One White Lie.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1563, 31 March 1874, Page 165

One White Lie.

FROM THE ABGOSI'. (Concluded.) Christmas came and passed. Mr Laken could not get Mr Melville's rent, aud no promises on his part of paying in a week's time, or of reporting the agent to Lord Westerleigh, prevented him from putting in a distress. "It shall be paid at,the end of the week," said Gertrude, for she had persuaded her mother to let her write to Mrs L'Estrange. " Can you not take my word," she added indignantly. " I don't care for words, Miss Melville," replied the agent; " you have five days, and the man will behave himself." " Very well," said Gertrude, briefly; and with that she put on her hat, and set off across the park. She was going to the house ; she knew Lord Westerleigh had arrived the day before, and she believed a gentleman would take the word of a lady. It was already dark when she rang the bell at the great door, but the sounding echoes stirred no feeling of awe or misgiving in her heart. A servant appeared, and she asked for Lord Westerleigh. The man was a stranger, and replied simply, that " my lord was engaged." "Then I will wait until he is disengaged," replied Gertrude. " But I don't think that my lord can see you at all to-night. You had better call again in the morning." And he prepared to shut the door as he spoke, Gertrude was almost in a passion, but controlled herself. "I think he will see me. Be kind enough to tell Lord Westerleigh that Miss Melville would be glad to speak to him for him for a few minutes." As she made a step forward the light fell upon her, and the dignity of her manner and appearance seemed suddenly to convince the man that he was speaking with a lady. He begged her pardon, and wanted to show her into a room while he went with her message to his master, but Gertrude preferred regaining by the lire in the hall. In a minute or two he returned, requesting her to follow him, aud she found herself in a small comfortable room, lighted only by the fire. The walls and curtains were crimson, relieved by lace, and a few marble statuettes; the furniture and carpet were of the same color, and the warm firelight glowed over everything. On the hearth, with his back to the fire, stood Lord Westerleigh ; a man with a fine tall figure, whose face she could not see. To her surprise, he came forward with an out-stretched hand, when the servant lighting some candles on the table, revealed his face. Grertrude shrank foolishly back from the hand she was about to take, and found herself face to face with David Gower. " I beg your pardon," she began, turning white to the lips; " it was Lord Westerleigh I came to see." " Rather a mournful smile came over his lips as ho put his hand behind him, and replied, " I thought you knew I was Lord Westerleigh." _ " Lord Westerleigh!" repeated Gertrude, the blood rushing to her brow, " I did not know it, indeed." " Don't apologize, Miss Melville. Will you shake hands with me now," lie said, holding out his hand again. "And gladly," came from Gertrude's full heart. He smiled, and taking her hand, said with his old kind voice, so that she could have knelt down and kissed his feet, " And what can I do for you ? " Tears rushed to her eyes and she looked down to hide them, but he must have seen them, for he turned round "and stirred the fire to give her time. Then she told her story, with a red flush of shame on her brow. " My father must leave, I know, and we must live differently ; but if you will tell Mr Laken to take the man away, he shall

