CHAPTER XXI.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 170, 18 September 1886, Page 7

CHAPTER XXI.

Jl LITTLE LIGHT. I The papers which the housekeeper, while Superintending the cleaning of Vance fituyvesant's room, had found under his •carpet— sealed up in a large brown envelope, without any superecription whatever upon it—and brought to her mistress, wbre the hundred thousand dollars' worth of bonds -which Oscar had assarted had been abstracted from his safe. ' ; ' : At the time of the disaster both he and Vance were rending in Oscar's own house, 'which had since bee* sold for Bonnie's "benefit; but after Oscar's disappearance, Vance, with characteristic selfishness, ac«oepted Urs Herbert's offer .ot a room in her <hoaioi which he had since occupied- with more or lets regularity, having an apartmemt in his club-homo also. His career of dashing extravagrance was continued with •even more than the old reckleaineis. As "Maude had written Oscar, he had added a taste for fast horses to his other expensive iancies. When |Mrs Herbert received the packet •from the housekeeper, she hesitated at first about breaking it open. Yet Bhe was by no means certain that it belonged to Vance. Some other person might have placed it there. It at once occurred to her that it /had some connection with her brother's affairs. She had always believed that Vance had played some high-handed trick, to defraud him of large sums at the time of ilia great excitement. That he should actually steal, and commit forgery, appeared incredible ; yet she was forced to believe that he had done so, rather than rthat Oscar had squandered the money and then denied it. She knew that Vance's morality was of the very flimsiest texture, and would give way under the pressure of a great temptation. She had continued to treat him as a fieter, but it was more in the ■hope that she might, by watching, discover something which would clear Oscar, than because she had any longer any respect for her wild half-brother. Chance had at last placed the opportunity in her hand. She concluded to open the envelope, and was not very much astonished when Bhe found therein the miss* ing bonds. Her heart beat high, and her i lace flushed with joy. Not only was Oscar's story corroborated, but all this large sum of money was saved for him. She lost no time in making a note of the numbers and i tending them on to Washington to be registered. Then, before accusing Vance, and without telling anyone of her discovery, she had the bonds placed in the vaults of a ■relative who had a banking-office down town. It was a piece of Vance's carelessness this ' hiding the bonds in such a place. But -when 'Oscar had threatened him co fiercely at the other houee, and he had expected that officers of the law might be called in to search his desks and papers he had tucked the -envelope under the carpet there ; and when be removed to Mre Herbert's he thought of no.better place of concealment, and repeated it. tie expected some day Boon, when the -excitement had entirely died out, to take a trip out West or down South, and exchange the bonds for cash. At present he was luxuriating on means obtained at the same ..period. Maude's indignation had been the most .intense sensation she ever experienced in 'her rose-lined life, but Vance had adopted -the very best means of cooling it when he threatened suicide. She was frightened at the danger, and found she still lored and pitied her reckless and wicked half-brother, severely as fine at the same time condemned him. It is a question if ehe would ever have demanded open confession had not the honour of another person still dearer to her been involved. To one as quick-witted as Vance Stuyvesant her evident anxiety to prevent his doing anything desperate gave '"him the cue how to act. He had only to look gloomy, to lose his appetite, or talk vaguely of having ex'•haustad life and caring no more for it, to have Maude relax the cold severity with which she usually treated him, and exert herself to coax him out of his sullen mood. Foolish little lady ! who did not know that .great scamps are generally great cowards ? In a week or two after the discovery Mrs Herbert closed her house, and the family, including Lillie and Bennie, wont to Newport to occupy their villa there for the season. Vance had gone on before, and was whiling away the days in his usual fashion, spending the most of his time on the water, while impatiently awaiting the arrival of Miss Delzemar. About the only really . sincere and deep feeling he had ever experienced was this love — he called it love — for her. Perhaps he did love her, in a