CHAPTER 11.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 162, 24 July 1886, Page 12

CHAPTER 11.

THF BEGINNING OF A MYSTERY. The. interview between employer and employed lasted >f tiUy ; ■&& hou'i*. ' ,■-'• Mrs Jardine, now that she had taken the y6ung gentleman upon '}h\&, own^ >r^iciomra©hd^ion,i sho-we/d, some anxiety to learn something of his antecedentß. -; . Sjhe'tuwasl' '•^ojji^/'inquißitiyi^at' least i sK^didnoV^^ -M^y^^Cl^f wyiew^^thjß .

Oscar realised that fee had betrayed him self oni severalspaints where He had' intended toi be most retiddnt;. S•. i -! - ■'-'- .: * .' I like . you .„- the, more, " she „ i epeated, *' fur having no-friends in this part of' the .world.: • We. see,, very -little company, and care for none." Here she heaved a aigh at her black dress. "It was quite painful to us, to think of admitting a stranger to our family, bo small and co secluded— we three and the servants constituted the whole of it this morning .until- we engaged you ; but your solitary condition, as well as your pleasant face, has already greatly reconciled me to the necessity. I would have liked if you had been .an older man, with more experience ; yet, after all, your enthusiasm and sympathy may make you a better tutor than experience could have done." " I hope that I shall not disappoint you, Mrs Jardine. Can I see my little pupil today?" "He is out riding at preeent. He may return any minute. But since there seems nothing to prevent on your side, why not order your baggage from the hotel this afternoon, and take your tea with us ? As well begin at once." . Conscious of the exhausted condition of his purse, Romeyn was willing to accept the proposition. The lady rang a bell ; the same servant who had opened the hall door made his appearance, when she directed him to show Mr Romeyn the room which he was to occupy — also the school- room and Master Anatole's. " Take a look at them, if you are not in a hurry. You will feel more it ease upon your return, if you know just what and where your quarters are to be." The young gentleman was grateful for the kindness of his reoeptiop. He had hot ■ expected it, and felt his heart already growing, lighter as he ascended the stairs after the man, whose gliding sleps, few words, and expressive gestures wore so different from those of tha servants to whom he had been accustomed. The rooms designated occupied one side of the hall on the second floor. The front one of the three rooms — that is, the one which faced the street — was little Anatole's sleeping apartment. It was evident that the boy was given the beat of everything. The room was richly furnished and^to exquisite order. The rear chamber, corresponding in size, was to be the tutor's and was, to his taste, equally pleasant, though not quite so handsomely furnished. Its windows overlooked the flower gardens of this and the neighbouring houses, while the vine which burdened the lower window with sweetness had clambered as high a3 theeeand curled about the casement, and not so very far away glistened the blue waters of the bay. Between these two apartments was a smaller one, communicating with, each a door, and also with the hall. It was designed for a dressing-room ; but, being of liberal demensions, served very well the purpose to which it was devoted — that of a school-room for one pupil. This, like Anatole's aleeping-room, was luxuriously furnished; The carpet was of the thickest velvet, the chairs stuffed and covered with velvet, the table a handsome library table of rosewood and gr9en broadcloth. Maps had already been hung on the walls, and an expensive set of globes supplied. Everything was pleasant, cheerful, and sufficient Oscar Ronoeyn was well satisfied with tLe success of his first effort ; yet, as he left the rooms