LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 454, 27 November 1875, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE WITCH THORN,

(From the Dublin University Magazine)

Ch after I. THE GUEST.

It was an old gabled house, situated among the bleak marjes of the Slieve Bloom mountains ; a lonely house, grey and weather beaten. In front an avenue, on either side of which a line of ash trees waved their branches, Yet, though dreary enough in its surroundings, on a wild wintry night like the present, the interior presented a pleasing contrast. Round the wide, blazing hearth in the large, comfortable dining-room, with shutters well closed and curtains drawn, a pleasant little family group was gathered, listening, between the pauses of their talk and laughter to the howling of the wind in the chimney, and the fierce gusts that blew fitfully round the house, but failed to shake its massive old walls. They could have wished, however, that this night were a less unfavourable one for travelling, for a guest was expected. But they determined to make up to the traveller for the harshness of Nature’s greeting by a welcome that should be warm as the soft clime from which she came.

As they thus talked, a hush suddenly came upon them, they could not explain why, a cold air seemed to pass over them, and each shivered involuntarily. At the same instant they became aware of ajdark shadow thrown across the floor, and turning round, saw, standing at the open door, a slight figure in a dark travelling dress. The noise of the wind, and their own voices, had, doubtless, prevented them from hearing the arrival, or the opening of the door. The little party instantly started up. The children bounded forward exclaiming ‘ Cousin Miriam. ’ The father and mother advanced quickly, and the other members of the group—a bright-looking, handsome young man, and a young girl, who was evidently not his sister—also approached, though a little more slowly. A chorus of welcoming voices arose, and all were so busy with their own greetings that it was a few minutes before they perceived that the newcomer had not yet uttered a word. There was a dazed, bewildered look in her large, dilated black eyes, and her lips were parted as if in surprise and something like terror. The influence of her manner quickly affected them, and they grew more silent. During tea there was a sense of constraint over all. The guest only spoke when obliged to reply to the questions, and ate hardly anything, but, pale as a statute, gazed round the apartment with a mute terror, it seemed, in those intensely black eyes of hers. Yet there was nothing to terrify anybody in the aspect of the room, large and old-fashioned as it was. The signs of happy domestic life were all around, the urn hissed, the fire blazed brightly, and though the wind moaned in the chimney, and ever and anon swept round the house with a weird shrik, yet Mr Gerard’s voice was so cheerful, and Mrs Gerard looked so kindly on her young relation, that she might well have forgotten to listen to it. As soon as tea was over, the girl rose, and, excusing herself on the plea of fatigue, begged to be allowed to retire to rest. No sooner had the door closed on her than the disappointed comments of the young people broke forth ; the eldest son. Owen, leading the wav,

‘ She looks as if she thought we were ogres,’ he exclaimed. ‘So different from the bright, charming little cousin I expected. Why, she isn’t a bit pretty, which is a real cheat, for my uncle, 1 have always heard, was remarkably handsome; and if the fanner’s daughter he chose to marry had not beauty, what was the attraction, then, I wonder. ’

‘ You think,’ said Mr Gerard, ‘ that with beauty on the side of both parents, your cousin Miriam has no right to be plain.’ ‘ But I do not admit that she is by any means plain,’ said Mrs Gerard, ever inclined to discourage criticism. ‘On the contrary,’ I think there are capabilities of absolute loveliness in her face. But to-night she is worn out, and remember we are not oidy strangers to her, but almost foreigners, and the very language we speak must sound unusual in her ears, Poor child ! she has had many disadvantages. We should be very forbearing towards her, and try to make the place seem as home-like as possible. I must go to her now, and see that she has everything she may require.’ She hastened away.

