DECREE NISI

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 266, 23 May 1888, Page 5

DECREE NISI

II Y Mi iam />'. /,'. mOKHs, \utiioi (if " lii llu Flosh iind iho Spini,' Etc.

(II \VTFAI ill. TIU Ms'l I Its. 111 1 ha- been -aid, elsouheie, that. Mis A-h foul ;iii(l her -i-lu woe eg. illy beautiful. Seeing them ;<pail. \ou might ha\e Liken I hem foi one and the -amc, -o alike uoie they, but. -ecu tooethei tlieie \\a- .1 \ei\ peiceptiblo dilleieiuc; Il\a boinu somewh.it LiiiWji and her hail and e\e- some shade- H^litei than her -istei's. Theyweio of that, hi^h class beauty which L;a'iis noihinu: by description — a beauty which ifound only in llio.se w Ikho minds aie. pmu. They arc -till in London, at the Heie!oid Squaio Jlousc, for even had \shfoid wished it, her propei ty was >o settled that lie hail no eontiol o\er il. To do Tom ju-tiee, he ne\oi attempted to iiilluonce hei in m.ilteis connected with hei piojieity. The two hif-tei.s aie standing at tiu^ window of their piett> niorninj; loom, wliieh is a fiunt loom, laeine and ovorloulvin^ the Square guidon. 'Shall >ou u;o out io-day, J"]\ io ?' said Floienee, alleetion.iteiy stu)kin^ hei sislerV beautiful golden l>io\vn liair in which she had just placed a insc. ' No, dear, ] really don t leel equal to any exertion, my ncr\es arc literally shattered,' said Eva a.s .she put/ her arm round Flonie's neck. ' Ye.s, luil darling, ye*» mus.t clieer up or yoi 7 will be really ill. Poor E\io! Kiss me, dear.' 'Oh ! Florric, how can 1 bear it ? How can I over meet people a^ain ?' ' My dear,' said Florrie, deprccatingly, { your troubles are very great, but your innocence will loud you strength. Bestir yourself, dear sis! or, and face people ; never mind them ; if they arc friends thoy will be true ; if not, they arc not woith caring about.' ' I Jut, Florrie, dear, you foiget. I cannot throw myself on everybody'b meiey. My i-cpntaUon is gone for over. But for you, I conlfl uob heai ib ' 1 Hut, "TCvie darling,' said the kindhcartcd Florence, ' you must not give way to such feelings. Believe me, the time will come when your name will bo as fair as ever it was ; meanwhile, you know you arc innocent.' ' Dear Florrie, do not think [ encourage despondency. Jndoocl J try to bo cheerful. Oh ! that our mother had lived ; what a eomfoifc she would have been in this my trouble. You know I lo\o you dearly, my Florric, but you are not my mother,' ' Let us go down to auntie, and get away from this "wretched London ; you will bo less likely Ihorc to meet disagreeable people. You know she docs not go anywhere, and

