Caught in the Rebound. . .

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 32, 9 February 1901, Page 14

Caught in the Rebound. . .

SIR HENRY MERTON certainly, offended the country by bringing home to HeviSton Priory, as his second wife, a touring actress of great repute in the provinces, but he did not offend his only daughter Dolly. On the contrary, romantic Miss Dolly, who entertained a consuming passion for the stage, assured Dick Vaughan that she felt for her father "the fullest approbation and sympathy.'' Dick frowned a little at this expression of her sentiments. He was a clean-limbed, squareshoulder landowner himself, with no pretensions to opinions on any subject but such as were allied to hunters, turnips, and vegetable manures. When Dolly talked enthusiastically about the "artist-life" and the "intoxication, of success," Dick pulled his moustache ruefully, muttered a few words to himself under that drooping appendage, and went home to sulk until Dolly had recovered her senses. Yet, when the second Lady Merton arrived upon the scene, even Dick fell under her charm. She was a tall, willowy woman, with, bright eyes, and uptilted nose and chin. She talked in* a high, sweet, rapid voice, and possessed much versatility of manner. When Dolly kissed her on their first introduction, t-ho exclaimed, "You dear!" She also announced her intention of coming down every morning to 8 o'clock breakfast, making the declaration in an earnest fashion, much as if she were insisting on going abroad to nurse lepers. And she spent the evenings in finding suitable Shakespearian names for all the hens. Sir Harry gazed adoiingly at her for about three mornings as she made the tea (telling everybody that she had put in a spoonful for each person, and one for the pot). On the fourth morning she declared that the proceedings bored her, and Dolly resumed the duty. On the fifth day Lady Merton made her appearance in a fluffy dressing-gown, with her hair delicious but untidy. On the sixth she breakfasted in bed, and openly declared her intention of doing so for the rest of her life, Dolly went up to see her before she was fully dressed, and tried to look unconscious when her step-mother dabbed pearl-powder freely upon her pretty nose. "My dear," said Lady Merton, making emphatic gestures with the round downy puff, ( 'I was never so happy in my life. "I am very glad to hear it," responded Dolly. "Your father is a perfect darling, and country life is what I was originally destined for bv nature. It must be hereditary in some way,'" went on Lady Merton, whose father has been a hairdresser in the city. "It must," agreed Dolly, without much enthusiasm. And she added a moment later, "Does hereditary every go by contraries? For I hate country life myself. I would like to go on the stage, as you did." Lady Merton dropped her hair-brush, and turned briskly round, with an expression of unutterable dismay. "My darling Dolly. Such a thing would send your father straight oft his head' For goodness sake, get rid of that notion at once!" "He couldn't object so very .much under the circumstances," observed Dolly, with a naughty laugh. Lady Moiton became tragic on the "" spot "There 1 " she cried, clasping her pretty, slim hands together, "I told your father how it w ould be ' I am a pe> nicious influence in his house already — a kind of snake in the grass that will rise up and poison his young daughter ' You know nothing about the stage, Dolly, nothing at all ! It is a wicked place l If you love your father, Dolly, and if you like me the least little bit in the world, never mention such an idea as going on the stage in my presence again " Later in the day she obtained further evidence as to the refractoriness of DolU's heart, and the mistaken bent of hei aspirations. Sir Harry's young daughter had a small sanctum of her own, full of knick-knacks and photographs. Among the others was a portrait of a certain actor named Bruce Melville. Dolly had given him the best frame in her possession, and never neglected to replenish a low vase, which stood in front, with fresh flowers. This afternoon Dick Vaughan. who had come in for some tea, took it upon himself to expostulate with Miss Merton on the presence of the photograph. 'It isn't dignified, Dolly," he said, fi owning. "Only barmaids and people havo portraits of actors, that they don't know, in their rooms." Dolly fired up. "If you obiect to my pictures you shan't come where you can see them!" she exclaimed. "I'll never, never, never let you inside my den again." Miss Merton was as good as her word. The consequence was that Dick again retired into sulky privacy, and that Sir Harry's wife again was in despair.

