BERYL'S HUSBAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 139, 13 June 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

BERYL'S HUSBAND.

BY MRS HARRIET L&WI&

CHAPTER XLllL—(Continued.)

'Is ib bhe parish officers you are, sirs ? Kate asked, with a spice of her saucy Irish brogue. ' Well, it's prompt you are, anyhow. The grass don't grow under your feet while you are collecting the rates, I'll swear to that.'

' We are not the parish officers, madam, said Mr Sherwald. 'We—' ' You are tbe water rates ; well, there's nob much difference. It's money you're wanting all the same. There's never an end ab all to the outgo of money. It's one thing and another by day and by nighb, and no peace ab all with it all; How much are you wanting this time?' asked Miss Cavanagh, in a tone of exasperation. ' I tell you, madam, thab you are mistaken,' said Mr Sherwald, impatiently. 'We are not officers of any kind. We are come here to call upon your lodger, Miss Star. The servant has gone up to summon the young lady.' ' We are h6r friends,' said Noble Desmond. 'It may be that she will not come down to us. In that case, we desire to be permitted to go up to her room.' 'The young lady is my niece,'said Mr Star, stiffly, and somewhat reluctantly. ' My relationship to her gives me a right to intrude upon her, whatever her objections.'

At this juncture, Kate reappeared, with a very blank visage. ' Miss Star is nob in her room,' she announced. ' And I can't find her hat and sacque, and she musb have gone out, though ib was nob I leb her oub. She wenb oub of one of the neighbour's gates. I mind them Thompsons had their gate open an hour this morning, and they are next neighbours. Miss Star must have gone out to try to sell them embroideries, poor soul !' ' Are you sure she's not in her room ?' demanded Desmond, his countenance changing:. ' She mij;ht have seen us enter —'

'And be hiding, d'ye mean? Oh ! no, sir. She's a born lady, and'd scorn to do the like of bhab. ' She's gone out,' affirmed Kate, ' and if your business is pressin', and you'd like to see her, why, you musb come again when she's ab home.' Ib was plain that Kate believed Miss Star to have gone out. Miss Cavanagh's Irish face was quietly impassive. One would not deem her cognisant of Beryl's whereabouts. The gentlemen were forced to accept the situation. ' Have you any idea when Miss Star will be in, madam?' asked Mr Sherwald, addressing the landlady, « Sure and how should I?' she replied. ' I didn't oven know thab she was oub. If you are her friends, you can call again. You might call this evening,' she added, artfully. ' She's always in in the evenings.' ' We will come again bhis evening,' said Desmond, gravely. 'Be sure to tell her, madam, that we are her friends, and thab ib is of the utmosb importance that we should see her. Stay, I will leave a note for her.' He drew oub his note-book and a pencil, and wrote the following words upon a loose scrap of paper : Beryl, my Own Wife : A friend of mine. Mr Sherwald, discovered your place of refuge yesterday by following Conyers, whom he suspected of knowing it. Your uncle is with Mr Sherwald and. me as I write these hasty lines. Mr Star repents his cruelty to you, and will take you homo to Starwood, provided that you persist in keeping away from me. My poor little wife. I want to take care of you, to reason away thi3 vagary of yours that Conroy lives. There ia no doubt that he is dead. Only givo mo a few minutes 3peoch with you. my darling. __ __ Your Lover and Husband. Desmond folded the scrap of paper and enclosed it in an unused envelope which was also in his note-book. He hesitated an instant upon the address, then wrote the name, ' Miss Star.' ' Will you givo thab to her, madam, upon her return ?' he asked, placing the missive in Miss Cavanagh's hands. The landlady replied in the affirmative. Desmond knew that she could be trusted to keep her word, and proposed to his friends a departure. They wenb out wibh evidenb rolucbance, and Kate gave them egress at the garden-door. When they were fairly in the street, Sherwald said, in a tone expressive of dissatisfaction :

