LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1658, 13 June 1879, Page 3

LITERATURE.

IN A LINEN CLOSET. ( Concluded.) £ffcer that, a period of confusion, Mrs Wellford rushed frantically to her sister, and Madam Van Deusen sailed majestically after her, and deciding that Kathleen was only getting up a sensation. She felt a little more charitable, however, when she saw the girl’s white face, and gave orders to have her guest attended by her own maid, opined that Miss Cara was more delicate than she looked, and recommended bed and entire rest. So, when Kathleen came to her senses, she found herself on a genuine oldfashioned four-posted bed, quite Van Deusenish in appearance, and, for a moment, could hardly recollect where she was. ‘ I don’t know what business you had to give me such a fright,’ said Mrs Wellford, resentfully, quite regardless of the vicinity of !.the severe looking maid. ‘You had better not get up, ’ * Ella! oh, Ella ! don’t go,’ said the girl, struggling for breath, as memory returnedjto her. To whom could she appeal ? Not to

Mrs Welford. Like an inspiration, she remembered Tom, * I want to see Mr Archer,’ said she, at last. Mrs Wellford regarded her with, wondering eyes, ‘ Tom Archer I And pray, for what ?’ ‘ No matter, * said she, wringing her hands in distress. * Won’t you take a message to him ?’ ‘ Well, if I must, I must,’ said Mrs Wellford, who was longing to get away. 'Hurry, Kathleen.’ 'Ask him—’ ‘ What ?’ angrily impatient. ‘ If ho will see me, about something of great imporiance, in the conservatory, at seven o’clock to-morrow.’ She lowered her voice, so that the maid could not hear. Mrs Welford stared. At first she w»s startled out of all her propriety, and fairiy glared at the shrinking girl; then she suddenly remembered that Tom Archer—was Tom Archer, and, perhaps—- * Most extraordinary,’ said she. sarcastically. * But you are old enough to know your own business. Yes, I’ll tell him.’ Kathleen thanked her, faintly, and only begged that she would come back and give her Tom’s answer before retiring. Mrs Wellford promised, and floated airily off, forgetting the promise as soon as she had given Tom the message. The dance music swelled on, on, until Kathleen felt almost mad. After a while, lying still became intolerable. ohe persuaded the maid to give her a wrapper, and got into a chair by the window, letting the night air blow on her hot face. Twelve, one, two, the hours sounded out in succession from the clock on the mantel, and still Kathleen kept her watch. The starched-looking maid had fallen asleep on the sofa ; Kathleen, strung up to the utmost pitch of ntrvous agony, waited for her sister, and waited in vain. Every sonnd seemed to have died out in the house ; even the lights seemed to be all out. What could she do ! Ella must have forgotten; and, so thinking, Kathleen rose from her seat, took a candle ia her hand, and stepped into the hall. The Van Deusen mansion was a very large house, and the two wings spread themselves at either side of the home proper ; one was a recent addition, and two steps higher than the hall where Kathleen stood; the other wiog at the left was two steps lower. In her bewilderment, Kathleen did not remember this peculiarity. She knew Ella’s room was an end one, on the balcony, and she walked softly down the left-hand wing. Suddenly, to her horror, she heard sounds of laughter, and approaching footsteps from the other passage. Heavens ? It must be some of the other gentlemen coming up stairs. She stood irresolute, then a green baize door at her right caught her eye, and, without stopping to think of anything but the necessity of an immediate hiding place, she blew out the candle, turned the knob, and darted noiselessly in, tho door shutting with a spring behind her.

‘Good night,’ she heard Wilheim Van Deusen say outside, and then Somera’ voice, close to the door : ‘ I say, Tom, let me come in your room for half-an-hour. ?’ ‘ And welcome,’ said Tom, heartily. And then the next room door abut softly, and Kathleen bethought herself that she must creep out of her place of refuge. Easier said than done, however, for in her fright, she had gone into the centre of the room, and for her life she could not tell where the door was The dreadful, helpless feeling which groping in the dark always brings on came over her, and after taking several steps, ran plump against what she thought was a bureau. She had presence of mind enough to be silent, although she shuddered from head to foot, as her hand encountered a cold pile of something. It felt like linen -piles on piles of sheeting and table cloths. She had certainly invaded the secret precincts of Madam Van Beusen’s linen closet. But where was that door S' ‘So you see, Tom, I’m a deuce of a fix,’ said Heyward Somers’voice, so near her that Kathleen trembled violently. Now the fact was, that Madam Van Bensen, being like Mrs Gilpin, of frugal mind, and wishing to have a linen closet large enough to hold her grandmother’s, mother’s, ami her own supply of linen and damask, had refrained from asking Papa Van Deusen to build a closet for that express purpose ; but had, instead, conceived the brilliant idea of turning the dressing room of one of bar guest chambers into an abode for th© linen aforesaid. So the door of communication was carefully papered over (on Tom’s side of it) and the selves ran across it upon this side: but neither of the clever expedients were sufficient to shut out sound, and the entire conversation which followed was perfectly audible to the unwilling listener. ‘ I’ll horsewhip the life out of that fellow,’ Heyward was saying, when her senses cleared enough to understand the speaker. ‘But it’s a narrow escape for me i Cmsar’s wife should be above reproach, you know,’ ‘ I’d like to know what you moan,’ thundered Tom, in stentorian toms. ‘ Mean ?’ said Heyward, coolly. ‘ Why, I came so deuced near it—marryiug the girl, you know.’ ‘lf you are talking of Miss Clare,’ said Tom, in a voice that thrilled Kathleen, * I’ll thank you to speak respectfully. How do you dare ? Look here, Somers, we may as well understand each other. Are you engaged to her ? ’ * No,’ said, Somers, in a tone which made Kathleen clutch her hands, and long to knock him down. ‘ We—aw —had—a- kind of love affair, you know. Hope she won’t take it to heart .’

