A HEART'S IDOL.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 204, 30 August 1888, Page 6

A HEART'S IDOL.

BY BERTHA M. CLAY,

author of "The Gipsy's Daughter,"." Anothei Man's Wife," " A. Fair Mystery," " For Another's Sin," etc.

CHAPTER LVIH.

• I RELEASE YOO FROM THAT PROMISE.'

It was a mid-August night. The moon hung low ; all the zenith was lit \vith the glory of the stars. Over the gardens passed the ,swe|b?sbuth wind, and grew sweeter still frona the balmy breath of roses and lilies, helotrope and honeysuckle.

This perfume-laden south wind swept slowly out and in, like foam-capped billows, through the' pale-green silk and white lace draperies of the windows of the drawingroom at Cameron Castle. The drawingroom, at ten in the evening, was silentempty also of human life* except for one girl-figure. A great lamp burned on a table in the centre of the room, and. Hear the table, in a low chair, sat Ferol. Her golden braids were wrapped round aDd round her shapely head as a' crown. About the low, broad, pearly brow, the little daintily-fashioned ears, and the nape of the warm, smooth neo.k, soft, short, shining curls, as of spun gold, clustered. Her white cashmere dress was moulded closely upon her matchless shoulders and beauti-. fully curved bust and waist; a cluster of white roses, with no ;rti6\ among their fragrant leaves, lay among the nlrns of white lace that 'half concealed and yet revealed ' her bosom's snow. The rose-tinted opal shade of the lamp lent a delicate flush of colour to the dimpled cheeks and chin, deepened the alow of the sweet, sensitive lips, and lent the fall folds of her drapery such tender gleam as Monte Rosa catches from the morning sun. A paper, which she read and reread, fluttered from her fingers to the floor. She leaned back in her chair, clasped her hands behind her head upon the satin cushion, and gave a profound sigh of relief that Stirred through the silence of the room. 'Free ! free ! Oh, is it true? Iree from tho terror, the bondage of these three lon^ ye«.rs! Thank He'ftVea—oil, thank kind He iven, I am free !' At the open door a tall figure had paused. Guy Herncroft saw the white hands flung up behind the silken* head, as she abandoned herself to rest. He heard the sigh,, and tho low,-glad, thankful words, in the opposite ' mirror he saw reflected that gracious White form in the roseate glow. Gently he crossed'the room, and bent above her. . 'Why say 'free,' Ferol, when you were never bound?' ' I wa3 bound in thought,' she said, starting, and drawing down her hands.,^ ' And is freedom, then, so sweet ? . 'Oh', sweeter than can bo told!' said Ferol. , , . 1 And yet I dare ask you to exchange it for anew bondage. Be doubly free, my ; darling, in.being tree no more! I offer you a prison, Ferol—the circle of my arms! I offer you a fetter—a little ring. Sweet Ferol, I would have served for you in patient waiting for seven ,"'irs, and seven more if it had been need <Jj. for .other WJinup .than FeroJ Cameron t,»uA never, share w.ith.me the namo of Herncroft; !* But now there is no reasott.why I should Wait lon^ and lonely days. Answer me, *. ?4>' Ferp).' - 'What are you saying V murmured Ferol, trying to shrink away, but'hishands on her shoulders held l?or fast.- .'Guy,:,the Lord of Herncroft, should not marry a gnrLwith. a—history.'-ir ji '•? ; • ? > «i'j|J •It is a^istory of patience and purity, and all good and noble virtues, bravely shown; And $$ssWefe' fifty histories; it would not deter me from begging you to crown my life with ; ybur love. Speak quickly, Jraroi. Tell me ' Ifes'.' . ' Guy, Guy, do you remember what you would bo losing ? Think of the fortune that depends on your loving another—loving Lois.' : ■; -.■■i ■ ;. . ";■. ■•■■... ■■•,■' ■':' ■• ■■■■ ■

'But I cannot; love Lois, because, before ever. I. b&w her, toy hearb was set on you. And, moreover, Lois, could not love me, for anyone who is mot blind can :seo thai; she loves- Dftvid Latigdon. Anejvef me «Yea'!'

