"Start Shabby Little Party."

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4431, 17 March 1883, Page 1

"Start Shabby Little Party."

By Aumt Pbactical.

CHAPTER 11. 3IABIL. Man's life's a book of history, The leaves thereof are days; , The letters, mercies olosely joined, The title is God's praise. " John Mason. Wanted, a governess, to take charge of three young chidlren, and impart to them the rudiments of a sound English education, for terms, <fee, apply to Mrs Marlow, No, — Grafton Eoad. This was the announcement that met the eye of a weary looking woman, whose appearance could no longer be termed youthful, although it might be difficult to define her probable age. H«r beautiful 'hair was slightly streaked with grey, but that might be the consequence of tome illness or sorrow, for her countenance still retained the sweet, tender loveliness of youth, and her eyes were of that - deep, expressive hue, that has been termed by those who study this, beautiful feature of the human face, violet. Her step was firm and elastic, her figure slender and delicately formed—while an innate, indescribable, something, in her manner, pro* claimed that the fragile form was the tenement of a noble mind, aud a tender, loving heart. Her dress was .poor, though scrupulously neat, from her well mended gloves, to the'carefully polished shoes that peeped from under the plain black lustre dress, and (he neatly folded ulster she carried on her arm. For the day was showery, and a boisterous mad drove the heavy rain drops relentlessly, with pitiless force upon the luckless, forms of such unwary travellers as were not provided ' with fitting cogtumo to shelter them from its violence. She was sitting in a little room, that she had engaged as a tempo- . rary lodging, until she should be able to procure a situation, waiting for the cessation of the present shower, and as she glanced at the paper the friendly landlady had laid on the table, her eyes met the above announcement, and she decided to direct her steps to Mrs Marlow's, and " try for the situation." Mabel Clifford had travelled far, had endured many privations and vicissitudes in her search for the young brother,whom the papers had announced as lost, but whom some unaccountable conviction in .her faithful heart, led her to believe was still somewhere in this weary, troublesome,' ocean 'of life, and for whom she had searched so long and untiringly. ) \ After Hubert'B departure ou board the 'Sm Nymph,' Mabel, had obtained a situation iv the family of a gentleman

