LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2407, 22 December 1881, Page 4

LITERATURE.

A SMOKER’S TRIUMPH. [From “Time.”] Beryl is just tweuty-one boo is tall and graceful ; fair as a lily, and as beautiful. She is tho only child of tho late Sir Gerard Blythe, of Bosoobel Towers, Torquay, an orphan and an heiress Last year she laid her well-worn mourning aside ; this year she is enj lying the London season con. amore. Sho is living in Grosvenor square with her grandmother, the Dowager-Countess of Dangerfield. Her constant companion and quasi-chaperon is beautiful Mrs Glynn Litigh, an attractive young widow, and Miss Blythe's first cousin. Beryl hss her own horse to ride, aud sho drives a pair “ sweet goers ”in her park pheaton. Miss Blythe was presented at the commencement of tho season, into tho delights of which she enters with the natural buoyancy of her youth, and with a subtle appreciation of the humorous side of the trouble and turmoil of “society,” which adds considerably to her enjoyment. Though of the fashionable crowd herself, B-ryl has few sympathies with its avowed opinions and its covert aims. She had been her dear father’s favorite and constant com panion in the old happy days at Torquay, where they had lived so contentedly together. This close companionship with a master mind, may account for Beryl’s very decided opinions on certain points, and the surprisingly unferainine consistency cf her words and actions. Conspicuous among these is her inveterate dislike to tobacco smoke. [The late Sir Gerard abhomd it.J Would-be husbands are of course numerous, and so are tho offers, formal or confidential of eligible or non-eligible wooers. Men are decidedly not wanting in appreciation of Mies Blythe's merits, nor bashful on tho score of their own. As Beryl somewhat ostentatiously sets the opinions of seciety at defiance, society revenges itself by saying many harsh and unjustifiable things of one who holds so lofty a position In the throng, and yet chooses to isolate herself from it. Mies Glynn Leigh deplores her fair cousin’s eccentricities, ehe soon perceives, however, that they serve as a foil to her own more gentle characteristics, and so contents herself with mild depreciation in Beryl’s absence. On the whole matters go smoothly enough for Beryl, until the young Karl of St. Aubyn proposes to her and is rejected Then a storm of protest and indignation arises among the friends of both parties Why should this yonng lady give herself such airs.

But Beryl refused to ‘ listen to reason,’ and was consequenely voted a wilful capricious coquette. ‘ Ah, my poor darling, pride is bonnd to have a fall !' says Mrs Leigh, kissing Beryl's soft cheek, and feeling inclined to bite her. The widow had set her pretty cap at the earl, and hated her cousin for interfering. The dowager countess herself is appealed to on this occasion, bnt absolutely declines to use her influence.

‘ It yon can do nothing with your cousin, my dear Ada,’ says her ladyship, * I am quite as powerless, believe me Beryl has her father’e spirit ; if she were more like her poor mother, I might ba able to persuade her ; as it is, she must go her own way.’ The young eari, who is baulked for the first time in his life, makes a terrible grievance of Beryl’s cruel rejection, and beseeches graoicus Mrs Leign to intercede for him. i?he is so anxious to retain some hold on the wealthy peer, that she constitutes herself a mediatrix ; but appeal end argument are thrown away on resolute Miss Blythe. • I do not like the earl,’ says this peculiar young lady; I he is but a boy, and I hate boys; he is vain and foolish, and—ha is always smoking. Each one of those objections justifies my refusal ; the number of them strengthens my case. If yon pity him so much, Ada, why not console him by marrying him yourself ?' ‘ Oh, you are cruel, cruel 1’ cries Ada, with a sob ; and then she glides down to the drawing room, where the disconsolate earl awaits tho verdict and —the handsome widow.

