GRAZIA'S MISTAKE

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 103, 1 May 1894, Page 6

GRAZIA'S MISTAKE

BY MRS GEORGIE SHELDON.

Anbhor of 'Faithful Shirley,' Brownie's Triumph,' 'The Forsaken Bride,' 1 Geoffrey's Victory,' etc.

CHAPTER XIX.

•only the fancy of a silly, incsedclous girl.'

On the evening following the events narrated in the last chapter, Grazia was engaged to play at th,e house of a member of the Common Sense Club.

She sometimes gave her services in this way to accommodate a friend, or whenever they were solicited for a charitable purpose, as happened to be the case on this evening ; but she no longer made it a profession. The occasion was a charity reception for the benefit of an orphan's home ; the tickets were high, and the very best talent had been engaged to entertain the guests.

There was a great rush in the elegant rooms of Mrs Van Nest, and the receipts were so encouraging that that lady's face beamed with deligiit, while everyone was enthusiastic over the classical and enjoyable entertainment she had provided for them.

Grazia had played three times—she was very popular* tor her work was of a high order —and then had quietly withdrawn from the crowd, to a little recess at one end of the drawing-room, which was curtained off from it with rich draperies.

She was somewhat weary from her two evenings' dissipation, and felt that she would like to be quiet for a little while, and watch, unobserved, the gay throng outside the alcove.

She was beautifully dressed this evening in a pale yellow crepe de chine, trimmed richly with satin ribbons of the same shade. A costly necklace of topaz set with diamonds encircled her white neck, and an exquisitely carved amber comb gleamed amid the coils of her dark brown hair.

Ib was a lovely costume, and Grazia looked especially lovely in it, while she made an exceedingly fair picture, reclining in the depths of a rich dark green velvet chair, which was in beautiful contrast with her dainty robe. Presently her attention waß attracted by the voices of gentlemen who were standing just outside the draperies. 'It was a greab pity, Will, thab you missed the entertainment; it was the finest thing of its kind that I have attended this season,' Grazia heard the first voice remark. •I am sorry too,' was the reply. ' I came in just as some one waa playing the harp ; but the selection was finished before I could even get a look at the performer. Was it a lady or a gentleman ?' ' A lady—a Miss Grace King—and she is every bit as lovely as the. music she evokes. She always makes a most delightful picture whenever she seats herself at her harp, for her taste in dress is exquisite.' 'Ah ! you are enthusiastic in your praises,' returned the gentleman who had been designated as ' Will,' and whose vojce had a strangely familiar sound to the fair listener behind the draperies. 'Is the lady a professional harpist ?' • She has been until within a few weeks, when she unexpectedly came into possession of a handsome fortune, and since then she has only favoured the public upon such occasions as these—for sweet charity's sake. She has become a great favourite in society, and it is said that young Venbnor has been hard hit from thab direction.' ' Curse him !' was the angry and unexpected response to this information. "' Aha ! you are down on Ventnor, then. "What has he done to you ? He stands unusually well with society.' • VVoll, he brod very heavily on my toeß a while ago, and I owe him a grudge for it. But is he going to marry your pretty harpist?' • J can'b say as to thab, for ha's been given over as a confirmed old bach for the last live years: bub, if I am any judge, I should say he was just "gone" on her. Ah ! there is Appleton. Excuse me, will you 1 I was looking for him when I meb yon.' * With this hasty apology, the gentleman beat a hurried retreat, and his companion was left standing alone, just outside the hiding-placo of Grazia, who had listened to tho above conversation with a burning

She would have been glad to steal away out of hearing of their very personal remarks but sho felt that if she stirred, she would instantly be recognised, and thus place heraelf as well as the gentlemen in a very awkward position. She resolved, however, that she would leave the recess the moment the gentleman who had been called • Will' should move away and give her the opportunity. She had just arrived afc this decision, when ii white, firm hand was laid upon the draperies, to push them aside, and the nexb ■instant the man himself stood in her presence, ' 1 l>eg pardon,' he began, as the fair girl started "nd turned toward him ; then his face seemed suddenly to freeze into a mask of snow, while he stood as if petrified before ber.

