SHORT STORY.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 452, 15 December 1904, Page 7

SHORT STORY.

JJfer' long. Ysski By Noui BtcsT. '-" '"• ar" „- ' » IT was late autumn; the county of Surrey, reeking with dampness, was almost obliterated by a thick white fog: the interior of Ashleigh HaJiwas fuli of warmth .and comfort, and the heavy plush window-curtains in "the ifbrary concealed the dreary outlook of wet meadows and dripping trees. Near the fire sat the owner—Robert Lonsdale—a man of about forty years of age, thin and lithe of limb; judging by his figure alone, one would have taken him for a much younger man. The face, however, showed signs of age, though, on closer observation, one could see that care or sorrow, rather than time, bad caused the many lines round eyes and mouth, ■k£v? e was 6e^om seen to smile, except 'when he was playing with his child—his . motherless Violet; then Uis face would undergo a complete change, and it was easy to imagine what he had been as a " young man of frve-and-twenty. As he now sat gazing absently into space, he was thinking of nis life—his wealth—and all that it had brought, and failed to bring; arid, as he dwelt upon these things, his mind wandered from that part of his life which he passed among his fellows, the outward, visible life of a politician-to a summer's day long gone, bat ever remembered—a day when the primroses and violets bloomed bright under f ,he hedges, and the air was filled with the sound of song-birds; when he first learnt the meaning of what men call love. His thirteen years of married life faded away as if they had never been, under the touch of that magic memory. Presently his eyes fell upon a portrait above the mantelpiece—the portrait of a handsome woman in the prime of life. It »vas his wife, who had died a year ago. But the husband's face revealed no signs of anguish as he gazed back calmly into the dark eyes on the canvas. 1 Yes, Alice, my wife, yon are far happier now,' he mused aloud. • I did my best, but you were too good for me—you failed in your great endeavour, Alice. I could not forget my life's mistake.' As he uttered these last words a look of pain swept across his features. Then he drew from his inner breast-pocket a small gold-shaped heart, and gazed long and silently upon the miniature of a girl—almost a child. Her deep blue eyes smiled back into his; the sweet mouth looked as if it were about to utter some tender word. With a groan Robert Lonsdale raised the picture to his lips. ' Oh, my darling love, can you know in that other life the sufferings of this? Do you remember that day, fifteen years ago, when we plighted our troth—then—Curly —Curly, have you forgiven ?' Through the mist of many years, he sees this-picture:— He sees himself a young man once more, to whom life is full of golden promises, because love has entered into his soul. He is wandering hand in hand with a young girl, and hears her sweet voice vowing eternal love in answer to his own pleadings. Far away stretches the deep blue of the Mediterranean, calm as a summer lake, and close to their feet the water rises and falls in gentle ripp'.es—oh, the sweetness of that hour 1 The picture changes. Ha sees himself in, an English ball-room—angry and jealous of her, He hears himself uttering hot, mad words in answer to her low tones of expostulation—how well she pleads 1 But he laughs harshly and shakes off her detaining hand. A stifled cry, mingled with the bang of a door, and, later, the news of her death I .„ Great Jbeads of perspiration stood out on Robert Lonsdale's forehead. He rose abruptly from his chair and pulled himself together with the air of a man anxious to shake off some unwelcome memory. He rang the bell sharply. * Send SRss Tiolet to me,' he said to the fectman who appeared in answer to his I - summons. • Miss Violet is not in yet,.sir,' was the answer. »She ought not to be out so late—it is too damp,' said Mr Lonsdale, with the frown of annoyance. ' You said she was to spend the day with Mrs de Trevors, sir,' replied the servant, respectfully. ' Ah, yes, to be sure, I forgot; well, send her to me as soon as she comes in.' He took ap a book, but had scarcely commenced to read when he was interrupted by the sound of a childish voice in the hall. 1 Oh, 'you must, you must I Dada will want to thank you for bringing me home V he heard Violet say. *No, dear, not to-night—remember, I do not know your father; he will not care to see strangers.' 1 Please, please, do come,' pleaded the child, and Mr Lonsdale heard the tiny feet coming towards the library, and someone's laugh oi amusement. * . The' next moment the door was thrown wide open and Violet entered, flushed and triumphant, dragging with her a slender fattexoan with deep blue eyes and beautiful ',Stair. : . • " -j-> - v- 'Dada, Dada, Took I I've brougbt.:£ady Mldred -to see yon; she drov.3 ma itome .cwn Aunt Ida's P cried Violet, excitedly. " "Mr Lonsdale rose and advanced to meet them, but paused suddenly, and his. face .tamed daathiy pale. The smile of welcome .died '"s&£* on his lips, and he clutched the' for support. i ' v Altera ill ?'- asked, Lady Mildred, in *fco -fee -it is but a passing spasmpray besetted, madam—l— * . .The effort tc speak soeraad . * ShaJM ring, Mr Lops sdale - 'No; tfcire is no'need for alarm—you <=*erit was tatber a meeting you so reminded me of someaae- —is dead.*"His voice was doll, almost expressionless. .As he spoke Lady Miidrad'a face went as white as his. Turning to Violet, who stood staring at her father in puzzled astonishment, she whispered—' Violet, dear, will you run awaynow-*-I will attend to father,' Vr- ' ' Her voice was very calm, but her hand trembled slightly as she led the .child out of the room. She stood for a few seconds in the hall quite still— rigid—with one hand pressed tightly to her side. Then, kissing Violet, she bade her go upstairs. When the child had quite disappeared, Lady Mildred re-entered the library. Mr Lonsdale still remained in the same position. His attitude was that of a man who had received some shock. Lady Mildred went quickly towards him, and touched lightly on the arm. *Boyl' He raised his head, and looked at her wonderingly. ; ... ' ' Madam, why do you come here to mock me? I thought at first you were Curly come back-from the grave—you have the same blue eyes—but she wag not sad, like you. Why do you call me by the name that only she ' 1' Because" I am she—and I love you! Oh, my Rob Roy, Icok at «e! Tell me that you know me now, your own Curly.' With a sound that was half a laugh, half atsob, she threw back her veil, and forced him to m<&t her gaze,

