Novelist.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2739, 1 February 1890, Page 5 (Supplement)

Novelist.

BRISTONDELL,

OK AN UNLUCKY MARRIAGE.

By MRS W. RATTRAY, Author of "Mr Lastyear's Visit to Auckland," " The Mystery of Sloano Cottnge," &0., &0., &o.

CHAPTER X.—A Mutual Surprise. Matthew immediately despatched a sympathetic telegram to his brother, in which, of course, there was no mention of—what he irreverently termed—his impending fate.

" It's a shame to trouble the dear boy with my little worries," decided the unselfish Matthew, " there will be time enough to explain everything when he is actually here; and it is so awkward saying one i 3 in love—which of course I am " he said bravely, "in a letter for one might get married again and, the dear No. Two, would tear one's eyes out if she came across any record of such devoted affection for her predecessor,"

And Lionel for his part, felt quite as fully as his brother, that these affairs of the heart, are very difficult to express properly on paper. He was sure that once Matthew saw and knew Rita, he could not fail to be charmed with her; therefore it would be very foolish to raise any prejudice against her in his mind by stating the bald fact that she was to be Mrs Lionel Briston. Of course, after all the brothers' protestations against matrimony, either would naturally view with suspicion, perhaps with dislike, any woman whom the other might present as his future wife, however lovable she might be. So it was safer to wait until he could personally introduce his sweet and fascinating little bride, when Matthew would succumb to her many attractions, and own that under the circumstances, even he would no longer have wished to remain a wifeless man.

And so it happened that neither of the brothers Briston was aware of the great change impending in the other's life. It would have made no difference, had they known. Lionel would not, and could not have shaken off the yoke. On the shoulders of the latter, indeed, it was already beginning to press somewhat heavily. Miranda and her parents duly took up their abode with 'f Mrs O'Flart at the end of the week, but the bride-elect was very frequently at Bristondell; always it is true, accompanied by one of her parents, but that was only as a matter of form. She had selected her suite of ap-

parttnents, and she and Matthew

had their first combat over the decoration of the same. She wanted new paper, furniture, carpets, hangings, and everything. He vowed that without Lionel's consent, he would get nothing but fresh curtains, one or two easy chairs, and a few nick-nacks. In the end she agreed that the matter should be left unti) the elder brother's return, but then, she should insist on everything being done as she liked for the lady of Bristondell, as she choso to style herseif. And so the wed-ding-day drew on apace, and Matthew awoke one lovely morning in the first week of July, to the fact that it was the day of his nuptials. He drew up his blind and gazed wistfully over the garden and park, away to the distant hills, and a curious feeling came over him. It was as though he would never again look out of his window with the

same content. His single blessedness has been very peaceful and happy. What would his dual life be like ? The little village church was thronged by an eager crowd of villagers, all anxious to witnesß the ceremony. Of course the bride was late, and as minute after minute passed, and the hour of twelve rapidly approached, Matthew began to think he was going to enjoy another day's freedom. But as he tried to stifle

the unworthy thought it was effectually disposed of by the entrance of the bride herself. She had no bridesmaids; the wedding was too quiet a one for that, and the time allowed for preparation too short, and perhaps Miranda had the more willingly dispensed with their services, as it left her so much the more the centre of attraction.

She was showily dressed in a great rustle of satin, lace, flowers, and veil, and she thoroughly enjoyed the remarks of the rustics on her grandeur. "To love, honour, and obey." Miranda promised, with the fullest intention of keeping just so much of the solem vow as suited her convenience ; whilst poor Matthew had previously taken his vows on him with a brave determination to fulfil them to the utmost of his power. So the co-master of Bristondell entered the holy estate of matrimony, and after a good lunch— which he was not too happy, nor his wife too shy, to eat —drove off to the gaily-decorated little station, en route for Brighton, where they were to spend a week, Matthew saying he couid not remain any longer. At the expiration of that time they returned home, and the bells wore rung, and flags were floated in the breezo, and a huge bonfire was kindled, and Miranda's

little mind was satisfied with these outward signs of her new position as lady of Bristondell, and she did not miss any spontaneous welcome from her lord and master. Neither did she notice the gloomy looks of the domestic servants. And the elder of the brothers Briston was also taking unto himself a wife ; and in consequence of the serious illness of Mr Willersley, this event took place much sooner than had been at first intended.

After his seizure in the night he; had been in great danger for a few days, during which he had been watched by Lionel and the two girls by turns with unremitting care and attention. Then ho grew better, and even began to talk of a visit to England. But he had a sudden relapse, and, feeling his end was approaching, begged that his daughter's marriage might take place at once.