have the money by the end of the week." Lord Westerleigh did not reply at once; he walked backwards and forwards twice. " I am so ashamed," he said at length, " that such a thing should have been done in my name. I will walk back with you, and set it right. I am very, very sorry." Gertrude made no reply. It was she ; who felt ashamed, for he whom sme had called a " common farmer" was Lord Westerleigh, and far above her—so far that he had evidently quite forgotten any affection he might once have had for her, and a bitter pang was making itself felt in her heart as she saw in his calm unembarrassed manner no sign of the love that had once boeu hers; So they walked back together through the dark evening. Not many words passed between them, and Gertrude tried to realize that David Gower and Lord Westerleigh were one and the same person. She was wondering how it was they had heard nothing of the matter from the L'Estrange's; but then she remembered that they were still abroad, having gone at the end of the summer. In spite of his altered maimer, she felt strangely happy walking once more by his side —so conscious of the charm of his protecting presence. The house-door stood open, and JMrs Melville was peering "into the darkness. " Gertrude ! is that you ? " she called anxiously. Gertrude ran forward, and nestling up to her mother, murmured, "Here is Lord Westerleigh, mamma; and he will take the man away." And before Mrs Melville could ask for an explanation, she rushed out of sight up to her own room, where a pent-up burst of tears would be restrained no longer. When they had exhausted themsfilves, she sat and listened for sounds below. For some time all was silent; then the draw-ing-room door opened, and she heard Lord Westerleigh and her father's voices as they walked down the passage. A cordial " good night" closed the interview, and as the hall-door closed, Mrs Melville came upstairs into Gertrude's dark room. " Is it all right, mamma ?" " Yes, my dear—but how was it you never told us you had met Lord Westerleigh at your uncle's?", It was well for Gertrude the darkness hid her tell-tale cheeks. " Why, mamma, I never knew he was Lord Westerleigh until I saw him this evening. He was only Mr Gower, you know." " I should have blamed you for going to him, if he had been a stranger, Gertrude." " But is he not kind and good ?" She was so bold in the dark ! " Good and kind ? indeed he is. God bless him," replied Mrs Melville, earnestly ; "your father,,;is to begin painting his portrait immediately. He said ho considered himself fortunate in fiuding an artist so near. Ho is going to have his house full of visitors soon, and he hopes I will go and help him entertain them. Oh, Gertrude I" said poor Mrs Melville, with ( tears in her eyes, " you cannot tell what it will be to me to go back once more into the society of my youth !" Gertrude's arms were round her mother's neck ; she felt very happy somehow. " Dear mamma, I am so glad ! You arc too pretty never to be sceu." Mrs Melville laughed and kissed her. "How curiously things happen," said Gertrude"; but her mother did not answer, for a "dim dream of a possible future was dawning on her mind. And now Gertrude's life was changed—the silence was broken. There was a voice somewhere always {singing to her inmost heart, an echo, perhaps, of Lord Westerleigh's few words of greeting, which were hers now two or three times a week, for he came to Mr Melville's house to sit for his portrait—he said he preferred it—and thus came across her now and then in her walks. Once or twice they nearly fell back into the old way of conversation, as when they used to ride side by side at Eden vale ; but Lord Westerleigh always checked himself if they seemed to be drifting too far in that direction. His manner was most kind and friendly always, but his voice never once droppped into the tender tone of old ; yet Gertrude was not unhappy, because he was present. His visitors arrived, and Mrs Melville was much at the hall. He apologized, as he said, for the trouble he was giving her, adding, that he had a sister engaged now in attendance upon an invalid aunt, who in a few months, he hoped, would come to live with him arid do the honors of his house. Gertrude and her father were also often invited, and about that time a rumor arose that Lord Westerleigh was about to take to himself a wife; but which of those fair girls, who with their fathers, mothers, and brothers, had been his guests, was to be the future mistress of Westerleigh, Gertrude could not discover. But the truth of the report she never doubted, and in her mind it was confirmed one lovely spring Sunday, when an old and a young lady appeared in the hall pew. For who but his betrothed wife could that fair woman be, with the calm, sweet face, who sat, and stood, and-knelt by Lord Westerleigh's side? Gertrude's eyes sought hers with all her soul in them. "And who so fit to be his wife ?" was her despairing comment. A woman near to his own age, beautiful, dignified, with a sweet intellectual face, grave and restful, the promise of a wise, gentle ruler of his house, and a guardian angel of his life." Gertrude's eager, sorrowful face could scarcely escape escape the notice of her on whom it was fixed, and she saw her bend towards Lord Westerleigh when the service was over, evidently with an inquiry; for he, half-glancing at Gertrude, looked away with a brief reply. A slight lifting of the eyebrows, and then came a new light into those blue eyes that were such a match for David's, while Gertrude slipped away shriukingly and shivering under their gaze. She ran out into the woods that afternoon, for she wanted to find out how to be her fate; she believed that was decided now, and discovered that the voice which had broken the silence had been but the voice of hope telling a flattering tale. She was treading on blue hyacinths,

