LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1892, 17 March 1880, Page 3

LITERATURE.

A LUCKY SOVEREIGN. They made a strikingly contrasted picture standing in the warm June twilight, and the fragrant odors of the roees and the woodbine and budding grapevines lingered around them as if the tender scents were fitting tributes to them. Two fair girls, the same age to an hour, and as unlike as sisters could possibly be, and each a perfect type of her own style of loveliness—both of them peeresses in their royal dower of beauty. Rose stood leaning against the railing of the veranda, her haughty eyes, that could melt from the cool, brilliant grey they now looked, into such liquid darkness when occasion required—splendid, calm, cold eyes—were roaming away out into the gathering dusk that was falling in a purple grey tissue over wood and lawn.

She turned her face toward ber companion. Her eyes suddenly recalled their wandering, listless glanoes, and showed a half-vexed, half-amusea expression. ' Belle, how much longer are you going to stay here—at least, how much longer do you want to stop ? I am sure I shall die of ennui if I have muoh more of it.'

'Oh, don't think of going baok to town yet, Rose. I wish we might never have to go.' ' Never go back ? Why, Belle, is it possible yon are so infatuated with the country as to whh that ? Child, for three months it is all very woll to bury one's self as we are buried, and I've no doubt that mamma will feel much better and stronger for it; but to stay any longer in a hired cottage, with only one half grown girl to assist in'the workjand no amusement of any sort, and our joint stock of earnings exhausting itself daily. I tell you, Belle, I prefor our own suite of rooms at home, and my music scholars, and your book-keeping, jwith a ohance of occasional enjoyment.' ' I dare say you are right, dear. But Ido love the country, Rose.' ' So would I if, for instance, I lived in the mansion over yonder —Farnley Court, you know where the stately housekeeper showed us through, and descanted on the many qualities and vast wealth of its owner. I forgot to tell you, Belle, that there will be a grand reception given a week after he gets back, and he is expected hourly.' Belle lifted her eyes in a graceful little gesture of surprise. ' A reception ? Oh, Rote, and of course there'll be a dance. Oh, dear, how I'd lik3 to go!' •Of course you'd like to go. But do not think for a moment that the aristocratic families around here would condescend to associate with us ?' Belle's face grew stern. ' Why not ? We are Indies born and bred, if wa do work for a living.' ' You foolish child. I can tell you our faces and our handsome dresses, if we had them, would take us where our family name would not. And I can tell you something else, Balle ' — The little gate at the road side opened at that moment, and the sound of lagging footsteps coming toward the house interrupted Rose's remark, and then a dusty, travelstained man paused at the foot of the steps, and touched his dingy hat to the girls. He wa3 evidently one of the many respectable, discouraged, disheartened men one so often sees tramping through the country in search of work. Rose drew herself up. 'Go away, we have nothing for you. We don't encourage tramps here.' He touched his hat. The rim was decidedly battered and dusty. * I beg your pardon, ladies, but if yon will give me a—' Rose swept across the floor angrily. 1 Will you march on ? or I will have the dog Bet on you. Belle, go tell Jane to unfasten Rover.'

The man turned away slowly, as if to move was an effort, and Belle sprung up in an impulse of remonstrative protest. * Rose, how can you be so heartless ? He is pale as death, and only see how he drags himself along. You might have lot him sit down a minute, and at least have given him a kind word and a piece of bread and -butter.'

A contemptuous laugh pealed from Rose'e red lips. • Tired and ill! Drunk and a thief, you'd better say. A piece of bread and butter ! Absurd, Belle!' Belle raised her finger warningly. ' Oh, Rose, don't. He'll hearyou.' Rose raised her voice a key higher. • Let him hear, then. Perhaps you h*d better sit and watch that he does not faint and fall.'

She swept haughtily into the house, leaving Belle with her cheeks flushing and a compassion born of sweet woman sympathy glowing in her blue eyes as she watched tho man walk slovrly and painfully along, and finally halt at the gate, as if in discouragement at the long stretch of road between him and the next house, where he might find what Rose had rudely denied—the magnificent country seat of Lionel Granville, from whose doors no beggar was ever turned away hungry. Belle saw him, and her quick instincts told what her manner meant.

Quick as a bird she dashed up stairs to her room and snatched her portemonnai from the bureau drawer, and was down again with a sovereign in her hand, as she ran softly after him, still leaning against the gite-post, and still looking with that same strange expression on his fpale face at the towers of Fernly Court. ' Here, please. It isn't much, but it's all I have to spare. Take it, please.' He looked surprisedly at her and then at the money. ' You are very kind, but you are mistaken. I only wanted a —' Belle thrust the money in his hand. * Never mind, please. I think I can see yon are proud; but please take it. There!'

Ho seemed amused at her eagerness, but made no more ado about accepting the gift and pocketing it. and he stood and watched her slim figure flitting away like a spirit in the dusk.