"Bruce Melville is a wretch!" she told her husband, almost crying. "He tried once to persuade me to run away witty him." - ' "Well, my dear ,and what prevented it? Prophetic visions of mysell : JP? ' "Not at all! Merely the fact th*i hr had a wife out in Canada. SBe>g d#i*eE now by the way. Harry, iVe been thinking. We had better lend Delly on a long visit somewhere, and let he* miss Dick a bit. They have seen toamuch of each other." Sir Harry thought this likely enough. So Miss Dolly was despatched to a town called Darsinster ,as guest to a. large houseful oa young cousins, with, unfortunately, a strong taste for private theatricals. THws it came about that a bomb-shell soon fell upon Heyiston Priory. Lady Merton, who continued to breakfast in bed, summoned her husband upstairs one morning by ringing frantic peals upon the bell. When he dashed into the room he found her in tears "Harry!" she cried, "Dolly has , met Bruce Melville! It is all Sir Harry hastily seized the letter that she held out to him. It contained an excited account of some projected theatricals, with the ominous information that Bruce Melville, who was friendly with one of the sons of thehoupe ,had come down to stay, and toplay the leading part. Lady Melville dried her tears, and looked at her husband full in the face. "Bruce Melville is a scamp," said she. "And Dolly lias twenty thousand pounds in her own right. A catastrophe is certain." But Sir Harry scouted her fears. "Dolly is a well-principled girl," he said, with a man's usual ignorance of his feminine belongings; "if anything were to arise between them, she would let us know at once. Lady Merton eyed him for a moment, with large scorn. Then she told' him to go away. "I'm going to get up," she said. "And I'm off by the first train to Darmister." Her ladyship was as good' as her word." • The next njonjing brought a long letter, confessing that she had been beguiled into remaining, and taking part in the theatricals herself. On the third morning of Lady Merton's absence Dick Vaughan received a telegram. "Come to Darminstep, at once and meet me, at 2 o'clock. Sifc *t}ie\ 'fjrtirersal Hotel. Say nothing td 'anybody.— Alicia Merton." He went. In spite of his talk about Mens Rights, he was convinced that her ladyship was clever. When he reached the hotel at Darrainster, and asked for her, he was shown up into a private room. She was sitting there in a pale green gown and a picture hat, which wobbled as she grew excited. In her excitement she called him Dick, under the impression that she had always done so. "If is Dolly!' she cried. "You must get a special licence at once! I would' have done it for you, but I didn't know [Continued on Page 15.]

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■who to write to. I think it's the Archbishop." Dick laid his hat and stick on the table, and sat down. He remained cool. "Why must I get a special license he demanded. ' Dolly w on't marry me "' She will — she must — she shall' I will toll you what has happened. She and Bruce Moh llle are going to run away with each othei on Thursday l " Dick was pale. "What a brute'" he ejaculated. 'Of course he's a biute — he always was. I knew the minute that I saw him with Dolly that there was something between 'them. Then he began giving me his confidence, telling me that I had caught — oh, never mmd 1 I can't repeat it— it's too odious ' Anyway he hinted that I might help him. I told him I knew he meant Dolly, and that I would do mv best, but that nobody must suspect that I was in his confidence, or Sir Harry would never forgive me. Least of all, Dolly herself must have no idea that I knew anything. It all came out then He and Dolly are engaged, and are planning an ■elopement for Thursday. They have arranged to be married in the Darminster registry office 1 " Lady Merton paused for breath, looking tragically at Dick from under the shadow of her big hat. The young man was staring moodily at his boots. T don't see what I can do," he said. 'Do! You can do everything. I know all their arrangements— Bruce Melville leaves Darmmster to-morrow, after the theatricals. He will come back on Thrusday morning, and is to meet Dolly at 12 o'clock, at the Plumpton cross-roads. My promised part in the transaction is to place no difficulty in the way of Dolly's appointment'" "Well?"' . „ "Well, what you have to do is this. It is a bold stroke, but I am convinced that Dolly does hot really love Bruce Melville. " As for him, it is evident that he is merely after her money l " And then Lady Merton began to pour into Dick's ears a neat little plot, winch made him laugh, frown, hesitate, and go red with anticipation all in the space of three minutes. When the interview was over, Dick took the next train to Kingston, a town half a dozen miles from Darminster, and made his way to the registry office theie, without delay On Thursday morning the following incidents took place at Darminster First, Lady Merton came down to breakfast. Dolly, who looked white and nervous, tried to comment easily and naturally on this reformation, grew hysterical ,and was sent to her room -with a composing draught. Lady Merton then went out alnoe, and made her way to the station, where she sat down in the third-class waiting-room until the arrival of the express which was to bring Bruce Melville to Darminster. When the train came in her Ladyship met the actor, who sprang hastily on to the platform He was a handsome, clean-shaven man, with an untrustworthy face "Bruce," was her greeting, 'a dreadful thing has happened." They had turned out of the station, and were standing opposite a confectioner's shop Lady Merton pointed to a notice that tea was supplied at all hours. "Let us go in," she suggested. 'We can talk better " They entered, and sat down at a small marble-topped table, strewn with crumbs. Then her Ladyship took a letter from her pocket. It wa& signed "Your affectionate husband, H. Merton," but it had been composed bv her Ladyship, and written by Dick •'Read that'" said she. Melville read it Tt contained thenews that e^ cry halfpenny of Dolly's money, which had come to her from her mother, had been lost by the failure of a certain business-house in Canada. It was very business-like and technical, for the conspirators had concocted it with a great perfection of detail. Bruce Melville drummed on the table with his fingers. Lady Merton looked at him sympathetically "I thought you ought to know." said she, with a guileless appearance of righteousness He broke out into stammering "I sav — you know — it's an awful nuisance TVe nothing to keep a w lfe on " ' That's lust it " "What shall I do 9 Cam ltthiough 9 It'll hamper me for the rest of my life " Lady Merton seemed to ponder "If I were -ou," said she, very slowly, at last, "I should pretend to know nothing at all about it, but write a little note to Dolly, saying that you think you have both been hasty, and you feel it wiser not to contract a mairiage that you may both regret. I will see that it gets into her hands." Bruce Melville caught at the suggestion. Lady Merton told herself, with suppressed anger, that he was absolutely shameless. He wrote the note with a. pen and ink, supplied from the depths of the shop. It ran thus — "My dear Dollv — '"I have been thinking things over ,and ha\e come to the conclusion that we are about to do a foolish and nasty thing. I have no right to take