and came out into the broad hall again, that singular sense of mystery fell likeice upon his consciousnees. He stared at the three opposing door 3 leading into a corresponding suite on the other side, up to the ceiling, down the flight of stairs. Had a cloud passed over the face of the sun outside? Yes ; but this did not ex plain the shivering, shuddering thrill which passed over him- & forewarning of evil — a feeling of dread -a presentiment of evil. 11 There is something hideous about this house," he thought to himself. He stared at the three closed doors opposite, as if he could read the mystery through them ; meantime, the servant stood motionless awaiting his pleasure. " Nonsense !" he went on thinking ; "the lady's room, her daughter's, and a dressingroom between. It is nice and convenient as can be. What is the matter with me today ? I have been thinking too hard the last few weeks. It is well that I shall have something to do to absorb my mind. lam getting nervous, not to say superstitious. What can there be wrong in a house where there is an angel like that young creature down stairs ?" His face brightened as he recalled the sweet looks of Miss Jardine. Glancing up, he almost started as he met a sidelong look from the small, bright, almond-shaped eyes of the Chinese immediately lowered to the floor upon meeting his. He signed that he was ready to go down. "The deuce ! I felt^as if the fellow were taking an inventory of my thoughts. The subtle rascal was ' going through me' with that sidelong observation of his. What fellows these Chinese are, anyhow !" reflected Oscar, as again he followed behind the white figure with the swarthy skin and stealthy stop. " One feels as if he had a phantom to wait upon him." , After expressing his admiration of the apartments, he bade the two ladies good morning and was shown out the hall door. As he descended the steps a lad rode up in front of the house, accompanied by a groom. "My pupil, '^ remarked Romeyn to himself. The boy appeared to be about eleven years of age, although in reality he was thirteen. He was a slender, graceful little fellow, attired in black velvet, with a cap of the same. His hair was as black as his clothes, his eyes blacker than either ; his complexion a sallow-white, withont one tint of the bloom of youth and health. He managed with infinite ease his fiery little jet-black pony, which was gayly caparisoned, after the Spanish style, with plenty of silver ornaments, including a string of fairy-like bells. " Take good care of Beppo, Roberts, won't you ?" he said, as he leaped from the saddle ; and throwing his arms about the pony's neck, and kissed the shaggy mane twice or thrice. ... 11 All right, Maeter Sebastian ; as good as if he were my own brother," responded the groom, heartily, eb he caught "the other bridle, touched his hat, and rode away with the two horses. : Romeyn had one glance from the large dark eyes as the lad passed him on the pavement, which warmed his heart to love and interest. He had a little brother of his own- from whom it had been an effort for'him to part— a healthy, happy, vigorous boy ; while one could, see at a glance that this child was an- invalid, and also that he was brave, patient and gentle. " Heaven bless him !" said Oscar, in his heart. "I shall be very good to 7iim." Turning for a second look, he perceived that Mrs Jardine had hereeif opened the hall door, and was clasping the boy in her arms. '-■■ '-—■-.-• ■■ ■•-. ■ ■'( ' ■ •->*..<- ■■ ■ ■ ■■■'•• '•How do you feel. after your ride, my darling Anatole?" ; : : " The day was so fine," he answered and then the door shut. . ; : Kind she Js Ihowvgoodshe is !". isoloqube^Pa^ar^.walking on. " Yet lam nib^ldri^^orjrard ;h&s Qn the contrary, ■Bhe'rep^la'ii-meVf How; unreasonable, we are

