Novelist

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2683, 21 September 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

Novelist

[AT.L KIdHTS KKKKRVm] Love's Labour Won: AN EVENTFUL STORY. BY JAMES GRANT. .Author of "The Koumncß of War," "Tho Black " Watch," "Fairer than a Fairy," &c, &c. CHAPTER XXXIX.—A Discovery Now -whenU nele Grimshaw thought he had got matters just as ho wished them to be, and that he held and hoped to play a winning card, it chanced that on the very day after Melnnie had permitted him to wring from her the species of halfpromisp, an unforeseen event occurred. The despatch-box had been brought, as usual, a little before breakfast-time, from the village post-oflice, and placed in the hand ■of Mr. Grimshaw, who alone pos.sessed the key thereof. The ndian mail was due, but jpoor M lanie, despite what she had •said on the preceding day when tortured by her uncle's taunts, having •ceased to hope for letters, seemed to ttako no interest in its appearance, 'but busied herself with the cofi'ee requiiijja»<j till her uncle drew forth :an important-looking packet, the size and address of which seemed to ;puzzle him, and cause him to knit ihis heavy, grizzled eyebrows ; and it certainly excited the curiosity of herself and her brother, Reggie, who had been wheeled over in his chair froai the Hall that morning, and was most opportunely present. The packet was addressed to the latter as " Lieutenant Reginald Talbot, R.N.," which made his hollow cheeks mantle with pleasure, as he thought of the past time ; and it was, moreover, enclosed ir a large envelope inscribed " On Her Majesty's Service." Reginald opened the unexpected packet without examining the Indian postal-marks thereon, and the first object he drew forth was a long and bulky letter addressed to Melanie— a letter which l.onsdale had taken the precaution to put also in an or-derly-room envelope to baffle Uncle

Grimshaw, whom lie had begun, but most unwillingly, to suspect at last.

It was the letter he had written, half-despairinj;ly, in Fort William on the night before the embarkation of the Bengal column, in which— with all his latest news—he assured her of his unaltered affection, his hopes and wishes for their mutual future, his fears and anxiety for herself and happiness at home, amid all she had to contend with ; his sorrow and dismay that he never received even one letter from her ; and Melanie read on and on, and read and re-read the words again, forgetful of who watched her —forgetful of all but the loving

letter she held in her tremulous fin-

gers, and oblivious of the little gifts that accompanied it, as Reggie drew them forth—the Brahmin clmrm for himself, the gold dog-whistle for

Dick, the massive gold coin for Uncle Griinshaw, the bangles and necklet for Melanie herself, who, in her energy and absorption began in a low and broken voice that part of the letter which enumerated the many missives he had posted at various points, and as none of them had been returned to him by the postal authorities, ho concluded that they must have reached their destination and been tampered with there, and added that ho was: determined to put the matter before Her Majesty's Postmaster General.

Meanwhile, the face of Uncle Grimshaw, who wiped his bald and shiny pate with a silken bandana, was a picture of confusion, as he found that he had been thus unexpectedly baffled in his selfish hopes, when they seemed to have been so near fruition ; that he had been thus discovered and confounded, iu a series of acts that wero actual felonies—-the suppression or destruction of letters. But Melanie, absorbed in what she read, with eyes that were brimming and blinded with tears of joy, did not note his face ; but Reggie did, and drew liia deductions therefrom.

So did even Dick, who joyously blew his gold whistle repeatedly, and seemed to be wholly intent on balancing a piece of toast on Bingos nose, while secretly considering where to procure another hedgehog for his kind uncle's behoof, as the wasp's nest had proved rather a troublesome affair for the household generally. Tho keen, dark and searching eyes of Reggie, were turned upon his kinsman with a very unmistakable expression of triumph, scorn and inquiry combined. " To me all this is incomprehensible—utterly incomprehensible !" exclaimed Mr. Griinshaw, viciously rasping up his side tufts, feeling, iu his desperation, a necessity for saying something. " So incomprehensible that it is a matter for the police ; don't you think so, Bingo !" said Dick in a low voice, heedless of tho savage glance darted at him by his uncle, whose nerves he further upset by a shrill and protracted blast on his new dog-whistle.

" What would you suggest, Reginald V asked Mr. Grimshaw, in a rather broken voice, ignoring the impudence of Dick, and thinking of the long ears attributed to " little pitchers.' .