'Who had known hr fromcbiliihoodr And by tbe utmost, frugality, she had tared _ enough duLof.'.her .yearly.wages to proTide her with an outfit, and partly paid her passage to Australia, where she had hoped to find her brother. Unfortunately, how- ' ever, Hubert never reached his intended -destination, and, Mabel Vud T wandered from place to place, in various capacities, in the fruitless hope of meeting him. ■'■■ Years rolled on. Mabel's hopes began to fail, and she, Temained quietly in* a situation' in Melbourne, where her intelJ^lectuaV abilities and noble qualities had ""fonnd^beir many real friends" Here she received an offer of marriage from the — only son of the family, a prosperous -young lawyer, but respectfully-declined ' '4he honor, and ultimately left Melbourne to become, the companion of an invalid " lldy who desired to visit the famous Hot Lakes of New Zealand in the hope of, re* li ceiving permarient benefit; Arrived in J' A'aclklana," Mabefr was > seized with a strange reluctance to pursue her journey, and to the sincere regret of Madame Litigney 'had ""declined to accompany! her to Hie Lakes/ Always frugal, always thoughtful of. possible needs and contingencies* <Mabel had carefully reserved the v ri,-,greater, portion of her income, and ex I; pended as little, aa possible in present "re- ., ■• quirements, thinking fondly to herself, that perhaps she might yet find Herbert, and he might be in need." .. On the morning in question, she bent * her steps towards the comfortable dwelling of Mnt'Marlow, and having ascertained ,' that that,lady '.was at home,'; requested the. privilege of an interview. We will pas? over the preliminary proceedings of a governess in search of a situation, and a lady in need of a truly capable person to teach the young ideas to shoot, and guide the little aspirants to knowledge with a firm yet gentle hand along the pleasant path of true wisdom. Suffice it, that Mrs Marlow; being fully satisfied .with Madame ' Livigney'n written recommendation, Ac, decided to engage Miss Clifford at a modest salary, and forthwith realised a feelinu of ■ content, and ease of anxiety, in the con- "! -sid^ration, that '"those dear children were well provided for." > A very gentael younp person ; well,' not exactly young either, but a person of refined manner and genuine,,good breeding, my dear," said that lady,whent speaking of her new acquisition to her husband that evening. ;;, .While the elder daughter of the family, *■* "' whispered in confidence to her friend, Miss Wliittard, who was spending ths evening with her, " Yes, most decidedly a person of superior education, dear, but v very shabby.'little-party; really." It was evening, her little pupils had re tired to rest, and Mabel sat in the cosj Jittle chamber that had been allotted tc > her; with a. quiet' sense of enjoyment oi '; " the peaceful seclusion the evening brought, after tbe busy hours of the day, „ ■ She sat by. the openwindpw,until the last raya of crimson sunset had faded, and the shadows of the short New.Zealand twilight were falling gently o'er the scene: theni with a sigh, Mabel closed the sash and presently having lit the gas, sat down before a small table, and commenced look- >■' ;; ingoversomeoldlettersand papers'she toot from her desk. Among them was a packet : -m of letters yellow with age/ carefuHj ". treasured, evidently, as mementos. o> a happy past, and as Mabel looked at them, slowly opening thpm with .trembling hands, her eyes filled with tears, till presently she bowed, her head upon hei bands'and became lost 1 in a sorrowful reverie. In. a little ; wbile she carefally replaced them, and began turning over i the pages of a well-filled diary until her eyes rested .upon a certain page, on which was written, in an evidently trembling .. t » Yes, Philjip, it;.- is better so, ' beneefor'th.our paths of life lie far apart; may yburs be as happy as it is useful, and may it be given me to realise that the path of duty is the surest way to happiness." .AVAndTeyen asvh'er tears fell upon this record of a life's sacrifice, a sweet calm retted upon her. chastened spirit, and .stie.'knew; that '*vit is well." .It had "; J j.beeb flp, .frivolous matter to. Mabel this layingJatideof womanhood's fondest hopes and purest-joys, for she had loved, Philip ; :' 'Bon^ds .jwith' all her bieairt, and bad "!I "known how worthy he was'of that love; yet strong, in her conviction of duty, she had allowed the bright sunlight to fade from her_ life,_and had been content wjith the shady nook circumstances appointed her to fill. Yet to night as she turns the leav*i of that "old diary, and reads varipus HUtepaßsages in that brief'record of a wVmari's'Hfe, her heart yearns strangely after the old love and happiness of those golden hours, vnd. she wonders'how the years have passed with Philip? and whether he has been happy and prosper* ous ? Presently thoughts revert to that other loved on, the bright, handsome, young brother! of whom she had been so fondly proud, ;but to whom the norrow bounds of homely country life had been so distasteful. - - t ..- r r- ■ \-i -, "Dear Hubert;"'she murmurs softly, "he was always going lo do such great things; I- wonder if wo shall ever meet ; cagain."* ■■:,jy -r • * -* -Weary at 'list of her reminiscences of . . the,past, yet still trusting hopefully in the '^fntuVe.'Mabel, withVftirvehfc prayer, for grace and guidance, retired to rest to dream of Philjpi 'withlbis] handsome face and manly bearing, and the light-hearted sailor . [boy who had waved her,[farewell from the ' deck of the ill-fated V r^ea Nymph," and thenceforth passed entirely out of her derjoted life. ... X._ . • .? t ?O X '■ >PTE^HI.? "' •' \ ' ';'s'^KB^AMS AND'SHABOWS. 1 i "'^wine'the young'glowing wreatli! !-! But poiUT not,all,your, spiritjn the song, I WMch through; xho sl^'s ae sep azure floats VM ■ along. ! r"Like summer's quickening breath! j , -_ The.ground is hollow in .tbe path-of. mirth * Oh! far too daring seems the joy of earth,' So darkly pressed.and girdled in Tfcjy death'! " —Mrs ITemans. ! '• ' vltwi's"a gala flay' wiiiti; the Whittard family; there-was the sound of mirtLfand laughter,, the. gladness of social, con verse, and tile gay strains of music and song; „for to-day ; Mr Whittard, had, attained a .great" succeVß, 'and his friends rallied. round him to congratulate him upon the launoh of a,noble,vessel that be had built and fitted up with- the- skill of a master baqd^ 'A And not,only; this, but a greater, nobler joy pervaded the hearts of the ~-guests -as—they assembled -at- the- well spread board, and the.toasts went round «HlnHPk"'dint; clink, clink, r >tb 'the health V{k»i»il'happiness of ,the new made bride, tor - i '^to day Wilfred Whittard; the'Jcldie^t 1 spn "^ of'tb¥'family,; had brought home ;biV;fair 'HSoung .wife to s^afe tMe honors. of, ? the, iSf occasion and to.peffern); the. eemopy of naming"the peerlem vessel, as she glided like «, thing oflife-out.uponth«»glißte«ing * waters, » The Claribel." n „, :' v ;k? ttll waspleasiire, and