.With a low cry of mingled pain and dis* may Grazia sprang to her feet.

' Lloyd !' she gasped. ' Grazia !' It was a striking tableau that followed the utterances of those two names. Neither could speak another word, and a full minute elapsed before either moved from the attitude into which thoy seemed to have been suddenly congealed. Grazia was the first to break the horrible spell, for her strength forsook her, and she sank back into her chair with a low, shuddering sigh, and buried her pallid face in her hands. At this, Lloyd Lan&'ham—for it was indeed he—shrugged his shoulders as if with a sense ot relief, and an evil light swept over his face. With a swift movement of his hands he loosened the cord that held the portiere back, and it fell before them, concealing them both from the observation of the people in the room beyond. •At last I have found you !' he then said, in a low, repressed tone, as he bent nearer the woman he had wedded but to desert. It seemed as if the sound of his voice stung Grazia to the sooi, for, sitting suddenly erect, she turned her white face and flashing eyes upon him. 'At last you have'found me?' she repeated, in a voice he would never have recognised as hers, it was,so cold and devoid of feejing. ' What does that mean ?' 1 That I have been searching for you.' 'For how long. But wait; I cannot talk with you here,' said the fair girl, rising and standing haughtily erect before him. ' Upstairs, opposite the room used as a ladies' dressing-room, Mrs Van Nest has a small sewing-room ; go there, and I will follow you in five minutea.' She turned from him with a proud, dignified air, and swept out into the draw-ing-room before he could detain her. 1 Really ! my sweet, gentle Grazia of two years ago is greatly changed,' Lloyd Langham muttered, with a frowning brow, as he slowly made his way into the hall and up the etairs, as ehe had comtuanded him. Grazia found Paula conversing with a group of members belonging to her club, and going softly up behind her, she whispered: ' Paula, dear, come with me ; I need you.' Miss Nelson glanced anxiously into the face of her friend, for her voice had told her that she had received a terrible shock of some kind ; then, excusing herself to her companions, she linked her arm within Grazia'B and they made their way from the room. ' Paula, he has found me !' the fair girl explained, as they were mounting the Btairs. • Who ? Not your ' ' Hush ! never call him that !' Bharply interposed the wronged wife. ' But you have guessed aright—Lloyd Langham is here, in this house.' ' Can that be possible ? And you want me to take you home sothat you need not meet him ?' said Paula, eager to do anything to relieve her from such an unpleasant encounter. ' No, indeed 1' said Grazia, spiritedly. ' I want you to come with me to meet him —I want you for a witness, for I will never exchange a word with him again alone, if I can help it.'

She then briefly explained how the unexpected meeting had occurred in the recess below, after which she opened the sewingroom door, which had been partially closed, and ushered Paula into the presence of her recreant husband. :

The man looked astonished when be saw her companion, and an angry flush mounted to his brow as he comprehended why she had brought him there.

A blank expression swept over Paula'a face as she was thus brought) face to face with the man, and she opened tier lips aa if to make pome remark ; but bofore she could speak, Grazia, standing straight and tall, and looking inexpressibly beautiful in spite of her excessive pallor, announced, in clear; ringing tones: \ ' Mias Nelson, this i 8 Mr Lloyd Langham. I have asked him here for an Interview, and I desire that you will remain with mo meanwhile.'

•My dear Grace, are you sure there is not some mistake ?' Paula miildly enquired. ' This gentleman was pointed oub to roe only a few moments ago as Mr William Lang, of the firm of Howard and Lang, brokere.'

