NOVEL

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 414, 21 April 1904, Page 2

NOVEL

ll.—(Continued.) The Judge was himself rich and influential, and there was nothing in the way of official honors which his son might not legitimately aspire to, as soon as he - should hare completed his legal studies. Ncr was the old gentleman in the depth of his heart unaware of the fact that his son was more richly endowed than himBslf; and it was therefore the more important that he should be made to employ his talents in the cause of coneervatiun and oligarchic government. Collecting rents and dining travelling magnates seem, to men of his ilk, the most dignified occupation to whish genius an aspire. The wedding was celebrated -with more pomp and ceremony that were agreeable either to bridegroom or bride; but as tradition prescribed how weddings in the Gamborg family were to be conducted, and the parson by a very liberal cheque was indemnified for his outlay, there was no one who had the courage to grumble. Hilda in a satin dress, which had once been white, but was now yellow with age, and laces which bad adorned half a dozen of Harold's ancestresses, was so everpowered by her own magnificence that she scarcely beared breathe. She had fci pinch her arm in order to convince hj&? dazed mind that .she was really herself; her individuality seemed so completely merged in tie august family into which ■he bad entered, that she felt like a mere ghostly personification of the bridal character—the typical Gamborg bride. She was not the first of the aeries, nor was she likely to be the last; and like her predecessors she was not above wishing that tha original bride for whom this venerable gown had been made had possessed an ampler waist, which would nave made respiration a leas hazardous experiment. But sufferings endured in so great a causa are never without their compensation; she began to feel an added respect for herself as joint heir to all the venerable traditions which gave lustre to the Gamborg name. Nevertheless, the transition from homespun to satinhadbeen fob abrupt not to involve a considerable i agree of discomfort; and as the long and eventful day lagged toward its close, she yearned more and more ardently for an escape into her wonted deshabille. The daily routine of, life in great families ia often a vary dull one; dulnees stems, in fait, a kind of dignified. historical attribute of greatness. In the intolerable leisure with which she was burdened .as a member of her father-in- - -aw 5 household, she had abundant time and opportunity to reflect upon the distinction which had been conferred upon her; and the women of the household were ever ready to furnish focd for that species of reflection. She was not permitted to resume her former free-and-easy habits, roaming around the valley on charitable errands, and what they were pleased to sail the quixotic streak in her nature was by daily admonitions systematically repressed.' Her pauper friends and dependents could no longer be reached except through the formidable machinery of subordinates which the great house provided, aid every generous impulse was strangled in an intricate web of proprieties. Her husband, who seemed to be earnestly striving to please his parents, was deeply absorbed in his study of law, and when he was with her he displayed a nervous restlessness which she was at a loss to account for. It was evident that something was smoldering within him whish he was vainly endeavoring to repress; and when she began to talk with the hope of diverting him. she made the humilialiag discovery chat she had lost the power to entertain him. Her harmless gossip, which once he had found so amusing, struck him now ss trivial, and he had not the grace to conceal the fact that he was bored. He made once or twice the attempt to discui s with her his aspirations toward a freer and wider sphere of activity, and gave vehement expression to his impatience with the traditional barriers which here on all side* hemmed him in; but she only gaaed at him in childlike wonder, then with a sense of insecurity as if she feared that his reason wai affected. Her little circumscribed soul had never felt any longing beyond its round of daily duties, and she could not comprehend why any one who was kisdly treated and Buffered neither frcm cold nor hunger should {earn for foolish and unattainable things, n her simple, practical life there had betn no room for sentimental sufferings, and accordingly no sympathy with i mictions of such as intangible xder. She insisted upon fiading ph>dical causes for ber husband's discontent, and he submitted wi hj a sort of humorous dfijftir to tei;g csdied witielder-tea,

A CMId of k Age,

BT Bjalmar H. Boysen.

