LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1049, 7 November 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE FAIR FACE IN THE YELLOW CHARIOT. A Park Romance of the Last London Season. ( Concluded .) * Aunt Parker said I was never to speak to you again,’ Kiss said, as she came into the room, with an air of extreme astonishment ; ‘ and now she sends me to you of her own accord ! What does it mean ?’ * It means that I have something very particular to say. ’ They had shaken hands, and she had taken her seat demurely a little way off. Her eyes were, however, fixed on his in very steadfast inquiry. They were beautiful eyes, but as changeful as they were bright and sparkling. Now wide open with surprise like a child’s, next half closed with roguishness, as though the whole world was an excellent joke, which she was enjoying all by herself. Again, on the minutest provocation they would fill and brim over with tears. ‘ This is delightful! You’re! better than a box from Mudie’s. Is it a story, or a conundrum, or a joke? Go on, Lord Featherstone; do.’ * You are no worse for your drive, I hope ?’ * Is that all ? Yes ; I am ever so much worse —in temper. Yon should have heard Aunt barker go on ! Did anybody scold you ?’ ‘ I escaped any very serious rebuke—except from my conscience.’ ‘ Dear me, Lord Featherstone, yon make me feel as though I were in church. Was it so very wicked, then, to help me iu my distress. 1 thought it was most good of you.’ This simple but italicised earnestness was very taking. ‘ No; but people are very censorious. They will talk. They are coupling our names together already.’ ‘ Does that annoy you ? Her air was candour itself. ‘Do you mind—very much ?’ ‘ Well, perhaps not very, very much. It can do me no harm. ’ ‘ I am glad of that,’ ‘ But it may you, and it ought to be stopped.’ ‘ Of course ; but how ?’ ‘ There is only one way that I can see. Let us have only one name between us. I cannot very well take yours. Will you take mine ?’ * by—why— ’ A light se c med to lueak in on her all at once. ‘ O, what a funny man you are ! That’s just the same as au offer of marriage. Vou can’t mean that, surely? It would be too-quite too—absurd ’ ‘I don’t see the absurdity,’ said his lordship rather gruffly. Were well-meant overtures ever so shamefully scorned ? ‘ Oh, but I do !’ Keziah’s little foot was playing with the fringe of the hearthrug. * I do. ‘ That is if you arc in earnest, which of course you’re not ?’ ‘ Rut I am in earnest. Why should you think I’m not ?’ ‘ You don’t know me; you can’t care for me. You never spoke to me till yesterday. You are only making fun, and it isn’t fair. 1 wish you’d leave me alone.’ Her eyes were full already. ‘J am to go away, then? That is your answer? She hid her free in her hands, and would not speak. ‘ You will be sorry foi his, perhaps, some day.’ She shook he> head most vigorously. ‘ Keziah Legh, you are the only woman I ever asked to be my wife. I shall never ask another. Good-bye, and God bless you !’ And Lord Featherstone, with a strange feeling of dejection and disappointment, left

the room. He could not have believed that within this short space of time he could have been so irresistibly drawn towards any girl. Now he was grieving over his failure as though he were still in his teens. Presently aunt Parker came in, and found Keziah sob (ring tit to break her heart. ‘ I don’t want him ! I don’t want him ! He can go away if he likes—to the other end of the world.’ ‘ Have you been very ill-used, my sweet ? What did he say to you ?’ * He asked me to marry him,’ she said with difficulty between her sobs. * Was that such a terrible insult then ?’ ‘He was only making fun, I don’t like such fun. .And I don’t want to see him again, m ver, never, not as long as I live !’ ‘ Kiss, you are right to consult your own feelings in this. But Lord Featherstone was in earnest, I think, and his intentions do Mm infinite credit.’ Then she told her niece what had passed. ‘ Still, if you don’t care for him, it is best as it is. Dry your tears. Kiss, and think no more about it.’ ‘ But I think I do care for him,’ she said, and began to cry again. Lady Carstaira became very much exercised in spirit as the days passed, and yet nothing positive was known of Lord Featherstone’s intentions towards Miss Keziah Legh. Old Primro e had not kept bia own counsel, and rumours reached her therefore from wiihout of the engagement. Yet no engagement was announced. She could not understand it at all. Then in the midst of her perplexity came Tommy Cutler with a startling piece of news. ‘ Have you heard Featherstone’s last ?’ he asked, when he brought her his budget one afternoon. ‘ No ; pray tell me.’