Grazia sbarted ab this unexpected information, and darted a searching look ab Lloyd, who coloured viole:otly ab this

expose. lAh !' she said with curling lips, ' I now understand why those especial shares of mining stock were advertised* for in that explicit way. You knew that my father had them—l heard him tell you the nvtmbers more than two years ago. So you thought best to change your name, Mr Laneham. I assure you, Paula, this is Lloyd Langham, and no one else,' Grazia conclnded, with a glance at her friend. Then without waiting for eitbor to reply, she turned agsjin to the discomfited man, and continued :

' You said you had been searching for me, Lloyd Langham ; how long: have you been thus engaged ?' ' I decline to answer you in the presence of another—l wish to see you alone,' the man responded, in a sullen tone. •Thatyou will never do, sir,' said Grazia, haughtily. 'I will never again spend one moment alone with you unless I am forced to do so against my will.' 'I can compel you to do so, jnadame,' was the angry retort.

• By what authority V

•By the authority of the law;-you are my wife.'

' Granted ; but allow me to say, I regard it as rather a tardy admission of the fact,' Grazia scornfully returned.

Again the hot blood mounted to Lloyd Langham's forehead, and he gazed amazed at the proud, beautiful woman before him.

She had been a sweet and gentle girl when he had won her, clinging and contiding ; but she had developed wonderfully in Bvery way during the last two years. She had grown taller, her beauty had ripened, a queenly air and a graceful self-possession had taken the place of the old-time girlish reticence ; and, standing ther6 before him in her exquisite costume, and so haughtily self-possessed, she was a thousand-fold more lovely than ho had ever thought it possible for her to become.

' It is the fact nevertheless,' he said, in reply to her taunt.

'I do not dispute it—at least, I do not dispute thab I wag legally married to yon over two years ago,' she coldly answered. ' I do, however, dispute your vaunted authority over me, and.deny your right to "compel" me to do anything ; you forfeited that in the very beginning, when you turned your back upon me in my trouble, when you refused to send me one word of sympathy, at a time when 1 should have had your tenderest care and the strongest defence it was in your power to give the Woman whom you had made your wife under such peculiar circumstances. If you have anything to say co me here and now, in the presence of my friend. I will hear it; otherwise, we will not prolong this interview. I really, though, have a curiosity to know how long you have been " searching1" for me,' Grazia concluded, a little smile ot bitterness wreathing her lips.

' About two months,' the man replied, a sinister gleam leaping into his eyes.

• Twj months. Ah ! Your advertising for those stocks, then, was part of your plan to find r§o, as the " want" appeared about thab time/ was the sarcastic rejoinder. ' You perhaps thought to exercise your " authority " by making your victim surrender her stocks and thus enrich yourself at her expense. That was rather an unfortunate ventnre for you, Mr Langham. How did you know that I was in Kew York, if I may inquire V 'Mr Wilder wrote me, Lloyd returned ; then added with a frown : ' But I think we have had enough of this kind of talk Grazia ' 41 beg your pardon, but I prefer for the present to be addressed as Miss King,' the fair girl interposed. • Miss King !' he repeated, with a start. ' Yes, I am known in Hew York as Miss Grace King.' 1 The harpist ?' 'Yes.' € Ah ! So you are also sailing under false colours, and it is the town talk that Raymond Ventnor is going to marry you,' the man sneered, the hot colour again leaping to his face. Grazia also flushed crimson ab this remark. 'I have bub jußt acknowledged that I am already a wifo,' she said, coldly, but speaking with evident effort. ' That does nob matter, at leasb in these days ; one may easily get a divorce ;' Lloyd Langham uneered, ' But you shall not,' ho went on, fiercely. 'I will contest it—you Bhall never marry him ; you belong to mo, and 1 will publish my claim upon you before the whole world.' Grazia was very pale now. 1 There is no necessity of your getting in a passion, Mr Langham,' she quietly returned, though her lips were almost rigid. 'I am not a believer in divorces. While the man to whom I had once been legally bound lives I could never become the wife of another, and, since Mr Venfcnor and I have no intentions of this nature, there will be nothing for you to contest. As for your "claim" upon me, thab exists only upon paper—if. indeed, you have cared to preserve thab evidence ; you have no moral claim whatever upon me, and I would sooner '

' Grozia, pray leb us cease this heartless wrangling,' Lloyd Langham here interposed, in a tone of entreaty. * You made me angry when you came here with your " witness," tor I longed to see you alone, and intended to approach you in a far different frame of mind. Let us be ab peace, I beg—leb us ttJk over the past in an amicable spirit.' • Be at peace with each other—talk over the past in an amicable spirit!' Grazia repeated, with a peculiar gleam in her dark eyes. 'Yes; let me explain to you why I did not return to defend j?ou at your trial.'

