Tales and Sketches.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1008, 25 February 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

Tales and Sketches.

May Linden's Story, By Lina.. . Tliou whoso looks outshine the sun, Golden tresses. wreathed in one, 1 ■I 'As tho braidoastreamlets run! 0 thou child of many prayers! „. Lifoliath quicksands, life liatli an arcs! . , ■ , Longfellow, jKflwj -LOVELY, golden-haired child sat in- the deep bay window of BARt; " 10 Vge drawing-room of Clyde IhsSSI . Cottage. Tliis was little May VLihd'en, the orphan niece of Mrs, Linden, who was a widow lady without any dhildron of her own. She was in comfortable circumstancos,'and owner of the cottage and its pretty surroundings where--9110 resided. ■ May. was thinking of. the morrow J it would be Christmas Day, and hor birthday, and she was longing for the' pleasures of the party which was her annual treat, The child gazed out into the garden,- bright with ; summer flowers, . while the beautiful Australian sunset shed golden rays of light over tho evening sky; scarcely less bright were little May's beaming eyes than the rays of the setting sun, and scarcely less golden, her shining locks of hair than those bright rays, A sigh escaped from her lips, and the cliild's hands were pressed tightly against her heaving breast, as she whispered, "Oh! what a long time it seems to wait till tomorrow." All! sweet little May, think not the time long till the morrow; would it not be well for thoeif tho morrows were slower still in coming ? Aunt Goraldine, still fair, and comely notwithstanding her forty years spent In the world's broad field of battle, entered the drawing-room, and softly walked to where the child stood, Stooping down, Bhe kissed May, and instantly tho little girl lovingly returned her aunt's caress. They talked pleasantly of Christmas time, and Aunt Geraldine listened to the child's innocent prattlo and her anticipations of the joys of the morrow; but bye and bye the, little one leaned more and more heavily against Aunt Geraldine, who had taken her on her knee, and the lids drooped wearily over the blue eyes, and May had fallen asleep. j.Mrs. Linden breathed a silent prayer over the little one she loved so dearly, and as Bhe looked on the child slumbering so peacefully, she thought of the bitter disappointments of her own sad life, and longed to shield May from all sorrow. Just as May had dreamed her dream of future joys while looking at the beauties of the setting sun, so Mrs, Linden dreamed over again the sorrows of her past life, as tfhegazedon the beauties of the starlitevenfng sky. She heard at length the sweet Christmas chimes "ringing in the distant churches of Sydnoy, and, rousing herself from her deep reverie,; slie gently awakened the little sleepei; and itook her to her dainty white bed in her own room. Brightly beamed the Christmas sun on the : following morning, and of all the • , happy children-it'shone on not one was more full of joy than our fair little May. Her kind aunt had placed a lovely wax doll on a tablo by hor bed-side, and May's delight was unbounded as she fondled her treasure. " Oh! dear, kind Aunt 'Aldine, I do. thank you so much," said May, as she kissed Mi's. 1 Linden, who took the child in her loving arms, and wished her,' ''Many happy returns of the day, and a merry .Christmas," 'After, breakfast, May drove.with her aunt in the pretty carriage into Sydney to attend service at the Cathedral. It was always a. delight to the little girl to sit by her aunt's side, as she drove the spirited pair of creams, Flossy and Tossy; and then at service this morning there, was extra pleasure in looking at, the Christmas decorations, and as the child held her aunt's hand; she .often gave it a tight squeeze when she tried 'to direct her attention to' some fresh decoration her wandering eyes had discovered. The Christmas hymns brought tears to Aunt Geraldine's sweet, sad eyes, as they called back memories of other yeara, She had not learned yet to Let the dead past bury its dead, But little May listened in a perfect rapture of joy to the sweet old hymn, Hark I the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King. After service camo the pleasant drive to the cottage by the sea-side, at Waverly, and tho Christmas dinner; after which Bhe had the privilege of carrying out a prettily arranged dish of dessert to her aunt's faithful servants Ellen and "Buttons." Now this boy." Buttons," whose baptismal name was "John," was so exceedingly bashful that he could only blush deeply at May's appearance in.the kitchen; and when Ellen ordered him to Bay, "Thank you, Miss May," he uttered the words in tho lowest of whispers; indeed, lie was never known to speak out loud within the precincts of Clyde Cottage, May could hardly believo that what Ellen told her was correct when sho said that Johnny , could shout as loud as any boy in tho village when once he got out of his "buttoned suit" and out of her own and Auul Geraldine's hearing. And .so the day wore 011, and evening came in, , Then May's guests began to arrive, and soon Mrs. Linden's drawingroom was nearly full, May, with her long flowing hair, looking like a shower of gold, falling over her white frock, appeared like a tiny fairy queen flitting amongst tho children, There were boys and girls of all . ages, and each had a kind word and bright look for the little maiden; but to none did she show tho same fond, loving affection as to Vivian Grant, a dark, goodlooking boy, of fourteen, whose wonderfully expressive eyes followed his little friend all the evening. He was especially fond of children,' and nevor tired of playing with .them;, but May, and her particular friend Maude Vane, a beautiful dark girl several years older than May, were his greatest favorites. May grew a little bit jealous sometimes, when Maude, with hor vivacious, sparkling. fun would attract more of Vivian's notice than she fancied wa3 quite "fair play," as she expressed it when telling Aunt Geraldine her little v ' troubles. ■ 1 , On this happy Christmas evening every Jff lung passed off pleasantly, and'the day closed' a3 ■ happily for May as it commenced, Wlion her golden hair lay on hersnow-whito pillow, ahd her blue eyes were closed in sleep, Aunt Geraldine saw the rosy lips part in a bright smile as the little one dreamed of the joys of the past day; ' All'!. sleep on,' dear chi}d, in all thy innocence and p§ace, Sleep on, till the time will come when no wishes, no prayers to Heaven will woo the "sweet restorer" to visit the tearful eyes, . .Thine anguish will not let thee sleep. Ten. years passed away, and May Lin-

