CHAPTER VII.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 411, 16 October 1889, Page 3

CHAPTER VII.

THE SECOND WARNING. Before the expiration of a week, ifc was known to all Casbleford— bo all the county families of the neighbourhood— that Miss Katheririe Dangerfield; of Searswbod Park, was engaged to Mr ,Gaston Dantree, of— nobody knew where. ' Had* any other baronet's daughter so, far >'stoojptfd,tto disgrace , their,, Qod'6 4n6i their .ordeW^he Gpunty,' familjes would have 6too;d paValysed at.the, de'secrattdn. • sß&mg r Misii , %;ige>£eld, nobooly ' "even " weridered. It (v^e only 1 of a piece with/ all: the rest. What could' you expect of a young person — t)ie term of lady woiiltfr have- been amisnotiier—of'& young -person with some of the best blood in Sussex in her veins, who,persisted in scampering over the downs and the coa&t, for miles, withput a groom 1— who treated her venerable father as though, he, weie a, child of twelve, who woi'e her hair ; . streaming down "her back ab the mature age ot seventeen,- who called every 'Goofiy and Gaffer in the parish by their Christian name, who wasi>quite capable of speaking^to anybody .with6ut an introducEibn, who knewevory game ,that could be played oh the cards, and who talked slang ? What could yo,u expect, of a deniOra ised young womanlike this? The Dangerneld lineage ,waß, unexceptionable — there must be a cross Somewhere, a bar sinister on the, mother's side ; it was a wild impossibility Che.Old blood could degenerate in this way. _' Who was Mr (raston Dantree? The cqmjty families asked this question .with intense curiosity nbw>and found the answer all too meagre." Mr ..Dantree himself responded to it wjth that perfect, high-bred ?elf-ppss K ession which characterised him ; and everybody hall to take'his own account, or go Jook foY proof. : 'I '"an;) an American — a Southerner, as you knqw Sj \'Mi Dahtree had said ; '"my niltiye Stated ife I am that famous historical personage, \* the son of poor but honest, patents,"" now and fpr many yenrs.dead..., :r Ry profes&ion I ania journalist rljuur connected with "the *' New Odeaufc P-f-— -'' (t An u-nexpectedwindfull, in- the; way ofc a jSWia-fl 'lpgary, enabled tine, si* m,qnths ago,jt"o resili&e a long-cherL-hed dream, of name" and visit England. ■ My leave of ab'pe'hc'd expires in * two .months, wjien I musf.eifcher -return to K'enr Orleans or—; ; * ":• ■•-..... . Here' Mr Dantvee was wont to break off if Miss Dangerfivid .Averb present, with a profound sigh .andvaiglapce,that spoke lexicon*. ■ i J *j „ , 1 -Squire , T^Vbot, f /of ■'-Morecambe, with whom. :Mv .JDau tree .had come down to j London^ -and with", whom, he was still-stay-ing^ when br'duoht upon" the stand in turn 'and' cross-exotnined could throw- .very little. thoVG 1 light on .'his igiiest's onteoedenta. '* Deiroed st>rxfr,.x\oyv t Sir John,' l ever did-\ bring Aha feHow f dpjvn,,' M yQung-Mr 'Talbot i s^id tife. £^t. tyne^ he. mef'fcfie bnVottet; pulling -his ta,^ny mouslache with gTo'ftnly. ;feiocity,; > ' # b,ujt4ipw..the';deuce could- I'tell Mtss4)apgerfi^lct w»ould go and- no, I mean : Pautree,'be h&nffefrto'him-l-Mvoiild-go and .inajje^lQve td^Jl&s;-Dajfgevh'eld ?-I;put,it to • ( y9u;rdelf^n-6flr- v eoald '1^ '.'Sin. John?.,"' I'm deuced s - ji sorrv^-frn'd-« all.- that,, bnj) I .don't 'knoAv^-a b^ds^d'-bhing about him.except '.-filiat'^he's-aLVJoHj goo^ felldw.'',' as" the sdng" , {l sayl*,".fcsil«<>lta C^iytd^stpr^-sings KJie,'an •■Antteßioatv^ims/jJ^e.eves', and can p,unjis"h. 'ra&e;j&h,aiftpa£% j^of «a •'•night 'and- rise <AtW?eiVsi« mprsA.^for. 'Lt"'ne"xfe-)d'p.V. > thaV ■ J*i'y« f>s)W. [$%$< ■ -fequiVe- ; *J3dlßBfr ' M-i met Mm .firsp "al ia'''dinn'eT s at"'6ffe%-Guard« v M Cte J%n"ftVa?|Ki I H3^r b.r^Jofastva.