CHAPTER XXXIV. STRUGULES FOR LIBERTY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 361, 20 April 1889, Page 6

CHAPTER XXXIV. STRUGULES FOR LIBERTY.

What! ! !' The one indignant and amassed ejacu las lion seemed to fill the room, wftilot 'Mr-* 1

Shipper boil's complexion gradually assumed an ashen hue. ' ' • I am engaged to marry Bob Mornington,' repeated Dulcie, steadily. 'Engaged— to — marry — Bob—Mornington. And pray, may I ask what you propose to live upon, or how an idle young man who does not possess one shilling to rub against another imagines he can indulge in the luxury of a wife ?' 1 Bob's uncle has got him a situation in the Rocky Mountains, and at the end Of two years he is to be promoted to submanager, with an income of four hundred a year : and then,' with an irrepressible touch of elation, ' he is coming back to fetch me. I don't suppose we shall require much money out there. A little will go a long way.' Her mother gazed at her with unmitigated scorn. 1 Faugh !' she exclaimed, impatiently. ' You are a bigger fool than I imagined, which is saying a good deal. Have you ever thought, with your miserable four hundred a year, and nob a single halfpenny in settlements, what would become of you if anything wore to happen to this dear Bob?' laying a sneering emphasis on the concluding words — * if he were laid up, for instance, and were disabled and could not work, or even died ? Supposing, after having quarrelled with your mother and your own relations, you were to be left alone with perhaps four or five scroaming little brats to provide for, where would you find yourseli then, pray? Or have such possibilities never entered that foolish little head of yours ?' Dulcie crimsoned to the very temples. This hard, unsympathetic reasoning and cruel corrmon-sense were nob without force, and, much as she struggled against them, produced a certain impression. Nevertheless, they seemed to completely shrivel up every generous emotion. They mado romance appear ridiculous, love a folly almost amounting to crime, and yet all the time her heart within her cried out loudly, clamouring rebelliously, against such a condition of things. Must everybody begin with every creature comfort and material luxury? Surely there were some people who, like herself, believed in the dignity of honest striving, ot pure affection and simple tastes? To her mind it was better to have any object in life than none, and she disdained that petty, narrow, worldly teaching which seemed to exclude high thoughts and noble aims. ' We are not thinking of getting married ju&t yet,' she said, alter a slight) pause. ' There are plenty ot long engagements, and if wo are true to each other, and love each other dearly, we can afford to wait a bit, especially since we are both so young.' ' Wait !' cried Mrs Shepperbon, sarcastically. ' And what good will that do ? You will wait until all your looks have disappeared — until you are soured in temper and crabbed in mind, only to find, at the end, that your hero has marched off — under your very nose — with some younger and showier girl who has taken his tickle fancy. No,' shrugging her shoulders significantly, ' don't talk to me about long engagements ; I know what men are : nob one man in a hundred is capable of remaining faithful to any woman in particular.' 1 That may be ; but Bob is different altogether,' objected Dulcie stoutly, though the subtle poiaon was gradually stealing into her veins. 