restless, exacting, passionate unreasonable way, as was characteristic of all his ways. He had begun by coveting her money and by > wishing to spits his half-brother, and he had ended by becoming really infatuated was due as much to G race's indifference as to her peerle?B style and beauty. With the axe suspended above his neck, the thread ef whicfi might be at any moment ' severed, he was more than ever determined to involve Miss Delzemar. He believed that if he could induce her to marry him. Maude, out of consideration for her, would " let up " on him, He wag terribly disappointed when he learned, about the middle of July, that Miss Delzemar had rented her villa to a friend, and was making preparations to spend a year abroad. ** She can' b- shake me off that way," he > resolved. •' I will follow her by the next steamer, overtake *nd persecute her until she consents to marry me to get rid' of me." When Lillie heard the news she wrote to Grace, asking her to spend a few days with her at Mrs Herbert's before she went off 'for "such an age ;" and including Maude's -rather formal indorsement of the invitation Claude had never forgiven Grace for playfing traitor with Oscar. She did not dream of the treacherous partwhich Vance had acted to bring about tho separation. ,» When Grace received the letter she was , ■ divided 'between two desires. She hated M Vance Stuyvesant, and wanted to keep •away from him,; at the ''same time she, , longed, with a saW, desolate longing, to be with Oscar'sfrieads, to talk with ,thsm c and gather up sucbjchance crumbs of informathat Mrs Herbert knew where he hap gone, • and she -wanted to make friends with her,* *in th^hope that ehe could put her into a

obmmunioatireuartod. * After a^night'i deliberation the ordered ■ htr maid to pack* trunk or tiro, and • telegraphing ; to Lillie that she was coming, she went down by the afternoon train. • ••' i ' ■ '* What in the world do you want prowling about Europe »nd Asia for?" asked Lillie, i that evening at the tea-tftble. " I should not think you would enjoy it, with only your aunt for company and a maid and courier to take* care of you. You ought to reserve that trip; Grace dear, for your wedding tour." < LiUie was Vance's champion, and would, like to have helped on the match. "I shall 1 never marry," said' Grace, with a sigh. Then she blushed and hung her head to have spoken so earnestly before Mr Herbert. "Besides, Lillie, we are not to travel •lone as you infer. A party of friends is going along." "Is the company full or will more volunteers be received ? asked Vance. ■ Grace hardly knew what reply to make. If he thrust himself upon the • party she would retire from it ; yet she could scarcely be so rude as to' tell him so at his sister s table. *i I shall have to -refer you to the managers," she finally replied. "I am only an unimportant member of the company." 1 " I shall apply at once then." "If you both go I shall be tempted," aaid Liliie. '•How about Mr and Mrs Herbert ?" asked Grace, looking at them. **Oh, I couldn't think of it," responded Maude. "The sad tidings which we received when we were abroad has given me a distaste to th^thought of another foreign tour. But I would not object to Lillie's going, if she could be properly matronised/' After tea one and another visitor dropped in, until Mrs Herbert's prettily decorated parlour was full of a gay company of ladies and gentlemen. LiUie was a grea*. favourite in eociety, and the young people came to see her, while Maude also had her circle. Maude, whose manner toward Miss Delzemar wan as cold as it could be and yet remain perfectly courteous, watched her during the evening with more interest than she had expected to feel in her, for Bhe saw under Grace's assumed gaiety a deep, unconquerable sadness, which revealed to her that that young lady was far from heartless. Breaking her engagement had come near to breaking her heart. This observation softened her very much toward Grace, though she could not fully forgive her. One thing — she resolved that Vance should not have her. Toward the close of the evening, Mrs Herbert being at the time disengaged, 1 Grace came to her with a light shawl. "Do, please, Mrs Herbert, walk with me a few moments about the grounds. I've been peeping from the piazza, and it is magnificent out pf doors. Maude was a little surprised, but at once consented to go. They passed out quietly, to escape observation, and wandered out into the flower-bordered walks. It was a glorious night, with a eoft, warm air, and a full moon shining out of a cloudless sky. They rambled on until they came to a rustic sofa under a tree. "Would you mind sitting