LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1208, 17 January 1878, Page 3

LITERATURE.

FOUND IN THE SNOW. [From “Tinsley’s Magazine.”] ( Concluded.) ‘ Next Christmas ! Nearly eight months. 0 Jamie, how can I live until then? ’ ‘ How did we live for three years, darling, without seeing each other P ’ he asked fondly. * But then you did not love me, and I kept my secret to myself ; now I know yon love me, and long to bo near you, Jamie ; and L—oh, I wish— ’ ‘ Don’t wish anything, darling, but be brave and wait, as I shall.’ ‘ But all those months ? ’

‘ All those months will strengthen our love. But there is some one coming, my darling. I gave my word to your grandfather that 1 wouldn’t influence you in any way. Be will doubt my word if he sees those tears.’

Putting her arms round his neck and kissing him, as she had done when a little child, Aime turned away to another windows whilst the door opened and Sir Walter and Mr Chapman entered. Both gentlemen greeted him with cold politeness ; and James Carlyon, proud and self-respecting as any lord in the land, met them in the same spirit, but with a courtesy that surprised both the men of the big world, and showed them off to disadvantage : a fact that Aime took in with beating heart and proud satisfaction.

There is nothing that appeals so strongly to a woman as the manner in which her lover comports himself in any exigency. To her it is a crucial test of his worth ; nay more, often of the strength of his love for herself. For her own heart tells her clearly enough that the man who loves her will, for her sake, hold his own bravely and dignifiedly. I will not believe in the accepted notion that a man, when he is in love, makes a fool of himself. The fool who is in love may stick to his colours, and the man to his.

James Carlyou was a king in himself, lord over himself, and as each enabled to carry himself with that true dignity, born of true worth and excellence, which would make him ‘stand before princes,’ every inch a prince himself. Sir Walter observed this, and marked it down in his favor. It was the second step he had made unwittingly. The first had been from the knowledge that the Carlyons were somebodies. But though that might not count for much in the eyes of some, it went a good way with the proud old wan, who believed so devoutly in good blood. Perhaps he was right, perhaps he was wrong. It is a subject that opens out an endless discussion ; but, after all, let us hope that our common parents were Adam and Eve, and not, as modern thinkers will have us believe, gorillas or monkeys. To Aime’s intense delight she heard her grandfather invito James Carlyon to dinner. Hut for her pleading eyes he would have refused ; but how could he resist such an entreaty ? ‘Mymothey is coming up from Scotland to-morrow night. I must beg you to let me off early if I accept your invitation, in order to meet her at nine o’clock. ’

‘ Oh, of course; and Aime and I will go off to the opera,’ said Sir Walter cordialiy.

The old man was well repaid during the rest of the day for what he had done. Aime looked as happy as a bird, and her face beamed with joy. The change was not unperceived by her grandfather, but at the same time it did not please him. This was the month of May ; in the first week of June they would go to Burnlees. Sir Walter resolved that he would do his utmost to make her forget James Carlyon. PARI- V. Christmas eve ; the snow several inches deep on the ground—the roads almost impassable. * Six miles to the station ; and no one but a madman would venture out to Burnlees.’ This was what Sir Walter Keane said with a grunt. Aime smiled and only kissed him. She knew some one who would venture, even if he had to walk that distance through the snow. Had he not told her often that, the night he found her almost buried in the snowdrift, he had walked four miles in the snow ? ‘ I know he will come, grandpapa.’ ‘ Very well, my love, we shall see,’ said Pur Walter. ‘ That is if you sent him the invitation.’ ‘Of course I did, my dear. You took good care I should. Y our infatuation about the fellow is marvellous —absurd.’ ‘ Think, dear, what a friend he was when I had no other ! Think how nobly and generously he has behaved ! ’ ‘ It’s the old story, child. However, as 1 told you before, you’ll have to choose between us.’

‘ No, no, don’t say that, grandpapa dear ; it is like tearing my heart in two ! Mon' hs ago, when it would not have been so hard, I might have done it—l would have done it, but he would not let me.’

‘Eh, what? You would have gone then ? ’

‘Yes. I did not love you as I do now, grandpapa dear. I love you so dearly, and I love him so dearly. It will break my heart either way to decide, ’ Sir Walter made no reply ; but he drew the kneeling form of his grandchild closer to him, and laid his hand lovingly on the little head.