'You osk me to do you an.injnry, ;Tho fortune?' 'You are worth amillion fortunes! Let the fortune build hospitals or asylums, if it pleases. Ferol, I will never let these hands go until you f !give them to me,' and he suddenly bent lower, and clasped in his the hands fchatS;lay in her lap. His black head was bowed, touching the silken folds dt her hair, his cheek was close to hers, he heard the tumultuous beating of h6r heart. ' Ferol 1' he whispered, in his warmcfit, lowest tones. Then the soft dimpled cheek was; suddenly laid against his onto, and Ferol whispered ' Yes, Guy— my Guy 1' How closely Guy Herncroft. clasped his arms about her, and pressed his mouth to hers in a long, passionate kiss ! Then ■■holding her, clasped > still with one arm* he said: ■ ■ ;■ j;. ' \ 'I cannot let you pro until I have made sure of you, with fetters light but strong. My joy, my fortune, seeta too great to be real and true.' And he had then taken from his breast a cflse^yhich for weeks had ■ awaited the blissful hour. : ;, ;• On Ferol's slender finger he slipped a jewelled ring, and on either soft dimpled wrist he locked a bracelet set in alternate diamonds and opals, which flashed forth quivering, rainbow-hued fires, glowing and paling/and leaping forth again, and 'running as rivulets oflight about the lovely snowy arms.' Then Guy Herncroft came round before her, and knelt at her feet, .as one who adores before a anrine, His eyes* flaming wifch joy and pride, feasted on the blushing ■lovely face; but now and again from the beautiful blue eyes and sensitive, exquisite lips beamed upon him the smile of love. .

'Are you inine, all mine, tnytreasurej ifly queen ? Shall it be mine to protect arid shelter you* to forestall your slightest wish, to live with you and for you, to see this matchless face ever near mine ? Ferol, Ferol, never did man love woman as I love !':, It is what all these lovers say, and Ferol believed him, as alLmftiderw ore wont to believe. But it is v,ery true that a nobler heart than Lord Gay Heracroftfs never beat; and to its depths it was filled with passionate love of her, his Idol. , - ' Guy/ said Ferolj when he bad kissed her hands, and her braceletted arms 7 and beco-ed her not to be cruel, but to marry himTsoon—riovv, when fair summer Was in its glorious prime—'Guy, you have not asked papa, and ho may refuse consent; just think what shall yon do, what shall we do if he says 'No I' , ' ,'''■'■'■..''•■■; 1 Bless yon for that we' cried Guy; rapturously' kirfsinu: the lip 3 that had said the precious word. 'If ho says' no,' we will be a& tvi'-K'Ofi fis possible, rtnd run away ! But he will not Wrfsf.-o,'iny darling. Come let us find-liim- tW, iifnjife.' > ,'■,, - : ;, _. . ' j-lo'■■•;K:.-VfiV'»'y» i" 'tis library,' said Ferol, r j.,; n ,j." f,.;,,,) hfjt- chnir, and putting her hand oonV .-;•»• 5m th'«t-of herlover. 'But/Guy,' ■wh- ■ -i.7 nob at the Abingdon ball V • 5 ;.'.)l^ lin&ttnob Lois- in the! very ,d'.ti .««So promptly told md yOu ~(',>•■!« nnd not coming— * <, -v ii '£>.<)■ itfi oVeiling free, to realise my mlo <r j: ; tin*,' irtberposed- Ferol. 5 'Tpj Knv %.wb go; to:the Derbjr ball, in t/•,„>■.' Hi' efit'ttgeinentof Lttdy Grace.* lK'<?;v admirable little Loi| jnoanl Now was my chance, so I dft&bed

off at once. Never presented myself at all. I came in Upon your new-found freedom and you are bound for ever.' -And_ h, clasped her again and again to hia breast. 'If you go on in this way,' saidiierol, 1 we shall never get to papa.' •Come at once,' cried Guy; -«I never so pined to see any man in my life. > ;. The earl rose, and faced them with a smile, as they entered the library. _ ' I am bold, Lord Cameron, said Guy. ' Here is your choicest tTeaaure, peerless m all England, and I ask you for her, and will take no denial.' ' , ' • Ferol stood, her'head bent, her hands clasped in that sweet attitude of Waiting, confident and calm. ' Lord Guy, I am deeply sovry, but I cannot say ' yes.' lam held.by a promise. :>J, have promised this young damsel, that she should never leave me, that I would never give her away,' said the earl. _ 'I release you from that promise, dear papa,' said Ferol, looking up with her uioet ingenuous smile. Which of her two beholders was tho moro I fascinated it is hard to say.

CBIAJTBR. LIX.

*:i>a'Bft 0* ANY fBKR !'

