CHAPTER XXVII (Continued). BESSIE SAYS "YES" AT LAST.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2242, 20 November 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XXVII (Continued). BESSIE SAYS "YES" AT LAST.

For a few seconds she felt indignant at his abruptness, and then she reflected that this was the third time this man had asked her to marry him, that even the knowledge of her history had made no difference whatever in his steady devotion ; that she loved him dearly, and that if they once got over the first shock women more often than not succumb to these blunt woeis. 4 Philip,' she said at last, ' it shall bo as you will.' 4 Then dearest, you belong to me,' was his rejoinder, and he clasped her in his arms and kissed her. 'Now, Bes&ie, I have nothing in the main remember to learn about your history, but I do want to ask you one or two questions. How much do you know of your mother ?' •Next to nothing, as I told Dr. Injfleby, I have seen her only occasionally. Such a fine handsome woman, and with a charming voice and manner. She kissed me and fondled me, but seemed always under some sort of restraint, and, if, as more than once happened, our aunt interrupted our interview, sho immediately became formal and cold in her manner. I am sure she was bound by gome pact to my aunt to bg nothing- more than a mere nominal mother to me. When I implored her to lot me come and Bee her Bhe said it was impossible, and I never even saw her house, nor do I know where she lived. I tbink my mother and I could have loved each other dearly if w*> had ever been given the chance, but we aaw each other so rarely.' 'And what about your sister — half sister, I mean ?' 4 Siarer !' exclaimed Bes&ie, 4 I did'nt know I had one.' 4 Well, she is ouly your half-sister, but Nydia Foxborough is, I am told, a very pretty and charming girl.' 4 1 should like that. I should like to have a sister, Philip. Shall I ever know her, I wonder ?' said Bessie, softly. ' Yea, you will know her, and see a great deal of her, little woman, I hope, in days shortly to come. You have heard I have an old college chum staying with me ?' « You told us so at tea-time.' 4 Well he, Herbert Morant, is engaged to marry Nydia Foxborough, and I intend that Herbert Morant shall turn brewer and become a partner in the firm of Soamea and Son. And it will be Herbert's own fault if it don't come off, and when a man's really in love I can vouch for his bpcoming very resolute,' concluded Phil, laughing. 4 Very desperate,' interposed Bessie. 4 1 can't give you baok your troth, now dearest. I'm too foolish, it would break my heart, but I'm afraid, Phil, you are not doing a very prudent thing in marrying me, but to take care of my unknown •ister besides is too good of you, for you aro indirectly taking care of her you know. Yqu muat bring this Mr Morant

I out and let me know biir. I shall be so I pleased to tilk to him about Nydia.' •Yes/ laughed Phil, 'and, groat heavens, won't he jump at the opportunity ! I've a good deal of difficulty in supposing a tendency to talk to him about you, 1 doubt whether I should be allowed if I tried, Herbert has so much to say abont your sister. She's a sweet pretty girl, judging from her photograph, but not in the least liko you, though I hear she is a miniatare edition of her mother.' 1 Mamma is tall,' observed Bes-ie. 4 And Nid, as Herbert calls her, pottite. She is endowed with every charm and virtue under the sun. I need scarcely pay that the testimony is biassed, and if a man is not biassed in favour of his betrothed ho 's not in lo\e with her. If f-ho be not all grace and perfection in his eye?, well !' " 'Well, what?' asked Bessie roguishly. 4 His fetters aro not snapped to,' rejoined Soaraes, laughing. ' Mine darling, are well rivetted, and, faith, when you talk to Herbert Morant I think I'll admit his manacles are satisfactorily soldered on.' 1 Ah, well, I shall be charmed to listen to him for a long afternoon. I have always so longod for a bister, and you say she is nice.' 'No, pardon me, I never said so. Herbert does ; he Knows her and I don't. All I say is, if the sun don't lie, she should be a very pretty girl, but I've only seen her photograph.' 4 When am I to sep her ?' asked Bessie. 