ALICE LEE'S LIFE TRAGEDY.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 54, 14 June 1884, Page 5

ALICE LEE'S LIFE TRAGEDY.

i The town of Holinbeach stood on the sea- . shore. On the outskirts of it stood an old i mansion in oxtensivo grounds, enclosed by : high walls. From two gateways a semii circular carriage drive swept up to the . house, and in the little cottage, or lodge, i that stood just within the first gateway, i lived Andrew Lee, the gardener. Lee was i a man turned fifty years of age, a bachelor, noted for his plodding industry and quiet : habits. He was a little bowed, and folks s had come to calling him " Old Lee," but ho was a hale and vigorous man. The Sabbath morning found him seated just within the little church, which, by the way, stood directly opposite his cottage, and the rector used to note appi-ovingly his subi ducd demeanour. But inwardly, by nature, Leo was a man of intensely strong passions! One day tho rector sought to know more o his inward character, and questioned him aa to his notions of and belief in Christ. He did not long pursue the subject. "It may bo that Christ was all you say lie was, but Igo to the Father. If tho Son can save the Father can, that's what it come to wi me. ] can sco Him in tho stars and sichlikc. So I believe in God, and that's good enough for me." That was his creed. Ho had led a life of quiet labour, could read, but with cliiliculty ; but ho saw God in His works, and believed Him to be a God of righteousness and justice. The tender passions of old Lee had never been seriously touched, but now they w ore to be. Death removed the rector's wife, and a woman, half housekeeper, half servant, came to the rectory. She Avas forty years ot age, fair, comely, and of winning manners. Every morning for years now Leo had taken to tho rectory a gathering of fresh flowers, going round by the boxbordorcd pathway, and modestly handing them in by tho back door. Now they were received by new hands, and above them shone a faco that to Loe was simply beautiful — almost saintly. Uer frank and open features seemed to dazzle him, and her speaking eyes created in him a burning passion. Choice indeed were tho morning bouquets now, and they grew in dimension — and numbci. One morning, after internal struggling, he laid his hand lightly upon hers, and she gave no sign of displeasure. He even thought she saw and was pleased with the feeling ho experienced. A burning fever now seemed to be consuming him, and for once he felt unable to settle down to his daily work. Three years pass by. Old Leo sits in his .little latticed porch, his left arm encircles the waist of his Avorshippcd wife ; and on his right knee sits a prelty-fcatured child, a little girl barely two years old. The jasmine and tho honeysuckle make the air fragrant, and peace and happiness reign. There are people of high degree who think the poor can never love with such deep emotion as that which is felt by members of the upper ten ; but that is a great mistake. No purer or more intense love could exist for two beings than old Leo experienced for his wife and child. Never a night passed but up to the Throne Eternal went his prayers for their preservation. God, the Great Creator, had been kind and bounteous to him, and his own poor heart should ever throb in humble gratitude. So the days went by ; the seasons came and went ; and little Alice Leo grew to a beautiful girl. People stayed to admire her as they saw her through the open bars of the great gate, through Avhich she Avould sometimes thrust them little bunches of freshly-gathered llowcrs. So\ en years of supreme happiness fell to old Leo's lot, and then the spell Avas broken, for he had to lay his treasured Avife in tho cold grave. The trial Avas so great that for a time his reason Avas in extreme jeopardy, and a spirit of deep bittorness took possession of him. Suicly there could be no God after all. If so, and He Avas a God of righteousness and justice, lioav could Jlc sull'er this great bloAv to fall upon him ? He Avould boAV the knee to Him no more. Tho sun seemed to fade from the sky, the stars from tho firmament — and there was no God! " You don't say your prayers Avith me iioav, father, Avhen you put me to bed." "You don't see me, my bird, that.