THE DRAMA of a LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 15, 19 January 1892, Page 6

THE DRAMA of a LIFE.

By Jean Kate Ludlu-ji.

Author of 'John Winthrop'a * Under a Cloud,' 'Under Oath.'

CHAPTER VII. A BRILLIANT AFFAIR. In the floating of the fan and of tho weather, To reoiprocate with beauty the Hue weather. " The Dance." Mrs Leonard was the housekeeper at Bachelors' Beatitude, as Morgan in a fib of wit nick-named bhe beautiful residence of Lee Price. Mrs Leonard as a housekeeper was irreproachable ; as a woman she was very stoub, good-natured and wonderfully kind of heart. She considered the young master the perfection of manhood. There was nothing too good for him ; nothing that Bhe would not do to increase his happiness.

She was more to him —much more—than hia own mother had been, and she had ruled over his house sineo his parents cUed, his mother surviving his father bub two weeks. He paid her a salary that placed beyond possibility her ever coming to want; and in return she made hia home a paradise of comfort, his friends said, envying him. But a paradise without houris ; and under such conditions, even paradise palls sometimes.

So it was decided, one charming summer morning after solemn conclave, thab bhe houris should be invited, And thia dectBion wakened a sbir from cellar bo garreu ab Bachelors' Beatitude, and excited much pleasurable expectation on the part of the bachelors themselves.

'It musb be a really brillianb affair, or I will nob underbake it,' said Leo Price, when the proposition was being considered. 'In consequence of this, we must take pain 3 to make it a success. In the first place, I have ono of the sweetest aunts in the world, and wo shall have her here, of course. That will settle the proprieties, for when aho countenances an affair, the world accepts ib as proper. She will do tho hostess to perfection, only I warn you fellows not to fall in love with her. Thab is my one stipulation.'

' Why not ?' queried Newton, with an air of settled melanchclv.

'Her husband mighb objecb.' 'Oh! She has a husband ?' • Yes. And now bhab Mrs Leonard will look after the household affairs and my aunt, Mrs Estabrook, answers for the proprieties—for of course Bhe will not refuse my request—we, the bachelors, may safely be left to consider the _flairs somewhere nearer the heart—naming the guests.' ' Fair Eleanor, of course,' murmured Herbert Morgan, with a side-glance of challenge toward Burnside. ' Certainly,' was the cool reply. ' I should say she will be one of the guests, Mr Morgan ! So far as I know, there is no reason why my little fiancee should nob be invited. The collection of houris would be aadly deficient were she omitted.' 1 Thab is well said, Rob,' laughed Price, suddenly ceasing his nibbling of the pencil he held. 'Miss Harte's name goes down for tbab, the first in the list. And then there's Miss Atherton, of courso, and Miss Pun bar and Kittie Florence—'

And so on until the list was full, and, judging from tho invited guests, there could be no doubt of a successful ending to the proposed brilliant affair. Mrs E3tabrook was the perfection of a hostess, and Mrs Leonard the ideal housekeeper. The house was magnificent. Flowers and palms were banked in the halls and on the staircase ; a row of tall palms bordered the piazza from end to end; hvdrangias, with their huge bouquets of blossoms, were arranged upon the steps; roses of every description, with fragrant shrubs and hedge-blossoms, made the lawn like a tropical garden. The house,was brilliant with light; the lawn soft with swinging lanterns. A group of musicians, engaged from tho city, were hidden by palms and flowers at one end of the piazza, deadening the low murmur of the waves along the beach close under tho wall, as the tide rose- A brilliant moon was riding bhe heavens, silvering the bay and brailing a pabh of molten glory across the distant Sound, as though that wero the gateway to celestial lands leading from this earthly paradise. Carriages beganarrivingearly, and groups of charming women, in delightful toilets, set the seal of perfection upon tho brilliant socno. It was almost altogether a town affair ; not more than half-a-dozen or so of the ladies were from bhe city, and nob so many gentlemen as tha'". Young Doctor Graham was one of the favourites among the group of young men from the town. Young Doctor Graham, as a successful physician and wealthy young jnan, was considerably eou_nfc after by wise toothers with charmyig daughters. And youno. Doctor Grahara. being wise, divided his attentions between many young ladies and was deliciously courteous to the old ; but in his own heart ho know that there ■was only one face and voice and eyes—bowibchingly bright—thab meant more than friendship or courbesy to him.

But if pretty little Polly Ballard knew this quite as well as he did, was it at all probable that she should make it known to the world? Then, too, she treated Tom Hastings with special favour that evening, and Tom Hastings was utterly devoted to her to all appearances ; and in spite of gaiety and music and beauty—in spite ot that clear track of glory across the waters from the quiet heavens — jealousies and faeavy hearts and eyes brilliant with more than laughter betrayed that the serpent had also entered here.

'So you managed to leavo your patients long enough to grace this festive scene— eh, Jack?' Hastings asked of Graham, as they met in the hall going out to the supper room. Miss Polly's white-gloved hand was lying on Hastings' arm, and Miss Polly herself, to all intents and purposes, quite ignored JDoctor Graham.

'Price set you down as one of tho "doubtfuls," Graham,' ho added; 'but I see that you have come.'' Price himself was within sight and hearing. Catching this remark, he smiled upon these guests. Graham acknowledged this remark easily. He was apparently unconcerned as to whether or nob Alias Polly Ballard bestowed her attention upon his friend or himself; bub Miss Polly know better.

' Yes,' he said, carelessly. ' One does occasionally set aside business for pleasure. Unusual with me, but rather pleasant— when Price is concerned.' And passing on with his companion, he and Pollydrifted apart until the gay evening was ending. Then —fate brought them together.

