LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 886, 27 April 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

KISS AND TRY

(From London Society.)

( Continued.)

‘ I say a girl that marries the man that she loves is the truest and the best,’ cried the captain loudly ; ‘ whether he’s poor or rich doesn’t matter. She’s the girl for me.’ To his surprise the captain caught Mario’s eye fixed on him with an expression of sympathy that made his heart give a thump of delight. Could she? He was not such a bad fellow, this captain, though a trifle outspoken. ‘1 differ from you entirely,’ said Lord Pauline. ‘ I think nothing shows a more cowardly character than for a man without a penny and without social position’—this was a hint at his title —‘ to attempt to obtain the affections of a lady who might engage herself to great advantage. ’ • Lord Pauline understands the world and human nature,’ said aunt Jane. ‘ His remarks are very just. 0, good evening, sir ;’ with a marked emphasis on the ‘ sir.’

Mai ie merely bowed in a distant manner to the gentleman who had at that moment entered, and turned quickly towards the piano. They all crowded round her, and pressed her to play, scarcely deigning to exchange salutations with the new comer, who was thus as it were excluded from the circle except Captain Williams, who welcomed him cordially.

“ ‘ Tis poverty parts good company,’” whispered he, quoting the old song. ‘ Never mind, old fellow ; you’re twenty times more a man than these miserable drum-stick imitations. By Jove, what a chest you have ! ’ Thurstau Bayt-ard was indeed £ a man of inches,’ and broad in proportion —perhaps rather more than in prop rtion though he had hardly yet reached his full development, being but twenty six. A long silky black beard, thick curling moustaches, bright dark eyes, an open wide forehead, and rather massive head, gave him no inconsiderable claim to be called handsome. Thurstm was one q| those men, sometimes met, who seem to possess every possible advantage except money. He was tall and strong, certainly good looking, agreeable in manner, well read, and still better travelled—he had, for a time, carried despatches as a Queen’s Messenger—full of arimal health and naturally a joyous temperament, saddened, however, by the perpetual sense of impecuniosity and the pressure of petty debt. His family was well connected, of ancient descent, and yet practically he was a vagabond upon the face of the earth. The families of Baynard and Delaselle were branches of the samestock ; he and Mario h d played together as children, and he was still free of the house ; but when growing years seemed to threaten the danger of an imprudent attachment, M r Delaselle spoke to him in private very seriously on the matter, ‘ hoping that he would not take advautage of his position to compromise Marie’s chances of an eligible match.’ This was extremely bitter to Thurstan, whose proud spirit was deeply wounded; and henceforth he came rarely, and adopted a deferential distant manner. Mane, on her part, scarcely noticed him now that they were arrived, he at manno .d and she at womanhood. He thought it was pride ; still he felt constrained t > call occasionally, for in truth he loved her beyond expression. Nothing destroys a man’s spirit hire poverty, especially if he still by birth belongs to that class of whom it was said ■nohlessc ohliye, and cannot fully descend to the little meannesses too often compulsorily practised by those who earn their daily bread. There were as yet no lines upon his forehead, but there was an iudescrible expression of subdued pain. ‘l’ve come to say good by,’said he to Captain Williams, as the two sat together in the back ground, while Marie played and sang gaily. Mr Delaselle just nodded as ho entered, and then devoted himself to Mr Marshe

‘ Where are you oh' to, then ?’ asked the captain. ‘ Why on earth don’t you go into the army ?’ ‘Can’t afford it—and can’t live on thirteenpence a day either. No ; I’m going to China ; you know I’ve studied fortification. I’ve an idea I could help them to fortify themselves against the Russians. They are much alarmed at Russian aggression eastwards. General Kauffman’s guns easily smashed up the wretched walls and towers of the Central Asian Khans. I think China ought to pay well for instruction how to build redoubts a la Vauhan.’

‘ It’s not a bad idea; but how about leaving Miss Hclasellc ? I thought you were - Well, no matter; you are just the man for her. Yes, I’ll say that even against my own interest. She’ll be snapped up before you get back, man. Look at Marshe, and that prig the curate, and the old lord—pah ! " Are you sure she doesn’t care for you ? ’ ‘She scarcely acknowledges me,’ said Thurstan. ‘ And yet we used to— Still she has a x’ight to do as she pleases. At all events, 1 start to-morrow night for Southampton from Waterloo Station ’ ‘l’ll see you off. By Jove, I’m sorry, deuced sorry! The best fellows arc always shoved into a corner. To morrow night - it’s St. Valeutine’s-day to-morrow, now 1 think of it.’ Just then Marie’s voice, blithe and rich in tone, began with an inimitable expression of innocent mischievousness, so to say, the old verse : ‘ A’ the lads they look at me, Coming through the rye.’ * It’s just like her, said the captain ; ‘and yet do you know, Thurstan, I believe there’s something good in that girl despite all this frivolity. I wish you could have seen her just now when they were discussing marriages for money, and I said the best and truest girl was the one who married for love. There was a flash in her eye—l don’t think she knows her own heart yet ’ ‘Mr Baynard,’ cried Mario suddenly, from her scat at the piano, ‘ come and sing our old favourite, “ Annie Laurie.” ’

The circle sneered at the mention of so simple a ballad. He hesitated; but she insisted, and finally he sang it sang it as only a man eonld do who b it every line. It was true that she had never pledged her word, hut she was indeed ‘ all the world’ to him. He had a beautiful voice, bell like, but liquid, and, to alter just one word of Byron,

‘Love hath not, in all his choice, An arrow for the heart like a sweet voice.’ {To he continued.)