ijbn was celebrating once more tlie anni-: versary of her birthday. A gay assembly \was. fathered: in. Mrs. Linden's drawingroom, and of all the pretty, graceful girls present, none could surpass May in love- ■ lincss.Her aunt looked at her witli fond iprideas she moved amid their, guests the. la'dinired' of all.' Her dress was' of 'piii& Iwliitej her hair was only adorneiiwith a few spraya of exquisite white erica, anda bouquet, of the samo ; flowors was placed in tlie bosom of her' dress. By her side, in conversation; was the brilliant Maude- Vane; her flashing-eyes were full of fire, her proud looking head had a peculiar movement, which showed she was conscious of her beauty, and very charming she looked. Maude and May were each pcrfcot in their omi particular styles: Maude, the handsomo brunette,..with her queenly figure; May, in her graceful and lily-liko loveliness. Both wero very.beautiful to look upon. ; Maude's ringing laugh echoed through the room, - and many eyes were turned on the brilliant Maude and lovely May. Then the strains of the "Blue .Danube" Waltz echoed through the room, and May's old favorite, Vivian Grant, claimed her as his partner. Ho had grown into ah extremely good-looking man, though scarcely tall enough; his face wan very pleasing, its great charm resting in 'the wonderfully expressive dark eyes; eyes that seemed to speak, that seemed to read another's thoughts, and search another's hoart's fondest secrets. Those dark eyes of Vivian's were wonderfully, beautiful and fascinating. May felt very happy when she floated up and down the long room in Vivian's strong arms, and if he held her somewhat tighter than was necessary, and clasped her little hand moro firmly than was needful, May's happy face showed no sign of displeasure; but, ah! May, though you did not mind it, and even gladly would have nestled nearer to the one you had unconsciously given your heart's innocent young love to, another in that gay 'assembly bitterly resented it, and gazed angrily on you and Vivian. When May sank panting and flushed on ;thc sofa by Maude's side, the latter flashed ;a look of hate and jealous scorn at her, but inmost instantiy she repressed it, ; while with a most fascinating look she ' turned her radiant face to Vivian. Mrs. Linden saw and understood the little tableau, andasighescapedfromher palelips tas she thought, "Poor May, trouble will ovortake you;" but May, in her innocent glee, gave no thought to evil. • • B C •' , One afternoon, a week after the party, :Mi's. Linden and May drove to Sydney, to :visit the Botanical Gardens, where , thoy :inet Vivian Grant in one of the pretty winding - ; walks. Instantly a rosy flush ;brightencd May's sweet face as he greeted her and her aunt in the somewhat indolent biit very ' winning manner peculiar to him,' while pleasure shone in liis large, dark eyes. Notwithstanding '.liis lazy manner he made himself so agreeable a. 1 they wanderedabout the gardens, that Mrs Linden found herself for once , channel T

fcli Vivian, of whom she. generally, had iOretly some little distrust. Somewhat .gainst her own judgment, she gave him an invitation to return in the pony carriage and take tea at Clyde Cottage, and yeiy glady tlie invitation to accepted. A pleasant evening followed, occupied in inusic, singing and (ionveraation, and Mrs. Jjinden and May proudly exhibited their favorite hods of roses and' ericas when thoy walked in the garden after tea,

