Set in a Silver Sea.

Otago Witness, Issue 1501, 21 August 1880, Page 24

Set in a Silver Sea.

Bt B. L. ffAKJEON.

Chapter XXII. Ranf puts the Links of the Chain together.

50SE were the last written words written in the Bible, and they wrung my heart with the force of an uttered cry. It was as though the unhappy girl stood before me, appealing for justice. "Justice she can never obtain. " Revenge may come. Through me? Perhaps. The strange chance which has placed her confession in my hands is but part of a design yet to be completed. " It is not chance ; it is destiny. "For some time after reading the confession, persons and events swarmed in my mind in almost inextricable confusion. Gradually they reduced themselves to something like order. What are the conclusions plainly to be drawn from this tangle of deceit and treachery ? "That Harold and Mauvain are villains. It is no new discovery. From the first I have formed a just estimate of the character of these gentlemen. "Best to call them gentlemen. Men with a true sense and appreciation of manhood do not systematically betray innocence. Chivalry is not utterly extinct. But men are scarce ; gentlemen abound. "Leontine, my dog, you are to be envied. Better to be a faithful hound than a human being who lives for the pleasure of the hour and cares not who Buffers. " It is really a question which is the higher animal, man or beast. "What did this acornful sculptor say to Mauvain? 'Nature throws our sins at our doors, and wise men make haste to bury them.' And again: 'The true philosophy of life is the pursuit of pleasure.' Then, indeed, life is a bestial gift, and all that is fair most foul. .

"Aye, Harold, you were right when you said that Nature throws our sins at our doors. You may live to prove your WOtdi, And I, the hunchbaok, may open

the grave in which you have made haste to bury your cowardiy crime. J our haste was premature. Your crime lives, and it may happen that the hour will come when its beauty shall pierce your heart and cause you unutterable pain. Trust me to direct it to that end. So strangely do things come about ! In your wildest dreams you could not have imagined that on this lonely snow-clad mount (nearer to heaven than you will ever be) the flight of a hawk after my white dove, thirsting for its innocent blood, should be the means of bringing your villainy to Jight. "Clarice and the lady who sought refuge in my mother's hut on the night of the storm are one. By what process of reasoning do I arrive at this conclusion ? For unless the point is definitely fixed, all the circumstances which surround it, in which strange fortune has made me a principal agent, vanish into air.

" Fair in its promise was Clarice's life ; most unhappy in its fulfilment. The confession in the Bible proves it ; the words of sorrow that fell from the lady's lips in my mother's hut prove it. Clarice had a child; the lady, also— a child who was torn from her, as her sister was. As Clarice's sister, Marguerite, was torn from her. The lady's father was dead at the time the confession was written. Thus, there is as yet no conflicting line in the history of these two lives — which are not two, but one. "By what means was Clarice's sister torn from her 1 By treachery. It was a ( plot planned with skill and cunning ; a plot to which I have no clue. And there must have been another hand in it — a hand at present hidden from me. Patience, Kanf, patience; all will be made clear to you in time. "Between these sisters existed a devoted love. More perfect on Marguerite's side than Clarice's, for in Marguerite's breast beat the stronger heart ; she was the guide, the protector. Clarice was a child ; Marguerite a woman. " Hapless Marguerite ! Faithful sister ! Had fate led you to Clarice in the hour of her delusive dream, your honest glance would have pierced its hollowness. Had fate led you to her in the hour of her anguish, you would have vindicated her honour and exposed the knave who had betrayed her. I can see Harold shrinking from the indignant looks and words of Marguerite, whom his smooth tongue is powerless to deceive ; I can see him turning away, humiliated at the exposure of the trick which destroyed the happiness of an innocent young life. "By what means was Clarice's child torn from her 1 By death ? No. She lives, and her name is Evangeline. "In my mother's hut, upon my return from my wanderings, I found the Bible in which Clarice's confession was concealed. All evidence points to the presumption that Evangeline is Clarice's child. In what manner my mother obtained possession of the child and the Bible time may never disclose. Death has placed its seal upon this mystery. "Conjecture here must find a place; there shall be as few blank spaces in the picture as possible. " Harold should do her justice, Clarice declared. It was a cry of despair forced from her suffering soul — an appeal which, in the fruit it should bear, was utterly, utterly, hopeless. " Her grief, her shame, were not for the eyes of those who had attended her in the pretty cage provided for her by her lover. Alone, she, with her child, would traverse the weary road. She crept from the cottage at night, with no thought or knowledge of the difficulties in her way. She suffered— do I not know what she suffered ? I, a strong man, inured to hardship, meeting it with scorn, could not avoid the smart of the world's cruelty ; how much less Clarice, a weak girl, frightened of shadows, and as poor perhaps as I when she set out on her journey 1 by her side walked a phantom which all men and women could see, proclaiming her degradation. Near her journey's end her strength gave way, and it was at this point of her career that my mother came acrosß her, and learnt, mayhap, from her fevered lips the story of her shame. What purpose my mother had in her mind when she stole the child it is impossible for me to say. But it appears to me certain that upon Clarice's recovery from her illness she was told the child was dead.

