MR TEMPANY’S TEMPTATION.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1024, 20 April 1883, Page 4

MR TEMPANY’S TEMPTATION.

LITERATURE.

(Continued.) .s Mr Tempany was so utterly taken aback by this sudden and unexpected whim of Mrs Bramwell Jay’s, that he could not find another word to say. He followed the lady meekly to the carriage and took bis seat beside her, feeling like a criminal being led to execution. This ill-timed visit to the jeweller’s must, he felt, inevitably complete his discomfi tore, for Mr Bevis would naturally deny; all knowledge of the bracelet. It really seemed as though the only course open, to him was to confess everything on the spot, to, avoid needless. exposure and disgrace. But Mr-Tempapy could-not bring himself to acknowledge his deceit unless he were absolutely obliged, and during the drive he resolved as a last chance to hurry into the shop alone, on pretence of .inquiring: if .Mr Bevis were within, and:Jlakeh;the .opportunity to whisper a word of warning in his ear. No doubt the jeweller was open to a bribe, and would make no difficulty about screening him.; In his desperate state Mr Tempany took heart at this idea, and even' contrived to converse with the widow with apparent eqwanimity. But alas ! his little scheme was frustrated by the accidental circumstance of the coachraan taking a wrong turning,' so that 'wh'eiTth^e'■carriage Stopped; “the' side on which the widow was seated was nearest to the pavement. The footman, too, was a very smart youth, and descended from,the box*;with spph alacrity that the carriage door was open before Mr Tempany had recovered his surprise at having reached the jeweller’s. The consequence was that the Widow, alighted first and stepped into the shop, while Mr Tempany feeling that the Fates were against: him, and that he was pursued by r a relentless Nemesis, followed after her in a state of a despair. * Mr Bevis, how came you to make snch an extraordinary mistake ? You are Mr Bevis, I presume ?’ said the widow, 'approaching the counter. ‘ Yes, madam,’ said the jeweller, * quietly.. ‘ Will you be seated ? What mistake?’

Mrs Bramweir Jay explained with fatal precision, while Mr Tempany stood by, bursting with desperate eagerness to put in a warning word. By sheer force of will and mesmeric influence he.; succeeded in catchingMr Bevis’s eye,during the recital. Now Mr Beyis, the jeweller, was a shrewd little man, and a glance at the agonised expression on Mr Tempany’s eager and bloodless face sufficed ,to put him .on the alert. He knew the unhappy gentleman by sight, and a Iso by reputation,' and though their transactions had, been limited in extent, he had pretty well fathomed his chai’acter. He therefore' guessed at once how the land lay, and what was required of him, and though’ he made ho sign, : a ghost of a smile flickered for an instant about the corners of his month when the widow had finished, and awaited his reply. * I am extremely sorry, madam/ he answered, ;with calm deliberation, r ‘ It-—it was very careless,’ Mr Tempany Was emboldened to say, though his heart was beating fiercely.' ' * Very/ said the widow-, emphatically, imagine hbvf-you could have done such a thing/* y/ill osS ‘ Mistakes will sometimes happen in the best regulated establishments/ said Mr Beyis, with humility, while Mr Tempany felt a strong desire to evince his gratitude'by falling on his he6k. ‘Where is the bracelet this gentleman / purchased, - then inquired the* widow, still in an incredulous tone. For an instant Mr 1 Tempany’s. Un- 5 easiness revivedj hnt Mr .Bevis was quite; equal; ,tp -the* Without a moment's; hesitation he turned 1 round and produced from a drawer behind him a case which he laid upon the counter, MryTempany was so overwhelmed with a blessed’feeling of relief l that he -felt no curiosity'ad to the bonlents of the case/ Hisattention Was attracted, tq jt by a startled exclamation from. Mrs Brarn well Jay: ; - 1 ‘ Oh! Podmorev ;; What a splendid; bracelet I. Why/: it Vi? a blaze of dia-V monds 1’ she cried, clasping her. hands.- ‘ Eh!-exclaimed MryTempany,- hastily putting "on his glasses with a startled air, v ‘ What! Good' heavens ! That isn’t the bracelet thalT chose/ he added, seeing at a glance that it fnust be worth several hundred pounds. ‘ Yes, Jt. is air/ retnmed 'Mr)Bevis, in a very qniet, decisive tone. * Qh 1 r ,Npiil Iri-I think not, at least,?ga sped Mr ; Tempany, ;but[ Querying, jtjbe. shrewd look oii Mr Bevis’s face/ which said as. plainly : ns possible that the bracelet-Was the price of the services be had rendered, Mr Tempany subsided into a frightened and Uneasy silence. ‘Oh 1 Podmore. This is really too good for Amy. Mach more than is necessary, Tm sure/ said the widow, who had been gazing enraptured, at the ornament. V Yes, Theodosia, so I think I’ acquiesced Mr Tempany, eagerly. ‘lt is too rich. I’m sure she would like something quite plain better. A gold band or a simple bangle-would be much more suitable. I think,! will change it.’ ‘No* -Podmpre:;:] I; have, anj idea.* Amy is- dllighted .with my ’bracelet* and she shall have it. '“-I will keep this one instead of my own as a present from you/ said the widow, in a tone of decision. ‘lt will be the first really handsome present you have given me, you know.’ • ‘ I’m sure you don’t want it, Theodosia/ said Mr Tempany; with a kind of groan. ‘lt doesn’t suit your complexion, I’m afraid.’ 1 * Yon think not ? Look Mr Beris ; what do yon say ?’ exclaimed the widow, clasping the* bracelet on her shapely arm. 1 ‘ ‘ Excellent!’ cried Mr Bevis, in a tone of emphatic admiration, for which Mr Tempany hated him on the spot, ‘ Nothing could look handsomer.’