here a few moments, dear Mrs Herbert '" They sat down. For some time there was silence. Maude was waiting to hear what her companion had, to say. Instead, she heard a sob. " Why, Grace, what is it ?" she asked, more softly than she had yet spoken. "Why are you so cold tome, Maude?" cried Grace, in return, as if that were all her trouble. " Am I cold to you ?" "You know that you are. You are offended with me." "Not without reason, MiB3 Delzemar," and the young matron turned and .looked full in the tear-wet face. "Perhaps you do not understand all, Mrs Herbert ! T> " Perhaps I understand all far more clearly than you do, Grace. I blame you for breaking with my brother before teeing him and hearing what he had to say. It was almost as bad in you as if you had already been his wife. Think ! in a few more weeks you would have been his wife !•" "Yea," brushing away her tears, and flushing in the white moonlight ; " that is the thing for which I condemned Oscar. He tried to hurry our marriage, so that ib would be too late for me to retract." "Ah !" said Maude, with stinging sarcasm. "Of course he knew that Black Friday was coming and laid his plans accordingly. " Well, that was what his own brother told me." Who? Vance?" cried Mrs Herbert, sharply. " Yes, Maude. When I heard that Oscar was in trouble, I forgot my maidenly delicacy enough to rush to New York by the first train. I stopped at Mrs Woodcroft's, and sent htm a note that I was there, waiting to see him— to assure him of my sympathy — my love. He never came near ■me ! Think of that, Maude ! Think of the outrage to my feelings, and to my faith in him ! Worse, he sent Mr Stuy vesant in his place, to make hie apologies. Vance felt so sorry for me that he went further than his instructions. He told me, for my benefit, what OBcar had confided to him — that he was not marrying me for love, but for the suitability of the connection, to please friends, and for my money. That was a little too much ! Do you blame me, Mrs Herbert, that I returned to Boston— he never even calling upon me— and sent him bis dismissal ?" , . ** My brother didn't love > you ?" repeated Maude — " didn't loveyoni You never made a greater mistake in your life, MiseDelzemar. I rather think I know. He adored you. No woman in the world was ever better I6ved. He worshipped the withered flowers you had cast away, the earth on which you had walked ♦ It was a cruel blow you struck him when you cent him that curt note. It struck to hie heart. All his losses had not discouraged him until he received your letter. Then he hung his head ; then he turned from the few friends left him. For your Bake he is a homeless wanderer far away. But, Grace, lam astonished at what you say about yonr vieit to New .York. Thia is the first I ever heard of it. lam positive that Oscar, Jinew nothing of it at the time, nor afterward." *• But my note," gasped Miss Delzemar, "which I cent by a Servant? He aaid the gentleman received it at the hall-door." 11 And Vance came to you shortly afterward?" "Yes. He came and told me what I have told you." > " Then it was Vance who received, read, and answered' your 'summons; . Traitor, villain, false friend and brother t" > " But why should he have thus deceivedj me ? ' faltered Grace, who had been weep-, ing violently Leverjsinee Maude's eloquent outburst in, defence of her brother's Joye. „, " Can you. agk, me, Miss i Delzemar ? ! is your quipk appreherision ? Was not ,Yance/sbuy vesant jealous ? Is. bei not ,now making Jove "to '&oriYr, He 1 .detarmined to-gec Oscar ou£ of bfo.way. >;,Ypu £ e ll |o^%^F?,aft^Py^^o!f|lU^stJiftlet bird; It was you who was lacking, in true: love, Grace," reproachfully. ■ Grace buried her face in her hands, murmuring : ,

" Yow'do bot'fcttow-if 64 m AoWfiowiK' "N6,"^ontoQ'Mi»udowithflpirit^Vlwaß the only one to belieye, hhn, to pity him, to • seek to save him^from ! tne wounds which' others hastened to give. Ido not wonder that yoU hftVo made a' cynic of him. But J • have. my triumph now over all of you,; I have discovered the whole of Vance's plot against his brother. I will tell you all about it ; I will prove to you the steps he took to ruin — " , , „ "Maude, where are you?" called out a gay, sweot voice not three steps away. ' The next moment Vance burst through the rose-bushes near by and stood smiling , before them, his cloar-cut, dark face mock- [ ing handsome in the 'silver light. ( ' [ "'Two women!" he exclaimed.' "Now, if it bad been a lady and a gentleman I shou Id ! not have been surprised. The moonlight is certainly enticing. It is lustrous with 1 romance beaming, with suggestion. Ah, if you had invited me to onjoy