CHAPTER XXV. THE MIGHTTIEST SPELL.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 216, 20 August 1887, Page 6

CHAPTER XXV. THE MIGHTTIEST SPELL.

A spol' -the mightiest ppell on earthly o'er her beintf east. Hho loves. Gertkudk trembled with delight, shyness, and embarrassment as. Gerald Fitzgerald drew her aim within his awn, and followed the little proce^ion of his eldera into the dining-room. With graceful courtesy ho .-eated her at the- table, and took his place by her side. On his other side <*at PaLncia Fitzgerald. Opposite them Mrs Doy Fitzgerald, with Dr. Goodwin on her rig-hfc hand, and Mr Boweis on her left. At the head of the table Miss Sue Greenleaf, and at uhe foot Mr Royal. Gei trude had eyes and ears for no one but the magician beside her. The " magician ;"' for, conseiou-ly or unconsciously, he had cast a spell o\er her trom u hich nothing but death could ever disenchant her, it, indeed, death it&olf could have power to do so. She saw "the goodliest man," and seeing, " loved him with a lovo that was her doom ;" not oven knowing that sho loved, only feeling thrilled with delight to be near him. Do not blame hor ; she was but fifteen years of age, and had never known a mother's caic. She cave hei soul a.vay, rejoicing inthoghing, not knowing what she did The dinner, because of the absence and sulkiness of Geraldinc, was a dull one to everybody except Gertrude; to her it was delightful ; for she sat next to one whom she was learning to worship with all her young heart's devotion, and who gave her 1m undivided attention. But dulness and delight are equally evanescent. The dinner came to an end at length, and the paity adjourned to the draw ing-room. In those days, and in that neighbourhood, it was not customary for the ladies to retire tirst from the dinner-table, leaving the gentlemen " to their wine ;" but ladies and gentlemen left at the same time, and in the ouler in which they had entered it. Colonel Fitzgerald led Gertrude back to the diawing-room, placed her in a pleasant seat, bowed and left her. And the poor child, sitting alone, fel'u as if all the light anil life of her soul had gone away with that stately soldier and accomplished gentleman. Colonel Fitzgerald crossed the room to the bay-window, within which sat Mr» Doy Fitzgerald and Patricia. •'I trust," he said, " that Goraldinc'a in : disposition is not very serious ?" " Oh, no, it is not at all so," replied Mrs Doy, with a slight smile. "It does not confine her to her bed, I hope ?"' "Oh, no." "Then may I not hope for the pleasure of seeing her, if only for a few moments T' " it is not. likely that she can be induced to come down to-day. " v 'l do not presume to expect such a favour ; bub may I nob bo permitted to wait on her in her boudoir ?"' "It is doubtful," answered Mis Doy, hesitatingly. " Will you bo so kind as to send this by a servant?" inquired Colonel Fitzgerald as he took a card from his pocket, w rote a few lines on it, inclosed it in a small envelope, and presented it to the lady. "Give ifc to mo, Colonel. I will tako it up to Gerry myself, and bring you an answer," said Patricia, with eager kindness, as she intercepted his hand and took possession of the noto before it' had touched her mother's linger. " You are very good, my bright little cousin, and I thank you very much. Pray add your entreaties to mine to gain me a hearing from my liego lady," said Gerald Fitzgerald gaily, as> he arose and opened the door, and held it until Patricia had darted through it. She sped upstairs and into Geraldine's chamber. Goraldine had changed her carriage dress for a white India muslin robe-de-chambre, and whe lay reclining on the sofa, while her untasted dinner stood on a little table beside hor, and hor French maid loitered in attendance. "Gerry, if you will send Mademoiselle away, I have something to show you," &aid Patricia, going up to the sofa. ' " Leave the room, Besirqe, if you please. I will ring when I want you," said Geraldine, languidly. , ' , , v ', The girl curtsied aij^wJbMrew., : '•What is that you; want to,,Bbow me,