" I would suggest the abolition of the despatch-box ; chuck it overboard V replied Reggie, quite coolly. " Also," that in future Melanio should post her letters by hand."

Mr. Grimshaw felt keenly all this reply inferred, and while his heart swelled with rancour at and dislike, if not positive hate of the speaker, he wished himself, just then, at the North Pole, Jericho, or any distant

region. He knew himself to be a doubletraitor, and cowered in his own sight, and in the sight of all, except his coadjutor, Mrs. Chillington, when they met, and felt that he hud lost all the little self-respect he had possessed since he left the dingy recesses of Birchin-lane, where, like many others, he had learned " Tliiit 'tis the noblest work of man To till his pockets if he can ; Thnt broken faith anil friend* betrayed Are nought compared with prosperous trade ; That honour's but an empty nainf, And wealth is better far than fame." Yet there was a necessity for assuming a pretty bold front, if it was possible, now ; and also assuming a virtue, though he had it not. " I do not understand your impertinent imputations, sir V said he sharply, to Reggie, whom he now loathed more than ever. "I have usually played my part in the game of life well and openly." " Yes ; but have won by tricks rather than by honours, uncle,' , was the contemptuous reply. 'You are an insolent beggar, and forget that you all three subsist upon my bounty !" excUiimed Mr. Grimshaw, obliviousju.st then of the money the father of " all three' , had left to his care for them—-money squandered and gone--as he started from the table and left the room, galled by a saucy i( Ho up la V from Dick.

Accustomed though he had been for long to the cruel and injurious taunts of his unele, Reginald Talbot remembered the epaulettes he had won and worn, and his heart beat painfully with resentment and sorrow at the utter helplessness of himself and his patient sister. Just then is almost maddened him.

" Wo are a happy family—we are !" shouted Dick, tossing- a slice of his uncle's toast to Bingo. However, a load of growing doubt and mortification had been

lifted from the heart of Molauio by the discovery of that morning, and she felt thankful that tlio institution of the despatch-box had proved futile in the end ; and that it would bo used no more, by her at least.

And now it seemed most strange that suspicion of this systematic and continued treachery had never occurred to her before. Though sorry to leave her just tlien, Reggie returned to the Hall,

whore lie was aware that he had to keep his own council about tlio recent denouement, with reference to his host, for whose elation, caused by Mr. (Jrimshaw's last letter, ho could not account.

.Hut, .stung to tlio soul by what his uncle hud said to him, ore ho loft Rose Cottage young- Tiilhot said to that gentleman, whoa ho sought to oxeuso himself in tlio matter of Molanie's correspondence : " Can any motive excuse a sin ? No, sir ; no motive, however good —and this was not for good—can excuse a lio, for a lie is always sinful in itself, and every timo you suppressed a letter you told a falsehood in effect, and was thus guilty of it, and worse ?"

Melanio's horror of hor undo was now intensified. Sho had loarnod how systematically cruel he could bo, and had been, in witnessing, unmoved, hor anxiety, misery, occasional tears and mortification, at tho non-arrival of letters, when ho had been pitilessly committing them to tho flames.

What hope could she have of him —what faith iu him—for tho future ? and yot, for the sake of Reggie and Dick, who where so helploss, sho dared not dofy him op only.

She would leave Jloso Cottage, and work at anything for a stipend however small, she thought onco more, as the old desire for freedom grow strongly iu her mind ; but would there bo any happiness in that freedom, when hor two dear ones wore left behind her to his mercy ?

Yet it was with a bright and happy expression rippling all over her swoet face, that early the saino forenoon, Melauie, that not a moment might bo lost, took her way through tho now damp and dreary Novembor lanes to tho village postoffice, in order to despatch with her own hand—as Reg'gio had suggested—the letter which sho had written swiftly, lovingl}', and full of explanations to Montague Lonsdale ; and though sho had tried earnestly to keep the pages spotless and smooth, they wore blistered and blotted with tho teai'S of affection that would fall in spite of her.

"It may bo weeks upon wooks before lie gets it," she thought, as with a prayer on her lips sho dropped it into tho narrow slit, and hoard it fall into the box below— the first stage upon its long, long journey.

Then sho turned away to seek her friends at tho Vicarage, with— as wo have said—a load of sorrow lifted off her heart.