Strangely enough, the day chosen was the very third of July which was fixed for the wedding of Matthew and Miranda.

But it was a very different affair from the one conducted in all pomp and ceremony in Calpston Church. Round the bedside of the dying man, only loving relations and friends were gathered, Lionel, holding Rita's timid, trembling, little hand in a firm, re-assuring clasp, Nell, her eyes again dim with tears, but this time chiefly in sympathy with the little figure in its ordinary simple white dress, the clergyman, in his surplice, the kind face of the medical man, who kept his hand ready to administer the stimulant which he felt might at any moment be required, and, lastly, the dying man, propped by pillows, breathed with difficulty, yet wearing a calmer happier expression than any one else of the little party. Lionel's deep, manly voice—a

little subdued for the siok room— vowed, as his brother was then doing, to love and to cherish ; but there was a ring of protecting tenderness, a depth of real feeling, necessarily absent from the voice and feelings of the younger brother. And Rita's low-towned responses contrasted in their deep, earnest meaning with Miranda's loud utterances, and unworthy intentions.

And so the elder of the brothers Briston married a wife ; whether to be a help or a hindrance in life's great battle, was a question that only time could answer. The excitement, mild though it was of the simple little wedding, proved too much for Mr Willerslcy in his weak state, and he sank rapidly. The very day that saw Rita a blushing though downcast bride, saw her at eventide, a weeping though not wholly miserable, orphan. All that a loving husband could, do to lighten her grief, and save her in every possible way, Lionel did, experiencing a strange pleasure at

the girl's perfect trust in his willingness, and confidence in his ability, to take absolute command of herself, her cousin, and all the inevitable and painful arrangements fo» the funeral.

The day after the interment of all that was mortal of Mr Willersley, the doctor told Lionel that he had some patients coming to Mentone for the following winter, who would gladly tako the house at once to secure it, though they did not intend to occupy it immediately. This set the Bristons free, and they speeddy completed their preparations for departure. Lionel wroto out a telegram to Matthew on their arrival in London

—" Expect me to-uiorrow afternoon," but in the midst the numerous pressing business, partly on behalf of Rita—for there were various solicitors to be seen, and consulted, settlements and trifling details connected with Mr Willersley's estate, which was a very large one, and the construction for himself, he quite forgot to send the important message, and it was only when they actually arrived at the Calpston station, and were confronted with the fact that the Bristondell carriage was not waiting for them, and it flashed across Lionel that tne unsent telegram was still in his pocket. " I am so sorry," he said to his amused bride, "but I'll send a porter across to the Calpston Arms for a cab." Arrivals at the little station were rare, except by later trains, and even then, the worthy landlord never sent a vehicle to meet suppositious visitors.

"Hasn't your trap turned up? allow mo to offer you a seat in mine."

Lionel gladly accepted the offer which was mado by a bluff, hearty squire, living a few miles further along the road that led past Bristondell. v Let me introduce my wife, Mr Jossley. Eita this is one of our near neighours." " Eh, what did you say ?" cried the jolly squire. " A Briston got married! Why my dear fellow, every eligible girl in the county has given you two up as hopeless, long ago." The squire had been away from home for some time, and had contented himself and his family by a few telegraphic messages, indicating his where-abouts, and requesting his wife not to trouble him with letters he should have no time to read, but if any one was ill, to wire and apprise him of the fact.

Consequently he chatted away briskly on various topics, but could give Lionel no village news. " Wonder why none of my girls came with the trap 1" he said, " though I expect they are tired of coming ; I have ordered them to meet me about half a-dozen times this past fortnight. They are nice girls," he explained to Rita, " and will be very glad to make your acquaintance, though you have cut out the county finely. But I don't wonder at this man not being able to resist such a pair of eyes," he continued, taking off his hat with as elegant a bow, as the exigencies of driving a pair of fresh cobs would allow.

