LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 382, 2 September 1875, Page 4

LITERATURE.

THE COLONEL'S WIFE. [From the Gentleman's Magazine.] Continued. The Carlton's had been married rather more than a year, during which time I had seen a <?ood deal of Mrs Carlton, and, though we were not exactly intimate, we were on very neighbourly terms, whtn one day George came in with the news that we were to have a new arrival in the regiment. Captain Smith had effected an exchange with a Captain Trenham, who did not wish to return to Bermuda, where his regiment was then quartered. ' A very nice fellow he is, they say, observed my husband. ' And he must be well off, too ; for he has given Smith a large sum for the exchange.' •It's dear at any money,' I cannot help saying; for I had been in Bermuda with our regiment, and remember with a shudder its heat, oily calms, mosquitoes, and cockTOfICiICS 'So it is,' acquiesced my husband, with an expressive shrug : ' but needs must, you know, when somebody drives. And I fancy Smith has rather outiun the constable.' A few days after this, the band had been I playing on the parade, and one or two friends had come in with me, after it was over, to enjoy that of our sex, 'an afternoon tea,' when George walked in, followed by a tall stranger, whom he introduced to me as Captain Trenham. In the uncertain light of a waning autumnal afternoon, I could not see him very distinctly ; but the voice in which he answered my greeting was pleasant and manly, and seemed to belong naturally to his tall, athletic figure. 'Let me introduce you to your new Colonel's wife,' I said, after shaking hands with him. 'Captain Trenham—Mrs CarlMabel inclined her head slightly, without speaking, and with even more than her usual coldness ; but in so doing the light from the fire fell full on her beautiful face.

Captain Trenham started. 'ls it possible that I see Miss Percy ?' he said, hi a low, eager voice. Mabel Carlton did not reply, so I answered for her. 'Miss Percy once—now Mrs Carlton. I had no idea >you were old acquaintances.' * I can scarcely aspire to the honour of being called an acquaintance of Mrs Carlton's,' said Captain Trenham, with a slight tinge of sarcasm in his tone. ' No, oh no !' said Mrs Carlton, hastily. 'We knew each other slightly years ago—yes, years ago,' she repeated dreamily. ' Very slightly,' echoed Captain Trenham, emphatically ; and, crossing the room, began talking ' shop' to my husband. I looked from one to the other. "What could it mean, I wondered ! But Mabel had relapsed into her usual placidity, and was talking quietly with Mrs Bruce (the other major's wife, and mother of ten children); and Captain Trenham seemed completely to have forgotten her existence. Still I felt as if a little drama had been played before my eyes, to, which I had not the key; and I went and sat down by Mabel, in a little flutter of protecting fondness, for which I was at a loss to account. As I laid my hands gently on hers, she turned and looked at me, and I saw that she was very pale. • Are you not well ?' I whispered. 'Quite well,' answered she steadily; * but I am tired, and would like to go home.' 'So you shall, dear. George, will you see Mrs Carlton to her gate ?' (The Carlton's had taken a pleasant house at the bottom of that shady lane which leads into our road.) ' It is rather late for her to go alone.' ' Certainly, my dear, certainly. Just one moment, Mrs Carlton, while I get my hat.' Captain Trenham hesitated for half a second, and then stepping forward, said : 'lf you will permit me, Major, I am going Mrs Carlton's way, and shall be happy to see her home, if she will "allow me.