nho has over boon liko a mother to ur.' | As Florence finished speaking a cub was driven up to the door, and immediately after they heard a ring at the visitors' boll. 'Who can it bo at this time of day?' exclaimed Mrs Ashford. 'Why, it is only a quarter to cloven.' A footman entered with two cauls, followed immediately by a lady and gentle man. ]\lrs Ashford, on seeing who the visitors wore, ruslicd forwatd with the evident intention of tin owing herself into the arms of the lad ) , but suddenly stopped and, turning \ei y pale, grasped a chair for support. 'What i.s tlie matter, child '/' said Mis Hoi wick, at once going to hoi and clamping her in lier roof, motherly aims. I'oor F.vn gladly -nbmitted to the e\'ucsses ; she lested her head on her dear hiendV shoulder and wept. 'Oil! J\lr.s Heiwick,' she presently cxi 1/iimud, ' Mils is good of you ; I feared — ' ' Foaioil w hat, child '( That I had come to you as an enemy ? My dear, dear gill, you surely knew me better.' ' Twa.s but moineutaiy : you musfc lor gnome, dear M). s Bei wiol>, but you Know not what I sullci, and how I dread mcetimr those who once 1 expected and loved me. ' 'And who i expect and lo\e \mi r,till/ said Mis HeiwicU; •at leiM, I .speak fei myscli and m\ liui- band, w honi yon appuu to lia\e I m gotten." ' Foigive me, Doctor Uerwiek, I really am ashamed of niyseli lor neglecting you so long, but ' 'Hay no moie about it, L\a, 1 can quite undo" land it, and J have been i enow ing my old ilnt.lion with my pet Floine] hoe," said the t icetious ieeLur. 'Oh ' >on naught) man,' ciied Flume, ' I u'lll bo\ youi ie\ei( nd ears if ym don't take ( ai c. ' ' Klonie!' k mon.st railed MisAshfoid, 'you .should nol itak --o. ' ' J'.udon im',' saifl the iceloi, playfully, i.s pihileged to do a.s she likes with an old mail like me.' 'Lit them do a^ they like,' said iMis I >oi w i^k ; ' tike me to }om i oom and 1 will get oil my bonnet, lor J mean to slay along day with yn\, u \ou will ha\e me.' ' 'It we will h,ne you 1 ' lepeateil K\a, delighted to ha\e hei old fiieuds withhei again, and cheeied aheady by theii plo.i--uie and kindness. 'Come along. No Hilling, now, >ou two !' 'Oh, J am going away diieetly, .said the lecloi. '1 want to get ndof my wile for the day w hile 1 go lound to Onslow S piaie to see I>ioadle\. He does not go to the oily till alter lunch, 1 think, and I shall piobabi> keep him awa> altogethei to-day. It \on w ill give me some dinner, hoy. c\ei, I «-hall be triad, and aftoi that nocossaiy paitot i he day-, programme I will iehe\c yn\ of \ oui charge.' ' lint won't > on stay with us while you lemain in tow nv> said the hospit iblc lady of the hou.se '\\ c aio veiy dull, but will tr\ to make you com tollable.' 1 \\eonl> lemain a tew days, and ha\c a 'good deal ot innniiig about to do. How e\ei, what does Mis IJeiwick say/ 'Mrs lJciwiek si\ s — \,es," chimed in Floienee, gail\. 'Don't \ou ' Mis l!ei wick '' Ba> yes '" • What nic)fm talking about .' My oai.aie not so long as Flon ie\ and I was looking ai this piett,> pictuie heie. ' The yood lady had he.nd w ell Ciioutr'), thong] s)«e pietendcd she had not. She was thinking how best to .uiswei. 'We want t > on to sta^ with usduiing the lemainder oi >y oui and Dr. Uerwiek wants to know what \ on say to it. ' I don't think we can. 1 hat is to say, we ha\e sc\eral things to do and we .shoujd not bew ithyoumueh ; but if you w illlet usgo and come as we like we will make this our hcad-([uaiteis w lu'le we ,slav m town, wilh pleasiue ' ' shall be mistress of the hou-e .so long as ou sl.iy, without the lespoiwlniitii s, .md w e w ill let )ou do ]iis( what \on < like. And now, dear Mis l.ci w ick, couu> with me and 1 will attend to \ourconiloit^.' And Mr.s Ashfoid left the loom with her old fiiend. delighted, and leeling nidi" Uke hci old happ> sell. 'Oh' Di. Heiwiek, I am so glad ym ha\e uiiiio,' said Flouie, linking amus wilh the doetoi : ' j»om !']\ie has been -o >\u^\ and niHiiable, 1 could not cheer hei. and -he I would not go out.' ' T can uiulei stand that, child, toi though \\( know hn and lo\e liei, t heie aie othei.who \ull no doubt, belie\e the woisl, Time and fi iends will do much toie-tme hi l t<- the good oj)inion ot those who aie woith\ ot hci lLuaid. We h,i\e a little plot lor her which ym nm-l help us lo eai ly out.' ' A plot ' How ]oll) ' Do tell me what it is/ e\claimed Floi ne, alwajt, icady tor an\ hai mlc-s mi-chief. 'Hi this. We intend (o take hei and \ou ;u\ii) and make \ou slay with us a ion;; time.' ' Yon deal, kind, good, lining old fi lend. I was just suggest im; to lOvathat we sl\«ndd LOt t c > amdie, as you came She shall go ' Don't be too -me, young lady ; \ ouwill, peiliajs, need all youi |>eiMiasi\(< powei -. I know her inclination will bethai way, but 1 ioie-ee -.eruple- ' I cm se,« what on mean/ .said Klonie, s,xdl> 'Teil me, .she continued, looking up while t.ars gli-iencd m her beaulitul e)<s 'is it nol on account of A&tley .'' At the List w oid the teais which woio swelling in her e\ es rolled down her checks, but she still braxely looked the q oii cleigyliinii in the face. ' l'ooi child,' said he, gently bru.-hing the (caM from ha eye^ and reading there the seeiet of her heart winch he had long siispoeted itii'i u joiced in. ' Will you tiust me, Floirie? Son love him '" 'Oh ! Di. Herwiek, you know I do. Oh, hou dearly.' ' Do }ou ti ust him '/' ' Yes, yes. yes ! indeed I do,' said the poor girl, ' bui ' and she hesitated. ' 1 »ufc w hat, Florrie V 'I know he loves me dcailv, but Oh ! Pi. Berwick '(hero she looked dow n and the warm blood flowed to her checks), ' he has never told me so, ne\er asked me to be his wife, though ho knows, he must know, how I lo\o him.' ' 'Tis ,i pity for some reasons; but the boy it. right. Floirio, attcr all. Trust us, it shall all come right in the end but 1 must go, or 1 shall not catch my old friond." ' You will not coll him — Astley, 1 mean -what I have said, will you "/' said the lovely girl, again blushing deeply. ' You may tiust me, dear/ replied the rector, determining to do as seemed best for all; 'and now good-bye till dinner time, and mind, no red eyes at the dinner table.' He walked to JSlr Thoadlcy's residence in Onslow Squaro, which was at no great distance, and thither we shall follow him.

