Montie's Two Loves.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 691, 18 November 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

Monties Two Loves.

Two, and Montague Garthorn loved them both. Jt does not seem possible, neverthe less it is true ; and, straager still, they both loved him. He W4i not worthy of half the good things the Fates showered on him with such lavith hands ; but who in this world ever get their deserts ? It is a thorougly false theory that virtue brings its own reward ; long ago it might, but now it certainly docs not, or Opal Garthorn's life would have been happier. As long ai Opal could remember she had worshiped her cousin Montague. As » ihild be was her hero, and as she grew np her chief delight Wto übe noticed by him When the 'came out/ and he seemed to take pleasure in beiDg with her, her joy knew no bounds ; and at length, when he asked her to be his wife, she could hardly realize tnat the dream of her life h»d come to pass ; and he felt as if he could not do enough to show his love for the beautiful girl who had promised to marry him. Montague Garthorn was well off, and hit parents being both dead, he had become a spoiled child in all hu relations' households, and many a Mistreat Garthorn had been anxious to catch this excellent parti for her daughter. Great was the snrpnne of the Garthorns generally when it was known that he intended to make his distant cousin Opal his wife. Opal'a love for him, was so unselfish, so womanly (and how much deeper is a woman's love than a man's oan possible be)! When I ■ay she loved him with her whole heart, better than life, my words stem cold and passionless, -and cannot convey the meaning of her devotedness. When he asked her to marry him soon she would not listen to him, but stipulated for another year of freedom, because ' he might •cc some one he liked better,' and with whom he would be more happy. Her delight consisted in seeing him happy, so she said, and ■o she meant, no doubt ; but really she felt such confidence in his entire devotion, and judged him so by herself, that ahe never for a moment realized the idea of his loving anyone but her. Montague Garthorn considered that if ho understood one tbing thoroughly, that one ehing was himself ; so he was annoyed at her doubting htm even in this loving way, and reeolved to prove that; no woman of lures and wiles could influence him when he had the assurance of Opal's love. Opal was standing at the drawing-room window, gazing into the twilight for her lover, while her mother and father chatted together. At last she hears his footsteps on the stairs, and they are together.' ' Opal, will you go to the theatre to-night ? I have promised to meet Archer there. ' Must you go, Montie ?' ' Well, dear, I think I must ; but won't you come ?' Opaljdoes not want to go, and she does not want him to go without her ; but before sbe has time to make up her miad what answer to give, her mother settles the matter by •aying she ' cannot allow Opai Co go, as she is tired with a day's shopping ' Montague remained a few minutes longer, then rose to take his leave. Opal was dul, fdlfc a 'eaien weight at her heart What for ? (Surely not because her lover waa going to meet a man at the theatre. Nevertheless she could not throw the gloom off, and r • she bade him good-bye tears rose to her eyes and se«med to tremble in her voice j co much so that even Montie, the most unobservant of men noticed them, and was more affeotionate in his manner. 'You are tired, Opal, my child, go to bed, dear.' ' It is not that, Montie, but I feel as if I waa losing you ; as if this was to be our last goodbye ' ' Nonsense 1' and with another kiss he was gone ; white Opal gized on him for the last time - at least saw for the last time the man who loved her as he loved no other woman. Mr. Garihorn sauntered leisurely along, intending to take a hansom down to the Strand, when he remembered that a* he wa* alone he might call for Archer at his lodgings Instead of takiDg a cab he resolved to go by train to Gower-street, where his friend lived. If Opal only knew what would come of that little railway journey, no earthly powerlwoold have prevented her going with Montie to the theatre He was thinking it wm * bother to go to the play, aa it was sure to be hot, and it would have been much cooler in the back drawing-room with Opal. Here his thought! were interrupted, and tha carriage door was opened, and a young girl pushed in. A girl with magnetic golden hair that seemed to make a halo around her head, and saucer blue eyes, and a mouth like Cupid's bow. Nellie Wylde, the second woman who loved Montague Garthorn, met him now for the first time, with her bright baby -face covered with blushes, and with her tiny hands held oat to him to help her lift on to the seat a large parcel phe had with her. ' It is a new drew I hare bought at Westbourne Grove,' she told him, ' and I am going to sit up to make it to go to a ball.' He was charmed with the simplicity of the child, as he considered h«r, and condescendingly asked ber age. 1 Seventeen, soon,' the answered, And then all the color seemed to die out of her cheeks and leave her very pale. He watched her for some time, and then her merry voice broke his reverie by saying : ' I have been ill ; this is the first time I have been out. Father would scarcely let roe come ; but