CHAPTER XVI. A CALL AND ITS RESULT.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 213, 30 July 1887, Page 7

CHAPTER XVI. A CALL AND ITS RESULT.

Waltku's second week soon slipped away, and lie returned to his business with a heart full of courage and resolution. He had served two yeais under Mr Conant, and had done excellent work, so that gentleman told him— work which, though it might lm c seemed more like drudgery to him, he vould never 1 egret. And now he was to serve two years more in the office and in learning 1 how to manage contracts, at a salary which would be gauged according to the progress he made. After that he would be ready to go into business for himself, if he should feel so disposed. Mr Conant felt that he had secured a genius in Walter, for he proved to be peculiarly adapted to the business. He was often surprised by the apt and \aluable suggestions which he made regarding difficult and intricate plans while he certainly possessed excellent tat-to and judgment. Walter availed himself of Mr (Gordon's invitation to call not long after his return, and he was- most coidially leceived by all the members of the family, although his pleasure was shortly interrupted by the entrance of Edmund Carpenter, who had renewed his visits and attentions to Ruby immediately upon dis>co-\ering that she was in the city. Young Carpenter was evidently anything but pleased to find Walter a Übi'tor in that house, and gteete-d him coldly, virile an unmistakeable fiown .settled upon his biow at what he considered his impertinent assurance for daring to be upon Mich familiar terms with people so far above him socially. Then he endea\oured to monopolize Ruby's time and attention. She tried to divide her favours between her two callors, but Edmund Carpenter adroitly managed to make all such effor\« appear so forced that she grew embarrassed whenever she attempted to speak to Walter, and he, observing it, was upon the point of excusing himself and taking his lea\e, when Mr (Gordon drew him into conversation regaidmg his new residence, as Inch was now nearly ready for occupancy, and after that things moved along more smoothly, although the evening proved to be anything but a pleasant one. He could not fail to perceive that Edmund had serious designs upon thejouug girl whom he had learned to lo\e, and he told himself that, perhaps, he had no right to interfere between her and the brilliant prospects that would be hers if he could win her for his wife ; and yet the very thought was torture to him. Ruby was not herself at all that evening : | she was labouring under a painful restraint, engendered by the antagonism which she felt that Edmund Carpenter entertained for Walter, and she, too, avos very miserable when at length the young man arofee to take his leave." Edmund made his adieus at the same time, and the two men passed out together, while Walter instinctivety felt that lie had some sinister purpose in thus accompanying JiilH, He was not long left in doubt. " Are you not rather presuming in visiting a lady of Mrs Gordon's position V" young Carpenter abruptly asked, after they had passed into the street. " If you call responding ro an invitation, given by Mr Gordon, and seconded by his sister, ' presuming,' doubtless I am guilty of the charge," Walter replied, with some coldness. " Indeed ! When were you so fortunate as to secure such an invitation ?" allow me to ask." "To be exact, I believe it was tendered me on the twentieth of last month." " Neither Miss Gordon nor her brother was in the city at that time," retorted fidmund Carpenter. "Very true; neither was I," Walter quietly replied. " Ha ! where were you ?" " I spent the two weeks of my vacation with Mr Ruggles at Redville." Mr Carpenter experienced an inward shock at this information. " Were you there during Miss Gordon's visit to the farm ?" "I was." " And plaj^ed the gay cavalier to the best of your ability, I presume ?" "I do not know what you mean to insinuate by that, Edmund," Walter said, coldly ; " but, at all events, I took Miss Gordon about a good deal, and enjoyed a very pleasant visit with her and her brother," Edmund Carpenter gnawed his under lip angrily. This, then, accounted for the unusual reserve which Ruby had manifested toward him since her return. Walter had been playing the agreeable to her while she was at Redville. He must nip the thing in the bud. " Well," he said, gruffly, after considering these points for a few minutes, " I wish to inform you that I am addressing Miss Gordon, and with her brother's permission, and I desire that you will do nothing to interfere with my plans." He had, indeed, recently sought Mr Gordon, and solicited his consent to his addressing his sister. Mr Gordon had gravely told him that it was a matter in which Ruby herself was chiefly concerned ; that he should never lay any obstacle in the way of her happiness ; and if she should bestow her affections upon him, he should freely give his consent to their union. Robert Gordon, however, was very sure, from what he had seen, at Redville, that Ruby would never marry Edmund Carpenter. Walter's heart sank heavily upon being told this, while a feeling of indignation gprang up within him at the tone of authority which his rival had adopted toward "It is not .^y intention to ever interfere with any of your 1 plans, Edmund," he returned, in the same ton<3 as before. "If you desire to win Miss Gordon, and— can do so"— with a little unintentional emphasis on those last words, " of cou^* c ft j s all right and proper ; both Mr and Miss Gordon hav o proffered me their hospitality, and, ho,Ymg no congenial home, I see no reßp rjn why I should not avail myself of it r *casoionally." " You are very independent about it ; perhaps you even aspire to win Miss Gordon yourself," sneered his companion. A swift flush mounted to Walter's brow, and an angry retort rushed to his lips. He checked it, however, "I am not in a position to aspire to any thing of thG kind at present," he rfgjid, gravely.

