SHORT STORY

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 379, 13 August 1903, Page 7

SHORT STORY

So fair, and fresh, and happy she looked, and really was, standing before the mirror in her dressing-case, and scrutinising eagerly tie exquisite toilet of bluishpink and white lawn, that enhanced to i almost startling beauty her fair complexion—palely tinged cheeks, the hue of the o'leander flowers; tbe great dark eyes, that wore such girlish delight,,and sweet, half-proud, half-shy consciousness; the rippling, duak-broim hair, parted over a low forehead, and drawn carelessly, loosely back, and caught at the back with a bunch of just opened pink rosebuds, white j assamine, and a trailing spray of fine-leaved smflax. Her eyes were dancing with exuberant satisfaction - as she turned from the lengthened survej of her sweetness and grace, with a delicious little sigh of eonttni. ' Of, Bessie, don't I look splendid P. If it hadn't been for you, you dear, kind old sister, I never would "have penuidedJrandpa to gtt..me such a lovely dress I t is lovely, isn't it ?' Miss Emerson was taller than Isadora, with a pure, colourless face, a sweet, eerece mouth, that smiled so kindly and lovingly en the sister-danahfc* she had . takes from heri mOtieVst dying-arm*, -~ seventeen yean ago—herself a girl of twenty, happy, carefree, uatil th6n, with all the fair h#esttu of| love, and hope, and faith, cro%yjg ber'-yoa^g?life, and bidding so fair to come to the full fruition of all that makes woman's life so blessed, SOfull. ~. .., -,.->;. But Isadora could never remember seeing Bessie gay and merry, or with Bnatches of lov*-ballade. or jojoui laughter on her lips; neither could she remember the months and years during which Bssaifi fought with Fate, and repined and rebelled because Eric Ransom had been too proud, and she too angry, to make up -a lovers' quarrel that originated in such groundless jealousy, and cut .of the anguish and unavailing regrets of which had come the peace, and calm, and Bad, sereie patience, born of severe discipline, that mads of-Bessie* "Emerson one of the" grandest and noblest women. Isadora cou*d not remember all that, except this last condition—that Bessie was so good, so kind, so gentle, so womanly. She had never heard of Eric Ransom, or her sister's rocaance, or knaw the secret of that quiet, patient life, that only sought the happiness of others as its own highest happiness. " And to-night, looking with her calm, <fci!y eyes on leadore's bright, arch face, if there eame a little tilling pang of early days, when she, too, was pretty and as fresh and blooming, Isadora did not know it as the answer to her loving, impulsive remark was given. 'I think grandpa would have bought yon the di ess," Hear, even if I had said nothing. Yen look very well—very well indeed, Isadora. How would you like to wear my pearl cross V Isadora opened hex eyes surprisedry. ' Tour pearl cross P 1 didn't know you had one, Bessie. Have yon a pearl cross, really P Ob, I should love to wear it!' Bessie had gone over to her little jewel safe, and was unlocking it with hands that had not trembled so in years and yean, for she was to resurrect a toy that had not touched those fair quivering fingers since the day she had tossed it in its little casket, with her eyes flashing with anger and her cheeks flaming—the day, seventeen years ago when she and Eric Ransom had quarrelled so bitterlj. * Ton have never seen it, dear. I don't care much for jewels,-you know, "Do'you hkeitP' -

Isidore's eyes flashed oat her delight as she took from Beth'e hands a cross of cold, gleaming pearls, attached to a handsome gold link-neck-chain, 'Oh, oh! Beth Emerson! Where did 70a get it P Oh, may I wear it, really ? Bessie, darling J ,1 mi <?ht have known there was some memory associated with this. I will take it off, deav, and you must it out of sight again.' Her low, womanly, sympathetic voice, and her quick unclasping of the chain were identical. ; • Beth reached oat her hand. •No, Don't] take it off, ehild. Wear it; I want yon to wear it. Hark! That is Mrs Leigh's carnage, dear.. Don't keep faer wailing, since she -is bo kind as to chapeiottjon^to-night in bjQtJierßd'3 absence, wod-nfght, darliog—have a good time I'

And whezn Isadore, wrapped in warm shawls and furs, had gene out into the starry, winter night, Beth Emerson retained to her lonely watch at the fireside to fight with the semi-vanquished ghosts that haunted her, the bitter-sweet memories of c ler days. To-night it Beamed to her that the unaccustomed sight of the pearl cross had 1 recalled it -all back, ae if an enchanter's wand had unsealed the sepulchre of a past over which she had trained the not entirely scentless, beautyless flowers of patience and endurance. And,, aa the clock chimed oat one in the morning, Beth started in surprise that the time had so taken itself away. And then she heard a carriage roll up the street that halted at her door; and then came Isadora's cheery voice, bidding adieu to * d eax Mj» Leigh,' and .then quick - light footstepY on the stairs, and Isadore herself, animated, tired, excited, but so fair and beaming as she came across the room quickly to be kissed.

