LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 724, 14 October 1876, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE STORY OF BERYL KARR. ( Continued.) Poor Beryl grew pale and wan ; her brown eyes lost their sunny loot, and her smile grew rare to her mouth, for much of suffering can be compressed into a short space of time. Beryl, as has been said before, was highly sybaritical in her ideas, and whether she rejoiced or she suffered, it was with her whole soul. She possessed none of that calm philosophy that makes up the even tenor of existence; she had a strange temperament that, with its intense love of pleasure, could not divorce its energy even from pain, and in spite of waywardness was full of generous impulses, that would dare any amount of self-sacrifice, but it was doubtful if she would possess strength to abide by it; for though she had enough enthusiasm and unselfishness to immolate herself wholly on a desired altar, she possessed neither courage nor strength to suffer the slow martyrdom of the soul that we understand by the term ‘the death of hope.’ And if Beryl carried out her intention of wedding Carl, she would not sink into the apathy which people call resignation at times, but was more likely to eat out her heart in longings and desires that would be fruitless.

The marriage day drew very close, and, engrossed in preparation, the household at Pelham scarcely noted that they saw very little of Paul, All hours he seemed to pass in the laboratory, while Carl had lost interest in chemistry, absorbed in other occupations. ‘ One sees nothing of Lennard lately, Carl remarked at last to Beryl one day, as she sat in a listless attitude on a sort of terrace that ran along the back of the house. ‘ Nothing, she replied quietly. Her face was ashy pale, and her whole figure drooped, as it were. She was thinking with relief that in a very few days she would be away from the torture this life brought her, and hoping fervently that she would never run the temptation of Paul’s vicinity once she was married. Then Carl’s lazy voice, so curiously calm in its inflection, startled her like a thunderclap. * Lennard is going to remain here while we are absent, oo that he may perfect experiments he has great interest in; and besides, he may be able to carry out my idea and let me see the result. ’

‘ Carl!’ she exclaimed, in a trembling voice that struck even his impassive ear as strange, ‘ you will surely send that man away before we come back ! You know how I distrust him !’

* Beryl!’ and Carl bent forwards and looked at her eagerly, ‘ what can make you dislike Lennard so ? Has he ever said or done anything to offend you ?’ And the red blood mounted into his frank fair face as he spoke. ‘ 1 do not dislike him, Carl—how often I have told you this before ! —but I do not wish him to be here. I want to be alone—alone with you !’ she added, with woman’s sophistry, trying to gain her point, and blushing because she was guilty of a falsehood.

‘My sweet one,’ Carl said, pleased at her remark. ‘ And I too should like to be alone, so as to have you all to myself. I wonder I never thought of that before ! But it is too late now. I have invited Lennard to stay as long as he likes, and I cannot turn him out, you know,’ he added in a perplexed manner.

‘ And did Mr Lennard accept your invitation ?’ she questioned quickly. ‘ Yes; that is, he said he would probably be here for some time yet.’

There was a dead silence for a moment or so. Beryl sat as if in a dream. She was wondering what Paul could mean by staying on; and a shiver passed over her as she pictured him at Pelham welcoming her back as the bride of his friend.

Carl, weary and hot, lay half asleep on the lounge ; and, after a while, the girl rose, and sauntered out on the lawn, with a sort of intention of seeking Paul. Of late she had studiously avoided him, and he had had no chance of speaking alone to her. She wandered round the house until she came to the wing, and in front of the laboratory she met Paul face to face.

‘ I am glad you have come, Beryl,’ he said in a calm deliberate tone. ‘ You have saved me the trouble of going to search for you.’ ‘ Why should you search for me ? ’ she answered in an icy voice. ‘ But I have something to say to fyou/ she went on, looking at him with deiiant eyes. ‘ I want to tell you that you cannot stay here any longer, and that sooner than allow you to do so, i will risk Carl’s auger, and tell him all ihat has passed between us.’ ‘ And I wished to say something to you,’ e told her in a low concentrated voice. l lt j that it is not possible for you here ay longer ; that you must come with me t-morrow—never to set eyes on Pelham aiain.’ 'Go away with you/ replied Beryl. She fei stunned, as it were, at his courage and asamption. Reason told her that it would helifiicult for him to compel her to anythig; and yet she had an instinct warning herthat he might succeed in doing so. ‘ t is useless, Mr Leunard, your speaking like this. I shall be Carl’s wife in a few days and of course that will end everything between you and me. You must leave Pelham t once.’ Hisface was full of dogged determination and hi eyes of passionate light. ‘ I hall go when you go with me/ he enunckted slowly and impressively. * Have you yetto learn that nothing short of death will keip you from me ? Once for all—will you go yith me ?’ f To be continued .]