LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 556, 30 March 1876, Page 3

LITERATURE.

A JOINT IN THE HARNESS. BY MARIAN NORTIICOTT, AUTHOR OF 'TIM twtnkxeton's TWINS,' ETC. {Continued.) Jabez Kyte, having brought his peroration to a close, really expected that, iu the fullness of her gratitude, Rose would have fallen at his feet. She did nothing of the kiud. The long speech in which her father had indulged had given her time to collect her scattered seises and to resolve upon the course to pursue. Rising to her feet, and resting both hands upon the back of his chair, she looked into his face with a calm unwavering gaze, and said, ' Father, that I have been ever grateful for your solicitude, that I have ever recognised your affection and unstinted liberality, I trust each day of my life has borne testimouy. In marriage, which is a matter of the heart rather than of duty, 1 fear I shall disappoint you. I cannot wed the man you have chosen, for I love another!' To say that Jabez Kyte was astounded at those words is to give but the crudest—the most limited—idea of the effect they had upon him. His eyes seemed as though they would start from their orbits,_ his face became livid with passion, and his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth. His daughter made a movement as though to place her aims round his neck, but he violently thrust her aside, exclaiming, ' Ingrate, is this the reward of the tender care I have bestowed upon you ? I have no desire to know the name of the person who has obtained your love : doubtless it is some dandified creature immeasurably beneath you. Now, listen ! I have advanced money to Sir Richard Arrabelle, and have bought up all the securities of his I could obtain. For him it is a question of marriage or bankruptcy. Desiring that the child to whom I have been such a self-sacrificing parent should improve her social position, I decided in my own mind he should marry you. If, a week hence, I find you obdurate, you must seek a home elsewhere than in my house.' ' Father,' pleaded Rose, ' I am pledged to another, and I cannot break my word.' Her voice quivered with emotion, and tears stood in her soft brown eyes. With a tender wistful expression upon her face, such as would have moved any heart but that of Jabez Kyte, she stretched her hands tovyards him ; but with what sounded very like a muttered imprecation ho turned his back upon her, and sorrow-stricken, she fled from the room.

' This comes of being a good parent. To think what I have sacrificed for that ungrateful girl,'ruminated this modern Pharisee, as he sat alone and looked through the evening paper, to see if those vexations folk the compositors had spelt his name correctly in a subscription-list he expected to find published. The next morning, during breakfast-time, Kyte noticed that his daughter's eyes were red with weeping, but not a word was spoken on either side respecting the subject of the previous night's conversation. Rose saw that her father had not relaxed in his determination, but she had not the slightest intention of throwing over her lover for a man she had. never seen. During the long wakeful hours of the night she had resolved on seeking the advice of the curate's wife, and directly her father's train had left the railAvay station she carried out her purpose. A sympathetic truthful creature was Mrs Goode : she regarded Rose with something more than friendship, and looked forward with joyful anticipation to the time wheu the bond ..between them be', still would further strengthened. She was therefore inexpressibly grieved, when she heard of Mr Kyte's decision with respect to his daughter's future. All woman as she was, Mrs Goode

bade Hose follow the dictates of her own. heart. 'lf,' she said, 'the worst should happen, dear, reme ;ber there is always a home for you here, until such time as Roland Denuiso'i conies to claim you for his bride.' Such comforting words as these had their efi'ect upon poor Hose, who returned to her home with her mind far more at ease than when she sought her friend an hour previously. The curate was visiting a sick member of his flock when Rose called, but immediately on his return his wife acquainted him with what had passed. To her surprise ho announced his intention of at once seeing Mr Kyte ; and hastening away to meet a train for the Waterloo terminus due at the station in a few minutes, left Mrs Goode in an exceedingly perplexed state. Seldom had she seen her husband so moved, but she rightly ascribed the cause to the warm friendship he entertained for Roland.

