Novelist. [ALL RIGHTS RESFRVED.] Love's Labour Won: AN EVENTFUL STORY.

Waikato Times, Volume 2632, Issue 2632, 25 May 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

Novelist. [ALL RIGHTS RESFRVED.] Love's Labour Won: AN EVENTFUL STORY.

BY JAMES GRANT. Author of "The K'nuaiico of War," " Ihe Black Watch," "lMiiver thsm a Fairy," &c., &e.

C 1:1 AP iEH Yl.—Goxtixu i'.d. Though apparently occupied with Reginald Talbot, when Sir Brisco saw Mclanic with the young oiKe-sr, though ho knew nothing of their engagement, or had the faintest suspicion that they were more than oridinary acquaintances, he felt a little, but irrepressible envy and chagrin, as he thought of the gulf his own sixty years and more opened between himself and her.

It is Emerson who says that if we did not iind the reflection of ourselves in the eyes of young people, we could not know, perhaps, that the century clock had struck seventy instead of twenty. Thus, though Sir Brisco felt himself old, especially by comparison, he was by no means disposed to flinch from the task—if task it was —of winning Melanie, who just then looked so charming in a well-fitted light summer dress, which, being without shawl or jacket, displayed the outline of her shapely bust and shoulders ; her hair, of the richest browu shaded by a most piquante hat while her long gloves being oft', revealed the whiteness of her hands and tapering arms. Considering what had passed between them before at the lawn tenis party and elsewhere there was something decidedly awkward in their meeting again, under any circumstances. Both felt this, but Molanie had all a woman's delicacy and tact, and the baronet's mature years enabled him to control his features and emotions better than a younger nian might have done, and this imparted o. certain coolness and confidence to the bearing of Melanie.

" So you have qui to forgiven us for trespassing, notwithstanding that terrible hoard with its threats about prosecution and being shot !" she said, with a playful laugh. You have the right to roam over and use at your pleasure, every acre ■of Ravensbourne Hall," said ho, gallantly. " Thanks." "Yes," he continued in a losv voice, " us Jtuiis says—after all, the

right divine of beauty is the only one a Briton ought to acknowledge and a pretty woman tho only tyrant he is not authorised to resist."

Melanio laughed again—as she

sipped her tea—but less easily ; his compliments and lovemaking were always old-fashioned, too direct, and somewhat on stilts.

And now, tlie Hussar having contrived to appropriate Amy Brandon, the poor occupant of the .Bathchair was left a little to himself.

Horace Musgrave was si- lider, straight, and certainly rather distin-guished-looking, with a decided light cavalry >\ir about him. In the face he was regular-featured deeply bronzed by the Egyptian sun, close-sha-ven, with a heavy dark moustache shading a well-cut mouth. Moreover, he had earnest, honest, and handsome eyes, with not an atom of the fashionable and cultivated air of boredom, so often effected by the blase English " softy." Horace was too genuine a soldier for that, and contrived within a short space to say some very pleasing things to little Amy, occasioning a momentary lifting of her soft eyes of hazel-grey, whichfilled him with a natural desire to see theni again ; but now she, dropped them, busy, apparently with a bouquet at her breast. "I do so love (lowers !" said she. " What, or which, particularly V he asked. "Rosebuds and lilies of the val'oy." Amy JBrendon was seldom called beautiful, but there was a calm sweetness in expressive face ; and all who knew her loved her for the gentleness of Iter disposition, the goodness of her heart and the charm of her manner. Reginald Talbot doted, as we have indicated ; he was so lonely and helpless, she so kind gentle and sisterly, and, like Melanie, sympathised with all his serious thoughts and disappointed aspirations, and this helped him to endure an existence, of tho hopeless monotony ofwhich he was often well nigh weary. Musgrave regarded her admiringly. She was graceful with a natural grace—having in every action of her petite figure the bearing and movement which are in born and cannot be acquired, and which are really a combination of freedom and propriety—innocence and softness of disposition. " Poor Reggie !" thought she, suddenly, while, attracted by an almost reproachful expression in his eyes, she again drew near him, followed by Musgrave, who held out a hand, and said abruptly, with a light smile. " Don't you remember me ?" " Musgrave of the i i ussars—-of course 1 do, now," said Reggie.