' That servant thought that Miss Star was out, bub she was nob. Thab Irishwoman was hiding bhe young lady, bake my word for ib.' ' I am of your opinion, Sherwald,' said Desmond, ' bub bhe landlady will give Mrs Desmond my nobe, and when we go back she will receive us.' ' Leb us waib on bhe street-corner and give her bime bo read bhe lebber,' said Mr Star. 'In bhe course of bwenty minutes we'll po back again.' This proposition meb wibh approval. The bhree gentlemen came to a halt upon the street-corner and waited. In the moantime, Miss Cavanagh had carried Desmond's letter into the inner room where Beryl waited. She found the girl with her head buried in the cushions of a couch, her form trembling as if the voice of Desmond had stirred her being to its centre. 'Mr Desmond left a note for you, Miss Star,' she said gently. ' Did you hear all that was said ?' Beryl reached out her hand for the note, bowing her head. ' Mr Desmond is very handsome, bub he looks as if he had suffered terribly,' said Miss Cavanagh. 'It's a hard fate that's parted you two, bub you have done righb, my dear. You couldn't have done otherwise that I can see.' She withdrew to send Kate out for a cab and to pub on her bonnet, leaving Beryl alone. When she returned, a few minutes later, she found her lodger in the drawingroom, quite calm and composed. Beryl had learned self-control in a stern school, and she was one to hide her sorrows. 'The cab is coming, my dear,' said Miss Cavanagh. 'And Kate says thab the gentlemen who called to see you are standing at the street-corner, as if they were watching. They do not believe you are gone out, and will be back again presently. We must hasten or they will intercept us.' They hastened down-stairs, and reached the gate as the four-wheeled cab drove up. Beryl entered the vehicle first, Miss Cavanagh followed, and they drove away as Desmond and his companions hastily returned. The gentlemen saw the lady in black as she passed out to the cab, and all were positive in their belief that she was no other than Beryl; but the vehicle rolled rapidly away in an opposite direction, and they had no opportunity to even address her.

On arriving ab Hawkhurst House in Park Lane, they were shown into tho housekeeper's room and into the presence of its owner. Mrs Dominick received ' Mrs Park' with great politeness, and showed her special attention. As the acquaintance progressed, and inquiry into ' Mrs Park's' antecedents seemed imminent, Miss Cavanagh adroitly remarked : ' You were telling me yesterday, Mrs Dominick, that Lord Hawkhursb was_ ill and wanting 6omo one to wait upon him, and I have made bold to bring my friend, Mrs Park, to apply for the situation. I'll answer for her, and you know that my word is good as gold. If a curate's widow—a respectable, refined gentlewoman — would Buit his lordship, Mrs Park would suit him.' 'He does nob wanb a nurse,' said the housekeeper. ' His valeb nurses him, and only this morning his lordship flung a book ab the valet's head for some clumsiness. He wants some one to write his letters ab his dicbation, to read to him, to amuse him, and be wants a lady to do these offices for bim. He says thab a gcnbleman is oub of place in a sick-room. Mrs Conyers read to him yesterday and wroto oub his lebbers, bub when she wenb oub he gave a kind of groan and pub the letters on the fire. He did nob know bhab I saw him do ib, bub I knew the reason. The handwriting was fine and spidery, and could hardly be made out. And her reading was affected and unpleasing. My lord begged me to find some one to-day to come for a week or two, and I have already taken two ladiesfriends of mine, for whom i sent —in to him at different times, but his lordship is very particular, and neither of them suited. One was affected in her speech. The other had a strong Scottish accent. So you see, Mrs Park, that ib depends entirely upon his caprice whether he engages you or not. If you can bear his temper, and he should be pleased with you, he will pay you liberally.' 'Is gastric fever a dangerous disease?' asked Beryl. 'As in all fevers, people die of ib, bub I don't think my lord will die. He is a very gianb for strength. His illness is to me most mysterious. He ia temperate in his living and all his habits. People seem to have the impression that he is very ill. They were leaving cards all day yesterday, even when he was out. The medical man said this morning that bis lordship ia not to see any visitors. I notice thab people are paying court to Mr and Mrs Conyers assiduously now. Mr Conyers is Lord Hawkhurst's heir,' the housekeeper added, for Beryl's benefit. ' And if Lord Hawkhursb dies Mr Conyers will be the next earl, will he not ?' asked Beryl. ' Yes. Mr Conyers is a distant relative, but the nearest in order of succession to the title. The property is not like most noblemen's estates ; ib is nob entailed, and if my lord were bo die without a will ib would be divided equally bebween Mr Conyers and Mr Desmond, who have equal claims.' Beryl sbarted. 'Mr Desmond ?' said Miss Cavanagh. 'Who is he?' ' A young kinsman of my lord. He is Noble Desmond, a young barrisber.' 'Ah !' mubtered Miss Cavanagh. ' She's in bhe very nest of 'em, sure. The earl and Conyers and Desmond are all one tribe, anyhow, and that's curious.' ' I didn'b understand,' said Mrs Dominick. ' Were you asking furbher aboub young Mr Desmond ? Don'b you know the family history . The family name of the earls of Hawkhurst is Desmond. When my lord was a young man and before he came inbo the title, he waa Lord Gray Desmond.' • Gray !' murmured Beryl. ' Was he ever a colonel in the army ?' 'No ; his father was earl, and he was bhe heir. He had no need of any profession,' said Mrs Dominick. 'Mr Conyers' father was a Desmond, but changed his name to Conyers on marrying an heiress of--that name. My lord is a widower and childless, Mrs Park, but he's young still, being not over fifty years of age. Mr Conyers will inherit everything at my lord's death, except a trifling annuity to Mr Desmond, I suppose. ' At this moment, a bell rang sharply close at hand. ' My lord's bell,' said Mrs Dominick, rising. 'He is calling forme. He is in the library. Come with me, Mrs Park, and I will present you to his lordfchip. Bridget Cavanagh, just wait until I come back to you. Keep up your courage, Mrs Park ; don't get frightened ; there's no knowing but that his lordship may engage you. I'll give you a warm recommendation, for my cousin's sake. Come.' She led the way into bhe hall and upsbaira to Lord Hawkhurst's library.