It is at this time that Beryl and her cousin receive an invitation to spend three days at tho house of Lady Majoribanks, who, as all the world knows, owns a romantic villa on the banks of the Thames. To invite Lady Dangerfield is, of course, a mere matter of form; but the form io duly observed, and the dowager deputes her ‘ young Isd'e- ’ to go in her stead. The Saturday and Sunday pass quietly and uneventfully. The hostess is charming, the house delightful, and the town-weary guests fiud the rest and peace of the country restorative and pleasant. The gala-day of their visit is to be their third and last. For Monday a river pionio has been organized, and a large number of guests are coming down from town. Among is Captain Horace Coolspur, who has just returned from India, where he had served for many years. Ho is a bachelor, and was but an impecunious soldier when the eccentric old lady died who left him sole heir to a property worth twenty thousand a year. The lady was his cousin, and a very old maid ; but Horace, when still a boy, had diverted the attention of an angry bull from the lady’s scarlet shawl—had, as she put it, ‘saved her life ’ She loved her youthful relative. She was very grateful to him, and her will clearly proved the value she set upon her life and his service. Horace is a fine fellow; tall, well set up, and active, Ha is not in the first flush of youth, bnt he must still be far from the debatable ground of middle age, though his hair is actually white ; but there is plenty of it, and no amount of brushing will repress its natural wave. He is by no means impressionable, and yet— mirabile dictu —he falls head over ears, irretrievably, in love with Beryl on the occasion of their first meeting, on which it seems even the Fatis smiled benevolently. Perhaps it is the combination of love and war, which makes all fair, that propitiates the grim sisterhood. Beryl, for her part, is also deeply Interested in the ccol, handsome, distinguished looking soldier. Here, indeed, is a man after her own heart; no mere boy this—no silly, titled, empty-headed noodle. He has served his country; lie has travelled ; he has no petty vices, surely ; she has not even seen him smoke. As she his never followed him into the billiard or smoking-room, this result is but natural.

Ada Leigh, who is ever on the watch, and who, for the time being, ia deprived of the pleamro of consoling an earl, thinks she might now console herself instead by attracting Captain Coolspur, who, without the slighteic attempt to do so, fascinates the women that come in contact with him. He is a most desirable parti, of coarse; and as soon as his advent ia known In society, maids and their mothers, enterprising widows, and still more desperate soinaters, with one accord combine to worship him. They make little secret of their profession l ! , but B.ryl, who probably feels far more deeply than the rest, because her heart ia touched, contrives to appear discreetly indifferent to the very ovl 'ent Viomage r f the stranger. Thanks to hfs military discipline and long-righted tactics, he compasses his great desire, and manages to meet the beauty st lesst twice ia every four-and-twenty fcou. s. This fact ia speedily noted and universally commented on. ‘lt is a case,’ say the indifferent ones. ‘ Ihe shameless creature, setting her cap at a millionaire in that barefaced way 1 Why can’t she leave him for others ? She surely has as much money as she wants for herself.’ fcuch is the exaggerated outcry of those who consider themselves personally aggrieved. Mrs Glynn Leigh says nothing. She pro bably thinks the more. ‘ Congratulate you, Horace,’ says Major Farrell, an intimate friend of the captain ; 4 she ia a beauty, and as good as she looks, I hear; but she has her peculiarities. I suppose yon knew that she abhors smoke, and refused St. Aubyn because he would not knock the tobacco off. Bad look out for von, isu’c it ? What about the ten chercota p,r diem, eh, old man?’ WeTl see about all that.’ says Horace, with a dubious smile on the lips so discreetly bidden by that wonderful moustache ; ‘ the prize has to bo won first; the rest will follow in due c -urae, no doubt.’ That nfght Horace meets Beryl at a great ball, given by a distinguished ambassador at his official residence. All the world, In its high and exclusive sense, is there present. 4 1 will take this,’ says Horace, quietly possessing himself of Mias Blythe’s programme, and without the slightest hesitation placing unmistakable Initials in neatly printed characters opposite the six waltzes alloted to the dancers ia the course of the evening.

