CHAPTER VI.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 34, 26 January 1884, Page 4

CHAPTER VI.

PERPLEXITY. "1 am the most forlorn, unhappy fellow in all Great Britain, my Lady Hortense ; and that the one woman for whose sake I would die any moment has not the slightest compassion upon me — nay, that she laughs at my distress, makes wanton sport of my agony, that " A peal of silvery laughter nearly drowned the last words, and the speaker, a fair-haired, aristocratic-looking youth, who was leaning against a richly sculptured marble mantel, nervously fingering the costly bijouterie upon it, paused abruptly, colouring with anger, while he looked over to the fairy -like creature who was like a humming-bird, and had the bright fairy look of one indeed as she leaned over a mammoth stand of blossoming plants set in the great crystal windows of a luxurious English parlour. "Oh, Freddy, I couldn't help it. I didn't mean to be rude. I beg your pardon , indeed I do. But it was so ridiculous, that lachrymose tone, and the forlorn look on your merry face, that — I—"I — " ,w, w And here the speaker paused, and smothered another outburst by putting a cobweb morsel of a handkerchief against two cheery lips to hide their dimpling glee. A very futile effort certainly, for the great blue eyes above were sparkling and twinkling with mirth. The young gentleman's white patrician hand brushed fiercely at the soft silken mustache, whose tawny gold arched above a pair of girlish lips that trembled a little now with an emotion'deeper than vexation. "Ah, yes, I see. You are still laughing, " cried he, fiercely. "Cruel girl, you will sometime receive your recompense for this heartless conduot. Do not think you are to escape youraelf. Indeed if you would take the trouble to investigate, you would find cause enough for uneasiness on your own Account," "OK, Freddy, Freddy, I believe you; I am half killed now with these tragedy airs, 'It is too absurd," laughed