Patricia'?'' inquired the young lady* .vfrifth an ait* of perfect indifference. ■ • < " This, Gerry; dear/ answered l J iHiima\t giving her the ColbnoFs card. ' Geraldino received it very coldly/ ctorwn it from its envelope, and read : "My Own Geraldine,— l am orrieved to hoan that you jvro not well : yot Mrs Fitagorald t?ivc»-> me hopes that you arc not so mjiwoll as fed p»*ichide the possibility of your receiving mo in your boudoir. May I cotno and give an uoccmMtf of myself 1" " Do you know the purport of this note"'?*'" inquired Geraldine, looking up fronuth'e card. "lean guess it. Colonel Fitz wants" to'» see hi 3 dear Gerry," saucily replied Patri-'-eia. Gemldine's proud eyea flashed iiro for&n.'j instant, and then thoy fell again upon 'tho card. "If / were his dear Cerry , I would pocket » all my just indignation and see him," added Patricia. "Why, pray?*' inquired Geraldine, with! i sx curling- lip, and without raising her ©}»csv ixma the card. " Because I would not fling his heart away, lest some other fellow should catch it in the rebound and keep it," replied Patricia, meaningly. "■Fray explain yourself," said Geraldine. "Well,. then, 1 will. There is just the very loveliest brown-eyed beauty downstaifl^ that ever was seen in this world. Colonel Fitz took her in to dinner, placed hiuiaelf beside hor at the table, devoted himself to her, brought her back to the drawing-room, seated her as if she had been a vfyieon, and bowed over her hand . whew he left her. And she — she worshipped him with her tfoft, shy, meek, brown eyes, as only such an unsophisticated child could ; tl'o* Well, you know any man's vanity 1 is his weakest point anyhow, and .so ' a woirrl to the wise is sufficient for them.' " ! <u WJto and what on earth are you talking Patricia ?" haughtily demanded ; WpaMine. W B-o-o-o-o ! Don't flash your blazing '< fontefc eyes at me, Gerry ; for, not being nfi/ju^ of tliem, I am perfectly impenetrable I Reserve your lire for the gallant , FLt/f. It is of him 1 talk, and of the dovei eyed, darling who is melting hi.i heroic : heart," replied Pat, mischievously. I " Who is this girl, then ?" sharply deI mantled Geraldine, completely oluown oh 1 ' her guard. [ " Who but Miss Sue's last heroine !" " * Miss Sue's last heroine !' What nonI sense are you talking ?" "No nonsense at all. You don't know ouir Aunt Sue us well as I do, or you would understand me. Aunt Sue is always trying to realise her romances, but they always prove failures. Once she tried to make out Jlagdala to be a ship\weckod princess, or something of the sort, but Magdala turned out to be a mad woman, pure and simple, ami nothing else. Then she tried to disfigure Ben Bowers into a disinherited knight ; but he persisted in remaining a lazy, idle, sensual spendthrift, a r;ood-for-nothing dead boat, who had squandered all his own fortune, and was doing the best he could to squander tho.-e of other people !" " What do you suppose I care for all this, Patricia ? I inquired of you who is thi<* girl of whom you ha\e been talking," exj claimed Geraldino. "That is just what I am coming to, ma'am. ' This girl ' is our Aunt Sue's la^t ! romance. 1 don't know whom she identifies her with— whether with Amanda, .Evelina, Isabella, or whom. But she has certainly taken a great shine to her," said Pat, provokingly. " But who is she, then ?" "My good gracious me alive, luuon'tl told you who she is ? Dr. Goodwin's ward, old Gabriel Haddon's heiresa, Aunt Sue's protegee— Gertrude Haddon !" exclaimed' Patricia, in a tone of surprise expressive of having given this explanation long ago. "'Geitrudo Haddon!'" echoed MLss. Fitzgeiald, in amazement. "The same," replied Patricia,, with, comic gravity. " A common ferry girl !" commented. Geraldine, in atone of disgust. "Begging your pardon, no, ma'atn,,noiiai common ferry girl, by any means. Ax very /(Hcommon ferry girl ! a born beauty ! ai princess in disguise ! the ideal of, Mifes Susan Greenleat ! tho enslaver of tho-gal-lant Fitz '. the i ival, if she doesn't, look to. her laurel^, of the queenly Geraldino,." saki Patricia, with pretended enthusiasm. The eyes of the beauty hinouldor.cd. oad flashed. " And do you presume to, suppose/ sho began, " that I would descend for one ix\stant to such a base, degrading