" Then, childless and heart-broken, she told Harold, and with him Mauvain. She was received with tenderness, for the fatal reason that her child was dead. It is a 1 most incredible that there are in the world men who rejoice in the death of a child, " 1 remember when, at Mauvam's request, Harold accompanied me to see the child I claimed as my own, that, when his eyes fall upon Evangeline, hisface grew as white as death. Did any position present itself to his mind 1 If it did, _ he deemed it convenient to set it aside. Awkward complications might arise from such a resurrection in the life of a man who made pleasure the be-all and end-all of his life. ' A man's mind,' he said to me on the ship which couveyed us to the Silver Isle, ' is like a prison-house ; there are cells in it whose doors we keep tightly closed until some momentous event f orci % them open, and lets in the light we dread.' " Had my mother known as much, as I she would have added the name of Harold to those of Mauvain, Ranf, and Evangeline written in the Bible. She may have had a motive in suppressing it ; she was a cunning woman ; she knew whom to truckle to, whom it paid best to serve. " An important link has yet to be supplied, and the only person in the Silver i IslowUo cJta furnish it ia Margaret Syl«

vester. It is of small moment that in Clarice's confession she calls her sister Marguerite. The resemblance between these two women grows stronger to my mind the longer I dwell upon it. Margaret Sylvester has a child, Gabrielle ; between this child and Clarice the resemblance is even more striking ; yet I doubt but for my discovery of Clarice's confession whether I should have ever regarded it as other than an accidental resemblance. " I will speak to Margaret Sylvester. I shall not disclose the secret to her, for the present at least. I have reason to be suspicious of all mankind, and were another human being to share my secret, it might be the means of estranging Evangeline from me. I must be cautious, therefore, and learning what I wish to learn, shall keep my own counsel. " Many of Harold's words recur to me with strange significance. * I love a woman passionately ; another man steps between us and makes me suffer.' Did Mauvain step between him and Clarice ? Again : ' JNo man knows what is before him ; and although I shall part from you and our little maid with no definite idea of ever meeting you again, it may happen that our lines of life may strangely cross in the future.' Spoken like a fatalist. Yes, Harold, it may happen, and then the advantage will be on the side of the hunchback you despised. " I feel stronger and better. To-morrow I shall be able to walk to the lower huts, and to the house — Mauvain's house — in which Evangeline has found a home. » » § • • " It was good to get out again into the fresh air. My birds and goats and doga missed me, lam Bure. My dogs leapt upon me and kissed me ; my goats rubbed their heads against my legs ; my birds came at my call. "I set the huts in order, and accompanied by Leontine made my way to the stretch of wood that lies in the rear of the house occupied by Margaret Sylvester, There I gave voice to my signal for Evangeline, the song of the lark. Evangeline answered it almost immediately. " She is growing more beautiful every day, and not less affectionate. It is a week since I saw her, and she was full of a story which she related to me with eagerness. It concerned Joseph Sylvester, Margaret's son. ' ' These children and Gabrielle are companions, and there is something in the lad's manner which has attracted me to him. His face is frank and honest, and his eyes do not seek the ground when I 1 look at him. I have spoken but a few words to him, and a little while since upon Evangeline's prompting, I expressed a liking for the lad. She informed him of this, and thereupon an incident occurred which Evangeline was eager to relate to me. "Evangeline, girl-like, asked Joseph for a proof of his fondness for her ; Bhe had no thought of anything serious, but Joseph accepted the question in that light, laying his left hand upon a stone struck it with all his force with a stout branch, and sorely wounded it. " ' It was wicked of me/ said Evangeline ; ' I drove him to it. I asked him to strike as hard as he could, to show me how much he loved me. He struck his hand at once, and it was covered with blood. It must hurt him now, although it was a week ago.' " ' It was a brave action,' I said ; 'if Joseph would do as much for you when he is a man ' " ' He will,' quickly interrupted Evangeline ; 'he said he would like to die for me ; but there would be no good in his doing that.' " ' Unless it were to defend you from an enemy,' I said. " ' An enemy,' exclaimed Evangeline ; ' why should I have an enemy V "'You have none on this isle, I am sure.' "' 0, no,' she cried, ' here everybody loves me, and I know no one else. See — Joseph is there ' " I called the lad to me, and spoke words of praise to him for the pain he had inflicted on himself. " 'It was nothing,' he said ; ' Evangeline makes out as if it was a wonderful thing. 1 would do morejthan that, without thinking of it.' "He did not speak with bravado ; there was a modest firmness in his voice rare in a lad so young. " ' Shall we strike up a friendship, Joseph,' I asked. "His 'eyes sparkled, and Evangeline pressed my hand. " ' I should like to,' replied Joseph. " ' Let it be so, then,' I said ; 'then you and I are friends from this day forth. But if people speak against me — how, then?' "'I would not believe them,' said Joseph. " ' Examine me well, Joseph ; see how crooked I am — unlike every other man in the isle.' " ' I like you all the better for it,' he said, without hesitation. • " ' Then my face, my lad. Even in a picture you never saw a queerer face than mine. Think twice ; lam not a man to be trifled with. It would be dangerous to give me friendship and withdraw it through caprice. If you pledge yourself, I shall hold you to your pledge.' "'I don't know,' said Joseph, with a 1 look in his eyes which denoted that he was studying what I said, ' whether I understand your friendship, and if you give it to me, I will stand up for you and be true to you.' " ( Oh, then j people speak against me?' "'YeV i