tho beautiful girl, smiling upon him, saucily. "By the way you talk one would think your poor insignificant little couwin a cruel, treacherous Circe, or a horrible Gorgon bent upon your destruction. Now, Freddy dear, come down from stilto, and declare what it is I have done." "You know -well enough. You do not need to have me speak a single word of explanation. You laugh at me as if I were a silly boy." "Why then do you behave like one?" asked she, roguishly. A red lush mounted to his vei'y forehead. " Can a man help his fate ?" answered he passionately. "it was mine to love you, cruel, pitiless, but peerlessly beautiful one ! And it was my right too," he added, in a sullen bitter tone. "Of course. Are we not cousins but once removed ? We ought to be very good friends, as we were always affectionate playfellows, Fred. Come, come, be a good boy, and put off this unamiable mood, and you shall nave this other lovely blossom for your breast-knot." 11 Ay, take up with the cool cousinly ways — good nature one minute, and ridicule and caprice the next. Ko, I thank you, my Lady Hortense !" he answered pettishly. "Give me the opening blush rose there or nothing." " I told you before that I was saving that for Konrade," answered the girl, cresting her slender neck defiantly, and flashing upon him her first earnest glance. u For Konrade. Everything is for Konrade now ! I wish — " 4 " You need not wish anything wicked and cruel, sirrah. Your silly jealousy shall not be allowed to go so far as that, " retorted she, with spirit. " For the sake of our old cousinly friendship, I have ignored your absurd ways, but I warn you that my patience is nearly exhausted. You are my cousin. I have very kindly and affectionate regard for you, but— Konrade Earle is my betrothed husband!" How clear and rich the silvery tones rang out ! What proud, glad content shone over the girl's face as she spoke these words, slowly and deliberately ! The sight drove away what little sense Sir Frederic had retrained. " Your betrothed husband it may be," declared he, angrily; "nevertheless an impostor and villain. 1 warn you that his proceedings -will not bear investigation. I tell you that he deceives you with all the rest. Where is he nov, 'i What becomes of him during these long and mysterious absences V Investigate, my proud cousin, and you may find that the immaculate hero is not so far above the despised and rejected Teddy." The girl's beautiful eyes fairly blazed upon him their contemptuous scorn. She chose the words that should sting mo&t sharply in return, and spoke them icily : "It is a new character for a Mildmay that of a backbiter and cowardly maligner' I think my grandmother should hear you, Sir Frederic. Thank Heaven, Koniade Earle is as far above your petty slanders as yonder sun above the fear of any eclipse from the feebler lights below it." "It is no slander, but the simple truth," vociferated the youth, still more angrily. " Tell me now \vhe v e you believe these last three months have been spent ?" She arched her neck proudly, and held contemptuous silence. "I do not need your answer. You told me long long ago that he was down in Wales, at his shooting-box. Your letters have come from there. Well, I took a journey that Avay myself, called upon the gentleman, and found the place in possession of a single man, who informed me that his master had not been down this season at all. What do you say to that, my lady t I found, too, that his letters were sent thither to be mailed. What does that mean ?" " That it makes no sort of difference in my opinion, saving that I blush for any relative of mine who stoops to the prying ways of a police detective," returned, she, coldly. " You have full faith in Konrade Earle ?" "I have implicit, unfaltering faith in him," returned she, calmly. "Don't be too certain. What if I tell you that there is a man from over the water secretly on the watch for your hero's i*eappearance ? What if I can prove that he actually arrived in Liverpool a short time since, coming from America in the steamer ?" " Were it true it is a very insignificant affair. Has he not a perfect right to visit America as often as he pleases?" she leturned, coldly. "But why wrap such a mystery about his movements ? Hortense, believe me, this is not all idle jealousy of the fortunate rival who has won my heart's idol away from me. It is a loving heart's solicitude for your happiness and danger of shipwreck. Look to it, I beseech you !" As he greAv calmer the girl seemed to wax warmer and fiercer. A rich crimson gathered in her cheeks, a feverish lustre glittered in her eyes, and she stamped that tiny satinslippered foot again and again, as she assailed him. " You need not think to impose upon me with the idea that this is all solicitude for my welfare. I know it for the envious jealous plot it is. For shame, Frederic Mildmay ! I never thought you would stoop to such an unmanly, dastardly part." She stood thus, the slender, diminutive figure drawn to its utmost height, the beautiful face glowing with angry scorn, and he had only eyes and cars for her. Therefore the first that either knew of any entrance, a clear, calm voice spoke gravely : "Hortense, my child — Frederic, what childish unbecoming quarrel is this ?" The girl turned quickly toward the tall and stttl stately and imposing figure, and bent her haughty head deprecatingly. " Grandmamma, I did not hear you enter. Pardon me, I beg." And hastily wheeling forward aluxurious easychair, she seated the new-comer with reverential tenderness of look and air. The younggentleman, with a vain attempt to assume a composed look, was at the same time bringing forward a velvet ottoman for her feet. It did not need a second glance, even for an obtuse observer, to discern that this woman, notwithstanding her age and delicate health, was still a reigning queen in society, and no ordinary character. A fine, gracious benignity asserted itself almost unconsciously in every look and gesture, and she possessed also in a rare degree that old-time, exquisite courtesy of manner that is alike the admiration and despair of modern drawing-rooms' and courts, " Thanks, Frederic ; thanks, dear child. lam very comfortable. Let me see you both seated before Sir Frederic tells me the latest news from the Heronry." The young people obeyed her, ( \bhe girl flinging a bright, irate glance toward the discomposed face of the youth, while she busied herself in a pretty pantomine of brushing out and setting into place the fluttering flounces of her airy dress. A brief conversation, framed in the most ' polite language, ensued between, the youth and the elderly lady, concerning the county news, the latest political change, and the little gossip of their own tenantry. .Then '£h,e dowager tiuvned her clear, penetrating eyes from one sullen face to the, <btner s :c|p-; fiant one, and laying one hand upon her

