Novelist. [ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] TWICE TRIED,

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2572, 5 January 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

Novelist. [ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] TWICE TRIED,

BY ANNIE S. SWAN, Author of " Aldersyde," "Carlowrie," " Across Her Path," " Sundered Hearts," &c.

CHAPTER VII.—AY ok NO ? Mr. Burnett was an exceedingly amiable ruanandan indulgent father but lie could be sternly angry at times, and then his children quaked before him. Now, if lie had one special desire in this world, it was to see his eldest daughter the wife of Robert Angus, and there had been no prouder or better pieased man in Auchengray than lie that day when Robert asked his permission to pay liis addresses to Amy. It was not only that it was a good settlement in life for her (for, in addition to his expectations from his father, Robert Angus had inherited a considerable fortune from his mother,) he was a son-in-law of whom any man might be proud, He had never been mixed up in any follies o£ which so many young men are guilty ; his life from his very boyhood had been a pure and spotless page, in which even the most censorious could not find a flaw or a blemish. Such being the case, it was no wonder that both Burnett's father and mother had gladly and thankfully promised her to Robert Angus. Knowing him so well, Mr. Burnett guessed that it was not from a mere punctilio he liad absented himself froai The Thorn so long. No. Amy must have given him some real ground for offence; audit was his nature tostand aloof until that offence was acknowledged, for he was as proud as a prince where his own honour was concerned, and would not swerve an inch, even for the woman lie loved. As Mr Burnett walked home that afternoon, thinking over the thing all the way, he grew gradually more irritated and annoyed, until by the the time h -cached his own house, lie had maue himself seriously angry. He let himself in, and went into the study, where Mary was lying full Vrngth on the rug devouring " The of Nigel." She jumped lip at her father's entrance, and, gathering from his face that he was

displeased about something, began to move quickly out of the room. " Wlien;'s your sister 1 Is she in the house V he asked, abruptly. " Which one papa V queried Mary rather timidly. " Amy, of course. Wliat should I want with the children V heaskud sharply. "Go and find her, and tell her I want her down hero at once."

Mary gladly made her escape, feeling inwardly thankful that shewas not Amy, though very sorry

that she had so evidently fallen under the ban of her father's rare displeasure. Mary was a shrewd girl, and like these very quiet people, saw more than anybody imagined. She quickly surmised that it was about Robert Angus her father was going to take her sister to task. Amy was in the drawing-room, trying her eyes in the already fading light over an exquisite piece of crewl work, for she was an adept in making these pretty trifles which cost botli time and money, and which are in constant requisition for bazaars and fancy fairs.

"Father wan f s you in the study, Amy," said Mary, breaking in upon her reverie. " You had better make haste. lie said you were to come at once."

Amy jumped up at once.

" Dear me, papa wants me in the study! What can it be for?" she wondered, as she folded up her work. " Do you think he is aimry, Polly?"

"I am afraid ho is, Amy," Mary admitted, whereat Amy compressed her lips, and marched boldly dawnstairs. She, too, had a pretty good guess what her father wanted her for ; but she felt herself equal to the occasion. She found her father standing on the hearth-rug, solemnly waiting for her, and wearing a very stern expression, which rathe diminished her courage.

" Well, papa, what is it?"

"Shut that door, please. Now, then, tell mo what you mean by making a fool of yourself, and trying to make one of .Robert Angus too —eh ?

" What do you mean, papa ?" queried Amy, faintly, beginning to fear that he knew far more than she had the faintest idea of.

Vision of innumerable moonlight and starlight walks, innumerable sweet words and flattering vows, to which she had no right to listen, and which, no doubt, some spy had reported to her father or lover, or both, rose up before her mind and made her quake.

" Mean ! Bless me, girl, can't you be content with one sweetheart at a time, 1 You are engaged to Robert Angus, and mean to be ills wife ; why on earth do you encourage the silly attentions of a jackanapes like Rolfe Ransome V Amy's fair face, flushed crimson at this contemptuous allusion to the young man whom she had invested with a halo of romance such as surrounds the heroes of poetry and story, but which the reality of work-a-day life speedily dispels. " If Robert Angus lias been complaining to you, father, it shows his mean, ungentlcmanly spirit," she said hotly. " lie seems to think that because he did mo the infinite honour to ask me to he his wifo I should be for ever grateful and expect nothing more. No -woman with any sense of what is clue to her would be content with the meagre attention ho thinks fit to bestow upon me. It is time Ills eyes were opened ; better now than when it is too late."

Mr. Burnett listened to his daughter's words in extreme surprise. " Bless me, girl? Ho came to see you every night. He was always planning things for your enjoyment, and 1 am sure he has spent plenty of money on trinkets and such like," he said, pointing to the exquisite diamond brooch and ear-drops, his gifts, with which she was adorned.

" What more do you want 1 Perhaps he didn't Hatter you, and talk a lot of rubbish to you 1 but didn't that show that he respected you more than those who do ? Be careful what you are about, my girl ; a man like Robert Angus isn't to be picked up every day—remember that."