none-suspected* that under the bright surface of jubilant mirth lay a snarp, and a pitfall, into which unwary feet might only too easily stumble. Only Ralph refused to touch the sparkling wine»cup, refusing., to sacrifice Ins peace .of con-, science to an apparent necessary subser rience to the usages of scciety. More than once had young Hubert Clifford quaffed the ruddy draught, and drank the health of the bride and bridegroom, and success to the ' Claribel.' And Ralph noticed that his manner was becoming excitable, and that Lucy Watched him with anxious glance. More than once had Ralph gently sought to lure his young friend from the table, where he lingered with increasing danger, but he only met with ridicule or foolish ; banter from the infatuated youth". ; Bye and bye 'twas suggested that those ; of the party who wished should go for a 'sail, and Wilfred, with his father and young brother Frank, led the way to the little cove, where the newly painted boats 1- lay moored, amid the gay display of ! bunting that streamed from workshops, isheds, and dockyard. . Hubert and Balpli accompanied the gay pariyV arid'soon the splash of oars 1 mingled with the rippling wares, as the pretty crafts danced out upon the "water with their merry crew. 1 * *. ' #". #." # * . " I think we had better turn for home now,"-cried Mr Wbittard ; " the wind is changing, and those clouds ahead there look-threatening." " All right, sir," replied the Bteersman of the leading boat, and the 'Lucy 'presently turned steadily towards the shore, her white sail flapping in the breeza, which now blew up fresh and keen. " Steady, Hubert! " cried Ralph, as the young man stood up to haul in the sail. " Steady—look !" But it was too late; before Ralph could grasp the rope from Hubert's trembling, unsteady hands, the ' Lucy ' had capsized, and her hapless freight were struggling in the water. No one knew how it happened, it came so suddenly; but despite all the efforts of Ralph and the frantic young husband to save her, the fair bride, who but a few short hours before had stood in all her bridal beauty before the Altar of Love and Fealty, now became the helpless victim of those spot-tire, cruel waters, and thus the light of lore was quenched, and the joy of life departed from another widowed heart. < And' Hubert? t Ah]-his was the bitter pang of self reproach, and too-late repentance, for well he knew that his/unsteady, unskilful movements had caused the fatal catastrophe which, perhaps, a cool head and steady hand at that critical moment might hare averted.; Sorrowfullyenough they bore the lifeless form of pretty Claribel home to its last resting place, and while they grieved with bitter sorrow over this sad ending to the day's festivities, they recked not of its fatal cause, but sought again the baneful winecup as a comforter, a;reyirer, a restorative of shattered nerves and feelings, a potent remedy for wounded hearty.; ' s Silence and gloom rested o'er the erstwhile festive scene, and in an agony of grief the, young husband stood beside the qtiiet form of her whom be bad hoped to love and cherish for; many happy : year,s r Hubert, oVercome with remorse, sought the most secluded spot, and there, beneath the shade of the tall blue gums, Ralph found him, battling with despairing ,sor_row. _ Tenderly as a woman, Ralph sought to 800' he him, but in-vain, until fearing the consequence of exposure to the keen wind that now blew in fierce gusts, and the driving rain that hourly increased in violence, he entreated, commanded that he' -should seek the shelter of the house. V JNo, no,"'cried Hubert, in a passion of tears,'" I cannot bear it Ralph; take me away, take me anywhere but there; I > shall go mad if I see the consequences of my fatal folly." So Ralph led him away - to a neighboring cottage, and there he lay the next morning in the wild delirium of brain fever, calling all present to witness "that his' hand had sent fair young Claribel to the pitiless waters, that it was the wine cup, the fire fiend of alcohol, that had driven the-pure life from its beautiful tenement." - # ■# # * * * The funeral was over, and Wilfred had departed with his sorrow to Melbourne, to his pfor young wife's relatives. The blinds were drawn up once more, and the sunlight played and .flickered as of old in and out of the windows of Sea View Cottage. Deftly and silently Lucy flitted about the house with a nameless shadow athwart her fair young face, and a silent, fear at her heart, for the life of young Hubert Clifford was hanging in the balance,-and it seemed to Lucy's loving heart so sad, so sad that he should die, and leave-his life work so incomplete. What -record could be written of him? What trophy had he won for Eternity ? What had he accomplished in his life whereby he could be remembered ? And' as she mused thus, silently, a. prayer rose from the inmost recesses of her heart that he might be spared, that his life miight become a thing of beauty, a glaJsome song, a strength to do, to bear, and to accomplish good and noble work. And as she lingered thus among the fleeting shadows and sunbeams that played round, her sunny hair, and rested lovingly upon her gentle countenance, it seemed to her. .vivid, fancy that .a sweet voice whispered tenderly, " Even so, thy prayer is.heard ; he,shall,be given to. Thee, and shall live to thank thee for those tears." Just then a shadow fell upon the sunny; grass plat,;and Lucy saw a slight, darkrobed figure approach the house: the figtfre of a woman^whether young or old ' she could not tell; but she-caught a glimpse of a face, so calm, yet sad, in its .fender beauty, tbarber heart gare at once if to that sorrowing soul, and ahe hastened to open the door. , ' She had' been anticipated by Mildred, however, who, from an upper window, had noted, the visitor, and wondered why "that shabby little party" she had seen in cburoh, sitting so unobtrusively in the Marlow's pew, should come to Sea View Cottßge. " - "With trembling accents Mabel told her story, ; how, she had,seen the account of the accident in the paper, and had noticed the name " Hubert Clifford ;" how she had made enquiries, and.had. thought that most probably, this was indeed her long lost brother. ''['_' Then Lucy drew her inside, and soon learned the story of her life and its gentle -devotion/'-and mingling her tears with Mabel's, had comforted her as best she could, promising, that Hubert should be given to her" loving care. Then Lucy wrote a pathetic little note to Mrs Marlow, intimating to that' lady " that her friend was quite unable to resume duties at pro-, sent; as the had so strangely (jisoorered