^Eor.dr Le^hk'fi[;§4lhm"e<J---<feol-b(Sr.lr •frh^e-"pla < ces, " yWli^feflftftadl^ftfelrfff; '.vHe .lots of j( n'e^sp^fpfe*'^n*a*««as!)(fcB flitasies ,h7icagieli for.* s'p^^nlg'.'joMiwxftlsij-iand .when'X/afetoed" him—^bnfound *^J'— to -ran d'o^n^^h t»Q ,tb "my pta'cft.jjr Sus'sexy lie cqf.Fented. at ; entice, "I'^jn 'qeuc.6|i -s6rr^ Sir- Johfl.V reiterated;' Smii : re c 'T f arfebfc, goln%ri:o,Ver m& srthe" ooMml c hfc&iWH<*k<rid >li hopev/whai;-' '.evdf iiappe»j9 W you ,k«Qw, not b l lame .•me.'- r t :t: t / v V „.!■'] ~. \' '\\' t .: , M^ blam i e...no£ody,y 'th,e' ! ofld ' Baronet,! answered, We^blV ; .' tKesfi, th'iffgs are to'be ; jl suppose. §hall wj-itQi'Ho 'iSPe\WOrleans and mak^fni^uiries- cbnclrning/ther youngman ;• I catj J do nb ! more. ' Rache;-iae ,i« in- 1 fat'uacecl'T pr^y 1 Heaven 'her eyes«niay not be opened in 'nij^ 'day !' •■. Mrs -Vavasor was. perhaps the only one \vho -heard '"friiih. unalloyed satisfaction 4 of Ka<jherin&'s r «u'dden engagement. "'What did.., 1 tell- you,. Sir "John? 1 she •said,, triumphantly. '\Vhat do you think .of my powers ,Qf divination- now ? 'It's .rather a mesalliance, isn't it-? — for ''her father's daughter, rather a mad affair altogether. But, dear child — fche is 'so impulsive, and so reliant, and so hopelessly "obsti — no, that's not a>' pleasant word—so .resolute and-_firm, let us say, that remori-' strance is quite thrown away upon h f er. -Let us pity her, Sir John, rather than* blame ; she comes by all those admirable traits of character , honestly enough — inherited from her mother. And' when is the weddipg to take place?" Sh&'efchrew' her head back against the punple ve&et cushions of her chair, and laoked^at.the, moody baronet with mali-iciouely-spark'ling"black eyes. 'I don't ask- merely from idle curiosity,' fl3rs. -VaTffaor-- went on, as tne badgered, rbarpnet's -apswer was, a sort of groan'; 'I (Inqiiir/e v becaus^ the knowledge influences m^ own movements.' One week b'efoie the day fixed "for the "wedding, I receive from you, my kind benefactor, that cheque for ten r thousand pounds— a very respectable haul, by the way «— and I shake the dust of Scarswood off my feet for ever. Mv reception by both host-' a'n'd' hostess r vvas, I,muet say, of ; thef'leasb cordial, and, I am, made to feel every hour that I^m a most unwelcome interloper. Still, I bear no malice, and not having any of your sang azure in my veins, my sensitive feelings are nob wounded. Pefhaps-a dozen years spent at Baden and Homburg does blunt the finer edge of one's, ,nerves. I trust the wedding day will, not come round too speedily~l really IJke my quarters here. My room commands a sunny southern prospect, j-oui- wines are unexceptional, and your for an English cook, a treaBnre> Don'b fix the happy .day t,oo.near, Sjr John. ' Dearest Katherine is so impetus bhat she would be married next week. 1 dare say, if she could.' ''1 wish to Heaven ib were next week, so that I might be rid.of you !' Sir John broke „oub. ' You bring' misfortune with you wherever you" go ! -Mrs Harman, you shall leave this hduee ! You sit here with that -mocking, smile on your face, t exulting in your 'power 'until ib drives me half mad 'to lopk at you. Take the enprmousbribe you demand— -I have no right to give ib you, '1 know — and go at'once. What object can you. gain by remaining here?' (.'•.'Npw,^ that ',lB, 'an unkind "question. What do I srahi ? 'The • pleasure of your society arid that" of Miss DangerSeld, to be 'sure ;• the pleaflufe of being hand -and glove with the gentry of this neighbourhood, ■ who, like yourself,- rather give me the cold shoulder, by the "way. I wonder how ifc is ? —none of them eyer saw me at Homburg bhat I know of. I suppose the brand of adventuress is stamped on my face. No,' Sir John ; not' one hour, not one second sooner than I say, shall I quit Scarswood Park. If the wedding is fixed for next week, then I leave this ; if for this' day ten years, thpn I remain that long. I daresay I should find-lifi-slow,' and the oharacter of