" And you-—you are the Lieutenant, of the Ibis gunboat."

" W hose life you saved at Mac Neiie's zereba."

» Yes— a devil of a I>it of mis- < management that, I svoiuler that oik; of us left the place alive. Well , —the world is ;i small place after all:" added Musgrave, as they sliook i hands, and a bright expression spread ■ over the usually grave face of the < invalid. " Have a cigar," continued the Hussar proffering a handsome silver case ; " we are al fresco- —the ladies cannot object. You'll know the brand—l got them straight from 1 iavannnh.'' " Thanks—l was in the zereba with the Naval Brigade," said young Talbot, sadly. " And what occurred T asked Sir Brisco. " When the square was forced, and the few mounted vedettes burst through it for shelter, tin re rolled behind them a human tide of yelling, howling, and ferocious Arabs —a black mass, picked out here and there by their flashing weapons, accompanied by a strange sound, the crackling of the branches and brushwood through which they rushed upon us, Then came the wild stampede of baggage animalshorses, camels and muies. I was at the edge of the square, and many others were borne to the ground, while over us swept the Arabs, hewing like fiends or madmen, right and left; with their long crosshilted swords, slashing at camels and men alike in that gory shamble, from which there went up a shout of agony and despair that might make a man wake in his sleep for years to come, and which I hope may haunt the useless bodies to whom we owed it all," continued Reginald, his eyes sparkling as he recalled that terrible scene. " The Arabs were among us ancl over us like wild-fire, hamstringing the baggage animals right and left—it was a mighty wave of kicking, biting and plunging brutes, amid the dying and the dead, struggling to escape. A camel was killed over me, and lying there helpless without a wound, I must have been' butchered by the Arabs, had not Musgrave, whose horse was killed under him, rushed out, cut a passsage through the press with his sword, and borne me into the Berkshire zereba, where the soldiers, taken by surprise, were fighting back to back in their shirt-sleeves; and but for Musgnne I must have i perished, for I was doubly helpless, , my sword blade having been broken ; in my hand, in the first of the Arab : rush." " What a scene it muse have :• been !" exclaimed Sir Brisco. j " Pandemonium broken loose - would be a joke compared to it," said Musgrave, laughing. " How shall I—-how shall we i ever be able to thank you V' asked e Melanie, as she laid her hands on

Musgrave's arm, while looking at him with inexpressible sweetness in her eyes. " Reggie never tolct us of this terrible episode till now."

" He is a modest man, you see," replied Musgrave, smiling down at the speaker.

" f was very different then, Musgrave, from what I am now," said Talbot, somewhat mournfully.

"I heard of your case, and your being invalided home ; but you will get over all this, old fellow, f hope." " Never —never !" replied Reggie, and he shook his head sadly—so sadly that Melanie felt her heart wrung for him, and announced that now they must return home.

" Have 1 your permission to call at Rose Cottage?" asked Sir JJrisco, in a low voice, and with diffidence and hesitation.

" I riui ;it homo in tho afternoon generally," replied Melanio, growing somewliat pule with annoyance, as she saw all tlmt permission might include; "but," bhe added, "my uncle is in town just now."

" When lie returns then, I shall leav'O a card—we are neighbours, you know—though you deem me but a mere acquaintance—after all," he added, in a lower tone, which made her grow paler still, while her eyes drooped. "Come with Captain Lonsdale; he knows Uncle Grimshaw,'' said Melanie, feeling a little desperate. " And Reggie will, .1 am sure, always be glad to see you," she added to Musgrave; "you will have so much in common to talk about."

