LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2297, 13 August 1881, Page 4

LITERATURE.

THE LOVER’S LEAP. A Modern' Tale. (Continued.) Turning my head toward’s my aunt s excited face, I sang out, in a tone as eager and emplatlo as her own, ’ Luoy, did you say ? Yes, aunt, all right ; never fear ! ’ The cab was off before I could catch her distracted ejaculation; but I saw her hands uplifted despairingly, and plumed myself on the fright I had put her into. She was not, however, to be outdone by me iu this way, or baffled in having the last word. As we stopped presently at a station on the line a telegram was put into my hands. In contained the single sentence, in a clear clerky caligrapby that made me redden instinctively, ‘ Letitia, your blockhead ! not Lucy, for your life.’ An omnibus was at the station which was my final destination, the town itself being some little distance off. A heavy July morning having resulted now in a steady downpour, I made haste to secure a seat within the vehicle ; but notwithstanding my despatch I found It already well filled with passengers. Just as we were starting, a delay came. There was a rush at the doorstep, the conductor gave way, and a pile of wet garments tumbled in amongst us. There was no poa-ible room for another occupant; but before any of ns had recovered from the shower-bath which the dripping raiment had dispensed, a lady had taken her place—or rather my place—and I sprang into an awkward position, between sitting and standing, to escape receiving her in my arms, A thick-set gentleman in the corner, against whom it was thrown, was round on me In a second. He was in a muffler, and saw nothing beyond hie immediate vicinage. * What are you about, sir ?’ he exclaimed. * What do you mean by this violence P You had better go outside, or I will call the conductor.’ ml . , , , T • I beg your pardon. This lady 1

began. ‘No lady ia encroaching,’ he broke in sharply. *lt ia yon, sir, who are aggressive. It Is yon who have no seat.’ The conductor at this junction put in a round grinning face. ‘ We’ve but a drive of a minute or two,’ be said. ‘ P’r’aps the gen’l’man wouldn’t mind holding on by the door till then ?’ As I was In the farthest recess of the ’bus at the moment, and it was bumping terribly over an nnmaoadamised road, this proposal was of the wildest description ; but some one near the door did stand up, and I fell partially into a sitting posture again. It was scarcely unnatural that _my prejudice should be pretty strong by this time against the cause of the commotion, I deciied at once on her appearance. She was large, bony, and stern-featured, and with that disagreeable self-asserting air which marks the spinster of a certain age, who, with no other prop to cling to, ia tenacious of her * woman's rights.’ A glance to one side revealed, however, an unexpected vision. The lady was bluohingly young, undeniably pretty, and unmistakably shy. It was no doubt in a bashful rush that she had deposited herself anywhere to escape the awkwardness of claiming or soliciting a seat. She had evidently not forgotten my implied reproach for this procedure. The Instant the omnibus stopped, she started up, drew her dress and wrappings as far as possible out of the way, and rejecting my proffered assistance, sprang from the vehicle, disappearing rapidly down a side street.

It had been arranged that I was to put up. In the first instance, at the village inn, with the ostensible object of looking out for some fishing in the neighbourhood, and call casually with my ticket of introduction on the doctor’s family. I had a rod and tackle with me, but it was a line of another kind that was to claim the most oarefnl manipulation at my hands j so at ail events bad decreed my aunt Euphrosyne. Alighting now at the only hotel the place boasted of, I ordered something in the way of refreshment; and In the interim of awaiting its appearance, I set myself to an inspection of a photograph of Letitia Lufleigh with which my aunt had armed me. After partaking of a good wholesome meal, and feeling somewhat tired, I retired for the night. The morning was a fine one for fishing, so after partaking of breakfast, I set forth with my rod to the nearest brook, meaning at the same time to call at Dr, Lufieigh’s on the way.