‘ Then you do love the old man ? ’ he said after a pause, and his voice shook. ‘What need to ask, grandpapa? You know I do ; and I love James Carlyon too.’ ‘James Cailyon again I Hang the fellow! He always comes in between. Well, child, you’ll have to decide when he comes. ’ ‘ I cannot—l will not! ’ cried poor Aime. ‘ If you were not so good —if you had not suffered so much once before, through poor mamma, I Avould not care; but as it is, between you and Jamie, it is dreadful! ’ ‘ Very well; then he shall decide when he comes. I will put it before him. He is a brave man and equal to any emergency. on told me once, child, that you could plane your band in his blindfolded, and allow him to lead where he liked. Now 1 will put you to the test. If, when I tell him you are swayed both ways, he decides to give you up, you will remain with me.’ There was a silence in the room—only the crackling of the wood fire that burnt on the hearth in the deep old-fashioned fireplace. ‘ Do you hear, my child ? ’ ‘Yea, grendpapa;’ and the words were scarcely audible. So they sat on till nearly seven o’clock, and no sign of James Carlyon. Aime’s heart began to sink. If he did not come tonight ! But just as she had sunk into despair there was a loud barking of dogs, and she rose, Hushed and expectant, to her feet, ‘ I told you, grandpapa, he would come !’ ‘And you’re right, of course,’ said Sir Walter snappishly. ‘ But there, go out into the hall and see if it is he or his ghost. Aime was out in a moment, and had opened the hall-door herself, the snow beating on her as she did so, and almost blinding her.

Through the thick Hakes that fell she could see the form that she would have singled out iu a crowd, with head bent down and battling with the wind and snow.

Another minute, and he stood in the warm hall, looking like a picture of Father Christmas, beard and greatcoat covered with snow; and Aime’s arms were wreathed round his neck, spite of snow and wet, before he had time to take his hat off.

' My darling ! * ‘ I knew you would come, Jamie, in spite of the snow. Quick ! Take off your coat! Here, Douglas, help Mr Carlyon, and make haste and bring some hot water into the library. ’ Sir Walter rose from his seat, in spite of his goat, and shook his guest’s hand with a warmth that augured well.

‘ I never heard of such a feat! And our Cumberland storms are no joke, Carlyon. Upon my word, you deserve to win in any race.’

They were alone, and Aime had weepingly told her lover how she was situated. It was what he had dreaded; and as she left the decision to him, there was no alternative. He must give her up, or at the best wait for her. He was too generous and noble to doubt her love for himself: this was the one gleam of light in the cloud ; but it was like death to abide by hie decision. ‘So, so,’ said Sir Walter, ‘that is what you have resolved upon.’ ‘ There is no other alternative left us. Were you unkind to Aime, and she were unhappy, I should not hesitate ; but—but ’ —and James Carlyon tried to smile— ‘ have not exactly supplanted me, Sir Walter, but have become my rival, by the claims you are entitled to, and I withdraw mine.’ Sir Walter’s eyes twinkled. ‘ And you will not take my child from me?’

‘ No. She would be unhappy were I to do so.’

* You are quits sure ? ’ ‘Quite. Do you think, Sir Walter, that I do not know every thought of her heart by this time ? ’ * Well, then, Carlyon, look here. If you will not take my child from me, suppose you come and live here ? ’

James Carlyon started. ‘Don’t you understand? 1 am an old man, and the place woiald be intolerable without her now. Get married to night if you like—l dasesay the puss is ready—and como and live at Burnlees. Send for your Smother too if she will come.’ ‘ Do you really mean it, Sir Walter ?’ and James Carlyon’s face was a sight worth seeing. •Go and tell Aime what I have said. She knows I never say what I don’t mean. An hour later Sir Walter summoned the good vicar of Burnlees, and in the little chapel that had not been used since Sir

Walter’s own marriage the ceremony was performed. Mr .lames Carlyon had his licence still in his pocket; and for the satisfaction of my lady readers, I must inform them that Aime was married in the wedding dress that had been prepared for her when she was at Miss Johnstone’s.

The good old soul was on a visit to Burnlees now, and acted the part of bridesmaid. The first and last time in her life.

The snow had left off faffing, and the storm was over. The moon peered through the sky, that was relieved of its clouds, and lit up the white earth below; whilst the sound of bells came on the hushed air as they rang in the great festive morn, and Aims’s < hoir of boys sang lustily the sweet song that came in with the birth of the Son of Man,’ ‘Peace on earth, goodwill towards men.’

Sir Walter listened in his room, whilst below James Carlyon and Aime stood alone in the oriel window, her head resting against his broad shoulder, his strong arm encircling her slight form as they listened to the carol singers.

* It is thirteen years to-night, sweetheart, since I first held you in my arms. Little did I dream what a treasure I had found that Christmas-eve ! My snow treasure !my snow wife 1’ he exclaimed, with infinite tenderness.

Take care I do not melt away, Jamie.’

‘No; my love shall surround you like a wall of steel, darling ! Nothing but death could take you from me now.’