CHAPTER IV. A I-'IUHNniiV DISCUSSION, Dit. Bkuwtok had more than one object in calling' upon Mr Bvondlcy. Ho desired to have his old friend's opinion about- the divorce case which had boon a souico of so much anxiety and consternation to them all. lie had perfect confidence in hih son's honour; he entertained no doubt whatever of hits tiuth ; he had c\er found him con-.seicntion.-i and upright in all hi* doin^, of whatsoCNOi nature. Ho was pcrloctly satisfied that Eva Asht'ord vva& pure of

I heart ; that she would nob violate her marriage vows, or do anything unbecoming a Christian gentlewoman. Tie had boon acquainted with her from early childhood, had seen her constantly ; in fact, knew her thoroughly. Ho had groat faith in his old friend Broadley's clearheadedness, and htn ing though!-, and thought, and thought, until thinking had become painful to him, with no result other than the conclusion he had ai lived at when ho read tho account of the proceedings, he looked forward oagcily to an inte-r\iow with his old friend, with the hope that by then joint consideration they might lay hold ot something that 'would unable them to .set about tho taskot upiooting tho loul tree that had .spread its perjurybeaiing branches oxer tho heads of his son and Mis Ashfoid. Then he wished to consult hi., friend a-, to As-tley's best coiu.se of adion, being a-suied of his sympathy and knowing that advice asked for would bo given in the best interests of his poor son, of whom 1)0 ontcitaincd a\eiy favourable opinion, and whose fuLuie he had already made piovision foi by arungements that must iiccc-s uily, it Astley cairied out hi- intention of leaving tho country, be set a -ide. 'Hies- 1 - niy soul, ISeiwiek, you are (he man oi all othcis f am most pleased to .-cc at (his ]>'!• Lie ular Linio : 1 am c- peeling a M^it fi did your son I his afternoon. J have Mjnt Agnes and (he girls out of the w..y and intended to slay at home this afternoon, in oidei (hat I mivlit ha\e Ast'ev all to myself ; but your coming i< most fortunate. Sit down, old fellow, and Lull me how you ha\e been (his long time.' 'Things have been prrtly muel] as usual with me, my dear iJroadlcy," said Dr. Berwick as he .seated himself in a comfoi table libi.uy ehaii. ' Theie is little change in the life ol a countiy parson — the usual lound of \iMts, dinners, etc., sick parishioners and occasional iishing excursions.' 'Ah ! you have the advantage ol me tiieie,' said Mr Broadley. ' 1 have scarcely touched a rod since our dear old Oxfoid days. What fun we have had at iNewnham at. (l Woodstock ! Do you leoolleet Fanny, eh V lLi!ha:ha' ' Tliey wcie nieny times indeed,' said the lector, who did not, ho % vc\er. join in the iuu^h ; ' pool little Fanny !' The two wen thy old gentlemen occupied the time until lunch was announced with lemini.seenee- of then college days, neither seeming* in a huny to bioach the subject which was pamiul alike to both. This could nut go on long, however. The tenants ha\ing been dismissed, the woithy doctor commenced by asking : ' 1 1. is my boy acquainted you with his intention of leaving the country?' ' N es, my deal 1 Berwick, 1 iccehcd a note from him, in which ho tells me of his determination to <;o to New Zealand, subject to my permission. Now, though my plans aie tenibl} up»ot by circumstances, which have occuned of late, I think- -and I have taken tune to consider the mattci from all points -that the poor young fellow cannot do bettei He takes a \eiy sensible \ iew of (he matfei himself, judging by his letter, \\ hat think ) on ' ' \\ ell, t ha\c told him 1 think it a good pl.ui, fot he will -stand a chance of doinjj well in New Zealand, wheie his mi-fortunes aie unknown. Meanwhile we --for 1 know Jim w ill act w ith me— will lca\e no stone unturned to bung out tho tiuth and clear t ho lcpulation not only ot m) deal ;^on, but ot one 1 lo\e and tuist as a daughter. 