The Storgteller.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 258, 12 March 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Storgteller.

THE CONSUL’S DAUGHTERCHAPTER VI. He has gone ; Mr Ferrers had departed. What an event! What a marvellous event ! A revolution had occured in the life of Henrietta Ponsonby : she was no longer her own mistress; was no longer her father’s child. She belonged to another ; and that other a stranger, an unknown and departed being ! How strange ! And yet how sweet! This beautiful young lady passed her days in pondering over her singular position. In vain she attempted to struggle with her destiny. In vain she depicted to herself the error, perhaps the madnew of her conduct. She was fascinated. She could not reason ; she could not communicate to her father all that had happened. A thousand times her lips moved to reveal her secret; a thousand times an irresistible power restrained them. . She remained silent, moody, and restless. She plucked flowers, and threw them to the wind. She gazed upon the sea, and watched the birds in abstraction wilder than their wing ; and yet she could not doubt her betrothed. That voice, so sweet, and solemn, and so sincere, still lingered in her ear: the gaze of that pure and lofty brow was engraven on her memory ; never could she forget those delicate adieus!

The change in his daughter was not unmarked by the Consul, who after some reflection, could not hesitate in considering it as the result of the departure of Mr Ferrers. The thought made him mournful. It pained bis noble nature that the guest, whom he had bo respected, might have trifled with the affections of the child whom he so loved. He spoke to the maiden ; but the maiden she was happy. And, indeed, her conduct gave evidence of restlessness rather than misery, for her heart seemed sometimes oxuberantly gay ; often did she smile, and ever did she sing. The Consul was conscious that there was a mystery he could not fathom. It is bitter for a father at all times to feel that his child is unhappy, but doubly bitter ia the pang when ho feels that the cause ia secret.

Three months, three heavy months passed away, aud the cloud still rested on this once happy home. Suddenly, Lord Bohun arrived ; the much-talked-of Lord Bohun in his more-talked-of yacht. The bustle which the arrival of this celebrated personage occasioned in the cousular establishment was a diversion from the gloom, or the reserve, which had so long prevailed there. Lord Bohun was a young, agreeable, and somewhat affected individual. He had a German chasseur and a Greek page. He was very luxurious, and rather troublesome ; but infinitely amusing, both to the Consul and his daughter. He dined with them every day, and recounted his extraordinary, adventures with remarkable self-complacency. In the course of the week he scampered over every part of the island, and gave a magnifieent entortainment on board the Kraken, to tho bishop and tho principal islanders, in honour of tho Consul's daughti r. Indeed it was soon very evident thit hie lordship entertained feelings of no ordinary admiration for his hostess. He paid her, on all occasions, the most marked atten tion; and the Consul, who did not for a moment believe that the3e attentions indicated other than the transient feelings that become a lord, and ho adventurous a lord, began to fear that his inexperienced Henrietta might again become the victim of the fugitive admiration of a traveller.

One evening, at the Casino, his lordship noticed a drawing of his own yacht, and started. The Consul explained to him that the drawing had been copied by his daughter from the sketch of an English traveller who preceded him. His name was enquired, and given. ' Ferrers !' exclaimed his lordship. ' What!' Has Ferrers been here V

1 You know Mr Ferrers, then V enquired Henrietta, with suppressed agitation. * Oh, yes, I know Ferrers.'

• A most agreeable and gentlemanlike man,' said the Consul, anxious, he knew not why, that the conversation would cease.

‘ Oh, yea, Ferrers is a very agreeable man. He piques himself on being very agreeable —Mr Ferrers.’ ‘ From what I have observed of Mr Ferrers,’ said Henrietta, in a firm, and rather decided tone, ‘I should not have given him credit for any sentiment approaching to conceit.’ ‘He is fortunate in having such a defender,’ said his lordship, bowing gallantly. « Our friends are scarcely worth possessing,’ said Miss Ponsonby, 1 unless we defend them when absent; but lam not aware that Mr Ferrers needs any defence.’ His lordship turned on his heels and hummed an opera air. ‘ Mr Ferrers paid us a long visit,’ said the Consul, who was\ now desirous that the conversation should proceed.

