CHAPTER XXXVII. THE WIFE'S WARNING.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 189, 29 January 1887, Page 6

CHAPTER XXXVII. THE WIFE'S WARNING.

One by one, as birds migrate from summer homes, the guests of Leigh Towers departed. All the roses were gone ; the asters, dahlias, and chrysanthemums had bloomed andfaded ; the persistent geraniums and particoloured double petunias shrivelled in the frosts. The daintier plants -were already housed, and Violet was alone at the Towers, except for Mabel and her governess, whose company she had begged of her Aunt Ainslie. Mrs Ainslie, engrossed with the toilets required for the simultaneous introduction of Anna and Flora to Londoa life, gladly re- ! linquished the company and care of the i younger daughter. In vain Violet had Dleaded that Flora should wait a year before making her debut— Flora, Btill less than seventeen. But Mrs Ainslie was resolute ; Flora was tall, and well grown and well enough educated, in her mainma'R opinion. " There never were so many good partis . at one season before ; bachelors and widowers, there are at least ten ; and you, Violet, will be in town, and leading the fashion, and able to take the girls everywhere. I depend on you." Thus Mrs Ainslie indicated her expectation of eendinc her dear girls into that sacred inner circle of society where she herself was not bidden ; and thus she made sure that her daughters, with expectations of a hundred thousand pounds apiece, would secure one of those desirable •' ten "—" — " and not be thrown away on any Captain Gores either," added Mrs Ainslio, tossing back her lavender cap-strings. At her mother's word, Flora, sitting reading a letter in the bay window, hastily dropped a note folded therein, and picked it up, furtively, with a crimson face. Violet saw the action, if mamma did not, and drew her own conclusions. "Dear Flora," eaid Violet, when, an hour later, her young cousin came to her boudoir, "I am «ure you are receiving in your letters from Anna, notes for Captain, Gore, and sending notes from him." " Oh, please, j)lea&e t Violet," cried Flora, holding up her hand, " and then dear," she added, extenuaticgly, " they are such wee, harmless bits of notes." " But* it is wrong, a? deceiving your mother, all the same. I am surprised at Captain Gore." " But such tiny notes ! almost a jest 1 And then, Violet, you know they care for each other, and it is hard on them, so cruel to be kept apart just for notions of money and titles If he ware a bad man, or a beggar unable to find a living, it would be different." " I know, dear," said Violet, " but there is honesty to be considared, and the right of a loving mother." " And you will go and tell about it, aud spoil all?" eaid Flora, ready to cry. " No, I will not, provided ifc is stopped at once. Send back that note to Anna, and tell her what I say. lam the last one to wish marriage a matter of bargain and sale. But your mother is right in saying that Anna shall have chance and choice, and know her own mind. It is very terrible to change one's mind after marriage, dear. And I promised you I would do my very best, if Anna finds she truly loves .and prefers Gore, to get your parents' consent, after she has had a season to decide in 1 will be her friend, and yours, in lovemaking, if you do right, honestly right, being frank with your parents and sure of honourable love for those you marry." " Violet," cried Flora, " you have grown old, and grave, and wise all at once. A year ago you were just a little girl like the rest of us, now you are a aad sobor woman." Well she might be.thought the little couh tess ; within that brief year she had outlived love, hope, happiness ; had grown old in the bitterest experiences of the heart. Well, the friends were all gone- gone to overwhelm Worth, and Madame Therese, and Vandall, and the rest of the famous priests of fashion, with orders for robes and millinery, and jewels and laces. Grace Fanshaw and Lady Clare Montressor ware arranging trousseaus, and the bridegrooms elect, Churchill and Hartington, had gone off with Lord Leigh to a little shooting box he owned in the Highlands, to make havoc through October with the game. Violet was not aßked to go. "The box had no place," said Leigh, " for women's paraphernalia." Gore went with them, and others were" to meet them, alas'! aa Violet learned casually, two who were terribly given to gaming. " And there would be chance for a pot of thousands changing hands," said Gore. Frantic with anxiety, Violet suddenly conceived the idea of appealing to Keith. She wrote him, under cover to Lady Burton, begging him to invite himself to the hunting party, and to watch over Leigh, The response was a telegram, received by Leigh the day before they departed, asking if tbere was room at the " Box " to give Keith a season among the birds. " I shall tell him to come," said Leigh to Violet, handing her the despatch. " You won't be there to drive him off by your rebuffs, and, between us two, I feel surer of myself, and safer, with Keith, than without him." Violet said not a word. She was noticing the expression on Hartington's face when he heard of Keith's request. Child ac she was, that look was a revelation. She saw that Hartington had intended to lure Leigh on in gambling and drinking. An intense ! pity for this Leigh with his strong hereditary passionß, his Mephistophele& for ever on the watch at his elbow.possessed the soul of Violet. Pity is akin to tenderness. She took Leigh's arm, and said : "Let us walk <*ut along the Elm Avenue." fie yielded to the guiding of her touch, and when they were alone under the grand arches of the elms, she said : "Norman, you are going away, and I do not want you to go feeling cold or angry with me. I wish to please you. Do not be offended with me about Lord Keith, or any one. I deeire only to make you happy. Will you think of and write to me when you. are gone ?"