Hoffman's anodyne, and mustard-leaves, rather than go the trouble of explaining to her what he knew would be unexplainable. In some respects she was a stronger character than he, and under her playful tyranny veiled inflexible little purposes, which she invariably carried out. They had, however, this in their favor, that they ware always for somebody else's benefit. Paradoxical as it may sound, she had lived so long in others that she had ceased to take any vital interest in herself. She derived all ber gratifications, as it were, second-hand, through her interest in the lives of those who closely or remotely touched her own. • She had from her childhood managed in this benevolent fashion her father and mother, and every one else who had come in contract with her, and It was therefore a constant discomfort to her to feel her superfluity in the Gamborg household, where there were already managers more skilled than herself whom she could not hope to deprive of their power. She took her revenge in an innocent fashion, by contemplating the time when the reins should have been handed to Harold, who, of course, in turn would hand them to her. The only cloud upon this radiant vision was her dread that Harold might possibly have a screw loose, and thus be ill qualified for succeeding to the family power and dignity. He certainly did act and talk strangely; and she had once Eeen him stand on the balcony, after a slight dispute with his father, shaking his clenched fist against the sky.. A cold shudder had run over her at the time; she had not dared to ask him for an explanation, for fear that the explanation might prove even more irrational than the act. And yet, when she thought proudly of herself in her housewifely dignity, with a lace cap on her head and a large bunch of kejs depending from her waist, she found her hopes for Harold drifting ia. the [same direction as those of his father, and she pictured him fondly as a stout patriarch in a judge's uniform, dispensing justice with a mild and firm hand. A large flock cf blonde-haired, blue-eyed children invariably stole into this picture; and she punished them in spirit when they were naughty, for she was a firm' believer in discipline, and patted their little yellow heads to comfort them in their childish griefs. When finally a member of this long procession arrived, then was great rejoicing in the Judge's house, although the mother found it bard to reconcile herself to the fact that it was, a girl. Ia her reveries number one had always been a boy, and as she had already become well acquainted with this imaginary son, and had arranged his whole future for him, it seemed cruel in him to disappoint her. She had a much higher regard for bojs than for girls, and had always championed the male valiantly against his detractors. 111. In the autumn of 187-, when Harold's daughter was two months old, some apprehension was felt in the valley that the world was coming to an end—the old feudal world, with its rigid class distinctions, its gold-laced, star-spangled officials, its Pharisaism, oppression, and absolute vetoes. There was a great ado in the valley—Bjornson was coming; Bjornson, the people's champion, Bjornaon, the King's enemy: Bjornson, the post, |the orator, the republican. The exciting message ran from mouth to mouth; and people who had sever bien supposed to have an opinion suddenly straightened themselves up and spoke like men. Peasant* who had stood at the roadside, hat in hand, when the Judge or the psßtor was passing, new kept their hats on and only nodded. Stooping heads were lifted, round backs grew etraigtiter, shambling guts firmer. There was something inspiriting in the message, which awakened many a dormant mind, and re. kindled the manhood in humble souls. Apathy grew into discontent; discontent into aspiraticEs and resolves. Men gathered in groups at court, at weddings and funerals, and especially on the church green, to discuss the attitude of Parliament and the King's olaim to an absolute veto. There was but one voice—they would stand by their representatives, and defy the King. Their history furnished enough of precedents for such action, while it furnished none for submission. They would give Bjornson a rouiing welcome, and they would do as he said; they would take courage and elect an Opposition candidate for the Storthing. The excitement grew in widening rings, and raffled at last the peace of the Judge's cozy dining-room. It was told that some of his tenants meant to qualify as voters by having worthless marsn-land deeded to thum. The Judge had himself coidiilly approved of tha proposition, and had even

helped thorn to obtain the land, taking it for granted that they would vote with the Government But sow it was told that they were IKornaeniane, and talked bitterly of the King. It was at dinner that the Judge, as usual, gave vent to hie indignation at thin treaohery/ and announced his intention to discharge from his employ every one of his subordinates who dared vote for the Opposition. He felt so sure of the approval o£ every one present that words seemed scarcely necessary; and yet he could not help noticing that while every one else applauded, Harold remained silent. •Well, Harold,' he said, turning with Unconcealed irritation to his son, ''you were a loud enough declaimer od politics formerly; how is it that you have suddenly loßt the use of your tongue P' ; 'Because I don't agree with you, father,' answered Harold quietly. 'Whatl don't agree with me? You gosling, you! Yon mean perhaps to say that you disapprove of my intention to punish my recreant tenantsP'. PA