'He would never desert me, even if he did think, when he came back, that 1 had grown old and ugly.' f Poor little silly !' exclaimed Mrs Shepperton, in a voice of mock compassion. • She can't believe anything bad of her lover, can she? She thinks he will always prove steadfast and true, and won't credit how the insidious charm of a soft white arm, the turn of a head, the pout of a mouth, or the glance of two coquettishly - directed eyes, suffice to rouse the passions of every man ever born ? It's no use disguising the truth, for human nature is human nature all the world over, and sooner or later you will have to learn that your Bob is no exception to the rule. What opportunities has he had of knowing his own mind? You are about the only girl of his acquaintance who condescends to speak to him, and naturally he hae felt flattered by your attentions: but when he once gets away from home, and begins to have his eyes opened a bit, don'b flabter yourself for one moment that his constancy will stand the test. The world and its pleasures will be new to him, and he will plunge into every possible dissipation. Do you suppose then,' continued Mrs Shepperbon, maliciously, delighted at seeing her victim writhe — ' that your image will still remain first and foremost, that others will nob prompbly efface it, or that the love of to-day will nob quickly drive away all remembrance of bhe love of yesterday ? Oh ! child, lam your mother, and you may trust me when I say that 1 only wish to save you unnecessary pain.' She paused, and Dulcie. as she listened to her words, felt the warm blood ebbing irom her heart, leaving it icy-cold. Each sentence stabbed her like a knife, for, fiercely as she might struggle to repel her mother's statements, they yet contained a slender smattering of truth, calculated to pro :! uco a painfully festering wound. ' Oh i have pity,' she cried, putting both hands to her ears and shuddering violently. 1 What is jour object in saying such dreadful and horrible things ?' Mrs Sheppyerbon smiled a grim smile of satisfaction. Sho was pleased ab the effecb she had produced. But now the moment had arrived for a skilful change of tactics. She looked at Dulcie with a mock moisture dimming her insinceie eyes, and said, in a eoftened voice, % My child, I'm afraid I may appear somewhat harsh, bub do you suppose tor one moment that I should wish to force your inclinations, unless absolutely obliged to do so by the most cogent reasons? — reasons which, alas ! leave me no choice. If you suffer, can you nob believe that so also do I ?' Every vestige of colour forsook <Dulcie s cheeks, leaving them pale as any lily. Her mother's anger she could oppose stoutly enough ; it produced comparatively bub libbla effocb upon her— but bhat unwonted tone of entreaty, those teais. and symptoms of mysteiious compassion, were something new, and filled her with a sudden dread. She was too young and too soft-hearted to turn a deaf ear to any appeal which she believed to be thoroughly r genuine. 'Has anything bad happened, mamma, dear ?' she said, gently. 'Alas! yes,' responded Mrs Shepperton, clasping her hands together in wellassumed anguish. 'I have a sad and terrible piece of information to impart. Oh, Dulcie ! my child ! my child !' burst-, ing out into a flood of hysterical tears, 'you alone can tave us.' • Make haste. What is it ?' said the girl in a low, ti'emulous voice. , • We are ruined— hopelessly and irretrievably ruined ! We are left 1 with scarcely a sixpence ii> the' world. Oh dear ! oh dear ! What will become of you, poor girl? My, heart bleeds for you four innocent young things justcrossing the threshold of womanhood !' Whereupon Mra Shepperton , subsided into a series of uncontrollable sobs that upset'Dulcie's equanimity, r more .even than the startling piece" of ribws she had just. listened to.