vuu from the shelter of your parents without their consent. I have therefore made up my mind not to see you again " He looked up. Shall I put 'in spite of my undying love for you 9'" he suggested. ••No — no"' cried Lady Merton, almost betraying her dismay. "Don't you see that you must show her it is all over She is the sort of girl who would follow you to the ends of the world ,and that sort of thing! Tell her lo forget jou !" So Bruce Melville ended his letter with the words, "not to see you again, and I beg you will try and forget me, as I shall try and forget you." "You've been a brick about this," he said, as he folded the envelope. "Got me out of a nasty scrape, by George." •I always like to hold by an old chum," replied her ladyship, solemnly. He hurried away, then, saying he could ]ust catch the 11.40 back to town. And Lady Merton, armed with the letter, met Dick Vaughan, by appointment, at a quarter to 12. ' Have you got the license, and everything?" said she, excitedly. "Yes. All serene." "Then here is the letter. Do not foiget to do exactly what I told you." Dick nodded, and went off. He sought the cross lane of the Plumbtonload. At 10 minutes past 12 he reached the trystin" place. It began to rain heavily before he got there, and presently he caught sight of a large and melancholy umbrella waiting patiently by the sign post. Underneath the umbrella was a small diconsolate figure in a limp white frock and thin shoes. "Hallo, Dolly." said he, suddenly popping his head under the black silk shelter. Dolly gave a little start and scream Then she went crimson. "Whatever in the world are you doing here s " she cned, in a frightened oice, staring at him. "I came over on purpose to see you. I met Lady Merton in the town, and &he vave me this note for you, as she was going to bhop. She says that she came across your friend Bruce Melville in Darminster this morning, and he begged her to convey a lettei to \ou And she told me to ask you what he meant by such impertinence, and to say she &hould insist on seeing it- she was only laughmo- you know " Dolly caught at the envelope, and tore it open. Then her flush faded, and she went deadly pale. Crumpling up the letter, she burst into tears. This was too much for Dick. The next moment he had her in his arms, and she did not try to disengage herself. "Tell me what it is, Doll's '" he implored. "Tell me, of your own fiee will, what it is." And Dolly was so miserable that she told him, straight away. And he would have let me wait here in the rain for hours and hours , and oh' I have written to father, and p-p-posted the letter'" "You've written to your father-" "Yes, to tell him I had e-e-eloped ' And he'll never forgive me, ne\er, never 1 I hate Bruce Mehille— l hate him i" "So do I," said Dick Vaughan, more than candidly. Dolly ceased sobbing from sheer despair. ' She looked up at Dick with affrighted eyes. ' What in the w orld shall I do s " she asked. "There is nothing for it," responded Dick, promptly and tenderly, ' but to elope as you said in your letter. But, instead of eloping with Mehille, jou must elope with me " "With you?" "Yes. Dolb' daihng, say you will. I've wanted you for such a long time." Again she was in his embrace When she emerged, she spoke miserably "It's impossible Dick But, oh 1 I can nevi , lever go home'" It isn't a bit impossible ' Come to Kingston, Dolly, and we'll be married withm the hour '" 'Where ? " Tn the registry office. ' We can't, Dick Br— Br— Mi MelAille said you had to get a license, even theie. ' Melville's an idiot What does he know about it ? " ' He's certainly an idiot," agreed Dolly, with tearful asperity 'He's ne:iil\ b-b-broken mv heait' AVhat will father <«ay ? " By this time the-s weie trundling under the umbrella- tow aids tlio town Dick would not risk taking Dolly to the station. He escorted her to a, small hotel on the outsknts, hued a closed carriage, and — — Well, two houis latoi Lady Merton received a telegram. She said "Thank heaven," and then went home to tell Sir Harry all about it The worst of it was that the respectable baronet never could see any necessity for the plot that converted Dolly into Mrs Dick Vaughan. He declared that if Dolly had been brought home and severely scolded as soon as her engagement had been found out her proper principles would have prevailed, and she would eventually have married Dick, in a white satin gown, with village choirs, and bridesmaids. But Lady Merton knew better.