In less than an hour Mr Goode had traversed the crowded citv thoroughfares, and was standing in Mr Kyte's outer office, awaiting the return of the messenger who had conveyed his card into the stockbroker's private room. It was the busiest period of the day, but Jabez Kyte in his most occupied moments never declined to receive a clergyman. Accordingly the curate was speedily ushered into the snug little sanctum where Kyte spent his days. The stockbroker was placid and polite—almost obsequious—until the nature of Mr Goode's business was made manifest. 'ln what way, sir, can I aid you V inquired Mr Kyte, placing a chair for his visitor and standing composedly before the cheery blaze of the fire, nursing his coat-tails meanwhile. 'ls the local Coal (Jlub in reduced circumstances, or does the Blanket Fund require assistance ? As you doubtless knnv, lam always ready to devote some portion of the means that have been placed at my disposal towards lessening the human misery that specially exists at this period of the year.' 'Do not labour under an) misapprehension respecting my mission to you this morning,' replied Mr Goode, in calm clear tones ; ' I have come to speak to you on matters connected with your own household.'

At once Jabez Kyte saw the drift of the interview. He knew how often Rose visited the curate-s house, though he was totally ignorant that it was there her heart had been lost. His manner changed :he fidgeted with his watch chain, patted the fender impatiently with his boot, aud glanced at the door as though anxious for some interruption. He would rather have sat down and written a cheque for £SO than have his scheme respecting his daughter's future criticised.

' Let me impress upon you the fact,' continued the curate, ' that I am not here by Miss Hose's desire, not even with her knowledge ; and if you so decide, she shall ever remain ignorant that I have pleaded for her happiness. I casually learnt this morning that, although her hand is pledged to another, you pressed a suit which canto her be naught but odious.'

1 It is perfectly true that I am looking forward to her contracting a union which is in every way a desirable one ; but you must at least do me the credit of believing that I was ignorant of any prior attachment. ' You were to have been spoken to on the •subject within the next week. Roland Dennison is too honourable a man to carry on a clandestine engagement for any lengthened period.' ' As you seem to be this young man's advocate, Mr Goode, may I trouble you to acquaint me with his position ?' ' He is a young doctor, with ample ability but no means, save those derived from his profession, and—' • And he looks to a marriage with my daughter to start him in life, I suppose. He will be mistaken. I have been towards Rose as one father out of ten thousand, and after many years of studious care and self-sacrifice it is hard to see her rising in rebellion. The proceeds of a life time of labour shall never enrich a man of whom I disapprove.' 'But,' pleaded the curate, 'you will at least see Mr Dennison ?'

'No, sir, I will not,' exclaimed Kyte angrily. ' Rose marries the man I have selected for her, or she goes to her husband penniless.' 'Then, Mr Kyte,' said the curate, cooly divesting himself of his overcoat, as though the interview, instead of approaching a termination, was ouly on the point of commencing, 'it is my duty to recall some circumstances that with the lapse of years may have almost passed out of your memory. You recollect Maude Stafford ?' The stockbroker'3 face had become scarlet with excitemement, but the mere mention of this name suddenly blanched it to an ashy hue. He averted his face, and made no answer.

' You and Richard Grayling were fellowclerks in a lawyer's office, and you were each in love with Maude ; but your rival succeeded in winning her hand. From that time you were his secret enemy, and devoted yourself to destroying his new-found happiness. ' ' What warrant have you for saying this V 'lama distant relative of Maude's family. Over Richard Grayling you possessed an influence that ultimately proved his ruin. It was you who led him into play; it was you who opened the way for his borrowing large sums of money ; it was you who brought about the crash that deprived him of reason, and sent him to the county asylum a hopeless lunatic. Do not attempt to deny these facts, for I have indisputable proofs of the truth of my assertions. After her husband's death, Maude married an old gentleman to whom she had for some time been housekeeper. By this second union she had a son. 111-advised speculations had rapidly diminished the fortune her elderly partner had once possessed, and at his demise it was found there was little more than sufficient to educate her son in the profession he had chosen. Towards the close of her life, Maude had gradually withdrawn herself from her own family, and it was only by accidental circumstances I became acquainted with her descendant.' ' And this boy, where is he ?' inquired Kyte. Daring the recital of a story which in its main features he had deemed known to none but himself, his head had dropped in shame. He had thought he was thoroughly free of all consequences of his former treachery, but now it was proclaimed with trumpet tongue from a quarter whence he would have least expected the revelation. Years ago, before he had wedded Rose's mother, Jabez Kyte shook off the old apparel of vice and deceit, and had clothed himself in the armour of respectability ; but there was a joint in the harness, and Mr Goode had discovered it. {To be continued.)