Full of her letter and her presents—the gold necklet and bangles, which were beautifully chased— Melanie hastened to show them— her newly-found treasures—young, girl-like, to Amy, who, now that her own anxieties were over, was merry and rosy as ever, and in all the beauty of perfect health and activity, with a sweet unselfish nature, but whose life was just then —she alleged—made somewhat of a burden to her, by her mother's advice and. hints on economy and future household management, as if the wife of a Royal Hussar had to think of such things ! But then, old Mrs Brcndon was a woman of rigid economy, and was even then eking out a winter mantle of black corded silk from a selection of hatbands and funeral scarves.

Certainly, with all her attractions, it was evident that Amy would never become what is deemed a '" fines lady," or shine among the stars of the London firmament; but Melfinie, as she listened, envied Amy that she had a mother to guide, her—a mother she could turn to in her troubles, when they came.

Ere Melanie, loth to leave the trio of kind and affectionate friends, had untied a very protracted visit to the vicarage, a catastrophe had occurred at home between her Uncle Grinishaw and her brother Dick, an event which her heart had long foreboded ; and now, since the e,cpoae of the despatch-box, the mind of the former had become filled with a greater amount of rancour, selfishness and hatred than ever. CHAPTER XL. ■—PIAXTAGENKT PuGWASM, Esq. Reginald Talbot, we have said, had resolved to keep his own counsel about all this recent affair on his return to Ravensbourne J tall. " Now Dick, shove oil", my boy," said he, lapsing into his nautical phraseology and setting in motion his self-propelling chair, which, in his moments ot cheerfulness, he was wont to aver, made him almost independent of limbs. " Yet, being excluded from every kind of sport does isolate a poor devil so !' he would add.

And now, as Dick, with kindly goodwill pushed chair from behind, with Bingo gambolling and barking beside him, the brothers talked at intervals, but in a disjointed manner, of the recent discovery and of the adair of Melanic and the baronet, for Dick was a sharp little lad and fall of observation beyond his years.

As he wheeled his helpless brother through the green lanes, where the fallen spoil of autumn lay thick and damp, the latter gave more than one wistful glance at the little square tower of Stokencross, then tipped with golden sunshine for he know that the roof of Amy Brendon's abode was close thereby. " Life is hard on some people," said he, pursuing his own thoughts. " To mo it seems difficult to think that whatever is, is best, and to be thankful for one's n;i ery."

'' Things are never so bad that they might not be worse, Reggie," said Dick, philosophically ; " think of some poor folks." " With us they are bad enough, when we are at that mail's mercy ; but it does me no good to know that others are wretched too—our dear Melanie, especially. Well, well, I may soon lie out of it. I can sec the sunshine through my hand—it has grown so thin," he added, dropping it upon the apron of his chair, as if the mere exertion of holding it up proved too great for him. "It might-be sad watching one's decay, month by month, if one had aught to live for."

" Don't talk in this fashion," ontreated Dick ; " you have Melanie and inc."

" Since Lonsdalo's letter has come to hand, 1 hope she will have no more worry about Sir Brisco now.' .

•'Sir Brisco is a kind old fellow; but there can't be much of the romantic about him. Why, he is older than Uncle Griinshaw, whoso head is as smooth as a cricket ball."

"No," said Reggie, with a smile ; "at his years, as a man of the world, lie must have got beyond all illusions, and takes to love-making as lie takes to his dinner. But where are you steering to, Dick? This is not the nearest wav to the hall."

" Mot quite ; but it is a rare place for hedge-hogs," replied Dick, who, intent on revenging their united wrongs on their obnoxious relative, paused now and then in his task of wheeling the chair to investigate the borders of tho path, in search of one, though Dick knew right well such were chiefly to bo found at night, when they crawl about in search of food—frogs, slugs and fieldmice, when they can get nothing better.

" Keep Bingo to heel," said Reggie. " I hope he won't come to grief; the hares, and the rabbits,

too, aro so thick hereabouts."

" Tho little shower that fell this morning has brought the rabbits from their burrows," replied Dick, who knew all about their nature.

" Why tho shower 1" asked his sailor bi other.

" It renders the herbage moist and tender, and then they dote on blades and stalks of grass. Houp la !" cried Dick, "that wretched clog has pinned one, and now he is after another."

