LITERATURE.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 4, 3 November 1887, Page 4

LITERATURE.

UNDER THE SHADOW, CHAPTER 11. Iris rode on with a sigh of relief, She di n’t dislike C arena e Lord Montacute bv snv means, and she would have ItKen him very much if he hadn’t been so obviously and palpably in love with her. She had been dnading, all the time they had stood talking, that ha would ask permission to accompany her, and men as she jodo away, she feared that he would follow in puisuit, and it was not until she had reached the confines of the heath, and had got into a pretty lane, that she felt quite safe. The Holt to which she had told Lord Montacute that she was going, was one of the outlying farms —of course belonging to the manor —and was in the occupation of an old muse of her father’s. Iris often rode or drove over to sec her, and was received as a young goddess, deigning bl.less the car:h by alighting on it for a few abort hours. She was so pleased at having escaped Lord Montacule thar, looking round first to see that she was quite alone, she bugan to sing ; and it was just as if a nightingale had mb taken the son for the moon and had burst into song. Snow, who knew his beloved mistress’s ways, dropped into a walk, the icina fell loosely upon his neck, and Iris, forgetting everything, glided unconscious!}’ from song to song Now it was an old English ballad, then an I alian barcarolle, and again the sofl plaintive chant, which she could remember the swo* t and gentle voice of the nunringing at vespers. Suddenly, so suddenly that the song died upon her lips ns if smitten by a blow, and iSnow started and got on his hind legs thtir came upon the air the sound of a huge, vo iiminou t be'low. liis smiled and patted the horse. You stupid ! she said. It is only the old hull !

But the bellowing i; created find grew go furious, that, more to pacify the Ilian to satisfy her own curiosity, she rode up to the hcdgo ami looked over. The Binilo that still lingered on her lips vanished suddenly, and in p'ace of_ it came an expression of alarm and disquietude. Sho was looking over info a large meadow surrounded by a high hedge, having a four barred gate at the corner. Near (lie gate was a big ard particularly pugnacious looking bull, and just below her stood a young man. The man and the animal stood looking at each other steadily, the latter evidently working himself up into a bovine fury, striking the ground with bis front feet, lushing his tail and waving bis head ; tinformer aa evidently wondering bow he was 10 get to the gate, and hmv long it would ho before the bull came dashing across lha meadow at him.) Iris looked from the bull to the man ; ho was young and straight as an arrow, — for be had drawn birmelf up in an unconscious attitude of defiance and rcsdtner.a , Ida bare head—bis well worn and battered hat lay on the ground—shone in tho sunlight as only a head of brown hair touched with gold can shine ; his suit, leggings unci shooting jacket both—bore evidences of time ami stress of weather, and his hands— as was the back of bis neck—were tanned by the sub. In this fust momentary glance Iris know' that ho was a gentleman. Preseutlj without seeing her, he turned Ids head, end she saw that ho was handsome. There was a suggestion of a smile in lii« dutk brown eyes, and about tho lips half hidden hy a golden moustache which certain y indicated anything but fear, ano ns if ho found the s'tnation rather amusing tluui o.bcrwiso , and In's reflected the smile. But it was only for a second, foi she knew tho bull and realised the danger. A Word of warning rose to her lips, but fur some reason which she did not analyse, tho remained silent and simply waited.

Tlio bull sot bis head down and uttered another series or bellows, struck at the ground with increased vieionsness, and. with the cunning o£ a bruto who wants to make sure of its prey, moved slowly towards tha epot where the young fellow ttooJ. 11a waited a second then began slowly and steadily to meet the animal, keeping hia gnzj fixed upon Iho small eyes of Inflow and tightly grasping a short and serviceable oak stick. Iris sat immovable, her lips apart, her brows contracted with anxiety and sns pense. Snow watched the scent) wit* pointed ears and calm, obaorvan t eyes, am it is pr.jb.iblo that bo wa->, being a horse, men' ally laying heavy odds on his friend tne lull.

