CHAPTER XVI. A HUSBAND'S CAUTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2048, 22 August 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XVI. A HUSBAND'S CAUTION.

" I have good news for you, Vivian," Bfcid the Countesa Waldrove to her son; " I may say, really, that Providence has blessed my efforts. Tae duke has proposed for your sistar. She ia really very fortunate ; I consider him the best match in Eagland. Now, if Lord RMvdon would make Gertrude an offer all anxiety would be off my mind." " I am «lad to hear it," replied Lord Caradato ; " I think Linda likes him vary much." " My fear Vivitn," said the countess, with her Rrand air, " it is not a case of ' liking.' Linda has been brought up too well to allow of any such puerile reason as ' liking ' to influence her. The duke is a man who commands universal respect from his rank and position." 41 "Mother," said Lord Carsdale, " shall you be very angry if I ask you a question ? " " I do not think that you would ask me a question which could make mo angry, she replied. " Tell me, then, did you love my father when yon married him ? " " I knew what my position and station required from me. Your father was considered an excellent and most befitting matoh for me." "But did you love him?" persisted the young lad. "Do tell me, mother." " Perhaps not, as boys and girls understand the word love; but I love him now, Vivian ; and I have come to this conclusion, that the love that comes after marriage is better than the love that comes before " " Those are the words of wisdom," he said. " Does love come after marriage, mother? " " Most certainly, the base kind, But why this long oatechism, Vivian? You aro not thinking of love ? " "No," he replied; and he wondered at the bitter p^ng in his own heart. " No ; I was thinking of marriage." The countess looked at him with those grand, serene eyes of here. " There is a sublime state of things," she said, " which few of aa reach — that is where any one falls in love with the very person that one ought to love. And marriage and love are one ; for instance, if Linda has fallen in love with the duke, so muoh the better. Any one falling in love with Lady Ethel Pierpont would bo very happy, because every earthly advantage is combined with such a love." " Ha turned abruptly away, wondering at the pain he felt. What caused it ? What did it mean ? The count€3B oontinued : " Your father and myself intend to have Linda's marriage celebrated in all state and aeremony. The first marriage in a family h always a groat event. I naod to fancy that yonrs would be the first, Vivian." " So it was," he thought to himself, with a bitter sigh ; " ifc wao indeed the first marriago. Never mind, it was for honor's sake." " I hate been thinking,"' continued his lady mother, " that Linda mußt have b*autiful brides-maids. I wish — I Bhould like to invite the Pierponts." There was a dead pause : neither mother no* son spoke for a few minutes. She was watching bim ; he waa looking gloomily away. " Why not ask them, mother?" ha said, at last. " Lady Pierpont is so particular ; sha never likes her young daughters to visit where there are marriageable men." " Then how does she expect the Lady Ethel ever to got married ?" The countess nmiled with calm diidain. " My dear Vivian, I had not imns;incd you so ignorant of the world's ways. L^y Ethel will be married aa royal princesses aro married—to the »ost eligible man that offers. Sj far from being takan about to moot eligible men, she will be k«pt out of the way. Ifc must bs something more than a mere eligible man for Lady Ethel Pierpont." There was no reply ; but the gloomy look that deepened on her son's handsome face reemed to give the countP3S much pleasure. What keen, bitter anguish it would have caused had aha known what brought it there ! "I think," said Lady Waldrove, "that I shall make the experiment. I can hardly imagine that Lady Piorpont would refuse ms. Of coime, if Linda were marrying a commoner, ifc cohlcl uot be thought of ; but marrying a duke ii quite another thing. Lidy E libel and Gartsude could be first brido ma ; ds. How silent you ara, Vivian." "I am thinking, mother. I am listening to all you say, and thinking of it. I—lI — I hope you will a<ik them, and they will come. I should lika to see this beauty of yours, just for once, before I go." " What a despondent tone!" laughed the countess. " Yes, I think that I ahall ask her ; it will bo one of the events of the day— the dnko's marriage." "Da you oxpeot that ifc will be soon?" he asked. " Yes ; the duke eeerae very impakien). This is September — he wants it to take place in Oitober, if we can manape it. I think wo can. It is a great thing for Linda. I shall feel that I have not lived in vain if I liva long enough to see my children marry well. I shall begin to think for you next, Vivian." Yet, as she spoke, she knew that she had arranged every detail of hia marriage with the Lidy Eohel. She merely apoka so to throw him off bi<* guard. His faca waa pale with pain when he turned to her. " D i not think about my marriage, mother," he paid; " I shall not marry." " You muit !" she aniwored, with hor cold, clear, pitiless voice. " Waothor you winh to marry or not, you must do so. Anestatolike this demands aaorificsg, and they must bs made. You will marry quickly enough — you are young enough to enjoy freedom now." " I nhall never nmry, mothor," he repeated; but Lidy Waldrove only laughed— she did not pay the least attention to his worda. " Have you been disappointed in love already, Vivian?" ehe asked. He looked up with an air of relief. " I have admired many girls," he said, " and I have been sorry for other 3; but I never imagined myself in love in all my life." " There is some comfort in that," thought the counters to herself. " Many young men of hia age have gone through half a dozen love affairs." She little dreamed that the love affairs of other men had been baby-play when compared with the affair of " honor" of her son. The counteßB sent hsr invitation, and it was accepted. She was delighted, but she said little. Her eon's preoccupied manner made her slightly anxious, What if, after all, ho should love this beautiful Lady Ethel with a mad, deep love, and nho should refuse him. The countess thought it wiser to say very littlo, but the mischief wa3 already done. There was great preparations made for the wedding. Boseneath seemed Riven up to the hands of all kinds of people. Lady Waldrove had a beauti ul suito of rooms entirely refurnished for the Lsdy Ethel, and Lord Carsdrdo took great interest in the designs. "It was only natural," ha said to himself, " that he should like to see l«er ; it would be something like seeing the Venus of Milo come to life." In the midst of all these preparations of the choosing of carriages and horses, jewels and luxuries of all kinds, there came to him one morning a little plaintive letter. It said : 11 My Dk\u llu^iund :— When Bhall you rei.urn, or when ohall 1 hear from you ? It scorns ho loDg ainco I Baw you — I am quite sad with longing for even one line." (To be continued.)