" That is the most sensible thing that I have heard you say to-night," Mi; Carpenter returned, in a somewhat mollified tone. - All the same," he added, "it might be just well to keep out of the way of temptation, and out of the way of doing an injury toothers." " I do not think I clearly understand the latter part of your remark." "Well then to be plain, it may do my cause harm if you continue to visit the Gordons. "Surely, you cannot feel very confident of succeeding in your designs, if you fear that the occasional visits of any one will mar your plans." Edmund turned upon him fiercely : " None of your sarcasms to me, if you please. I know what lam about. I am bound to win the pretty heiress if I can, and it won't bo healthy for you, or anyone, to baulk me in my purpose." " Then it is the heiress, nob a wife - not the sweet, gentle woman — whom you wish to win," said Walter, a note of scorn in his tone, for all his manhood arose indignantly against such a fate for beautiful Ruby Gordon. " Sweet and gentle fiddlesticks !" was the contemptuous retort. " Don't be absurdly sentimental, Walter. Of course I admire Ruby Gordon— love her, if you will. Who wouldn't love a pretty girl like that, with thirty thousand dollars tacked on as an additional chavm ? lam going to marry her if I can got her, and—/ want you to keep out of my xrty. T>o you understand ?" "Yes. I understand," Walter said, calmly, but longing to make him suffer for speaking so flippantly of the woman he i loved. Edmund Carpenter turned upon him with i an angry frown. " Do you mean to imply by that tone that you understand my wish but will not heed it '!" he demanded. Walter paused a moment before replying ; then he said, quietly, but firmly : " I should be willing to heed any ieasonable and civil request which you might make, Edmund, although I do not feel that 1 owe you very much of consideiation ; but if you imagine that I am going to deprive myself of the enjoyment of a pleasant and profitable friendship, simply to comply with or pamper a freak of jealousy on your part, you have made a mistake. I will contiime to visit at Mr Gordon's so long as I am welcome." " Then I warn you that if I fail in my plans because of you, it will be the sorriest day that you ever knew, Walter Richardson !" cried his companion, in a rage. " You may spaie your threat 1-',1 -', Edmund, for I shall not heed them. I wish you no ill, and I v>ould not knowingly injure you in the estimation of anyone. If you can Avin Miss Gordon's heart, she "will doubtless marry you ; if you cannot, she will never be so untrue to herself, or to you, as to take such a false step." "You speak very confidently. You must have closely studied Miss Gordon's character." " Yes, I do 'speak confidently ; and I am sure that Ruby Gordon is a true and conscientious woman — that she will never forfeit her self-respect by acting a lie." " I am not sure but that you have already fallen in love with her yourself !" cried young Cai penter. The young man's face flushed and his heart bounded wildly at the accusation. He knew that Edmund Carpenter could never feel for Ruby a tithe of the affection vvhich his true hears had bestowed upon her; while the mere thought of losing her —of Inning sacrificed to his designs — was like rending soul from body. But lie would never confess his secret to the man beside him ; torture should nob wring it from him. "Silence signifies assent," pursued Edmund, bending forward to look into Walter's iace as they passed a street lamp. " Not necessarily,"' was the unmoved reply. " I did not think it worth while to make any response to your sneering remark." "Beggar! pauper! Is this the return you make for all that has been done for you in the past ?"' Edmund was exasperated beyond endurance at Walter's superior self-control, and the indifference that he had manifested to his commands and threats. Walter's hands closed and unclosed with a convulsive movement, and for a moment he was tempted to make his insolent companion measure his length upon the pavement. Buthifebctternaturecontrolledhim, though his high-spirited nature resented the opprobrious epithets that had been applied to him. "I am neither a beggar nor a pauper," he returned slowly and with impressive distinctness, and I owe you no return for anything, for you have never done me a kind or generous act during all the years that we have known each other. Your father I loved and reverenced for his goodness to me, and had he lived, any service that I could have rendered him would have been but a pleasure to me. I do not wish to quarrel with you. For his sake, I would wish to always treat you with respect and consideration. But it is worse than folly to prolong this interview. I turn here, and ■will wish you good-night." " Stay," cried young Carpenter, laying a heavy hand upon Walter's shoulder, and speaking in a low, fierce tone, " I hope you understand me ; it will not be wise for you to cross my path at the Gordon's very often." Walter shook himself free from that detaining hand, and faced the man proudly. " I think you hardly understand we." he said, in a haughty tone. " I quail before no man's threats, as I will prove to you here and now. Suppose, for instance, that I do love Ruby Gordon ; if I were sure that she would return my affection, I should try — provided I was in a position to warrant my doing so—l say T should try to win her honourably and openly before all the world. Any other man has the same privilege and right in this free country, and no one has any authority to lay restrictions upon another. Good-night, Edmund." " He. turned upon his heel, and walked resolutely away, but nob before he had caught the ominous words that were thrown savagely after him : " Braggart, I have only one word bo say to you— beioare ! "