Beryl smiles, shakes her head, tries to remonstrate, falls, and feels her heart throb in a tumult of unparalled delight. *He loves me, and he means tho wor’d to know it,’ is the happy conviction which flushes her soft cheek, and makes hor loving eyes to shine with a new and tender light. ‘You are so charming a partner, Beryl,’ says Horace, as they are resting in a coo l dimly-lighted conservatory after the third waltz, ‘so charming a partner, that I want you to consent to dance through life with me. You will, won’t you? We shall pot on splendidly together. We were born for one another. You have taught me what >e»l love means, that I will swear to yon upon my honor. You are the first woman I have ever met for whom I would willingly, gladly, give up tho glorious independence of a bachelor. Will you love me a little and bo my wife, darling ?’ Only the belated flowers that have kept thrir inquisitive eyes open behold tho seal with which the bond between tho lovers is ratified.

Next morning Captain Coolspur presents himself in Grosvenor square, where tho dowagea-counteaa receives him and his pro. posal with munh cordiality. Beryl’s waywardness has began to trouble the kindhearted old lady, and she blesses the man who is ready to relieve her of all further ; esponsibility in the matter of her nnworldy resolute grand-child. Captain Coolsput’s family is of the best, and their poverty is atoned for by his great inheritance. Formal preliminaries thus satisfactorily arranged, the betrothed couple retire to the library for their first acknowledged tete-a-tete. But while Captain Coolspur was closeted with the counters, Mrs Giynn Leigh had spoken her mind to her infatuated cousin. ‘ This engagement is preposterous,’ said the irate widow ; * Coolspur Is old enough to be yonr father, and is a confirmed bachelor in his habit*. Ha smokes from morning until night, aad he confided to me only yesterday that he cannot get on without his snuff hex. When a man arrives at hia time of life he requires a wife who understands the selfish sex, and can make allowances for their weakness. This you will never do,’ ‘ We shall see,’ says Beryl, laughing, and she hastens away in response to her grandmother’s summons. Mrs Leigh’s startling remarks have made bnt little impression on the happy girl. 1 Ada is cross and jealous,' is her hasty conclusion ; and five minutes later she is seated by her lover’s side, and has forgotten all but the fact of their love for one another.

Bat presently her consiu'a words reoar to her, for Horace, in a low, constrained voice, says, ‘ Beryl, I ought io have told you before, certainly I must confess to yon now, that I have two very bad habits. I will promise to give np one for your dear sake ; but life would not seem worth living if you deprived mo of tobacco altogether.' * Tobacco !’ cries Beryl, aghast. * Yes, darling,’ says Horace gloomily ; ‘ I am bound to acknowledge my weakness ; bnt I have resolved to make a sacrifice for your dear rake. It will go hard with me, but I have determined on this concession. You shall decide whether I am to give uo this (he produces his cigar-case) or snuff Kemember, dorr, that in yielding either I nay you the greatest compliment, for it will be a sacrifice.’ He speaks humbly, deferentially j ho looks into her eyes with such loving pleading in his, that her horror is merged In a hind of compassion. ‘You smoke—and you take snuff?’ she says, with a pretty expression of diegnst and incredulity ; *it seems impossible.’ * I hate myself for my weakness,’ says he j 1 bnt long habit has made tobacco as necasasry to me as the air I breathe ; still I promise to give np half my delight for you; which shall it be ?'

He is ahoat to produce the cigar-case again, * uh, don’t!' asya Beryl, hastily ; ‘of course you must never take snuff again ; yon need scarcely have asked me. ’ She is much troubled; this beau ideal, this hero of her, that he should so far demean himself ! He folds her in his arms, he kisses her cheeks, her eyes, her lips, murmurs the sweetest words the while.