" Ah, yes," said the gratified husband, "you do not often see any one like my wife. Here we are, drop us at the lodge, we can walk up the drive." "Nonsense," cried Mr Jossley, " are you going to deprive me of the pleasure of being Mrs Briston's first charioteer up to the door of her new home ?" Matthew was on the terrace, a cigar between his lips, when he heard the sound of wheels. " It's only Jossley," he remarked aloud, " but who in thunder is the girl 1 She's a vast deal too pretty for one of his daughters 1 By jove, if there isn't Lionel behind." And with a degree of alacrity which should have proved a capital antifattener, Matthew ran along the terrace, down the wide stone steps at the end, and arrived under the grateful shadow of the immense portico which marked the principal entrance, just as the carriage drove up, and Lionel assisted Rita to descend. " Well good bye, I can't hold these brutes," cried the Squire, and, scarcely hearing the thanks of his late passengers, went off at a pace which clearly proved that Mr Jossley's cobs were not stinted in their corn. "Well, old fellow," from both, the brothers, and Lionel, drawing Rita towards Matthew said. " Allow me to introduce my wife; Rita, this is Matt." To describe the speechless astonishment of the younger brother would be impossible. "Your wife? What you too!" and he endeavoured to subdue his mirth at apparently some joke of his own, as he bestowed a fraternal salute on Rita's crimson cheek. " Come in here," he said, and they followed him into the reception room opening on the left of the spacious hall. •'Now tell me all about it," began Matthew, but again the remembrance of that joke what ever it was, over came him, and he sank into a chair and laughed until Rita and Lionel who couldn't see why it should be so intensely amusing to Matthew to find he was married, were obliged to laugh in sympathy. " Come, Matt, you might just point out the joke to us; it's awfully

funny no doubt, to find that one of us, who have hitherto held rather absurd views on the subject of matrimony should have actually modified those views sufficiently to take a wife ; but if you had found anyone like my Etta—only you couldn't—l should have thought it very sensible of you to marry her, and not at all ridiculous," with a little heat; for Lionel began to think Matt was actually laughing at him and his choice.

" That's just it," gasped Matthew, " I'm in the sam 6 bex myself " '■You, what!" cried Lionel, springing to his feet, fearing for the moment that his brother had had a sunstroke, " what on earth do you mean? I am not playing a trick on you, what, do you> try a joke on me?" " Here she is," said Matthew as the door opened, and Miranda entered.

She had been lazily reclining on a couch with a novel, when the sound of wheels made her spring up, and ring for a maid to assist her to prepare for visitors. In the hall, she expected to find the footman with their cards, but as no one was there she passed on, and, guided by her husband's laugh, entered the sitting-room. The three there rose to their feet, and Matthew said: "Miranda, this is my brother Lionel, he will introduce you to that lady." Mrs Matthew Briston graciously shook hands with her brother-in-law, who wondered greatly why Matthew had not introduced the ladies first. He did not wonder long, as, with a proud, "My wife, Miss Melcotton," he laid his hand for a moment on Rita's shoulder, and observed the effect on Miranda. Her eyes blazed with fury, and she turned on her husband, with : " How dare you allow me to be insulted in this way ? Who is this young woman 1 and why does not your brother, if he is your brother, give me my proper title 1 Does he wish to make fun of me ? He had better not." "For heaven's sake, Matthew," whispered Lionel, " who is she." "My wife." The words were quietly spoken, but there was a depth of unconscious misery and bitterness in the tones.

For fully a minute, a dreadful silence reigned, until it was rudely broken by Miranda with a bitter attack on her husband and brother-in-law's treachery, interspersed by iriuendeus about designing young foreigners. Lionel carried Rita off to his own room, as the only place where he sure she would be safe from the storm of words which pursaed them even in their flight through the hall. When Matthew managed to join them, they made all necessary arrangements for Rita's comfort, which brought down another storm on Matthew's devoted head for not consulting Miranda. Altogether, the matrimonial outlook was indicative of a stormy passage through the waves of this troublesome world.

CHAPTER XL—Settling Accounts.

When they all assembled at breakfast the next morning, it was evident that the storm had blown over, for the time at least. This was due to a curtain lecture de-

livered by Matthew, in which he wasted no breath in useless recrimination or complaining, but went straight to the point of what he had made up his mind to say, informing Miranda that unless she behaved herself in a manner more becoming a lady, and his wife, he should take her away to live an obscure life somewhere with him, where he would be the only sufferer by her temper.

"We couldn't keep servants, so you would have plenty of domestic work to amuse you ; and I'd see that you did it properly too," he added grimly. Miranda did not believe him, but for the first time in her life, probably, she was fairly cowed, and had to stifle as best she might the jealous angry feeling which assailed her when she again saw the lovely gentle girl who was to share with her the coveted place as mistress of Bristondell.

And Rita, recovered from the fatigue and fright which had prevented her from putting in an appearance at the dinner-table the night before, did indeed show to advantage beside the coarse, clumsy Miranda, who had never looked so extremely plain.

She quickly took the head of the table, evidently fearing there might be some chance of Rita securing the post first. Lionel glanced enquiringly at Matthew.

" Where will you sit then ?" for ever since Lionel could remember anything, Matthew had poured out tea, even when he was small enough to have to accept help from the butler, Smithsou.

" Rita and I will face each other, and admire our good looks in the urn," laughed Matthew, and so that little difficulty was got over. " What an awfully poor cook you've got, Matt," excl'aimed Lionel, "this dish isn't half done !"

