CHAPTER XVI.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 281, 14 July 1888, Page 3

CHAPTER XVI.

A)S~ VNEXPKCTKIi EXCOVM'JEK. ' Tiir.Ki; is a divinity that shapes our ond^ rough-hew them how -no u ill,' bays, the-im-mortal bard ; and a most malignant, and mischief -making divinity it seems to beat times. But we must not btop and bewail over the rough angles and splintered fragments, but wait with patience bill the whole is complete, and then we shall see that every seemingly adverse stroke was needed to" perfect and finish the rounded life. To our human wisdom, it anpeais just the consummat on of ill-luck that Colonel Gilbert Verney should occupy the same train, indeed the same carriage, a\ ith the Coimtesa of Strathspey that morning : But the colonel did so unconscious of all evil intent, it is true, but the effect*, of the occurrence were disastrous enough. The countess was thickly -veiled, and although she i\ as the sole lady passeugci, it was some time before the colonel rocognisccl her. Ho established hiuiselt com- ( fortably, road the morning paper, and ' heartily wished this veiled female in Jeiicho, in hia ill-humour at oeing deprived of his cigar. Not a thrill of interest or cuiiostty as to who or what she \\as stirred his heart. The colonel had passed that stage of life when one takes an interest in railway acquaintances. Long years of soldier-life in India had cooled the fever of his young' blood. He waa now an eminently handcome bachelor, of seven-and-thirty years, a tiifle cynical, intensely practical and the betrothed husband of Miss Julia Beresford, heiiess to the snug sum of ten thousand a year, in her own right. The colonel was running over to Paris, where chance or fate had stricken down a fellow-officer and bo&om friend with typhoid fever. The despatch reached him that very morning, stating that his friend was dying and had needof him. Colonel Yerney .-started down by the first train, never dreaming what a terribleconttruction would be placed upon the most humane journey. On and on they went, the countess still closely veiled, and incognito ; the colonel perusing his paper, and longing for his cigar ; on and on, through all the seemingly endless length of England, for the countess was going down to Do\er, and across the Channel into France, and from thence into the Tyrol, following the route her husband had taken, the only one she knew how to pursue. And with every mile she travelled, her courage failed her. In the eagerness and excitement of starting, the length and fatigue of the journey had not occurred to her. She began to w ish she had harkened to Judith's sage counsels, or at least consented to take her with her. It was terrible to travel alone and unprotected. But she thought of the little liaxen-haired boy amid the Alpine peaks, and her heart grew strong again. For his sake she would endure it all. Ah t.he first station the oolonol gob out and enjoyed his cigar, and returned to his seat in a much better humour. There sat his inevitable lady companion. 4 Can I be of any service to you, madam?" he inquired, politely; 'get you any refreshments, or anything of the kind ?' The lady gave a quick start, shook her head, and, drawing her veil still closer, muttered an inarticulate denial. The colonel turned on his heel, determined to leave her to herself. They got off at Dover, in the golden haze of a September twilight, just in time to catch the steamer lor Calais. The flash of the innumerable gas-lights, and the noise and confusion on the wharf, Avell-nigh bewildered Lady Strathspey: and the lull sense of the terrible step she had taken flashed for the first time upon her. What would her husband say ? She grew deadly faint, and tottered where she stood. A burly porter, hurrying by, jostled her rudely, and she would have fallen but for the colonel's timely support. 'My dear madam, do allow me to assist you,' he exclaimed, passing his arm about her. For an instant the poot lonian reeled, but by a great effort she overcame her weakness, and stood firmly on her leet. 'I will accept your assistince. Colonel Verney,' she said, as she raised her \eil, and disclosed her face, white and faint from fatigue and inten&e excitement. The colonel came to a dead halt, and stood staring down at her, as if he thought her a ghost. ' Lady Strathspey !' he gasped, at la->t, ' in Heaven's name ' ' I am going across the Channel, Colonel Verney,' she interrupted, with dignity ; 4 will you have the goodness to assist me ■on board the steamer ? The colonel was a thorough gentleman. He bowed deeply, repressing every vesuge of curiosity, and drawing her arm through his, conducted her to comfortable quarters on board the steamer. While he paced the deck, half an hour later, puffing his cigar and puzzling his brain to discover what \va? the meaning of Lady .Strathspey's unusual mode of travelling, the countess came gliding to his side. 4 Colonel Verney,' she said, laying her hand lightly on his arm, ' you are wondering, no doubt, what it is that takes me out of England in this run-away fashion ?' The colonel bowed, and smiled. 4 I am a little curious, I confess, Lady Strath&pey,' he replied. The countess stood silent a moment, looking up at the misty stars overhead, her eyes full of deep and solemn thought. 'Colonel Verney,' she continued at last, ' you may be sure that nothing short of a vital interest would take me from my home and husband in this fashion ; my mission across the Channel is one of life and death — to my own heart, at least. lam strong enough of will, but very weak of body, as we women unfortunately are. I did not intend that you should find me out, but my poor, womanly weakness betrayed me. Perhaps it is as well. I need a friend. Colonel Verney, I am almost tempted to trust you, to ask you to help me.' She raised her sad, appealing eyes to his face, and looking down into their starry depths, the Indian officer felt his heart thrill with something of the old, passionate admiration, that those same sweet eyes had awakened when he was a gay young guardsman, and Lady Marguerite's lover. But the colonel, as we have said, was a thorough gentleman, a man of sterling honour. And looking down upon the woman he had once loved, helpless and in trouble, he felt that he could be all the truer and more helpful in his friendship, because of that very love. 'Lady Strathspey,' he answered, quietly, but with something in his voice that at once matured faith and confidence, ' I amat your

service, ready to help you in any way 1 can.' If he hail hcon profuse in his assurances, she would have hesitated ; his relt-repres-sion and simple candour won her confidence. She drew him to a scat in a sheltered coiner, and there, beneath tho silent stars, with the dash of tho silver water in her ears, she began at the beginning and told him all her strange story, wondering at herself as she did so, for an hour before lie would have been tho last man on earth she would ha\ c cho&en for her confidant. Yet now, impelled by sonic i impulse stronger than her will, she told him everything. The colonel listened with grave intorest, and profound pity softened his keen, grey eyes. Old soldier that he was, he could understand the deep yearning of a mother's loa c for her own babe. 4 1 am afraid, Lady Strathspey,' he said, when she had finished, ' that you have been unwiso in taking this step. It would have been better to have conuded everything to your husband, and suffered him to bear his shaie of the doubt and anxiety. lam an old bachelor,' he continued, smiling down upon her with pitying kindness, ' but I don't believe in any concealments between man and wife. Your motive is pure and good, but youi conduct is open to miV conhti notion. However,' he added, button ing his coat and straightening his lino figure, after hib military habit, 'if you are determined to go on, T am at your service, icadj to help you in any possible way.' 'I shall go on,' replied the countess, (iunly, ' I will not turn back. 1 ' Very well, go to your room now and try to lest. TFiom' Calais [ will telegraph to my hick friend in I'aiic, and I'll see you safe snto5 nto the Tyrol and on your way home. Good-nighl, Lady Strathspey " 'Good-bye, Colonel Yci ncy, and may Heaven lewardyou !' He strode away, and the countess went to her fitate-ioom with a lightened hcaio.