'I am with >ou theie, J>ciwick, iicait and soul. The thing is, bow can we go about it ? \\ hat is \our opinion about it . Do you think Ashfoid is a party to the cons) )iiac\, or has he been decchod like the lesfr I ha\c lonj.; thought him \ci) ncLrlo"! tul —to use (he milue-t (eim--oi Ins wile, lint 1 ( amiot belie\e he would be mnlt\ ol sm-li euiiMimii'.ilu \ illainy a-, to itnent these thin;^. Icm only think th.it I! Lie is some othci hand woikiim the stunts of which we know m)thin<^. 'My own idea c\actl\,' s;iid the" rector. '"Nou see the case ieste<l entiiely nj)on the i ¥ \iilenco ot the two seivants Now, it doe- not seem piobablo that these peo})le would iinent s\u-h atiotious lic.s. without being 'put up to it' a- one may sa\. Whit interest could they ha\e in lihistiii'_; the leputation of so good a mistiess, who had not injuicd them in any way ' ; De])cnd upon it the\ aicbut the tools of .mot hei ; buti w ho i^ bhat othci .'" v Ah' (hat's tie pom' wo mu-t endea\om ( o disen\ei. l'Vu the ])ie-cnt, houe\er, let us think what we can do hn the bo\.'

CHAPTER Y. vl r\>ili\!Ml\'L V ('II vUMIM, \\ ]I>O\\ \\!) \N IN II M 1) JII M \M>. Si vv\ i> in Ikm Ijoik'oh. sunounded by .ill the lu\iiiie-. thai modem upholstoi} can piodu l 1l 1 and biic a hi e de.deis collect, is Ihu K>\ ol\ iibdi'^ ot one ot the pi ct tic -^t bijou lCMdem-e- in this hnouiite locality. !'*loi,i Hamilton, toi she ii is, nuL!- the bell, and upon the entiam c of her maid tells her to unc ■•lncl oi dei ■> th.tr. no one shal l be admitted but, Mr A^hloid, (hat to anyone else she is ' not at home." ' Xow,' she nm^cs, ;is the maid retires, 'now shall I tunmph ; at lnsx shall I lie happ\ ; toi Miieh lie will be mine now. Oh ' Tom, how J io\c } on, m lnit nould 1 not saciiliee toi uni ' The time i.-> near when, a tiee man, he w ill cl.j-p me in hi^ arm 1 - : irce and to be lm husliand. for he will suioly n-^\ ke(>i> the promise ho made tome. It he should beeold --ah 1 perish the thought. ISo, no, Tom lo\ i-> me.' Jli id .she no thought for tho sullorin^s of the woman w ho^e jihiee she hop.cd soon to be rillino .' !l;ul nu pity for Mi.s Ashloid — thai injured woman, purled fiom her husband "' Did Kloia know she was innocent' Time will sliow how far she was miilty of such know ledge. Certain it. is she hated her unhapp\ livul with all a woman b \ enoni. 'llavk! ji liny;. [t is--no— yes— is it? Can it be my belo\ ed ?' and ah she stands Hf-tcni.n<: toi tho sonncN which meet her ear, her heaVt beats rapidly and the rich, \uirm blood Ilics to her face, lending an additional ehaim to a beauty always enchanting. Tho door opens. A lorm she loves enters. Slio is clasped in his arms. She is happy. Happy! and without one thought of her hated rhal. 'Aly darling. Oh! my own, own darling. ' Thus she gicets him — -Tom Ash ford — so lecently sepaiated Irom hih wife, and he : ' My o\\ n Flo", at la-t you arc mine, my lo\c, my wife. Now, dailing, we shall indeed be happy.' Thi.s i^ the man pitied by the w oriel at. !iavin<4 a faithless a\ ife. Tho world says, ' What a toniblo blow foi him, and such a handsome good-nauued follow, too.' And tliis same can say nothing hard or bad enough of her. tho poor wite, whose immediate friends have never doubted her truth and virtue. Flora is hnp]>y : and Tom? Well, it may be fairly hiipposed he considers himself so toi. They talk of bygone days and pass- , ing events, and Floia ventures to touch upon the locent dixorcc case, feeling, with 'i om'fj aims around her and her head on his bieast, that she i'< quite t>ife. 'Toll me, darling,' she says, ga/.ing up fondly into his eyes, ' are you much hurt by recent occurrence b V