Matthew hit his brother a whack on his toes, which unexpected attention, elicited an " Oh," from the victim, but was too late to present the rest of the sentence being heard

first. " You have forgotten how to keep house." "All that absurd nonsense is dona away with now," interposed Miranda, loftily. " I have taken up the housekeeping, and, I am sure," she tried to smile pleasantly," you will find it a great improvement," " Doubtless," was all Lionel said, and he began asking Matthew various questions about the harvest." After the meal was over, he told Rita to put on her hat, and he would take her round, and let her see her home. They had a most delightful walk. They had reached the part of the garden situated furthest from the house, when they were amused by watching the stealthy and cat-like movements of someone who was apparently dodging observation amongst the thick shrubs. The figure was coming gradually towards them, and Lionel declared it was Matthew. " But why can't he come straight along the path V he said to Rita, " it's too hot to be pleasant creeping and climbing that way." For Matthew,instead of making for the little wicket gate, had climbed the fancy rustic fence at the imminent risk of a possible fall to himself and the certainty of damage to the fence. At length he reached them, and sat down by Rita on the comfortable seat.

" When you are rested," said his brother, " we should be very much pleased to have an explanation of your recent graceful, but erratic course." "Well, you see, Leo, there are two places on that path, where you can be seen from the house, one is just by the gate, the other is farther down." " But why do you mind if you are seen from the house !" inquired Rita. " Because I wanted a little quiet talk with you; I want to get acquainted with my dear little sister; though after all, you are quite as tall or taller than Miranda." " I think she is taller," said her husband. " Didn't you get my note ?" suddenly asked Matthew, in dismay. " Certainly not, and I may as well inform you, Matthew, that I shall not allow Rita to receive notes from any gentleman." "It was to you, Leo, and I'm afraid she will find it," said Matthew anxiously, casting a furtive look around. Rita seemed very much amused. " If you want to talk secrets to your brother I will go, and another time ask me to leave you alone, don't consider yourself obliged to communicate with him by means of notes." "Like a love-sick schoolgirl," added Lionel. " Please stop chaffing," entreated Matthew, " she may get that note and drop on us any moment; and do sit down, Rita—l am to call you that—and let me make my apologies for my very cavalier treatment of you at the breakfast-table." "Indeed," said Rita quickly, "there is not the slightest need to say anything at all. I quite understood." "Nevertheless, I must explain; it's on my conscience, and I shan't be happy until I get it off. It's just this way. You are the wife of the elder brother, and as such, entitled to take precedence of the wife of the younger—that's me— " gramatically explained Matthew, " and so you ought to sit at the head of the table, for now there are ladies in the camp we late bachelors have got to take a back seat." " Poor Benedicts," murmured Rita, compassionately. " Well you see," continued Matthew," Miranda is the eldest of our two wives— " " Don't speak as if we were going shares in them," interrupted Lionel, this one, , caressing Rita, " is my own exclusive property." Matthew took no notice of this flippancy on the part of his elder brother, and went on ; " Being your senior, and the first comer, she thought she should have the premier place. I hadn't time to explain this to you before-hand, and I wanted to avoid a scene before the servants ; for, it's no use trying to hide the fact from you two—she has rather a short temper." " To put it mildly," observed Lionel. " So, seeing that this young lady was evidently blessed with that most desirable virtue in wives—a retiring disposition, and sweet temper, I ventured to let matters slide. There is one more subject I must mention. Rita is really—Mrs Briston, and Miranda—Mrs Matthew ; but my good lady has already had her cards printed Mrs Briston. I told her she was wrong, even before I knew you had also gone and done for yourself—" A low, " Thank you," from Rita, made Matthew pause, and, lifting his hat with a profound bow, he said ; " I really forgot you were present, for the moment." " That only makes it worse," answered Mrs Lionel," but seriously, I do not mind in the least. It may be a trifle awkward at first, as regards correspondence, for most people will conclude I am simply Mrs Briston, but I have no secrets, and shall not mind if my letters are opened by mistake until they are addressed so that I can claim them." "But what about your note, Matthew 1" " I was afraid you two would go

oft, no one knows where, and she," thus did Matthew alsvays designate [ his bride, " would not let me out of her sight, so I pretended to be adding up accounts, for your inspection, Leo, and wrote you a line asking you to meet me at the stile going to the woods. I knew you would go to the green-houses, so I went in there, (she could keep her eye on me), and put the note by that new orchid I was telling you about, didn't you remember it V " Never thought of it, Wifie and I had so much to say to each other." " Let us go there now, and get it," suggested Rita. "Too late," said Matthew in a melancholy tone, " I see her coming up the path." [To be continued.)