THE STORY-TELLER.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 951, 27 July 1878, Page 2

THE STORY-TELLER.

WIF3- IN-NAME ONLY. By the author of " Doea Thoene," "On Hee Wedding Moen," " Redeemed by Love," "A "Woman's . ; .TVae," &p,.,&n. ... (Continued from last' Saturday's issue). GHAjtTER XXV. Tiro grandeur and magnificence of the house almost startled her. She felt more like Lady Burleigh tbaii lever, as she went up the brdad I marble staircase and saw the long corridors' with the ni altitude of rooms.

' His lordship Wrote to tell uie to have all the rooms in the western wing ready,' said Mrs Chatterton ; ' but: he did not tell me why. They are splendid rooms, my lady—large, bright, and cheerful. They look over the beautiful beeches in he park, from which the place takes its name. Of course you will have what is oil led Lady Arleigh's suite ?' As' she spoke IVlrs Chatterton threw open; : tin door, and Lady Ai'leigh saw tlie most magnificent rooms she had ever beheld in her life—a bo;id)ir all blue silk and white lace, a/ spacious sleepiugcharubeL', daintily huog with pink satin, a th-essing-roem that was a marvel of elegance, and a small library, all fitted with the greatest luxury'.

' This,,is. the finest ...suite of rooms in the house,' said the housekeeper ; • they are always kept for the use of the hiistress .of Beechgrove. Has your ladyship brought your maid V ..'No,' replied Lady Arleigh ; the fact is 1 have not chosen oue. : The Duc'iess of Hazlewood promised to find otic fo; me.'

That illustrious name pleased the housekeeper. She had felt puzzled af the quiet marriage, and the sudden home-corn ing. If the new mistress of Beeehgrove was an intimate friend of her Grace of Hazlewood, as her seemed to imply, then all must be well. Wheu Lady Arleigh had changed her travelling-dress, she went downstairs. Her young' husband looked up in a rapture of delight. ' Oh, Madeline,' he said, 'how long have you been away from.me.? ; It seems Use a hundred hours, yet I do not suppose that it has been one. And how fair you look, my love ! That cloudy white robe "suits your golden hair, and youv sweet face; vbich has the same soft, shy expression as when I saw y. u first; and r h )se pretty shoulders of yours gleam like polished marble through the lace. No 'dress could be more coquettish or prettier.' The wide hanging sleeves were ! f»stened. back from 'he shoulders with buttons of- pearl, leaving the white rounded arms bare ; a bracelet of pearls—L«dy Peter's gift—was clasped round one of them ; the white lace was dfawn round the gviceful neck; the waves of golden hair, half loose, half carelessly fastened, were like a crowu on .the beiutifui head. ' I am proud of my wife,' he said. I know that no fairer Lady Arleigh has ever been at Beechgrove. When we have dined, Midaline, I will take you to the picture-gallery, and introduce yon to my ancestors and ancestresses. A recherche little dinner had been hastily prepared, and was served in the grand dining room. Madaline's eyes ached with the dizzle of silver plate, the ornaments and magnificence of the room. ' Shall I ever grow accustomed to all this,' she asked herself, wonderingly. ' Shall I ever learn to look upon it as my own ? lam indeed bewildered.' Yet her husband admired her perfect grace and self-possession. She have been mistress of Baechorove all her life for auy evidence she gave to the contrary. His pride in her increased every moment, there was no one like her. ' I havenever really knnvn what '' home " meant' before, Madaline,' he said. ' Imagine sitting oppo3ite to a beautiful vision, knowing all the time that it is your wife. My own wife —there is magic in the wordsi' -.nr-' .-.:<• -y And she, in her sweet humility, wondered why ELeaven had so richly blessed her, and" what she had done that the great and passionate love of this noble man should; be hers. When dinner was ended, he asked her if she was tired. -'No,' she answered, laughiugly; ' I have never felt less fatigued.' ' Then 1 should like to show you over th« house/ be said—' my devoid home. I am so proud of Jfc, Madaline; you understand what_ I of its beauty, tiqui ty—p roud that rip . sliado vy> of ; disgrace has ever rested on it. To others these are simply imcient gray walls ; to m*, they represent the honor, the staiiiiess repute,' the unshadowed dignity of my race. People may sneer if they will, but to me tfiere seems nothing so -sacred

ove of race—jealousy for a stainless name/ • I can understand arH sympathise with you,' sue ..svid,, ,' T ]'bpiigh the feeling is lb ine.' ' ■ w 'Not quite strange, Mada ine. Your mother had a name entitled to all respect. Now come with me, and I will introduce you to the loug line of the Lad ; os Arleigh.' They went togo'her to the picture, gallery, and, as they passed through the-hall, Madaiine heard clock chiming!