■During the summer months the meetings

grew more and more frequent between fhe Lindens and Vivian Grant, and lie became a constant visitor at the cottage. He had spoken 110 word of love to May, f)ut' every look of his wonderful eyes, every touch of his white hand, with its fcparkling diamond ring, spoke yolumes to iier trusting heart; and as Mrs, Linden mew him better, she trusted him more, ind almost forgot her forebodings of evil, i to only when Maudo Vane was also it Clyde Cottage that the watchful eyes )f Mrs. Linden saw any sign of wavering n the devotion of Vivian. Maude was

usually all affection for May; indeed Vivian often called her "gushing," and she never seemed to think she could do inougli for May and Mrs, Linden; but he latter often doubted her sincerity. Maude Vane was an only child, and Ijived near Mrs. Linden's. She would 'inherit the immense wealth of her'father, who lived but for his daughter, and itlolised her, for her will was his law, i Vivian Grant's parents had returned to England immediately he had attained lus majority, and undertaken the management of his father's station, some hundreds of miles north of Sydney ; but Vivian found bush life very monotonous, iiid, leaving an excellent manager in charge, lie spent the greater part of his tine in Sydney. One bright April morning May wancered out of the garden of Clyde Cottage down to the sea beach. She carried a book in her ham], and after a quiet walk along the sands seated horself on the shore to read; but, somehow, the sweet, low music of the "Sad sea waves," washing op the golden sands, would not let her rfead. A strange and unaccountable sadnjess had stolon over her. Was it presentiment, or animal magnetism; that made hjer feel thus ? I She idly played "with the sea weeds and shells, and murmured— The son weeds, many-colored little sprays liavo 1 beauty, And the thousand little shells that scattered lie : 011 sandy sea shove ways, May looked a pretty picture, and so thought Vivian Grant as he strode along the beach tocher side. All his indolence was gone now. His face was pale and set, aud a look of great sadness was in his dark eyes as he gazed at May. Softly he stole up behind her, and gently placed his hand on lier shoulder. She started up with' an exclamation of glad surprise; but, seeing his white, set face, and the mournful look lie fixed on her, she became very gravo, and looking anxiously at him, she said, " Oil, Vivian, what has happened'?" "May, read this," he said, and placed a cablegram in her trembling hand. The ietters swam before her. eyes as she read—- " To Vivian Grant, Esq., Sydney. "Come immediately; "(Signed), Titian Grant, Senr." Poor May—was she to lose him ? Her only answer was a most pitiful'look, as she handed the telegram, back to Vivian. That look told him once more, what lie already knew so well,, that Mayloved him; and who could bo more dear to him .than May, his playmate in childhood, his friend of now and long ago? All his great love Bhone in his wonderful ..eyes.: As.he looked at May, ahe read that look, and in another moment nestled in his strong arms, , anil ihng tfl Wm asif

'she could never let him leave her, And Maude's dark eyes, flashing ffith tage. aftd-'scorn,"whUe'Ker to break with its burden of "unrequited love, ' watched them from bohind a clump of scruby"'arid-ih her agohy 'and-despair she [wickedly vowed to, be . revenged., She; (heard Vivian tell May ho must leave for. lEiigland by ; the hextmifil steamer.; .Maude Waitod'to hear no more, but, quietly leav-. ing lier hiding place, .sped home with fleeting steps. ,Slie found her kindj indulgent father, and having, with the swiftness of' lightning). arranged certain plans in her own mind, she now laid them before him, and,- aftor some' earnest pleading and loving coaxing, she succeeded in gaining his consent to her proposal. She said, ; " Ask riie no questions,.dear papa; only pay you will do what I wish." | ".My dear, .yonr. wishes .are, most incomprehensible to mo," lie answered.' She. silenced, him with - a: kiss,; and Bet busily f to work in carrying out her plans.. ■ | But to return to Vivian and May. They had' aomo little trouble-in gaining Mrs. (Linden's consent to their engagement. [Hor wish waa' that it should be postponed until either Vivian returned'to Australia, :or else till he. should mite from England Saying his father and mother approved of iliia choice.' However, Vivian pleaded so leamestly with Aunt Goraldine, while May's oxpressive faco spoke such volumes of entreaty, that at last she felt obliged to concede their wishes, and a diamond ring, the gift of, .Vivian, sparkled oil May's' finger,, •' ' i The days passed only too quickly till; the departure of the mail steamer, and it very. soon.came to the time for saying farewell. Let us pass over the sad parting, Day by day, as May gazed .across the blue waters of the bay with her tearful eyes, jshe would murmur, "My darling, my darling, oil! when will you return ?" All! {May, will he ever return to you 1

