LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1097, 4 January 1878, Page 3

LITERATURE.

AN APPALLING APPETITE.

[From “Tinsley’s Magazine.”] (' Continued .) William Bomber, Grasper’s clerk and factotum, though only fifty, with his bent figure, wrinkled brow, sunken eyes, and prematurely white hair, actually looked older than his master with the full burden of seventy years upon his shoulders. The face of the man was fine and intellectual, though in ruins. It was easy to discern that cankering care, gnawing grief, and scathing sorrow had, for many years past, made it their special hunting ground; and sad havoc they had played with it. The prime cause of the poor fellow’s sorrows and sufferings has been intimated j already so fully that there is no need here to refer to the matter again at length. The unhappy man knew full well that when his master threatened to ‘ detect him in another robbery,’ as he craftily expressed it, this was not a mere idle threat. Where his personal interests were concerned, Grasper was the most unscrupulous of men, who would certainly not stop short of perjury to accomplish his iniquitous ends. Still, such was the clerk’s truly paternal affection for Florence Walden, whom he had known and cherished from her earliest babyhood, that he was fully resolved the poor orphan should not be left wholly at Grasper’s mercy whilst he, Bomber, was in the house, and that he would at least shield her from the worst, at whatever risk or coat to him and his . Grasper was determined not to let fhc grass grow under his feet. So he took the earliest opportunity on the self-same day to seek Florence in her own room, having previously taken care to send Mrs Pall out of the way, of which Miss Walden’s faithful attendant skilfully availed herself to inform Sir Richard, through her lover, Tomlins, the baronet’s own man, that in an hour’s time or so the coast would be clear, as Bomber had told her that Grasper had an important appointment to attend to at the Court House, which would be safe to detain him there for a couple of horn s. When Grasper entered the room he pressed his left hand on his heart, kissing his right to Florence, and twisting his ancient face into ridiculous amorous contortions.

‘Sweetie, dearie Floy !’ he cried, striving in vain to soften the natural harshness and sharp grating sound of his voice, ‘let me bid my golden haired darling a warm welcome to her home with a loving kiss.’ And the hideous old man advanced to embrace the poor child. But Florence waved him back with cold stern severity, to his evident amazement.

‘ Mr Grasper !’ she began. ‘ Mister Grasper!’ he interrupted her, ‘and in what a freezing tone? Why this cold formality, sweetest Floy ? You, who used to call me “ dear uncle ” and “ guardic dearest.’ ”

‘ I called you so in my fond belief in your austere integrity and in the sincerity of your professed paternal affection for me, ’ she replied coldly. ‘'l hat belief you have destroyed, sir—destroyed entirely and for ever. ’

Grasper was startled, he could hardly trust his ears. What sudden change had come over the child whom he had ever known timid and submissive ? ‘ Florence !’ he cried, in angry amazement. ‘ What means this ? I cannot permit you, Miss ’ ‘ Stop, sir I Hear rue out and interrupt me not 1’ she cried, with quiet dignity. ‘I must and will speak, sir. I cannot and will no'; boar this leaf raent even for one brief hour longer. I will have you understand, once for ail, Mr Grasper, that your detestable protestations, which so ill befit your white hairs and your professions of piety, are inexpressibly shocking to me. How can you reconcile this infamous persecution ’ Here Grasper, who was listening with growing amazement, would have attempted to stop her, but she imposed silence upon him with an irresistibly commanding wave of her arm, and ran on impetuously, ‘ Nay, interrupt me not ! How can you reconcile this infamous persecution—l repeat it, how can you reconcile it with the sacred promise given on his deathbed to my dear departed father, who with his dying breath confidingly left me to your paternal care—your solemn vow to watch over me with the tenderness of a second father, and to shield me from all harm ? I. wonder, sir, you can face his likeness looking down on you,’pointing to a life-size portait hanging on the wall. Grasper was well-nigh overcome with surprise and rage. ‘I must say, miss,’ he shouted at last, almost choking with cholcr—‘l must say — I—l—l am surprised—l am amazed—amazed, I say, at your daring! You, to talk to me in this style ! Is this your gentleness, your submission ? In this the way in which you cherish and obey me, as you vowed to your dying father? Have you, then, forgotten your sacred promise? Fear you not the Lord’s anger and his avenging hand '!’ ‘ Blaspheme not, Mr Grasper, pray. Take not the holy name of the Lord in vain, sir,’ Florence replied, with stern severity. ‘No, sir, I have not forgotten my promise. It is not given to every one to play light with solemn vows. With the Lord’s gracious help, I will faithfully strive to keep that promise, though your conduct and bearing to me make it a hard task, indeed. Ui .til 1 come of age I will not marry without your consent, and I will, till then, be submissive and obedient to you in all things properly within the limits of a guardian’s competence and authority. But, mark me well, Mr Grasper, not one hair’s breadth beyond these limits. I -would have you remember, sir, that my father was a man of stern character and resolute will ; and if you persist in this infamous persecution, you will and shall find that I am my father’s true daughter. And as you eeem disinclined to quit my room, I must even leave you in possession and seek a retreat in some other part of my father’s house.’ And she walked out with the same cairn stately digni y which she had maintained throughout the somewhat stormy scene. (/rasper, \\h<> had in vain endeavoured 1.0 ntemipl the impelumis flow of her indig •taut denunciation ul !us vile conduct, looked ifter her in utter bewilderment. ' What termagant!’ ho exclaimed when she had left. ■ What a - a—-a she-dragon ! Can this be gentle timid Florence ? To defy me (bus to ujy face! I must find means to curb this unaccountable outbreak of fierce temper. he shall know who is master here, iSbe shall not board me again in this fashion. She shall be made to bend and yield to me I* k To is continued*)