THE STORY-TELLER.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 921, 18 May 1878, Page 2

THE STORY-TELLER.

WIFE IN NAME ONLY. B * auj T ailtllor of "Doea Thohxe," Ox Hkji Wudddto Moiht," " ReBKKMIon by LOVK," "A WOMAX'S Wab, kc, ice. (Coutiimcl from last Saturday's issue). CHAPTER XVIII

It would be the very thing/ she said to herself; < it would aflbrd me the opportunity l a m seeKing — notluug could be better.' fehc purchased the yacht, and Panted it to tWDuki, her husband. His pleasure and astonishment were unbounded. She was, as a rule, so undemonstrative that he could not tlmnk her sufficiently for what seemed to him her great interest m his favorite pursuit. t ! TI -r ° n i y dr;lwb ack to the aplenUia gift, Philippa, is that you cbu *

never euj«y it ; it will take me away from yon.' * Yes, I do indeed deplore that I am a wretched sailor, for I can imagine nothing pleasanter than life on board such a yacht as that. But, while you are cruising about, Vere, I *hall go to Verdun Royal, and take Madaline with me ; then, I shall go to Vere Court— make a kind of 1 royal progress, set everything right, redress all wrongs, and hold a court at each establishment. I shall enjoy that mare than yachting ' 'But I shall miss you so much, Philippa,' said the young husband. m 'We have the remainder •of our lives to spend together, she rejoined ; "' if you are afraid of missing me too much, yon had better get rid of the yacht.' But he would not hear of that — ho was delighted with the beautiful and valuable present. The yaclit was christened Queen Philippa ; and it was decided that, when the end of the season had come, the Duke should take his beautiful wife to Verdun Royal, and, after having installed her there, should go at once to sea. He had invited a party of friends — all yachtsmen like himself— and they had agreed to take Queen Philippa to the Mediterranean; there to cruise during the autumn months. As it was settled it was carried out ; before the week had ended, the Duke, 'Duchess, and Madaline were all at Verdun Eoyal. Perhaps the proud young- wife had never realised before how completely her husband loved her. This temporary parting was to him a real pain. A few days before it took place, he began to look pale and ill. She saw that he could not eat, that he did not sleep or rest. Her heart was touched by his simple fidelity, his passionate love, although the one fell purpose of her life remained unchanged. 'If you dislike going, Vere, 1 slie said to him owe day, 'do not go — • stay at Verdun Royal.' 'The world would laugh if I did that, Philippa/ he returned ; ' ifc would gueas at once what was the reason, because everyone knows how dearly I love you. We should be called Darby and Joan.' ' No one would ever dare to call me Joan/ she said, ' for I huve nothing of Joan m me.' The Duke siihad — perhaps he thought it would have been all the better if she had : but, fancying that, there was something, after all, slightly contemptuousiu her manner, as though she thought ifc unmanly of him to repino about leaving her, he . i aid no more. One warm, brilliant day, he took leave of her, and she was left to work oub her purpose. She never forgot the day of his departure—ifc was one of these hot days when the summer skies seem to be -half obscured by a copper-coloured haze, when the green leaves hang languidly and iho birds seek the coolest shade, when the flowers droop with thirst and never a breath of air stirs their blossoms, and »vhen thera is no picture so refreshing to the senses as that of a cool, deep pool m the recesses of a wood. She stood at the grand entrance, watching him depart, and she knew that, with all her -beauty, her grace, her talent, her sovereignty, no one loved her as this mau did. Then, after he was gone, she still stood on tho broad stono terrace, with ik.it strange pmile on her face which seemed to mar while it deepened its beauty. 'It will be a full revenge/ she •said to herself. ' 'I here could be no fuller. But what shall Ido when it is all known V Siie was not one to flinch from the course of action she had marked out for herself, nor from the eousequcuces of that course ; but she shuddered, even m the heat, as she thought what her life would be when her vengeance was taken. ' He will never forgive,' she said — 'he will look upon me as the wickedest of women. It does not matter ; he should not have exasperated me by slighting me.' Then the coppery haze seemed to gather itself together — great purple masses of cloud piled themselves m the sky, a lurid lighb overspread tho heavens, the dense oppressive silence was broken by a distant peal of thunder, great rain-drops fell — fierce, heavy drops. The trees seemed to stretch out their leaves to driuk m the moisture, the parched flowers welcomed tke grateful downpour ; and still the Duchess of Ha/lewood stood out on the teriace, so deeply engrossed m her thoughts that she never heeded the rain. Madaline hastened out to her with a shawl. 'Dear Duchess/ she cried, it is raining ; and you are so absorbed m thought that you do not notice it.' She laughed a strange, weird laugh, and raised her beautiful face with its expression of gloom. 'I did not notice it, Madaline,* she said ; but there is no need for anxiet) r about me/ she added, proudly. They re-entered the house together, Madaline believed that the Duchess was thinking and grieving over the departure of the Duke. Lady Peters thought the same They both did their best to comfort her to amuse her and distract her thoughts. But the absent expression did nofc die from her dark eyes When they had talked to her for some little time, she took up the ' Lady of Lyons.' /Eo^much you admire that play!' said Mad a li ne . 'I see you ' rending ife su often/ * *