* He’s off to Central Africa. Means to run Cameron hard for his laurels. Going to walk from Tunis or Tripoli to the Cape of Good Hope.’ * Impossible ! He’s going to be married. At least, so every one says He could never lake a wife on such a journey, and men only leave old ones unprotected a‘ home.’ * I ha ye been telling everybody he was going to marry Kiss Legh,’ said Tommy with an injured air, as though people were personally reponsible to him for carrying out his gossip to the letter.

‘ I cannot understand it, I must know the rights of it. He is one of my oldest friends, and I cannot help taking an interest in him.’

She made many futile efforts to meet him, then she called and sounded the ladies in Kensington-square with whom she was moderately intimate. They put back her cross-examination mildly but effectually. But at last she met Featherstone face to tace and attacked him at o> ce. * Your hgh flown sense of honour did not hear practical test, then V ‘ How so, Lady Carstairs ?’ His coolness was provoking. * Why rush off to Central Africa, except to escape scandal ?’ *Am I going to Central Africa ? Perhaps lam. Why not?’ * Can it be possible that she refused you V 1 Who could refuse me, Lady Carstairs ?’ ‘No ; but do tell me, I am dying to know.’

* You must find some one else to save your life then.’

* But, Lord Featherstone, we shall see you once more before you start ? You will come and dine with us ? Just to say good-bye,’ ‘I will dine with you with pleasure, but not necessarily to say good-bye.’ He could not well escape from an invitation so cordially expressed, and the night was fixed. But he little thought what malice lurked beneath.

The party was a large one, and he, as was often the case, very late. When he arrived, ‘a bad last,’ the other guests wore that despairing look of martyrdom which waits on extreme hunger and the exhaustion of every topic of talk. But he entered gaily, as if he had come a little too soon, shook hands with the hostess, bowed here and there, nodded to one friend and smiled at another, then, last of all and to his intense surprise, his eyes rested upon Kiss Legh. Lady Carstairs had done it on purpose, of course; that was self-evident. Unkind, unfeeling, ungenerous woman ! For himself he did not care, bat it was cruel upon the timid birdling, so new and strange to the world. But fast as this conviction came upon him, yet faster came the resolve that Lady Carstairs should make nothing by the move. A thoroughly well-bred man is never taken aback, and Featherstone rose to the occasion. Without a moment’s delay, before the faintest flush was hung out like a signal of distress upon Keziah’s cheek, he had gone up to her, shaken hands, and spoken a few simple common-places which meant nothing, and yet set her quite at her ease.

‘ Miss Legh and I are very old friends,’ he said. ‘How do you do, Miss Parker? How is the coachman 2 Have you heard, Ssr John, the Prince is expected next week ? There will be great doings.’ And so on. That little Kiss was grateful to him f< r his self-possession, was evident from the satisfaction which beamed in her eyes. 0 those tell-tale eyes ! Now Lady Carstairs brought up her reserves and fired another broadside.

‘lt is s<> good of you, Lord Featherstone, to come to us ; and you have so few nights left.’

‘When do you go, Featherstone? and where ? ’

* Haven’t you heard ? To Central Africa,’ Lady Carstairs answered for him. Can this be true? Keziah’s eyes asked him in mute but eloquent language, which sent a thrill through his heart. ‘Where this story originated I cannot make out,’ said Featherstone slowly. ‘I am not going to Central Africa. On the contrary, I have the very strongest reasons for staying at home.’ ‘A id those reasons ? ’ ‘ Are best known to Miss Legh and myself.

Sir Bartle Frere, now Q-ovemor at the Cape, is confidently mentioned as the new Governor-General of India, in place of Lord Lytton, whose resignation is considered a mere matter of a few months. Thu Man who Vends os Imposts— As many do, an imitation or counterfeit of a popular medicinal cordial drunk by thousands, knowing what he vends or imports to be a pernicious article, deserves summary punishment. Beware of so-called tonics and diuretics recommended as better than or the same as Udolpho Wolpe’s Schiedam Aeomatio Schnapps, and purchase none but the genuine preparation. I — [Advt.]