He raised his haggard'face, and then, quite suddenly /the blank expression in nis eyes ofrecognition. V With he held out his arms, j&Ud ,she, a happy crept dispel some exquisite by little, thfetruth dawned 'upon' them both, and speech at last. ' Mildred, am I dreaming ? Are you really here—close to me ? My little girl 1 My Curly love! Sweetheart, they told me you were dead.' ' Ah," Roy, that was my doing—l was angry and sore with you then, and afterwards when it was too late to repent—l heard you had married.' ' Yes; that was the great sin of my life, Mildred. I wronged another woman as well as you.' ' We will forget the past-' she whispered; then, looking up into his face,.she said—- * But your name ? It is not the same !' • No, darling, I was compelled to take the name of Lonsdale on th 6 death of a cousin, who left me his property on that condition.' ' So that is the reason I have never heard of you all these years, and thought you must be dead.' ' But you, dearest ? Violet spoke of you as Lady— ~' Yes; •I, too, have been favoured by worldly fortune. My father came into the title on the death of bis brother—Lord Wistow—you remember him ? Since then we have lived abroad, and only returned to England last week. Providence must have led me to Mrs de Trevors this afcerno&n," Roy.' And so they talked on, these two—talked of the old days and the new ones yet to come, scarcely daring to believe the pain in their hearts had ceased forever. ' Let us call Violet,' he said, presently. ' She brought you back to me.' The child came, and the bond of love was doubly strengthened, and the portrait above the mantelpiece seemed to smile down a blessing upon the trio. ' See, mother smiles; she is glad poor Dada is happy,' said Violet, twining her soft arms round Lady Mildred's neck.