•To think that yea have waited up for me, dear! But lam so glad yoa did, because 1 h*v6 -the oddett message for you.' 'A message— an odd message for me, Isadore P* was unbuttoning her pale kids a* Beth epoke, and then she unclosed the gold chain and pearl cross, and laid them almost reverently on Beth'e hip. ' There was a message sent you by a gentleman who aaktd for an introduction to me—a stranger, a_jrjond_whpni_tha Walshes met" on; their European tour—a gentleman who asked me where I got th ->. pearl cross ' Beth had risen, clutching the ornament in her hand, with a startled, anguish--d look in her eye as she interrupted Isadore. 'Who asked you where yoa got the pearl cross-? Isadore, tell me—the name!' It was the first time she had ever seen Beth moved from her quiet, Btately repose, and it Blocked the girl to see the shock -, f> ..•- .- :-

A Heartless Man. |

and beard I never dreamed would turn grey, as my hair is beginning to turn. Isadora, I never meant you to know this • bu; if he is coming- ' The tears were standing in the girl's eyea. ™ . ' D i yo , a want me to tol! you anything more P Snail I tell ypu how grand and courteous he was? And oh, Beth, so - fhandsome when he smiled!' * ~Be£h*s heart gave a great thrill, as she recalled those bygone days. wheH Eric KanaOm's approving smile was Heaven 'enoughlfor her fond, loving heart. And -he hatt remembered her—remembered the love token ha had. given her—and she thought it passing strange that he should thus remember, never taking credit for her own noble patience, that had never dared dream of this-fchat thay two were to meet face to face.

'lsadora, do you know—did you hear—he is not married ?' And then the whole secret of Bath Emaraon s life lay bare before Isidore's eyea. How she had loved him, bow she loved him still I And the bright, gay face grew suddanly graver than a eeven-teen-summer£-old face .has a right to grow, and then Isadora smiled into Bath's -wistful face,

•Not married, dear, and coming at eleven o clock aad it is three now Shall we not try to get soiae rest ?' Tbey seemed t* have suddenly ex. changed places—Bath, uncertain, and nervous, and dinging; Isadora, brave and bold, aßd sweetly commanding. And then they went to their rooms—one to walk tha floor till daylight, in an agony ot hope, and expectation, and bliss, for Eric Bansom was coming! and the other to drag off her gay robe, and crouch on her pillows to bury the sobs of pain that came gasping from her heart, that Eric Besoms touch had unsealed—the mia with the magnificent presence, who never must be thought of again as she had eagerly thought of him for one happy hour-the man who was coming to crown Beth's patient life. Peor little girl! Then-she determined Bever to let Beth dream of her stcret—never, never. She prayed God to let Beth be as happy as Bhe desired. * Then ten o'clock came, and its silvery chimes were just ringing from the little trench clock, when a handsome coach drove up to the door of the Emerson's house —a coach that bore the monogram of Enc Baneom on its polished panels—a coach drawn by a pair of haughty, headed, high-stepping horses, who champed their gold bits, and threw specks of foam all over their shiny, jetty breasts. There was a coachman and footman in livery, and Beth and Isadora turned their heads away over their pretty pretence of work, that they might not see who descended from the elegant equipage—that they might not see Eric Bainsom, in P £ ld !! n . d , di & mt J of to* coming, until he had fairly come inte their »r£ Esnce. r

Then the door bell ran?; and then Beth dashed down her work, and rose to her feet, trembling, pale, her eyes bright witn a lustre that terrified Isadore. as Beth 8 low, gasping whispar made her look np. ■ Don't stay! J>on't sHy, Isadore] If rrust see him for the first time alone 1 f thought I should be calm, %at I am beside myself. Go. Isadore—for only a moment;—quick.' p • . And as Isadore flew" through the'back someone rapped at the front, and Beth somehow managed to op fSr l meefc the congous footman Mr Bansom's compliments* madam, and his regrets that a telegram from Albany presented his calling. His caid madam'-and he thrust it beta een her* nerveless fingers-'and the message he sent you and Miss Isadtre was that he knew you would be pleased to hear of his marriage on .Thursday next; at Albany, whither he was summoned this morning* courteous, grand bow-a closing of the door-a frantic, suffocating struggle cardboard** Biths horrified cry, as che raised her up—and then -

It happened two years ago/and tc-day. in the Emerson house, there are two women with quiet, sunless lives, whose hearts are sealed to love for evermore, who live through the days and years waiting for release from memory. And the pearl cross has been laid away as one lays away their dead, while two women s tears sometimes flow, when the other does not know-for to this day Isidores unlucky love, deathless and strong though it was from its birth, has never passed her lips-and Beth thinks K* 7 f °, r faer V*- P ifcifal Me that makes the girl so unlike other girls, and Isadora peruuta her to think so.

Bhe was giving. fci?s\i* r " r " ,tt w * B a natn3 r aevar' heard before, and I am sure you have not, and r tioufhfc it w« qaite an imP«ttnce in Mc B;ic Biasom to tell ma he «« f& 21 ° a " iu t,le He ssidthathexaew you qaite well, and I tried to ae jure him he was mistaken' Every Tesfcig* of colour was blanched and trembled like an aspan le?f 'lsadora! Was it Ei.?c Bansom-are you sure the name Bansom? Was it a tall, dark-hairad man, with a dark eynT™* monßfcaohe M fright, Isadora gava a triumphant little answer. «* J? 8 *? ! D^ e l a * y° ar description prove thafcihe doesa t know you so vary well? ±or he has heavy ,?rey side whiskers and thick grey hair. B jth. dear-Bath, dear ! what is it all about?'. _ A iT?!tls. t $ a K aß P in e cr J *ad come from the pallid lips. ■*> ' Isadora, Eric Baasom gave me tho cross years and years ago, whan we were young and engaged to be married-whea ne had the oright eyes and the dark hair