LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 955, 17 July 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE REUSS HOUSE. (Cojicluded.') 'Dear madam,' said this strange lover, ' knowing that you had retired in order to form a decision more freely, I would have taken no steps to discover your retreat till it should be your own will to disclose it, had I not been bound to do so by a singular and important discovery, of which I have fully informed your lawyers. You will hear from them by the next post; but, for obvious reasons, I have wished to be the first to communicate to you the fact that, in the course of certain alterations in Worthton Hall, a will of recent date has been found, drawn up in full legal form by my late uncle himself, and witnessed by two old servants, who were not aware of the importance of the document. The late Mr Manton here explains that, notwithstanding a strong prejudice against myself, he feels the injustice of his former disposition of the property ; and, for the sake of the estate itself, bequeaths to me, in addition to the house and land which were entailed and inalienable, so much of his personality as shall amount to an annual income of seven thousand pounds. He adds that the remainder, amounting to an income of three thousand, bequeathed to you, will, he believes, equal your expectations and desires.

'You are now, by this newly-discoveied will, set free, dear madam, from any claim on your sense of justice. May I hope that a more welcome feeling will point to the same end, if I beg you now, solely on the ground of my deep esteem and affection awakened by your merits, 10 return to Worthton Hall, and hold once more the position of mistress which you have formerly so ably filled there ?

' I remain, dear madam,' ' Your devoted servant, 'J. MANTON.'

* So that's all over, and I am free again, and we can go home tomorrow,' said Mary, when she had read the letter twice, tossing i« over to her companion. ' llow^ noble! how beautiful !' was Fraulein's comment. 'This at least will win your heart.' 'I am sorry to say it doesn't at all,' answered Mary, 'any more than I have won Mr Manton's. He is a very upright gentleman, and I respect him as such, and there the matter ends.'

' And yon can lose seven thousand a year with a smile ?'

'Seven thousand a year too much. A burden and a discomfort well got rid of.' Fraulein cast up her hands and eyes in dismay, but Mary was as light-hearted as a bird. The lawyer's letter came in due course, attesting the genuineness of the recent will; the letter of ' declined with thanks' was despatched to Mr Mauton, and Mary began to think whether she should at once return to England, or, as it was the height of summer, travel a little first, now that one burden at least was removed which had made travelling and all things else under the sun a weariness. But, to her surprise, it was Fraulein who now cast obstacles in the way. There was this reason and that reason why they could not possibly leave .Neuenthal at once, and when Mary overruled them all, poor Fraulein waxed tearful and nervous, and had headaches, till Mary perceiving some mysterious cause, promised to stay ' a little longer' in the spot which she had almost begun to hate as a prison. It was very wearisome to her, however; she was longing for a home, and rock and flood bore to her the aspect of gaolers She had wandered alone one afternoon to the edge of that chasm where we saw her first. The new path was made ; the workmen were all gone ; there was silence but for the voice of the river. Fraulein was at home with the headache. Again Mary wore that same white dress in which her graceful figure showed so well, and the soft plaits of her brown hair were rich in shadow under her simple hat. A young pedestrian of thetiue British type, a sunny haired, frank-eyed mortal, who came swinging down the river side, thought that he had never seen a picture more pleasing or more welcome to his

eyes. She did not raise her head at his footstep, until he stood close behind her, stopped, and said, softly, 'Mary.' She started and looked at him, trembling, fn a sense of loneliness the tears had been ready before, and now they icame brimming over. 'Oh, Tom!' she cried. ' How -how how could you ?'

There was no one to see how he soodied her, nor how glad he was to ha\ r ;. her in his arms at nor (truth to tell) how glad she was to be there. But when the surprise and the crying were over, Mary felt that .me was forsaking all her principles, and began to gather back some shadow of reserve. ' [ was startled,' she said. ' You should not have come like that. I have given you no reason.'

' Look here, Mary,' said Tom Derby , i a straightforward, manly way th*t there was no withstanding, 'I want to know what it is that has come between us. I know letters would be of no use, s< > I came to find you at the first moment I had my holiday, just to ask that one question.' She looked in his face and blushed ; she was ashamed of her wretched wisdom.

' I lo\e you, and I do believe you love me, and what hinders us from being happy ?'

No answer.

' I have been thinking and thinking day and night, and all I can think is this, Mary —that old Mr Manton has put his oldworld suspicions into you, and taught you to believe I was looking after your money. Was that it ? Be honest and true with me, Mary.' ' lie used to say so, certainly,' said Mary, bending her head low over a flower she was plucking to pi ces. 'He said it was the way of the world.' ' It may be the way of the world, but it is not my way,' he answered, earnestly ; perhaps a trifle pained, but offend(d. 'Do you not know me better than that? I wish your money were at the bottom of the sea, if it is to stand between us. Money is a good thing in itself, but it is a confoundedly bad thing if it is to part two people who love one auother.

The last dying spark of Mary's worldly wisdom shone out in her next speech. 'lt cannot do that now, Tom. A new will has been found, aud Mr Manton has left his property to the heir after all, to kesp up the estate.' ' And you are as poor as a church mouse ?' She nodded. Tom threw is hat in the air.

' Hurrah ! Then that is all right. You won't mind a snug cottage at Twickenham or somewhere, where we can be as happy as as turtle doves on my five hundred a-year? Heaven bless the old gentleman and his second will!'

Mary turned upon him beaming, yet thoroughly ashamed of herself. She felt a sense of rest and deliverance, and as they walked home at last, he talking blithely of that Twickenham cottage, she reserved mention of her annual three throusand which still remained., that he might taste yet awhile all the sweets of his own generosity. ' Fraulein Muller will be very angry,' said Mary, as they entered the inn. ' She had a romantic adoration for Mr Manton.' ' Is that Fraulein's umbrella P' asked Tom, pointing to a bulgy object of green and white check which reposed outside the door. Mary started. 'lt is the doctor's,' she said, 'I do believe. Will you please to stay outside a little while, Tom, and let me go in first ?'

She made a grand commotion with the handle of the door, as if it had a way of wanting to be turned six times, and when she entered, lo! there stood the doctor and Fraulein, in all the consciousness > f having been closer together. But the gentleman was equal to the occasion. Hardly waiting for Fraulein's nervous introduction, he began, solemnly bowing: ' This inestimable lady, Mees Cromford, has done me the honour to promise to become mistress of the Eeuss House, and a loving step-mother to -•-•' '<>h, yes!' interrupted Mary, ratber mdely; but then she was already flurried • Do not trouble to explain ; no doubt Fraulein answered the advertisement.'

' I am proud to say she did,' said the doctor.

' But oh! my dear,' sobbed Fraulein, *I will never leave you while you want me." ' Very well, dear, answered Mary. ' You don't know how glad I am. I am going home, for I have a doctor of my own outside.'

And so the wicked old woman lost her situation at the Reuss House and the children were made clean.