4Ah ! that I can't say. It depends a little upon this miserable murder. I fancy the police have rather chauged their views about il of late, but they don't take us into their confidence. Miss Foxborough down here just at present would bo an impossibility, you know.' 1 Yes, and I ferveutly trust now that Mr Foxborough will bo acquitted of the crime. Ifc would be a wall between Nydia and myself were it otherwise.' ' For the present, perhaps, yes, but not of necessity in the future. In the meanwhile we must not speculate on disagreeable subjects.' ' But. Philip,' said Bessie, in a low tone, as they continued to pace up and down, ' am I to tell Mrs Fossdyke all my stories ? Would it be best ?' 1 Yes ! tell her everything, prefacing it with the intimation that you are ! pledged to be my wife. 1 i 'It shall be as my lord wills,' rejoined Bessie ; ' but I own I think it will pain Mrs Fossdyke.' Fhil Soames gave a low laugh ere he replied — 'To think, dearest, a man's wit for nnce in a case of this sort should eclipse a woman's. Mrs Fossdyke may be a little startled at, fi>st, but in telling your story you will of course make her clearly understand you never even saw your stepfather. Well, you will satisfy no little, curiosity she feels about your previous life, and the auuouncemeut that we are t-ngaged will, lam sure, please her. You know Bessie as well as I do that though she has never been so injudicious as to attempt matchmaking between us, she has iv many little ways never attempted to conceal that she would be pleased if we did happen to take a fancy to one another. 1 'Philip.' cried tho girl, as the blood rushed to her temples, 'you have no right to talk like that. It seems ' ' Stop,' interrupted Soames, 'it seems as if you were about to observe that one of the twain was a long while taking that fancy. She can't say it was altogether my fault, for, my darling, if ever a man won a bride by thorough belief in her, devoted love for her, and persistent refusal not to take 'no ' for an answer, I think I did. I'll hear no word against Mrs Fossdyke.' 4 1 wasn't swing to say anything .against her. What I meant was this — ' cried Bessie. 4 Which was not in the least the case,' replied Phil. 'You were goiug to insinuate that like Benedick I was trapped into falling in love with you. Not a bit of it ; before I'd known you six wrecksw r eeks I'd vowed to marry you, and on my word, Bessie, there was a time when I thought I was like to be foresworn.' • For your own sake, my love,' she replied softly. 'If it had not been for that, Phil, T am afraid I should have surrendered at the first assault, and that the telegraph board on the cricket field would only have recorded the half of your triumphs.' Soames pressed her arm in reply, and said, ' Walk with me to the gate, Bessie, for it is time I got home to entertain your brother-in-law, that is to be after all these family matters are arranged.' 1 And you are sure I had better tell Mrs Fossdyke everything ?' asked the girl, as they strolled down the drive. 4 Quite, because Bessie, she might learn the story in some shape at any time now. We have thought it best to let the police know everything, and though they promise not to make unnecessary parade of the knowledge we have afforded them, it is quite possible they may have no help fdr it.' 4 Were you right to tell them so much ?' 4 Yes, Bessie, I think so. One has no right to keep back evidence that seems to bear upon a great crime, or for the matter of that a little one. In our case all I can say is the officer in charge of the case seems to think wo have done Foxboroufih good service. I don't in the least understand why, nor did he condescend to explain why, but, my darling, straightforward policy generally seems to me to be most profitable in this world in the long run. Now pet, give me a kiss, and then scamper home aud remember you've sent a real happy man on his road home tonight.' So saying. Phil clasped the girl in his arms, and claimed lawful tribute from her freely yielded lips. 4 Good night ! and away with you,' he -•! * is he released her. ' 4 Don't be airaiti, but that, though she may weep a bit after your story, Mrs Fossdyke will be very pleased with it on the whole. Once more, good night !' Bessie sped home with a light heart. Confession to Mrs Fossdyke might be I'vkward, but what did it matter, Philip loved her. She was Philip's now, spite of everything. He knew all about her, and had clasped her to his breast, and caMed her his plighted wife, and laughed at the idea of her poor biography making my kind of difference in his feelings. Ah ! yes, as Philip's fiancee and authorised by him to tell it, what recked she if the world knew her whole story. Personally, she knew she was blameless.