' Ah, Norman,' she said, ' listen to the chimes. How much may happen in One day, however short that day may be!' The picture gallery was one of the chief attractions; of Beechgrove; like the grand old trees* it had been the work of generaciens. The Arleighs had always been patrons of the fine arts; many a lord of Beechgrove had expended what was a handsome fortune in the purchase of pictures, j

The gallery its.elf was bull t on a peculiar principle ; it went round the whole of the house, extending fiom the eastern to the western wing—it was wide, lofty, well lighted, and the pictures were well hong Li wet weather the,ladies of the house used it as a promenade. It was well filled with art-treasures of ali kinds, the ■■ accumulation of many generations. : FrOin between the crimson velvet hangings white marble statues gleamed, copies of, the world's great' masterpieces j there were also more,,, modern works of art. The floor was of the most'exquisite parquetry ; the seats and lounges were soft and luxurious; in the great windows east and west there stood a small fountain, and the ripple of the water; sounded like music in the quietude of the gallery. One porr tion of ifc.'.'wps devoted entirely to family portraits. They were a wonderful collection, perhaps one of the most characteristic in England. Lord Arleigh and his young wife walked through a the gallery. ' J thought the gallery at Verdun Royal the finest in the world,'she said j 'it is nothing compared to this.' ■■ .v ; : ' ;

' And tli'S,' he returned,' is small, compared with the great European galleries.' > ■:.■■.' They i belong* • to nations,; this, belongs to an individual,' she ' there is a difference.'

Holding her hand t - in his, he led her to the long line of fair-faced ■women. As she stood, the light from the setting sun falling on her fair face and golden hair, he said to himself that he had no picture in his gallery one half so exquisite. | Npw,'. he said, ' lot me introduce you to the ladies'of my race.' At that moment, the sunbeams that had been shining on the wall died out suddenly. She looked up, half laughingly. 'X think the.ladies, of your race are frowning on me, Norman,' she said. that ) if they could but step down from their frames, what a stately company they would make to -welcome you ! •■>' And forthwith he proceeded to narrate their several historiep. f This resolute woman,' he : said, 'with the tirm lips and strong noble face, lived in the time ; of the Hoses ; she held this old hall against her foes for three weeks, until the siege was raised and the enemy retired discomfitted.' ' She was a brave woman,' remarked Lady Arleigh. ' This was a heroine/ he went on: 'Lady Alicia Arleigh ; she would not leave London when the terrible plague raged there. It is supposed that she saved numberless lives; she devoied herself to the nursing of the sick, and, when the fright and fear had -abated, she found herself laden with blessings, and her name , 'honored throughout the land. This ■ is Lady Lola,, who in. the time of a went out unattended) unarmed, quits alone, and spoke* to three or four hundred of the roughest men iu

the county ; they had come in the absence of her husband to sack and piiljtge the hall-—they marched back again leaving it untouched. This, lately Constance, ja a lineal descendant of Lady Nethsdale —the brave Lady NethsdahV iShe clung to his arm as she stood there.' . .■,.,.;,■, •« Oh, Nbrmari/ she said, 'do you mean that my portrait too will hang here?

'I hope so, my darling, very soon.' . ; f.Bu.t Low can I have .place amongst all these fair and noble woinen,' she aske:l, with sad huru'.lity—' I, whose ancestors have done nothing to deserve merit 01 piaise 1 Why, Norman, in the long years to come, when some Lord. v rleigh brings home his wife as you have brought me, and .they, stand together before my pictnre as I stand before these, tnß , 'y^UD^'Mf^ , was be y ' Lady Madaline Arieigti.' She will ask again, ' Who: was she ?' And what •,will; ; the, answer be ? 'She was no ; ;one of importance; she had neither money, rank, nor aught else.' ' He looked at the bent face near

him. 'Nay, my r darling, not so. That Lord Arieigh will be able to answer, ...' She was the flower of the race ; she was famed for her pure, gentle life and the good example she gave to all around her } she was beloved by rich and poor.' That is what will be said of you, my Madaline.' 'Heaven make me worthy !' she / said, humbly. ; And 7 then they came to a< picture that seemed to strike ."■'■-.ber.lV'' , ''< '■''■ "; V '"flJtyiywP/. »lw- Ws, that face is

like iHe* Duchess or" Hazlewood ? s.' 'Do you thiuk so, darling 1 Well, there is perhaps a faint resemblance.' *lt lies in the brow and in the chin,'she said. ' How beautiful the Duchess is !' she continued. ' I have often looked at her until her face has seemed to dazzle me.' 1 1 know some one who is far more beautiful in my eyes,' he returned. 'Norman,' she said, half hesitatingly, •' do you know one thing that I have thought so strange ?' 4 No ; I have not been trusted wi*.h many of your thoughts yet,' he re- [ turned. < I have wondered so often why you never fell in love with the Duchess.' ' Fate had something better in store for me,' he said laughing. She looked surprised. * You cannot mean that you really think I am better than she is, Norman V c I do think it, darling ; ten thous'aiid times better —ten thousand times fairer in my eyes.' ' Norman,' she said, a sudden gleam of memory brightening her face, 'I had almost forgotten —the Duchess gave me this for you; I was to be sure; to give it to you before the sun set on our wedding-day.' She held out a white packet sealed securelyy. and he took it wonderingly. He tore off the outer cover, and saw written on the envelope : — ' A wedding-present from Phllippa, Duchess of jlazlewood, ,to Lord Arleigh., To be read alone on his wedding-day.' -■' .-.■:■; i 2b be Continued.