Having obtained the address of the doctor from the landlord of the village inn, I was soon on my way there. In answer to my qnerie whether the doctor was at home, the servant informed me that Dr. Lnfleigh was engaged for a few moments, and requested me to come in and wait. Whilst waiting a young lady came into the room to look for some one, and at the same moment the doctor entered by another door. lat once handed him the letter from my annt, and he was pleased to see me, and introduced me to Miss Letitia.

Mias Letitia, thonght I ; can there be any mistake. This young lady was not like the photograph my aunt had provided me with.

Just at that moment another yonng lady came in, and the dootor introduced me to Miss Lucy. After spending a very pleasant morning with the young ladies, I took my leave, promising to call again the next day. There certainly was some mystery here ; could my aunt have made a mistake, and have given me the wrong photo. 1 oould not think that, for she was so particular about it.

Tho next morning I called at the doctor’s, and found Miss Letitia in the sitting-room alone. She rose to receive me, and, after some little talk about the weather, informed me that to-morrow was Mias Lucy’s birthday, and that the dootor intended giving a ball, and she hoped they would have the pleasure of seeing me there. Of course I at once promised, and claimed her hand for the first waltz.

After spending another very pleasant day with the family, I took my leave, promising to be early on the following evening. 1 wrote the next day to nay aunt, and told her that I thought Miss Letitia Lnfleigh would not salt me, and that I hadmade up my mind to return to town soon. When I arrived at the dootos’s the following evening, 1 found that a great many of tho guests were there already, and the doctor at once introduced me to them, and at the conclusion of that ceremony the mnaician commenced to play the opening waltz, and I went to remind Mias Letitia of her promise.

I was soon spinning about with her in its bewildering mazes. Bewildering, I say, for the remarks made in its pauses are not generally of the moat connected character. Mine embraced now a variety of adjectives, all of the warmest description, and alluding in such rapid transitions to the floor, the flowers, tho music, and mv partner’s paces, that I defy her to have taken umbrage at any particular piece of flattery—it would have been so impossible to decide whether it were personal or not.

1 Enchanting I enchanting ! Let ns pause for one second !’ I exclaimed suddenly. Certainly Miss Lufleig had great physical powers, whatever else she might possess. Wo had been whirling and whirling as if we were to go on for over, till I drew up at last with a gasp. My partner scanned me contemptuously.

* You don’t care for waltz’ng V she inquired, with her calm dull face as cool as a cucumber.

* O yes, of all things ; it is my passion I And more mindful of the jeopardised ‘twelve thousand’ than any considerations of exactitude, I seized her in the same breath round the waist, and before I know where I was, or certainly where she was, I had dashed her violently against an unoffending couple, had knocked them over, ourselves after them, and had trampled her pink silk In a crashed mass beneath my eet.

I con’dn’t get up. Something horrible came over me. It was a sen e e of suffocating shame ; and whenever I attempted a movement an awfnl rending sound—heartrending ia the truer term—warned me that I was hopelessly entangled In tho lower flounce of her dress.

What was Itodo ? The other gentleman and young lady were on their feet again In a moment, and here was I straggling igno-minious-ly on the ground, and, worse than all, pinning the stately Letitia to the lame posture of hozniliatioß.

How we were rescued, I cover knew. I have a dim remembrance of a glittering blade flashing before my eyes, of making one faint appeal for mercy, and of feeling in th--same moment the too tight link that bound me to my partner suddenly severed, while I stumbled to my feet, a new-made knight of the garter, with some dozen yards of pink and-whita fabric wound about my knee The evening came to an end for me, then and there. But fortunately the politeness of my host spared me any too marked mortifica tion, He pronounced the room too small for dancing, that be knew all along it wonld be foolish and hazardous, and refreshments being ordered in, the party shortly afterwards broke up. The pursuit of Letitla Lufielgh became a thing of terror to me after that night. But the very next post brought me such a peremptory threatening letter from my aunt that 1 determined at all hazards to go through with the business, to rush at a pro posal which I felt sure would be rejected, and thus, by my ready obedience, secure myself at least in the elder lady’s good graces, however disgracefully 1 might fall with the younger. (To he Continued.')