a respectable British matron of the upper classes a dismal life ; but still I would do ifc.' He stopped in his walk and looked at her. The bold eye met his unflinchingly. 1 Well, Sir John ?' ' Harriet Harman, you have some sinister design in all this/ " What have you to do with Katherine's wedding day? What) has the child done to you that you should hate 'her? What have I ever done that you <shou|d r torment me thus ? Is it that at the ■last hour' you mean to' break your promise ,a,nd tell T Gteat -Heaven ! Harriet, , is, that .what you mean 2' \ , * Her steady cplpur faded for a moment ; ,her owrp,- with all her b'oldriess", shifted away/ .from the gaze of the 1 old man's horrorstruck' eyeB. ' , ' ( Whal'l mean is my own affair,' she said, sullenlyt; ' and I do hate Katherine for her mother's fake, and her cwn. You needn't ask me any questions about it. I mean to tell you allone day — but not this' I, want money j Sir John, and that promised cheque, of course, my poor little purse replenished. See how.empty it is ! — and' all my worldly wealth is here.* ' She laughed as she held it up, all her old audfacious manner back. Two or three shillings jingled in the meshes as she held it out. ' I want to replenish my wardrobe ; I want to pay sbme bills ; I want — oh ! millions of things ! Fill me out a cheque like the pi incelyold soldier you are, and I shall get through the day shopping at Castleford ; I will amuse myself spending money while Katherine amuses herself listening to Mr Dantree's 1 fluent love-making. He's rather a clever little fellow, that son-in-law-elect of yours, my dear baronet, and I don't think he has given us his whole autobiography quite as it is known in N3w Orleans" . 1 don't say there was anything particularly clever in his wooing the heiress of Scars wood, because any well-looking young man, with a ready tongue and an elegant address, could have done that, and my own, impression is that Miss Dangerfield, like Desdemona, met him more than half-way. I'm ready to wager the nuptials will be consummated within ,the next three months. Now, that cheque," dear Sir John— and do be liberal !' She rose up, and Sir John, with the look of. a hunted animal at bay, filled out a cheque for a hundred pounds and handed it to her. ' A sop to Cerberus,' the widow said, _£ ay J v J 'd° you , know Sir John, I haven't had so much money at once for the pastnve years ! How fortunate for me that 1 met Colonel Danger6eld and lady that eventful 'day fifteen years ago in the hospital of St. Lazare ' And what a comfortable thing to a poor little widow a great man's secret is ! 'Thank you, Sir John ; my.-toilettea will do Scarswood'credit during, the remainder of .my stay.' , - v " And Mrs- Vavasor ( kept her word. The faded silks and shabby laces, the FalaisKoyaL diamonds and soiled gloves were con : aignied to the lowest depths of , oblivion and .the widow's trunks. And bilk's oLrainl?ow hues, stiff enough^ in their rustling richness to stand alone ; cobweb laces- of anarv.ejlous price, with the glimmer of real jewels, made the little woman gorgeous. If she painted, ■she vvas past mistress of c the art ; and none Jbut a .very .expert. -female eye could have 'detected . the liquid" rouge that made her bloom so .brightly,, 1 or that the sparkling radiance of "her bright -black eyes ijwa&^trtie .ghaBtly ü brilliance of., belladonna. Sia John's One hundred pounds w.ent a very little way. in'his visitor's magnificent