| " ' And think it a strange thing that Evangeline should love me !' "'Yes.' " ' And invent stories .of my life on the snow mountain, and say it is best to have nothing to do with such a man as I V "'Something like that.' " ' And in spite of all, you wish to be my friend.' " ' Yes, if you will let me.' " ' You must have a reason. Let me know it.' " ' Evangeline loves you ; I love what she loves.' "'Give me your hand.' He offered me his wounded hand, and I pressed ; he did not wince. ' Evangeline is the link between us. It is for her sake Ido what I have never done before in my life.' " I heard Evangeline murmur softly to herself, ' I am glad, I am glad !' " And now Joseph,' I said, ' our compact being made, let your mother know I wish to speak with her. ' " Presently the children were gone, and Margaret Sylvester Btood before me. The moment she saw me she divined what had escaped the children's notice. " i You have been ill,' she said. " I was moved by the sympathy expressed in her voice. " 'I met with an accident,' I said, 'and am thankful to have escaped with life. I should have been sorry, if it is given to us to rejoice and suffer in another state of being, for I do not want to lose my hoW of life till certain things are accomplished.' " ' The days are peaceful here,' she said, with a sigh ; ' life flows on calmly. During the years I have lived on this isle I have had no sorrows but those which ordinarily fall to the lot of men and women. One ought to be happy here.' " ' You are surely so, Margaret Sylvester. With husband and children who love you, surrounded by plenty, attended by respect and affection, what more can a woman desire V " ' You are right,' she replied ; 'it should be sufficient, and I ought to thank God day and night, upon my knees, for a lot so free from care. What was the nature of your accident V " ' I saw a flower on the mountain top ; it shone like gold, and I wished to obtain it. That it was out of my reach strengthened my wish, as is usual with human creatures. Attempting to pluck the flower, I lost my foothold, and fell over the precipice. Saved by the branch of a tree which I caught as I rolled down, I managed to crawl to my hut. To such a man as I a few bruises are of small acoount. "While I spoke I was attentively observing her ; the resemblance between her and Clarice was unmistakable, although Clarice was formed on a more delicate mould. " * Your life is a lonely one,' said Margaret ; ' why do you not come among us and strive to win the love of the islanders?' " ' Too late, miatress,' I replied ; ' I have no desire for companionship. With my dogs and birds and goats I am perhaps as happy as I deserve to be. There is something on my mind, mistress. It concerns Evangeline. I may open my mind to you.' "'Surely. What have you to say about Evangeline ? You will not take her from me !' "' I have no such thought. That wild mountain is well enough for me, but it is not a fit place for a flower so tender as Evangeline. Yet, mistress, I believe I have only to say to her, Come, and she would obey me without question. Content yourself. lam satisfied with the home in which she is growing to womanhood ; I am satisfied with your care of her. But I am curious to know why, when we first came to this isle, you were so anxious to receive her. It is not an idle curiosity, for it leads to another subject I shall presently mention. Why, with children of your own, did you beg that Evangeline should be given into your charge V "'I need make no secret of it,' said Margaret, with a wistful look ; ' she reminded me of one whom I loved.' " ' Who was dear to you V " 'Very, very dear,' she replied, with emotion. " 'If you remember,' I said, ' on the night I first saw you here I remarked that you were unlike the other women on the isle.' " ' I remember.' " ' You told me you were not born on the isle, and I asked you to step into the light so that I could see you clearly. But for that inspection it is likely that I Bhould not have consented to allow Evangeline to remain with you.' " Her curiosity was aroused. " ' What was there in me that satisfied you I was a woman to be trusted V " ' Why, mistress, rightly or wrongly, it seemed to me that I had seen you elsewhere — in the old world, where the days were not so peaceful, and where life did not flow as calmly as in this Silver Isle. Here, said I to myself, is a woman who has seen trouble, and knows when quicksands are close by ; a woman who has been through the fire, and has not suffered. To such a woman I may safely entrust Evangeline.' " My words affected her powerfully, and it was a little while before she mustered strength to speak. "'You have seen me elsewhere, you say. Ah ! how mistaken you are when you Bay I have nob suffered ! It is so long since • I have spoken of the old life that the mere mention of it causes me exquisite pain. You have seen me in the old world ! Was I alone V - " ' No, mistress ; you had with you a girl younger than yourself, who looked like your mister, J heard, her name

mentioned. If lam not mistaken, it was Clarice.' " Tears flowed down her face aa I spoke these words. " 'It is true,' she sobbed, and turned away. "I did not intrude upon her grief. The link was supplied, and the chain is complete. (To be continued— Commenced in No. U19,)