crushing them ruthlessly, and plucking hawthorn blossoms indiscriminately, as she walked, when suddenly she looked up as if by instinct, and saw the objects of her thoughts close at hand. She started on one side to get away through the trees, but Lord Wcsterleigh's voice brought her to a standstill. " Gertrude," (how strange, he had not called her that for many a day) " Gertrude, I want to introduce you to my sister." His sister! The manner with which she received his communication did not escape Lord Westerleigh's notice, although he was far from attributing it to its true cause. The change of expression seemed to him to indicate extreme surprise ; and one day he asked her why. Miss Gower had gone away again for a time before coming to settle at Westerleigh for good. And one lovely evening in June Lord Westcrleigh had strolled into the villa, and was standing with Gertrude at the drawing-room window. " Why wore yon so astonished when I introduced my sister to you that Sunday ?" he inquired. li Because I never thought she was yonr sister," replied Gertrude. " Who, then did you take her for?" he asked. " Wliy—-" said Gertrude quietly, " I thought she was the lady who was to be your wife." " My wife ?" Lord Westerleigh's broad brow contracted, and he bent his blue eyes sternly upon Gertrude's unconscious face. She was gazing out into the fair twilight, but not so dreamily as a minute ago. " My wife ?" he repeated, and the sternness of his voice recalled her attention. She looked up al him, and colored siightly. " What chance is there of that now ?" he continued ; " if any one had cared for humble David Gower, it would have been different ; but now rank and wealth are in the way, how shall I learn to believe that I might be loved for myself ?" It was scarcely the passing breeze that made Gertrude shiver from head to foot. " I don't know," she said through the pain his words had roused ; " If you cannot believe in any one, you will never know." Hot and fast in the twilight tears were springing to her eyes. She had nearly turned round and rushed away, but his voice stopped her. He spoke very sorrowfully—- " I believed once." Whether Gertrude would have thrown herself (figuratively) at his feet, and entreated him to believe again, it is impossible to say ; for the maid, opening the door, brought in the lamp ; upon which, Lord said " Good night" hastily, and went away. After that Gertrude was from home for some time visiting hermother's friends, and when she returned found the L'Estianges at Westcrleigh Park. An arrangement had been made in her absence—Mr L'Estrange had discovered at last how things were, and Mr Melville's great desire to go to Italy ; therefore to Italy he had promised to send them, and start them fairly there. It was with a pang of despair that Gertrude first heard the news—and to go so soon too ! this was the end of September, and they were to go in a month's time. But she got over the despair, and came to the conclusion that, after all, she should be happier away from Lord Westcrleigh, than continually harrassed by his presence ; for their intercourse with each oilier now had become distant and cold. Eva still joked her about him, and declared she could not understand it at all. " For yon know, Gertrude, you did care for each other." "And what if we did ?" Gertrude asked bitterly. her a scrutinizing glance, and was very much puzzled. " Well, dear—never mind ! you will see some one nicer abroad." That Gertrude might find some one there, Mrs L'Estrange happened casually to remark that evening in Lord Westerleigh's 'presence Mr L'Estrange " hoped so," and called his wife's attention to a book ho was examining. Then Eva turned to Lord Westerleigh, and said, in her off-hand, laughing way—- " You were her first love, you know !" " You flatter me, Miss L'Estrange," he quietly replied ; but his color changed. " I never flatter !" laughed Eva. " Can you be serious ? he said, bending anxiously towards her. <l 0,1 never pledge myself to anything! Where is mamma going?" And Eva, fearing to be questioned further, rose from her seat and left him. To-morrow the Melvilles were to leave Westerleigh. The October twilight was falling fast. Lord Westerleigh had been to bid them goodi-bye, and was gone. The last finishings of packing were over, and Mrs Melville sat down to rest. "I must see him once more," said Gertrude to herself, as she hurried across the park, with an uncontrollable sob rising now and then in her throat. An old public path ran close by one side of the housi;—a gable end, jutting out by itself, and containing on its ground floor Lord Westerleigh's own study. Laurels had been planted in front of the window to screen it from the foot path, and although the latter was now disused, the shrubs were still allowed to grow thick and tall. To this spot Gertrude hurried her steps. The evening was darkening, so there was no fear of discover}', and and she hoped to catch one glimpse of his beloved face before the shutters were closed. With a beating heart, she opened the little gate, and gliding into the shelter of the kuu'els, glanced at the window. She was not disappointed—there, in the firelight, with his dog lying at his feet, sat Lord Westerleigh. But she had only time to observe that his face was Buried in his hands, when the dog sprang towards the window with a growl. Gertrude grew cold with terror—escape was impossible, and discovery next to certain, for the dog, tearing at the window, refused to be quieted. Lord Westerleigh, who had followed him, now opened the glass-door, and the animal rushed at the laurels. No sooner had he reached them, however, than his bark ceased, and he began to fawn, and wag his tail, knowing Gertrude well. She was cowering back into the shurbs—her face hidden in her hands,

" Gertrude! Can it be you ?" asked a well-known voice; " what are you doing •here ?" Turning from him with a throbbing heart and burning cheeks, she told him the truth. '• I only -wanted to see you once more through the window, before I went away. You know we used to be friends." He made no reply, but led her in, and closed the doors again. He felt she was trembling violently, but he did not ask her to sit down ; he let her stand beside him by the fire. The hopeful doubt he had aroused in his heart was satisfied now, and he was so happy that he could afford a joke. " But, Gertrude. I was once a ' common farmer.'" "0, don't I" she cried; "don't be so cruel now. Let us be friends, and say goodbye." And she burst into tears. " Say good-bye, little one ? Never again, my darling, never again !" And taking her in his arms, he held her there as if he never meant to let her go again. "0, David, David ! do you believe me now ?' said Gertrude, her voice smothered in his broad breast; " that I only said it because—because " He interrupted her tenderly. "Never mind—because you loved me, dearest. 0, child, what a fool I have been !" She tried to answer, but he took it in the way she liked best. And she was silent in her full, deep joy, thinking it must be a dream to stand there in the red firelight with David's arm to rest on. " 0, David," she said at length, clinging to him ; " it cannot, cannot be true." "Thank God, it is!" he murmured, as he raised the little wistful face to his and held it there. Once more, through the darkness they walked back across the park, and presented themselves before the astonished eyes of Mr and Mrs Melville. David was very abrupt, " You must stay another week," he said, ." and leave me a wife." They did so. And at the end of the week drove away to the station, leaving Gertrude and Lord Westerleigh at the church door. And quietly through the brown October woods—through the golden light of Autumn days with the full, sweet Spring-time of love in their hearts, the bride and bridegroom walked home.