it with you, Miss Delzemar !" •* I will tell you more to-morrow," hastily whispered Mrs Herbert "It is time you cdme for us, Vance ; I shall get pcolded as it is for remaining out so long. You, too, Grace — that veil is not sufficient protection. We will all go in." When they reached the^house, Grace, who I knew that her eyes would betray that she j had been crying, would not enter the parlour i but at onco went up to her room. •' Can't you slip in, before you go to bed?" she asked Mrs Herbert in a whisper, at the foot of the staircase. v " I am dying, Maude, to hear all, now that you have told me co much." ** I will try, Grace ; but, if I fail, I dare aav you will live till to-morrow." " Indeed i indeed ! Maude, you ar& too severe with me," pleadingly. " Say goodnight to Lillie for me, will you ? and tell her not to come to my room, for - for — I cannot — *' Here Grace broke down, and hurried upstairs to hide herself in her moon-lighted chamber. Vance followed Mrs Herbert into the parlour. But one or two callers remained, and these soon departed ; Mr Herbert had already retired, and Lillie was yawning. " Go to bed, duckie," said Vance to her. " I want you to be up early to-morrow ; and in your brightest humour. If there's a breath of air, I'm going to take you all out sailing. The Undine's in tip- top order, and I want to show* her off?" "I'd like a yachting picnic mightily," said Lillie, and went off to bed. They were now alone together, and Vance turned on Mrs Herbert with a complete change of manner. His dark face was crimson, his teeth set, his eyes gleaming. 14 1 heard a little of your pleasant conversation, thiß night, Maude. I heard you tell the woman I love that I was a traitor and a villain ; and promise to prove it to her You pretend truthfulness, yet promieed that you would give me three months " > " Not to make love to Grace in, Vance ! I stipulated that you should let Grace alone ; and you have already broken your part of the contract." "What do you want to do, Maude—to drive me to despair 1 I will not live to be denounced and disgraced before her." She shrunk a little under his blazing eyes ; but answered him bravely : "You denounced and disgraced Oscar, when he was guiltless. He shall be exonerated in Grace's opinion, let what will come. It is important, to her happiness and' to Oscar's. I would spare you, if I could — but I see no way. Grace must be made to understand what has been done, As far as she is concerned, consider, yourself disgraced. But the remainder of the wprld shall receive no information from me." 1 " Confound the remainder of the world ! She is the world, to me ! Maude, Maude ! don't ruin me 1" "I shall utate-the facts to Miss Delzemar." *' But I love her ! He never loved her as I do ! Cold-blooded egotist, he is not ' capable of such passion. Don't interfere between us, Maude." " I shall do what is right." " Right, right I" aneeringly. •• Of course it is right for you to send me to perdition with all my sins on my head Don't forgive a poor fellow for being tempted, Maude ! — that's the way with you Christiana. If I could win Grace, she would make a good man of me. I have noble impulses, Maude, as well as bad ones. I need a wornan'e hand to guide me. Give me this one chance." She was not unmoved by his words, angry and coaxing by turns ; she would have done anything for him, except to allow 1 her brother to remain under a cloud, while the real culprit went uncondemned. As there was no way to defend one save by exposing the other, she remained firm. " Marry some good woman thea," she said, " but not Grace. She would have been Oscar's wife long ago, but for you ; and she shall yet. Nothing can turn me from it, I solemnly assure you." He raised his hand in an ungovernable passion which tempted him to strike her ; she stood resolute, and his hand fell ; with a muttered imprecation he turned on his heel, Maude lay awake long that night, half expecting to be startled by the report of a pistol in Vance's room. No euch alarm occurred. But when the others gathered about the breakfast-table he did not make his appearance. This was a common occur rence ; but Mrß Herbert, feeling uneaay, sen t a servant to his apart men t, who returned, saying that Mr Stuyvesant had gone out, and' handing her a note addressed to her and left on Vance's dreeeing-table. She opened it and read : "My Sweetest Pis: I Icxrhfd Oscar's address from some letters in your desk. lam going* after him. A guerrilla could be hirt-d to kill a man for five dollars in that oouutry. Good-by, for ever, dovit." Sho turned pale for a moment ; and then trioa to believe it some of Vance's bravado.