' I have a fancy for it,' returned the Duchess ; it suits my taste. And I admire the language very much.' ' Yet is a cruel stoiy/ observed Madalino ; ' the noblest eharactir m it ia Pauline.' * She was very proud, and pride, I suppose, must goffer,' said the Duchess, yarolessly. ' She was not too proud, at all events, to love a noble roan when she once recognised him, Duchess.' ' She learned to love the prince — she would never have loved the gardener,' rcmaked Philippa; 'it was a terrible veugeanse.' ' 1 do not like stories of vengeance, 1 said Madeline. * After all, though, I do love the Claude of the story, and iind much true nobility m him — much to admire. When reading the play, I am tempted at the time to ask myself. " How could he do it ?" It was an unmanly plot.' There was a strarge light m the dark eyes, a quiver on the scarlet lips, as Philippa said — •Do you think so'J Suppose that some one offended you as Pauline, offended Claude — laughed at the love you offered, scorned, mocked, despised you, aud that such vengeance as his lay m your power, would you not take it?' The sweet face flushed. 'No ; I would rather die/ Madaline replied, quickly. ' I would take it, aud glory m it,' said the Duchess, firmly. 'If I were wounded, insulted, and slighted as Claude was, I would take the ei-uelest revenge that 1 could.' Madaliue took one of the jewelled hands m her own and kissed it. ' I should never be afraid of you/ she said ; you could not hurt anyone. Your vengeance would end m the bestowal of a favour.' ' Do you think so highly of me, j Madalino V asked Philippa, sadly. 'Think highly of you! Why, you would laugh if you knew how I love you — ho .v I adore you. 'If all the world were to swear to me that you could do the least thing wrong, I would not believe them.' ' Poor child !' said the Duchess, sadly. 'Why do you call me 'poor child'?' she asked, laughingly. ' Because you have such implicit faith, and are sure to be so cruelly disappointed.' I would rather have the faith and brar the disappointment; than be without them both/ said Madaliue. Or the day of his departure, the Duke had said to his wife— I 1 have inviled Norman to spend a few weeks with you ; have some pleasant people; to meet him. Ho tells me lie shall not go to Scotland this year.' • I will ask Miss J>yrton and Lady •Shieldon/ Philippa had promised. ' Only two ladies !' the Duke bad laughed. •' He will want some one ' to smoke his cigar with.' j ' I will trust to some h? jipy \ inspiration at the time then/ she nad replied j and they had not mentioued the matter again. Early m August Lord Arleigh wroto that if it were convenient he should prefer paying his promised visit at once. He concluded his letter by saying — ' My dear Philippa, your kind, good husband said something to iue about mcefirjor a pleasant party. I should so much prefer one of my old style of visits— no parties, no ceremonies. I want to see you and Verdun lioyal, not a crowd of strange faces. Lady Peters is chaperon, if you have any lingering doubt about the ' -proprieties.' ' So it was agreed that he should come alone, and later on, if the Dullest cared to invite more friends, she could do so. The fact was that Lord Arle^h wanted time for his wooing. He had found that he could not live without Madaline. He had thought most carefully about everything, and had decided on asking her to be his wife. True, there was the drawback of her parentage — but that was not so previous, not so terrible. Of course, if she had been lowly born — descended from the dreas of the people, or the daughter of a criminal ; he would have trampled his love under foot. He would have said to himself, ' Noblesse oblige/ and, rather than tarnish the honor of his family, he would have given her up. This was not needed. Related to the Duke of Hazlewood, there could not be. anything waong- The Duchess had told him distinctly that Madaline't mother had married beneath her, and that the whole family on that account had completely ignored her. He did not remember that the Duchess had told him m as many words, but he was decidedly of opinion that Madaline's mother was a cousin of the Duke's, und that she had married a drawingmaster, who afterwards turned out wild and. profligate. The drawingmaster was dead. His darling Madaline had good blood m her veins ; was descended from an ancient and noble family: That she l\ad neither fortune nor position was immaterial to him. He had understood from the Duchess that the mother of his fair young love lived m quiet retirement. He could not remember m what words all this had been told to him, but this was the impresson that was on his mind. So lie had determined upon making Madaline his wife, if he could but win her consent. The only thing he feared was her own unwillingness Jibe was fair and fragile, but. she had a wonderful strength of will. To be Continued.