Original Story.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 678, 3 May 1869, Page 1 (Supplement)

Original Story.

oraj£ Si stranger passing through the quiet village of H, "TaLa. vif wou ld notice on first entering, a large, fine-look-h] J ing house, with a beaui tiful garden, and green meadows behind. This house belongs to Mr Mordaunt, a retired farmer, who, at the time of our story, with his wife and daughters, led a very quiet life. He had three daughters. Yiolette, the eldest, was considered the prettiest girl for miles around : she was nearly eighteen, and had just left school. Rose, the second daughter, was fifteen, not very tall for her age, and a merry, lively girl, who was always ready for fun. Lily, the third and youngest, was ten; she was the favorite and petted daughter. The two younger ones were at school. On another farm, about five miles off, dwelt Mr Seymour, with his family, which consisted of three a;)Ils —William, Francis, and Earnest. William, who Avas twentynine years of age, n r as married and had a farm of his own, adjoining his father's; Francis was twentyfour, and worked on the farm with his father; Earnest had just turned twenty, and was clerk in a draper's establishment. These two families were on intimate terms, and frequently visited each other. While Yiolette was at school she first became acquainted with Earnest Seymour, and the two young folks formed a mutual liking for each other —a liking which soon ripened into love. Although they were both very young, they loved * ach other sincerely : they met occasionally, and he had given her his portrait, and, as a matter of course, she gave him hers in return. she left school they corresponded, with Mrs Mordaunt's consent. About six months after Yiolette left school, Earnest Seymour had to go to another place, at some distance, where he was to have increased wages. This separation was a great trial to both, and Yiolette was very sad at the prospect of parting with her lover. Before Earnest left, they were engaged, with the consent of both families, and as soon as he was in a position to many, the union would take place The last days at length arrived, and Earnest came to say farewell. "Good-bye, dearest Yiolette," he said, "do not grieve—we will be united again soon, never to part. I will write every mail, dearest, and we shall find our letters a consolation ; but if anything should happen to prevent me from doing so, do not doubt me —believe I love you too well ever to be untrue to you." "0, dear Earnest," she replied, " I know it well, and I shall ever be true to you. Yes—even if you never wrote I should still believe you true. And now farewell, dearest, I am onl> prolonging our parting, and keeping you." The lovers embraced again and again ere they finally parted, and then Earnest mounted his horse and rode away. Yiolette watched him till he disappeared ai ound an angle in the road, and then went to her room and had a good cry, after which she felt more composed. About an hour after Earnest's departure, Rose knocked at her sister's door, "May I come in, Yiolette?" " Yes, dear," Rose opened the door and went in. She threw her arms around her sister's neck and bade her cease crying. " You know, sister," she said, "that it will not be for long. Think how different it would be if it was five or six years instead of two ! Come, cheer up and come to tea," Yiolette rose and washed her face and smoothed her hair, after which she took her sister's arm and went down stairs. Mr and Mrs Mordaunt did not pretend to notice that Yiolette had been crying; they thought it would be better to leave her to herself. Immediately after tea she again retired to her room. A week had passed, mail day arrived, and Yiolette was all life and joy. Hose had brought her a letter