fcoilet^ ihrit'Jirst % sop .'to.. Cerberus ' had to be very speedily -and ..very-^ten renewed. . In her own way, she spenjb^her, time' ye ~pl&a«ajnt)ly~ tossing over purchases- 1 in t^he •CaistJe'ford sjiopsV 'miking- flying strips to" • JLofleloji ?incs( ,baCk, dfivinf*'ab(tiat;jn>«vl'itwe' basket-carriage and biding her time. ''"•' ' A' lf.tftirfg#are possible! to^the man: who; "khWs'b'bw to" wait, .my, d.ear .Mj* Dagger,- , 'field, '-She said ohe^day , taVjjfye'" baronet's moody^nephdw^ VI suppose 'tne^Sliird i v u\e ■applies -.to. swoman. Don't* be 'ioipatieriCy .your tjme and mine'' is "very- hear nowV 1 1< , ; haye waited for nearly eight'een'fyears, and ; 'here you, are* grumbling,' ingrate.at being obliged to stand in the backgroundfor "that rria'ny weeks !• .How is it that we never 1 s^d you'at'Scarsw.ood now ?' -j She picked up the Castleford on<, one of her drives. Since the night of* the birthday party, Mr Peter Dangerfield Had not shown his sallow face, colourless eyes and moustache inside the great • house. ' 'I'don't'think you need ask that question — you, of all people,' the young man ; answered, sulkily. ' What' the deuce | should/ do at Scarswood, looking at those two billing and cooing? They §ay vmarriages 'are made in Heaven — I wonder ifthis 1 union of a tool and a knave was ever made tn the celestial regiqns ? In the infernal, I should say myself.'"' ' My. dear Mr Dangerfield, aren't you a little severe ? A fool and a knave ! Would Katherine have been a fool, I wonder, if she had accepted ycu the other night ? '•' Oh, mv cousin, shallow-hearted, 0, my Kattaie, mine no" more IV Don't "be unreasonable, Mr Dangerfield*. You are as poor as Mr Dantree,,and — it you will' pardon my telling plain truth — not half a quarter so good-looking. And then, -she isnot married to him yet.' ' No, but she soon will be. It is rumoured in the town that the wedding is fixed for, early January. It's of no use your talking and chaffing a fellow, Mrs Vavasor ; the wedding day will take place as sure as we sit here, and the uext thing, there will be an heir to , Scarswood. In the poetic ; language of the Orientals, your talk of the other night is all " bosh." It is utterly impossible that Scarswood should ever fall to me.' , Mrs Vavasor laughed in her agreeable way. ' Impossible is a very big word, friend Peter — too big for my vocabulary, see here ! Will you give me your written promise that on the day Scarswood and its long rent-roll becomes yours you will pay me down ten thousand pounds ? It's a tolerable price, but not too much, considering the service I will do you.' He looked at her darkly, and in doubt. ' Mrs Vavasor,' he said, slowly, ' if that be your name and I don't believe it is — I'm not going to commit myself to you or anybody, in the dark. I am a lawyer, and won't break'the law. You're a very-clever little woman— so clever that'foi'ithe. rest of my life I mean to have nothing whatever to do with you. If you had a. spite' at a*ny--' body, I don?t suppose you would stick at trifles to gratify it. But I'm ,not going to become accessory to you before the fact to any little plot of yours. ■ If Scarswood ever comes to me, and I repeat, it. is impossible ! that 1 it ever should, it shall be by fair means. — not foul.' ( To be Continued. ) < ♦

I/vvish it were never one's duty to quarrel with' anybody. I do so hate it, JSub not to' do it sometimes is t.o smile in the 'devil's' face, and that no one ought to do. — 'George MacDbnald " ■ Said Paddleford to his wite on the way. •back from the.museum : "lam firmly convinced that women have an innate, natural, constitutional love of the horrible. " ' * Good tliingr for you!" she retorted, '"or 'you might have been a bachelor to your dying I day."