"By Jove, if any of the keepers are about!'' began Reggie, with some alarm. A rabbit lay quivering, but dead, among the fallen leaves close by, and meantime nothing was seen of the bob-tailed Bingo but his rearquarters and short hind legs, his front members being buried in a sandy hole, where lie was busily engaged tearing out the soil in search of a lively rabbit, which, by cunningly slipping backward and forward, had contrived for a brief space to elude his sharp teeth and gain a little respite from destruction. Dick shrilly blew the golden whistle, his recent gift from Lonsda!e. Half buried in the sand, Bingo heard it not, but another did.' "Squire' .Pugwash, by Jingo!" exclaimed Dick, with a little aspect, of alarm, as there suddenly stood before them, swelling with wrath and vulgar importance, the wealthy city man, who had recently purchased lands adjoining those of Ravonsbourno Hall, and had lost no time in making himself obnoxious to peaceful Sir Brisco and every one else. Squire Pugwash was a great preserver of game ; not because he was " a shot ' himself, but some of the admirers of his daughter Aurora —or Miss Haroarar, as lie called her—were, or thought they were ; but all kinds of game were scarce on his estate, as his keeper, all unknown to him, was a sleeping partner in an active firm of poachers, who catered for the Leadenhall Market.

l'Yared and hated by the peasantry and the: poor, distrusted, yet scrupulously obeyed, by his tenants and servants, the squire's aspect, like his wrath, was alarming. Squat in figure, over-fed and paunchy, with sloping shoulders, a receding chin and nose of no particuliar kind, lie had those goggle and protruding grey eyes said to belong to the cockney of three descents, though :i recent xuorai.l, Mr J times Ooutliie, I , '. 1.1. (J. 5. in his lecture on London degeneration, is inclined to deny his existence.

He wore a pot-hat, a short black surtour, with large, loose, checktrousers, and drab-colourcd gaiters, and a huge stick-up collar, like that worn by a celebrated statesman, and a resplendent scarlet satin tie, with a brilliant pin. Now, the retired soapboiler had that morning, for the first time, seen himself recordcd in that resplendent tome, " The County Families of the United Kingdom," as : ■ —" Pugwash, Plantagenet, Esq., of Stokencross Priory, son of the late Pugwash, Esq., of Battersea, by his

wife, Angelina Wobbel ; J.P., D.L., and magistrate for the country " ; and swelling with tho memory of all this, he came upon " those fellow poachings on his lands " —his lands —he, a man of fabulous wealth, and ditto pedigree, as many said. " Look 'ere, you fellows," he thundered in his most bullying tone, "do you know whose property you're a-poaching and a-trespassing on V

"Poaching, sir?" exclaimed Reginald Talbot, as his hollow cheek crimsoned with anger, and he made an involuntary start in his wheelchair.

"Yes; especially this young villain, whom I knows of, and his cur. I'll make it hot and send you both to jail. If not for game, what was ho and that 'ore dog a seeking under my 'edges 1 And as for that wheel - chair of yours, I beliovo it is all a sham, and only a vehiclo for carrying off game. Look at those rabbits." " Rabbits are vermin ; don't hoed him, Reggie," said Dick, scornfully. But his brother writhed under tlio parvenu's injurious remarks, which galled him more than those of his uncle had done. " Who is this insolent fellow V ho asked Dick. " Fellow ? I'd have you know, sir " began the squire in a thundering tone. " Who tho devil is ho!" asked Reggie, with somethiug of his quarter-dock tone. '•' Old Pugwash, the soapboiler," replied Dick, with a grin ; " isn't tho old hunks in a wax ?" "Is not this a part of Ravensbourne Park, sir ?" asked Reggie, controlling his wrath. " It is not—but my land—mine, sir ?" " Wo did not know, and thought the path a public one." " It is private, as you will learn to your cost if I catch } T ou hero again." " Here is my card," said Reggie, as his thin hands trembled with uncontrollable emotion—the conviction of his own utter helplessness. " The " squire " glanced superciliously at the bit of paste-board and thrust it into his waistcoat pocket. " Rose Cottage," he muttered ; "Lieutenant R.N.—well, lieutenant or not, you arn't no gentleman, and I shall appeal to the law, after all,'.' he added, bullying more than ever. Pie continued to bluster and storm with growing fury and vulgarity, using many injurious taunts and epithets. But Dick sharply wheeled away the chair of his brother, and both went away with an air of contempt and defiance ; but, unfortunately for the former, he had not heard the last of Plantauenet Pugwash, Esq., Justice of the Peace and DeputyLieutenant of the County. {To bo .continued.)