I wanted my dreis so much ;' and then, without waiting for any remark from Mr. Garthorn, she atked if he had ever been to a ball, and what they were like. ' Yes, ohild, many, Good-bye this i% my station. ' It is mine, too,' Nellie answered ; ' and father said he would meet me and carry my parcel home.' What less could Montague do than aiiitt her to alight and carry ber parcel up stairs 1 and then, not finding anyone waiting for her, he could not do less than offer to carry it home. And, in that little walk how his heart W'^i out to this child, who bad not an idea beyond the moment's pleasure, who fou«d life so bright, although her father kept a chemist ahop in a back stro?S and let lodgings! Why not leave hor td she ia— happy, young, heart-whole and in smooth water ? Why force her into stoimy weather when she is now so safe T But already the harm is done, and Montague is fascinated fatally by thia. child, in whose nature there it. n,a depth, aud who could never feel anything, whether of pain or joy with h.ajf the keenneas th*t Opal can. 'f/'h« beautiful blue eyes look without flinching into hit a» she warbles forth an invitation to come and have supper.. 'We aro not grand ; we only have WQtevorAsset in the shop-parlor.' He goes in, and Nellie Wylde'i father thanks him, and, the back parlor is paradise, the water oretiet food for the gods, the theatre forgotten ; and as he looks at and listens to Nellie, Op»l, in the cool ba.cU drawing-room, has bpcome a ft\irg of the psst. ' What |>all nfe you going to, Mint Wylde ?' lAt Aunt Miry 'a , their first floor i* empty, and they are going to have a dance. Cull mo I^eJlip.- every ono does ; it seems too grown-up to call me Mist Wylde ' fl' That ia not a real ball ; but if you would like to go to one of the best balls in London, I will take you to Willis' Poppas tomorrow night.' 'Oh, fftthvi, say yes!' said Nell, as she thee v her v.-via around hits ne^k ' I don's know whit is right to say,' ruminated Mr Wylde ? * only as you have

very little pleasure and n(^^^^^^^^H it would not be any harm ' So it was settled that I^^^^^^^^H Nellie was to make h#r d^^^^^^^H London society. Montague tore himself av^^^^^^^H enchanted chemist's shop. No^^^^^^^H time to think— to thiak of what Of course, it was too lats to go to in fact, everything seemed too /oAr.^^^^^H the door of Mr. Wylde's honse What had he done? Promised^^^^^H Nellie do * ball, and he was engaged^^^^H a dinner-party with Opal! What «tt*u^^^^H Go home and make the, beat ©f nil Next morning MontagWkneW' •lon^^^H must be done ; so be got his writing ma^^^H and intended to write-, to Nellie to fa"^|| he could not take her to the ball ; bat direanyJ he be£;an, the vision of those him eyes ft?lv» with team, and that smiling month ponttfl was too much for him, so he okange^^^H mind and wrote briefly to Opal, ' th^^^H forseen circumstances prevented nito^^iP out to dinner with her to-morrow.' I *^ms so good-natured ahe won't miqd. HtiK>ught little of her breaking heart, though he thought so mcuh of her tearful blu* ayes. Nellie and Mr. Garthoro went to the ball and enjoyed it. Nellie looked lovely in her fresh white muslin draw, and Montague's gift of real flowers. When he left her at home, he longed tor the moment when he should see her next. On his -, mtnrn he found a letter from Opal, full o£ tender regrets at his absence and assurances of her love. He resolved never to see Nellie again, and to marry Opal as aoon «a possible. How easj it is to make resolution" at night, , and how difficult to carry them out in the J broad day ! m The following afternoon, Mr. Garthonfl called at Opal's and left his oard, for hn found her out. Then, what more natural! than he should see how Nellie was after! dissipation? He found her at her home— beautiful, blushing, charming* full ot grat|tude for the pleaiure o* the ball, tad'wiSung' as only tho.c childish women with big blue eyes can be. Her father was in the tbop, so they were alone, and before Montague knew what h« was doing, he had avowed his paision io Nellie, and she had confessed that ahe was 4 very foud of him and of balls at WiluV .Rooms.' Opal, driving in the park, was straining her eyes to see the btloved form of Montague Garthorn among the crowd of men leaning over the railings. Day after day Mr. Garthorn spent with Opal, and evening after evening with Nellie. Opal was so sweetly kind to him, sang and played for him, declared thct something must be wrong, and besought him to have confidence in her and to tell her his trouble. In reply, he kissed her, told her not to ' worry, and that she was a foolish girl.' And directly his duty visit waa over, he rushed to Nellie '■ house, where. ahe met him with bright eyes, merry repartee, i» a d kitten-like caresses. She really was. Terv lovable ; and it was no wond«r th» t this man, who so loved being made much of fancied she was more worthy of ifyeb love as he had to give than the womao who would have died for him. j Things could not last much looger J^H this. Opal wondered why he did not co^H of an evening, and asked him to spend uH following Monday with her, as B he would! be alone. He could not refuse ;to «U day Sunday he spent with Nellie wandering in Kensington Gardens ; then to ch**ch with Mr- Wylde, and a delightful Bohemian supper in the shop parlor. Jffiirwards came the good-night : and Moafcue told Nellie he could not come the following day because he had to see a cousin of his • and , then he went on to say that ttM* happy days must end, aa he was going away for a long time, and would only com* onoe more to say good-bye. The bine eye*' filled with tews, the tiny hands rnatled up into tU« A tit, and and with a wild teream she tftreir M nerself upon the stairs, sobbiug. 