' I do,' replied the son imperturbably. The Judge put doitn his wine-glass with such force that half contents wsb spilled on the table. He pinched hie eyes together with a malicious expression and clinched his teeth. He could have crushed hie son. He hated him, Bat the presence of guests restrained him from any act of violence. ■■''■' J J '; ' Perhaps you would f vc©r us wijth the conclusions at which your wisdom has arrived,' he observed with forced Beltcommand, • ' With pleasure.' But just as he had raised his head to speak, Harold; met a pair of blue eyes fixed imploringly upon him. He understood what they jmeant, and resolved to ignore his father's sarcasm. ' I am afraid,' he said, suddenly' checking himself,' that our views are so-widely divergent that disoussion would] only arouse ill feeling, and, moreover, be profitless.' | : , ' Ah, indeed, I expected that,' his father's mocking reply. ' Where* arguments would fail, cowardice comes Jto the rescue/ 4 There was a moment of painful sf lence, and it was a relief when somebcf y had the kindness to choke, whe«eupo>n his neighbour gave him a slap on the back, thereby giving a pretext for much forced hilarity. Harold meanwhile. had\ risen and left the table. Hi 3 wife, to whfcm his movement was unexpected, also ha If rose from her chair, but after a brief liesita tion again seated herself. It woul 1 look too much like a demonstration, she thought; and her father-in-law, although he was not averse to making scenes/ himself, thought sensational conduct ve jry illbred in others. In the nextmomenj however, she regretted her prudence ; her heart ached for Harold; and yet, alt iiough it grieved her to think that he wka unhappy, Bhe could not quite in hei heart of hearts approve of his reb rilious attitude toward his father. Why 1 lid he for the sake of mere opinions—things which were of no earthly ooaseque ice to anybody—offend the old gentleman, who was evidently willing enough to be kind to him, but could not bear to be contradicted f Why not humor him ana say 'yea/ which was always much > much easier than saying * nay' and provoking ill feeling and discussion P Thus reasoned the sage little Hilda while her • husband was marching along the beach 1 through a howling storm, nursing wild and desperate thoujhte. 1 ' It was the day after this epiaoc e that Judge Gamborg surprised the parish by announcing himself as a candidate tor the Storthing. Pressure had been bi ought to bear upon him, it was said, from high official quarters, but he had hesita ied to assume the responsibility until last light, when he had arrived at a sudden rfesolu-

tion. r He felt a vast fund of foioe within him, and he was resolved to expend it at (whatever sacrifice of individual comfort, in preserving the bnlwarka of society and combating the dangerous elements [which were beginning to asEert themselves in the country. In quelling rebellion in society at large he would also put an end to it in his own home. By family cradk, ticn, by talent and social eminence, he was pointed out as the man to lift the Conservative banner and lead it|o victory. Tluxa was an immense agitation in the parish, The pastor preached political eeimoas Sandaj after Sunday, and demonstrated clearly that a number of Biblical. texts had been inspired with special reference to the present situation in Norway. He showed that society must icevitab T y go to pieces if the Liberal candidate, a yonng peasant named Taorald Berg, was elected; and he proved from the Bible that no man could be a Liberal and a Christian at the same time. In fact, he identified the cause of Christianity so absolutely with that of Judge Gamborg and conservatism that there seemed no escape from the conelusion thst it was the fate of Christianity rather than that of the ministry Sfcaug which was to be decided at the impending election. The Judge, who sat tall and imposing in his front pew, approved highly of these discourses, and repeated the gist of them at dinner for the benefit of one member of his family who had hoped to escape them by remaining at home.

Harold, under the influence of his wife, had been as neutral as possible during the foot weeks, and had avoided all chances of coll'fli n with his father. He understood perfectly well that it was animosity to himqelf, a stubborn determination to assert his sway, which had induced the latter to accept the nomination for the Storthing. But consideration for his wife and child and his own future—considerations which were constantly being urged upon him by the wife in question—made him curb his rebellious temper and tame his eager tongue. He had j t succeeded in convincing himself that 1 this submission to the inevitable was the part of prudence and not necessarily ignoble, when the name of Bjornson rang through the valley, and the wild cheering from the steamboat landing announced to him the arrival of the great orator. He put on hi* hat and walked disconsolately up the hill-side toward the foreßt, in order to be as far away from temptation as possible. To be continued) •