" I'm a duBed bad hand at letter writing," * said Leigh, "but I may drop you aline. Yea, I shall certainly think of you, for you • are, after all, a real good little creature, Violet, and make a man very little trouble." This was faint praise, but it was better than nothing. " Norman," said Violet, " I don't want to make you angry with anyone, but— Colonel Hartington is not your friend." "That is no news, my dear. I always knew that." "Isheyourenemv?" . " Most undoubtedly he is, and my rival. " My aunt says — that— he and Clare count already on your succession, They think you look poorly." ,*...,, - 11 1 hope to outlive them both !" onod Leigh ; " but then, Violet, if you only had a son their schemes would be knocked to pieces whether I lived or died. I say, Violet, you don't know how much I should care for you if you checkmated Hartington by a robust little Lord of Leigh. " m " Norman, Heaven may send us a blessing like that if He finds us worthy of it ; but lor the present let me tell you what 1 fear. I fear Colonel Hartington thinks that you can be tempted with cards and brandy, and he means to do it, and so help on your poor health, excite your nerves, spoil your sleep, wear you out. Now will you be on your guard against him ? I saw a great deal in his face when he heard that telegram. He is sorry Keifcb will be there. He thinks Keith will advise you for your good." " And, by Jove, I'll take Keith's advice against the colonel's any day, and outwit my good heir presumptive. He is older than I am, by ten years. What is he •counting on my death for, confound him?" T , ! " I shall feel much better ii I know you I are to be cafe, and look out for your health, and get the benefit of that bracing mountain air," aaid Violet. 11 Well, well, I'll do my best : and 1 11 meet you at your aunt's for the holidays, at Lindenwood, or I'll be here by the first of December, and take you to-Linden-wood." , . , -„ ii. Thus Leigh and his friends, with valets, grooms, guns, doga, pame-bngs, endless accoutrements, and stores, set off for the Bhootint; box in the North, and Violet was left to hereelf in the great, desolate, ancient mansion. No chatelaine of the middle ages was ever fairer, or more lonely, or helpless, though perhaps in greater present danger than the little Countess of Leigh. What was her joy or the third day of her absolute reign, while she was trying by embroidery to while away the time, until Mabel and her governess were done with morning le9?ons, to receive a letter from Lady Burton, Baying that as she was alone, and her son had gone North, she would like to come to the Towera for a vipit. , , Violet answered by a telegram, and could hardly wait the three days more until she might drive to the station to meet her best friend. , , A time of peace then came to the Countess of Leigh. La-iy Burton scarcely ever mentioned Kenneth, or anything that concerned him, except as she read aloud his very general and grapnic letters about their life at the "Box." There was much about Leigh in them, always anything that could be to Leigh's advantage. The breezy, healthful, eimple life was described, and without those letters Violet would scarcely have known how her husband fared, for Leigh sent only a brief note at intervals of a fortnight or so. . With books, music, work, waiks, drives over all the estate, and visits to the neighbouring country families, calls at the vicarage, the schools, and friendly, unobtrusive work among the poor, the days passed happily enough. This acquaintance gained with her tenants and the administration of the estates was of infinite use to Violet in the troubled j and dangerous days that it was her late soon to see. (To be Continued.)