Whoii Vivian Grant first at the long saloon tablo of they Sordto, who should sit opposite to him,,ffilfill her ,proud beauty, but Maude Vane/; with her indulgent father by hor side. Mutual expressions of surprise were excjtaiiged, and none seemed more genuine thai Maude's.

; Maude had sent Mrs, Linden- tho following hasty note before sailipg:— I" My dear Mrs. Liadon, i, : ; , j "We leave Sydney immediately; Papa jis Called away by important busing," ! I will [write soon and explain, My best love,'to May ; tell hor I hato saying 'good-bye' to tlioffl.l love. Sho must forgive mo for notcalling, and ytyiwil], !l am sure, dear Mrs, Linden, ! "Affectionately Yours, i " Maude Vane."'

Tlub note little prepared them for seeing tho Sanies of Miss Vaiie and her father in the list of passengers by the Sorata, as reported by the Sydney papers. " Oh ! Aunt Geraldine, how strange of Vlaiide not to come and see us. She was nhvaya so loving and gefod." • • ■ Mrs, Linden did. not answer. Her 1 houghts were too anxious and busy for ■vords. "Aunt 'Aldine, I am so glad that poor Vivian will havo Maude to comfort him, She loved me so dearly'that I know she jvill be good and kind to him, for my sake," said May. ! A'look of sad, silent pity shone in Mrs. inden's eyes as she pressed her lips on er niece's fair'brow. I From that time Mrs. Linden felt constant misgivings as to May's future happiness ; and yet, when the months swiftly passed away, and letters came regularly from Vivian full of loving devotion, she dared not whisper a word of : her fears to May, who, glad and hopeful, never teamed of harm, or suspected her friend <jf treachery. 1 Vivian wrote of Maude in his first letters, and of the kindness'Mi'. Vane had iiown him on the voyage when he was ill and suffering, The few letters Maude mote were filled with accounts of Vivian, and an undercurrent showed Mrs. Linden what they were intended to imply, but ihnocent May never thought of a double meaning to Maude's words.. No explanation was ever offered of the Vanes'sud(jen departure for England, but even this May never noticed. At length; Vivian's letters became shorter and a shade less lbving, and. May, felt the; difference at dnce, but tried to excuse! him, saying, 'l How busy poor Vivian must be, See, Aunt 'Aldine,:how short my letter is." Then a mail arrived, and no letter came fimVivian.Grant, .and. the poor girl's, fears were aroused fully; and as another and another month passed away, without tjdings of her lover slie began to despair,. ! Hope deferred raaketh the heart ind poor' May grew pale and her heart felt well-nigh broken,/By day s le sat mournful andlistless, gazing across the azure sea, turning - her engagement r.ng round and round upon her poor thin* finger, At night she tossed restless, sleep-, less, and miserable on her bed. Oh! that' she could but for oiie'short hour sleep the calm, sweet sleep of childhood. Mrs. Linden watched her niece as the bloom passed from her face, and all its: beauty of coloring faded away,; arid'the. brightness left those ortce beaining'eyes,. x and bitterly she grieved at seeing her' loved child thus changed, f'. ' ! ' . ' ' ' ' V ' ■ '. : It was early in December that.'oi'ie evening May stood'again in the bay window ofi the drawing-room of Clyde Cottage, just' as we saw her first, years before... Slie. looked with tearful eyes on the(glorious, : setting sun, as it sank in all its;golden splendour beneath the horizon. Tlie 'calin, still waters of the bay shone like burnishedl igOld. To all these beauties May gaveino, heed; her thoughts, were far Her' pale lips moved, and she rinirmured, ";Oh! my darling, my will you ever come?" . - 1 Poor May .was wearied with-:waiting. 1 Would her birthday come,'arid: Christmas pass, and still would she loot hi vain for a letter from Vivian ? . , : Softly once more, as in years'long past away, Aunt Geraldine entered the drawingrroom. She heard ..those-whispered words, and understood the agony they expressed. Passing qilietly to May's side, slie put her arm round the girl's slender form, May started and looked into her fabe. How much that look told. The despair.of one, tlie deep'pity of the other, rejvealed themselves, and they wept in each other's arms.: No words of explanation wi re needed. Eaoh knew why the other gr eved—dearly as these two women loved ea :h other they had never spoken together of Vivian's faithlessness. ' The. newspaper almost dropped, from M Vi Linden's hands 1 as, she.gave'a groan of suppressed horror, when; she read in th£ list'of passengers by the mail steamer 'Mr. and Mrs. Vivian Grant." : ' Oh ! Aunt' 1 .'Aldine, what is' it ?" said May,; and before he? aunt- could recoyor