her long lost brother, and would stay with him during his illness." ! " Well, well, who would have thought it," exclaimed Mildred Whittard, so that i was why she always dressed so plain, I'm I real sorry I ever called her ' the shabby little party.' " ###### The shadows deepen as Mabel takes her seat beside the bed where Hubert lies in silent unconsciousness of her grief. Yes, 'tis thus she has found him. and her tears fall fast as she recognised the beloved features of her darling brother, even as he lies, white and still, and the shadow passes over his fair broad brow, while (he watchers wait in anxious prayerful silence. The grave physician bends to catch the sound of that low breathing, and holds that feeble pulse, where the bright young life still flickers, loth to leave ;the stalwart, handsome frame, and Mabel lifts her tear dimmed eyes to his face in silent, eager enquiry. : n\ <> *\ ;' j "If lie can only tide over the next three hours," says v the doctors slowly, ''the crisis will "be past, and he may recover. I leave him to your care, Miss Clifford ; he has indeed a faithful nurse." Slowly the hours pass, and Mabel sits there in silent watchfulness, in alternate hope and fear, until midnight, then the feeble breath straggles, the white eyelids slowly open, and with a long eager gaze of loving recognition, Hubert manners, " Mabel!" One tender word, then with bis hand fast clasped in hers,: he softly falls,asleep. ; When morning came, it found the .crisis past, the young life spared, and a faithful sister giving thanks to Him who V knoweth what is best."