LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1703, 5 August 1879, Page 3

LITERATURE.

ALBA MAYNB. Chapter I, Gertrude Atley and Guy Hamilton ware 1 engaged. Just how it came about was a ' mystery to outsiders, who knew the prita- : cipals, rather bstter than they did themselves. Gertrude was a flirt and a belle of three years’social standing—that is, she had had that recognised position for that long, but she flirted before she was long cut of the cradle, and began counting her scalps before sho had reached her teens.

Now she was a handsome, sslf ; poised woman, who could wind moat men around her finger, and Guy Hamilton had not proved an exception. At tho outset no one ever suspected that there was going to be anything serious in the matter.

Guy was young—not very much the senior of la hellc Gertrude—earnest, handsome, and of good family. There his advantages ceased. He was poor—gauged by such standards as Mies Atley and her set were likely to use—and be had his future to make for himself. Naturally, he would not be ready to marry for some years. If he could only stay in the race for honors and profit, without doubt he had the brains to bo well in front. And yet It was always supposed that Gertrude was biding her time for money. At any rate, they were engaged, and been for six months.

Guy had been working hard all summer, and being invited to spend a week with the Stanhopes, consented cheerfully. He had earned a rest, and Gertrude, fresh from a campaign among the summer resorts, was to be there also, with half-a-dozea other friends of the Stanhopes and his own. He comes down with a short gun and a pointer—Charley Stanhope was an old sporting ally—and he came down with the leek of a man more bent upon a good time with the birds than playing the ardent lover. He found the friends that he expected. 2n addition was Hurd Decker, whom ho did not like.

Decker was a man who might have been double Hamilton’s age, or considerably less than that.

His splendid form showed no signs of failing strength, and his head was known as one of the clearest upon Wall street ; but his- face had a battered Jook, that art nor effort could disguise. In his young days he had gone the pace with the wildest of his set 1 for a time, and then for a while dropped out of sight. There were whispered stories of a brawl, ending in blood, and the like, but the rights of it were never known, nor the history of these years when he was a wanderer. Some one-did say ho had been a soldier of fortune in -the Egyptian rank, and that be had been seen on the decks of a long, low craft in the China Sea, that went creeping out in the wako of a richly laden merchantman, from that'day to this a missing craft. Of course, all that was forgotten, or at least buried now* There was not a sounder name than his OQ-the street, ho was worth a million or more, and Mr Stanhope and he were just now partners in a South American enterprise that was to net them an immense fortune.

Still Guy Hamilton did not like him. Alba Mayne was another person whom he came prepared to dislike, She was not one of the Stanhope circle proper, hut lived within a short distance, and being Natalie Stanhope’s most intimate friend, she oame and went at discretion.

Of her Guy had heard much, and, unfortunately, one of her most salient points had been discussed.

He believed she was a loud, masculine woman,.coarse in voice and callous in heart, a feminine freebooter bearing the black flag, who wooed hearts to crush, and fettered souls tothelr ruin. He had the faint glimmerings of an idea that she might work mischief batween Gertrude and himself, and went down with a solemn resolution to avoid her. How well he would carry that out it required time to show. Charley Stanhope met him at the depot and brought him over at rather a late hour —so lata, in fact, that he only had a glimpse of Gertrude, who greeted him rather languidly, and spent most of the time sketchinc out the plan of the next day’s campaign, in which he was expected to participate. The next morning an excursion to the Black Rook was in order—a rollicking, jolly affair. He was a shade late in coming out upon the broad piazza, and Charley Stanhope was calling his name, A large waggon was fitted up with temporary seats, and perched upon the front one, holding the reins over four horses, was Hurd Decker. So much Guy saw before his eyes found Gertrude. Her ample skirts covered the rear seat, and he knew, without being told, that a share of it was reserved for him.

‘ Hop up here !’ shouted young Stanhope. ‘ It’s a long twelve miles, and nothing to eat until we get there.’ ‘Hop up here !’ answered young Hamilton. as he swung himself over a wheel and settled himself into his place, and with a lively cheer off went the party. j4s far as outside appearances went everybody seemed satisfactorily paired ; certainly Guy Hamilton had no cause to grumble, since ho had his finances to himself. I don’t know whether it was by chance, or by some subtle hint known to the sex that Gertrude conveyed to the occupant of the next seat; at all events, for a time they were left unmolested, and able to run over their mutual confidences unobserved. What they had both been doing was commented on, Of course, the two corresponded, and know pretty well what had transpired since they had met, but there was plenty to say, for all that. In due course of time their conversation flagged a little, and they began to look towards those in front.