cslowly the two combatants approached each other. Jria wondered if it could be possible that tho young man thought he could moot in fair fight and hope to overcome that huge btulo with a sixpenny walking-stick. But whatever hia thoughts and hopes were, he went, as it seemed, to his doom, steadily and unflinchingly. Tho proceedings on Ihp part of his foe were so unexpected that tho bull slopped ns if astounded for a moment, then us it enraged by tho audacity of the man ; he n'.terod a louder roar than any that proceeded it, and came tearing upon him. Iris went white to she lips ; she saw the young man raise his stick, heard it as it tell, apparently with the force of an iron bar upon the bull’s snount—upon which i: seemed to have as much effect ns a fly would have done if it had alighted there instead—and then, ns tho bull lowered it* head to toss him, she saw tho man leap to the left, and make for the gate. The thing, the trick, was done so quickly so cleverly, and so gracefully, that he: heart gave abound, and her cheeks flushed with admiration. But another emotion, — tho first, that of fear, —us quickly took its place. Quick as the joung fellow was, tho bull Was quicker. Lung before the gate was reached, while it still stood, as if mockingly, half upon at the corner of the field, tiie bull had gain d upon iho man, its hot breath and foaming snout seemed almost upon him. Then ho turned, raised the stick and dealt the brute a second blow, and repeating the leap to the side, ran olf again. But this time, of necessity, the direction ha fled iu was from instead of towards tiro gate I Maddened by tho blow an 1 tho adroitness of his foe, the bull doubled hia puce, nn-1 with flushing eyes and streaming flanks boro down upon his adversary. Iris’s heart seemed to have stopped healing. If she had wanted to cry out now rhe could not have done it, for her lips seemed fast locked. She looked mind wildly, vaguely for help. But the farm was a in lu away ; not u soul was iu ni.ht, ;n 1 as it in mockery ol the huu a i peri!, the birds mug brightly in the tree«, Tho young fellow ran in » denting line line towards her, readied the hedge, and stood there to ga.hor breath, the bull came tearing along, its head down, its red, gleaming eyes, fixed on tho man. Once mote tbe s'iek was raised, but this time it missed its aim, ani losing its footing by lh* force of tha blow, tho young fellow Cell to the ground,

It was a lucky accident, for, borne forward by the impetus of his forward rush, the bull passed clean over him, and the horns with which ho had hoped to gore his adversary rent the empty air instead. The man jumped to his feet, stood for the space of a breath, ns if dazed, then made lor the gate ; the bull turned shot t on his haunches and was full pelt afte 1 him. Confused by his fall and the trampling of the bull’s hoofs, the young fellow ran crookedly, and it was evident that this time the bull would avenge his former failures, and it would bo maimed limbs and death for his foe. The young fellow seemed to feel this, for he lot'ked round the field as if he were vainly trying to find some spot in which he- could come to bay ; the bull drew nearer and nearer, —another instant or two Vuiild settle accounts between them, and all in the bull’s favour, when as if she had alighted from Heaven, iris sprang over the hedge and drooped between them. Her appearance was so sudden so unexpected, that the man and bull pulled up ( as if shot, The man was the first to recover. Tinning his white f >ce towards her he shook ins head and panting still, shouted*: Go back ! go away !

