LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 902, 16 May 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

HELEN WHITNEY'S WEDDING

By Johnny Ludlow. ( Continued.)

‘ Captain Foliott often talks of bis uncle. He seems to think there’s nobody like him.’ *He has cause to think it. Yes, I assure you, sirs, feAv men in the Avorld can come up to George Foliott, the mill-oAvner, for probity and goodness. ’ How much more he might have said in Mr Foliott’s praise was cut short by the hasty appearance of two young men ; evidently the friends of Mr Crane. They laughed at the speed they had made doAvn the hill, told him the carriage Avas ready, and they ought to start at once to reach Worcester by the dinner hour. So the portly gentleman wished us good day, and departed. Running up the bank, I saw them drive off from the Crown in a handsome two-horse plueton. It Avas on the day following this that matters Avere finally settled Avith regard to Helen’s marriage. Captain Foliott made good his Avish—which, as it appeared, he had been harping upon ever since the proposal Avas first made : namely, that they should be married immediately, and u t Avait for the return of Mr Foliott to England. Sir John had held out against it, asking where the hurry Avas ; to this Captain Foliott had rejoined by inquiring what they had to Avait for, and where Avas the need of waiting, and that the chances Avere that his uncle would stay aAvay for a year. So at last Sir John, Avho Avas a simple-minded man, and as easily persuaded as a duck is to water gave in; and the Avedding was fixed to take place the next month, September, at Whitney. We made the most of this, onr one entire day at Malvern, for we should disperse the next. The Whitneys to Whitney Hall, the house being now in apple-pie order for them; ourselves back to Dyke Manor; Captain Foliott to get the marriage settlement prepared Helen’s sum of three thousand pounds, all she would have at present, Avas not to he settled at all, but invested in some snug little house that they Avould fix upon together after the marriage, so that Captain Foliott’s lawers took ttie preparation of the deeds of settlement on themselves, saving trouble to Sir John.

Three parts of the day we spent roaming the hill: and I must say Foliott made himself delightful as sun in harvi st, and I told myself that I must have misjudged his eyes in thinking they were not nice ones. But the next morning Ave got a shock. How sAvimmiugly the world Avould get on without such things, I leave those Avho have experienced them to judge. It came when we were at the breakfast table, in the shape of a letter to Lady Whitney. The scarlatina - which was supposed to have been cleaned and scrubbed out —had come into the Hall again, the kitchen-maid being laid up Avith it. Here was a pretty kettle of fish? Whether Sir John or my Lady looked the most helplessly bewildered, might have

puzzled a conjuror to decide. Back to the Hall they could not go, and what was to be done? The Squire, open handed and openhearted, pressed them to accompany us and take up their quarters at Dyke Manor ; and for a minute or two I thought they would have done it: but somebody, Helen, I think, suggested a furnished house in London, and that was finally decided upon. So to London they would go, hire the tnst suitable house that offered, and the marriage would take place there instead of at home. Captain Foliott, coming fin after breakfast from his hotel, the Foley Arms, stared at the change of programme. ‘l’d not go to London,’ said he, emphatically. ‘ London, at this season of the year, is the most wretched wilderness on the face of the whole earth. Not a soul’s in it.

‘The more room for us, Foliott,’ cried Sir John. 4 What will it signify to us whether the town is empty or full ?’ 4 1 would strongly advise you, Sir John, not to go. Lady Whitney would not like it, lam certain. As Mr Todhetley has been good enough to offer you his hospitality ’ 4 But, bless my heart,’ interrupted Sir John in a heat, ‘you don’t suppose, do you, that I could trespass on an old friend for weeks and weeks - a regular army of us ? Were it a matter of a few days, I’d not say nay; but who is to foresee how long it may be before we can get into our own house ? You’ve not a a bit of thought, Foliott.’ 4 Why not go to your sister’s at Cheltenham, sir ? was all the Captain said to this. 4 Because I don’t choose to go to my sister’s at Cheltenham,’ replied Sir John, who could be as obstinate as the Squire when he liked. 4 And why should we go to Cheltenham more than to London ? Come !’

‘ I thought it would be less trouble for you, sir. Cheltenham is close at hand.’ ‘ And London is not so far off. As to its being empty, I say that’s so much the better: we shall more readily find a furnished house in it. To London we go to day.’ There was no more to be said. And the notion became quite agreeable, now that they were growing reconciled to it. ‘All things are directed for the best,’ concluded Lady Whitney in her simple faith. ‘ I hardly see how we should have procured Helen’s clothes down at Whitney: there will be no difficulty in London.’ * You are riglff, my dear lady, and I am wrong,’ conceded Captain Foliott, with a good-natured smile. *To us young men of fashion,’ he added, the smile deepening to a laugh, ‘London between August and April is looked upon as a nightmare. But circumstances alter cases; and I see that it will be the best and most convenient place for you.’ Drawing Helen aside as he spoke, and taking a small morocco case from his pocket, he slipped upon her finger his first and parting gift, a magnificent hoop of diamonds, ‘ I should like you to wear it always, my love,’ he whispered. ‘As the pledge of your engagement now; later, as the guard of your wedding-ring. ’

‘ I shall go in the smoking carriage, Johnny.’ ‘ Shall you ! You’ll smell finely of smoke when we get there. ’ ‘ Not I. I’ll give my coat a shake at the journey’s end. By Jove! I shall get left behind, if I don’t take care.’ He was right The train was already on the move. Tod dashed into the smoking compartment; the porter closed the door, and we were off.