rivalry ?" "Oh.no. I never presumed to> Fwpf sos© anything. I only warn, you,.'' said Pat, with a shrug of hsr .shouldor-si " Then lhopc that for tho £usuv© you will be a little more discreet iai tlto use of your tongue, Patricia." " Certainly. And to, begin, with being discreet, what am I to say to him. who sent me ?" inquired the girL Geraldine took up her lo.vorV card, and read it again, in urinuring oxer hersolf the last lines : " May 1 come-aud give an account of myself ?" Ad.cl adding aloud : " It may bo %\oll if ko cau do so." "Shall! say that tolxiui?"' .saucily inquired Pat. " Say to Coloiiei Fitzgerald that I will see him in the little patlour." " Aunt Sue's, parloui- V* questioned Pat. " Yes," curtly replied Geraldine. Patricia aros&» and gaily humming a tune, left the room. GeraJdiuarang fpr her maid, and when Mademoiselle Dcsirco entered, said : " Dress me quickly. I shall join the circle in the drawing-room. " " What dre?s will M^adenjoiselle please to >year f respectfully inquired the girl. " Black Spanish lace robe, diamond jewellery, scarlet fuchsia flowers. " Tlio quick and skilful fingers of the French maid soon completed the toilet of the beautiful Geialdine, and, lastly, placed in hor hand a black feather fan, adorned n the middle by a humming-bird. Thon Geraldine descended the stairs. Both tho front and back doors of the central hall stood open on this warm July evening, but the hall itself was deserted. Geraldine turned and opened tho door leading into the sister's parlour, which a\ c have already described. Colonel Fitzgerald was already there, standing, by tho fireplace, with hi,s elbow leaning on tho mantel- piece. '• My dear Geraldino," ho warmly exclaimed, hastening to meet her with outstretched hand. But she drew haughtily back, passed him, and seated herself in the high-backed, armed-chair, saying, coldly : '• You expressed a wish to 3oe mo, sir, that you might give some account of yourself, which would ceitainly seem to be called for. You soe me, and lam ready to hoar yo.u." , Goraid Fitzgerald stood for a moment transfixed with amazement by the manner of his betrothed wife. He had known hor from her childhood, but had never seen her in such a mood before — never even imagined it to be possible thafc.she could evor show such a pioud and pcornful spirit. In another moment, however, he yecovered himself and went to her, saying, earnestly : ' > "Geraldino, it is not possibly that yoi^ are ( ofjended with me?" , | 'She "did no,b deign to answer him even by a look, Jwfc kopt her eyes fixed upon the \

humnMng-bird on her fan," wh6so brilliant p phimage she>wa» smoothing 'down. i| " Geraldim*-, have 1 been so unhappy as ' ti<p> offend yotuy' j She smiled' wGarnfully, but did not reply efttber by worst or glance. ' " Will you nwfc sjieak to me, Geraldine ?"; fus- earnestly plfradecl, standing before her. "I understood!, Colonel Fitzgerald, that jretti dosired t©> so© mo for the purpose of g^trSng some ac&iwvut of your very atvange Qoarfuct, whfchi seems to be called for, au& nofeto question me. 1 am ready to hear angrtlnng you mray ivave to say, but I must reriutisst you to be brief, as my time is lhnifted," she said, ■with cool insolence. '"My dear gioli* it seems I have really beero so stupid or so unfortunate as to have miMroiJfcingly offended vow, though in "what jwumwjr I cannot- a«e. Surely, surely, it Jcanraofc be the delay of my arrival that has lauuoyed you? Ceirtoinly you must have iknowa, and must know that my cruel de-, jtfrnllu&n in Washington was much more gainful and embaipirawsßg' feo me than it couldi possibly haws- been to yon ; especially as-i I was unable then, and, indeed, am uTinlUb 1 now, to explain ifc. Assuredly, my deiuiestt one, you nuust know the fault was \wb'.mint[;." "I Ifcaow nothing- «xfi th& sort, Colonel Fitzgerald !" exclaimed Geraldine, rising, and. beginning to lose her proud self-control — "I kimv nothing of the sort, and Ido not'oven believe you whon you tell me that the faulto was nofr jrounrs-."" ' ' Mlw- Fitzgerald ." exclaimed the colonel, as - the hot blood unshed to his face and criiaiionei&his birow. "Noj.sir ; I neither know what you say I