Judging by the sounds, Kathleen thought there was a scuffle. What Tom did was to fly np and shake Somers by the collar, violently. ‘ You pitiful hound,’ cried Tom. * You’ll answer to me for every word of that didn’t d’ye hear?’ • Take your hands off me. sir, said Somers, haughtily. ‘ What right have to interfere in the matter ?’ ‘Right!’ echoed Tom, quite beside himself. ‘Because I love her with all my heart. I didn’t speak, because I fancied yon were beforehand with me; but I’m hanged if I’ll stand aside now. She needs a strong arm, and she shall have it—God bless her 1’ ‘ Tom Archer !’ said Somers, so stunned by this revelation that he forgot the shaking, ‘ you don’t mean to propose to her without knowing whether Valdor had—* Tom swore —he couldn’t help. ‘ It’s a lie,’ cried he. ‘I don’t believe it, neither do you. Look at her face, and dare tell me that you place any dependence on that villainous Frenchman’s sneers ’ There was a pause. If Tom could have been the soft, tearful eye at the other tide of the door I ‘ Well,’said Somers at last, ‘if you can overlook it I suppose I can, Tom, ’ rather pleadingly, ‘ give me a chance to ask her a few questions before you speak.’ ‘ I won’t’said Tom, flatly, regardless of good breeding. * You don’t deserve it. I shan’t succeed (put my ugly phiz beside your confoundedly handsome one and you’ll see why), but 111 lay all I have at her dear little feet—see if I won’t 1’ The door of Tom’s room banged violently ; apparently Somers did not care to continue the subject; and sitting down on the floor of Madame Van Deusen s dark linen closet, Kathleen wept the bitterest tears she had ever shed. But Kathleen was compelled to wait until morning before she could open the refractory door; and I don’t think Tom went to bed at all, for at five o’clock he concluded to go and take a walk, and just as he stepped into the hall, Kathleen discovered the provoking extra knob which had kept her ‘in durance vile ’so long. What Tom saw was a white-robed figure issuing from the baize door.

‘Tom!’ said Kathleen, and then burst into tears. ‘ My dearest, what is it ?’ demanded Tom, catching hold of her 5 for something in her face set him wild with joy, ‘ I was shut up in the linen closet,’ sobbed she, and I couldn’t help hearing every word you said—of me—- * Linen closet ?’ gasped Tom. ‘There,’said Kathleen, succinctly, pointing to the open door. ’Thank heaven!’ said Tom. suddenly comprehending her meaning. * Kathleen, if you would—if you would —could you care for a plain, awkward fellow like me ? Is it yes,’ darling ?’ It certainly looked as if it was. for she threw both arms around his neck and sobbed there in such a tempestuous fashion that Tom was frightened, and picking her up bodily, carried her to a sola in the other hall. And they sat there, talking eagerly, until a stir below warned them that the ffieivaot® were up, and that, unless they meant to afford foundation for a lively

gossip, it behoved them to depart to their respective rooms. Comte Valdor and Somers were exchanging a ceremonious salute as they chanced to meet on the lawn, after breakfast, when Kathleen came up on Tom’s [arm. * Gentlemen,’ she said, in a quiet, 000 l voice, ‘I am told that a misunderstanding has arisen between you on my account, which a few words can explain. Comte Valdor, you have six little notes of mine, written when at school in Geneva; will you oblige me by giving them to Mr Archer, and also relate in my presence the story of an evening’s boat-row, which you referred ,to lart night?’ Valdor caught Tom’s menacing eye and read its meaning; in a rapid second he balanced the game and selected his role, * Certainly, Mademoiselle,’ he Eiid, bowing profoundly. ‘ You have misunderstood me strangely, . The notes shall be at M. Archer’s disposition. Is it to be wondered that I have cherished them m mementoes of a kindly friendship. The evening on the lake —helas! the moonlight was spoiled by the presence of Susanne, who accompanied mademoiselle on her escapade. I must express my profound sorrow at the contretemps of fa=t night; may I also present my felicitations to M. Archer ?’

With the least bit of a smile, Kathleen swept a curtsy to the baffled Frenchman ; then turned away. ‘The Hercules haa now mon ami,’ said Valdor, glancing at Somers’ disturbed face. ‘We have no more quarrel? Accept the assurance of my sentiments the most distinguished,’ and he walked away with unruffled composure. •Upon my word,’ said Madame Van Deusen, standing on the piazza, as the carriages rolled away with her guests, *I am glad those fast people have left. Miss Clare has made a great catch. Did you know she was engaged to Tom Archer, Wilhelm ? Mrs Wellford told me. Dear me, how that fete has upset the house ; every nook and cranny wants cleaning—even my linen closet. Will you believe it, I actually found the door standing wide open, and some withered roses on your grandmother’s best damask tablecloths ; roses tied with blue ribbon. How they got there is more than t can teli. I should like to know if any of those fine ladies went prying into my linen closet!’ But Madam Van Deusen remains mystified to this day, for Tom and his wife know how to keep a secret.