‘ I am glad to make some sacrifice for your p.'eoious sake,’ he says; ‘and who knows bnt you will cure me of all my bad habits, once you are my constant companion ?’ ‘ Indeed I will try, ’ she says earnestly. Her cousin told her that men were all selfish. Horace is certainly an exception to the rule. He has volunteered to make a sacrifice for her sake already ; and _ who knows how far she will persuade him in future ? To yield is womanly. ‘Perhaps cigars are not quite so dreadful,' she says, after a little pause ; * but snuff ! Oh, I could not bear yon to take snuff! How came you to contract such a odious habit, Horace ?’ He produced a jewelled snuff box of great age >nd value. ‘ Partly through this, my great-grandfather’s gift.’ he says, ‘and partly as a cure for hay fever, from which 1 suffe>ed martyrdom in the Bast.’ ‘Please put that thing away,’ she said, pointing disdainfully to the relic of firmer generations. 1 1 swear never to use It again,’ says he, and buries it in his breast-pocket. 1 And you will try to break yourself off smoking too, won’t you, my dearest ?’ she pleads. ‘Of course, and of course!’ he declares, with much fervor ; ‘ who knows but I shall succeed, when you are always beside me to give me encouragement ?’ Beryl Blythe has consented to marry a man old enough to ba her father, and who smokes all day long. Wonders will never cease! So much for tho steadfastness of girls and their valuable opinions. But why did she refuse St. Anbyn, whose age was certainly far more suitable? * Ah, she will make Coolspur give up his tobacco, once they are married,’ says the men who have wives of their own. ‘I doubt it,’ says Major Darrell, who has no wife, and who knows his old friend better than tho rest.

And yet it seems as if he were mistaken in this instance; for, ones the knot mati monial is securely tied, Horace certainly smokes leas and less. It is a terrible deprivation to him ; but it pleases sweet Beryl so much. And every cigar he does not smoke is accounted as so glorious a sacrifice to the heroic martyr, ‘ You Wire quite mistaken about Horace,’ says the young wife triumphantly, as she confides his unselfishness to her incredulous cousin. 1 You have not been married s : x months, my dear ; and I was a wifa for six years,’ says Mrs Leigh, arching her fine eyebrows ; 1 1 know men batter than you do, as time will prove.’ Having failed to secure Captain Coolspur for herself, who certainly in all respects would have been a more suitable wife for him, the handsome widow is determined to make Beryl repent of her bargain, and loses no opportunity of reviling husbands in general, and hinting that Horace Is as bad, and certainly quite as deceit nl, as are the rest of men. One evening—it is the anniversary of their wedding day—the happy pair (and they are certainly very happy still) are sitting at” the dinner-table. They have just dined teie a-tete. It is chilly in doors and out; autumn winds are beginning to moan, dying leaves flutter uncomfortably against the window pane. ‘ The fire is cheering to night,’ says Horace, placing his wife's armchair close to the fender, and refilling her tumbhr with claret; * would you mind my lighting up before I leave you ?’ he adds, as he selects a cigar from his care. ‘ Well, I would rather you did not,’ahe replies ; ‘ but is there a fire in the smokingroom ?’ • I gave no orders,’ says he; I had no idea the day would turn so chilly.’ • Then stay and smoke here, my poor dear, says Beryl graciously ; and she really finds the aroma of the weed far leas noxious than she had imagined it to be. In fact, she is not quite sure that she objects to It at ail. And how happy Horace looks, and how cosy they are, side by side, the blazing fire in front of them, the cloudlets of dainty smoke curling about his handsome head Suddenly ho kneels at her feet. 4 My darling,’ he says, *1 have a terrible confession to make ; I wonder if you will ever forgive me ?’ * Bonsensa!’ says she, laughing; * of coarse I shall forgive you anything.* She adores him, and she speaks sincerely. ‘Oh Beryl,’ says he, ‘I perpetrated a great swindle on yon. I feel like Claude Melnotte in the play; for I married you under false pretences.’ ‘What! yon are not a prince after all?’ * No; and what la more, I never took snuff. Yon might have insisted on my

giving up smoking, had you not thought I was sacrificing something for yon!’ ‘Yon are a fraud,’ says she, trying to frown, but laughing Instead. ’Accept this peaoa offering, oh, queen of my heart 1* says he, and he hands her the jewelled snuff box, which is filled with bonbons now. Within the gold lid is this legend : ** To her I love better than smoke, and who loves me best of all. It is three years now since Beryl became Mrs Coolspur, and, in spite of her cousin’s evil prophecy, she has not found reason to repent, Mrs Glynn Leigh Is the only one of his wife’s friends for whom Horace has never a good word or a smile of weloomo. Is this the reason she repeatedly taunts Beryl with the fact that her captain married her under false pretences, and that as he has once deceived her he is bound to deceive her again.