‘ What is it, Guy ?’ Gertrude could see him casting glances ahead, a puzzled look upon his face. • The gentleman who handles the whip is Hurd Decker. I believe I have seen him before. But why is his companion ? There is something strangely familiar about her face, but, for the life of me, I can’t place her.’

‘ Sure enough" That, sir, is your special antipathy, Miss Alba Mayne.’ Guy pursed up his lips as though preparing to whistle, then-checked himself, and looked at Gertrude with such a quizzical, half-frightened expression, that she laughed outright. You see, in the light of her superior, social experiences there was to her, a good deal of the boy about Guy Hamilton, dis face was as easy to read as a printed bcok. When Gertrude stopt laughing she was solemn enough. She was not altogether pleased with the impression that Alba had made. •So she puzzles you already. Let me advise yon to let the riddle remain unread. You are too honest and single-hearted to understand her. I own that I don’t, and you know, young man, that 1 have some skill in unravelling a cipher.’ «Yes.’ He brought that word out slowly and hesitatingly. ‘But you don’t mean to say ttat all these yarns you girls tell about that young lady are true ?’

1 Guy !’ Her warning recalled him to himself. Such questions as that should not have been asked in a serious tone. He knew that he had offended, « Bog your pardon, but it doesn t seem possible that that young lady ever wore “ a bloomer,” and pitched game for the *' Blue Stocking Nine,” She hasn’t the muscle.’ ‘A pleasant way that to talk about a young lady—as though she was a horse. Nevertheless, it took, speaking in a slangy way, both nerve and muscle, and Miss Mayne has both.’ _ • I don’t see where it is,’ said Guy, a little ruefully, for he felt that he was involving himself in disgrace, and yet, for the life of him, ho could not give up the subject. • It is hard for a fellow to believe some of these things, and yet —’ • Perhaps they will make you feel easier about putting your neck and mine under

hil especial charge and safe keeping. I wofflder Mr Decker allows each nonsenSl, though.’

The "earn had been made up by a process of general selection, taking four sorrels that had nevef worked together in their lives b«fore, and some of them had had precious little experience in harness. They were all fine, large animals, with glistening coats and high spirits. The waggon and harness were strong, and as long as Hurd Dicker's muscles stood they would make s dashing team. There had had been somo plunging, and a few abortive attempts to get away, but by this time they had sobered down into a long, sweeping trot, and at this juncture Alba proposed to take the lines and try her hand at the task of steering the thorougH-brfeds. To give Hurd Decker credit, ho- did not seem inclined to relinquish the ribbons, but Alba was persistent, and in the end 1 ohe had her own way, ‘ Look out, all ! Alba Mkyno has taken the helm, and you had better pick soft places to drop. Thera will be a spill,, certain.’

When Charley Stanhope shonted this there was a successive chorus-of' screams and protestation, to all of wliioh Alba paid no attention, but sent the sorrels along at a slightly accelerated pace, yet bolding them well in her hand.

Guy Hamilton craned his neck and watched the little form that swayed slightly to the strokes of the team, yet never' any indication of a lack of strength or fear of consequences. How and then he got a glimpse of the side of her face as she turned to drop a word to her companion. No wonder he cou’d scarcely believe thst ; this was the Alba Mayne of whom he had heard sc much, her looks were so much at variance with her reputation.

She was a blonde of the pmrest type, under rather than over the medium height. Every line of her figure went to make up perfection itself

Just now there was not a sign of merriment in her face, or of timidity either. One could well* have believed that with her it was a sort of' religious duty to drive this identical four ia hand. Gny looked and could not listen, he heard nothing of what Gertrude was saying. For a time the sorrels behaved admirably under what every one had to acknowledge was skillful culture; but still Alba’s principal duty was to see that their heads were straight, and they didn’t go too fast. It would require an approach to a catastrophe to test Miss Mayne’s skill fairly.

That came, however. As they swept' allsag at a swinging gait they neared a horse and cart. Tno quadruped was tied to a fence at the side of the narrow road; the cart was just outside of the track, and any ordinary eye could see that, though the room' was scant, yet room there was, by keeping the beaten track. No one supposed that the animated bag of bones at the fence, with drooping head and closed eyes, would take any notice of outside affairs.

Yet just as the four'horses were passing at a spanking pace, the old animal awoke, renewed the spirit of his youth by a tug at his halter and a backward- movement, not far, but sufficient to thrust the rear of the cart right in the path of the coming wheels, and striking hard against’ the hub of the off wheel. {To ho continued.)