after all r in our likes and^dielikes t lam ashamed of this Aversion I feel toward this lady> who.has been so friendly to me." ,;Not so unreasonable, Mr Romeyn, as y©^ how think yourself. -Nature. gives warning of her noxious floversby. their odour, ana man shrinks, , by instinct, from a serpent though , he: may never previously , have encountered one. There is a. subtle influence unexplainable in words but keenly : felfcj which emanates from the human soul, as the odour from the flower, betraying itg nature to those whose perceptions are quickand delicate, as were Oscar Romeyn's. , ' Ac he returned along the sunny Btreet he> felt that he. ought to be glad, and yet he was not glad. But this was not solely attributable to the fact that he disliked Mrs Jardine. He was contrasting his present condition, with his condition one year ago. lie seek--ing the position as tutor ! He pennilesßj friendless, forlorn, and exile ! Why on this very day one year ago he had becomo the accepted lover, the betrothed husbandof the beautiful young queen of New York society.^ And when the engagement was entered into he was considered a suitable ■ matchfor this proud beauty in all respects —birth, station, fortune, appearance, and prospects. Plenty of Fifth Avenue bellea had tried for the "great catch" and thepeerless one among them had "caught" him. Only a year ago ! He whispered it over and over, as if it had ' been the refrain of some melancholy song t aB he retraced his steps to the hotel. For the last time — at least for the, present — ho ate hie dinner with the crowd in the dining-'---room ; after that he paid his second visit to the post-office, and yet he knew that what* ever local mails might have arrived meantime, there had been no New York maili' ft had grown into a habit with him, H©' had no other occupation ; he had even no-. letters to write. What was> more, he could not expect letters. For he was passing under an agsumed name, and only on© person in the wide world knew the name h©had taken when he disappeared from New York. But that person had promised to write to him, and it was for her letter that he looked daily with such feverish unrest. " She is like all the rest of them," he muttered, as he turned from the little, window where he regularly reaeived hisdenial; and sick at heart, a cynic, half*, tempted to commit suicide instead of keeping his engagement, he paid his bill at the hotel, ordered his trunk to No, 13 -Powellstreet, and then wandered aimlessly about until the deep twilight warned him to present himself at his new residence. Mrs Jardine received him cordiallyv Some of the gloom which oppressed him. could not but disappear as he entered th©: parlour, well- lighted, and sweet with flowers. Miss Jardine was there, prettily dressed in blue silk. Hia little pupil was there, too.. When he was introduced to his tutor he ehook hands with him, looking steadily up. at the new face with those great bright eyes of his. "I don't know much, Mr Romeyn," he said, in hi 3 soft, girlish voice. " And I am. afraid I never will — in this world. I am... not well enough to study hard, you see.. You must give me little bits of lessons." He spoko English remarkably well for a. Spanish boy ; still there was just enough of the foreign accent to give his words the • prettiest possible finish. " We shall play aa well as study, Master Sebastian. I like riding almost as well as you. And 1 have not forgotten base-ball,' " Base ball is too hard for me. But I: like it so ! Call me Anatole, if you please* sir, and then I shall not be afraid of you." Mr Rorneyn looked toward Mrs Jardine for permission, who bowed and smiled. " Anatole, what a soft, musical name! I. shall love to call you so." " Do you like music, Mr Romeyn ?" " I used to like it. How is it with you,. Anatole ?" "Oh, sir, I love it? I play the guitar and sing, so Joes Belle. And she plays the piano and I the violin. We have such con* certs !" His eyes shone as he mentioned it. Truly the youLg tutor had reason to congratulate himself on the tractable sweetness of hia first pupil. He had thought, with. dreud, of one of those mean little tyrants of whom ihere are so many among the children of wealthy people, brought up to lord ife over a servile class— passionate, arrogant/ unreasonable, cruel, and often vicious. He had expected a hard time in gaining an influence over such a boy. His disappoint-! ment was as agreeable as extreme. Neverhad he met such a combination of childish sweetness with manly dignity— of feeble health with inextinguishable ardour and. bravery. Passionate the little fellow doubt • less waß ; but not ugly, fiery, but docile. It seemed to Oscar that he could take him to his heart as he had taken his own little bi'other. And with the pang which the thought of that brother caused, came a. strong yearning of affection for his pupil. Tea was served in the room opposite the back parlour ; and, like it, large and cheerful, lightly furnished as a breakfast and tea-room, with chintz and bamboo furni- : ture. The cooking, done by a Chinese cook, was simply delicious. The table was well, but. not elegantly laid, and attended by thesame servant who waited in the hall. The dishes were of plain white china, thin and' delisate, with some good silver. Romeyn, accustomed from infancy to the> moat lavish luxury, was satisfied with everything, finding it an agreeable change from a eecond-class hotdl. . The gold- coloured; oriental flitled about like an obgervasfe ghost in his white linen clothes and straw sandals. Anatole sat next to his aunt* Oscar remarked how, several times during* the meal, she reached out quietly and pressed* the, boy's hand, or touched his hair in a.. caressing way. Her actions were, like thoseof a fond mother who would fain conceal somethingof herfoolish fondness from others*; and who yet conld not wholly refrain from 1 these little acts of tenderness towards berdarling. It was evident that Anatole Sebastian was in a home such as he*; with his delicate health and his ardenttemperament, particularly required. Hereturned these half- concealed demonstra> tions with looks of love* Isabella Jardiae appeared almost as nrncb a child as he. She chatted with him otk subjects ef mutual interest to them botb». leaving her mother to entertain the stranger.. She was as unconscious of her beauty and its power as the rose upon its stem. Doubtless 3he knew she was pretty, as a child knows it. is pretty and lovable, because it is told' 80. But the art of using her charms to attract and dazzle men she had not learned. . . Embittered against her sex, scorning"society young ladies "'.with the bitten scorn of an earnest man who has been duped by them, Oscar Romeyn took a new, unde-, niable pleasure in watching this youthful? beauty still playing the part of a little girL, That she had feeling and judgment of a more -womanly kind ; j was certain,; from th<* manner in which, she had spoken put in 'his , behalf during the morning. Yet the very^ unembarrassmenF; \fitK which she thea pleaded ibis cause, showed her unconscious^ nessof lany cpns^ttCtiojn being put ujibiois' her championship 'except he^r^simple love <a ' right,";";.'; ;: 'V "W/t r;it;,- A:*.;,\ •■^..;v" : -\. : . V'~- ,. ;*v ' {Tph'e'.GdtfHnupd;) " v-

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