AN AUSTRALIAN MILLIONAIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 95, 21 April 1894, Page 1 (Supplement)

AN AUSTRALIAN MILLIONAIRE.

BY MRS A. BLITZ.

BOOK II

CHAPTER XIII.

MBS DRIPPER WITH A WHISPER FIRES THE

BULWARKS,

Was Socrates the serene-tempered benedict he is represented to be, think you ? Not he! Xantippe was choseu as an escort that she might aerve for a practical infallible illustration of the power of mind over matter, its combat and prevail. Probably when she raged, he calmly smiled ; vheti she stamped and gnashed, he hummed tune: when she burst into tears with a aggravation, he gave the soft answer that ♦ turneth away wrath'; nob * because of an inborn tranquillity of temperament, for the flame of pasaion leaped at his heart, bub because of his resolution to quench that flame, to gain thab ascendancy over eelf which the inspired father of philosophy bath said is greater than the victory of him who storms and conquers a city.

Sweetness of temper la a passive quality, for it exists withoub an eflorb of our own, bub the power to subjugate a fiery one must* fee the greater endowment Socrates with the lion within him crouching before bhe iron rod of Will, presented example in preference to precept; ib waa part of bis doctrinal wisdom.

Perhaps there was much of Socrates in our hero, Roland Goldwin, compelling him to behave as he had to one who was of the Xantippe order of women ; but since that scene with her in hia study, her confession of thefb, her duplicity, her stern and—as it seemed to him—unreasonable antagonism to his engagement to Jessie, though he was ready to forgive her unjust accusations and that trickery which she had called 'zeal,' he could not reconcile himself juab yet to meeting her on the same footing as hitherto— tould not address her with the same studied respect. Owing bo this he decided to quit Goolgun for a few days, bub, to avoid the possible veto from his mother to do so, wenb without previous intimation to her of thia intention. His plan was to recruit himself ab Wondoo, to give ample time to Mr I Lockatud to come to a decision upon the momentous question, and to shape his future definitely accordingly, for at presenb ib depended upon thab decision. Ab Wondoo his depression seemed to vanish; its freedom from city crush, its verdure, its rustic aspects, gardens, berry bodges, and the puriby of its air, wooed him for peace; and then, Jessie's endearing, clinging ways were to him sweeter than before. Her mother's welcome to him, her gentle voice, and maternal-like glances of happy satisfaction and trust —all unknown ; at Goolgun—were balsam to his wounds. The undisguised devotion of these two women to his interests and pleasures was so much lotus fruit—so acceptable to his palate, so delicious in its results. Even that love which Lockstud had maintained would haunb him was temporarily torpid in their comforting presence, so thab he was thoroughly grateful, and gratitude and friendship coloured his words and actions bo highly that they seemed to have all the ardency of tender passion. Lockstud's letter reached him, and was discussed with all its pros and cons. Mrs Lbekstud alluded to it as a concession, considering the obstinacy of the individual conceding ; Jessie protested, and said ib was positively absurd, an exaction ; but Roland was not entirely diasatiatied, though Mrs Locksbud's view of 'concession' and her husband's tardiness even in thia advance towards him were nob complimentary, and did pique him to a certain extent, yet, turning the matter over in his own mind, he was not so ready to condemn Mr LockBtud as he had been. After all, when a father wishes to put a would-be son-in-law to a tesb of his fidelity, believing he has not fully recovered from his position of a rejected suitor elsewhere, and, moreover, thab his affecbionß are far from free, bhe wouldbe son-in-law has no righb to make objections. Of course, Roland could not prodace this reasoning to Jessie or her mobher to palliate the father's seeming inflexibility of disposition; he could nob say : 'Mr Locksbud believes my love for Jessie too shallow, too weak to support bhe vow I have made to be true to her, and knows my firab love is nob yet entirely pub away.' Whab he did say was: • Don'b judge him rashly, Mid; he is nob so indifferenb to your happiness as you imagine. He spoke of you to me wibh such tenderness that I am assured he could never be tyrannical, even if exacting, as in this case. You know we always esteem mo3b the things bhat are dearly purchased, and he thinks to enhance your value in my eyes by raising obstacles. He holds you worth waiting for. Laban was unkinder to Jacob.' Jessie was not so easily reconciled. The prospect of a whole year's separation filled her heart with dismay and her eyes with tears. If she had bub read his mind arighb she would havo known that he was longing to be up and away thab he might the better fight down bhe old love, and give her a free and full affection. The hope of doing this lightened his spirit; for a time he was the hearty," cheery Roland once more, planning picnic parties and drives, and a whole day ab the wonderful Karwoi Falls, to fill up his few days' holiday at Wondoo. But holiday and pleasure-seeking were nipped in bhe bud, for the day after his arrival Mrs Lockstud received such a letter from her husband that she smiled and cried over ib, and treasured it like a rare gem. Ib begged of her to return to him wibhoub delay, as bbc house was so lonely, and he could stand ib no longor ; her absence waa oppressive. Lockstud never indulged in sentiment — seldom displayed tenderness; no wonder hie wife was touched and prepared eagerly for departure. A peremptory summons ,would have recalled her quickly and without any attempt to show reluctance; but a tender word such as here conveyed lent wings, in a sense, to her desire to obey him. Her daughter rebelled slightly at beine taken trom Wondoo pst the wepk of Roland's coming, bub gave n at length with that virtue born of necessity. Roland reurned with them to PhilUp?a in the full belief thab hia destiny wa« fixed, and fpeling more settled than he had done for pome-time. To cay he was not entirely disnaHsfied with the thought of a year's travelling scarcely conveys the feeling that predominated with him in viewing this coming epicode in hip life. One time he ba^ anticipated a voyage with Una by his Bide, ro Knutpford, and thence to Europe and America. Now, a change coming over thesnirit of his dream, he was anxious bo avevd Una. and he was honesb enough to tell himself that ho hailed one year's ah»ence from home and surrounding wUh a content bhab was bub bhe outcome of this Weakness. ■ The long talks and walks with her which had been his delighb were of the past, While a certain consbrainb had arisen between them which made their inevitable meetings at Ceaill'tnbda and el-ewher©' n °U!l pleasant to him, the reeerve being for more on hia side'than hero. Jozies society (fond of her as he was, and grateful, too, for that woman's worship, which roust »c as ancred as incenso to the reverential to»") did nob suffice him. was not *«eh an opposing force as it should have W«n were her influence Btronger; and