from Earnest, who wan well, and doing even better than he had hoped. " What a difference in my Yiolette to-day 1" {-'aid her father, as she was leaving the room with her letter Months and months passed away, the lovers happy in their lecters. Earnest had risen beyond his mostardent expectations ; from clerk he had risen to partner, and in time he hoped to succeed to the business. His partner was an old gentleman, who had made his fortune, and was only waiting to settle his affairs before retiring from business. He was a single man, and having no relations he took great interest in Earnest Seymour, whom he said was worth noticing ; and indeed Earnest well deserved his notice. In one of his. letters he said that in another year he would return to claim his promised bride. Earnest had been away a year when one of the neighbor's sons, Alfred Marley, who was in good circumstances, proposed to Yiolette. " Think twice, Yiolette," said Mr Mordaunt, " before you reject him. You will have a happy and comfortable home if you marry him; whereas if you have young Seymour you will have to wait at least a year, perhaps more." " Father, 1 have thought, and if I had to wait six years instead of one, I would rather do it than marry Mr Marley," "Well, consult your own feelings on the subject; I shall not persuade you either way." Saying which hequitted the room, leaving her to think over what he had said. The next day Yiolette's suitor came for an answer. "Well,. Miss Mordaunt, I have come to have my fate decided. I hope you do not intend to condemn me to everlasting misery," he said, seeing that she looked very grave. " Indeed,"she answered, "T should be very sorry if my refusing you will consign you to misery; but I suppose you are aware that L am the pledged wife of Earnest Seymour." " I was not aware that you were engaged, Miss Mordaunt; but still do not refuse me without first considering my offer." "I have well considered your offer, and again I say that, much as I regret to give you pain, I must refuse it." " Farewell, then, Miss Mordaunt —I hope you will be happy whereever you may be;" saying which he took his leave. " O," muttered he, when he had left the house, " I will be revenged, and proud Yiolette shall yet be mine, I will find some means of destroying her confidence in her lover," In accordance with a plan he had devised he went that morning to the postmaster, whom he knew to be an unprincipled man, and had a long interview with him. By the offer of a bribe he succeeded in inducing the postmaster to intercept any letters addressed to Miss Mordaunt, and give them to him. One which was lying in the office at the time he took away in his pocket. A short time afterwards Rose w r ent as usual for her sister's letters, but of course there was nothing for her. Great was Yiolette's disappointment when Rose returned without a letter, " I cannot imagine why Earnest has not written," she exclaimed, "Neither can I, sister, but perhaps it has been delayed," said Rose. Next mail day came, but with it no better success, and poor Yiolette began to feel very uneasy, " Surely," she thought, "he has received my letters; then why does he not answer?" In vain did she ask the question—it was more than she could answer, Six months- passed away, and although Yiolette had written regularly she received no answer. Mrs Mordaunt tried to comfort her, but she would not be comforted—" He would have written if all had gone on well with him," she would say whenever her mother tried to console her. One day, after another fruitless inquiry for a letter, she was on her way from a neighbor's, where she had been staying for a few days, when she met Alfred Marley, whom she had not seen since the day she rejected him. " Good day, Miss Mordaunt," he said, as he cam© towards her, "I

am delighted to see you. How are you this charming morning 1 " " I am quite well, thank you, Mr Marley." " Indeed, Miss Mordaunt, you look anylhing but well. lam quite shocked at the alteration in your appearance. Have you been ill 1 " " I have not been very well lately," she replied, coldly. "I wish you good day; I have to call here." As she was leaving him she saw him smile as though he was satisfied at something. "My little scheme has succeeded better than I expected," thought he, " but how ill she looks. I suppose she is fretting ; if so, her sadness only adds to her beauty. O, proud Violette, you shall yet be mine." He had not only intercepted the letters addressed to Yiolette, but also for a considerable time had obtained those posted by her to her lover. By this means he thought he would cause them to doubt each other, bui. he was mistaken. We will now take a glance at Earnest Seymour. Business hours are over, and he is sitting in deep thought, his head resting on his hands There is a knock at the door, and a servant enters with a letter, which he gives to Earnest, and retires. Earnest reads the letter again and again. " O," he murmured, "it cannot be true." Let us read the letter : " Mr Seymour. " Dear Friend, —I take the liberty of writing to inform you that Miss Mordaunt is about to be married to a young farmer who has lately arrived in this part. Hoping you will excuse me for writing thus, I remain yours truly, " Alfred Marley." It is needless to say that Earnest, not having received a letter from Violette for so many months, had begun to feel very uneasy, and that this uneasiness was increased by the letter he had recei\ed from Alfred Marley. Another week passed, and among the letters Earnest received was one which gave him more pleasure than he had felt for along time. It was from Rose Mordaunt, telling him that her sitter was not very well, and also that she was anxious for his return ; and begging him to return to H. as soon as possible. Rose had written from school. Rose and Lily soon returned home for the holidays. " Come, Violette," said Rose, on the day that Earnest had promised to return, "do not despair. "Wait till to-day has passed —I am sure he will be here." " I hope he will come," said Yiolette. " Let us go into the summerhouse." Rose took a book, and the two sisters**went into the garden. Yiolette took out her lover's portrait, and was gazing upon it, when the door-way of the summer-house was suddenly occupied by some one, and a well-known voice said- " Yiolette!" " Earnest!" and with one bound she was locked in her lover's arms. " 0, why did you not write and tell me you were coming?" she exclaimed. "So I did, my darling : did you not receive my letter 1 " " No, Earnest, I have not had a letter for the last year." " Not had a letter !" exclaimed Earnest, in extreme surprise, "I can not understand the reason. I thought although I did not get any from you, that at least you received my letters." "Have you had no letters from me 1" asked Yiolette, with as much surprise as her lover had shown. " No, dearest, I have had no letters from you for the last ten months, but not long since I received a letter from Alfred M.arley, saying that you iv ere about to be married. I confess that I felt a little uneasiness about it at first; but a letter from Rose convinced me that it was false; and although she told me you Avere not very well, I could not come away an hour sooner than I did." " T am very glad you have come, Earnest," said Rose, " for I believe my sister would otherwise have pined away and died. I will go and see if I can find out anything about the mysterious disappearance of your letters, and," she added, "if I come back without information, I will forfeit half a dozen kisses." So saying, she ran off laughing. The same afternoon she called at Alfred Marley's house, and asked if he was at home, and being answered in the affirmative, she was shown in.