Mabel raised her eyes, and looked at him steadfastly for a moment, and then, bowing her head, she laid her hand on his arm, and they two went out into the darkness together. On going round the next morning to see whether Mrs Carlton had recovered from the fatigue she had complained of, I was surprised to find her looking more animated, and brighter than I had ever seen her. ' You look like a rosebud this morning,' I ' said, admiringly, as I kissed her. ' I need not ask if you have got over your fatigue.' 'Oh, I was only a wee bit tired,' said she. ' I wasfall right again after a rest.' ' I hope Captain Trenham proved an agreeable escort. He seems nice, and George thinks he will be'quite an acquisition,'observed I. 'lt will be a novelty to have a rich man in the regiment. They say he has brought down three horses with him. ' Has he ?' said she. *He was very, very poor at the time I knew him.' ' When was that ? ' asked I. 'Oh, a long time ago. Mary,' said she, abruptly changing the subject, ' how is it you are always so happy and contented ? I always quote you as the happiest woman I know.' 'Ho I am, very happy indeed. But do not fall into the common error, dear, of thinking your own troubles worse than anybody else's. We all know best where our own shoes pinch; and I have had my troubles, like the rest of the world,' said 1, thinking of youthful struggles with| poverty, and, alas ! of an empty cradle, a wee voice hushed for ever, and toddling footsteps whose echo was always in my ears. ' But they are far back in the past now,' said she, caressingly ; ' and your husband loves you so, and is so proud of you, that I should think you wanted nothing else. Was he your first love, Mary ?' ' Indeed he was, answered I, a tear standing in my eyes at the recollection. 'He was but a poor lieutenant when we married ; and we had a hard struggle for it, until a rich uncle died and left him his fortune. We did not begin at the top of the tree, as you have done, little lady.' Mabel froze immediately, as she always did at the slightest allusion to her marriage, and began speaking of something else directly. I felt hurt at her manner; but melted at once when, on wishing me ' Good bye,' she said, 'I do love you, Mary. Don't — don tbe vexed with me ; you are the only friend I have,' looking at me the same time' wistfully out of her star like eyes. We kissed each other tenderly, as we women do; and I promised myself that, if she ever needed a friend, I would be one in deed as well as in name.

At the garden-gate I met Colonel Carlton. "We were passing each other with rather a formal greeting (for I confess that the Colonel was no great favourite of mine), when he turned back, as if moved by a sudden impulse. ' I am much obliged to you for your kindness to my wife, Mrs Maclean. She appreciates your friendship greatly, and I am much indebted to you,' said the Colonel, in his rather pompous manner; and then, as if fearing to await my answer, he raised his hat hastily, and disappeared into the house. Somehow after that my mind was set at rest as to whether Colonel Carlton cared for his young wife. I seemed to know that in his own way he loved her, and would make her happy if he only knew how. But, poor man ! he who had been so long a bachelor how should he understand ? Captain Trenham at once obtained a great popularity in the regiment. Every one liked him ; and to my astonishment—for I could not forget that first greeting in my drawing-room—he and Mabel Carlton became great friends. She would rouse out of her languor when he approached her ; and would be gracious, and sweet, and charming to him, in a way which made her wondrous loveliness seem greater than ever. Her eyes would sparkle, and smiles dimple round her lips, and her sweet, low laughter make music in our ears. She looked like a happy child in this mood ; quite different from the rather stately little lady she generally seemed. But I noticed that it never appeared in her husband's - presence; and after a time I became conscious, though I tried to shut my eyes to it, that she and Captain Trenham rather avoided each other before him. I once asked Captain Trenham where and when he had known Mrs Carlton; but he did not satisfy my curiosity, and was as reticent on the subject as she had been. Whenever they met, however, he was devoted to her; hovering round her like her shadow, anticipating her wants, and watching every movement that she made. At times (and these became more frequent as the days wore away) she would be cold, and even repellant iu her manner to him ; and then, if he seemed hurt at her caprice, her mood would change, and she would be more perilously fascinating than ever. In a little world like ours this could not continue long without affording food for gossip : and Mrs Carlton's name, which one short year ago was spared by the most malicious, was soon never mentioned without the epithet of 'flirt,' or 'coquette,' being attached to it. She was too lovely for women not to be jealous of her; and, monopolising the attentions of the most eligible man in the regiment was looked upon as an unpardonable crime. Mothers with marriageable daughters regarded her as a dangerous enemy, and scandal began to be busy with the sweet name, which had become as dear to me as a sister's; for Mabel, with her fragile beauty and the sweet caressing ways she reserved only for me, had twined herself round my heart. I did what I could to stem the current of popular opinion; but it set too strong for me. People began to look upon me as thoroughly infatuated with Mrs Carlton, and no longer mentioned her before me; but I knew that the scandal-mongers were busy with her fair fame behind my back, and began to fear that, unless something were done to stop them, it would soon be effectually blackened. I determined, though reluctantly, to speak to Mabel, especially as my husband said to me one day, ' Mary, your little friend is getting herself talked about. I think you should give her a hint not to flirt so much with Trenham.' However, it was so distasteful a duty, that I put it off from day to day. Mabel, I thought, looked ill and worn, and I did not want to worry her. She had dark circles round her eyes, which told of sleepless nights, and her spirits were variable and capricious. To he continued.