A smile p'ayed for a sccon 1 upon the face of Iris, that was as white as It is own, ana she galloped towards bimThe bull had recoveicd by this time, and was alter them, bellowing a mad. brutal longing for them both. The gate, the gate, cried the young fellow. Don’t mind me 1 Oh, for Heaven’s sake, go ! Hut Iris smiled again. She had no; been watching his mode of watfarc foi nothing, and instead of making for the gate, she swerved suddenly and rode towards the bull. The young fellow slopped as if shot, and dashed towards her, uttering a cry ot warning and despair. Ihe Lull, too, stopped, amrzed and perplexed , but in another instant ho had made up his mind that a lady and a horse were In tier prey than one man, and he went for the pair. Snorting with rage and terror, Snow rose on his hind legs, then Iris pulled hi in round and bounded aside, and the bull passed her. {She looked round then with something like a stxiile oi: trltmiph on her paie factat the success of her manoeuvre, but (he smile died away as she saw that instead of making for the gale the young fellow was running to ward's her. The gate, the gate 1 she cried, speaking for I be first time. What? And leave you ?he shouted, with a reckless, maddened laugh. Como with me, then 1 she called. Put your hand on my horse ! Quick ! He understood in a moment : ran quickly towards her, and flung hia arm over the horse’s neck, in her excitement, in the overpowering, overwhelming, desire to save him, Iris laid her hand on his arm, and grasped it ; then, together, they went across the meadow, and towards the gate. A moment of suspense, a moment during which they heard the brute panting and snorting behind them, —felt even the hot breath, as it puffed out at their backs, the gate was gained, and they were on the right side. Wait a shout the young fellow let go his hold ot Snow’s neck, and hurling himself at the gate, clicked to the latch at the moment the bull dashed against it. There was not a moment —half a momoment— to spare. Paniingly iho young fellow leaned upon the gate and surveyed their adversary, then ho turned and went up to whore Iris, his preserver, sat upon her horse. Her bosom, under its tight-fitting habit, was heaving, her lips were half apart, her eyes glowing under their long lashes, but otherwise she sal calm and motionless, the typo of a goddes who had descended from Olympus, to preserve and succour poor humanity. Ho stood and looked up at her a moment in silence. liis face was still pale, and there were drops like dew upon his golden moustache, that fringed hia upper tip, and his hr ..ad chest heaved in harmony with hers. How could you be so mad? he said nl last ; and the words seemed a strange mode, of expressing his thanks fur the life ho owed her.

Iris lilted her eyes, and lot them fall upon him in silence, and the colour came welling back into his bronzed cheeks. I—l beg your pardon,” lie said ; but 1 know 1 cw« you my life. I am very grateful, Bm—but it was matin ness ! Was it ? she said, in her low, sweet, musical voice. It was madness not to have come to you sooner, but— think of it till you fell. Vou should not have come at all, ho said, almost sternly. It was dangerous, horribly, wickedly dangerous! If your horse had stumbled or you hud fallen—lie -lopped, and a slight shudder ran thorugh him. Besides,! should have got to the gale—No, lie broke oil, I should not ! I know I should not 1 You have saved my file I But .vhen I think of ihe risk you ran, I wish,-—I do wish most heartily,— that you bail been miles away. him sat motionless, looking down at him contemplatively. No cue, not even her father, bad ever spoken so firmly, so masterfully as Ibis stranger had done. As she lo ked down at him she saw two or tiuee drops of blood run down his wrist and fall to the ground. A little spasm of pain passed across her lips ; all women hate the sight of blood. Ate yon—hurt? she said, lliul? No. Then hia eyes followed hers, ami he put his hand behind him. At least, if 1 nm 1 don’t feel it. I suppose our friend must have struck mo when he came dancing over me. But ilia nothing anyway. But yon ? She shook her head. Your habit is tom, he said suddenly, as his eyes roamed over her ansiumfiy. You are sure ho did not touch yon ? Quite, said Iris. No. lam not hurt in the least. But you—l am afraid ! No, no, ho replied quickly, 'ihe worst harm I have got is au intolerable thirst! ai d lie laughed. There is a brook in the hollow there, sho saiih I will thow you. him walked Snow down iho slope, and the young fellow walked b}’ Iter side, blushing the dust from his coat with him uninjured hand. Every now and (hen during their abort j-mvney ho glanced up at the pale face with a vague wonder at its beauty and its swo«t calmness. Mo t trirls Would have been it) a state - >' palpitating “gush,” half laughing,’he • £ oyiug ; whereas this beauteous treat 4 u , wuo had descended, as it were, fr- jin heaven, on her black hmse, was as ai dm ami sen na and self-possessed as if ho and «he had been sauntering through the J dps together all the morning. Hereisabri ok, said I is. pointing tc the khallow stream that babbled at her fo st, (lobs Continued.)