The parlours were filled with dancers. The music, drifting from the band behind the palms, set wings to light feet and young hearts throbbing and bright eyes flashing in bhe gas-light. What, though the world were wheeling out of orbit, if one could dance one's sorrow down ? There were groups on the piazza and the lawn. Loiterers by the sea-wall watching tho waves and murmuring soft nothings or tender words of meaning. Appreciative eyes gazed across the path to the distances of heaven. Musical laughter tinkled on tho fragrant silence. Deeper voices drowned tho cry of tho waves to the ears thab listened and bhe hearts that yielded to love.

Jack Graham, for the first time that evening, was drawn from tho rooms ami the presence of bis host. With undeviatlog, ysk quiet persistence, tho young jpbyeician kepb continual wftjejb, $£ t^q

handsome, genial, smiling host, moving among his guests the embodiment of courteous manhood. Jack Graham was not one to be defeated when there was the faintest hope of success. But Miss Polly had relented, and was for tho time causing him to forget or neglect his duty. For it was more duty than pleasure thab brought Docbor Graham bo bins scene of activity. But Miss Polly was irresistible when she was so charming as at thab moment. She was looking up into his eyes, murmuring half petulantly that ib was so delicious out upon the lawn, where one need not suffocate in crowds and where the moonlight was beautiful ; and Doctor Graham, glancing hastily through the groups for his host and seeing him in perfect apparent health and spirits among the dancers,with beautiful, wealthy Miss Constance Conwright as hia partner, turned away, smiling, with bewitching Miss Polly to join the more romantic groups and promenadera upon the piazza.

The breeze was faint. Presently Miss Polly and her escort were crossing the lawn toward the sea-wall, attracted by the beauty of the scene and the softened Bound of music and gaiety from within. Miss Polly held her gown carefully up from the penetrating dew of the close-shaven grass, aud Doctor Graham made sure bhab she was protected, by an India shawl, from tho breeze, after the heat of the rooms. They were talking very earnestly, and cared, neither of them, if the eyes of the world were upon them, for they were quite happy and sufficient unto'themselves. When they reached the sea-wall, Miss Polly commanded silence, and her companion willingly stood with her before the exceeding beauty of the scene. The moonlight touched her faco and soft black hair and tender midnight eyes. Looking across the water, following that silver pathway, she forgot herself and her companion—forgot utterly her surroundings. Doctor Graham, not being such an admirer of scenic beauty, did not forget her ; he seemed rather to be perfectly and altogethorconrscious and anxious for the welfare of Miss Polly. ' Isn't it beautiful, Doctor Graham ?' queried Polly, presently, in a voice of awe.

' Yes,' replied Jack, smiling, looking down upon her. ' But you aro not looking at it at all!' protested Miss Polly, petulantly, withdrawing her hand from his arm and laying it upon the crumbling Eea-wall. ' You don'b appreciate beauty one bib, Doctor Graham !'

'Yes I do,' said Doctor Graham, unmoved. ' I was looking at you, Miss Polly.'

' But—' began Polly, half angrily. And then she stopped, for fate had come between.

A shadow glided out from among the shadows on the lawn and paused beside them—a tall figure gloomily black, sombre, startling. Polly uttered a smothered cry and shrank close to her companion. Doctor Graham drew her hand through hi 3 arm, leaving hia own over it reassuringly, as he faced the strange intruder upon their peace.

* I beg your pardon,' said a low even voice, and Graham recognised in the moonlight tha cold, thin face of Gonyers. 'The young master is ill. He asked for you. Come, if you please, sir.'

' How unfortunate !' muttered the doctor, hurrying with Miss Polly across the lawn, tho valet- disappearing as silently and suddenly as he had come. ' I watch for hours, and just as I congratulate myself on groundless fears and relax vigilance fortune turns upon me, and the evil falls ! I would havo given anything, anything to have been with him ab tho time ! I must go to him, Polly, at once.' 'Of course,' said Polly, with sweet gravity. ' Poor Mr Price !Go right away, Dr. Graham ; don'b stop for me ! I will find mamma easily, or— Hero is Mr Waring ! He will see that I am safe.'

' Certainly,' said one of tho gentlemen who stood near the door of the hall. ' With pleasure, Miss Ballard. Poor Price! They say that he is horribly ill, Graham. Hastings put us all out of the room as soon as he was attacked,' continued Mr Waring to Miss Polly, as they lingered upon the piazza, anxiously watching for news of their host, yet nob wishing to intrude upon him. 'I never saw Hastings co cut up in my life. He was near Prico at the time. They were eating cream with Miss Dunbar and Kittie Florence, and all at oriee Price became deadly ill—like death—and would actually have fallen to the floor if Hastings had nob caughb him. They have him up in his room now. I wish Graham would hurry aud tell us regarding him. Poor fellow !'

And it was ' poor fellow' indeed, for Graham found him much more ill than ho had expected —and he had expected to find him very ill. Gonyers was in the room when ho entered, as though he had never left ib, as though his Uight into the night were bub a thought- of tho brain and not reality. Conyors. solf-possessed, cold, unmoved standing besido hia master, whom he had assisted to the bed and was carefully, and deftly divesting of his evening dress.

Ib was all he could do and exactly what ho should do ; but Graham, whoso glance fjelt upon him instantly on entering, felb a swift senso of distrust) for him and spoke rather sharply to him in giving his command.

But tho immovable faco did nob once change in expression, nor his noiseless obedience falter.

( To be Continued.)