granddaughter's fair head; held out the other to Sir Frederic, and Raid tenderly : "Now, my children, tell me what foolish misunderstanding has clouded the affectionate regard of my young kinspeople. Sir Frederic, you represent the head of the Mildmay house now. It is your right to spoaic .list. Let me hear your verwon." "Other rights have been waived — let 'that also be passed by," answered the, youth, quickly, his grievance again rising with masterful force. " I prefer that Lady Hortense should speak first. She gaVe me some hard words. Let her show you wherein 1 am an unmannerly dastard." " Hortense — wilful, capricious as your playful nature makes you, I never believed you could be so unkind— insolent— and to the head of the house." The girl's eye did not blanch. "He assailed Konrade Earle, grandmamma, and I defended him, as was my duty. If Frederic wishes for my respect, lot him hold himself as becomes a'Mildmay, and not turn into a malicious enemy. He has grown so troublesome and quarrelsome of late as to be almost unendurable : that is the truth, grandmamma. He even declares that he has been somehow cheated of his rights. You heard whathe said just now." These words were spoken so swiftly and impetuously that the elder lady had no opportunity to check them. Her proud patrican face did not flush, only grew a shade paler, toward the gentleman, though it was evident he was deeply moved. "Speak, Frederic," she said authoritatively. And without looking back to those penetrating eyes, he returned promptly : " Very well. I will speak, dear madam, and remember it was at your command, if what I say displeases you. It is true that I am dissatisfied with my kinswoman's engagement to this Konrade Earle, and if, as you say, lam the head of the house, surely I have a right to express my sentiments." "You have a right ; certainly you have the right, Sir Frederic," murmured the dowager, softly. " Neverthele-s, the whole arrangement was perfected without any reference to my opinion," continued he, gaining confidence. "Because you were so young, Frederic. And because Hoi'tense is my granddaughter, and I have hitherto held command here — not lightly or unworthily, I trust — " " Not even he would dare insinuate that, dearest grandmother," cried the girl, seizing the white, slender fingers and kissing them fondly. "You know very well that the Mildmay honour and spotless escutcheon has been uphold most grandly of all by these dear hands. The whole country venerates and adores you, the United Kingdom gives tribute to your worth and goodness, the very sovereign herself has bestowed royal commendation. Even the ingrate yonder dares not insinuate that you have ever dealt unjustly here." "No, no, dear madam. Ido not believe you have ever knowingly been unjust. Yet I cannot tell the truth, and claim my rights without acknowleding that I believe you have made a great mistake," interposed the youth. "Your rights again," repeated the dowager. " Yes, I see that there is some truth behind this angry excitement. You have been morbidly brooding over some fancied wrong or slight. Speak out freely, and let me understand your grievances now to the fullest extent. And before you commence, I solemnly assure you I have not the faintest suspicion wherein they are violated." "Can that be possible?" demanded he, impetuously. "Have you foagotten that from my boyhood I was brought up to look upon Hortense as my future wife ?" Theslender white handsdropped together, and the gem-decked fingers locked themselves in a fierce grip. This was the only visible sign of any rising emotion. "An idle proposition made for a pair of babies. That is the most you can make of it," answereds he, calmly. "My son 4 Sir Richard, out of his great love, for his dead wife, declared that he should never marry again or have a male heir, and thus naturally he looked upon his cousin's boy us the future head of the Mildmay family. I remember now that there was one ddj a playful proposition that the children should unite the fortune and honours of the old house. But during the later years of my son's life I never even heard an allusion to it." " It was confidently counted upon at the Heronry," declared Frederic, stoutly. • ' It may be. It would naturally be a matter of more consequence there. Yet that would not give you authority to claim an engagement. If you have been cherishing such hopes I am deeply grieved for your pain and disappointment, but I cannot allow you to assume it to be a right violated. Her father's solemn charge and blessing gave Hortense to the present betrothal. I cannot tell either of you my great joy and unutterable relief when I found that my granddaughter's heart went with her vows. If this is the sum of your grievance, Frederic, I cannot uphold you, though I may be grieved myself at your disappointment." "It is not all. I would try to crush my love for Hortense, and bear my pain manfully, if I believed my rival more worthy of her than I. But I have told her, and I warn you that a veil of mystery hangs over him, and shadows all his movements. I believe him to be dealing falsely with her. 1 know that he has deceived her — that suspicion is dogging his footsteps even now. It is for her sake that I bid you watch him closely." "Hush! such grave words of calumny must not be lightly spoken," interrupted the dowager. "I told him so!" cried Hortense, triumphantly. "I told him that nothing he could say would affeot Konrade's noble character." "By heavens! I will give myself to bringing proofs instead of words !" exclaimed Frederic Mildmay, passionately,* "then, perhaps, you will give some heed to my judgment and advice. I wish you goodday, ladies." And before they could interpose, the impetuous youth had darted from the room. {To be Continued.)

" Well, to tell the truth, papa, I did not think much of the close of the sermon," said a fashionable young lady. ' ' Probably you wei'e thinking more of the clothes of the congregation," replied her father. A gentleman who is an enthusiastic believer in the aeronautical problem being solved by individual effort, and thinks that we should be able to regulate our flight through the atmosphere by our own volition, has recently (" St. Stephen's Review" says) devoted much attention to this idea, and, it , is needless to add, spent a large amount of money on his " fad. " He started to fry on Tuesday last, and his satin wings, worked by a, powerful lever set in motion by a miniature steam engine, propelled him forward, but not upward. As there was a stream of water about fifty yards in front of the pathway down which he was speeding, his friends ran after him, stopped the engine, and probably saved his life. The gentleman is one well known in society. On visiting a menagerie, Tooke was comparing the countenance of a monkey to that, of one of his fellow members of Parliament. Turning, he saw the gentleman had .overheard his remarks, so to; make matters pleasant ,he.§aid, ,<& l .4o<n.ot!know- which -to apologise to—you or the monkey."