Off to London, He and I were going up to Helen Whitney’s wedding, to which we had been invited at Malvern The Squire declined for himself, though Sir John had wanted him also. This was Monday; the wedding was to be on Thursday; and on the Saturday Anna and William wore to go back with us to Dyke Manor. It -was September weather, and a glorious day. Now, as the train steamed away on its windings and turnings, the Malvern hills would glide into view, and now be lost again. But the beautiful landscape was always to be seen, with its woods and dales and fertile plains; and there was not a cloud in the deop blue sky to obscure the sun. I had the carriage to myself; and pictured Tod one of a crowd of smokers. At Oxford he came back to the carriage, and got in. ‘ Had enough smoke, Tod ?’

‘ Just for now, lad,’ he shortly answered ; and began to whistle and pull at his whiskers. By which I knew he had something on his mind.

‘ I say, Johnny, I am in a dilemma,’ he burst out when we were going on again, bending towards me from the opposite seat till his face nearly touched mine. * What about ? What is it V

‘ Look here. When I got into the smoking carriage it was full, all bub one seat, which I took - and that was a corner one, which they had been polite enough to leave. The carriage was dark with smoke ; pipes had been going, I expect, ail the way from Worcester. 1 lighted mine, saying nothing and nobody said anything to me. The man opposite to me and the one next me had a hot discussion on hand, touching a racehorse ; not quarrelling, but talking loud, so that they made a terrible noise. At the other end of the carriage sat two men facing one another, just as you and I sit now ; and one of them I’ll vow was an Oxfo 1 d man ; I could tell him by his cut. They were talking together also, but rather in an undertone. All at once, when we were nearing Oxford, there was a lull at my end, and I heard a bit of what they were saying. The first word that particularly caught my ear was Foliott. “What plant is Foliott up to now, I wonder?” cried one. “ Don’t know,” said the other; “nothing good, we may be sure of. A rumour reached me that ho was going to be married.” “What a chance for the girl ! ” cried the Hrat. “Poor thing! But it may not be true,” ho went on, knocking the ashes out of his pipe; “who would marry such a scamp as that?” ‘Now Johnny,’ broke off Tod, ‘the question is, were they speaking of this Foliott ? This man that we are now on our way to see married to Helen ? ’

‘ Was that all you heard, Tod ? ’ ‘ Every word. The train began to slacken speed then for the Oxford station, and the two men got up to reach their overcoats and hand-bags, for got out there. I had half a mind to stop them and ask what Foliott they had been speaking of; but I did not much like to, and while I hesitated they disappeared. They might just have told me to mind my own business if I had spoken ; so perhaps it comes to the same. ’

‘Foliott is not an absolutely uncommon name, Tod. There may be plenty of Foliott’s about.’

‘Just so, lad. But, on the other hand, it may be the one we know of, Richard Foliott,

Due point coincides —he is going to be married.’

I sat back on the cushioned seat, revolving probabilities and improbabilities, and thinking of many things That instinctive dislike 1 had taken to Captain Foliott’s eyes, or to himself, or to both, flashed over me with vivid force. The pretty scenery we were just then twirling past, and on which my eyes seemed to be fixed, might have been a sandy desert, for all I saw of it.

4 The worst is, the dilemma it puts one in,’ continued Tod. 4 To speak of this to the Whitneys, or not to speak ?—that’s the question. If it should turn out to be another Foliott, they might never forgive me. He never would.’

4 But then - Helen’s whole future may be at stake. It m«y be in peril.’ Tod pulled at his whiskers again. I read the name of a station we were flashing past. 4 I hate a doubt of this sort,’ cried Tod impatiently, 4 where one can’t see how one’s duty lies. It bothers the mind. I think I’ll let it go, Johnny.’ 4 But, if it should turn out that ho is a scamp ; and for the lack of a word you let him—let him make bones of Helen !’

4 What could I say?’ he asked irritably. 4 That I overheard two fellows, in the smoking compartment of a railway train, saying that one Foliott was a scamp Sir John would naturally ask me what grounds I had for assuming that it was their Foliott. Well, I have no grounds. And how small I should look !’

4 There are slight grounds, at any rate, Tod. The name is his, Foliott : and both are going to be married.’ 4 All the same, I don’t see that I can speak. ’

‘Put it in this light, Tod,’ I said. You don’t speak : and they get married : and then something or other bad turns up about Foliott; and .sir John finds out that it was in your power to warn him in time, and you did not. What will he say then ? ’ ‘l’m sure I don’t know,’ grunted Tod. ‘I wish I could see. which side land lies.’

All the rest of the way to London we continued to discuss it by fits and starts, and at last hit upon a good 'thought—to t<dl the whole to William Whitney. It was the best thing to do, so far as we could see. It might all end in smoke, or—it might not.

The Whitneys had found a furnished house in Gloucester Place, near Portman Square. The maid who had taken he sickness wa l soon well again, and the Hall was being regularly fumigated now, preparatory to their return. In Gloucester Place they were within half an hour’s Jdrive of Miss Deveen’s, which fact had guided them to the locality. Indeed, it was but a walk for the younger of the legs. {To be eonthived.)