A covert glance, full of sweetest meaning, was exchanged (unseen by others) between Melanie and Montague Lonsdale, and the parties separated, where ths narrow wooded pathway joined the high-road, the Hussar dragging Ihe wheel-chair of Reggie, Dick shoving behind, and Bingo in an i-cstacy of barking by his "side. To the Royal Hussar, there was certainly a novelty in this new work ; but it had in it that whieY someone describes as " the delightful sense of doing or playing at something, which survives with most people from their childhood, and tlie indulgence whereof, seems, for a time, to bring that childhood

back, with its consequence, enjoyment and free happiness." And when Uncle Grimshaw did return, he heard of the rencontre with pleasure, and rubbed his hands in the exuberance of his satisfaction. But to .Melanie, the joy that Lonsdale was so near her, was overclouded by the knowledge of whose guest he was there.

CHAPTER Yll.—Horace MusGK.VYF. Bcforo breakfast time next clay, two bouquets, liGiiutifully selected find made up, arrived at Ivose Cottage, where Amy was staving for a few flays in tlio absence of Mr Grimshaw." Ouo was from Montague Lonsdale, with a, lover-liko noto for Melanie, and the other, which was chiefly rosebuds and lily of the valley, was for her friend, with the curd of " Captain Horace L. L. Musgravo, JXoyal Hussars " ; and Amy coloured with pleasure, and not a little vanity, to the roots of her thick dark hair, on finding that the donor had remembered that which had almost been forgotten, that she had named particularly these as her favourite flowers. So trifles make tho sum oi' human things. "L. L, —What do these letters stand for ? " askod Amy ; but Molanio was too intent on Lonsdale's note to hear her question.

But Amy could little forseo what pain and trouble in tho future these fatal initials were to cost her !

The satisfaction of Uncle (irinishaw fit the expected visit of his neighbour, tho baronet., was somewhat clouded when he heard from Dick of who was one of tho guests at L'avcnsbourne.

''The deuce! " thought he. "Is that follow there'? Is not the world wido enough to keep these two fools apart a little more ? Complications are sure to come about, and if Sir Brisco learns tho footing- on which this holiday captain is with Melanie, all clniuco of him will ho lost for over."

And he darted an angry look at his niece, who now, with many a si^h —but not of repining—had to consider again, all the small economies, the petty contrivances, and small shifts incident to " genteel poverty," for such life was at Rose Cottage after all the expensive wants and tastes of Uncle Grimshaw had been considered.

With regard to the affair of Melanie and Captain Montague Lonsdale, the guardian uncle was tolerably quiescent just now. He knew the full extent which remained of that officer's leave of abeenoe—little more than a month now; he had reckoned every day thoreof, and hoped that when Lonsdale departed from India, or liunnah, or wherever he was bound, they would see the last o£ him ; and then must come the time to put the due pressure on Melanie, should she still prove refractory. And in these views Mrs (Jhillington somewhat impatiently coincided.

Indeed, the note which came with the bouquet contained a sentence which seemed somewhat of a death-knell to noor Melanie. JNo

quiet staff appointments were to be had just then, and if there were, he could not apply for one, as his regiment was now under orders for foreign service in Jjurinah.

A nd even were it otherwise, and he could marry her and take her out to share his bungalow in some