The next day P.ose came into Belle's room, radiant as she only permitted herself to be under rare circumstances, her gray eyes flashing and her red lips parted in a smile of triumphant delight. ' Belle, see this ! Now what do you say?' She laid a square, monogramed envelope in the girl's lap, addressed to Misses Melton, and bearing inside invitations to the reception at Fernfy Court for a fortnight from that night. Rose watched the girl's sweet faco glow under surprise; then saw, to har amazement, the flush of delight fade. 'Well, Belle, of course we'll go. I'll take soma money I can spare and get some Suisse and wear natural flowers with it, and I know you have a sovereign laid aside for an emergency. You can get a good many things with it—gloves and a sash, you know— and who knows but *what Lionel Granville may be captivated.' Belle laid the envelope softly down. ' I can't go, dear, unless I wear my old white muslin, which will look wretched beside your new Suisse. I—l have spent all my money. * Rose frowned.

' Spent your money ? Why, I saw it yesterday morning in your drawer. I noticed that the edge of the sovereign wag a little chipped, and remember wondering if it w»3 a good one or not. Spent your money, Balle, what do you mean ? Belle met the vexed eyes as calmly as she could.

She was just a little in awe of this magnificent sister of hers.

' I gave it to that poor man last night, Rose. I was bo sorry. lam sure he wasn't the sort of man to talk to as you did. I know he deserved the money.' Rose Bat down and folded her hands in icy wrath.

'Give a sovereign to a tramp—a beggar ! Well, if this doesn't paBS my comprehension ? ' Rose swept out of the room—she was like a Duchess in her rrovemente —and poor Belle went on with her sewing, wondering if her old white muslin wouldn't look pretty well if it was nicely got up ; thinking there was a sea-green sash somewhere she had never worn, and a pair of white kids at home that Rose could go for when she went to buy her Suisse. So with tea roses in her golden tresses, and the sea-green sash knotted on her skirt, she went to the ball—a simple, exquisite toilet, that made a very Undine of her, that made people turn their heads

for mora than a second look when she and Rose entered the magnificent ball room. It was perfectly delightful every way, Mr Granville possessed none but high-bred Intelligent friends, and the Hisses Melton were treatfid accordingly. The music was heavenly, and from her seat, where she eat like a queen in state, Bose watched her handsome host, who had bowed low over her head when he was introduced—watched him, aa in his quiet, selfpossessed manner, he went among his guests. Her heart was beating. Would he, oh, would he, ask her for the first dance, or would he go among the groups of stylish ladles from the city, any of whom would be so honored by his attention? And then Eose saw Mr Granville go straight across the room right by her, and bow s'owly to Bslle as he said a few words and offered his arm.

' Belle ! Belle to lead the grand quadrille ! Belle on Lionel Granville's arm, the observed of all observers—as fair as a sea nymph and as graceful, so sweetly unconscious of her radiant beauty.' Bose sat gloomily through the first quad, rille, and watched Lionel's pale, handsome face as he bent it very near Bella's golden curls—his ardent, admiring eyes that looked so eagerly into the sweet, girlish face that o'hers besides Rose noted his attention.

Then, the dance over, Lionel gave Bella his arm.

' This has been a delightful quadrille, Miss Melton. By the way. did you know I have something that belongs to you V They had reached Rose's chair by this time, and Bille turned laughingly to him. ' Something of mine ? I do not see how that can b 9, Mr Granville. Do you Rose ?'

Rose favoured him with her most fascinating smile. 'lndeed, I do not, seeing that this is the first time we ever saw Mr. Granville.

He smiled in Belle's eyes, ' I'll leave you to fathom the mystery. T?on't forget the first waltz for me, Miss Belle.'

He went away—so handsome, so courtly ; and Belle's foolish little heart was throbbing with new vague delight, while Rose wa3 almost suffocating with envy at the signal triumph of her sister. Mr. Granville came for his waltz.

He drew her hand through his arm almost authoritatively. ' Miss Belle, it seems I have always known you, yet you say you never saw me before. Suppose we take a walk through the conservatory instead of having this waltz.' Into the fragrant semi-dusk they went, where fountains tinkled and rare flowers bloomed, and the musio came in veiled sweetness and richness.

' I want to be sure I'm right, Miss Belle, when I say I have something of yours. Look at me closely. Have you never seen me before ?' He bent his face near hers. It was gravely smiling—and so tender and good—and Belle looked timidly at the smiling yet stern eyes.

' I am sure I never saw yon. before, Mr Granrille.'

' Then have you never seen this ?' He drew from hia vest pocket a sovereign—the very one, with a tiny bit chipped off it, that Belle had given the tramp. ' Don't you understand, dear child ? I had taken a freak into my head that I would walk from town here, and It was a great walk, and it took three days, and ruined my clothes. I stopped at your cottage to get a glass of water. You know the rest.' Belle's face was a marvel at that moment. ' In your kindness and goodness you gave it to me, Miss Belle, and the little act gave me an insight into your heart that a year of ordinary intercourse could never do. I shall set a price on it, and if you are ever ready to give it yon can have it.' He put the money reverently away in his breast pocket, and took her out among the crowd again, a strangely happy girl. And before the Summer roses had faded Belle paid the price of the chipped sovereign —her own heart—that Lionel tiranville had pleadsd for eagerly. She is the mistress of their grand house now, and Bose visits her once a year, not oftener, because Belle's husband doesn't care much for her. But the invalid mother has a life-long home amid the luxuries of Fernley Court, and Belle is happier than the birds that sing in the trees of the big old park.