'Moutie^ you cannot, shall not leave me ]' jfl ' Darling, I most.' '"; ~v^^M ' But you said £on loved me I* 4^|^H 'God knows how nincb, my dacU^^^^l I must leave yon, for lam in honorwl^l to mary my cousin Opal.' Nellie did |not receive this announoemenH with hanghty pride, or despair, but threw herrtlf down at Montague Garthorn's feet ■obbing piteously. « Yon shall never man* her-^the prond lady you showed me in tb* Park ; but me, your own loving Nellie, who } worships you with devotion she can never' ' I do believe you love me best, my golde^fl wig,' he exclaimed, as he caugnt her vaJ^M arm and ho kissed her, promising to^^H again soon. Nellie was immediately oomforter^^^H before he had got to the end of the atj^^^l was singing to herself as she olca'^^^H supper things away. On Monday, Opal dresud harsel£^^^| dress Montague admired, ordered th^^^^H for dinner he preferred, and made^^^^H mind to try and win him back, reme^^^^H the words of one of our greatest writ^^^^^l ' revived love is the strongest.' determined to make the evening^^^^^^^H Opal, even to confess to her l^^^^^^l with Nellie— to tell her that he^^^^^H it up and was ready to come^^^^^^H more devoted than ev«r ; bar^^^^^^^^| bo strong in her self-poisessioj^^^^^^^^H less, so unsympathetic, that^^^^^^^^l NeUierecnrred to him as hesaw^^^^^^^^H attitude of worship at his foet^^^^^^^H ' 'Montie, why are yon so s^^^^^^^^l anything worry you, dear ? * Nothing.' ' But lam sure it does. ir^^^^^^^H to do with it?' ~^^^^^^^H ' No,' 4^^^^^^H ( On)y remember, Mon«ajra?^^^^^^^| anything in the world 1 can do^^^^^^l will ' ' Would you really, Opal ?' and^^^^^^l of hope came into his face, and^^^^^^l moment, he felt inclined to tell her il|^H| then, if only ahc had come towards' him instead of going to the window, he would have made a clean bre»st of it, and saved. Nellie and himself a sorrowful fortnight. Opal orossed the room not even looking at him, and with her eyes fixed on (fas street, she said : • Montague, even i{ you love another woman better than me, I o»n bear it, and give you up so re«fciy— f O f jeur happiness :' and she turned ana smilel m of her brightest smiles"at him. 1 1 am but pooi oompjmy to-night, Opal sogoodby" before she fffuld call him back h» was gone ' • How 17li&le1 7 li&le she cares for me ! he thought, while she was oaring for him more than her life. For a fortnight Mr (Jarthorn saw neither girl. He was selfishly fnnhappy j he was i& that state of mm i that he did not know what to do next. He wished some one. would take his destiny from him, and make him do something. Every day h.« thought more of .Ne.-lie and less of Opal. The latter wrote hint a kind note, hoping he was not ill ; should papa come and sea him ? Neliia wrote mad letters, beseeching him . to oome or she would die. She w*».af • ah* was p»le ; sho really was dying, ' ghw sh'onld never see him more if he did übfc come c i? 6 f* fc doWn fco an<w «f t^t-ae letters, and felt re leved when they were iiuißhed. Op^l itwwd her» ly the ].«•. posr, «nd direotly «he saw the well-known wntiufl sh« ' ■ took tf v*p to her woa to read it *lon£ H 'I

not*, and she perceived it band. It ran thus : * Monti*: Your broken-hearted pale, 111, languid and dflng If yon soon 11 will be too late, and you can In bar coffin, and bid her a lMt do com* to } our loriiu NELLIE, address wh full on the letter, and Opal saw it all. How Mr. had sent her this letter by mishow thia letter was from some one to ; and she realized that in truth he had ibme one whom he loved more, and would make him happier. rtaolution wu made. Her love wu no it wa« selfish. morning she wrote to Montague, Kkiflg for S" moment's conversation that Bftcrnoon. Then she went to Nellie's home. fSkt rather wondered at the appearance of th« home, bat fancied the lady might only b« staying there, Blooming, bine-eyed Nell opened the door, and Opal asked for A ' Why, I am Nellie. What do you Bk' J[ want yoa to come home with me, Mr. e^jjthorn will be at our home this afternoon.' ' Will he really ? Then he has not given in* op, as father said. And I was so unhappy becanss he had gone away from me to marry his cousin.' ' Nev«r mind about the cousin, Nellie. H» lovm yon, and you only ; and now you will see him very soon.' ' I must put on a pretty dress to see him in, Miss ' Garthorn ' ' Oh, yon are his sister. How kind of him to tend you for me !' and she trotted •way to try and smooth her golden hair When Opal arrived home with Nellie sh« hurried her into the drawing-room, and waited herself outside the door until she heard Montague coming up Then she brought him into the room, saying : • Montir, dear, I have brought your litt^U Nelli* to yon You see I have found * s Sat your ieorvt, and lam so gl»d to make yon happy. Good- by for the present.' And with a ringing laugh Opal ran upstairs, only to throw herself on her bed in a paroxysm of grief. In the drawing-room Montagne Garthorn was supremely happy with the woman who h* dscmed loved him best.