remote Indian cantonment, to what might not the helpless Reggie, and the most equally helpless .Dick, who could not work and must not want, be subjected by an uncle so selfish, and annoyed that by such a marriage she had lost Sir Brisco's wealth, and left tho two upon his hands. The girl felt herself in a coil, another twist of which seemed to close round her, when, the day after her uncle's return, Rose Cottage was visited by Sir .Brisco Riaybrooke though accompanied by his two guests. Had he known all, doubtless, he would have come alone. Certainly Mr Gideon Grimshaw, late of Birchinlane, though affecting oddly, unsuitably, and at secondhand, certain airs from those men he now met at his club, was not precisely the kind ol friend or companion Sir .Brisco would have chosen ; but tho end the latter had in view, made him warm, kind, and hospitable in his manner, as to a neighbour whose! society he was resolved—and would be delighted—to cultivate. On the other hand, 'Mr Grimshaw was well aware of the old baronet's .£20,<100 per annum, which, with all file concomitants thereof, proved quite enough to ensure almost sor-. vile favour and fervour with him ; and now some of tho baronets sunshine seemed to fall even oil the unfortunate Reginald, then —as usual when indoors stretched upon a couch. "If you arc a reader, my young friend began Sir Brisco, rising after the visit had become too protracted for Melanie's patience. "lam—a groat reader," replied the invalid ; " I have little else to occupy my time." "Then the library at Ravensbourne —rather a choice one—is heartily at your disposal." " Oh, thanks —-so much." " And then, whenever she choses, your sister, Miss Talbot, can select for you when you cannot come personally." Melanio bowed coldly, and with a distinct shade of annoyance, unseen by Sir Brisco, who departed homewards with his morning-coat adorned by a pretty button-hole—stephanotis and maidenhair fern—given by Melanie, at his request; and his thoughts were so absurdly full of the fair donor thereof, that he could not help displaying it with peculiar satisfaction to Montague Lonsdale, on whom she had deemed it unwise to bestow another, under her uncle's cold and glittering eyes.

Poor Hii- ihisco had not tho most remote suspicion that there was more than tho merest acquaintanceship between Mi'innie ami his guest Lonsdale ; nor did Ik; detect it in tho future. The couple kept it a profound socret m> far as their bearing in public was concerned, of course ; and certainly for obvious reasons, neither Aunt Chiiliiigton nor Air Grimshav." were likely to enlighten him in the matter ; and the latter, until Lonsdale's departure from liavensbourne, at least, was not anxious that there should be much visiting between that place and humble Rose Cottage.

Reginald Talbot remarked that Amy's deep interest in Melonie's lover was considerably blended with another interest in his friend the Hussar, many of whose simple remarks, little compliments, and even mere commonplaces, she repeated more than once, as if they seemed to have impressed her. With the sharpened intelligence peculiar to the ailing, or the silent watcher, he was not slow to observe, too, how Amy tenderly and lovingly, with her quick little hands, disposed of IViusgrave's bouquet in a vase of water, as if wishing carefully to preserve every leaf and flower thereof to the last.

When Horace Musgave came again, after an interval, with Lonsdale. on pretence of bringing some book for him, he saw how Amy's colour heightened and her manner changed, and felt subtly how he, himself, became a second figure in the canvas of her picture ; and how, though she was never less kind, her friendly petting of him ceased. He felt it all instinctively, and with growing pain ; yet, whac was he to have the place a lover would occupy in a young girl's heart? She becomes very silent after Mustgave's departure, and seemed solely intent on fashioning a mysterious affair in coloured silks for a charity bazaar. Reginald's eyes had a sad, yearning and wistful expression on them whenever they fell on the downcast face of the girl, who seemed to have enjoyed herself with an effort under his glance, who he actually felt glad was going home to Stockencross, though the distance was trifling, and whom he startled by tossing impatiently aside the books Musgave had brought him. " You look tired, Reggie," said she, "and vet —"

'' I have not been walking you would say," he interrupted, glancing at his luilf-useless limbs. "Weil, L am tired—tired in heart, in mind and body ; even deatli would be a relief, I think, from such a life as mine!" " What has come to you, IloggieT' whupered Melanin, putting my urm round him caressingly. " Well," said he, with a. forced smile, "I was ottiy thinking that vou women are like maekarel, as we used to say in the Ibis—fond of scarlet bait —yet they like blue sometimes." "Tho Hussars wear blue," said

Dick, mischieviously ; "don't I just wish] were an Hussar!"