‘ Very well. Then that is settled,’ said Mrs ‘" Bramwell Jay,- pleasantly. ‘ I’m sure Amy will be glad to get my bracelet back again,’. : . ‘You will have the stone replaced, of course, sir?’ said Mr Bevis, in a bnsir ness-like tone, ns he took up the discarded ornament. '

‘Oh ! certainly,’ interposed the widow, before Mr Tempany. could falter a remark. ‘ln fact, I think the setting should, be renewed altogether. Tt is too old-fashioned.’

■‘l will make a good job of it,’ replied Mr Bevis, putting, the case on one side. ‘ Good day, madam. Good day .to you, sir. ’

Mr Tempany went' out of the shop without uttering another word, being, quite speechless with emotion. His horror at the .probable amount of the;• jeweller’s bill was only equalled bylthe maddening feeling of helplessness which' kept him from remonstrating.; So far from experiencing satisfaction at his escape he was now inclined to think that it had cost,him too dear, and his, sentiments towards Mr Bevis had changed to deep resentment. He excused- himself from accompanying the widow for the remainder of her drive, feeling that he must be alone to brood over his crushing misfortunes, . The.lady seemed neither surprised not hurt at this sudden desertion, and Mr Tempany. had an uncomfortable 'suspicion that she rather enjoyed his discomfiture. She was charmingly affable, however,' and overwhelmed him' with expressions of gratitude for his handsome present when he showed her into her carriage. 1 * By-the-by, Podmore, dear,’ she exclaimed,, putting,; her head out of the window as she; drove off,, .‘what could, have induced you to say inyonr letter to Amy- that this lovely bracelet was air heirloom in your family ?’ : ■ ( This 1 significant''speech rankled a good deal in Mr Tempany’s mind when he had sufficiently recovered from his state of horrified bewilderment to think it over. It s ueally ; spunded as if the widow sdspected she had been, .imposed upon, though she- sejuplpd to 4urn the circumstance to' account. It may have,’been.owing -to a- guilty conscience, but Mr Tempany certainly fancied that from that day forward the widow began to manifest decided coolness towards him. So apparent did this'bdebrne^-to 'him, that if He 1 had had ’ any self respect he would have terminated the . engagement. However, as,Mr Tempany regarded-his marriage, ; as '.we.-know, . from, a very raateriaL; point, of viewj he was not inclined to be easily affronted. At the last moment, howeyer, an unexpected obstacle occurred.,! The widow’s solicitor intervened with some very nasty suggestions about a marriage settlement. This did not suit.Mr Tempany’s views at all, anch being; unable; ; to to terms with the lawyer, he appealed SQmevfjhat indignantly to the,lady;herself. Mrs Bramwell. Jay: refusedto s interfere,saying ,that in; the hands of her, legal adviser,,and the" upshot was that, finding the widow’s fortune was so strictly tied up that be might be reduced to the unpleasant necessity of his household wjth his own money, Mr Tempany resolved to remaiU f a bachel6runtil a more favourable opportunity! offered.: :: ; Of bourse, this was a dreadful blow to him. It aged him considerably, for when he came to add up what his engagement had cost ; 4iinU : one way or another in actual £ s d, he was horrified at the amount; Mr Bevis’s account brought /t«jars'jfoqhis? ! eyes and reduced hinrioSa Mateof incipient- 1 imbecility fbr dpys; HeMiaffto sayuit/rbdireyer,: did-ihb/get ! a farthing discount.' But it was at least a faint consolation to think that he would recover something but of the;- fire; ! The bracelet would fetch a good ' round . sum, second hand," and'i’this ( reflection bnoybd him up * a little - so long as he was permitted to;infiulge -in it. - But alas I ‘Even this small solace was -denied- for in j acknowledging parcel containing the presents ; Bhe had made him, the widow wrote as follows: DbaitMe Tempany, —Thanks for your sad, sad letter, i ?I ,do not like to think of what might have been but fopthose dreadfpl J. return all the dear gifts you gave mo except one, which T'am snre ! you will allow me, to keep, and wear as,a souvenir. The bracelet, your last gift—l cannot bring myself to part with, and I promise to keep it always—always ! Your friend and well-wisher, Theodosia Bkam>well Jay. , v , THE END. . , i