‘ He had evidently a great inducement,’ said Lord Bohun. ‘ I wonder he ever departed.’ 1 He is a great favourite in this house,’ said Miss Ponaonby. 4 I perceive it,’ said Lord Bohun, 4 What Ferrers is lie V enquired the Consul. 4 Oh, he has gentle blood in his veins,’ said Lord Bohun. 4 I never heard his breeding impeached. 4 And I should think nothing else,’ said Miss Ponsonhy. 4 Oh, I never heard anything particular against Ferrers,’ said his lordship, ‘except that ho was a roue, and a little mad. That is all.’ 4 Enough, I should think,’ said Major Ponsonby, with a clouded brow, 4 W hat a roue nny be, I can scarcely be supposed to judge,’ said Henrietta. 4 If, however, it be a man remarkable for the delicacy of his thoughts and conduct, Mr Ferrers has certainly some claim to the title. As for his madness, he was our constant companion for nearly three months; if he bo mad, it must be a very little indeed.’ 4 He was a great favourite of Henrietta,’ said her father, with a forced smile. 4 Fortunate man !’ said the lord. 4 Fortunate Ferrers.’ Lord Bohun stepped into the garden with the Consul; Miss Ponsonby was left alone. Firm as had been her previous demeanour, now that she was alone her agitated countenance denoted the tumult of her mind. A roue! Could it be so ? Could it be possible 7 Was she, while she had pledged the freshess of her virgin mind to this unknown was she after all only a fresh sacrifice to his insatiable vanity Ferrers a roue 1 That lofty-minded man, who spoke so eloquently and so wisely, was he a roue, an eccentric roue ; one whose unprincipled conduct could only be excused at the expense of the soundness of his intellect 1 She could not credit it ; she would not credit it. And yet his conduct had been so strange, so mysterious, so unnecessarily mysterious, and then she recollected his last dark-muttered words: • You may hear of me, and not to ray advantage.’ Oh, what a prophecy ! And from him, she had never heard. He had. at least, kept this sad promise. Very sorrowful was the Consul’s daughter. And then she bethought herself of his pledge, and his honour, that had been never sullied. She buried her face in her hands—she conjured up her recollection of all that bad happened since his arrival, perhaps his fatal arrival, in their island ; all he had said and done, and seemed to think, She would not doubt him. It was madness for a moment to doubt him. No desolation seemed so complete, no misery so full of anguish, as such suspicion. She could not doubt him; all her happiness was hope. A gentle touch roused her. It was her gazelle ; the gazelle he had so loved. She caressed it; she caressed it for his sake. She arose and joined her father and Lord Bohun in the garden, if not light hearted, at least serene. CHAPTER VIE. There must have been something peculiarly captivating In the air of our island, for Lord Bohun, who, according to his own account, had never remained in any place a week in the whole course of his life, exhibited no inclination to quit the city where Major Ponsonby presided over the interests of our commerce. He had remained there nearly a month, made himself very agreeable and. on the whole, was a welcome guest, certainly with the Consul, if not with the Consul’s daughter. As for the name of Mr Ferrers, it occasionally occured in conversation. Henrietta piqued herself upon the unsuspected enquiries which she carried on respecting her absent friend. She, however, did not succeed in eliding much information. Lord Bohun was so vague that it was impossible to affix a precise idea to anything he ever uttered. Whether Ferrers were rich or poor, really of good family or, as she sometimes thought, of disgraceful lineage; when and where Lord Bohun and himself had been fellow-travellers—all was alike obscure and shadowy. Not that her noble guest was inattentive to her enquiries; on the contrary, he almost annoyad her by his constant devotion; she was almost, indeed, inclined to resent his singularly marked expressions of admiration as an insult; when, to her utter astonishment, one morning her father, astounded her by the announcement that Lord Bohun had done her the honour of offering her his hand and heart. The beautiful Henrietta was in great perplexity. It was due to Lord Bohun to reject his flattering proposal without reservation : it was difficult, almost impossible, to convince her father of the expediency of such a proceeding. There was in the proposal of Lord Bohun every circumstance which could gratify Major Ponsonby. In the wildest dreams of his parental ambition his hopes had never soared higher than the possession of such a son-in-law : high birth, high rank, splendid fortune, and accomplished youth, were combined in the individual whom some favouring destinity, it would seem, had wafted to this distant and obscure isle to offer his vows to its accomplished mistress. That his daughter might

hesitate, on so brief an acquaintance to unite her eternal lot in life with a comparative stranger, was what he had, in somo degree, anticipated ; but that she should unhesitatingly and unreservedly decline the proposal, was conduct for which he had totally unprepared. He was disappointed and mortified —for the first time in his life he was angry with his child. It was strange that Lord Bohun, who had required a deputy to make a proposition, which of all others most requires, and most becomes a principal, should, when his fate was decided, have requested a personal interview with Miss Ponsonby. It was a favour which she could not refuse, for her father required her to grant it. She accordingly prepared h >rself for a repetition of the proposal, from lips doubtless unaccustomed to sue in vain. It was otherwise, never had Lord Bohun conducted himself in a more kind and unaffected manner than during this interview ; it pained Miss Ponsonby to think she had pained one who was in reality so amiable. She was glad, however, to perceive that he did not appear very much moved or annoyed. Lord Bohun expressed his gratitnde for the agreeable hours he had spent in her society, and then most delicately ventured to enquire whether time might, perhaps, influence Miss Poosonby's determination? And when he had received her most courteous though hopeless answer, he only expressed his wishes for her future happiness, which he could not doubt.

'I feel,'said Lord Bohun, 33 he was about to depart, 'I feel, he said, in a very hesitating voice, ' I am taking a great, an unwarrantable liberty, but believe me, dear Miss Ponsonby, the enquiry, if 1 could venture to make it, is inspired by the sincerest desire for your welfare.' ' Speak with freedom, Lord Bohun; you will ever, lam sure, speak with kindness.' ' I would not willingly despair then, unless I believe that your heart was engaged to another.' Miss Ponsonby bent down, and plucked a flower, for her brow A\as covered with blushes, and with an agitated hand, tore the flower to pieces. 'ls this a fair enquiry V she murmured.

' It is for your sake I enquire,' answered Lord Bohun. 'Now as irresistaWe conviction came over her mind that Lord Bohun was thinking of Ferrers, and a desire on her part as strong to learn at length something of her mysterious lover, ' What, indeed, if I be not mistress of my heart?' She spoke without raising her head. 'ln that case, I will believe that it belongs to one worthy of such a treasure.'

' You speak of Edmond Ferrers V said Miss Ponsonby.

' The same.' ' You know him V she enquired, in a choking voice. ' I know and honour him. I have long believed that the world did not boast a man more gifted ; now I know it does not possess a man more blessed.'

* Shall you see him ?’ she enquired, in a quick tone. ‘ Probably you will see him first, I am sufficiently acquainted with his movements to know that he will soon be here, The Greek boy, whom you have sometimes noticed, is his page ; I wish him to join his master again, and methinks that the readiest way will be to leave him on this isle. Here Spiridion, bow to your new mistress, and be dutiful for her sake, as well as that of your lord’s. Adieu dearest Miss Ponsonby.’ (To be conli'iued.)