Amy now grew pale as the boy spoke. On the other hand, the bearing of Reginald Talbot and Amy sorely exercised tho mind of Musgrave,who speedily detected something of petulance in tho farmer.

" Can she—a creature so full of vitality, of energy, and girlish beauty —think of binding herself to an invalid—to the future and hopeless life of a sick nurse'! It is impossible !" he muttered, as ho sucked viciously at his briar-root; "in ft year she would bo eating her heart out."

Occupied by their own thoughts —Montague Lonsdale of his impending departure, and his hampered engagement. with Melanie, with whom ho continued to have many a nicetiug now ; the baronet of his—as yet bailled wishes in the same quarter; and Horace Musgrave in the ardour of a grand passion, his first, let us hope, of that kind, for Amy Brendon, they wero not very lively society for each other in such a huge barracks as Ravensbournc Hall, till other friends came, and the movements of the two military friends could be less remarked.

Lonsdale was soon, nolo to perceive that, although Reginald Talbot and Musgrave must hare had many sympathies and topics in. common concerning their recent service, in Egypt, the former did not aflect the society of tho latter much ; but seemed rather to avoid it.

And Reginald discovered incidentally, with many a pang, that on several occasions when Amy did not, as was her wont, appear at Rose. Cottage, the [lussar had ridden over to tho Vicarage, and had spent there many an hour or so with I)r. Brendon, a bookish old gentleman, whose society could scarcely be deemed the sole attraction of such visits to a young cavalry officer I

What did it all mean !

Only this, that a new and subtle sense of delight had come over the hearts of Amy and of Musgrave, who seemed a thoughtful, earnest, and good style of young fellow 1 and who, apart from the usual bearing, polish, and air of the cavalry man, had many good and sterling qualities of head and heart. Thus the simplicity, freshness, and innocence o£ Amy, with her brightness and childlike esjne'jlcri'', charmed him beyond any girl in tlie world he moved in.

lie seemed to feel his soul swell suddenly within him when some chance word fell from her lips, or when her bright dancing eyes, the colour of which he could scarcely determine—unless tlicy were like dark purple pansies—met his, but covly now, for she knew he loved her,' and their expressson became more yearning, childlike and soft while iie was never w< ary of holding her little white hands in his, caressmgly, and telling her how dear to him she had suddenly become.

All sho had read of in novels and tales—all the bright daydreams of a young girl's heart — seemed achieved and summed up now; all the more so, that " Horace —dearest Horace," was every way acceptable to her parents, and sho had not to play the double game allotted to poor Melanin; and though some brief separation from .Horace might come, she had none to fear then, and all went merry with them.

To Amy it seemed, as Wordsworth says:—

He spoke of love, such as spirits feel, In words whose course is equable and

pure ; No fears to beat away,—no strife to heal, — The past unsighed for, and the future suie." Yet there was nothing of the spiritual in Horace Musgrave —a manly young fellow who rode straight to hounds; was a prime bowler and oarsman : a matchless round dancer, and was great at tentpegging, polo, lemon-slicing, tilting at the ring, and many other things, which Amy was to see in the tiuie to come.

And yet, though to the world about him, Horace Musgrave seeire but a heedless young oilicer, he brought her books to read that showed his taste in literature, and opened up even to her a new realm of romance and poetry. He could also speak well; of the wonders lie had seen in the land of the Sphynx ; and with more than a tourist's eye of pictures and sculpture in Rome and elsewhere ; and of chivalry and heroism in the olclen time- —though sooth to say, that heroism did not surpass much that he had witnessed and undergone in the burning deserts of the Soudan.

But lie found a new experience in Amy Brendon. She was such a sweet little Desdemona, into whose ears to pour the tales of much that ho ha;l seen, and though, like most Englishmen, lie disliked talking about himself, and felt it safer to extol the valour and adventures of his comrades, and how many a Victoria cross they won, yet Amy, for lnm, indulged in a species of hero-worship that was very attractive indeed. (To be coitliiiiiri/.)