CHAPTER XLIII.

THE DESTROYER AND THE HEALER. The earl was alone. The wintry light streamed into the great library, which was bright, warm, and luxurious. Upon a writing-desk lay a half-finished letter, the ink not yet dry. Lord Hawkhursb had heen writing, but had been arrested in bis task by a sudden spasm of weakness, that had sent him staggering to his couch. Mrs Dominick came into the room, followed by Beryl. 'Are you worse, my lord?' asked the housekeeper, approaching him. 'Shall I send for the doctor ? Shall I call Mrs Conyers ?' 'No, no,' gapped the earl. 'I shall be all right directly. It's the cursed medicine —I burn alive every time I take it. The infernal doctor— * He paused, growing ghastly pale. Beryl's quick eyes detecbed a carafe of iced waber on bhe bable. She poured some of bhe liquid in a goblet, and broughb ib bo the earl, placing ib to his lips. He drank ib unhesitatingly, revived, and stared ab her wibh returning strength. 'My Lord,' said Mrs Dominick, * this is Mrs Park, a curate's widow, who may be able to please you and attend upon you for a week or so till your Lordship gets out again. I can recommend her in the very highest terms.' Beryl retreated a little. The earl sat up and looked at her keenly. 'Copy that portion of a letter on my desk, Mrs Park,' be said. Beryl obeyed. The handwriting, clear and distinct, appeared to please him, for he uttered an approving ' Humph.' ' Let me hear you read,' commanded the earl. Beryl took up a volume of history upon the table and read a paragraph. ' Humph !' said the earl again. * You'll do. You can stay, madam. I suppose you can do whab you are told to do. lam not so well as I thought. I wanb you to give me my medicine henceforth, and to be ab hand when I want you. You can take off your bonnet and finish reading that chapter aloud which you began.' ' I'll take your bonnet to my room, Mrs Park,' said Mrs Dominick, well pleased thab Beryl's services had been accepbed and herself consequenbly relieved of many additional cares that had pressed sorely upon her. 'By and by I'll show you up to your room. Shall 1 take any word to Miss Cavanagh ?' 'No,' said Beryl, removing her hat, veil and shawl. * I have no word to send except that I am grateful to her and to you.' Mrs Dominick wenb away wibh Beryl's outer garments, and the girl took her seat at a convenient distance from tbe earl and read aloud to him as he had requested. Her voice, low and sweet, clear and distinct, thrilled him like music heard long ago. He watched her in a species of fascination, as she read through her spectacles, the glass of which was ordinary windowglass, nothing more. There were tears in his frosty blue eyes as he listened, and he wiped them away furtively. Her voice reminded him keenly of a -voice that bad long ago been bushed in death