again ho was forced to admib, after a faithful self-analysis, that he was nob above the foiblea of his brethren; and it waa Mountfu who prompted the analysis. He looked upon him as a successful rival, and at present experienced the grip of the ' green-eyed monater '* whenever he saw him hovering about Una, or heard him singing with her. Reason how he would that this was wrong, the sensation of bitterness remained. ' 'Absence will surely cure me,' he confidently decided. However, there is no sequel to show thab this theory was ever substantiated in his case, since thab *deebiny which controls our ends ' was working up slowly and surely to a crisis about him, while he in his present mood was passive with the blindness of the undeveloped bird in the ehell—a shell which by a series of desperate pecks he was doomed to crack and pierce very soon thab be might emerge to the light.

There were two people yeb to be told of his'engagement; first and foremost Mrs Calliport, who, of court>e, had a right to know of all the inner and outer currents which affected her nephews' family for better or for worse; next, Mrs Dripper, for whom both Roland and Jessie entertained some affection and much respect, won by her fondness for her fosterson. Through their desire to take Mrs Dripper into confidence, Roland broke the shell and fainted before the light. With Mrs Calliporb all was so sunny thab bhere seemed no prospecb of a leaden cloud, which, ' no bigger than a man's hand,' was all the same ascending to wax great and descend.

She received Jessie and Roland only the evening of their return from Wondoo — received them with delight, fthough she knew nothing of their betrothal, for naturally she had missed Jessie greatly, an rl her kindly old faca had welcome written upon it. in every lino, and beaming in her keen bub tender eyes.

To see Roland with Jessie told her nothing, for ib was no new thing for them to visit her together; but to see Jessie's features nob drawn as she had seen them last—to see her healthy, rosy and round— was such a joy and surprise that she ab once associated the change, nob with VVondoo, but with the young man at her Bide. She nob only stood up as they entered her room, bub advanced to meet them, and then, with a welcoming hand given to each, she cast a quick glance of inquiry, first on Jessie and next on Roland. Jessie, thoroughly understanding, and in the fulness of her ecstasy, cried out:

' Yes, yes, auntie dear, ib is quite true ; we are engaged.' Her cheeks dimpled in smiles, and her eyes sent out a saucy flash, which said : '* You see how mistaken you were ; he does love me, after all.'

Aunt Jessie's arms immediately encircled her beloved niece, and her voice, tender and shaking, breathed lowly an emphatic—

' My darling ! my darling !'

Next she turned to Roland, and, boo overcome for reserve, she kissed him gently on the forehead, and said :

' You are worthy of each other.' Here was one, ab any rate, thought Roland, ready to smile on their union.