The young people did not, however, altogether cease their criticisms. ‘I am afraid,’ said Mr Gerard to Owen, * that you have been looking forward to the prospect of a lively little flirtation with a pretty cousin, and you think Miriam is not the sort of girl to encourage it.’ Owen laughed, as if the idea of some such pastime for lagging hours had ’suggested itself. But his eyes sought those of the young girl by his side, and they seemed to say, that no cousin, however fair, could have interfered with his allegiance to her; and as Mr Gerard’s smiling look took the same direction, Annie blushed consciously, reading its meaning, and stood up hastily, saying that it was time to return home. Owon accompanied her. They passed down the avenue, between the line of waving ash trees, her hand resting fondly on his arm, and he bending down tenderly to her, and evidently whispering lover’s words. It was the last time they ever walked thus.

Owen Gerard and Annie Blake were not actually engaged ; but they had been always together as children, and now that they were grown up the intimacy seemed fast ripening into love. It was an alliance that Mr and M rs Gerard anticipated with much satisfaction, and Annie’s family also, Mr Blake’s estate was not far from the Gerard’s, the only other habitation—save cabins and a few farmhouses —for miles. All the country round about was owned by him and Mr Gerard ; and Annie, being an only child, was his heiress. In every way the match was desirable, for all the family loved gentle, pretty Annie Blake. Owen and Annie were gone only a few minutes when Mrs Gerard re-entered the room, looking pale and rather alarmed. On going upstairs to Miriam’s room, she had

found her lying in a dead faint, it was with difficulty she had succeeded in restoring her to consciousness, and she had been unable to extract any information from her as to the cause of her swoon. Certainly, a somewhat uncanny young person, was the conclusion of everybody. And her history, or rather the history of her parents, had also much of the uncanny in it. Mr Gerard’s eldest brother, had, while on a visit to the present estate, where the family did not then reside, fallen in love with the beautiful daughter of a small farmer in the neighbourhood, whom, notwithstanding the difference in rank, he married, and took his young ,wife to Italy. The marriage so offended his relations that they never forgave him, and the family property was left to his younger brother. The elder never returned to his native country. As time went on, there were vague rumours that the marriage had not turned out happily. The insanity of the wife was hinted at; but nothing was known distinctly till news arrived of her death, which occurred shortly after the birth of Miriam, in a sudden and mysterious manner. Mr Gerard had never been able to learn any particulars, nor had he ever heard from his brother until a few weeks before the present time, when there came a letter from him, requesting that his daughter Miriam should be received for a time into her uncle’s family. No reason was assigned for the request, though it was made with much earnestness and evident anxiety. Mr Gerard readily acceded, being indeed glad of an opportunity to make the acquaintance of the niece whom he had never seen, and also desirous to heal the breach between himself and his brother. And so Miriam arrived.

Chapter 11. INCONSTANT,

For the next few days Miriam’s manner continued strange and distant, and the look of bewilderment and half terror remained in her eyes. Still, it could not be denied that there were, as Mrs Gerard had said, capabilities of loveliness about her. Her features were delicate and regular, and her eyes, but for their too sombre expression, would have been actually magnificent. And the massive coils of densely black hair, were a beauty not to be overlooked. There was a certain charm in her low-toned voice, with its foreign accent, and the slight gestures which she used to help out her meaning, when at a loss for an English word. Gradually, however, the reserve, or whatever it was, b3gan to fade. Her eyes brightened, dimples began to peep about the corners of her mouth. At times she was even playful, and would try to teach Italian to her little cousins, laughing merrily all the time at their queer pronunciation. Still she did not become popular, and Annie Blake remained the favourite of the young Gerards.

