LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1405, 16 August 1878, Page 3

LITERATURE.

SNATCHED FROM THE BRINK. (Argosy.) (Continued.') About half an hour had passed thus, and I was just about to turn indoors when I heard wheels approaching along the road. They stopped at my gate, and presently a hired fly appeared in the drive, and drew up at the door; a tad figure, muffled in travelling wraps, alighted, and the next moment I was in my brother’s arras, pouring out ejaculations of surprise and broken words of wel come. After a hasty embrace he released me, paid and dismissed the cabman, then followed me into the drawing-room ‘ Where is Sidney ? ’ was his first question, as he glanced round the room. 4 She is spending the evening with Lady Hillyard ; we did not expect you till tomorrow. 1 will send and fetch her. ’ ‘Wait a moment,’ he interposed, laying his hand on mine as I was about to ring the bell. ‘ I want to have a little talk with you first. Sit down, Catherine.’ He tossed his wraps on to the sofa, and sank into a chair, running his fingers through his hair. “Handsome Dane,” as he had been called, was handsome still, I thought, as I looked at him ; but his face was worn and pale, and there was a look of haggard anxiety in his dark eyes. 4 Francis, why did you come to-night, you were not fit to travel!’ I said, involuntarily. He gave a short sigh. ‘ That is true enough, but I was in such a fever of anxiety that I could not wait until to-morrow. After what I had heard I felt that Sidney would not be safe till I was at her side. About those Light woods,’ he wont on abrupt ly; * how long have they been in Leamington ?’ ‘They took a house here about three months ago,’ I replied, ‘ Three months ? And he that’—he seemed to have a difficulty in pronouncing the name—‘that Forrester is with them? And Sidney has been visiting them ? Good heavens !’ He started up and began to pace about the room.

‘ How much do you know ? what has she told you ?’ he asked, suddenly, ‘ She has told me nothing. I only know from your letter that you object to the acquaintance—l conclude because you disapprove of Captain Forrester’s attentions.’ ‘Judge whether I have reason to disapprove of them,’ he returned, coming to a stop opposite me. ‘The scoundrel is a married man.’

For a moment I was too start’ed to speak. ‘ Does Sidney know ?’ I asked. He shook his head.

‘He has kept it so secret that his own sister does not know, I believe, I only learnt it myself by chance a month ago. He has been married six years ’ ‘ When did Sidney first meet him ?’ ‘ About a year back, at his sister’s house, in Madras He was in a regiment of Native Foot, and was over head and ears in debt, thanks to high play and fast living. Everyone knew that he was on the look-out for ‘ a pretty fool with money,’ to retrieve his fortunes - and the fool he selected was my daughter. He must have bewitched the girl, I think, for she has sense enough In other matters. Before I even suspected what was going on, he had induced her to engage herself to him, and had almost succeeded in persuading her into a clandestine marriage, knowing well that I should never give my consent.’ ‘ Rut he was married already !' ‘ Just so; but as I have told you, very few persons knew of that former marriage, and I presume he intended to purchase the silence of those who did with S idney’s money. He was aware that her mother’s fortune was under her own control Well, on discovering what was going on, I was indignant, as you may think, and I resolved to send Sidney at once to you I breathed more freely when I knew that the width of the Atlantic lay between her and Forrester. My security was of short duration, however, for a couple of months afterwards I learned that he had sold out, and gone, with his sister, to England. At first I thought of writing to warn you against him, but on reflection, I resolved to come instead. I got my leave at once, and sailed by the next ship—the Cheetah. On board, acting as valet to General Fenwick, was Forrester’s old servant, a Frenchman named Delplanque, who had been his “ame daranee,” for years, and was in all his secrets Forrester had borrowed money from him, it seemed, not a large sum, but all the poor fellow’s savings, and had given him the slip, and gone off with it to England. Out of revenge, Delplanque came to me and told me something that startled me—namely, that his late master was a married man. He had deserted his wife —a Frenchwoman—long before, and she was living with her own people. Delplanque had himself witnessed the marriage, but bad agreed to hold his tongue “ for a consideration ” He added that “M. le Capitaine” had boasted he should outwit me, and introduce my daughter to me on my return as Mrs Forrester. Imagine if you can what I felt on hearing that, and how my anxiety was increased when I accidentally learned at Southampton that the Lightwoods were living in Leamington. Well, thank heaven I have arrived in time And now, Kate, send for Sidney-or stay,’ he added, rising, ‘let us go and fetch her.’ I threw on my shawl again, and wc went out into the quiet night * Oh, the sweet English air !’ exclaimed my brother, lifting h ; s forehead to the breeze. ‘ How it takes me back into the long past, when we were all together in the dear old home I had looked forward to having one like it some day, Kate ’ ‘And so you will have, I'hope, Frank.’ ‘ Who knows ? I have learnt the folly of making plans for the future.’ We passed through the gate in the wall, and crossed the lawn and garden of the Cottage, where the flowers were pouring out their fragrance into the night The servant who answered our summons at the bell, and who was too well trained to betray any surprise at our untimely visit, ushered us at once into the room where Lady Hillyard was sitting, her favorite little sanctum on the ground floor, looking out on the garden. A shaded lamp stood on the table, which cast a circle of soft but brilliant light on the books and papers, leaving in half obscurity the silvered hair and delicate high-bred features of the mistress of the house, who was writing. One glance round the room showed me that she was alone.