But Mrs Calliporb was nob so ready to smile when they bold her thab, saving for a few, the betrot&al was to remain under the rose for a year, and would separate the lovers.

' Depend upon ib,' she said, in answer to Jessie's pouting protest, 'your father has some excellent motive for keeping ib private.' But in her own mind she thought ib unnecessary, and wenb back to her conversation, wibh Theo and his anxiety that Roland ehould travel. Now thab Roland had declared his love for their Jessie, why should he be banished ? She was to know in time. ..._.. ~...

In the meanwhile Jessie, confident in the permanency of her happiness,, Jelb that much remained to be thankful for, and half wept, half cried, in her excitement that happy hour with Aunb Jespie; she could nob help contrasting ib with thab morning some months ago when, in thia very room, and while at her aunt's knee, her love's young dream had been rudely scared away. Poor Jesbie! poor faithful heart 1 Laber on, and in accordance with pre-arrangemenb, Roland knooked at Mrs Dripper's door for admission, and Jessie, in her own room, was saying bo herself :

♦He is going to Mrs Dripper now—the dear old thing ! how she will cry over him and bleps him. I think she has always liked me.'

Mrs Dripper had her suite of rooms—in truth, she had everything her hearb could desire, but the one thing needful to sweeten possession, and that was a peaceful conscience. But for this startling defect in her life she could have been thoroughly happy instead of being tormented; for, like a female Damocles, she always saw a sword hanging abova her head, and now more than ever dreaded its fall, since Mrs Goldwin had told her of her fosber-son's engagemen b. Roland occasionally paid her a visit, bub not often ; yeb he liked to do her honour, and she, if expecting him, would give her little sitbing room a few extra touches for his reception. Ib was adorned with many trifles, too, of his own donation, and here, when her duties as housekeeper were over for the day, she sab at her sewing or reading. She did not expect him this night, and ib was almosb late enough for her to think of retiring, yeb she remained at a square centre-table, where some work was lying neglected side by side with a late novel. Evidently she had tried to occupy hereoif wibh bobh in turn, bub had failed. She eat with her elbows on the table, and her thin hands locked, while unheeded tears slowly chased each other down her worn cheeks, Roland's tap at the door and accompanying words, 'Any admission V made her rise hastily and clear the misb from from her sight It srarbled her that he ehould come just that minute, for his image was in her mind's eye, and for him she had been weeping. To see him standing before her in the flesh was nob to soofhe her distress. < You're welcome sir ; come in,' she said, trvinu to look unconcerned, bub failing. •Ib"is rather late, 1 began Roland, 'bub I won'b keep you long.' He did nob sib down bub stood with his hands in his pockets as he faced her. 'It is only fair to tell you whab has taken place. Behold me, bridegroom-elect,,., , Mr* Dripper burned her head away; she did more than that,— ."he slipped back on to her chair, by which >he had been standing and bent herself forward on the table as if in pain, and wibh her hands over her face. Roland was all sympathy immediately. « What is it ? You are ill. Shall I get you PomeHiing?' Mrs Dripper, incapable^of will-power ever, ab bhis sobbed audibly behind her a»°No—no, Master Roland? I'm well enough, bub don't mind me.' • 'Then you musb be" in trouble, he persisted. , , ~ ... • Yes in trouble.' Then she bhoughb to satisfy him with a reason, and said : ' You —you are going away from us. •Ah ! mother has told you—forestalled me. Bub why tears ? lam coming back again, I hope.' Mrs Dripper sbruggled for composure ; she ventured to look up into the dear, honest eyes, bent kindly upon her. One of hia hands rested on the table now, quite near her, and she put oub one of her own and covered it. «I can'b help ib,' she said ; 'ib is dreadful to think of you goingso far away.'

She ppoke as if in apology. 'Then you knov why I am going, of course,' said Roland, half Pitting en the table and beginning to swing a hanging leg. , •Yes, yes; I know.

Mrs Dripper's voice was sepulchral, her aspect all dejeccion.

' You are not hurt with me for nob telling you before, are you ? because I couldn't very well. The engagement has only been looked upon as a settled thing since I went to Wondoo, and—'

• Hurt with you, Master Roland. Lord love you, you never eaid one word or did one thing in your whole blessed life to hurt me,' she quite vehemently interrupted, with choking accents. 1 You're a good soul, or you wouldn't say that after all the trouble I must have cost you. Bub I was going to say the engagement is> only to be known amongst ourselves —that is all. Dear little Mid and I will be married in one year hence, and then there will be an end to secrecy.' Mrs Dripper covered her eyes again, and said nothing. Roland, with his leg dangline, looked upon his foster-mother's acceptance of the fact of his engagement as peculiar, if not annoying.