-, all." " God can see through the ceiling, father, you told me, and He'll sec if you don't kneel down, Avon't he ?'' •'I dessay, my dear, I dessay. But go to sleep, and I'll kneel down perhaps presently — by and by. Good night, pet." " Good night, father. God bless you." "God hie " Eh ! What ! Yes, yes, it was bound to como: " God bless you, my darling !" and old Lee fell across the bed, his face in his hands, and tho child knew nothing of the struggle ho endured. As time sped by Alice Leo greAv CA'or more Avinsome and attractive, and the father's loA r e for her Avas unbounded. Approaching maturity added a timid modesty that rendered her simply charming. Youthfal hearts Avcre set a llutteiing by the merest sjlancc from Alice Lee. Frequently of summer evenings the father and daughter occupied tho little porch, she reading aloud and he an admiring listener, but more concerned about her future a\ hen he must be gone than about that to Avhich he Avas supposed to be listening. There came a time, hoAvever, Avhen Alice took to going out of evenings, and once or tAvice her father had seen young felloAvs at the gate, " Alice, my girl, Avho Avas that you were talkin' to at the gate just iioav ?" "It was EdAvard Parker. He sings at tho church, you knoAV." " What did he want ? Did he say ?" "No, father. I don't know that he wanted anything." Old Lee turned aAvay for his evening ablutions, and Alice set out the frugal meal. They presently sat doAvn to it. He seemed very sedate indeed, and sho felt a little fluttering at her heart. " You've been out of evenings lately, IVe noticed." " Yes, you don't mind that, do you ?" " W-e-1-1, I don't like to say I mind it, my dear : I'm anxious, you know, that's all. Do you go into town ?" 15 Not often. I mostly Avalk along the sea beach. I like to look at the ships out there and see the Avaves roll in upon the sands." Silence ensued, aud neither seemed to be over blessed Avith appetite. " Alice, my girl, look at mo, listen to me. I can't put it as I'd like, but I fcol that I must speak out to you. You'ro IS year old noAV, a woman. Como to me, come." Sho hurried and seated herself upon his proffered knee, and his toil-worn hands held hers in their trembling grasp. " The time's come, my darling, when danger's by you without you knoAving it. I , can't ask you to be old, as I am ; I've no right to make your life unhappy, God forbid ; but remember this, let the words scorch into your heart. If you go wrong, your old father will go stark, staring mad !" With a look of intense loA r e she ansAvered him. He folded his trembling arms about her, and silence spoke more soothingly than Avords. It seemed as though Heaven had Avitnessed a solemn compact that evening, and father and daughter together laid fresh flowers upon a loved one's grave. A feAv months pass, and autumn has touched the trees with pleasing russet tints and golden hues. Out from the town Holmbeach affords some enchanting walks for lovers in eventide. On the one hand the

boundless expanse of heaving ocean, the lightship rising to the gentle swell, and vessels passing out; and away beyond the circling horizon. On the other hand shady walks 'neath sheltering trees, through waving fields of mellow cprn, and by leafy bowers of inviting seclusion. The song of the lark, the call of of the mavis, and the hum of insects fall upon the ear. Here lovers vow their life long constancy; and hero the seducer plys his heartless wiles. That hopeful maidens and buoyant youths seek these favoured walks need no recording. What if old Lee could have seen his cherished daughter there in the company of one who surely could only be compassing her ruin ? Others saw her there, and Alice Lee was in danger now. Her charms had attracted the attention of Mr Frank Crosby, a handsome- man, and one well versed in the ways of the world — the world to which she was so much a stranger. How could she withstand the passionate pleading of which he was so consummate a master ? He swore ho truly loved her and would make her his own ; she trembled, wavered, and then believed. His father was a wealthy lawyer, and a most proud and imperious man. Gossip was soon busy. The plain and envious spoko loudly of the moral obliquity of Alice Lee ; others again spoke of the matter sorrowfully, almost with bated breath. Old Lee was not an approachable man, and so heard nothing of the scandal. Poor Alice felt that she dare not tell him. She could believe her darling Frank, but not so her father. So time passed on, and she kept her secret from him. At last, however, there came an evening when old Lee heard maddening news, and a terrible scene ensued in the little cottage. The frenzied father with uplifted chair; at his feet, on her knees, a guilty daughter pleading for life. Alice Lee had fallen. Frank Crosby left Holmbeach — for good, it was said, and many hearts were moved to pity for gentle Alice Lee. The good rector was so deeply grieved that he shed tears for her, as though she was his own child, and many good mothers did the same. " Poor girl ! things would have been very different had she not so early lost a mother's care," they said. Old Lee hung his head now, spoke to no one, and his form was missed