She looked up as we entered, rose, and after peering doubtfully for a moment at my companion, came forward to him with both hands outstretched.

‘ Francis, my dear cousin, welcome home!’

He to k her hands, but his reply was uttered mechanically, and as his eyes wandered round the room I saw in them the same misgiving that had just struck chill to my own heart. * Where is Sidney ?’ he asked, hoarsely. She withdrew her hands, and looked in surprise from his face to mine. ‘I do not know,’ she answered; ‘she is not here; I have not seen her to-day. ’ ‘ Lucy, Lucy,’ I cried, hardly knowing in my agitation what I said; ‘ she must be h ere s he came here; I saw her go ’

‘My dear,’ she answered gently, ‘ Sidney is not here; she has not been here to night. Compose yourself, and tell me what has happened.’ ‘ she said she should spend the evening with you. I saw her pass through the garden at about eight o’clock, and she has not returned.’

‘ls the gate of your drive locked?’ demanded Francis, turning to my cousin. * No, not yet.’ ‘ That explains it: she came into your garden by one entrance, and Mt it by the other,’ he said, in a tone so unnaturally calm that I looked at him in wonder.

Ills face was white to the lies, and there was an expression upon the features that made them seem unfamiliar to me.

‘Lucy,’ he continued, ‘you have a carriage, 1 think? will you have it brought round at once, without a moment’s delay ?' She glanced at him uneasily, but imme ■

diately assented, and left the room to give the order.

He stood, with folded arms, looking down. I touched his shoulder.

‘ Frank, if we find them, you-you will not be ha y sh with Sidney?—promise me,’ I pleaded. ‘ Poor child ! her fault brings its own punishment ’

He looked at me gravely. ‘ I w iH n °t be harsh with Sidney, I promise you,’ he replied, ‘but I have a reckoning to settle elsewhere.’ He walked away from me to the hearth, and said not another word.

In ten minutes the carriage was ready. I sent a message to Carter that we should probably return late, and that she was to sit up for us herself ; then my brother gave the coachman Mrs L - ghtwood’s address, and we were soon whirling towards the town. A quarter of an hour afterwards wo drew up at the i ightwood’s door. ‘ The ‘ little dance’ had already commenced ; the rooms were brilliantly lighted, and when we were admitted, the window, in an elaborate demi-toilette of * feuille more ’ silk amber lace, was just sweeping across the hall, followed by her eldest daughter, Carrie, She was a tall, showy-looking woman of forty or thereabouts, with fine teeth, a made-up complexion, and a false smile.

Expecting to see another of her guests, she was coming forward to greet us with some stereotyped phrase of welcome, when, seeing who it was, she stopped short, her bland expression changing with ludicrous abruptness, to one of very genuine consternation, Recovering herself, however, she extended her hand to my brother, saying sweetly as she ushered us into a sittingroom : 4 Colonel Dane in England ! what a delightful surprise, and how good of you to drop in upon us directly you arrived. You have brought Sidney, I|hope. Where is she ? ’

4 Where is she ?’ he repeated sternly; ‘that is the question I am come to ask you.’ She drew back s step, her false smile fading, and, like myself, my brother evidently 7 read in her conscious face the confirmation of his worst fears.

‘lt is as I thought,’ he muttered, ‘they are gone,’ and his head drooped upon his breast.

‘ They who do you mean ?’ she questioned hardily, ‘ Oh, Mrs Light wood,’ I exclaimed, ‘you know well that Francis means my niece, Sidney, and your brother. ’ * What -they have eloped ? is it possible ?’ she said coolly i * but pray, Miss Dane, why should you take it for g-anted that I knew it ? I assure you it is news to me. lam not in my brother’s secrets.’ ‘ Not in all of them, I believe,’ interposed Francis; * you did not know, for instance, that he had been a married man for the last six years.' The change in her face was something to remember.

‘ Married! ’ she gasped ‘ Fred married ! Nonsense, I don’t believe it.’ He took from his pocket’book, and handed to her, a folded paper, the copy of the marriage certificate She glanced over it, then sank into a chair, her cheeks blanched to the color of the paper. (To ho continnod.)