'Surely,' he thought, 'she is not going to moati over my choice like my mother V ' You know Mid as well as I do,' he began as a test, ' and will accord her the praise she deserves.'

.'I shall always be fond of her, Master Roland ; bub-1

1 Well,' ha eaid, with rising impatience, 'go on.'

'I'd lay down my life this minute to know you were nob wishing bo marry her. I can'b help saying it ; don't be angry with me.1

He was angry ; he frowned and rose from the table.

'Good night,' he said loftily, and making for the door.

' Oh, stop. Master Roland,' she cried out in alarm, ' and shake hands with me.'

Hr walked back to her, and bent over her chair back.

1 Are you against me, too, like my mother ?' he asked, ' like Mr Locksbud ? They have both done their best to make me break faith with Jessie, and have failed. Do you think you, as my mother's tool, will succeed ?'

1 Ah, dear Master Roland !' pleaded the poor woman, * they are your friends; be advised by them. I know more than you do—l who, loving you so, should advise you too, bub musb nob speak. 1 She rose and faced him as she said this, with her woebegone countenance, and with her trembling hands on his arm. 'They have bean treating you harsh ; your mother don't tell me everything a.3 she should. I want to move you by love alone—you, the child I have nursed ! It ain'b for me to advise you, perhaps ; but I've seen you • grow from the day you came to these arms, a woe, helpless thiner, and I only want to serve you. Oh ! why are you not engaged to the dear young lady we always thought you sweet on V Mrs Dripper, in her earnestness and grief, said more than she had intended, and repented. 'Forgive me, sir! I meant no harm,' she added, quickly, seeing Roland's annoyance. •I infer from your words thab you have been told a great deal more than was necessary,' he answered, hotly, fully believing his mother had even informed her of Una's rejection. 1 Only of your engagement to Miss Lockstud,' she affirmed, with her hands still on him—'your intention to marry her.' 'And of her unreasonable aversion to one of the most womanly of women, 1 he added. ♦ You speak the words she has put into you mouth. I will not blame you now, but I will if, after what I have said, you persist in taking up the croak. I will have my way in this matter, understand.'

He spoke with such a quiet determination that Mrs Dripper's face became rigid ; she dropped her hold on him, and reseated herself at the table, with palms at her aching head, and her thin fingers arched and clutching at her hair as though they were talons ready to tear ifc from the roots. She was convinced now that he was passionately in love with Miss Lockstud, and that she had erred in thinking him attached to somebody else. Such opposition as this could only come from a man who lo^od tho girl he sought with-all the strength of a man's first ardour. She could not bear ib; ib maddened her to know he was bo be sent away thab he might be fooled and crushed when lie should return. Why should lie not bo told at once that such a marriage would be impossible, and then let him go r,o wear off his pain and disappointment? Why should Miss Lockstud be allowed to consider herself his future wife? Mre Goldwin had nob told her of the Lannugor card she meant to play as a trump. 4 Lord ! Lord !' she cried in her heart, 1 make him listen to me—turn him from this girl!' Her attitude of misery and evident bitterness of epirib sank deeper than her words in their effect on her foster-son. He had Counted upon her appreciation of hia suit, on seeing her eyes light up and hearing a blessing murmured. Seeing her thus recalled his mother's vehement ' Never ! never ! never I 1 when he spoke of his future alliance to Jessie, her swoon, and subsequently Lockstud's unwillingness to give way to acceptance. Mrs Dripper's reception of his stern assertion of will threw a sickly dim light on the united action of those two, revealing no details, yet something hobgoblin in shape —something to be attacked, thrown down, exposed ; something he was resolved to fight. He put his hand on her shoulder, and said earnestly :

• Tell me—you desire to befriend me, I know—tell me what you know, for you certainly must have some reison for behaving in this incomprehensible way. I ask for joybells, and you ring a death-toll over me. For Heaven's cake, what have you to say against a young lady whom you have professed to like?'