" Good day, Miss Rose. To what happy event am I indebted for this visit?" To this question Rose did not reply, but asked another. "Mr Marley, are you aware that Earnest Seymour has returned 1 " " No, Miss Rose, I did not knowit ; but what has his return to do with me ? I do not understand you." " Well, then, I will speak plainly, so that you may have no difficulty in understanding me. My sister wrote to Mr Seymour, and he wrote to her, but strange to say, neither of them received their letters. Can you tell me who has them 1 " She looked at him while she asked the question; he turned slightly pale at first, but appeared quite unconcerned as he answered. " Indeed, Miss Rose, I do not know what reason you have for asking the question." "Then I will tell you. Every post day a certain gentleman went to the post office and got the letters addressed to a certain young lady; and the postmaster who gave them to him had been bribed to do so. You understand me now, and would ask how I knew this. I called to-day at the post-office, and asked the postmaster to whom he had given my sister's letters : he was much em harassed and did not answer. ' Well,' I said, * I will call a policeman in, and then I shall know all about it.' *O, do not do that, Miss Rose,' ho said, < and I will tell you all.' He then told me that you had the letters, and that you had bribed him to intercept them tor him. Now, Mr Marley, may I trouble you to give me those letters ?" " 0, Miss Rose, indeed I " " Well, unlessyou give them to me, I shall have to inform my brother-in-law of what I know, and you may be sure that he will soon find out the guilty person." So saying, she rose to go, but he detained her, and went at once to a drawer, from which 1 e took the very letters which Rose had come for. They were all there, for like most guilty people he had been afraid to destroy chem. He handed them to Rose with these words : " Miss will you ask your sister to forgive me ? Tell her I took the letters thinking that she might forget Seymour and love me. Fool that I was to think that ! I have lost her love and forfeited her regard ; but I have bitterly repented, and will try hj my future conduct to regain the esteem I have lost. Though she can never be mine, tell her I hope she will be happy, and forgive the distress I have caused." He stopped and asked Rose to let him know whether her sister would forgive him. She promised to let. him know, and left the house. On her return with the letters she told Violette and Earnest what had occurred, and need I add that, happy in each other's society, the past was readily forgiven. Rose sent word to Alfred Marley, who, shortly after left the village with the postmaster for Australia. A fortnight after, Yiolette and Earnest were married; Rose was bridesmaid, and a young man who had been living with Earnest, during his absence from H.,was groomsman. After the ceremony the happy pair left for the old gentleman's place, where they were to live. Lily returned to'school, and Rose stayed at home in place of Yiolette. Eight years after the marriage of Yiolette and Earnest, a stranger entered the town where they lived, and stopped at the door. He inquired for Mrs Seymour, and when he was shown in he threw himself on his knees before her, and asked her if she had forgiven him. "0, Mr Marley,'' she said, "1 have long since forgiven you, and so has Earnest; but here he is to answer for himself." "Ah ! Marley, how do you do ! I see you have found us out." " I have found you, Mr Seymour, and I cannot tell how grateful I am for this kind reception. Since leaving I have been unfortunate, and am now in want of a situation." " And I of a man," said Earnest; " so if you are able to do the work I require, you may consider yourself engaged." And in time Marley became manager of the business of the "main whom he had wronged.