' What do you mean, HtUc ono ?' ho naked. ' Why, Tom darling, you know, fcho wife' ' Hush, Flora; you must nob balk bo me about this,' said Ash ford, slightly relaxing his hold of her. 'And why, love?' she asked. 'Surely you can have no love for her ?' ' Flora, if you love me do not mention the halufnl subject. It has caused mo great trouhlc and—' ' And you have come to me tor .sympathy. Well, darling, we will say no moio about it, since tow ] have you, which is all I desire.' 'Is that all, Flo' ? You know there is many a slip, etc.,' said he banteringly. * Do 1 no/ know, you cruel Tom, when you well-nigh broke my heart ! JVly love, my own love ; you will be mine, thid time, will not you ?' ' Of com so, darling ; if you will have me ; hut thcie muht still be secrery between u.s. The world must nob know that we aro engaged.' 'And why, Tom ?' said Flora pleadingly. k Why must there be this wi etched secrecy which has been the cause of so much trouble to me ?' _ ' My dailinrr,' said Ashfordrepiccatingly, 'it would be hardly the thing so soon ; and, who knows? the world might &ay that I trumped up the charge in order that I might, many \ on.' ' Yes, but, darling Tom, you do not now care for the opinion of the woild, do you? Why, you used to laugh at the idea, and 1 am sure you often told me that you set the world at defiance' ' But, Flora, times. hn\e altetcd. I must be more particular now and must pay more attention to roy popitli, for though I have been injured by a woman whofu virtue I could have staked my life on, and though the woild generally and the law in particular havn agreed that I have been so injured, Mrs Ash ford has friends who, I ha\e no doubt, will watch my proceedings for some time ; indeed, I am told, upon good authority, that she or her people have spies on my actions. By-the-bye, my man, .Jenkyn, has given me notice — you remember, the fellow who first opened my eyes to Mrs A&h foul's proceedings. He says he is going to be married to Jane, your late maid.' 'How strange, Tom,' said Flora, innocently ; 'it seems that what separated you and yours has brought those two together. But, Tom, do you really mean to say that yon are watched by her people ? ' So I am informed, darling ; and, therefore, we must be careful. But you trust me, don't you, love?' ' Oh, Tom, you know I do. 1 would trust you to any extent, for though you did treat me badly once, I don't think you would again, and it was not altogether your fault ; your horrid uncle made you act as you did.' ' Hush ! let the dead rest,' said Tom, playfully putting his hand over her pretty mouth. ' Remember, Flo', had I refused to marry aceouling to his wish I might, and in all probability should have been a poor man.' Ah ' worldly man, what misery and sin nn'trht haAe been saved if you hud been true (o \oiu fiist piomise and manied Flora. Thou ha^t sold thyself for gold. Wo will leave A-«hfoid and the widow to enjoy their /' fi'-a-t' te and take a brief look a fc v. hat is being done at 1 llectoiy. (TobuCoii/ini'u/. )