Eleven o'clock on a warm September morn

The door of the village oiiurcH stood open, and through it winged stray birds, bees, and butterflies, allured by the fragrance of a great bouquet of flowers, placed on the reading/desk. Before the church door stood a hired travelling- carriage, the driver and postilion whereof had each a white favour in his hat and a flower in his botton-h' le, while the horses shook their heads as if conscious that they too wore gay with white favours. On the stone steps of the church, leaning on LoVd HernCioft'a arm, stood Ferol, happy and smiling, under a wide hat, artfully turned up at one side. Near her was Lois, quite as smiling and; happy, but not half so shy, beside David Langdon ;. and behind them a very important little page in numerous buttons holding a small leather-covered box. ' Here they come !' cried tho merry Lois, and from the church door came Cora—Cora Leo no longer ; Cora, .quite bewitching in inut-brovyri suit and hat, with suggestive white rosep, and leaning on the arm of Charles,, to whom she had been married less than ten minutes, j ' Behind them came Martha Morris,_ in blade, and ftlosoly veiled, and Granny Loe, radianb in a new flowered satoen gown, and a new dap with most voluminous rufflef. 'Manj good wishes, Cora, for yOur happiness and prosperity!' cried Lois, holding out her hand. ' vVehave come to see you off, and congratulate you. Joseph, give me that box. .Here, dear Cora, iferol and I have made you a wedding present.' Lois felt justly proud of that box. It contained a dozen silver spoons and twenty shining golden pounds. Feiol, always so much quietsr, though not loss in earnest' than hef sister, gave Cora her hand, with kindly parting words. As she turned from her, she felt Martha's liners plucking at her sleeve. 'La yFero', I cannot go away, to male my nave in a ujreign land, or maybe in tho sea, without hearing you say'that you forgive.me—oh, Lady Ferol !'• ' I forgive you, Martha. It seems,,to me that it is very easy for the happy to forgive. ' '' ; Coira threw her arms around Granny Lee'« neefcv'.'. - " ' ■•' ' ■ ',

i good old grannie! how kind you bAve beeq to mo ! ,4nd I know I havo often been "such a worry to you. I wish you wete coming with usjihateVo leave you.' 1 Never fret, my deario,': said the dame, pat1 ing her grandchild's cheek j ' you have been a good child, Cora, and what more 6 dl ask than to see you well, mariicd, n . we,ll dons by ? Write mo every now arid again, child, ayd rji. be content. Never iret aboub me ; Lord Herncrofb- will look; after mo, my clear;,' /, • ' ' Yes, Cora,' said Lord Guy, 'your grand mother shall have, her tidy little cottage, her well-spread table, and her little tndid to wait on her, aslbngaßfcbe lives. T charge iny-clf with her.' ■ ~ The driver held open tho carriage door, Cora got in, Martha followed her. Charles,! happy as a king, took his place Opposite them ; the pbetilioti cracked his whip, the wheels turned on the dusty road, and out beyond the horizon of- 3?er6l Cameron's lifo rolled those- who had mado' so large a part of 'ith paii}S. '• Granny Lee trotted off toward., the W'hito Hart Inn, whence she was to go back to her cottage and hec little maid, on Lord Guy's estate. The four young people turned their faces toward Castle Cameron. ;

'What an ecstatically lovely day it is I' cried Lois. ' I 'never- saw such a bine sky. Thia .grass is surely greener ihah ever grass was before; and the trees are in nnest foliage, and hark to all the birds. Guy, how admirably you and Ferol look, walking together. Now that you are to be my-brtther-in-law, I do not mind saying ithut you are a very hantisonie man. The handsomest man I kuow—but one I'

' And who may the happy .exception be ?' asked Lord Guy, suiiling at her Over his Shoulder. , ' 1

■ • Perhaps my lordly papa,' said Lois, with a sidelong glance at David Langdon — ' a?id perhaps not.'' < — * On, how happy lam !' she burst forth again. ' I think all thinga go just aai. want them to, anc^ I have everything tliat t wish, and. I am so happy/ ije^l Jike ca iqhig kll the time. Ferol, I wish it were the night of ouv grand ball this very minute, so I could begin at once. Guy,; you? Will tear your Belt fi'ora Ferol long enough to dance with me sbmo, will you not ?7' I do not wish to bloom aisawall-flbSverall theQveningj'; 'Count on me for that all is fair whett^fcho desires of other young men are justly considered,' says' Guy. , | •' '.'■-'''■■. ' And you will put your namo on my card, too, will yoa not, Mr Langdon? Yqu had better notwait too long about it either^ for in .spite of what,lt aid. jo.ib- now, X; know 1 shall not be in the room tiiteeu xninutan befofe a swai*m of yoiiig men.have asked all my dances!' ' Then will you not put me down the day before for all that you ca^ spare me V cried I)avid, eageily. ' ' ' '■ ";■' ■ ;; "■■ ■ •Very good. lam glad yo\i do not tire Out, and that you d<jnee so delightfully. Be sure that nothing • prevents you froai coming-r neither flood nor.fire,1 lawsuits n6r railroad disasters, nor philanthroj>y. would lose inunensaly if you did.. , Epj-yqu have no idea wliafc a ravifehids>dre?B 1 httVo. 1 designed it myself j it is absolutely indeScribaDle!' -■ ; ...

(To be Continued.)