THE HON. VESEY’S LAST HOPE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1260, 27 January 1883, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE HON. VESEY’S LAST HOPE.

The Honourable Vesey Merthyn was almost played out. He had run through two fortunes, besides that which came to him from his deceased wife. No further assistance was forthcoming from his brother, the Peer, and the rich aunt, from whom he cherished expectations, left the whole of her property to the Society for the Conversion of the Jews to Christianity. He had long since exhausted the patience of friends and creditors ! his Paper was worthless, and his reputation somewhat tarnished. No one knew exactly why he suddenly retired from the Phoenix Club, of which he was an original member. He was mixed up with several bubble companies in the City, and his name figured regularly in the list of patrons of mushroom co-operative stores. At fifty he was beginning to lose his good looks and fascinating manners, his stories were stale, and his conversation had lost its piquancy. It required no great stretch of imagination to picture the Honourable Vesey leading a precarious existence at some foreign watering-place, by levying blackmail on every acquaintance lie came across, and dissembling his skill and experience at ecarte. But the Honourable Vesey Merthyn did not at present entertain any such gloomy forebodings, for he was awaiting his opportunity to play his trump card, and was sanguine of satisfactory results. His daughter Constance little realised how important a part she played in her father’s prospects. From her school-days, when she began to develope that singular grace and beauty which presently took society by storm, the Honourable Vesey confidently relied upon his daughter to relieve him from his embarrassments by making a brilliant marriage. To secure for her an eligible partly and to guard against hopeless entanglements, had been his constant aim, and the result was that Miss Merthyn had wealthy suitors in abundance, and seemed dutifully disposed to be guided by her father in the selection of a husband. This state of things was scarcely more satisfactory to the Honourable Vesey than to bis numerous creditors, who perfectly well understood how the land lay, and felt a vital interest in the successful issue of the parental manoeuvres. The Honourable Vesey made the grave mistake of being too exacting in his requirements. He not only desired that his son-in-law should be wealthy, but also of a generous easygoing disposition: the sort of individual, in short, who would not fail in his duty towards his wife’s father. It was somewhat difficult to discover such a desirable combination, but the Honourable Vesey did not suffer himsdf to be easily discouraged. He kept his keen eyes open, and bided his time patiently : but in the interval his daughter complicated matters by developing a decided penchant for young Reginald Courtland, of the foreign office. The Honourable Vesey did not discourage the attentions of young Courtland. It suited his purpose to be tolerant with the young man. Reginald Courtland was heir to a wealthy Baronet, whose gout was creeping towards his heart; he was also an openhanded and generous young fellow in money matters, as the Honourable Vesey knew from personal experience, and his devotion to Miss Merthyn was sufficiently apparent to stimulate less demonstrative suitors to declare themselves. The Honourable Vesey foresaw that Mr. Dives, the millionaire, was of a jealous disposition. Mr. Dives was the fortunate individual destined by the Honourable Vesey for his son-in-law. It is true the millionaire was elderly, vulgar, and illiterate; but on the other hand, his wealth was untold, his life was a bad one, and, above all, he entertained the highest respect and admiration for the Honourable Vesey. The anxious father attached great importance to the last qualification, especially as Mr. Dives was a plain busi-ness-man, who had no fine feelings or sentimental nonsense about him. The Honourable Vesey felt, therefore, that he could discuss his affairs with Mr. Dives without delicacy. Reginald Courtland’s marked attentions to Miss Merthyn had the desired effect upon Mr. Dives. The rich man sulked at first, then grew angry, and finally became desperate. He sought out the Honourable Vesey, and formally proposed for his daughter’s hand, offering settlements, diamonds, and pin money on the most liberal scale. An arrangement was come to without much discussion, but Mr. Dives looked glum at the prospect of paying his future father-in-law’s debts, and only agreed to make him the allowance stipulated for after considerable hesitation. When the Honourable Vesey informed his daughter of the felicity which awaited her, he learnt, to his disgust, that she considered herself engaged to Reginald Courtland. No formal engagement existed; but the young people had come to an understanding between themselves, and Courtland was only waiting to hear what his uncle, the Baronet, proposed to do for him, before asking Mr. Merthyn’s consent. Under these circumstances the Honourable Vesey found it no easy task to reconcile his daughter to the choice he had made for her. He was obliged to exert his parental authority, and to give his child a I clearer insight into his own affairs than he

