CHAPTER XII.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 135, 2 January 1886, Page 5

CHAPTER XII.

"lAM SAVKD !" While this singular family party was enjoying the sweets of reconciliation, Malissof was returning to his solitary home through the fresh evening air under a starlit sky. At- a bend of the avenue, he turned round to look at thehouEe ; the brilliantly-lighted windows of the drawing-room formed a row of illuminated recesses along the fajade, and further on, in a detached wing, shaded by the gloomy trees of the large garden, a light camo and went, where the bridal chamber was being made ready. Malissof drained the cap of bitterness so long as the faint light shone through the brushwood, then with a sigh^heeank back in his carriage. As soon as he "reached home, he dismissed the servants, took up a light and went into his mother's room, closing the door behind him. The light of the candle danced on the blackened ceiling ; the furniture cast long, straggling shadows upon the old wainscoting and gloomy, dusty wall paper. Malissof seated himself at the piano; the first note he struck pierced his very brain ; he rojje, closed the instrument; and opened the window. Tbe great branch of the lime tree sprang forward and struck him on the face; he drew back a step, sick at heart, and clasped his hands before this yawning gap

into the black ' night, whero the 'trees hid tiSe Btars, and all looked dark and gloomy J ■< ' is"l«rthife my^rewafd for/a'gbodvjdeed?" said -lie to:himself:^ <" Ought' I:%o*su£fer toraaorits for having acted an honest partf Ar6 not .those* yonder laughing at me while I stand here alone in my misery *? Oh j that I cculd forgeV!" cried he, as he pressed his claspld hands on his burning forehead. •. i "A« idea flashed aoroeßhim and he rang the bell ; his servants were asleep and did not answer it £ M& n stro&e. acrpss the hall with An angry step; and awoke the butler 11 Some wine," said be, shaking him roughly. " Champagne, liqueurs, port— every sort of wine we have in the cellar.' Bring in bottles and glasses.." „ . , - The old butler stared in astonishment. " Wine at this hour of the night, master," said he,* " and you who never drink it ?" " Do as I- tell you !" returned Malissof harshly. The old man shook hia grey head sadly and went down to, the cellar. - Malissof had returned to his mother's room; he stood before the window and gazed out in despair on the gloomy night ; the sound of glasses clinking on the tray made him turn round. " Where shall I put them down, sir?" said the butler. *' 1 beg yoar pardon, but £ have never been in here since your honoured mother died. The images were placed on this round table during her last moments." *• Carry all these into the dining room," said Malissof, i ecovering his self control. He took up the candle and lighted the old servant, who withdrew after arranging everything for his master. When Malissof again found himself alone, he threw open the window ; he felt stifled everywhere; then, taking a knife, he struck off the neck of a champagne bottle and poured the foaming contents into a glass, "To the health of the newly-mar-ried couple !" criedho in a mocking tone. His lip 3 had scarcely touched the glass when ho paused ; hia hand fell slowly down on the table ; he glanced around him, shuddered, caught up bottle and glass, and threw them out 'into the garden. " I will be a man," said he, " and learn to bear and suffer patiently." He took thecandleand wentinto his study. Books of all sorts lay scattered on his desk j he turned over the pages of one, a volume of history, and threw it aside ; a treatise on physics came next to hand ; he opened it, took a sheet cf paper, satdown to his writingtable, and began to jot down some figures. He worked on thus for twohours, then began to feel weary. He rose up, stretched himself and went to his bedroom. A small portrait of hia mother hung on the wall ; he kissed it reverently, and ga? 'd at it for some time with an air of satisfaction: "I can kiss my mother without a blush," said ho to himself ; " I am saved !" He lay down, and was soon lost in the heavy slumber which follows great exhaustion.