• Nothing sir—nothing. I am fond of her'—Mrs Dripper lifted her head for a second —'I would spare her trouble, and you ; for thab I cay, Go away and forget her, and lefc her forget you—it is tho only way, Waster Roland; don'b come back after your travel 3 and rind you've been gulled. She can never be your wife, so help tue, God !' Her head went down on her hands again, and she shook from head to foob. She had said it. He lifted his hand from her shoulder, and turned the colour of denbh. • What mystery lies here?'he inquired, moved to an agiation almost equal with her own, 'There is a meaning in your words to which I am blind, but ehall not be so long. I desire you to make ib plain. Speak !' Hamleb himself could nob have uttered bhab 'Speak!' with more pathos, more entreaty, when his father's ghost cAfronted him and promised ' a tale bo unfold.' • Speak !' Mr* Dripper did nob speak in the way he wished. .She c übched ab her hair again. 11 have told you all I can ; don'b aak me for more. You will kill me ! Go now, Master Roland—be satisfied.' Roland had so much intention of obeying thab he took a seat exactly opposite to her, and, leaning forward, said : •Do you think lam a fool? Do you understand that my word is pledged to Jessie Lockstud ? that were I to break thab word, through being frightened into it, phe would be the worst sufferer of all ? You want me to bSfenk her hearb between you. You, whose tenderness I expected—you, for whom I have planned a corner and an easy chair ab.rny hearth, whom my children —should bhey ever come—shall honour ever as their father's faithful nurse and friend.'

Mrs Dripper tried to look at him, but the tears now c»me thick and strong to stream down her cheeks. She could not utter a word.

' Do you think after what you have said,' he continued, ' that I shall submit quietly to bhe imposition her father would put upon mo ? Certainly bis ways are dark, I never

understood him, and never shall; but he shall understand that I am not a piece of cliiy in his hands. ' There's a lot we can't understand,' sobbed Mrs Dripper, longinsr to escape from his questioning, ' best nob understood. It is best you should know no more—best even to break that poor girl's heart; but worst—worst for me to trouble you with reasons. You were always a good, obedient lad, Master Roland ; for the love of heaven, for the love of peace, and if you love me, don't— don't ask me to tell you more !' Roland, mystified, wretched, for a moment debated whether obedience was discretion, whether he should cease to trouble the miserable woman before h m, or worm the truth from his mother. Only for a moment, The thought of the fools para dice that waa being created for the poor girl, whom he was so anxious to protect, urged him to a diplomatic move. ' I promise you, if you tell me all, nobody shall know the name of my informant,' he said. Mrs Dripper, drooping her head, shook it sadly and obstinately. 'Very well,'he went on. assuming offence, and rising as if to leave her, 'I will not trouble you any more ; but I must tell you before I go that, as I have quite made up my mind to find out everything, I ehall tell my mother you have told me everything.' He scarcely anticipated such a sharp and immediate effect to follow his ruse. She turned upon him suddenly in anger, and, with eyes expressing fear and defiance: I You will tell a lie ! I've been worked up to say more than I ought, and you take advantage of me ! I ask you to let thia engagement go —ask it for your own sake— for the love I bear you, and you will have me murdered by Mrs Goldwin because you are not satisfied. She will murder me if she knows I have said as much as I have !' She began to rock herself in agony and gasped: 'You are worse than Eve with wanting what isn't good for you ! You will bring down misery on yourselE and everybody. You will tell a,lie !' He stood over her chair and looked down upon her bens grizzled head, her thin veiny hands clasped in despair,her rocking body, with an infinite compassion which his manner belied. I 1 am in a network of lies; fostermother, there can be no sin in resorting to a single one to cut through the net; but the lie will be yours as much as mine, for you can save me from the sfin of it, if you will. Any way, I shall know everything sooner or later.' 1 0 Lord ! dear Lord.' The rocking was wilder—' lam undone—undone. My sin has found me out in my old age.' The unhappy Mrs Dripper now fell on her knees and prayed in dumb anguish; her wan face uplifted, her hands locked. She was/at bay. Roland turned away, unwilling to witness her abject despair, to disturb trer appeal ; but, turning to know the meaning of it all, the poor fellow, worked with conflicting sentiments—amongst which a hot indignation against his mother and Lockstud was paramount—walked away to the end of the room, folded his arms over a heart that was beating wildly, and tried to think what he should say next to induce Mre Dripper to be done with mystery. She saved him that much exertion of thought, for before he was aware of it she stood at bis elbow : she had caught at his arm; she was eaything something in his ear that fell there like molten lead, that paralysed bis senses, made the room swim, ancT brought a transient oblivion of all things. ' For God's sake, for yours, for mine don't let on to Miss Jessie,' she whispered, 'to Mrs Goldwin, or Mr Lockstud, that I have told you—that you know. You are'—she paused, she gulped, she trembled—'you ARE A LOCKSTCD !' ' -**■■■ - ( To be Continued:)