" I'm sick of having that dinned into my ears, morning noon and night. In my opinion, Robert Angus is n very ordinary man," said Amy, still hotly. "It shows how much he cares for me, anyway, that he has stayed away so long." " There is a reason for that, you know very well," said Mr Burnett, significantly. " Robert Angus loves you, but he will not lose his self-respect for the best woman alive. I know him too well. Well, then, the question is this. Are you going to be off with him altogether ?"

The girl's fair face paled a little, She was not prepared to go so far yet. Some lingering tenderness for the absent one remained, for he had been good to her, he had loved her well—none knew it better than she.

" How am I to know, papa 1" she said pettishly, her lovely eyes filling with tears of vexation. "Do you want me to walk into Auchengray and go down on my knees before him 1"

" Don't be absurd. No, I don't want that; but I'll tell you what I do want, and what I mean to have —no more of young Itan.somc hang■g about the house. If you don't jive him his leave I'll do it, and not quite so politely, Apart from you altogether, he is not a good companion for the boy. One thing more; take a bit of fatherly advice, my dear, given to you in love. Be faithful and kind to Robert Angus, for he is a good man, and will make you the best of husbands. Don't estimate that lightly, for, let me tell you, good husbands are growing scarcer and scarcer every day. Robert Angus may not have ko much polish about him as some, but iie is the true sort, it's the story of the gold and the glitter: take care not to bo deceived. And mind that he won't stand \'o.\y mucii more. No manly mnn will allow a woman to play with him. If he

does, lie loses both her respect and his own, and the love soon follows suit. Now, off you go, and mind what I have said."

Amy had no more to say, and, leaving the room, .she went upstairs to her own, with her hands clasped before her, and an unusually thoughtful expression on her pretty face. She sat down in her quiet chamber and followed the chain of thought her father's plain speaking had started. Now, though Amy had been pleased and flattered by Rolfe Hansome's admiration, and though she had found his passionate protestations and vows of eternal devotion very sweet in comparison with her lover's eoollcr wooing, she was not at all prepared to give Robert Angus up. She was not blind to the advantages of position he could oH'er her. Mrs Hubert Angus, of Fairgate, would be a person of no mean importance in Auchengray, whereas Mrs Rolfe Ransome would be nobody at all—•

Amy Burnett weighed (he thing carefully in her own mind in a worhly-wise manner, which w;is surprising, seeing she had been reared in such an un-worlrlly home, and surrounded with the most affectionate influences all hot , life. Finally she came to the conclusion that her father was right, and that she would need to woo Robert back to his allegiance. That, of course, would involve the sacrifice of Rolfe's sweet adulation, a certainty which caused a faint sigh to escape the coquette's lips. Acting upon the impulse of the moment, she opened lief desk to pen a little pleading note to Robert; but she was not a ready writer, and got no further than "Dear "Robert, —Why do you stay away so long ?" Then she shut up the desk, resolved to leave the thing till a more convenient season, and hearing Jim's cheery whistle in the hall, went off downstairs. " Ilulloa, Amy ! You'd better get on that fine fancy frock to-night and give your hair an extra frizz," he said, teasingly. " Angus is coming to-night." "Is ho? What time?" " Oh, about seven, I suppose. You don't deserve that he should come," said Jim, grimly, "See if you can't behave yourself. I don't know why girls can't appreciate a thorough good fellow like Angus when they get him." " What do you know about anything 1" queried Amy, loftily, and passed on, outwardly indifferent, but inwardly relieved and glad. A little before seven that evening a slight figure, warmly wrapped up, stole oufc of the house and ran lightly across the park towards the avenue. It w;,s a lino moon-light night, and a figure coming up from the lodge gates could easily be recognised from where Amy stood. She had not long to wait, for in a minutes the long swinging tread, so familiar, came sounding through the stillness, and she saw the tall figure of Robert Angus coming towards her. When lie was within a hundred yards of her she stepped out from behind the trees "which sheltered her, and went to meet him.

"Is it you, Amy 1" he asked, in surprised tones, but not offering to kiss her, or even to touch her hand. "Yes, it's me," she said, rather pathetically. "Jim told mo you wero coming, and I came to meet you. But you don't, seem glad to see me." " You are sure it was me you came to meet?' he said, quietly. " Of course, who else could it be?" " You might have expected Ransome," Robert answered quickly, and they turned and began to cross the park together without saying another word. Amy was nearly crying with vexation. Her power over Robert Angus was too evidently gone, for he took not the smallest notice of her woe-begone expression and beseeching eyes. When they reached the edge of the park, and were within sight of the bouse, he suddenly stood still and faced her.

'■ I have something to say to you, Amy, before wo go in. We bad better come to an understanding at once and for all."

Amy shivered a little for she felt a little afraid of her lover when he spoke like that.

"It is nearly a fortnight since I was at the Thorn before, Amy—a fortnight to-night since ] passed you and Ransome down there," he said, pointing in the direction of the North liodge. "I have waited patiently for an explanation of that scene. Why has none come ?" " What could I say, except that I was sorry if you were vexed 1 Was it so very unpardonable to walk a little way with him without meaning anything ?" she asked, innocently.

Robert Angus impatiently shook his head.