In the pauses between the paragraph* Beryl now and then stole a glance at bintf She believed him to be her own_ fatherShe had come hero in disguise, hating bins with a bitter furious hatred, as one who had wronged her mother and driven that mother to hor death. But she could nob look upon him and hate him still. His massive head, his grand figure, his rough-hewn features, his look of conscious power, were all full of a subtle magnetism that drew her liking in spito of herself. She could not wonder thafc poor Jenny Star had abandoned her kindred for his sake. She felt thab she could lov6 him, and sbruggled againsb the outgrowing warmth and tenderness of hec hear, a"_ if ib had been a crime to love him, as if love for him implied disrespect to tha memory of her dead mother. She felt an impulse to go to him, to kneel down besida his couch, to call him father and implore hit love and protection ; bub she scorned herself for bhe impulse, and told herself aha musb be going mad. She finished reading and lapsed into silence. ' I have to take my medicine every two hours,' said Lord Hawkhurst. *Is it two o'clock ?' Beryl looked toward the mantel-piece. The little ormolu clock was on the stroke of two. 'It is two o'clock,' she said, and tha silvery chimes corroborated her assertion. ' The medicines are on the cabinet yonder,' said Lord Hawkhursb. 'The ball phial wibh bhe double label conbains my medicine. You can pour ib inbo tho gobletJ besideit.' Beryl wenb to the cabinet. ,Tbe phial indicated contained a clear, colourless liquid like water, destitute of sediment. ' One teaspoonful,' said the earl. The teaspoon lay on a tiny silver tray ati hand. Beryl was about to take it up whea the door opened and Octavia room.

Beryl's hand trembled so that the spoon rattled against the glass, and sho averted her face instinctively. Octavia, dressed in an elaborately embroidered dark bluo cashmere costume, had nearly crossed the floor before she detected Beryl's presence. Then she stopped shorb, with a look of surprise on her dark, unlovely face. 'Ib is actually two o'clock,' she observed, in a high, affected voice. 'After all, lam prompt, Lord Hawkhurst. I ara in time to give you your medicine.' The earl frowned. Her voice grated harshly upon his ears. ' Mrs Conyers,' he said, quietly, ' this lady is my attendant, Mrs Park. Mrs Park, leb me presenb you bo Mrs Conyers.' Ocbavia bowed superciliously. That sha was nob a lady in grain as in outward appearance was apparenb in her treat" menb of one she believed bo be her social inferior.

' Oh ! a nurse.' she said, looking ab Beryl insolently. * Why did you nob send foe me, my Lord, bo negotiate with this person ? Dominick is well enough in her place, but she ia nob competent to s-elecb a nurse for you.' 'I engaged her myself, Octavia,' said tha earl. * Mrs Park is a lady, and I desira her to be treabed wibh respect.'

Octavia flashed a look of dislike at Beryl. She could nob penetrate tha girl's disguise, but she disliked tbe newcomer instinctively. 'So long as Mrs Park conducts herself properly, she will be treated with respect/ said Octavia, carelessly. 'These medicinea are very powerful, and the doctor has enjoined bbc utmost care in dealing them out.' It is a task that should not be intrusted to a stranger. I have measured oub all hia lordship's medicines herebofore, and shall continue to do so, although you may ad« minister them.'

' I think I need nob trouble you further, Octavia,' said the earl. 'Mrs Park can measure oub the medicines as exactly aa you.' Ocbavia'a features worked in seemingf grief. She looked sorely wounded and hurb. ' 'Oh,'said she,'may I [nob feel that in one thing at least I am indispensable ta you ? Is there nob one thing I can da better for you than anyone else, my Lord ? I love you as if you were my own father ' 'I beg your pardon, Octavia,'said tha earl, as her voice broke down, and she pufc her handkerchief to her eyes: • You can measure my medicines, if doing so gives you any pleasure. lam glad you are so fond of me and solicitous of my welfare, I am sure.' Mrs Conyers recovered her equanimity very rapidly. •Be good enough to bring the water/ Mrs Park,' she said. 'Ibis necessary to dilute tbe medicine.' (To be Continued.)