Annie had looked forward with much pleasure to Miriam’s coming, expecting, as both were of the same age, to find in her a pleasant companion. But, somehow, she could not like Miriam, though she tried rather hard to do so. She shrank from her with a feeling which she could not explain. It seemed a certain sense of antagonism, as to something dangerous, in one way or another, to her happiness. Was there anything of jealousy in it ? It is certain that since Miriam’s arrival Owen had not sought Annie’s society as much as formerly. He was a good deal with his cousin. Annie ofen saw them walking together, but it was natural that he should be her guide to many places in the neighbourhood. Still, she thought she perceived a change gradually come over him. He never spoke to her of Miriam. Since that first evening never let drop any of the criticisms which he had then so freely indulged in. Once, when Annie chanced to make somo remark not altogether commendatory of Miriam, though by no means ill-natured, for she never could be that, he had replied hastily, and with an unusual sharpness in his tone. She observed, too, that Owen’s eyes oftener rested on Miriam’s face than on her own. He would sit in the window-seat of an evening, holding a book in his hand, and pretending to read, but in reality gazing on Miriam as she bent over her work, her long, black lashes sweeping her pale cheek, it seemed to be his one endeavour to make those drooping lids unveil the dark orbs beneath, and meet his own, if only for a moment, and to bring the Hitting dimples about the grave mouth. She could not help remarking also that, day by day, as Miriam became brighter, Owen’s clear brow was often overcast, and there was a restless expression in his eyes, which she could not understand ; but still they sought Miriam’s more and more every day, and Annie wondered, and shed many a secret tear, but would not yet admit any actual doubt of her lover.

Things were in this state when one day Annie came over to Ashtield to spend the evening. The house door lay open, as was usual during the daytime, fcshe went into the dining room at once. It seemed unoccupied, she though. She was about to go upstairs and seek some of the family, when the murmur of voices from the window recess caught her attention, and made her pause. They were the voices of Oweu and Miriam. Owen was speaking in a low, tender, lover-like tone. A few words reached her ears, disconnected words, but enough, quite enough, to blanch the hue of her cheek, and make her lean for support against the door. It was evident that she had intruded on the confidence of plighted lovers. She bent forward, as if the evidence of her sight were also needed, ere she could fully convince herself of her lover’s inconstancy.

They were seated side by side, their faces turned towards the window, away from the door, where she stood ; and Owen’s arm encircled his cousin’s waist.

Annie turned quickly away, with noiseless steps passed through the hall, and fied down she avenue, as if fearful of being seen by some one before she could escape. tihe felt stunned, as if some heavy weight uad suddenly been flung upon her,t leaving Her faint and giddy, tissue iWtttSwi „ * Fa’se, oh, Oweu, false !’ she murmured. ‘ Can it be true ?’ To be continued.

Earl Russell has published a new pamphlet on “ National Education,” which contains some curious reminiscences. So recently as 1839, Lord Melbourne doubted the value of education as a means of advancing men in the woilpointing to many uneducated men who had got on ; the Bishop of Durham believed it would make no way among the poor; the Archbishop of Canterbury said that when he was rector if he lad proposed to educate the poor the farmers wouljl have laughed at him ; and at Milton Abbott, in Devonshire, when the Duke of Bedford proposed to set up a school, a farmer asked if anybody “supposed he was going to send his son to school to please the Duke of Bedford.” Even the late Bishop of Exeter thought instruction in geography should be confined to the geography of the Holy Land, apparently under some impression, widely shared by Sunday-school teachers, that that was somehow a “ sacred ” study. The pamphlet is intended apparently to advocate gratuitous instruction, to be paid for out of a sixpenny income-tax, instead of out of rates, which fall on “poor widows but its only value consuls in these stories, which show how the minds of men have changed in a single genera ion. In 1831) it was almost impossible to obtain £IO,OOO a year for national instruction.

We appear to have gained a diplomatic success in China. At all events, the Chinese Government, if they are not going to do what we ask, are anxious to temporise, and to seem to do it. China has agreed to send a special embassy to England, and to punish the parties guilty of the Yunnan outrage Yuunan is to give an indemnity to the family of Mr Margary for his murder; a trade route between Yunnan and Burmah is to be opened, and the levy of Pekin taxes is to be regulated. The Chinese ambassadors appointeid are Kuo-Sung-Tao,formerlyofficiating governor of the province of Canton, and Hou-Chien* Shea, son of the President of the Board of Works, and “ expectant provincial treasurer,” If Mr Wade is satisfied with these appointments, we suppose they must be men of adequate standing for the Embassy, but the doubt is whether relegating the whole discussion to London does not look more like promise than performance. All that is certain is, that for the time China is compelled to give way. And of course, as a consequence of this, Colonel Duncan reports that the King of Burmah “received him courteously.”