had bargained for. The upshot of the matter was that Courtland received his Congt. It was the old story of a dutiful daughter sacrificing her happiness from a sense of filial obligation. For a while matters progressed to the Honorable Vesey’s entire satisfaction. His daughter received the attentions of Mr. Dives with resignation, and the millionaire expanded under the influence of his courtship* The Honorable Vesey revelled in the agreeable sensation of returning prosperity. Hiscreditors suddenly became civil and accommodating, and he was congratulated on all sides upon the splendid match his daughter was making. But he soon found Reginald Courtland was likely to give trouble. The young man naturally complained of the way in which he had been treated, and managed to infect Miss Merthyn with his rebellious spirit. The lady began to grow colder than ever towards Mr. Dives, and evinced a disposition to jilt that estimable gentleman on the smallest provocation. To make matters worse the millionaire discovered that his future father-in-law’s debts were much heavier than he had been led to believe, and appeared discontented with his bargain. The Honorable Vesey consequently, resolved to take his daughter for a trip to the Continent. He had misgivings that if he allowed her to remain in England, Courtland might prevail upon her to elope with him. Besides which, he was anxious to humor Mr. Dives, by inducing his creditors to accept a composition, and thought he could effect this desirable object more easily if he were out of reach. He kept his own counsel as long as possible, for obvious reasons, and did not inform his daughter of the intended journey until the morning of the day on which they were to start. Miss Merthyn contrived, nevertheless, to send a note to Courtland, informing him of her sudden departure. The young man received the news with a sinking heart. He easily guessed that part of the scheme which the Honorable Vessey had not thought necessary to explain to his daughter. Mr. Dives was going on the Continent also, and had dropped hints from which his suspicious rival gathered that a quiet wedding at one of the British Embassies was in contemplation. The travellers started by the evening mail, and the Honorable Vesey deemed it necessary to adopt a few precautions to elude the vigilance of bis creditors, who would naturally object fo his leaving the country. He shaved off his whiskers and muffled himself up so that his features were hardly visible. When the train arrived at Dover, he lingered at the station on pretence of keeping an eye on his luggage, and did not attempt to embark till the last moment. When he reached the landing-stage, with his daughter on his arm, the other passengers were all on board ; the last batch of luggage had been lowered on deck; and the warning bell was sounding. The Honorable J/esey glanced uneasily at the small group of persons assembled round the gangway of the steamer, and was startled to behold Reginald Courtland. Fortunately, Miss Merthyn did not perceive him, and stepped on board the steamer without looking round. Her father was about to follow, when somebody touched his arm. It was a peremptory touch—a touch which the Honorable Vesey knew instinctively it would bo vain to ignore. A quiet, lifiobtrusive, but resolute individual politely informed him that he was arrested on a warrant of nc exeat regno.

The Honorable Vesey, though taken aback, retained his presence of mind. He was a man of resources, and the resource he had most faith in was the power of gold. He drew the man aside, and asked his price. The officer, though at first indignant, showed signs of yielding. The Honorable Vesey exerted all his powers of persuasion, and, in his eagerness, did not notice the steamer beginning to glide off. When he realised the fact, she was well under weigh, and he caught a glimpse of his daughter standing on deck with Courtland by her side. The marriage of the beautiful Miss Merthyn with young Reginald Courtland took everyone by surprise. Dives was furious, and the Honorable Vesey had the sympathy .of his creditors. The story of the romantic elopement was in everyone’s mouth ; but only the bereaved father knew the true version.