" Well, Amy, leaving that altogether out of the question, please to answer me one thing truly. It is the first and last time I shall ask it. Whether do you care for him or for me 1" "I promised to be your wife, Robert Angus; yet you ask me that!" she said, in an aggrieved voice. " I do, and I require a true and earnest answer, Amy. if you please. I am tired of this nonsense, and must have it ended either way." She moved near to him, so near that her dress touched him, and her head was very near his shoulder. But he never stirred.

" I am waiting for my answer," he said, quite oalnily. " If you are tired of me, and

don't want me for your wife, of course 1 can't help it; only its very hard, after making me love you," she said, beginning to sol).

"Do you mean those words, Amy ? Answer mn truly. If 1 seem cold and hard, I am to be forgiven. It is the happiness of both our lives we. an; about to decide,. IJe womanly and true for once, Amy," Robert Angus said, with a heavy tremor in his voice;. The next moment the while arms were clasped about, his neck, her gulden hair pillowed on his breast; and he held her very close to him. " You will let me speak (.0 your father tonight, Amy, and you will bo my wife very soon 1 The house is almost rtndy, and there is no need to wait. I will be happier and more at rest when you belong to me."

" Yes, yes, Robert, whenever you like, and I will try and not vox you any more," cried Amy, really penitent now.

"I have given my honour and happiness into your keeping, Ann , , as you have given me yours, (iod help us to be faithful and true to each other to the end," he said, hoarsely. Then he lifted the (air face to his, and kissed it once not with a lover's passionate fondness, but with a grave tenderness, which seemed to Amy Burnett like the confirmation of some solemn vow. CHAPTER VIII.— His Father's Wife. Seven rang, first on tho clock in the hall, and then from the dainty little timepiece on the drawing-room mantelpiece, and in a few .seconds the deep-toned bell in the Town Hall steeple followed suit. The sound seemed to rouse Robert Angus from some reverie, for he started up. stirred the (ire into a brighter blaze, and iinally walked over to the oriel window and looked out. It was a fine, hard March evening, clear and bright and bracing, but bitterly cold, and the keen wind would nip the young buds and tender leaves which had begun to brighten the wintry earth. Twilight was darkening down, but he could see right down to the end of High-street, but the carriage for which he was watching was not in sight. Surely guests were expected at the Bank House, for liobcrt Angus was in evening attire, which became him fairly well. He stepped back to the fireplace, and looked about him with a scarcely perceptible sigh. Tho room was not as he remembered it in his younger days, when it had been his mother's favourite resort, and had the appearance of a place where you could be comfortable and at home at once. That homely look was gone now, for the upholsterers had done their best to make it beautiful for its new mistress.

Jt had been entirely refurnished in ebony and rich crimson plush ; a new Erard piano had taken the place of the homely square piano which had sufficed for the musical needs of the banker's former wife, and there were countless costly articles, gems of art and vertu, which helped to make up the beautiful whole. But it required that nameless and indescribable something to crown its beauty— those tender, graceful inimitable touches which only a woman can bestow, aud which it remained to be spon whether the young wife would impart to her new home. The drawing-room alone had been refitted for her; the rest of the house remained untouched. If Robert Angus was in rather a nervous frame of mind he may be excused, for in a few minutes he would be called upon to utter his word of welcome to his father's wife. He had not yet met her ;he had not been at the quiet wedding which had taken place in Edinburgh a fortnight ago, and which had been the absorbing topic with Stnithblane and Auchengray busybodies both before and since.

Kolfo B/insome was in the house, too, lounging ou the couch in the library. By tacit, agreement- those two men kept apart; they had nothing to say to each other and only exchanged the barest civilities when occasion demanded. Punctually at a quarter past seven the rattle of wheels broke the stillness, and immediately head after head peered over window blind aud round half-open doors, straining to catch a glimpse of tho bride and the bridegroom. The carriage, of course, was closed, and was driven so rapidly that there was no chance of even a glimpse for the eager onlookers. When it drew up at the Bank door Robert Angus left the drawing-room and went downstairs, meeting his father in the hall as he led his wife in. She was closely mufllcd in furs, and her veil was down but when Mr Angus briefly and rather nervously introduced her to his son she raised it and looked full iu itobert's face. That look, its indescribable pathetic wistfulnes.s, which almost seemed to crave his forgiveness, went to his heart at once, Strange to say, their greeting was one of absolute silence, but their hands met in a firm, warm clasp, and that one glance from Robert's true eyes rolled away a great burden from the heart of Isabel Angus.

" is liolfe not liei'o?' , she asked, presently, and Robert was quick to note the rich, yet exquisite sweetness of her voice.

" Yf:B, i:c'.s liorc," Ciinie Il')]fo'.s drawling tones through tbo lilirary door, and presently ho sauntered

out, in :> very ]oi.->nrely fashion, and, after cruvhssly kissing his sister's cheek and slinking hands with Mr Angus, he surveyed the party with a grin. " I think dinner is almost ready, father," .said Robert, with his quick t.iict. " Hero comes Christina to show Mrs Angus to her rooms." (To be rniiluiunJ.)