel-: ow, than the ,short moustache and whiskers.' His dress': was..tlie yery ex-: trenie. of fashion and elegance, and his slight white fingers'.rather 'extensively ringed. He bore the consciousness in every look and gesture of knowing•. hirnself well -looking and. well-dressed ;• a pleasant, comfortable consciarisness'it seemed to be, too,' and ,made, . him 'equ- 'ally pleased with himself and the World which liad endowed, and:nrustadrnire, him. This was. what- Hester fancied she saw when she greeted him, neverguess ing how unroll her, wistful, welcoming eyes had looked for -more. ='Isabel, I suppose you must have ,your son to take you to dinner to- _night,"said Mr. Bruce; srhiling; SS he gave 1►is •arm to Hester,. Who noticed that .he seethed well pleased to have his: step -son as house. • The meal was a cheerful one...- Hes- ter,chatted brightly to her• unole and Tom, as•'she sat between them ; but Lord: Leaholnro's remarks' from the 'Other side of the tablemet no answer- ing word or smile from her; unless, as it sometimes happened; • they -fitted in very readily,• and she was taken by surprise. But there were others ready to answer a remark of his, se that her avoidance of it was net observed.• Tho ohildren canie into the drawing ro•om ]en a with i presents which Tom had . brought them, and they settled themselves at Hester' side to exliihit. them, discovering at once, with child- ren's quick appreciation of sympathy,. who would feel most interest in them. Bella hovered about in amore amiable mood than usual—so, glad,. Hester thought she must be, to have her broth- er at home.. i_ "Tom always remembers the child- ren, does not he, Alf ? hut he has brot'ight me' no present at all. ,,He, ought to have brought one foryou,too, Resale." "I should have been too much aston- ished `even to open it," larighed Hester. "Helms collected such a quantity of boars,, . I.. th'Ink . ire must have bought one at every station—shining,' yellow books—you know them. "Shining within or without'?" Bella looked at her angrily for a moment, thin gage a little laugh, "1 moan novels, you know ; and you are "Yes," she answered, quietly, wind- ing the string round a new Uerman top, "He will lend it to you, I am: ,sure. I will ask frim." • "1 shall be most happy,"said a voice bellied the girls --a pleasant voice, but not a strange voice, and Bella turned with a surge.. R • "Lord Leabolrne, what made you think we were speaking of you 9" "Am x wrong. Then to whom in " Miss .Bruce to be consigned for tido purpose of ]rtesnry investi atiensV" The color in Bella's face grew deeper and deeper, though be had net looked at her during his quiet Speech. "I said that Tom wstold like to allow his books." "I•see." He was handling the toysthen, orifi- cisiing and admiring them ; but present- ly he offered her his arm,, for her moth- er had asked her taxing. "Allow me, Miss Lane, for I should not like you to feelrst necessary to teach . me, • too, how to pay attention to a lady." ' While.she she warbled 'an assurance to the audience : that, if she might be; allowed a tholepin the rnatter,showoulci emphatically, rather be a "fairy, spor- tive and gay," than the inferior being Nature had designed herr Tore Lantz came in and took a seat ?beside the children, playing carelessly with the,... toys, and breaking one before- his soft, white fingers had held it fora minute. ""Do you find it very dull and slow clown here, Mise. Bruce?' he 'asked, giving her a long, . frank, admiring „gaze. - • "I have thine so yet.' Is it generally considered so 9" "Well, I suppose not. They call it snob a beautiful cousatry; but I should not care to live here always," "It would not satisfy you." "No. I' sbouldresytire more change and gayety. At least, Until now I have -- "f fancied so," she interrupted, but with great -seriousness. - "I saw that you requitedsomething more:' "College life is ,goad for that," he went on, pleasantly; "though a. fellow may be hard? work -ed," ' "Are youa fellow ..'already, than, or ido you escape the. hard' work ?" • "What • a wilful. misunderstanding !"- he laughed, looking at her grave Lips... "But really there is no danger of one's, • dying of Cunni there." • '{It would hardly answer to build universities for the purpose .of •cutting; off the rising generation ni that •dis- • tressiilg,manner" "But, positively," he. continued, "I have heart? of a•fellewWho really and 'truly died of:ennvui."'. "What a lingering, painful suicide it, must have been l • Is there no : Eng- Brill ng 'lash name for it 9' "No .one 'English Word expresises just that,•I think tf "That exeuses' my thoroughly Eng,. ' lish -rirind from comprehending it, then.":• "Why have you grown suddenlyso intent to your work 1" he asked,,stay= ing his hearty laugh to speakin a pat- ronizing sort of way, which did not suit the young voice at all; "you bend over it as if you hated to look. at rue?" -,, "I cannot work well without Book-' "I do not like to see ladies werk'ng at night. • This is an idle , time, is it *not,' Leaholma?" he added, as the earl joined them. •' "Perhaps Miss Bruee does knot sok nowlxdgethat there is sucli,..ar` time in all Abe day.?' "1 acknowledge," she said, cooly, "that that time extends over the great- er part of my day." "1 like real -idleness in the noblest. sense of the world," remarked. Toni, "such as I intend to pursue :through this last vacation. What's the matter, Bella ?» "Nothing, except' that I am tired." (To Et. CONTINUED.) Al . forms of Nervous De iitity 'so commonly' prevalent, to the vitalizing powers of Burdock 'Blood. Bitters, It. is the best regulator of the Liver, Dow- el and Kidneys; the most perfect Blood Purifier and permanent Tonic- known. onicknown. Purely , vegetable, ealo and pleasant to take, and unfailing in its of facts as a ]health - restorative. Semple- Bottles 10 Cts, A REAL • NECIESSITY.—Na ' house sheulcl ever be without a bottle of HAci- YAitD's YELLOW OIL, in case of accident,. There is no preparation offered to suf- fering humanity that has madeso many permanent cures, or relieved so midi pain and misery. It is called by soasie the Good Samaritan, by, others the Cure-all, and by the afflicted the Angel of Mercy.