know.,, nor believe what you tell me. Bub I do know that you have dared to put upon me the most insolent affront, the most degrading insult, that any man could ever oiler to any womaimi, such as no yinf/vman cve i' before ottered ; siwchi as no lady ever received ; siioh ah yon. Colonel Fitzgerald, wou-ldi nc*fcf hsti\o davad to oft«-r me had I possessed- m frither'a or a l>rothei's protection ! But I was defenceless, and you thought: yox could affront and insult me with impunity !"' she continued, vehe morttly, cu>tlkiu uil Je-eirvet^ the, winds. " Gerakhng !" said her lover, sternly, " n©fc even from' yon will I endure such chaiges-nofi e\on in>m you, deeply as> I lovo'yom!" "'•Jlova '/»''"" sli© t-ohoed, with supreme scosn. ' fc Littiw yon * lo\ c ' or ever lo\ed me, Goidlct Fitzgerald I You loved my broad kcncl and spacious manor halls, but lifctVe yosn, love«I me V ''GeraJddaie 'f he exclaimed, crimsoningr " It wns a very gi'eat thing for the pennile?s.'Cadefc, th^Govcnimenfc [Kiuper wearing the liA^ery vl the- United States, to asjiire to the- heiress of a half-^kaen manoirf nnd lialf a thoij^aid slaves ; and a very shrewd thing to emferap the infant orphan into a botrothal that deprived her of her freedom oi choice botorc she should understand the ceiemony. A fine stroke of diplomacy !" "'(friii-aJidMts- S Be silent ! ' he exclaimed, shaking with emotion. But regai dlcs-s that she. was lashing his high spirit to- frenzy, she continued in witheuLng scorn : "And I presume, if your elder brother had, lived, you would have been so good as to haive lisimed the young heiress, and squandered her fortune for liter. But your ekibr brother died, and enriched you by his deafchc It was no longer necessary that you should ?/«« try for a li »;/»//, or even continue to be a Government pauper! You had greatei libeifcy of clioice botli in the selection of a wife and of a career. 80 you boas-tiii to neglect your betrothed and to defer the fulfilment of your engagement, ux>p«2c-iiixg, of course, that she should sea your meaning and release you fiom your bond. But she proved to be so blind that yow were compelled to open her eyes by an open and public affront ! >So you failed to keep your appointment/ with her on her ve<Wing-day.' Colonel Fitzgerald, she understands* you at last, and she releases yx>u from your betrothal 1" concluded Gera»ldine, drawing from her finger the magnificent .solitaire diamond that he had placed on it live years bofoie, and handing it to him. " Miss Fitzgerald, I accept my release, nnd I thank you for it. I think you are quite right. The man who could act from the motives you have asciibed to me is certainly unworthy to be your husband. On the other hand, the woman who could conceive such motives in my conduct can never be my wife. Good evening, madam." Aud with a face livid with suppressed passion, Gerald Fitzgerald bowed and withdrew from the room. Geraldino had not expected this result. With all the strength and fire of her impassioned Irish-Italian nice she loved herbetrothed husband. Out of this burning love had blazed up, the furious jealousy which had inspired those bitter words of scorn and hatred with ■which she had driven him from her presence—words that could never be forgottoa. or forgiven. But nhehad nob thought; that lie wouldi so .suddenly havo acted upon them. She> had supposed that her charges against lu»v would have been repelled with denUih irii self-defence, and that her rash sentence.' of banishment upon him would havo. beeui met by hesitation and o\"> >oculation. She had not p"i-\. lO tako ini^p, con.the hiftii and haughty spiiit of Fitzgerald, which could no more> have deigned to deny or defend himself a&aiusb her°dogrnding accusations than ho would have stooped to the base condjwsi with which she charged him. Simply, without condescending to denial or self-defence, he had taken hei a* her word and departed, leaving her in despair. Her jealous rage had speati sfcs utmost fury. The reaction had already commenced^ She threw tip her arms with a gesture of desperation, dropped upon th» sofa, buried her face in the cushions, and burst into wild tears and sobs. Meanwhile Gerald Fitzgerald