'Ah ! do ; it might be interesting to my friend here to know what circumstances, or combination of circumstances, could possibly bo important enough to warrant a man in utterly ignoring his obligations to the wife whom he had sworn before God and man to love, honiour, and cherish, when she had been tried for her life ; what excuse he could give her for never sending her one word of sympathy or cheer, when, for long months, she was confined in a gloomy prison ; or for absenting himself from her trial when he knew her to fee as innocent as a child of the'i crime of which she was accused, and his testimony to the tact would have had great weight with the jury. Lloyd LangJiam, you know that you have nothing to " explain, " U Grazia concluded, Btornlj, and the man!, realising but too fiercely the truth of her wyords, dropped his head in shame upon his hands, and was tongue-tied before her.

' You once told me that " a scandal was the moab horrible thing in lif>3 " —that nothing of the kind muse ever t ouch you or me," ' the grirl went on, in the same relentießß tone. ' That miserable piride, and the cowardly spirit within you, ia \?ehy you hid

yourself like a rat in his hole, when you should have come boldly forward to claim me and to fighb for me as for your own life. You could,nob face "a scandal"—bhe girl whom you had won was likely to become a condemned criminal—her fortune had been absorbed in one way and another, until she was almost penniless ; and, since she had given you her promise thao she would never divulge the secret of her union with you, ib would save you a greab deal of ehame and trouble to quietly ignore everything, and let matters take their course. If she was convicted and executed, ib could not materially affect you, excepb to rid you of her; if she was acquitted, she hud no means ot proving anything against you.' 'You are very hard on me, Grazia, faltered Lloyd Langham, a shudder creeping over him as he was thus made to view himself with the eyes of others.' • /hard on you,' •Bub I love ytfu, Grazia—l love yon still.' 4 You never knew the meaning of the word.' • I did !' ho cried, starting up and turning his white face upon her, a feeling of despair in his heart; for his first feeling, upon seeing her that night, had been one of exultation over having found her—exultation over her wonderful beauty, and the great wealth which «he now possessed, and which he had fondly hoped might yeb be his. As he went slowly upstairs to the .sewingroom in obedience to her command, he had told himself that ho would win her back ; she had always been sweet, gentle and yielding; a few explanations, a few words of love would smooth everything all over, anfl she and her forbuno would once more be,hie.

,Bub he was wholly unprepared for the change he had iound in her, and he was stricken dumb by the torrent of cold, incisive words of scorn and condemnation which she had hurled at him.

At the time it made him all the more eager to conquer her, and he secretly vowed that he would move heaven and earth to win her.

' I did love you,' he repeated, ' you know I did and you loved me with all your heart. Oh ! Grazia, you surely will nob let all that dear pasb stand for nothing.'

And she looking straight into his face with those great, beautiful, brown eyes, replied in a tone so deadly calm that he knew every word she uttered was truth :

' It " stood for nothing " to me long ago —I never loved you, Lloyd Langham. I thought I did, i admit; bub ib was only the passing fancy of a silly, credulous girl. 1 had hardly taken that irrevocable step before I began bo roalize that I had made a wretched mistake ; to feel my respect for you waning; to have ib forced upon me that no really good or noble man would have over-persuaded the woman whom he truly loved to compromise herself as you persuaded me. It was a rude and sudden awakening which 1, as a young bride, suffered ; bub, hard as ib wop, much as I have endured, I believe I can truly say that the ordeal has nob cost me so much as it would, to have been obliged to live day by day with one so utteily selfish and devoid of principle as I know you to be ; and I now bless the fate that separated us, only a few hours after bhe fatal step was baken.1 ( To le Continued.)