herself (s&|jlad seized the paper aiftkdaoread the wpr^that r opnde^toUOT n and Bealecl lier misery." ' xr • r-n .» I "01 * TKe'gfom the dark night with'horrorr;" dashed,wildly against the pisy, the. foam was thrown up high' linen who had ventured out ; in : them boats on such a stormy sea, : ,j, Each thought on the woman who loved him'bejt, j But mbnmuab nnd mqat vireoPi ; : ' Thoughstorms ba suddin) and wlitoVa imp)' ; : i, A darkand weirdJike figui'e glided alpng jtlie pior, scarcely' able io^ear. ,iip dgainßt' . the mighty storm. One vivid flash of liglit-. foing showed a Merman's wife, who was. ! anxiously waiting her husband's return, a■pale fair face full of. agony surrounded by. a mass of tangled hair; .One splash in the dark waters, one cry of wild' anguish, and May had sunk 'beneath the waves, but she rose' again, 'arid was dashed by a huge breaker,' bleeding ■ and helpless, high On the ' ' At ijaybreak the fishermen found the golden sands. The storm had'pasaed away,,and the rays of the . morning sun<shone;in, great beauty on the now calni, blue waters of the bay, and shed-its beams on the still white faofl 'of poor .May Liiideji. They carried'lier home. Those rough nien, who had' ao bravely weathered-many without ivjear, trembled M ot'tho titijibie they were !Linden|:;SVlibm'4hßy knew and lovSsd|for her many acts of kindness to them and their iviveaand.littlo ones.- j But, ali ! kind men, yolir rough hands, so gentle' and- tender now,- carry aWise'less but not; a lifokss' burden 1 ( They laid May:oh her dainty:'white bed in her oivn room, from wIM- Aiirit Geraldjne had not had-time to mis's her. Loving hands ministered to her wants, and while they olothed' her in garments as for the grave, she awokejrom'' her death-likeßwoon to life.- Yes, tojife,; ,but not to reason! •' Poor Aunt Geraldine ! how long .and loving was her watch ovor her poor afflicted niece, Weeks and weeks passed, away, and May suffered all the agonies of . the most violent brain pain. But Mrs. Linden watched riot mors lovingly, not more-anxiously, not more despairingly than Vivian Grant 1 It was a long and weary time before reason once more returned to\poor May, and .then Vivian was banished\from her presence for fear the shock of his, presence should onco more throw poor May into all the sufferings of delirium. *'j - Another Christmas Eve had come, and poor, pale-faced' May had for the first time been taken into the drawing-room. She looked the very shadow of her old self as she lay on the sofa in a pale blue dressing gown, her "showers of gold" ,were cutoff, and only a crown of tiny golden curls fringed her marble-like brow. Her eyes shone with a look of glad expectation! May knew now that her lover was not faithless. Vivian was to be her own Vivian again. NotwithstandingaUMaude's wicked mles, her stratagems had all failed to tfih Vivian's love.

Aunt Geraldine had told May how Vivian's letters had teen tampered with by Maude while she was on a visit at Mrs. Grant's, and how she had persecuted him with her fascinations, to escape from which ho lmd hastened his own and his parents departure from England. May knew now that Yivian's mother aiid father were the " Mr. and Mrs Vivian Grant " mentioned in the. newspaper, while Vivian's own name had been inadvertently left out. • May thought of all these things, -and breathed a prayer of thankfulness as she onco again asked for forgiveness for the terrible sin she had so wildly tried to .commit. A quick step, a cry of joy, and May was eloped in Vivian's arms. Once more there would be a " Merry Christmas " at Clyde Cottage.