from the church. Then there came a time when it was necessary for Alice to "go somewhere," and she said she was going to London. Then old Lee raved again. Not only was she base and wicked, but she was a fool into the bargain. "You can't deceive me again. It's the scoundrel wants you there !" " Dear father, he will not desert me. Believe me, he loves me. See, he has sent me money !" " Money ! the wages of sin ! Why don't the scoundrel marry you ?" " Dear father, I cannot tell that now ; but faith, father; faith." He snatched the crisp notes from her trembling hand, and thrust them deep into the consuming fire. She did not go to London. Two years pass by and Alice Lee sits in the little cottage with a brave little babyboy in her lap. Time, that soothing angel who touches Avith such inestimable lightness our sorest griefs, has smoothed down the bitter feelings of the old gardener, and hearts that exultsd in a poor girl's fall are now touched with pity and regard. But if old Leo appeared softened towards his daughter, he nursed a dire revenge for the seducer, and an indefinable something seemed to assure him that the time for it avoulcl come. " He'll como like a thief in the night, but I'll catch him." So on many nights old Lee would sit by the little latticed window of his bedroom, which commanded a view of the part of the grounds where he judged the "scoundrel" would come. Many weary hours he sat thus, with fell purpose, poor Alice little aware of it and of his deep-seated and terrible resolve. All the strongest passions of a strong and ignorant and passionate man now prevailed, and old Lee thought of nothing but revenge. He shunned the society of his fellow-men ; he had no resources, and there was no God. Nobody seemed to know what had become of Mr Frank Crpsby. Poor Alice seemed to be quietly resigned to her fate, and to find solace in the intense love she experienced for her boy. The month of December came in unusually cold and cheerless this year. It was but ten days old when something happened. The great and wealthy lawyer, Mr Crosby, suddenly died. The sexton of the old church told old Lee of it, and now he felt that his chance had come, He placed his trusty spade handy by the back door that night. That was a tool he could wield surely, and it made no tell-tale noise. He did, too, what he was not accustomed to do, took a good draught of brandy. " Good night, father dear, I'm going to bed now." "Good night, girl, good night." There Avas a cheerfulness in her A'oice that seemed to nerve him to even deeper purpose, and he took up his nightly Avatch. A high wind Avas up, the moon about a quarter full, but frequent clouds sailed over it, and obscured its little light. Old Lee kept steady Avatch at his AvindoAV, only closing his tired eyes Avhen darkening clouds passed o'er the crescent moon. Once he caught himself dozing, but never again must that happen. It Avas Aveary Avork, but he had Avaited long, and must not fail now. Ah ! Avhat is that ? He thinks he sees a moving shadoAV there. Noiselessly ho descends the f«Av stairs, and in a moment his hand is upon his trusty spade. Darkness seems to favour him, and he stealthily Avends his way along by the trunks of some sheltering trees. A transient gleani of light and a shadoAV falls almost belore him. In the next moment a human form takes up its place there. DoAvn, Avith a terrific force, comes the fatal spade, and his victim falls forward AA'ith scarcely a moan. In another moment old Lee is in a soft potato patch. Great Heavens ! hoAV he Avields the spade noAV. The night is bitterly cold, but the sweat runs freely down his guilty features. No time for heeding that noAV. In an incredibly short space of time all is OA r er, and the earth alone knows his secret : and iioav merciful providence ! down comes the all-covering siioav. In the morning all nature Avas wrapped in a Avhite mantle, and snoAV and frosit embraced the land. "How beautifully pure and Avhite the siioav looks, father." "It do, my girl, it do." " You look pale and haggard, this morning, father." " You only think so, girl. Don't trouble about mo." "Father." , ", "Well?" " I've got something to, shoAV your I think it Avill make you happy. Look ; these are my marriage lines. If you'll look at the date you'll see aa-oYo nothing to be ashamed of. We had to keep rt secret, or dear Frank Avould have lost a fortune." Trembling OkLjfog ' scanned the paper, and great beads "^Mjcrspiration broke out upon hisbroAV. *^K^ "Dear father, y^P^ook troubled. Are you not Avell ? and pleased ?" "Humbled, my dear, humbled. Last night I had a terrible dream, which I shall never tell to mortal ears. May you both live long and be happy, my darling — and may God in his mercy forgive me i"