* ' Doh'fc cry, poor'TnainnW she'wjiisp'erecl lovingly. ' Remember,- you said just now that I can save 'you.' ' ' ' 4So I did, and so — so — so — you — can,' sobbed >Mrs Shepperton, refusing to be corn- • forted ; ' but you— you — won't ; you've as g-g-good as said so: Read that,' producing the letter from her pocket she had, composed on the afternoon of the previous day. > Dulcie took, the noto and read it in silence. , Her inexperienced eyes failed to detect any inaccuracies, and she believed implicitly in its contents. 1 Dear, Madam (they said), — ' With the greatest pain aticl concern, wo find ourselves forced to inform you of the distressing facs that the Universal Safety Bunk, paying a yearly nividend of 5J per cent., in which tlto trustees under tlie late Colonel Shepperton's will invested the entire bulk of your fortune.suspended payment this fdrenoon, while repoi'ts are current to the effect thut several of the directors have absconded. The .•issets tire said to be virtually nil, and the liabilities exceedingly large. We shall bo happy to render you any assistance in our power, and, with » uch sympathy, have, Madam, the honour to remain, Your obedient servants. John Haktjcastlis am) Wox, Solicitors. 110, Victoria Buildings, Westminster, London.'

Dulcie read this letter over very carefully, whilst her first thought was for her mother, — that easy-going, comfort-loving mother, who so dearly appreciated all those small luxuries purchased by a liberal outlay of money. How would she stand this terrible change ? It would come harder upon her than upon the younger members of the family. They had just had angry words together, and now the thought of them softened her heart strangely. She and her mother had never got on ; perhaps this misfortune might bring them nearer to each other. ' Mamma, dear,' she whispered, with a curious yearning and need of affection, ' I am sorry for having spoken as I did. Will you forgive me ? and, oh ! mamma, remember that you have four daughters, all young and strong, who will work for you and cherish you in your old age,' and the sweet earnest face looked up with a brave smile playing through the glistening tears, like a rainbow on an April day. ' Tut, child !' 3aid Mrs Shepperton pettishly, ' there is no occasion for any of us to work. Indeed, if it comes to that, what work are we fit for ?' ' Mamma,' cried Dulcie, beginning to tremble all over like an aspen-leaf, ' what do you mean ?' 1 1 mean that if you will but accept MrDenver our difficulties will be at an end, since he has promised to provide for his wife's relations.' ' And would jou consent to remain a pensioner on your son-in-law's bounty, without making any endeavour to maintain yourself ?' 'Most certoinly ; why not?' responded Mrs Shepperton, on whom such fintr feelings of honour appeared entirely thrown away. Dulcie was silent for a second or two. Bitter thoughts were crowding up into her brain. • And am I to be the piece of goods for which this costly price is paid ?' ' Yes, if you choose to put it in that extremely unpleasant way.' 'No!' she .cried, fiercely, 'it cannot be. My whole soul rises up in abhorrence at the mere thought of Dennis Denver, ever calling me wife.' 1 Child,' rejoined Mrs Shepperton, ' think what advantages a little self-sacrifice on your part will confer, and how the renunciation of your own privato feelings wilL\vork for the general good. Duicie, our fate is in your hands. Don't lightly condemn us to certain ruin.' This time, Mrs Shepperton's Voice quivered with genuine emotion, for, as deeply as it was given her to feel anything, she felt the sin and the folly of refusing a hundred thousand a year. Dulcie closed her eyes in bitter agony. To remain insensible to such an appeal was a sheer impossibility. She felt that she was prepared to do anything in the world at her bidding:— anything bub one thing:. For how could she wive up Bob ?— swear before God's holy altar to love, honour, and obey Dennis Denver, whom she hated and despised, whilst her whole heart was given to another ? A ' little self-sacrifice ' her mother had termed it. Those were the very words she had used. Why, death itself seemed preferable to the joyless, hopeless life that sacrifice entailed. lOh !' she exclaimed, while a sudden tremor shook her frame, c ask me to scrub floors, or to hew stones on the roadside, but don't ask me to give up Bob, for I can't and won't do it.' Mrs Shepperton frowned. The struggle was more protracted than she anticipated, and things were not taking aw altogether satisfactory turn. ' Very well, then,' she retorted angrily. ' Stick to your precious Boh, and may you live to repent your folly. From this day I have done with you, and never wish to (■cc your face again ; for you are a bad, wicked, selfish girl, who thinks only of herself.' This accusation was unendurable. Dulcie rose from her seat distractedly, and in rising John Hardca&tle and Son's letter fell to the ground. As it lay there the delicate characters, so unlike those of a man of business, attracted her eye. ' Mamma !' she cried, seized by a sudden inspiration that seemed once more to render hope possible, ' that is your handwriting ! I know it quite well !' For one second Mrs Shepperton changed colour, and breathed uneasily ; the next she answered, in tones of studied cold-, ness : 1 Well, I am perfectly aware of that fact. No doubt, miss/ sarcastically, ' you think yourself very clever, but the letter you read is only a copy of the one I received.' Her answer effectually quieted Dulcie's incipient doubts. 'Do thegirls — know— of — this?' sheasked dejectedly, feeling utterly crushed and bruised in spirit. 4 No, not yet. I intend keeping the matter an entire secret, but now it becomes my duty to break the news to them at once. You may go,' she added harshly. 'Go to your stables, and' to your horse, and your lover. By-thoby, you had better see Mr Mornington at once, and make arrangements with him to go ouO to America next week, since I shall no longer be able to afford — even if I had the wish — to keep you at home.' So saying, Mrs Shepperton, fully conscious of the agony she was inflicting on the girl's sensitive natuie, turned her back, and pretended to stare intently out of the window.