quickly passed out of the great central hall by the front door, and, bareheaded as he was, walked up and down before the house to cool himself and recover his composure before returning to the drawing 100 m. It was a clear and brilliant starlight niwht, and the midsummer air was cooled with a heavy dew and light breeze. While ■ ho walked to and fro on the deep grass he espied Hannibal, the little old groom, sitting at the foot of one of the great elm fcreos, regarcUoss of the dam]) .ground, and enjoying'tho aromatic luxury of smoking a corn-cob pipe. Colonel Fitzgerald called the old negro, and bockonerl him to approach. , Hannibal started to his feet and skipped up to the gentleman as nimbly as if he had been only nineteen instead of ninety. I "Old man, do mo the favour to go to the stables and order my horse to ' bo saddled and brought around," said Colonel Fitzgerald, quietl)*. i " Sarbainly, Marse Gon'al, if you says so, dough I hopes you aint a thinkin' ob returziin' away from do house to-night, sar," replied tho groom, with all the freedom ' of a favoured old family servant. " Thanks, Hannibal ; but affairs call me away and I must go. You will oblige me by obeying orders." i "In course, Marse Gen'al, jes' as you say, sur," replied Hannibal, with a bow, as he tiurned aud skipped in the direefcio'a of the atablea. ' '' ' ' u

(Gerald Fitzgerald, having recovered his s**lf -possession, returned to the house and reUntered the drawing-room, whero he found itfe& oirole there enjoying themselves in their ,ovrn way. Mr Royal (rreenleaf, Ben Bowers, Mrs Doy and Miss Sue were assembled unbuild a card-table, profoundly inter-.est-pd in a game of whist, in which Mr Bowers and Airs Doy appeared to be beating \thdir antagonists, Mr R<?jval and Miss Suo. Gertrude and Patricia suit side by side on the «ota, tailing in love wti.h each other after the .manner of very young girlb. Dr. Goodwin ifc/U retired to rest. At it ho entrance of ColoiaeJ Fitzgerald the wbist party all politely dLseantinuud their " J-'jioy do not let me interrupt, you, said Fitej£«aaUd, courteously. "X have only looked i» to say good-night. My horse is at the door/ A pei feat volley of remonstrance and expostulation followed. No one would hear of hi? goisg But the colonel met all resistance with smiling firaauess, and when the old groom Hannibal appeared at the drawingroom door and announced that "Mur^e Gen'al's horns vtjs saddled and bridled, ami attending hie picture,"' Colonel Fitzgerald took leave of his friends, mounted his hoi>e, and rode avay from (-Jreenwood, followed by his servant. •' I'll but anything in the world Gcny is at the bottom of all this. She has sent him away with 'a flea in l\L Jug,'" whi.spered Fatucia to her new friend. " With a -what ':"' inquii'^d Gertrude, in perplexity. " With ' a flea in his lug,' my dear. With ; biting ieproache'> ringing through his cars. Ah, that Gen y of ours is i/iyaiis when siie J gets leady.' 5 "She is -what?" questioned Gertrude, \\ ith a puzzled look. J "Inyun^, inyuns ! Onions, onions! Biting, pungent, when she's vexed." "Oh!"' said Gcrtuide, falling into deep thought about something el&e. "Yes, Gerry ha^ quanelled with him and driven him away, iu^t as sine as shootin"- ! She'll repent it, too ! See it she tlont."' While this whispered convolution was ffoing on between the two girls, the members "of the whist party, who had repeated them^ehe.s at the catd-table, and leeotnmeuced their game, were nUo di 1 - cursing he mystery of the gallant soldier's abrupt (Icp.irfcavo. Mrs Doy Fitzgerald «aid nothing in reply to the remarks of the others. She quietly laid her ac.3of uumps upon her brother's king, remarking : " The odd tiick ! This ghc- us the game, and the game ghes v* the rub ! We have beaten them again, Mr Boweis !%>! %> 41 We always beat ■u hen we are partner *, Mrs Fitznorald ! Oh, that we could be partner-? for life ! Then we should always, and in all things, be \ictoiious !'' whimpered Mr Bowers. "It is eleven o'clock. Royal, ring for the bed-room candles" *< li( l I% < . The request ay.is complied with; the candles were brought. The ci rclc separated and 1 cured to re.*t. (To be Continual. )